A few days later.

On Lianyou Peak of the Cave Abyss Sect.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng sat by the lake courtyard, with Gu Qingqing sitting opposite them.

"Junior Sister Gu... Junior Sister Gu, Lianyou Peak is full of female Cultivators. Is it inappropriate for Senior Brother Song and I to wait for Senior Sister Qin here?"

Li Qingfeng hesitated before speaking, "How about we wait at the Outer Sect Miscellaneous Affairs Hall instead?"

"No need, no need."

Gu Qingqing shook her head and smiled gently, "It’s fine, Senior Sister Qin said so. She should be reporting to the Elders about the Demonic Cultivator from Peach Blossom Dock right now, and she’ll be back soon."

When she smiled, her eyelashes curved, and faint dimples appeared on her face.

"If you don’t mind, please have some pastries from Lianyou Peak first."

This was Song Yan’s first time on Lianyou Peak.

To be fair, where the Sect’s female Cultivators resided, it was indeed like spring all year round, with pleasant scenery.

Those flowers and plants all seemed to be meticulously cared for by dedicated Outer Sect Disciples.

Xiao He had long since emerged from Song Yan’s sleeve, playing around everywhere.

The fact that Song Yan possessed a small snake Spirit Beast was no longer a secret.

...

In the flower garden courtyard, female Cultivators occasionally walked by. Seeing male Cultivators there, they couldn’t help but curiously observe and point.

"Who are those two male Disciples? Why are they here?"

"I don’t know... Eh? Junior Sister Qingqing is here too."

"Oh, that Junior Brother is quite handsome."

"Why does he look somewhat familiar...?"

These female Cultivators, talking among themselves in their own territory, naturally didn’t need to hide or use sound transmission, allowing the three in the courtyard to hear everything clearly.

Gu Qingqing let out a giggle.

...

Song Yan didn’t feel anything about it; just as Xiao He said, he had been praised as a handsome young man from childhood in all the surrounding villages.

Li Qingfeng, however, had grown up in a mundane imperial palace. From a young age, his Master had taught him not to have any contact with palace maids, or he would be severely punished.

This curious yet fearful attitude towards women had accompanied him to the Immortal Mountain Sect.

"Junior Sister Gu... Junior Sister Gu, do you know why Senior Sister Qin called us here?"

"That... I don’t know either."

A hint of confusion appeared on Gu Qingqing’s serene and gentle face. "Logically speaking, the mission has been completed, and the rewards for us three Outer Sect Disciples should have already been distributed."

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

"Ah, Senior Sister Qin is here."

A long ice-blue rainbow was seen approaching from the east. Upon reaching Lianyou Peak, it descended, its sword light fading, and a jade foot stepped down, creating lotus flowers with each step.

Seeing Qin Ying’s graceful demeanor again, they were still awestruck.

She landed in the courtyard and walked towards the group.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Qin."

"Greetings, Senior Sister Qin."

Qin Ying nodded, "I called you here this time for the matter of Peach Blossom Dock a few days ago."

"Although the Sect credited me with the final achievement of slaying the Demonic Cultivator, I, Qin Ying, am not one to covet fame and fortune."

"If it weren’t for the two of you using clever tactics to disrupt the Blood Refining Array, I fear our lives would have been uncertain in the end..."

Qin Ying spoke slowly, her tone always cold and detached. "All the spoils from slaying the enemy this time are here."

"Each of you may choose one item."

Upon hearing this, the few people were startled. These were the spoils of a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator!

As they hesitated, Qin Ying spoke again, "The evil Cultivator’s items that should be handed over to the Sect, such as the Blood Refining Ancient Scroll, I have already deposited in the External Affairs Hall."

"Do not harbor doubts or procrastinate; just pick one and take it."

"Yes..."

Subsequently, the few people all looked towards Song Yan.

In the battle where they assisted Qin Ying against Jiang Xiao, the three of them, in pursuit of survival, had all exerted their full strength and used their trump cards.

But if one were to calculate carefully, there was no doubt that Song Yan, who had disturbed the main array core of the Blood Refining Array with his black sword and assisted Qin Ying in breaking through Jiang Xiao’s protective Spirit Armor, had contributed the most.

Li Qingfeng was second, and Gu Qingqing was last.

These three had shared a life-and-death bond, so there was no dispute in letting Song Yan choose first now.

He was not overly modest and opened the qiankun bag.

How could he refuse something given for free?

There were many items inside. Besides Jiang Xiao’s own Demonic Cultivator items, it also included the Cultivation resources and spiritual objects he had accumulated over the years from the Sect Disciples he had slaughtered in Peach Blossom Dock, as well as some passing Loose Cultivators.

There were protective Spiritual Artifacts, Spirit Pills for refining, mysterious Talismans, and he even saw a special pale green Spirit Stone.

A Mid-Grade Spirit Stone!

In the Cultivation World, Spirit Stones are divided into many types. The Spirit Stones Song Yan usually referred to were all Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Low-Grade Spirit Stones have impure Spiritual Qi, containing many jade Impurities. They are abundant, but relatively speaking, the actual effective Spiritual Qi content is quite low.

A Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, however, has a Spiritual Qi purity almost ten times that of a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, and its absorption efficiency goes without saying.

In the various market towns and Spirit Stone banks of the Cultivation World, there are indeed ways to exchange Spirit Stones of different grades. The official exchange rate is one to one hundred.

However, because high-quality Spirit Stones, with their pure Spiritual Qi and special functions, cannot be replaced by Low-Grade Spirit Stones, the actual exchange price for Spirit Stones will be three to five times higher.

Oh no!

Song Yan looked at the dazzling array of items and inwardly thought, ’This is bad.’

He wanted a bit of everything.

However, since he could only choose one, without a doubt... his gaze fell upon the black Flying Sword.

Although Song Yan was following the path of an ancient Sword Cultivator, and external Flying Swords were not as important, there was still the concept of a "Sword Body" within a Natal Flying Sword.

If he could have a suitable Sword Body, his Natal Flying Sword could unleash even greater power.

"Speaking of which... why didn’t Senior Sister Qin keep such a divine weapon for herself first?"

"Instead, she’s offering it as a reward for us to choose from..."

From the power this Flying Sword displayed that day, it certainly wouldn’t be a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact.

It was indeed somewhat perplexing, but Song Yan had no interest in speculating about the specific thoughts of any other female besides Xiao He.

So, without further hesitation, he chose this Flying Sword.

"Senior Sister, I’ll take this one."

...

Qin Ying looked at the Flying Sword, a surge of trepidation rising in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it.

In reality, Qin Ying did have her own considerations for placing this sword here.

Firstly, this Flying Sword was incompatible with the Cultivation Technique she practiced, rendering it of little use to her, and the demonic sound from that day truly left her with lingering fear.

Secondly, Song Yan had somehow managed to establish a connection with this Flying Sword that day, suggesting he had some Opportunity.

As for Li Qingfeng, he possessed a peculiar Cultivation Technique, and his set of kitchenware Spiritual Artifacts were also compatible with him. The most suitable items for him among these would likely be the Talismans or that Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

Junior Sister Gu Qingqing had a gentle nature and disliked fighting, so she likewise would not choose this Flying Sword.

In short, this sword... was originally left by Qin Ying for Song Yan.

Now, the Elders of the Qin Family were becoming increasingly aggressive, wanting her to win over Elders and Cultivate trusted aides within the Cave Abyss Sect.

Her Master had previously thought highly of Song Yan, and his performance in slaying the enemy this time was indeed brilliant, with outstanding talent in sword manipulation... Wasn’t this person a blank slate delivered right to her?

"This sword..."

To Song Yan’s surprise, Qin Ying’s expression seemed a little hesitant.

"Although the Demonic Cultivator is dead, this sword still carries some evil. I’m worried..."

She hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make a decision. "Actually, it’s fine, but... you have to promise me one thing."

?

Song Yan was puzzled. What kind of request wouldn’t be made directly? Would he, a small Outer Sect Disciple, dare to refuse?

"When you eventually reach the Late Stage of Qi Refining and are promoted to the Inner Sect..."

Qin Ying still maintained her expressionless, cold demeanor.

"You must join my lineage and become my Disciple."

"Ah?"

Not just Song Yan, but even Gu Qingqing and Li Qingfeng were stunned in place.