After leaving the auction house, quite a few people kept their eyes on Qin Xiao. After all, when he previously went to the third floor, many had seen him and remembered his appearance.
However, these people were only making a small fuss. Those with true strength naturally would not stake out the place themselves, choosing instead to send people to investigate Qin Xiao's background.
Inside the Li Family.
"Ancestor, we have investigated. This Chu Sheng is the second senior brother of Tianyuan Sect's Immortal Beast Peak, and his strength is comparable to Young Master Li Cheng."
The subordinate investigating the news was in the middle of his report.
"So he is a disciple of Tianyuan Sect. No wonder he dared to disregard our Li Family. Send word to Cheng'er; our family has suffered such humiliation and cannot let this matter go. When he has the opportunity, Cheng'er must help our family recover this face."
The Li Family Ancestor had originally intended to exact revenge himself, but upon learning that the offender belonged to Tianyuan Sect, he abandoned those thoughts. Fortunately, his clan also possessed talented disciples within Tianyuan Sect-specifically at the foremost Immortal Sword Peak-so opportunities to settle the score would eventually arise.
"Hmm? Why are my ears burning? Could someone be thinking of me?"
Chu Sheng was currently in secluded cultivation, preparing for the Abyss Secret Realm, when he suddenly felt a heat in his ears.
"Could a junior sister be pining for me? Ah, being too handsome truly is a burden."
Chu Sheng indulged in a brief moment of self-admiration before dismissing the thought and resuming his cultivation.
City Lord Tan Wang had also contemplated taking action, but upon spotting Manager Wu of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, he immediately abandoned the plan. That was a figure beyond his ability to provoke.
"That fellow's worthless life has been spared. I should be heading back as well.
Seeing Manager Wu, Ye Tianyi decided against lingering further and turned back toward the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion.
Facing no trouble along the way, Qin Xiao and Yun Man arrived safely outside the sect gates.
"Manager Wu, thank you for escorting us all the way to the entrance. Please convey my gratitude to your young lady."
Qin Xiao had originally intended to part ways at the foot of the mountain, as no one would dare brazenly assault Tianyuan Sect disciples on sect territory-an act that would amount to a direct provocation against the entire sect.
Yet Manager Wu had insisted on accompanying them right up to the entrance. Not wishing to refuse a free bodyguard at the late Soul Formation stage, Qin Xiao gladly accepted.
"This old man will take his leave."
Manager Wu was a man of few words; he dropped a single sentence and turned back.
"Disciple, look at others. How steady that flight sword is, and the speed is perfectly measured. You truly need more practice."
Once Manager Wu departed, Qin Xiao began critiquing Yun Man's sword flight technique.
"Aiya, Master, this was my first time carrying a passenger, so I was simply unaccustomed to it. I guarantee you won't feel dizzy next time."
Previously only at the Foundation Establishment stage, Yun Man rarely had occasion to use sword flight. Although she had recently advanced rapidly to the Golden Core stage, her mastery of sword flight had not kept pace, and carrying another person naturally made the journey less than smooth.
"Very well, you must practice more when you have the time. After all, whenever Master needs to travel far in the future, I will be relying entirely on you."
Qin Xiao gave Yun Man's head a satisfied pat. This was the proper attitude.
Safely returning to Seven Stars Peak, Qin Xiao activated the formation. Everything within the courtyard remained unchanged, and he reclaimed his usual rocking chair. With daylight still lingering and cultivation not pressing, he decided to rest for a moment.
"Junior Brother Qin, you have returned."
Hearing of his arrival, Lin Shimeng made her way over.
Now at the Nascent Soul stage, she needed time to stabilize her foundation and felt no immediate rush to enter secluded cultivation. Because Qin Xiao had shouldered the fallout of their previous conflict entirely on his own, a lingering sense of embarrassment prompted her to offer compensation.
"Senior Sister Lin, why have you come again? We already conceded defeat."
Recognizing Lin Shimeng, Qin Xiao's face fell instantly. Surely she wasn't here for another bout?
"Junior Brother Qin, you misunderstand. I am not here to fight."
Lin Shimeng walked right up to Qin Xiao and gestured for him to move aside, clearly intending to take a seat.
"Senior Sister Lin, please sit. If you aren't here for a match, what is the occasion?"
Obediently stepping aside, Qin Xiao could not hide his curiosity regarding the purpose of her visit.
"Regarding what happened last time, I share the blame for leaving you to bear it alone. I intend to offer some compensation. Besides, the rewards from the Sect Competition were never formally handed over due to our hasty departure."
Proud though she was, Lin Shimeng was not entirely unreasonable. She had drawn upon her family's reserves, securing a single drop of Spirit Liquid from her father to compensate Qin Xiao as a gesture of her sincerity.
"Ah, Senior Sister Lin is too polite. Compensation is unnecessary, but what are these rewards you mentioned?"
Only then did Qin Xiao recall that the rewards for the competition had never been distributed before the crowd dispersed.
"The reward consists of certain Spirit Stones, pills, and a Top Grade Spirit Weapon. Oh, and a Nascent Formation Pill as well. Since your disciple has already reached the late Golden Core stage, she will likely have use for it shortly. Everything is inside this Storage Bag."
Lin Shimeng briefly detailed the contents before producing a Storage Bag.
"I see. Then I thank the sect for its cultivation resources.
While Qin Xiao cared little for such modest rewards, proper courtesy still required an expression of gratitude.
"Since the reward has been delivered, this drop of Spirit Liquid constitutes my personal compensation."
Seeing Qin Xiao accept the Storage Bag, Lin Shimeng retrieved a small vial containing a single drop of Spirit Liquid.
"Really, there is no need. Senior Sister Lin is being far too polite."
A mere drop of Spirit Liquid meant little to him, and accepting direct compensation risked alienating Lin Shimeng. While others might accept such gestures, one could never actually pocket them in earnest.
"No, you must accept this."
Noticing his refusal, Lin Shimeng let out a firmer tone.
"Truly, it is uncalled for, Senior Sister Lin."
Qin Xiao felt a twinge of speechlessness. Courtesy had its limits; he understood her good intentions, but pushing the matter further felt excessive.
By his understanding of interpersonal dynamics, a polite refusal once or twice should provide a convenient slope to descend. Why insist on forcing compensation upon him?
"I need a suitable excuse, or she will keep pushing this. I cannot simply take it."
After a brief pause, Qin Xiao formulated a tactful rejection that would allow both parties to preserve their dignity.
"Senior Sister Lin, I have plenty of such items; they are truly of no consequence. Please take it back. We are fellow disciples-to speak of compensation between us makes things far too distant."
He felt the explanation hit the right note.
"What is the meaning of this? Are you deliberately humiliating me? Do you disdain my offering of a single drop of Spirit Liquid and find it unworthy of your notice?"
Lin Shimeng flared up instantly. She had come out of good intentions, only to feel mocked. Did he mistake her for someone easy to push around?
"Eh? Which part of my words was mistaken?"
Faced with her sudden outburst, Qin Xiao blinked in utter confusion. Why did things turn out entirely opposite to his expectations?
"Since you claim to have an abundance of them, I will not make things difficult for you. If you fail to produce five drops of Spirit Liquid right now, I shall take it as a deliberate insult and tear down this wretched courtyard of yours!"
Consumed by indignation, Lin Shimeng felt her goodwill had been entirely unappreciated.
"Here, take these five drops."
Realizing explanations would bear no fruit at this juncture, Qin Xiao simply retrieved five drops of Spirit Liquid.
"What? It truly is Spirit Liquid?"
Accepting the vial with a glare, Lin Shimeng checked the contents and fell momentarily speechless.
"See? Junior Brother had no intention of humiliating you; we simply had no need for compensation. If this helps Senior Sister dispel her anger, consider these five drops my token of respect."
Noticing her anger subside, Qin Xiao hurriedly offered the explanation and prepared to gift her the liquid entirely, hoping only to dispatch this mercurial young woman before her shifting moods caused him further grief.
"Are you genuinely giving these to me?"
Lin Shimeng asked, hardly daring to believe her ears.
"Indeed. If Senior Sister has no other matters, you should return to your quarters to cultivate and stabilize your realm. In twenty-odd days, I will be counting on Senior Sister to look after me within the secret realm."
Qin Xiao nodded repeatedly, eager to see her off.
"Very well. I shall consider this a debt and repay you in the future."
Though she had intended to refuse, her pressing need for Spirit Liquid overrode her pride. With those words, she turned and left.
"That was a close one. She is finally gone."
Qin Xiao bolted the courtyard gates and activated the formation once more. With a little over twenty days remaining, he needed to consolidate his progress in the Body Refinement Second Layer.
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