"This disciple greets you, Master!"
Seated in a large, gilded chair, Elder Huoyun slowly lowered the book in his hands. "I punished you by sending you to Moon Lake. Do you resent me for it?"
Xu Yang cupped his fist. "I wouldn’t dare. I know that you did it for my own good, Master."
Elder Huoyun nodded with a smile. "It’s good that you understand. Guarding the Sect’s properties is every disciple’s duty. Even if this hadn’t happened, Tianquan Peak would have assigned you to garrison another location within a month or two at most.
The Martial Dao cannot be practiced in isolation. Only by going out into the world and experiencing true combat can you truly temper your will."
Nearly a month had passed, and his anger had largely subsided. This was mainly because he had been keeping an eye on Xu Yang and discovered that after exchanging for the Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill Formula, he didn’t seem to be messing around recklessly.
After exchanging for a Tiger Soul Red Sun Fruit at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, he had made no other moves. For the past month, he had spent every day cultivating diligently.
Sending Xu Yang to Moon Lake hadn’t been a decision made in a fit of rage. For a Martial Artist to grow into a true expert, they need not only talent and resources but also the tempering of blood and fire.
Even someone with Jiang Fan’s status frequently ventured deep into the Yunling Mountain Range for tempering. If Xu Yang remained in a comfortable environment like the Purple Sun Sect, sooner or later he would be unable to keep pace with his peers.
"I understand!" Xu Yang cupped his fist again.
’It wasn’t something he could easily explain, so he’d just let Elder Huoyun say what he would.’
’Besides, he would only be at Moon Lake for three to five months at most before he could return. It wasn’t as if he had to stay there for a lifetime.’
"Catch!"
With a sudden wave of his long sleeve, Elder Huoyun sent a saber shooting toward Xu Yang from the desk in front of him.
Xu Yang reached out and caught the saber firmly. The jet-black scabbard had a fine patina and was stained with who knows how much blood, giving it a blackish-crimson hue.
He looked at Elder Huoyun, confused.
"This saber is named Red Blood. It was my personal weapon back when I was in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm," Elder Huoyun said with a smile. "It has been stained with the blood of countless foes. It is dangerous everywhere once you leave the Sect. I am giving it to you for protection. I hope you will return safely."
Xu Yang grasped the hilt. With a crisp SHING like a dragon’s roar, a flash of blood-red light seemed to erupt from the scabbard, and in an instant, a bone-chilling Evil Qi filled the air.
The blade was as crimson as blood, looking as though it had been perpetually soaked in it. Xu Yang felt the surrounding temperature plummet as the stench of blood wafted to his nose.
"HUMMM..."
The blade vibrated, humming incessantly as a blood-red glow seemed ready to spill from the steel.
This was a Treasure Saber of the Half-Spirit Weapon grade, and its sharp aura seemed to surpass even that of Cold Abyss.
"To think you can resonate with Red Blood. It seems it’s a good match for you," Elder Huoyun said with a smile.
Xu Yang didn’t make a show of refusing, quickly cupping his fist. "Thank you for the saber, Master."
’Cold Abyss was a weapon that could not be seen in public. Even though the Su Family was now in pieces, they were still a clan with over a century of history. Who knew if some hidden old expert was still alive, or if an outstanding disciple was cultivating elsewhere.’
’Moreover, when it came to matters like massacring an entire family, it was best that no one knew.’
’He wasn’t alone in this world. Others might not be able to harm him, but they could seek revenge on Xu Qing.’
’With Red Blood, he could now openly wield a Half-Spirit Weapon in the future.’
"Red Blood was the first Half-Spirit Weapon I ever forged, and it later became my personal sidearm. After my Cultivation reached the Celestial Essence realm, I reforged it. Among Half-Spirit Weapons, it can be considered top-tier. Do not tarnish its reputation."
Xu Yang said solemnly, "I will follow your teachings, Master."
’He had plenty of experience dealing with these old masters. No matter what they said, you just had to agree.’
Elder Huoyun nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand. "Go on. I’ve already spoken to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. You can go and collect three months’ worth of your Ten Heroes List rewards at once.
Do not slack in your training when you get to Moon Lake. There’s no need to come back to say your farewells. Once you’re prepared, you may depart directly."
Xu Yang bowed. "Thank you, Master. This disciple takes his leave."
After taking his leave of Elder Huoyun, he went directly to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, collected three hundred contribution points and six Profound Yuan Qi Transformation Pills, and then returned to his courtyard.
He saved the contribution points, planning to use them later to exchange for Tiger Soul Red Sun Fruits or Dragon Beard Roots.
He planned to take all six Profound Yuan Qi Transformation Pills with him to Moon Lake.
As for the eight Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pills he had left, after some thought, he decided to take six with him. The remaining two he would save to trade for the Spirit Medicines needed to refine more Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pills after he returned.
Furthermore, he estimated that by the time he finished using these six Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pills, he would have likely reached Marrow Cleansing Great Success.
’I’ll go say goodbye to the little lass and tell her to find Senior Brother Gao Lin if she runs into any trouble. Then I can leave.’
Packing the Elixirs, slinging Red Blood over his back, and gathering everything he needed to take, he descended from Li Fire Peak.
Xu Yang had left the Purple Sun Sect!
Before long, the news that he had been punished by Elder Huoyun for exchanging for the Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill Formula—a punishment that sent him to garrison Moon Lake—spread throughout Li Fire Peak.
Few people were surprised. If it had been their own disciple who had done something so outrageous, a simple beating would have been getting off lightly. Although Elder Huoyun called it a punishment, his real aim was to send Xu Yang out to be tempered. It couldn’t be considered a punishment at all. It was obvious he was giving Xu Yang a chance to experience combat, hone his will, and prepare for his Secondary Dragon Ascension.
"He’s finally gone!"
In the Forging Pavilion, killing intent suddenly flared in Luo Xin’s eyes.
Xu Yang clearly wanted a fight to the death, and Luo Xin’s greatest fear had been that Xu Yang would act as he had when he was an Outer Disciple and never leave the Purple Sun Sect.
If he truly waited until Xu Yang achieved Marrow Cleansing Great Success, or reached the Celestial Essence realm, he would be a dead man walking.
All this time, he had been waiting for an opportunity for Xu Yang to leave the Purple Sun Sect, a chance to nip this threat in the bud. So what if he was fifth on the Ten Heroes List?