"blood toad pearl."
As Jiang Che looked at the crimson pearl, information about this seventh-grade Opportunity naturally surfaced in his mind.
It was a mid-tier talisman artifact refined from the flesh and blood of a toad demon.
Over time, toad venom would naturally accumulate within the pearl. When facing an enemy, it could be guided out and attached to a weapon.
If fully accumulated and released all at once,
it could also create a poisonous mist spanning over ten meters, restricting the movement of everyone except the artifact's owner.
For a Gathering Qi Stage Cultivator, it was a rare protective treasure.
"It's a pity. If only it were another Opportunity that could accelerate cultivation, that would be even better."
Jiang Che sighed softly.
The top priority before him now was the pressure of reaching the Qi Refining Stage, Third Layer within a year.
But that didn't mean a protective treasure was bad.
The path of cultivation was fraught with peril.
Especially being in a demonic sect like Kuxin Sect, even an ordinary servant might be caught in a disturbance like tonight's at any time.
Just like the floating corpse before him, separated by life and death forever.
Protective treasures were meant to guard against such situations.
Carefully putting the blood toad pearl away close to his body, Jiang Che then turned his gaze to the five slightly cloudy white crystals.
He had long heard of these things: Spirit Stones.
Within the Kuxin Sect, various cultivation items were exchanged with merit points, but outside the sect, these were used.
Judging by their color, their grade was probably not very high.
Casually stuffing them into a hidden pocket in his inner lapel, Jiang Che finally straightened up.
By now, the sky was already faintly lit.
The fires upstream of the Azure Underworld River were gradually dimming. Whatever the outcome, the disturbance caused by the Tie Shi Tribe should have ended.
"It's time to return to the Za Yi Hall."
Wearing beast-skin gloves, Jiang Che lifted the floating corpse by its waist and walked several hundred steps upstream along the Azure Underworld River. Only when he approached the river's diversion point did he carefully push the floating corpse into an adjacent river channel.
He then waited by the riverbank for a moment until the floating corpse disappeared far away into the territory of Heaven's Cry Peak.
Only then did he turn and leave.
After that, hurrying as fast as he could, Jiang Che finally returned to the Za Yi Hall's territory before dawn fully broke.
By then, the fire had completely extinguished.
The Za Yi Hall had also not been impacted by this disturbance.
The crowds remaining near the main hall had mostly dispersed, with only a few individuals still standing in the path, pacing anxiously with gloomy expressions, scrutinizing every face that passed by.
Pushing open the door, Feng Yingqi seemed startled by Jiang Che's abrupt departure.
As if fearing being implicated one day, he actually retreated three steps, settling silently cross-legged in a corner.
Jiang Che didn't mind.
After nodding in acknowledgment, he also sat cross-legged on the bed.
He didn't rush to Cultivate but quietly breathed, suppressing the lingering restlessness from his outing.
The scattered Spirit Stones were not needed for now.
As for the blood toad pearl, to avoid fumbling when facing an enemy, he needed to find a hidden place during the day to practice with it.
He was secretly contemplating his next actions.
Outside the living quarters, clamor rose again.
Not long after, a servant knocked on the door.
It turned out that the *Shixiong* from Shu Wu Hall, whom all the servants had anxiously awaited all night, had finally arrived and was now waiting at the main hall.
"The Tie Shi Tribe from the Rust Ridge Mountains attacked and have now been repelled by the *Shixiong* on the peak."
Inside the main hall, the Shu Wu Hall *Shixiong* got straight to the point.
Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, amidst the collective sighs of relief from below, he casually proclaimed the Saint Sect's prestige a few more times.
Only then was the matter considered concluded.
He then turned to look at Fat Aunt, one of the few senior servants, and his tone became slightly lower as he brought up another topic.
"Zhang Cuihua."
"Disciple is here." Fat Aunt lowered her head and took a step out from the crowd.
"How long have you been in the Za Yi Hall?"
"Reporting, *Shixiong*, thirteen years and six months. The first time this Disciple came to Blood Sin Peak, winter had just begun, and light snow fell all night, just covering this Disciple's instep."
Fat Aunt's words carried a hint of tremor, as if she already anticipated what the person before her was about to say.
The Shu Wu Hall *Shixiong* sighed softly: "Tonight, the Tie Shi Tribe attacked the mountain."
"*Shixiong*!"
Fat Aunt could no longer hold herself up. Her knees suddenly buckled, and she prostrated herself on the ground, crying out.
But the Shu Wu Hall *Shixiong*'s words were not delayed for a moment: "*Shixiong* Chu Zhaoming unfortunately died. His body drifted down the Azure Underworld River and has now been found in the territory of Heaven's Cry Peak."
"Most of his personal belongings were scattered at the place of his demise."
"Heaven's Cry Peak only sent back this jade buckle."
With that, a small piece of jade was tossed by a Shu Wu Hall Disciple in front of Fat Aunt.
Jiang Che's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had seen the color of this jade on the waist of the floating corpse, but at the time, he hadn't detected any signs of spiritual energy flowing within it. It was clearly an ordinary ornament, so he hadn't picked it up.
Fat Aunt's hands trembled as she clutched the jade buckle tightly.
"*Shixiong* Chu is dead, but *Shixiong* Shen is still serving on the peak, so..."
"You can no longer stay in this Za Yi Hall."
The Shu Wu Hall Disciple said coldly: "Because of a small karmic connection with *Shixiong* Chu, you have lingered here for more than ten years longer than ordinary registered Disciples. You should be content."
"People from the mountain garrison will come during the day."
"Pack your bags and follow them into the mountain. If you work diligently and accumulate enough merit for the Saint Sect, you and I may yet meet again someday."
At this point, the Shu Wu Hall Disciple no longer paid attention to Fat Aunt, who was prostrated on the ground.
He simply waved his hand to dismiss the servants.
Then he changed his expression, put on a slight smile, and said: "Jiang Junior Brother Che, come with me. I have a few more things to tell you."
Jiang Che was suddenly called by name and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
But he felt that what he had done by the Azure Underworld River was meticulous enough.
Listening to their conversation just now, the deceased *Shixiong*'s body had fallen into the hands of Heaven's Cry Peak.
Given the relationship between the two peaks, it was already rare to send back a jade buckle as a token.
Furthermore, many items were already scattered along the river.
It was even more impossible for them to know that Jiang Che had taken a pearl and five Spirit Stones from it.
Thinking of this, Jiang Che calmly followed the Shu Wu Hall Disciple's figure, walking deeper into the Za Yi Hall's main building.
Turning down a back corridor, the two stopped in front of a tea room.
The Shu Wu Hall Disciple smiled broadly, extending a hand to invite him to sit: "About a month ago, you were the second among this batch of servants to develop a sense of Qi. At that time, I wanted to come and see you, but I was unfortunately held back by many miscellaneous tasks in the hall."
"How can Jiang Che be worthy of *Shixiong*'s concern?"
Jiang Che sat halfway on a wooden chair in the tea room, wanting to stand up and bow, but the Shu Wu Hall Disciple pressed him down.
"No need for formalities. My surname is Xie, and my given name is Weijun. You can just call me Senior Brother Xie."
Jiang Che readily agreed and immediately changed his address to Senior Brother Xie.
Xie Weijun nodded gently: "To develop a sense of Qi within two months, you have some talent in cultivation."
"Actually, I originally had higher hopes for Qu Gu."
"It's a pity his fortune was too thin, and his killing karma too heavy. Before he could accomplish anything, he ran into Senior Brother Lu."
Although he said this, there was no trace of regret on Xie Weijun's face.
Luck and fortune were inherently part of a Cultivator's talent, even more important than Innate Aptitude and comprehension.
"However, Jiang Junior Brother, you came from behind."
"I wonder what thoughts you have about your future cultivation, and have you considered choosing a master after your one-year term is up?"
