Free Web NovelSu Ming walked to a spot about ten yards from Xuanheng, knelt on both knees, and performed a grand bow.
Xuanheng did not turn around immediately. He still had his head lifted, staring at the brightest "Ziwei" formation core on the domed ceiling, his voice ethereal and majestic.
"The mortal affairs, are they all settled?"
"To report to Master, the peace treaty between Great Xing and the Northern Barbarian has been concluded, and the national documents have been signed. The Northern Barbarian has withdrawn its troops, paid war reparations, and ceded three cities to Great Xing."
Su Ming's answer was extremely crisp, without the slightest bit of dragging.
Xuanheng finally turned around. Those eyes, as if they could see through all illusions in the world, fell upon Su Ming. His gaze was almost tangible, lingering for a few breaths on Su Ming's Dantian and Consciousness Sea. After sensing that round, unobstructed Foundation Establishment spiritual energy with not a trace of impurity, a barely perceptible flicker of satisfaction passed through his eyes.
"This trip down the mountain, your cultivation hasn't fallen behind; in fact, your temperament has become even more stable." Xuanheng walked to the main seat and sat down, his voice softening slightly. "Go on, aside from the peace talks, what else did you discover?"
Su Ming rose from the ground, without a moment's hesitation. He turned his wrist slightly and took two items out of his storage pouch.
An iron token, pitch-black all over, radiating a dense aura of blood-killing qi.
A broken jade slip, covered in bizarre seal script.
"To report to Master, your disciple encountered an evil cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage at Black Wind Mountain on the outskirts of the capital. This person was secretly using the living souls from the battlefield to refine a Ten Thousand Soul Banner. Hard-pressed, your disciple was forced to set up a linked array and kill him. This token and jade slip were found on his person. The jade slip mentions the three characters 'Dark Abyss Cave,' which seems to be a secret stronghold of the Ming Abyss Sect in the Northern Frontier. And that so-called National Teacher of the Northern Barbarian was actually a wandering cultivator who had obtained a fragmentary text from the Ming Abyss Sect."
Su Ming held the evidence high with both hands, narrating the events in a steady tone. He omitted the process of how he had killed an enemy of a higher level, glossing over it with just eight words: "hard-pressed, forced to set up an array and kill him."
First rule of the Way of Survival: Never excessively flaunt your combat power in front of a superior. Let the superior think you are a technical talent who relies on your brains and formations, not a reckless hothead who likes to stir up trouble.
Xuanheng grasped at the air, and the black token and jade slip flew into his palm.
He only gave them a single glance, and his originally calm expression instantly turned grave. The temperature within the hall seemed to drop a few degrees along with the shift in his mood.
"Ming Abyss Sect..." Xuanheng's fingertip gently rubbed against the black token. "A centipede dies but never stiffens. Back then, they were jointly annihilated by the various sects, and now they've come crawling out of the mortal battlefields like rats."
He tucked the token and jade slip into his sleeve, and his gaze fell back on Su Ming. His tone became extraordinarily serious.
"Well done. For you to discover this malignant tumor ahead of time and kill it, this is a great merit. The matter of the Ming Abyss Sect and Dark Abyss Cave is far-reaching and not something a Foundation Establishment disciple like you should meddle in. The sect will send the Enforcement Hall and Inner Sect Elders to handle it."
Su Ming slightly lowered his head. "Your disciple understands."
He couldn't wait for the sect to take over. He wanted to stay as far away as possible from such troublesome matters involving ancient heretical sects.
Xuanheng looked at Su Ming's compliant demeanor, and his tense expression relaxed a little. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "That Xu Qing, the Minister of Revenue of Great Xing, he is an old friend of yours?"
"Yes." Su Ming did not hide it; such things could not be concealed from the sect's intelligence network anyway. "We studied together in Qingshi County in our early years; we were classmates. He used the sect's prestige to purge the Yongchang Marquis faction from the court. Now, he has become a pillar minister of Great Xing."
"And your family?"
"They moved back to Su Family Village. Your disciple set up a Three Talents Protection Array in the old house and left a warning Wood Core inside. In this life, I only hope for their eternal peace."
"And that Liu Wenyuan who saved you back then? And Zhou Wenhai, who taught you your Enlightenment?"
"Your disciple went to see them for the last time and left them medicinal diets to extend their lives and health-preserving jade pendants." Su Ming's voice was unruffled. "Favors have been repaid; the bonds have ended."
After hearing this speech, Xuanheng was silent for a long time.
Cultivators fear being tangled by karma the most, especially this kind of mortal blood relation and obligations. A single careless mistake in handling them could turn into a fatal inner demon when impacting a bottleneck in the future. Su Ming's method of handling was calm and restrained, but it was precisely the choice most in tune with the Great Dao.
"I am very pleased that you have been able to see through this layer of confusion."
Xuanheng stood up and walked in front of Su Ming. He raised his right hand, and a soft purple light condensed in his palm, then transformed into a jade token shimmering with the luster of starlight.
"Now that you have entered Foundation Establishment and your state of mind is complete, your next task is to cultivate with all your might. This is a pass token to the 'Formation Peak Secret Realm.' Within the secret realm are the insights left by the peak's past ancestors and ancient broken formations. The concentration of spiritual energy there is ten times that of the outside world. With this token, you may enter the secret realm and go into seclusion for half a year."
A glint of light flashed in Su Ming's eyes. The Formation Peak Secret Realm—that was a place even True Disciples would scramble to enter.
He took the token with both hands. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, carrying a strand of pure spiritual energy.
"Thank you, Master!"
Xuanheng flipped his wrist again, and a finely crafted storage pouch landed lightly in Su Ming's palm.
"Inside is the sect's reward for exposing the Ming Abyss Sect's conspiracy. Five thousand low-grade spirit stones, fifty bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills, and a few rare volumes on the evolution of ancient formations. Go back and study them well."
These kinds of tangible resources were exactly what Su Ming liked best. He put the storage pouch into his sleeve without changing his expression and gave thanks once more.
Xuanheng looked at him, the majesty in his eyes receding a little, revealing a hint of a teacher's concern.
"As for the damage to your Dao foundation, although it has been repaired with Earth Vein Spirit Milk using the 'Kintsugi' method, ensuring no obstacle to Foundation Establishment, the crack still exists. In the future, if you wish to break through to the Golden Core and form an Infant, this will be a heavenly moat. As for the legendary 'Heaven-Mending Pill'..."
Xuanheng sighed.
"The principal ingredients, the Nine Netherworld Lotus, the Phoenix Rebirth Branch, and the Ten-Thousand-Year Sky-Blue Stone Marrow, are all rare treasures of heaven and earth, only found by chance, never sought. Your teacher has already asked the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and a few old friends to keep a discreet eye out. Do not be impatient, and especially do not let this disturb your Dao heart."
A warmth spread through Su Ming's heart. In this icy world of cultivation, to have a teacher who truly plans for his disciple's future was an immense stroke of luck.
"Your disciple will keep your teachings in mind. I will absolutely not seek quick success or instant gain."
"Go on. You have been traveling continuously, so you must be tired. Head back to Gazing Star Cliff and rest first." Xuanheng waved his hand.
Su Ming respectfully kowtowed, stood up, took three steps backward, then turned around and walked with steady steps, exiting Star Pivot Hall.
The heavy hall doors slowly closed behind him, sealing the miniature starry sky once again.
Standing on the white jade steps, Su Ming deeply inhaled the crisp spiritual energy of Formation Peak.
He touched the heavy storage pouch in his sleeve and then glanced at the Xuantian Ring on his finger.
Now, it was time to cultivate properly.
