The heavy slap landed on Bai Yue's face.
Bai Yue's expression was filled with resentment, tears welling in her eyes.
Xiao Yu slapped her again, "What kind of expression is that? Do you even know your place?!"
Bai Yue replied, "If you want to kill me, just do it..."
Xiao Yu laughed coldly, "You don't really want to die, or you would have already done it yourself! A woman like you, with such deep hatred, how could you face your disciples in the afterlife if you die like this?"
"Don't worry, I won't kill you. I'll take good care of you!"
"Until the day you admit your mistakes!"
Bai Yue cursed angrily, "You bastard! One day, I will..."
Before she could finish, Xiao Yu leaned in, "Haven't eaten yet, have you? Don't starve yourself!"
"How can you have the strength to curse me if you're not full?"
Hearing about food, Bai Yue's expression changed, her face turning pale, "Don't you dare..."
Three days later...
At the task commission office of the Sect of Harmonious Union's branch hall.
Wang Mei was complaining to Zhao Gang, "Task after task, never-ending tasks all day long!"
"I told you to get rid of that scoundrel Xiao Yu, why haven't you done it yet? What are you up to?"
Zhao Gang looked frustrated as he glanced at the task board, "I want to, but last time I took people there, the Alchemy Room had the Black Tortoise Formation. What could I do?"
"That coward has been hiding in the Black Tortoise Formation for three days now!"
"What do you suggest? I can't just forcefully attack the Black Tortoise Formation, the commotion would attract your master, and we'd be punished!"
Wang Mei rolled her eyes at him, looking at the task board content, her anger hard to quell.
Just thinking about how Xiao Yu humiliated her in public made her want to tear him apart!
He better stay hidden forever!
At this moment, Zhao Gang suddenly thought of something, "Mei'er, although we can't touch Xiao Yu, we can deal with Lü Ling'er!"
Wang Mei lowered her eyes upon hearing this, "She's the master's disciple. If the master finds out I attacked a fellow disciple, I'd be expelled from the sect..."
Zhao Gang, with a flattering expression, grabbed Wang Mei's hand, "What are you afraid of? What is Zhang Ziling anyway? She's just the sect master's discarded trash. Do you think this place will remain peaceful for long?"
"Soon, this place will be razed to the ground..."
"I have news that Lin Ce's father from the Profound Spirit Sect is coming in the next few days. He's a late Foundation Establishment expert... Along with Lin Ce's master, Zhang Ziling won't be able to withstand it!"
"By then, Mei'er can come with me back to the main sect of the Sect of Harmonious Union. My father is Elder Zhao, as long as you're with me... you won't have to worry about your future."
Wang Mei smiled coquettishly upon hearing this, "Senior Brother Zhao is indeed farsighted... But when you deal with that slut Lü Ling'er, make sure not to expose yourself! She has three low-grade artifacts, you must be careful..."
Zhao Gang chuckled, "Do I need to personally deal with that bitch? We can tamper with the task."
"Isn't there a task to scout Riverflow Mountain? I can plant someone in Lü Ling'er's team for that task..."
Wang Mei's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
...
Inside the Alchemy Room, Xiao Yu looked at his cultivation base, which had already reached the second layer of the Qi Refining Stage, but instead of being happy, he was worried.
His cultivation was advancing too quickly.
He originally wanted to suppress it, but in a place like this, advancing a small stage in three days would easily arouse suspicion.
Senior Sister Mei was an example of this.
The problem now was that he couldn't suppress it even if he wanted to.
Mainly because he couldn't hold it back...
Li Qingyun, Hua Lian, those people didn't matter.
They were still in the Body Tempering Stage.
But Bai Yue's Innate Dao Body was the main issue.
And Zhao Hongye, she was genuinely in the Qi Refining Stage.
If this continued, he figured he really needed to find a way to escape early.
Xiao Yu lowered his head, "I need to control it. If this continues, in a few days, I'll reach the third layer of the Qi Refining Stage! Then I'll be targeted."
"Especially by Wang Mei, they'll definitely come after me, and I need to find a way to deal with her."
Hua Lian suddenly thought of something, her face lighting up with excitement, "That's easy, I can help Master refine Breath-Concealing Pills!"
"A first-grade Breath-Concealing Pill can conceal the aura of the user, making it difficult for anyone below the Foundation Establishment Stage to detect!"
Xiao Yu was pleased to hear this, but before he could speak, Hua Lian added, "But refining Breath-Concealing Pills requires Breath-Concealing Stones, and it seems the Alchemy Room doesn't have any..."
Xiao Yu rested his chin on his hand, thinking that if he could hide his cultivation, it would be ideal.
"Hmm... Breath-Concealing Stones, I'll find a way. Do you know where I can find them?"
Hua Lian wrapped her arms around Xiao Yu, her expression serious, "There's some on Riverflow Mountain, but it's too dangerous. Master should just check the marketplace in the Sect of Harmonious Union! Just get a few."
Xiao Yu nodded and set off, disguising himself.
He arrived at the Hall of Sect Affairs, looking around.
Hall of Law Enforcement, Hall of Menial Tasks, Scripture Pavilion, Task Commission Office, Cultivation Marketplace...
Xiao Yu's gaze couldn't help but linger on the Scripture Pavilion, the place every disciple dreamed of.
The cultivation arts and secret techniques stored there were what every disciple longed for.
However, only disciples who completed major tasks could choose cultivation methods from inside.
Looking at Bai Yue in the Judgment Chamber, her eyes vacant, Xiao Yu's lips curled into a smile.
Once Bai Yue's Judgment Value was full, he would have her write down all the cultivation methods.
According to Hua Lian, Bai Yue was like a walking library of cultivation methods, with countless high-grade techniques.
After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yu headed towards the marketplace.
Upon reaching the sect's marketplace, Xiao Yu saw the bustling scene under the spirit-infused archway.
The marketplace was filled with stalls of all kinds.
Elixirs, spiritual treasures, talismans, everything was available.
The aroma of pill furnaces wafted through the air, and the treasures' radiance attracted many cultivators to stop and admire.
Some cultivators haggled at the stalls, while others engaged in sparring and exchanges, creating a lively atmosphere.
However, amidst the bustling marketplace, Xiao Yu also noticed some darker elements.
Slaves, cauldrons...
And some mortal children kept in cages.
In the distance, an iron cage held a wolf-shaped spirit beast, though it had a lame leg, its eyes were fiercely menacing.
It was likely taken from a righteous faction cultivator's spirit beast pouch.
Hua Lian, observing the scene from the servant's pavilion, earnestly explained to Xiao Yu, appearing like an all-knowing guide.
"Master, that's a second-tier Gale Wolf, clearly owned by someone. Whoever buys it will be unlucky!"
"Don't bother with those cultivation manuscripts over there, they're all hand-copied, useless!"
Xiao Yu, puzzled, asked Hua Lian in the servant's pavilion, "Lian'er, what do you mean by hand-copied being useless?"
Hua Lian's eyes sparkled, "Cultivation methods come in various grades: Yellow, Profound, High, Earth, Heaven, Divine! Normally, the cultivation methods used by cultivators are all hand-copied!"
"These hand-copied methods have a flaw, they can't replicate the true essence of the original scroll, only the surface!"
"For high-grade and above methods, only Golden Core Stage cultivators can copy them, and when copying, they must infuse magical power to transfer the entire content of the original scroll to the new manuscript!"
"Just writing down the incantation formula can only replicate up to seventy percent of the original scroll's essence!"
Hua Lian's eyes grew more excited as she spoke, "Master's Blissful Harmonious Union Art is a Heaven-grade method, even if you write it down, others can only learn up to seventy percent at most!"
"If a Divine-grade method were to appear... it would cause a phenomenon in the heavens and earth!!! It would definitely lead to a bloody storm!"
Xiao Yu was momentarily stunned, looking at Bai Yue in the Judgment Chamber, uncertain, "So, I can't have your master help me write down cultivation methods?"
Hua Lian rested her chin on her hand, "Hehe, my master has three abodes... Each one has restriction seals, filled with countless treasures! There must be original scrolls of cultivation methods!"
"By then, you can have Master take you there~ There are also high-grade artifacts and talisman treasures!"
Xiao Yu's lips curled into a smile as he continued walking.
Passing by a stall selling slaves, the vendor quickly approached, "Fellow Daoist! This is a menial disciple from the righteous Profound Spirit Sect, Body Tempering Stage five, only twenty spirit stones! The price is negotiable!"
"Look at this woman's skin, I guarantee it's original!"
Across the way, another man shouted, "Young man~ I have a virgin boy here, with three spirit roots, buying him as a servant is definitely worth it! Only twenty-five spirit stones!" Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Hua Lian looked at those people with disgust, "Truly despicable, how can they sell women and children?"
Xiao Yu continued walking, ignoring those people, "Your righteous faction isn't much better, how many mortals did you and your master harm in the past to kill demonic cultivators?"
Hua Lian felt a bit wronged, "Master, you've misunderstood Lian'er... I could only follow Master's orders in the past, but now that I'm with you, I'll definitely be obedient... Whoever Master wants me to kill, I'll kill..."
"Besides, Master, don't feel too sorry for those mortals, some mortals are more wicked than cultivators... Do you really think they're all innocent?"
Xiao Yu didn't respond, he understood the concept of extreme evil.
But he wouldn't kill indiscriminately.
At this moment, Xiao Yu suddenly noticed a female cultivator selling puppets ahead.
She appeared to be at the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Stage.
Recalling the combat effectiveness of the puppet eagle when he was ambushed by Mei Chunlan and Ma Hongcui, he approached.
Hua Lian quickly spoke from the servant's pavilion, "Master, puppets are different from spirit beasts. Puppets have no emotions and will never betray, unlike spirit beasts..."
"Spirit beasts are essentially demonic beasts, they need to eat Spirit Beast Feeding Pills, require psychological counseling, some might escape, slack off, or even kill their master!"
"The advantage of spirit beasts over puppets is their strong autonomous combat ability, unlike puppets that require various commands!"
"There are pros and cons..."
Hearing this, Xiao Yu stepped forward, carefully examining the seven or eight puppets on the stall.
The stall displayed various puppet beasts, each with a unique form.
Some were mighty and majestic, some small and delicate, some fierce and terrifying, some gentle and cute.
Each puppet was engraved with intricate runes, emitting a strange glow.
Xiao Yu's eyes were drawn to a small puppet rat, but he didn't pick it up.
Instead, he picked up a puppet doll and examined it.
The vendor, a female cultivator in a green robe, with a fair face but pale lips, put down the Puppet Codex she was holding and began to introduce, "Junior Brother, the puppet doll in your hand is priced at one hundred and fifty spirit stones, it can be equipped with a low-grade attack artifact, and it can help you break formations, scout, and distract!"
"This is freshly crafted by me, definitely not second-hand... cough cough..."
The woman covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief as she spoke.
Xiao Yu pursed his lips, dissatisfied, and put the puppet doll back, "One hundred and fifty spirit stones... I could buy a first-tier spirit beast with that, and don't you need to load spirit stones into puppets as a power source?"
The woman smiled slightly, "Junior Brother is right, but my puppet crafting technique is learned from the Puppet Codex of the Thousand Mechanisms Hall, you can load three spirit stones at once, and the combat duration won't be shorter than a spirit beast!"
"Plus, they're easy to carry, you can put them directly into a storage pouch, some puppets can even be hidden in sleeves, and if equipped with a Breath-Concealing Artifact, cultivators of the same level won't detect you have puppets!"
Xiao Yu picked up a puppet tiger and examined it, "Hmm... it's just a bit expensive! I'm just browsing..."
The female cultivator chuckled softly, picking up a puppet doll, "Junior Brother, if you have Qi Restoration Pills, I'll trade two for one puppet with you!"
Hua Lian in the servant's pavilion laughed, "Haha, such a swindler, a Qi Restoration Pill costs a hundred spirit stones each, she's raising the price..."
Xiao Yu's eyes turned playful, "Is Senior Sister taking advantage of Junior Brother's ignorance? But I don't want to buy now!"
Seeing Xiao Yu about to leave, the woman quickly stepped forward, "Junior Brother, please wait!!!"
In the tugging, Xiao Yu noticed her extremely pale arm.
It was clear she was injured, and quite severely.
The female cultivator quickly retracted her arm, "Junior Brother, don't worry, business is negotiable. I've been injured by Lin Ce recently and really need elixirs, otherwise, I wouldn't be selling my treasured puppets!"
"Junior Brother, if you give me two Qi Restoration Pills, you can choose any two puppets from my stall!"
"My name is Lü Rui, a first-tier Puppet Master... Please, Junior Brother, help me!"
Xiao Yu lowered his head, pondering, a Puppet Master...
A woman with a secondary profession.
And the system hadn't flagged her as a Vicious Maiden.
He knew that cultivators like Beast Masters and Puppet Masters, though not strong individually, were formidable in group fights.
One could easily take on three or four opponents.
"Hmm... I do have Qi Restoration Pills, but with your injuries, it might take four or five pills to recover, right?"
Lü Rui sighed helplessly, "Exactly... With the ongoing battles, healing elixirs like these are all in the hands of inner disciples, we outer disciples can't get them..."
Xiao Yu thought for a moment, then leaned in to whisper, "Junior Brother has a way to help Senior Sister Lü recover... Would Senior Sister be willing to..."
Lü Rui's eyes widened in shock, her face flushed with anger, "You... you..."