Xu Yang was covered in blood, but beneath it, a faint light was flowing. He gradually began to shed a layer of old skin.
An unknown amount of time passed before his body finally absorbed all the medicinal properties of the Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds. Not a single trace of the green energy remained.
He felt a refreshing sensation wash over his entire body, as if another shackle had been cast off. Both his Heart Spirit and physical form felt utterly relaxed.
[Fuyue Bear Scripture·Great Success (438/12,000)]
With just a single Lotus Seed, he had directly achieved Marrow Cleansing Great Success. The medicinal effect was equivalent to the concentrated, explosive power of two Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pills.
When Xu Yang opened his eyes, his entire aura had become somewhat ethereal, no longer just domineering and sharp.
"The world seems different!"
He looked at the world before him. It seemed to be the same world, yet it also felt different.
It was as if he could perceive things he couldn’t before, though not clearly. He just had an instinctive feeling that his perception of the world had changed.
’It is said that Celestial Essence Strong Persons can perceive the nature of heaven and earth. Could it be that by reaching Marrow Cleansing Great Success, I’m starting to make initial contact with this concept?’
He suspected this was the case. That was why the world felt different to him now, even though he had not yet reached the Celestial Essence realm.
But while the feeling was there, hazy as it was, he gained no real insight from it.
He extended his five senses and found that while they could previously only cover the mine, they could now spread far beyond its borders. Every blade of grass, every tree, every gust of wind—nothing escaped his perception.
[Remaining Lifespan: 105]
Looking at his panel again, he saw that breaking through to Marrow Cleansing Great Success, combined with the effects of the Eight Treasure Lotus Seeds, had directly increased his lifespan by five years.
For the next few days, Xu Yang remained in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, almost completely ignoring the operations of the mine.
To him, it didn’t matter if someone was embezzling resources; nothing was more important than solidifying his cultivation.
...
Purple Sun Sect, Li Fire Peak!
"Senior Brother Gao, Zhou Jiang from the Moon Lake station is outside seeking an audience. He says Junior Brother Xu sent him."
Hearing the report from the disciple guarding the mountain, Gao Lin’s eyes lit up.
’Has Junior Brother Xu gotten his hands on something good again and needs me to escort it back to the sect?’
"Bring him here," Gao Lin said hurriedly.
A moment later, Zhou Jiang arrived with the mountain-guarding disciple.
Zhou Jiang cautiously cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother Gao!"
Gao Lin smiled. "Junior Brother Xu sent you. What do you have to report?"
Zhou Jiang waited until the disciple had left and they were alone before lowering his voice. "Steward Liu Xunjiang is dead. Junior Brother Xu sent me to report to you, Senior Brother Gao, and to request a new steward be sent over."
Gao Lin’s eyes widened at his words.
’Good heavens. Xu Yang has only been at Moon Lake for a little over two months, and two stewards have already died. Did Liu Xunjiang get greedy and try to skim profits after just over a month there?’
"How did Liu Xunjiang die? Tell me everything, in detail," Gao Lin said gravely.
Liu Xunjiang wasn’t like Chen Yong, who had no backing in the Sect. His uncle, Liu Qingyuan, was one of the four great stewards of Tianquan Peak. Without a legitimate reason for his death, Xu Yang would be in deep trouble.
Zhou Jiang dared not delay. He immediately recounted the entire story, starting from when Song Wenxuan’s group of three stole Spirit Medicine from the Wushan Four Fiends, were hunted down by them, and fled to the mine seeking protection. He explained how Xu Yang had been against letting them in, but Liu Xunjiang used his authority as Steward to grant them entry. Then, the Wushan Four Fiends tracked them to the mine. To ensure the mine’s safety, Xu Yang refused to interfere in the conflict. The story ended with the Wushan Four Fiends killing Song Wenxuan’s group and then leaving peacefully.
He concealed nothing, sticking entirely to the facts. The point he emphasized most was that Xu Yang had protected the mine and that Liu Xunjiang had brought his fate upon himself.
"This is trouble!"
After hearing the entire story, Gao Lin felt completely overwhelmed. The situation was far more troublesome than he had imagined. It didn’t just involve Liu Qingyuan, a Celestial Essence expert, but also the Song Family, one of the ten great families of Cyan Yang City.
From an objective standpoint, Xu Yang had done nothing wrong; in fact, he had handled the situation perfectly.
But would Liu Qingyuan and the Song Family care about any of that? All they would know is that their young master and nephew were dead, and he had stood by and watched it happen. Even if they couldn’t touch him openly, what was to stop them from acting in the shadows?
"Senior Brother Gao, Brother Xu had no choice," Zhou Jiang said. "The Wushan Four Fiends are incredibly powerful. Even if Brother Xu had intervened, it would have only resulted in more people dying."
"I know!"
Gao Lin waved his hand dismissively. "Wait here. Don’t tell anyone what happened. I must ask Master for instructions."
"Yes!" Zhou Jiang replied, cupping his hands.
Gao Lin paid him no further mind and rushed to the Fire Cloud Elder Hall. "Master, there’s been trouble at Moon Lake again."
Elder Huoyun lifted his gaze from the book in his hands and looked at Gao Lin. "What happened?"
"Liu Xunjiang is dead..."
Not daring to delay, Gao Lin immediately repeated everything Zhou Jiang had told him.
Elder Huoyun listened quietly, his expression unchanging. Even upon hearing that both Song Wenxuan and Liu Xunjiang were dead, he showed no reaction whatsoever.
"He handled it well. A Martial Artist has to learn to stay out of other people’s business to live a long life."
After Gao Lin finished, a faint smile touched Elder Huoyun’s lips. Even a person of his status knew of the Wushan Four Fiends’ fearsome reputation. The fact that Xu Yang hadn’t meddled was, in his opinion, the perfect response.
"Junior Brother Xu handled it perfectly; according to the Sect’s rules, his conduct was flawless. But Elder Liu and the Song Family won’t care about that. They’re bound to hate him to the core.
Master, please, call him back to the Sect. If the Song Family and Elder Liu decide to strike from the shadows, Junior Brother Xu will be in grave danger," Gao Lin said, his voice laced with worry.
"Call him back? For what?" Elder Huoyun said. "This is a perfect opportunity to put some pressure on the boy. The path of Dragon Ascension is covered in thorns. If he can’t even overcome a small hurdle like this, he’s doomed to fail eventually."
He had sent Xu Yang to Moon Lake specifically to be tempered. Calling him back at the first sign of danger would defeat the entire purpose.
"Master, this is Elder Liu and the Song Family we’re talking about," Gao Lin reminded him.
’Two Celestial Essence experts—one the patriarch of one of Cyan Yang City’s ten great families, the other an Elder of the Purple Sun Sect. You call that ’thorns’? This is a mountain of knives and a sea of fire!’
"Xu Yang’s actions were impeccable. Liu Xunjiang deserved what he got. I will keep an eye on Liu Qingyuan myself. As for Song Yushao, he won’t dare make any rash moves. The Song Family is large... if he dares to touch my disciple, I will slaughter his descendants."
Elder Huoyun waved his hand, offering no further explanation. "Go and report the entire incident to the Task Hall. Just have them send a replacement."
He only needed to ensure that the two Celestial Essence experts, Song Yushao and Liu Qingyuan, did not act personally. He wouldn’t interfere with anything else. If the Song Family and Liu Qingyuan sent their subordinates to make a move, it would be a perfect opportunity to temper Xu Yang.
"Oh, right," Elder Huoyun added. "The three-month period is up. Take a Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill to him."
If Xu Yang was to be tempered, his resources must also be provided in a timely manner.
Upon hearing this, Gao Lin stopped insisting. He quickly led Zhou Jiang to the Task Hall and submitted a full report on the events at the Moon Lake Mine.
Two stewards dead in just over two months, coupled with Xu Yang’s notoriety—news of the incident spread like wildfire through the Purple Sun Sect.
...
Tianquan Peak!
Liu Qingyuan’s face was a mask of fury. "What did you say? Xunjiang is dead?"
’He was only sent to Moon Lake for a little over a month, and he’s already dead?’
"Speak! How did he die? Was it that little bastard Xu Yang?" Killing intent flashed in Liu Qingyuan’s eyes.
’Xu Yang is stationed at Moon Lake, and I’ve targeted him before. Besides Xu Yang, who else would kill my nephew? And who else there even could?’
’Besides, if there was trouble at the mine, the first to die should have been the strongest one there, Xu Yang, not my nephew who was just a mere steward.’
’How could Xu Yang be alive while my nephew is dead?’
The disciple, He Song, replied, "According to the official report, Senior Brother Liu was killed by the Wushan Four Fiends."
The Wushan Four Fiends?
Liu Qingyuan snorted. "The Wushan Four Fiends went to the mine and killed only Xunjiang, leaving Xu Yang untouched? Do you take me for an idiot?"
The Wushan Four Fiends weren’t known for their mercy. It was impossible that they would kill only his nephew and spare Xu Yang. There had to be more to this story.