7: meritorious service

After Hong Yu returned and sat down beside the skeleton, he began searching through the miscellaneous items in front of it for any healing Medicinal Pills.

To his frustration, although there were many Medicinal Pills, none were labeled, and he didn't recognize a single one.

Except for the yang yuan pill 'gifted' by the System, but yang yuan pills weren't meant for healing.

In a gloomy mood, Hong Yu began to meditate and regulate his breathing, entering a state of Cultivation.

Cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage polish their Physical Body, and Cultivating can also provide a certain level of healing effect.

After regulating his breathing for a long time, Hong Yu felt his injuries lighten significantly. With his spiritual energy partially recovered, he began to think about what to do next.

His original plan to slack off and then flee far away was completely unfeasible now. Since he was the only one left in the Secret Realm, it seemed the only path forward was to take Shu Wangnian's relics out and hand them over to Pang Hu.

He might as well tell the truth when the time came; the great service he was rendering should be enough to offset the minor sins of trespassing in the Laiyi Courtyard and taking some Medicinal Pills.

One had to realize that the Xuan Yun Residence's Outer Sect had more than just the location in Qifeng City. Information within the Outer Sect was shared promptly, and many Inner Sect Disciples had risen from the ranks of the Outer Sect Disciples.

Therefore, there was a high probability that Pang Hu would let him go. After all, if he rendered such a great service only to be heartlessly killed, the morale of the Outer Sect would crumble, making the team difficult to lead.

Furthermore, the System had already recorded the Techniques, so he wouldn't lose out even if he handed everything over.

In the current world of cultivation, Spells were hard to find and Techniques were even scarcer; otherwise, two Qi Refining Stage Cultivators like him and Wu Wang wouldn't have had to brawl like street thugs.

The Outer Sect had a Cultivation Technique Pavilion where one could exchange for offensive Spells and Cultivation Techniques, but the prices were far higher than what an ordinary Cultivator could afford.

Thus, the nameless Core Formation Technique recorded by the System was undoubtedly the most precious treasure in this Secret Realm.

Deciding to act, Hong Yu muttered a silent apology in his heart before stripping the fine robes from the skeleton to make a simple bundle, then placed all the items inside.

As Hong Yu touched the final Jade Slip, a sense of world-spinning dizziness struck again. His vision blurred, and when he opened his eyes once more, he was back in the valley, with a fierce, large Face suddenly appearing before him.

Pang Hu looked at Hong Yu with an eager expression and asked, "Did you bring the items out from the Secret Realm?"

Hong Yu felt as though something had swept over his body—not just once, but multiple times—giving him the instantaneous sensation of being completely seen through.

He pursed his lips, took the simple bundle off his shoulder with his right hand, and held it out. "I have not failed my mission. This Disciple has brought back everything from the Secret Realm."

Pang Hu was overjoyed upon hearing this. He hurried to take the bundle, and as he opened it, his eyes were instantly drawn to that black Jade Slip.

He picked up all the items and handed them with a fawning expression to the woman in the white dress standing nearby. "Senior Sister Xu Jing, everything is here. See if these are the items you wanted."

With a wave of Xu Jing's slender hand, most of the items vanished into thin air, leaving only a few Medicinal Pills and a Dharma Sword suspended in the air.

With a flick of her finger, she caused these items to stop in front of Hong Yu, and then she spoke.

"What is your name?"

Xu Jing's voice was cold and clear, with a texture like jade striking the ground, very pleasant to the ear.

"Hong Yu."

"You have done well. The promised rewards will certainly be given. Go back and prepare; shortly, you will follow us back to the Inner Sect. In the future, you shall work for me."

"Thank you, Fairy."

"I see your injuries are not light, so these Medicinal Pills are gifted to you. Additionally, this Dharma Sword is also given to you as a reward."

"Fairy, I have one more request."

Xu Jing, who was about to leave, couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. "What else is there?"

"I once accidentally intruded into Mountain Master Pang's room in the Laiyi Courtyard and unintentionally damaged two bottles of Medicinal Pills—one bottle of blood tempering pill and one bottle of skin tempering pill. I am willing to compensate for all losses and hope the Fairy can help mediate the matter."

"There was such a thing?" Pang Hu's eyes widened like a tiger's upon hearing this, and he shouted sternly, "You brat, you dared to steal from me?"

To be honest, those two bottles of Medicinal Pills were nothing to Pang Hu, but what he cared about was Face. If a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator dared to trespass into his room and even steal pills...

If word of this got out, where would Pang Hu's Face be? How could he walk among others in the future?

Just as he was about to take action, Xu Jing's voice drifted over faintly: "Let this matter be. I see your Golden Skin is complete and your dao blood is rising; you are a good prospect for Body Tempering. From now on, you will follow Pang Hu."

Hearing this, Pang Hu quickly gave a respectful bow, then looked Hong Yu over seriously with an inscrutable glint in his eyes.

After Hong Yu also said "Yes," he retreated to the side.

Xu Jing's figure flickered and vanished instantly, leaving only a trace of fragrance slowly dissipating in the air.

Before he could even marvel at Xu Jing's miraculous methods, Hong Yu sensed the envious and jealous gazes of the surrounding Outer Sect Disciples; some even showed killing intent toward him.

Hong Yu's brow furrowed slightly, and he retreated behind Pang Hu, which immediately lessened the feeling of being watched.

"Alright, everyone disperse." Pang Hu shouted, then turned his head to look at Hong Yu with a half-smile. "Kid, do you want to go back yourself, or shall I give you a lift?"

Hong Yu cupped his hands. "Then I shall trouble Mountain Master Pang."

"Haha, you are quite interesting. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you on the way? You should know, killing you would be easier for me than crushing an ant."

"I believe you, but I am currently heavily injured and my movement is restricted. If I go back alone, I will surely be ambushed and killed on the road. Rather than dying at the hands of others, I'd rather die at the hands of Mountain Master Pang. Moreover, I believe the Mountain Master won't kill me; alive, I can create more value for the Mountain Master than I can dead."

"Interesting kid, you really are bold." Pang Hu laughed and said, "From now on, you're with me."

"Yes," Hong Yu replied with lowered eyes, appearing respectful.

"Let's go." With that, Pang Hu grabbed Hong Yu by the collar, and the two of them instantly turned into a streak of rainbow light and soared away.

Only the surrounding Outer Sect Disciples remained, their eyes filled with greed and regret.

This was the cruelty of the cultivation world; as long as there was profit to be made, those around you could turn into wolves.

Meanwhile, Xu Jing, who had already returned to the Laiyi Courtyard, sat down and flipped her hand, revealing a black Jade Slip.

"According to rumors, Shu Wangnian's Natal Cultivation Technique points directly to the Nascent Soul stage. Let me see if the rumors are true," Xu Jing murmured to herself, pressing the Jade Slip to her brow with anticipation.

Just as the Jade Slip touched her skin, a sudden change occurred: thick black smoke erupted from the Jade Slip, enveloping her.

Furthermore, a bolt of black light shot out from the Jade Slip, lightning-fast, heading straight for Xu Jing's Sea of Consciousness.