“Little Brat?”

Han Yu’s eyes widened in surprise as he turned to look at the horse-faced middle-aged man selling flower cakes.

“Daoist Master?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Call me Fellow Daoist from now on.”

Old Daoist Li, his head wrapped in a cloth scarf, casually swept the unsold flower cakes into a Storage Bag.

Han Yu fell silent for a moment before asking, “Fellow Daoist, how did you change your appearance like this?”

“I’ve consumed quite a bit of refined blood. Now that I’ve reached the third level of Blood Refining, my youth has been partially restored,” Old Daoist Li replied, stroking his smooth chin. “Besides, with Wanchun Valley hunting me, how could I not disguise myself?”

As he spoke, he noticed Han Yu’s six Blood Droplets were still hovering in the air, poised to strike.

A flicker of approval passed through Old Daoist Li’s eyes. “You’re getting sharper, kid. Still afraid I might eat you now, using you as material for my Blood Refining Technique?”

Han Yu remained silent.

Old Daoist Li chuckled softly, unbothered. He flicked a finger, sending a speck of bloody light onto the corpse of the dead Demonic Cultivator. As the light made contact, the corpse withered rapidly, its essence extracted and condensed into a hovering globule of blood. Finally, the dried husk exploded into a fine mist of blood that splattered onto the ground, sizzling as it turned the soil black.

Old Daoist Li collected the refined blood and said, “See that?”

“One must always guard against others. Even reducing an enemy to a corpse isn’t enough. You must burn and refine them completely to truly be safe.”

“Yes. Thank you for the lesson, Fellow Daoist,” Han Yu responded.

The six Blood Droplets remained aloft. In the trees above, the murder of crows watched Old Daoist Li with unblinking eyes.

Old Daoist Li gave Han Yu a long, searching look. “What you’re doing is right. I cultivate using human blood; I have already walked the crooked path of evil.”

“You should be vigilant.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the woods, his expression calm. Internally, however, he marveled: This little brat actually managed to raise my crows into spirit beasts!

Between the crows—now spiritually attuned and capable of casting spells—and Han Yu’s own Blood Droplets, Old Daoist Li felt a genuine twinge of fear. The boy might just turn hostile, kill him, and claim the bounty from Wanchun Valley for slaying a Demonic Cultivator.

Only when Old Daoist Li had completely disappeared did Han Yu exhale a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He withdrew the six Blood Droplets and swiftly absorbed the condensed blood essence into his own body.

He then signaled the crows.

The large crow let out a sharp caw, and one of its subordinates swooped down, snatched the dead cultivator’s Storage Bag, and brought it to Han Yu.

Checking for traps and finding none, Han Yu accepted the bag. Channeling a wisp of Spirit Breath, he accessed the internal space—about the size of a cabinet. Inside were two jars: one containing refined blood, the other a heart marinating in foul ichor. Aside from the gruesome items, there were five Spirit Stones, two or three catties of Spirit Rice, and three Jade Slips.

This wasn’t the place to examine the Jade Slips. He needed to move.

Han Yu dumped the two jars of blood and organs out of the bag. He quickly changed back into his grey laborer robes and handed the Storage Bag to the large crow, instructing it to deliver the loot to his stone house after dark.

With the evidence gone, Han Yu headed back toward the Green Grain Market.

Passing the Reed Mat Area, he saw Old Daoist Li back at his stall, wearing his horse-faced disguise and hawking flower cakes to mortals. Han Yu didn’t stop. He walked straight into the market proper to find Sun Kang and Liu Lan.

If the struggle in the woods was discovered, rumors of a Demonic Cultivator outside the market would spread instantly. Han Yu needed an alibi. Being seen with companions would deflect suspicion.

Just past the Bamboo Shed Area, he spotted Sun Kang and Liu Lan waiting by the roadside. Their faces lit up with relief when they saw him.

“Sorry, Junior Brother Han! Just now, the Green Grain Brewing Tavern announced the predicted top ten for Inner and Outer Disciples, including their cultivation levels, backgrounds, and signature spells,” Sun Kang explained breathlessly. “Senior Sister Liu and I got too engrossed and forgot you were waiting outside.”

Han Yu smiled. “No need to apologize. I didn’t wait long.”

Actually, it was quite a while. He had browsed two shops, left the market, fought a life-or-death battle with a Demonic Cultivator, and returned.

“The excitement is over. Shall we head back?” Liu Lan suggested.

Sun Kang and Han Yu agreed, and the trio began walking toward the exit.

On the way, Sun Kang eagerly recounted the predicted rankings.

Han Yu didn’t recognize any of the names. The top ten Inner Disciples were all young prodigies at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. The top ten Outer Disciples were even younger, all geniuses at the sixth layer.

One stand-out was an Outer Disciple at the seventh layer. Because he had advanced too quickly and lacked sufficient sect contributions, he hadn’t been promoted to the Inner Sect yet, but he was predicted to take the number one spot among Outer Disciples easily.

“Only in his twenties and already at the seventh layer! That kind of aptitude makes you feel like you’ll never catch up,” Sun Kang lamented. “That Senior Brother might even achieve Foundation Establishment before forty!”

Han Yu nodded, silently thinking that with his Spirit Root Refining Art, he might one day elevate his own aptitude to match.

Then Sun Kang mentioned another name. “Predicted eighth among Outer Disciples is Senior Brother Jin Qi.”

Han Yu paused. “Senior Brother Jin Qi? Is his cultivation that high?”

Sun Kang nodded. “Yes, he broke through to the sixth layer about two years ago. He’s famous for combining talismans with spells for devastating attacks. Huh, Junior Brother Han, do you know him?”

“I wouldn’t say I know him. But when I first entered the sect, Senior Brother Jin Qi was the one who escorted me to the Spirit Field Department.”

“Oh, I see. You were lucky then, having the eighth-ranked expert escort you…”

Sun Kang was cut off by a commotion ahead. A large crowd had gathered, blocking the market gate.

A blue-robed Outer Disciple shouted over the noise, “By order of the Elders! The Green Grain Market is on lockdown! No entry or exit pending investigation!”

Someone in the crowd yelled, “What happened? What investigation?”

“You’ll know once the Elders are finished!” the disciple snapped, ignoring further questions.

Moments later, a series of flying Magical Artifacts streaked overhead. Seven or eight figures—Elders, Deacons, and elite Inner Disciples—descended from the sky, returning from the wilderness.

Shortly after, the guards at the gate made an announcement: “Demonic Cultivators have turned on each other outside the market. Enemies may still be lurking within.”

“All those entering or exiting must expose their hair and eyes, release their Spirit Breath, and undergo inspection!”

The crowd buzzed with fear and speculation as the line slowly began to move.

Liu Lan whispered, “How can there be Demonic Cultivators again?”

“Our Wanchun Valley is probably being targeted,” Sun Kang muttered back.

Eventually, the three reached the gate.

After proving they had no hidden demonic traits or the scent of blood, they were allowed to leave. They hurried back to the Spirit Field Department.

News of the incident had already reached the fields. Security was tight.

Inner Disciple Senior Sister Li, dressed in her blue robes embroidered with gold thread, stood at the entrance, personally inspecting every returning Laborer Disciple. She was flanked by Senior Brothers Hong, Ji, and Hua.

After passing a second rigorous inspection, Han Yu, Sun Kang, and Liu Lan finally returned to their sector.

Standing before the spirit fields, Liu Lan let out a long breath. “I’m never going out again. I’ll stay here, farm, and cultivate until I hit the fourth layer. Only then will I go to the Outer Sect.”

“Encountering Demonic Cultivators the moment you step out… it’s just too unlucky!”

Sun Kang nodded vigorously. “We really shouldn’t have gone.”

“It’s been a month. Who would have thought they were still around?”

“Watching the excitement isn’t worth losing your life!”

Han Yu agreed. The market was indeed dangerous. Unless necessary, he would be cautious about returning.

The trio parted ways. Han Yu returned to his stone house and cultivated until nightfall.

Under the cover of darkness, the large and small crows silently landed on his windowsill.

The large crow extended a sharp talon, dropping the stolen Storage Bag into Han Yu’s hand.