Chapter 29 Paying Respects
When he opened it, he discovered that inside were actually ten dark green pills lying there.
"This... are Condensing Truth Pills?"
Lu Li could hardly believe it. After repeatedly confirming, he found that they were indeed Condensing Truth Pills. A delighted expression immediately crossed his face before his brows furrowed. "Why is he giving me Condensing Truth Pills? Is it just because of those few words I said?"
Thinking it over and over, Lu Li couldn't figure it out, but these Condensing Truth Pills were genuine, so he stopped dwelling on it, figuring he would have an opportunity to thank him properly later.
What Lu Li didn't know was that Min He had already left the Qingyang Sect by this time. When the two would meet again was anyone's guess.
With the Condensing Truth Pills in hand, Lu Li had no desire to waste any more time. He returned directly to his room and began another round of secluded cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, nearly three months had passed in the Time Hall.
In the outside world, only nine days had passed.
Calculating the time, today was the thirtieth of April, and it was time for him to leave.
Worth celebrating was that he had successfully opened the fourth acupoint of the second Qi channel. He could now truly be considered a Novice of the second layer of Qi Refining.
His Divine Sense skyrocketed directly from the original range of ten zhang to twenty zhang, and the range from which he could absorb Spiritual Qi received another boost as well.
The effect of the Condensing Truth Pills was truly exceptional. However, a single Condensing Truth Pill could only maintain its efficacy for about three to four hours. Before he could even fully indulge in the rush, the medicinal power faded, and for the remaining time he had to rely entirely on his own slow refinement.
If he had more Condensing Truth Pills, he definitely could have broken through two more acupoints.
It seemed that figuring out ways to earn more contribution points was the proper course of action. If he continued like this, who knew when he would break through to the third layer of Qi Refining and become a formal disciple.
After a simple tidying up, Lu Li left the cave dwelling.
He had barely moved over the past few days, leaving his body somewhat stiff. Stepping outside, he took a deep breath of fresh air and looked up at the warm sun in the sky, feeling immensely refreshed.
Knock, knock, knock.
Lu Li arrived in front of Xiao Jue's cave dwelling in the middle and knocked on the door.
He envied beings like Xiao Jue who could enter seclusion without eating or drinking, even secretly thinking that once he reached Foundation Establishment, he would stay in the Time Hall and cultivate indefinitely.
With a creak, the door opened. Xiao Jue appeared at the entrance and looked Lu Li up and down. "Kid, do you need something?"
Lu Li glanced inside inadvertently and discovered that Xiao Jue's cave dwelling was countless times more luxurious than his own. The stone table inside was covered with various fruits brimming with Spiritual Qi, causing his face to twitch slightly. It seemed that Foundation Establishment mighty ones didn't entirely abstain from food after all.
Seeing Xiao Jue staring at him, he quickly lowered his head and said, "Reporting to Senior, today is the end of the month, and I need to return. That... the contribution points?"
"Oh, if you hadn't mentioned it, this old man almost forgot." Xiao Jue's face was flushed, and as he spoke, a thick smell of alcohol drifted out-at a glance, he had just been drinking, and quite a bit of it at that.
With a sweep of his palm, three purple cards appeared in his hand. After a moment of thought, he retrieved another one, making a total of four, and handed them to Lu Li. "According to the agreement, that's three thousand contribution points in total, but this old man sees that you performed well, so I'll give you an extra thousand. Take them."
Lu Li was overjoyed and hastily accepted the cards. "Thank you for the reward, Senior. I'll take my leave now."
"Mm, this old man just drank some wine and my head feels a bit swollen, so I won't see you off. Make your own way down the mountain slowly." Xiao Jue nodded, finished speaking, and slammed the door shut with a loud clang.
"Hehe, this old man isn't half bad."
Lu Li happily stored the contribution cards inside the Space Hall. As for the Storage Bag at his waist, it was merely used as a cover to prevent anyone from discovering his pagoda.
Just as he was preparing to leave, Lu Li glanced toward the kitchen and suddenly remembered he wanted to express his thanks to Min He, so he strode over quickly.
When he stepped inside, however, he found it still entirely empty. Even the leftover food had already grown mold, and a sense of unease immediately welled up in his chest. Hesitating for a moment, he returned to Xiao Jue's door and knocked once more.
Moments later, Xiao Jue flung the door open with a resounding bang. "Is there no end to this? Can't a man even drink in peace!"
His temper turned faster than a book could be flipped.
Lu Li muttered a silent complaint inwardly, but still spoke with utmost courtesy. "Senior, I noticed that the food in the kitchen has grown mold, and Senior Brother Min He has been missing for many days. Fearing that something might have happened to him, I came specifically to report it..."
"Min He?" Xiao Jue frowned, stepped outside, and hurried toward the kitchen. After a series of clattering noises, he turned back to Lu Li with a grim expression. "When was the last time you saw him?"
Lu Li thought for a moment and replied, "It should be... twelve days ago."
"Twelve... This is bad!" Xiao Jue's expression shifted drastically. In a state of panic, he bolted toward the back mountain.
Lu Li initially wanted to follow and see what was happening, but seeing him head toward the back mountain and remembering that Deng Qingsheng was still imprisoned there, he decided not to court trouble. He turned directly toward the small path descending the mountain on the other side of the square.
Back mountain.
At this moment, Deng Qingsheng no longer looked human. His face was devoid of color, his hair dry and brittle, his eye sockets sunken, and his entire body was reduced to a layer of skin draped over bone. He looked as though he could draw his final breath at any second.
He lay on the ground motionless, staring blankly past the heavy gate, his gaze unfocused and lacking even the strength to speak.
Xiao Jue rushed all the way in a frenzy, reaching the iron gate and kicking it open with a single blow. When he laid eyes on Deng Qingsheng's condition, his body shuddered violently as he hurried forward. "A'Sheng, you... are you alright..."
It seemed having good talent truly came with different treatment. No matter how much Lu Li fawned over him, the other party had never allowed him to stay a moment longer. Yet Deng Qingsheng was inherently narrow-minded and sharp-tongued, and still Xiao Jue had never abandoned him.
It had still been morning at Tianjue Peak, but by the time Lu Li made his way down to the sect square, the sun was already sinking in the west, which gave some idea of the distance between Tianjue Peak and the sect square.
Only a few sparse figures moved across the vast square, and each of them hurried along without lingering. The entire Qingyang Sect actually appeared rather desolate, looking even less lively than the Servant Valley.
Lu Li shook his head and kept his head down as he walked toward the eastern side of the square. Catching sight of a servant disciple sweeping the flagstones, he paused involuntarily as a name surfaced in his mind, making his nose sting with an unbidden ache.
Wiping the corner of his eye, Lu Li quickened his pace and left.
Upon reaching the foot of Cuiyun Peak, Lu Li glanced up at the mountain path, then turned back toward the square. Arriving at the Hundred Treasures Hall, he spent ten contribution points to exchange for some incense, paper, and candles.
Incense, paper, and candles were mundane goods, but since the vast majority of Qingyang Sect disciples originated from the mortal world, they inevitably wished to pay distant respects to their relatives on special occasions, meaning the sect kept provisions for such things.
Clasping the incense, paper, and candles, Lu Li made his way up Cuiyun Peak without a pause along the narrow path. Reaching the mountainside, he plunged straight into the thicket, walking for a short while until he once again stood before the familiar earthen mound.
First, he lit three white candles, followed by an entire bundle of red incense, before finally setting the paper money ablaze.
The flickering flames danced across Lu Li's tanned face, shining within his ink-dark pupils and reflecting a crystalline sheen.
That sheen slowly gathered before rolling down in a single droplet. Lu Li choked out a low murmur, "Though I've helped you exact vengeance... unfortunately... you won't be able to see it. If there is a next life, I hope you are a peerless genius, cherished like a precious treasure from the moment of your birth..."