Chapter 31
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Chapter 31: Strange
The liquid in these jars clearly contained incredible spirit herbs. This wasn’t wine at all—it was simply astonishing medicinal liquid disguised by a wine-like aroma!
Ye Yun instinctively sensed the spiritual energy within these remnants far exceeded that of multiple middle-grade spirit stones. Typically, spirit herbs producing such potent energy also carried unique effects.
Returning the three jars as-is would let the liquid’s essence vanish naturally. He couldn’t help but consider collecting it.
Even these leftovers would prove invaluable for someone at his cultivation level.
But Elder Seven’s erratic behavior made Ye Yun hesitate—would taking the liquid provoke the unpredictable elder? That casual palm strike earlier had revealed Elder Seven’s cultivation level far surpassed the outer sect elders.
As Ye Yun wavered, he watched Elder Seven vanish into the mist-covered spirit fields. Without thinking, Ye Yun dashed into the stone chamber, swiftly emptying the three wine jars into a jade pill bottle.
The dregs filled the two-finger-thick bottle perfectly. Securing the lid, Ye Yun broke into cold sweat, heart pounding as if he’d narrowly escaped death. He fled immediately after replacing the empty jars.
“Boy—wait.”
Elder Seven’s voice froze Ye Yun mid-step near the valley exit. His heart nearly stopped as he turned slowly.
The elder stood behind him, eyes gleaming like polished gemstones—sharp, clear, utterly sane. That piercing gaze seemed to strip Ye Yun’s soul bare.
“During the Hall of Refining the Heart trial,” Elder Seven asked solemnly, “did you sense golden core light merging with you?”
Ye Yun’s pupils shrank. When the black and white lights had absorbed that golden strand, even the overseeing elders hadn’t noticed. How did this mad elder detect it?
“Senior… what did you observe?” Ye Yun stalled, mind racing. “The stone tablet’s golden light enveloped me completely. It felt… profound.”
Elder Seven maintained his patient frown. “Anything else? Any sense of the light fusing with your body?”
“Nothing specific.” Ye Yun forced calm into his voice. “Is something wrong with me?”
“Don’t fret.” The elder’s brow smoothed. “I detected golden core light’s residual aura within you. Normally, disciples can’t absorb such energy—yet somehow, it bonded with you. This is tremendous fortune, not harm. Core light immersion only brings benefits.”
Relief flooded Ye Yun—the elder had sensed the golden essence briefly flowing through him during the black and white lights’ absorption. His assumption about the lights stealing core energy proved correct.
But what terrifying cultivation level allowed Elder Seven to perceive this fleeting fusion?
He slightly twitched the corner of his mouth and lowered his head to prevent Elder Seven from noticing his emotional shift. He asked casually, "Senior, does that stone tablet truly contain an alchemy pill from our sect’s ancestor?"
Elder Seven glanced at him. "Of course. When a Golden Core expert from Tian Zhu Peak met his death, he embedded his alchemy pill into the tablet with immense magical power to suppress the Hall of Refining the Heart and test disciples."
"But they only know half the truth. The pill wasn’t randomly placed—Golden Pill masters don’t act so frivolously. The tablet and hall form a magical array to slow the pill’s energy dissipation. If the pill senses a suitable disciple, it’ll actively recognize them and pass on its master’s legacy." He paused, eyeing Ye Yun. "I was shocked when I first detected pill aura on you. But since you feel nothing now, your body must have resonated with the pill briefly before its golden core light withdrew after probing you."
"So that’s how it works."
Though Ye Yun knew the black and white lights had caused this—not Elder Seven’s explanation—he still shuddered. Those lights had absorbed pill essence. Could this grant him future advantages from the Golden Pill master?
"Don’t despair."
Misreading Ye Yun’s tremor as disappointment, Elder Seven said sternly, "You’ve reached the Internal Breathing stage after just three years of basic cultivation technique training. Your physique surpasses ordinary disciples, placing you among this year’s top trial participants. The golden core light entered you for good reason. Even without immediate inheritance, hard work and opportunity could still make you prominent in the Heavenly Sword Sect."
Seeing Elder Seven’s conclusion, Ye Yun calmly bowed. "Thank you for your guidance. I’ll strive as fate allows. But someone like me dares not hope for prominence."
"Nonsense!"
Elder Seven snorted coldly. "You’re the first in years to earn spirit stones from me. If you fail, it reflects poorly on me too."
Ye Yun’s heart chilled at the elder’s erratic tone. Tian Zhu Peak was just an outer sect alchemy branch—some elders couldn’t even enter the inner mountains. Yet Elder Seven spoke as if ruling the entire sect. He nodded obediently.
"Remember my words. Attend mandatory trials, but come here otherwise. I’ll assign tasks."
Elder Seven waved dismissively. "Now leave."
Ye Yun bowed and fled the spirit fields, shaken by how a simple task nearly killed him.
"To the Trial Hall."
It all felt surreal. He wanted distance from that valley. Examining his waist token, he worried Elder Seven had tampered with it.
At the bustling Trial Hall, outer disciples hurried past. The young disciple who’d spoken to Ye Yun earlier remained at the entrance.
Ye Yun approached, offering his token. "Senior Brother, I’m here to submit my task."
The black-robed disciple looked up. "You? The spirit field cultivator?"
Remembering their prior conversation, Ye Yun explained quietly, "Elder Seven confirmed my completion. But… could you verify my token?"
The disciple frowned, drew a black jade tablet, and channeled spiritual power. Black light engulfed Ye Yun’s token.
In that instant, shock flashed across the disciple’s face.
