60: Repair the Rock Golem

"It is getting late, I will see you back to Heavenly Sword Peak," Yao Delong said as he put away his jade token.

"Mhm!" Liu Rumei nodded vigorously, a warm current surging in her heart.

A dark golden sword light cut through the night sky of Luoxia Peak, carrying the two of them as it sped toward Heavenly Sword Peak.

The gale winds howled, and Liu Rumei stood behind Yao Delong, her hands still gently wrapped around his waist.

Feeling the steady aura emanating from in front of her, she felt a sense of peace in her heart.

The sword light landed quietly beside a secluded bamboo grove near the mountain gate of Heavenly Sword Peak.

"Junior Martial Uncle, I..." Liu Rumei was just about to say goodbye.

However, Yao Delong suddenly reached out and stuffed a small gray cloth bag into her arms.

"Hm?" Liu Rumei was stunned and instinctively clutched the bag.

From within came the distinct, gentle, and warm sensation of Spirit Stones along with a faint clinking sound; with a rough scan, she realized it was 500 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!

"Junior Martial Uncle! I cannot accept this!" She acted as if she had been scalded and immediately tried to stuff the bag back to him.

Yao Delong stepped back, avoiding her hand, then summoned his Flying Sword and leaped onto it.

"Consider these five hundred Spirit Stones as a congratulatory gift from your Junior Martial Uncle in advance for your Foundation Establishment Breakthrough!"

Immediately, he turned into a stream of light and vanished into the night.

Watching the receding speck of light, Liu Rumei's determination to pursue the Dao grew even stronger, and at the same time, a different kind of emotion permeated her heart!

Tuyao Peak, a luxurious villa.

With carved beams and painted rafters, surrounded by spiritual plants, and with Spiritual Qi far denser than the residences of Inner Sect Disciples, everything displayed the background of a wealthy clan descendant.

Meng Lang, upon learning that Yao Delong and the others had returned safely, immediately came to his clan brother.

Collapsing onto the cold jade floor, tears and mucus streaming down his face, he wailed hoarsely:

"Brother Bi! You must seek justice for Brother Hu! He... he died so miserably! Wuwuwu..."

Meng Bi sat upright on a carved dark wood chair, his face handsome and refined, dressed in an elegant brocade robe.

A warm, smooth piece of spiritual jade hung at his waist, and his temperament was more like that of a well-read noble Young Master than a Cultivator.

But deep within those narrow eyes, there lay an indelible trace of gloom and calculation.

At only forty years old, he had already reached the Core Formation stage and was the esteemed Personal Disciple of the Tuyao Peak Vice Peak Master, True Lord Han Yun.

He held an aloof status within the Family and was groomed as the successor to the Marquis Mansion.

"Stand up and speak," Meng Bi's voice was flat, showing neither joy nor anger, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"How did Brother Hu die? Tell me in detail."

Meng Lang dared not rise, only pressing his forehead against the floor, sobbing as he twisted the facts:

"Brother Bi! It was all that Yao Delong from Luoxia Peak! He is the one who caused Brother Hu's death!"

"At that time, the young Blood Demon Mongoose had already been severely injured by our combined efforts and was on the verge of death!"

"Brother Hu bravely stepped forward, wanting to deliver the final blow and claim the greatest credit!"

"But just at that moment, the cunning adult Blood Demon Mongoose launched a sneak attack from the shadows!"

"Brother Hu was caught off guard, and his life hung by a thread!"

He raised his head, his face full of resentment:

"That Yao Delong was clearly the closest and had the highest cultivation base; he was fully capable of intervening to save him!"

"But he... he actually stood by and watched! He watched helplessly as Brother Hu's throat was slashed by the beast's sharp claws!"

"The blood... it sprayed so high! Brother Hu... he died with his eyes wide open, Brother Bi!"

Meng Lang wept and recounted Yao Delong's "evil deeds," never mentioning that it was Yao Delong who covered their retreat, allowing them to survive.

"Yao Delong?" Meng Bi's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, making a soft tapping sound.

"That trash Outer Sect Disciple from Luoxia Peak?"

A cold, mocking arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"A piece of trash with a Spiritual Power Affinity of 2, yet he dares to scheme against my Meng Family?"

"It is him! Brother Bi! He must be jealous of Brother Hu's talent and Family background! He did it out of revenge!"

Meng Lang added fuel to the fire.

"Hmph!" Meng Bi's eyes suddenly turned sharp as knives, and a cold pressure belonging to an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator instantly spread out.

It made Meng Lang shiver violently, stopping even his sobbing.

"An existence like an ant, yet he dares to touch someone from my Meng Family? Does he really think there is no one left in my Meng Family?"

He stood up, paced with his hands behind his back, and his sinister gaze swept across the heavy night outside the window:

"You must arrange for people immediately to keep an eye on Yao Delong's movements; report to me the moment he leaves the Sect!"

"Yes! Yes! Brother Bi! I will go do it right away!" Meng Lang nodded repeatedly.

Luoxia Peak hut.

"The contribution points are enough now; it is time to refine that seven-turn foundation establishment pill for Elder Luo."

He took out the Pill Furnace and selected the precious medicinal herbs he had long prepared from his storage ring.

Refining a seven-turn foundation establishment pill was already second nature to him given his current mastery of Alchemy.

The next day, Scripture Pavilion.

"Elder Luo."

Yao Delong found Luo Tianying, who was flipping through ancient books, and handed over the jade bottle containing the seven-turn foundation establishment pill, while simultaneously placing his identity token on the desk.

Luo Tianying took the jade bottle and pulled out the stopper; a familiar, pure medicinal fragrance wafted out, and a flash of brilliance crossed her beautiful eyes.

She poured out the Medicinal Pill and, looking at the seven natural purple pill patterns, a charming smile appeared on her face: "Seven-turn foundation establishment pill, perfect quality."

She tucked the Medicinal Pill into her sleeve, looked at Yao Delong with a knowing smile, and asked tentatively:

"Tell me honestly, what level is your Alchemy skill exactly?"

"I fear that even ordinary Elders of Pill Cloud Peak might not be able to match you, right?"

Yao Delong's expression remained normal as he cupped his hands:

"Elder, you flatter me. This Disciple is just quite interested in the path of Alchemy and merely tinkers with it in my spare time."

"As for the grade... this Disciple has never gone to the Alchemist Association for certification, so I truly do not know what grade I am."

"Oh? You can refine a seven-turn pill just by tinkering with it?"

The inquiring look in Luo Tianying's eyes grew stronger.

"You really are... full of hidden depths." She did not pursue the matter further after receiving the Medicinal Pill and the contribution points.

After a few casual words, she watched Yao Delong leave.

Once Yao Delong's figure disappeared, the smile on Luo Tianying's face instantly vanished.

She flipped her hand, and another jade bottle appeared in her palm; she poured out a Medicinal Pill—it was, shockingly, also a foundation establishment pill surrounded by seven purple pill patterns!

Its color, pill patterns, and the medicinal aura it emitted were exactly the same as the one Yao Delong had just given her, clearly coming from the same person!

"Luoxia Peak... Yao Delong..."

Luo Tianying's fingertips gently caressed the Medicinal Pill, and a mysterious arc appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"It seems it is indeed him!"

Spirit Forging Peak, Treasure Hall.

Yao Delong explained his purpose to an Elder in charge:

"Elder, I am looking for a master proficient in Puppet repair. I wonder which Elder in the peak excels in this field?"

The managing Disciple looked Yao Delong over, seeing his plain clothes but extraordinary demeanor, and said:

"Repairing a Puppet? Then you have come to the right place! Follow me!"

He led Yao Delong through the bustling trading area to a relatively quiet Immortal Cave that was permeated with the aura of metal smelting and spiritual energy fluctuations.

"Senior Brother Liu! Someone is here to see you, they need to repair a Puppet!"

The managing Elder shouted loudly toward the inside of the Immortal Cave.

Before long, the light of the Immortal Cave's Restriction flashed, and a middle-aged man with disheveled hair, a full beard, and covered in oil stains and metal shavings appeared.

A large wine gourd hung at his waist, and his eyes were half-open, carrying an air of laziness and irritability.

He was clearly a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator! It was none other than one of the Outer Sect Elders of Spirit Forging Peak—Liu Duan!

"Repairing a Puppet?"

Liu Duan yawned, a thick scent of alcohol wafting toward them; his eyes were bleary with drunkenness, but deep within them was a hint of shrewd scrutiny.

"Fine, take it out and let me have a look."

Yao Delong did not dare to delay; with a thought, he summoned the cracked panyan gold puppet from his storage ring.