After sending the newly upgraded Messenger Spirit Beast back home, Li Yuan sealed the courtyard formation and returned to his room. Once there, he took out three spatial rings in front of him.

  These spatial rings were the ones that he'd taken from those three Inner Sect disciples. Yes, he had let two of them leave, but not before he had confiscated all their wealth, and that included their spatial ring, and any other life saving artefact they had on their person.

  And now that he finally had some time to himself, it was time to check the loot.

  The spirit stones came out first. Mid and Low Grade Spirit Stones piled on the floor in a large heap. Counting them with his Qi Sense gave him a rough estimate of over 42,000 Spirit stones.

  'Damn. Are all Inner Court disciples this wealthy?' He wondered.

  Before his transmigration, as an early stage Qi Condensation cultivator, Li Yuan had to complete various sect tasks for an entire month before he received 10 spirit stones. And most those were snatched away by other seniors. So the difference between wealth could only be said to be truly staggering.

  Once he had done that, he moved on to the various artefacts, weapons, talismans, and other treasures owned by these disciples. Two of these were substitution charms that could take a fatal blow in the user's stead. And he placed them aside for his parents for when he returns home. As for the others, he stacked them neatly aside and calculated their resale value.

  If sold discreetly through the city's black channels, they would likely fetch around 130,000 spirit stones. Combined with the spirit stones at hand, his total would reach approximately one hundred and seventy thousand spirit stones.

  'Holy shit.' He thought. 'Why the heck am I still hunting Spirit Beasts when hunting other cultivators is this beneficial?'

  Of course, the idea was just that. As much as he didn't see himself as a good guy, he still had the morals from his past life and had a few lines he won't cross. Killing other humans to rob them of their wealth being one such line. Xu Chen being the sole exception to that rule.

  There was also the Law Peak to consider. For now, the Law Peak has not taken any action against him. Maybe because they looked into Gu Hao's death and realised that it was done in self defence. But if he started hunting Inner Sect disciples in large numbers, then they would definitely investigate the matter.

  Still… with this much wealth, he would finally have accumulated enough Spirit Stones to upgrade his Spirit Lake to mid-grade. Or that's what he would've done, if not for the letter resting in his pocket.

  He took it out and went through it once again.

  My Yuan'er,

  ?

  By the time this letter reaches you, the family will already be preparing the celebration. Your grandfather has received official recognition from the Empire. And our Li Family has been elevated to an Eighth-Grade Family.

  ?

  The ancestral hall has never been this lively. Your uncles have been arguing over banquet seating for the past two days. Your younger cousins strut around like peacocks, as if they had negotiated with the imperial envoys themselves.

  ?

  Your father pretends to remain calm, but I can see him smiling whenever he thinks I'm not looking.

  As for your grandfather… he says little. He sits alone in his courtyard these days, watching the sky. He only has a few years to live, but with this, the family would remember him for many generations to come.

  ?

  This honour came rather suddenly, and we still don't know what we've done to receive such recognition from the Empire, but it is real. The Imperial decree bears the Dragon Seal itself.

  With this, our resources will increase, our territory will expand greatly, and our standing among neighbouring clans will rise.

  ?

  The Imperial Seal also promises to provide us with enough resources to rise ten of our family members to Foundation Establishment realm, as well as raise five of our low grade lakes to Mid-grade lakes so that we could be a proper 8th Grade family.

  ?

  Yuan'er, you must return home for the celebration. It would not be complete without you and maybe you can take this chance to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill for yourself as well.

  ?

  Your grandfather has already asked twice whether you have written recently. He says that when you come back, he will personally test your cultivation.

  ?

  Do not neglect your safety on the journey. And no matter how high you climb, remember that this home remains yours.

  ?

  We are proud of you.

  ?

  Return soon.

  ?

  — Your Mother

  Li Yuan folded the letter and placed it back in his pocket, a grim look on his face.

  The Empire would not raise his family to the position of an 8th Grade family without any reason. He was sure that his grandfather must've handed over the Hundred Year Lifespan Gu to the Empire in order to receive this great favour.

  Though of course, whether this 'great favour' was worth even a fraction of the Lifespan Gu's true value was debatable. But he doubted that anyone in the family truly cared, if they even knew the reason behind their elevation in the first place.

  Still, this meant that his grandfather did not take Lifespan Gu, and thus, only has a few years left to live.

  Li Yuan closed his eyes briefly, picturing his grandfather seated quietly in the courtyard, back still straight despite the weakness creeping into his body.

  It did not surprise him that his grandfather had placed the clan's rise above his own survival. It was a choice entirely in character with him. And Li Yuan respected that sacrifice despite how much it saddened him.

  Especially because he currently possessed no other life-extending items. Of all treasures in the cultivation world, those that prolonged lifespan were among the rarest and most fiercely contested. Nascent Soul cultivators would bankrupt themselves for a few additional decades. While Golden Core cultivators would fight each other to death for the same.

  Yes, with his Fortune power, it was likely that he might run into another such life extending item in the future. But it was also just as likely that he won't.

  Li Yuan folded the letter carefully and returned it to his robe. His gaze drifted back to the pile of spirit stones heaped on the ground.

  Well… the Empire has already promised to raise five of their Spirit Lakes to mid-grade, so it shouldn't be a problem if he acts selfishly for once, and uses these spirit stones for his own lake, right?

  Plus, many of these spirit herbs were of little use to him and were being raised by him for the family's sake in the first place. So after giving it a thought, he decided to go ahead with his original decision.

  He placed the Spirit Stones and other valuables back in his spatial ring. It was time for him to go back to the auction house. But before that… he needed to take a small detour.

  —————

  The Scripture Pavilion was quiet as usual.

  Li Yuan gave a respectful bow to the powerful cultivator at the gate and entered the building.

  Healing techniques were stored along the eastern wing so that's where he went without any delay. During the tournament, he had come to realise just how fragile cultivators were. A single wound to the wrong place, and you could be severely injured, or crippled for life.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Back then, he had decided that he would learn a Healing technique after the tournament, and now was the time to keep that promise to himself.

  He stopped before a section marked with a pale green sigil saying: Restorative Arts.

  He began pulling jade slips from the shelves one by one, reading the description about the techniques on those shelves.

  The first was Verdant Pulse Sutra. A wood-attribute technique that stimulated cellular regeneration. Effective for cuts, bruises, and fractured bones. The only problem was that it worked slowly, and was not very useful during battle. And so, he discarded this technique and moved on.

  The second was Misty Rain Rejuvenation Method — a water-aligned art that condensed healing vapour around the wound, easing pain and accelerating recovery. Alas, this technique didn't heal poison or internal wounds, which was a major threat when facing spirit beasts, so he skipped it as well.

  Next came Silver Meridian Mending Art — a highly advanced technique focused on repairing damaged meridians and stabilising Qi deviations. A good technique, but not what he was looking for at all.

  He read through their descriptions carefully before he shook his head in disappointment, returned the jade slips back to their place and then moved on.

  After half an hour of searching, his fingers paused on a crimson-edged jade slip.

  Yang Flame Restoration Technique.

  According to the description, the technique was fire-aligned, but not destructive. By condensing refined Yang Qi at the fingertips and igniting it under controlled resonance, the practitioner could produce a pale-gold flame. A flame that, instead of burning, stimulated rapid tissue regeneration. Sterilising wounds, and forcing blood vessels to seal, preventing blood loss during battle.

  This technique also burned away any lingering poison in the body, and also healed any internal wounds while also mending broken bones. Minor wounds would close within seconds, and deeper ones would knit shut within minutes.

  Of course, this technique had its own problems. Namely, it could not replace lost blood. It could not regrow severed limbs or destroyed organs. And it did nothing against damaged meridians.

  With all that said, this was still the best healing technique that could be used in the middle of a battle, or in between battles. Unless he suffered a catastrophic injury, it was extraordinarily effective.

  And as for missing limbs and damaged meridians. His Heavenly Star Refining Sutra also had healing properties capable of healing such damage. Yes, the Heavenly Star Refining Sutra worked rather slowly in its healing, but he did not mind that at all as the healing part of that technique was just an additional function.

  Li Yuan paid for the Yang Flame Restoration Technique, and moved on.

  After all, aside from a Healing Technique, he had promised himself another technique. The sword techniques occupied the western wing. So that's where he went next.

  During the last tournament, he had also found that while his Mountain Splitting Stillness worked wonderfully against Spirit Beasts, it didn't work nearly half as well against other cultivators. Basically, it excelled at attacking large, and sturdy targets but was not as useful against smaller and nimbler targets. Meaning humans.

  Hence, he started looking for a technique that was fast. He did not need a very lethal technique this time. Because as long as a cultivator runs out of Defensive artefact and life protecting talismans, a single nick to the throat is all it takes to bleed them out.

  That's not saying that cultivators were glass canons. Even a Body Tempering Realm cultivator (who's not even considered a true cultivator) is strong enough to wrestle a bear into submission. But the Qi techniques used by cultivators are just so strong and lethal, that unless you are a body cultivator, you might as well be a glass canon.

  So, he looked through the Sword techniques, discarding them one after another until he finally stopped at one.

  Infinite Micro-Slash Domain

  An advanced art made by a genius swordsman after he saw a Nascent Soul Cultivator use a domain. Within a short radius around the practitioner, sword Qi vibrates constantly, generating invisible cutting currents.

  It's less about launching blades and more about creating a localized "death zone." Step within this pseudo-domain and you'll die by being cut by a thousand blades.

  At higher level of comprehension, you can extend the domain in any one particular direction to launch mid-range attacks.

  He stared at this technique… and hummed.

  When he had stepped into the Scripture Pavilion, he had done so with the promise that he would choose a simple sword art. Nothing that would take too many points to learn. But now…

  Sorry mom. But you've raised a greedy son.

  Yoink!

  He quickly paid for this sword technique as well.

  Of course, it was not like the technique was not without its own weakness. The two main weaknesses being that the technique required deep sword comprehension to learn, and immense Qi Reserves to use.

  But… ahem… he was sure that with his Stele, he would be able to learn it rather easily. As for the problem with lacking Immense Qi Reserves… he could only hope that he would be able to end his battles as quickly as possible. Otherwise, he would have no choice but to use his Veil of Borrowed Heaven to escape.

  With this done, it was time to go down the mountain and sell his ill begotten items for that sweet sweet cash.

  —————

  Two days later.

  Having liquidated all his ill begotten gains into spirit stones, Li Yuan now stood at the edge of his spirit lake, watching it shimmer under a faint blue glow. A spiritual mist rising from its surface before it was absorbed by the Grand Formation surrounding it.

  He dove under water and reached the formation plate of the Grand Formation that powered the micro climate formations of entire spirit herb garden, and deactivated it.

  It was a necessary step for what he was about to do next. He exhaled once and then began.

  Formation flags slid into place one by one around the lake's perimeter, embedding deep into the soft ground. His fingers moved with precision as he calculated and adjusted the flags according to his calculations. Lines of light connected the formation plate and the flags one by one until they all linked together and formed a bright coherent network.

  He let out a sigh and wiped the sweat off his brow. This was the most complex First-Tier formation he had constructed to date. After all, restructuring and upgrading a Spirit Lake by one minor level was no easy task.

  The Heaven-Nurturing Lake Refinement Array truly lived up to its name and reputation.

  He adjusted a final node and felt the structure lock into place with a subtle internal resonance. He moved back for a moment and watched the formation with careful eyes. When nothing went wrong, he let out a sigh of relief.

  Stable.

  He did not take any chances. His entire fortune was at line here.

  With all that done, he took out 3,300 mid-grade spirit stone from a spatial ring and them placed them atop the formation plate.

  He paused briefly, eyes scanning every connection one last time. Satisfied, he sent a strand of his Qi into the plate and watched as it flared to light, the brightness so blinding that he had to close his eyes and back off.

  When he opened his eyes again, he saw the formation lines igniting and converging toward the lake's heart. The mid-grade spirit stones began to crumble into moats of energy almost immediately, their dense spiritual essence siphoned away in visible streams that was then absorbed by the formation plate.

  The Lake's calm surface started to churn, as if something deep beneath its surface had awakened.

  He watched the entire process in silence. Well aware that he entire process will take at least a day or two. And there was not much he could do to accelerate the process.

  Satisfied that the stabilising array held firm, Li Yuan took one last look at the Spirit Lake and then came out of the Ancient Spatial Ring.

  Once back in his house, he rolled his shoulders and took out the Yang Flame Restoration Technique and Infinite Micro-Slash Domain. Intending to master those two techniques before he returned home. Only to pause as he felt his surveillance formation stir.

  Someone was standing outside his courtyard gates. Someone with a rather familiar presence. He rose and stepped outside to greet this visitor.

  Han Mei waited outside, wearing Inner Sect robes embroidered with the sharp sigil of Sword Peak. Though there was something else about her. His eyes rose up in surprise upon noticing that she had reached the Peak of Qi Condensation Realm. Only one breath away from Foundation Establishment.

  He allowed a faint smile. "Congratulations, Sister Mei."

  Han Mei dipped her head slightly, but her gaze lingered on him longer than necessary. "Thank you, brother Yuan. It was only because of you that I managed to pass the tournament and gain a spot as an inner sect disciple."

  He smiled and gestured toward the house. "Please. Come in."

  She stepped inside—and stopped.

  Her eyes moved slowly across the cracked walls, the warped wooden table, the patched bedding visible through the doorway. And confusion flickered across her face.

  "You… live here?" she asked.

  He chuckled. "Yeah. Not what you expected, is it?"

  She turned toward him fully. "With your ability, you could easily move higher up the mountain. There are vacant courtyards with dense Qi, better scenery, servant disciples—"

  "I don't need dense Qi to cultivate," he interrupted mildly. "And I don't care much about better scenery or servant disciples either.

  She frowned slightly. "At least a better environment—"

  "I'll move to a better courtyard when I enter the Inner Sect." His tone remained calm. "Until then, this is sufficient." More than sufficient, really. He had grown accustomed to living here. And for all its faults, he wouldn't be lying if he said that he had grown attached to this place.

  She studied him for a moment, then nodded. They sat. And he asked about the final stage of the tournament. Her expression shifted subtly at his question as she explained.

  "The last part of the tournament lasted three days," she said. "We were given a sword technique and told to study and practice it for the next three days."

  "And?"

  "This part of the tournament was about sword comprehension. The five disciples with the greatest comprehension of the sword were accepted into the Sword Peak." Han Mei said and then gave him a bright smile. "Either by talent, or by good fortune, I managed to rank fifth among the other disciples, and barely managed to snag an Inner Sect position for myself."

  He inclined his head, wondering if his own fortune had something to do with her success. Did his power even work on others? He kept his thoughts to himself and nodded. "Well done, Sister Mei."

  A faint flush touched her ears before she suppressed it.

  "How did you reach the Peak of Qi Condensation so quickly?" He asked curiously.

  "I received a Three Petal pill as a reward for entering the Inner sect and after consuming it, I made a breakthrough." She said with a huge smile. "Once I've stabilised my cultivation, I would be ready to finally breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."

  "Oh. Has your family made any preparations in that regard?" He asked.

  "Yes. My father has already secured a Foundation Establishment Pill for me. A servant will bring it over in a month." she said. "I will attempt my breakthrough once the servant arrives."

  He studied her quietly, then retrieved a jade bottle from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "Take this."

  Han Mei opened it and inhaled sharply. "Heavy Spirit Water?"

  A Foundation Establishment Pill gave a person an 80% chance to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment realm. Give or take 5% more or less depending on the quality of the pill. If it's a low quality pill, then she'll have a 75% chance of breakthrough.

  Which meant a 1 in 4 chance of failure. The Heavy Spirit Water, which increases one's chances of breakthrough by 40%, will completely remove any such doubt from her breakthrough.

  "Yes." He said simply.

  Han Mei's fingers tightened around the bottle—but then, with immense effort of will, she pushed it back toward him.

  "I can't accept this, brother Yuan" she said firmly. "You already saved my life. I owe you more than I can repay. How could I take even more from you."

  He shrugged lightly. "If you don't want to take it as a gift then consider it an investment. A favour, so to speak."

  "I—"

  "Take it," he said again, "Your breakthrough benefits you. And strong allies are useful to me. So it's a win-win."

  She stared at him for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, she stood.

  Before he could react, she bit her fingertip and drew a sigil in the air. Blood light flared as she pressed her palm against her chest.

  "I, Han Mei, swear upon my blood and cultivation," she said, her voice steady. "that I will never forget Li Yuan's kindness. If he calls upon me, I will answer. Whatever task he requires, I will fulfill to the best of my ability."

  The blood sigil burned, then sank into her skin.

  Li Yuan exhaled slowly, having not expected that at all. A cultivator did not make a blood oath so lightly. "You're overly serious, Sister Mei" he muttered.

  "A life debt is not a small matter." Han Mei replied seriously.

  He regarded her for a moment, then nodded faintly. "Very well. Focus on your breakthrough. Crossing a major realm is no trivial thing. By the time I return, I expect you would've already stepped into the next major realm."

  "By the time you return? Are you going somewhere brother Yuan?" she asked.

  He nodded. "My family has been promoted to an 8th Grade family. And I've been asked to return and take part in the celebration by my mother."

  "Oh. That's wonderful news, brother Yuan." Han Mei said, her eyes lighting up in genuine joy.

  "Thank you." He said, and the room fell into silence afterward. A silence that wasn't awkward but not entirely comfortable either.

  Finally, Han Mei stood up and gave him another deep bow. "If there's anything you need of me. Just send a message to my Identity token, and I'll return to repay this favour, brother Yuan. Till then, farewell."

  "Farewell, Sister Mei." He said, and without waiting for any further words, Han Mei turned and left his house. The Surveillance formation rippled as she left. And then, the silence return.

  Li Yuan looked down at the ground where some of Han Mei's blood had fallen and sighed.'What an impulsive girl.' He thought, though he would be lying if he said that he didn't appreciate her loyalty and decisiveness.

  Then, he took out his books and started studying. Once his spirit lake has been upgraded, it would be time for him to finally return home.