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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
I knelt on one knee on the back of the Camelback Turtle, my hands cradling the powerful Spirit Energy emanating from Tortoise Dan. "Disciple Yang Hao wishes to offer Tortoise Dan to the sect!"
"Yang Hao?" Some people murmured, unfamiliar with my name. "I've never heard of him."
"It seems he came from the Outer Sect as a new disciple. He must be desperate for treasure, trying to get into the Camelback Turtle's belly to retrieve the Dan!"
"Hmph, it's obvious he wants to get the treasure first. He only offered Tortoise Dan because he saw so many people outside."
A group of them mocked me, and even a few elders looked on with skepticism.
The senior brother Song Qianqiu said, "Respected Sect Leader and esteemed elders, Yang Hao is a disciple residing at Birch Mountain and a close friend of Lin Jingyu, who recently made it onto the Dragon-Tiger List. His strength is remarkable. It’s not surprising that he could collaborate with Yunxi, Shifu Uncle, to slay the Camelback Turtle. I have met Yang Hao once; he is honest and kind-hearted. I believe he entered out of concern for Yunxi, Shifu Uncle, not wanting her clothes to get dirty."
I looked up at Song Qianqiu, who nodded at me. I was taken aback by his defense; warmth filled my heart.
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader nodded and said, "Since your senior brother speaks so highly of you, this disciple must indeed be a good person. He has contributed by protecting Yunxi while retrieving the treasure. We will accept Tortoise Dan for Azure Cloud Sect. Later, you can go to Azure Cloud Hall to receive your reward. Elder, you are advanced in years; this Tortoise Dan will be gifted to you."
The elder replied, "Sect Leader, please reconsider. This Tortoise Dan has been nurtured by our ancestors for a thousand years. Although I am over ninety, I still have some years left in me. It would be better to keep Tortoise Dan for future needs."
"That is also reasonable," the Azure Cloud Sect Leader hesitated before agreeing.
I jumped off the turtle's back and handed Tortoise Dan to the elder. He nodded and looked at me, saying, "Young man, come later to Azure Cloud Hall; I will give you something that will surely benefit you."
"Understood, Elder," I replied respectfully.
Afterward, everyone carried the Camelback Turtle to the Alchemist's Chamber. The meat of this turtle was considered a medicinal ingredient, and its shell could be used to forge Daoist Sect treasures.
I was covered in sticky liquid and reeked of foul odor as I followed everyone dispersing. Turning back, I glanced at Yunxi standing aside; she looked up at me silently. Though her lips did not move, her voice echoed in my mind.
"Ming Zhongwu is coming to Yunhua Peak's waterfall; I have something to ask you."
I pretended not to hear, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Although Yunxi was as beautiful as a fairy, her temper was quite peculiar. When the Serpent Cult came knocking, she killed them without asking a single question. I had already acted as a stepping stone for her and even ventured into the body of the Camelback Turtle for her sake. However, if she insisted on fixating on whether I had peeked at her body, that would be quite troublesome.
As I looked up at the dimming Starlight, the sun was about to rise in the east, and I felt a faint sense of anticipation in my heart.
I had already thought of a plausible explanation for killing Lin Jingyu. If anyone asked, I would say he was in seclusion. After all, being ranked tenth on the Dragon-Tiger List was insignificant; even during the sect's core disciples' meeting, he wouldn't have been called upon. If the sect gathered and no one noticed his absence, it would be easy to say he simply disappeared. No one would uncover how he had turned to ashes.
After returning to Birch Cave, I first took out the Lustrous Water Pearl. The pearl emitted a harmonious glow, like stars in the dark night or a clear spring. It radiated powerful Spirit Energy that calmed my meridians as if they were tranquil as a baby, leaving no room for panic in my heart.
Next, I retrieved the goose egg-sized Tortoise Dan and removed the bile layer from its surface. Inside was a blood-veined sphere filled with vitality and spiritual essence.
It is said that living beings that grow old or are born in Spiritual Grounds naturally produce a dan after absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. This dan is known as a demon dan, which is a spiritual object cultivated by living beings absorbing sunlight and moonlight. It is akin to a cultivator's Qi Sea, continuously supplying Spirit Energy and granting unique abilities or extraordinary longevity.
As humans are considered the most intelligent beings, perhaps for fairness's sake, even accomplished Daoist Grandmasters cannot achieve immortality, while other living beings can. They can cultivate through demon dans to live over a hundred years or even thousands.
Among all living beings, turtles are known to have the longest lifespan. Although this Tortoise Dan may not be of top quality, it is at least a millennium-old dan. With the powers of Seven-Colored Elixir and Millennium Medicine King Ointment already rejuvenating me to the appearance of a seventeen-year-old youth, I truly did not wish to change further. What I valued about this Tortoise Dan was not its longevity but its ability to allow humans to breathe freely underwater—an incredible advantage.
I recalled how Water Master Liang Yu nearly wiped out all of us survivors alone; if I had this Tortoise Dan then, defeating him would have been no problem.
I swallowed the Tortoise Dan and refined it with Dao Qi. The Tortoise Dan tasted bitter and wasn't pleasant at all; however, after consuming it, powerful Spirit Energy surged through my limbs and bones. My body had already transformed into a Holy Body, and the longevity effects of the Tortoise Dan revitalized my muscles and cells as if there were endless energy within me.
At twenty-four years old now, I sometimes felt my body had deteriorated when playing basketball with friends right after graduating from school. But now, youth had returned; that feeling of running swiftly like the wind was back again. This time, I would not allow anyone to bully me anymore.
On the second morning, I went to Azure Cloud Hall to claim my reward. Upon seeing me enter Azure Cloud Hall, all the elders wore stern expressions; however, upon seeing me, the Grand Elder politely asked, "Yang Hao?"
I replied, "Disciple Yang Hao pays respects to the Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder chuckled lightly and said, "No need for excessive courtesy. I see your cultivation has reached the late Foundation Establishment Realm; you must have put in considerable effort to achieve today's results. You even voluntarily offered dan to the sect; it is only natural for us elders to reward you. What kind of reward do you desire?"
I responded, "Any treasures bestowed by the Grand Elder will be appreciated; I leave it to your discretion."
"Then just take any chair from this great hall," one elder remarked disdainfully.
The Grand Elder frowned and called me outside, saying, "The other elders and I have differing opinions about the sect, which has led to some tension. I apologize if it has caused embarrassment for our disciples."
I replied, "The Grand Elder is wise and certainly governs the sect with the principle of Benevolence. It is natural for there to be differences in opinion among the elders."
"How do you know that?" The Grand Elder looked surprised.
The Grand Elder had a great reputation within the sect, advocating for a governance of non-action and loving others with a Benevolent heart. In contrast, the other elders supported the path of Legalism, enforcing strict punishments to manage the disciples. This was a well-known point of contention, and I had heard about it before. I also leaned towards Legalism because while you may show Benevolence to others, they may not reciprocate. The world is filled with deceit; binding it with moral principles sounds beautiful and fills it with love, but in practice, it is challenging. Human nature is often good yet foolish, and moral coercion can lead to cold-hearted outcomes, ultimately benefiting the wicked while harming the good. It is better to maintain peace through strict laws.
I said, "Because I too support the Grand Elder's Benevolence."
Hearing my words made the Grand Elder very happy. It was as if he had found a kindred spirit as he took my hand and said, "You and my disciple Qianqiu both support my philosophy of Benevolence. The sect is always embroiled in conflict, and so is the Daoist World. It is truly rare for young people like you to hold such thoughts!"
"The Grand Elder flatters me," I replied.
The Grand Elder continued, "Why don't you come back to my Pavilion? Whatever reward you desire, I will do my best to fulfill it. Disciples who contribute treasures to the sect are usually rewarded with Foundation Pills or Transcendence Pills. However, seeing as you are young with excellent potential, using a Transcendence Pill might provide a short-term boost in cultivation but could lead to stagnation in the long run. That would not be advisable. There are also elixirs and Cultivation Methods available; I'm curious which one you prefer?"
As I accompanied the Grand Elder towards the Pavilion, I said, "Elixirs are ultimately external substances; I don't currently need any magical artifacts. However, I am lacking in Cultivation Methods. I wonder if the Grand Elder has any advanced Cultivation Methods that could be taught to me?"
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