“Next time we meet, we will cross swords again!”

With that parting challenge to Han Yu, Li Tonghai turned to join his elders. The Spirit Sword Sect delegation, escorted by Sect Leader Qi and the Wanchun Valley elders, departed through the mountain gates.

Moments later, the Wanchun Valley leadership returned to the Main Peak.

Elder Lu, beaming with pride, instructed Han Yu to focus on his cultivation and dismissed him back to the Spirit Field Department.

Once the young disciple was out of earshot, Elder Mou’s expression turned serious. “Sect Leader, Brother Lu. The laborer disciples scattered across the departments have always been the weakest link in our security. They frequent the Green Grain Market, making them easy targets for enemy bribery and infiltration.”

He glanced in the direction Han Yu had left. “Han Yu’s talent is undeniable—he defeated a sword cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. Leaving a seed like that exposed in the outer departments… if an accident were to occur, it would be too late for regrets. Why not move him to the Main Peak immediately?”

Elder Lu shook his head, chuckling. “He has lived at the Spirit Field Department for years; he is comfortable there. Besides, Li Yunxia is there to keep an eye on him.”

“Furthermore,” Elder Lu continued, his tone turning thoughtful, “for a prodigy of his caliber, who among us is truly qualified to micro-manage his growth? When we were at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, could any of us compare to him?”

“If we keep him under our noses, forcing him to imitate us step for step, we risk extinguishing his unique spiritual spark. Better to give him the resources he needs and let him grow wild.”

Elder Yan paced with his hands behind his back. “Freedom is good, but I worry he might learn things he shouldn’t. The Green Grain Market is full of traps—spells that harm the user, or scoundrels like Zhu San who prey on their own kin.”

“Rest assured,” Elder Lu replied confidently. “Han Yu is no fool. He and I have an agreement. He will only cultivate spells that meet three criteria: they must not harm his body, they must not harm the Sect, and they must not violate the laws of nature. As long as he adheres to that, I will not interfere.”

Elder Lu paused, suddenly remembering something. “Speaking of resources, have you heard of the ‘Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pill’? It is said a single pill can provide the equivalent of ten days of bitter cultivation.”

“My disciple placed first in the Grand Competition. This is the reward he requested.”

Elder Yan looked surprised. “Such a pill exists? I’ve never heard of it. If it were real, I’d force-feed two bottles to Junior Sister Wen’s lazy apprentice—he’d hit the fifth layer overnight.”

Sect Leader Qi sighed. “The pill exists. It seems Han Yu has done his research.”

He shook his head regretfully. “However, the primary ingredients for that pill have never grown in the Southern Region. The refining process is also notoriously difficult. Given the current blockade and the tensions with our neighbors, obtaining it is impossible.”

“Elder Lu, you will have to ask him to choose something else.”

If the Sect Leader said it didn’t exist, then it truly didn’t exist.

Elder Lu looked disappointed. “I will ask around, just in case.”

The conversation shifted to grimmer matters. Sect Leader Qi’s expression hardened. “The disciples stationed in the Nanli and Xiyue Kingdoms have reported back. Aside from a few isolated accidents, there have been no coordinated ambushes. It seems the Spirit Beast Sect is not yet ready to tear off the mask and declare open war.”

“For now, our strategy remains defensive. We will secure the mortal kingdoms, maintain our lifeline with the Spirit Sword Sect, and watch for any movement from the Spirit Beast Sect, Mystic One Sect, and Little Sky Net Sect.”

“Regardless of whether Ye Guxing cleanses the demonic corruption in the east, Wanchun Valley must be prepared for the worst.”

The elders fell silent, their gazes drifting toward the rear of the Main Hall—specifically, toward the formation connected to the earth vein.

There, deep in seclusion, Elder Wen and Elder Mu were attempting to break through to the Golden Core stage.

They were the sect’s best hope.

“Junior Brother Han! Congratulations on taking first place!”

Han Yu had barely stepped off his flying sword at the Spirit Field Department when he was swarmed. Senior Sister Li, Hua Qi, Sun Kang, Liu Lan, Zhong Yue—faces flushed with excitement—crowded around him.

Even Bai Lingyun and the burly Meng Bao were there, looking at Han Yu with undisguised admiration.

News traveled fast. Scores of laborer disciples from the surrounding fields hurried over, bowing deeply. “Congratulations to Senior Brother Han! First among the Outer Disciples!”

Han Yu returned their greetings politely. The crowd dispersed, buzzing with excitement.

“I told you! I saw him practicing every single day!”

“Hard work really pays off!”

Eventually, only the core group remained in the steward’s office.

Han Yu turned to Sun Kang and Bai Lingyun. “I didn’t expect you all to come back here just to congratulate me. Thank you.”

Bai Lingyun grinned, pointing toward the sky. “Look! Li Xuan is back, and he brought Wang Teng!”

Han Yu turned to see a large magical plantain leaf drifting down from the sky. Li Xuan stood at the helm, with Wang Teng from the Spirit Art Pavilion standing beside him.

The leaf touched down softly. Li Xuan hopped off, handing a heavy storage bag to Bai Lingyun. “Junior Brother Bai, mission accomplished. I bought the Green Grain Wine and the best dishes they had. The leftover Spirit Stones are inside.”

Wang Teng walked up to Han Yu, shaking his head in disbelief. “When Li Xuan told me you took first place, I thought he was pulling my leg. I had to request leave just to see it for myself!”

He clapped Han Yu on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Han Yu! You actually did it.”

Seeing the genuine joy on Wang Teng’s face, and the warmth of the friends surrounding him, Han Yu felt a rare thaw in his usually guarded heart.

Indeed, he thought. Revealing a portion of my strength has its benefits. Being a disciple of Wanchun Valley isn’t so bad.

“I asked Li Xuan to help me order a banquet from the Green Grain Restaurant,” Bai Lingyun announced, his chest puffed out with pride. “Today, we celebrate you, Han Yu!”

“Thank you, Bai Lingyun,” Han Yu said sincerely.

“No need, no need!” Bai Lingyun waved his hands frantically, his face blooming into a smile as bright as a spring flower.

He ushered everyone into the room and began unpacking the storage bag.

For ordinary Outer Disciples, the spread was nothing short of extravagant. Ten dishes, every single one radiating spiritual energy. There were cuts of spirit beast meat, and even the mundane vegetables had been stewed in spirit springs.

A pot of Green Grain Wine sat in the center.

Bai Lingyun looked at the table, suddenly shy. “I… I’m sorry if the portions are a bit small…”

“It’s not small at all!” the group chorused.

“Food like this costs Spirit Stones,” Sun Kang laughed. “We eat it to savor the energy, not to stuff our bellies like mortal gluttons.”

“Exactly! Spirit Stones should be saved for cultivation!”

Cups were filled. The Green Grain Wine was crystal clear, tasting of mountain dew and leaving a lingering sweetness that made the body feel light. The food was exquisite, each bite sending a subtle warmth of Spirit Breath through their meridians.

It was a good night.

After the celebration wound down and the guests departed, Han Yu tidied up and returned to his room.

He sat cross-legged on his bed, tallying his gains.

First place in the competition had yielded fifty Minor Merits and three bottles of Clear Heart Qi Gathering Pills. There was also one reward he had yet to claim.

Additionally, the Spirit Sword Sect’s Supreme Elder had gifted him a sword technique Jade Slip, and Feng Jin had given him two ‘Scent Retaining Pills’—one black, one white—used for tracking. All useful tools.

More importantly, he had officially reported his breakthrough to the fourth layer of Qi Refining to Elder Lu. By displaying a wide variety of spells and combat awareness in the arena, he had successfully created a persona of a ‘technique genius.’

In the future, no one would be suspicious of his combat prowess.

Han Yu felt a sense of calm settle over him.

He cycled the Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method and the Blood Refining Technique briefly before picking up the Jade Slip from Yin Hong. A quick scan revealed that the sword technique required a large open space to practice, so he placed it back in his storage bag for later.

Under the cover of night, a familiar flapping sound approached.

The large raven landed on his windowsill, the smaller raven hopping clumsily behind it.

Han Yu smiled and produced a ‘Mystic Heart Fruit,’ tossing it to the large raven as a reward for its assistance in the duel against Li Tonghai.

The small raven, mimicking a human, bowed repeatedly and shook its tail feathers in a comical display of congratulations.

Han Yu chuckled and tossed it a ‘Beast Spirit Pill.’

“In a few days,” he whispered to the smaller bird, “start following the big one here. When you’re both comfortable, come to me together.”

His eyes gleamed with calculation in the darkness.

“I will use that opportunity to ask Master how to control multiple spirit beasts simultaneously. I’ll ask if I can learn the Beast Heart Psychic Pact.”

If Elder Lu agreed to teach him that, he would have a legitimate, sect-approved explanation for his ability to control multiple entities.

And if he could control multiple beasts openly… then he could eventually find a way to explain the blood clones created by the Blood Refining Technique.

Once that cover was established, Han Yu would have nothing left to fear.