222: Chapter 222 Let me be frank with you today.

"This trip is a joint organization by the four Sects. The Tiangang Sect, Qingxuan Sect, Hundred Beasts Gate, and Wanfa Pavilion will each send a team of Qi Refining Disciples to the Monster Beast Mountain Range to hunt Yao Beasts and search for Spiritual Plant resources, for a duration of one month.

With the banners of the four Sects raised together, I presume no one will be blind enough to cause trouble."

Elder Jing Xuan glanced at her and continued.

"You have been Cultivating in the Sect for many years. Your progress in Spells is fast, and your Heart-Nature is stable. Today, you even touched the edge of Momentum; you are capable of handling things on your own. A Genius cannot always stay within the mountain gates; you must go outside and venture forth."

"Besides, the Monster Beast Mountain Range is different from before.

Ever since the two prefectures opened their trade routes, more and more Cultivators have been entering the mountains. The information is varied, and many previously untapped resources have been unearthed.

You are still young. Go out more and see the world; you might encounter some Opportunity, which could actually improve your cultivation faster than staying within the mountain gates."

Su Yunling thought for a moment and nodded. "This Disciple accepts the order."

"Good." Elder Jing Xuan put down her teacup with satisfaction. "I will give you the list of accompanying members in advance. When the time comes, see what you need to prepare and tell me beforehand.

You need not be too nervous about leading the team; this trip is mainly for tempering, not for risking your life.

If you truly encounter a tricky situation, send a message to report to the Sect in time, and other Elders will naturally be sent."

"Revered Master, I have a request."

"Speak."

"Before we set off, I would like to go home for a visit."

Elder Jing Xuan studied her for a moment, then recalled that this Disciple had seemingly never returned home since joining the Sect.

Elder Jing Xuan felt a twinge of guilt at this thought, then nodded. "Very well, I will grant you a one-month leave. Return as soon as you can."

Su Yunling stood up, bowed, and retreated.

On the way back to her Immortal Cave, she was already planning her itinerary.

Since she had agreed to lead the team to the Monster Beast Mountain Range in two months, there would inevitably be preparations to make before setting off.

Magical Artifacts, Talismans, Medicinal Pills, and instructions for leading the team—there were many trivial matters to attend to.

However, since there were two months, rather than waiting idly in the Sect for most of that time, it would be better to take this Opportunity to go home first.

For so many years, only her father and younger brother had come to visit her; she had never returned to the Family even once.

Especially regarding her mother, she had not returned even once all these years, which was inexcusable.

She would return home for a reunion this time, and only after she returned would she settle down to prepare for the training.

She returned to her Immortal Cave, tidied up, gathered the Medicinal Pills and necessary items for cultivation, and planned to leave early the next morning.

Halfway through packing, she paused and retrieved a separately stored jade box from the depths of her storage cabinet.

Inside the box lay a supreme grade foundation establishment pill.

She was already a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and had no use for this item, so it had just been sitting there untouched.

Su Yunling weighed the jade box in her hand, thought for a moment, then rose and left her Immortal Cave.

Wenren Zimo's Immortal Cave was located on the hillside on the east side of Jing Xuan Peak. He was a Core Disciple at the Tenth Level of Qi Refining under Elder Jing Xuan, and his Immortal Cave lacked nothing in the way of Spirit Gathering Formations or daily necessities.

When Su Yunling arrived, the isolation Formation outside the Immortal Cave was active. A thin layer of spiritual light shrouded the entire entrance, sealing off any movement from within.

This was a basic task for any Cultivator; no matter where they were in closed-door Cultivation, the first priority was to set up a Formation to isolate external interference.

Wenren Zimo's proficiency with Formations was not particularly high, but he had not neglected any of the necessary defenses.

Su Yunling stood at the edge of the Formation and struck the communication node on its periphery with a palm of Qi.

The interior of the Formation would receive a vibration alert, which was equivalent to knocking on the door.

After waiting for about a dozen breaths, the door to the Immortal Cave opened from within, and the spiritual light of the isolation Formation receded.

Wenren Zimo stood at the entrance, a light sheen of sweat from his Cultivation still on his forehead. He froze for a moment upon seeing Su Yunling standing outside.

"Senior Sister?"

"Let's go inside to talk."

Su Yunling did not wait for him to react and stepped into the Immortal Cave.

Wenren Zimo stepped aside, and before he could ask what was the matter, Su Yunling had already closed the door behind her.

She immediately pulled a few Formation stones from her Storage Pouch, flicked her wrist to embed them into three positions on the sides of the doorframe and the floor, then guided them with a touch of Qi from her fingertips, layering a new isolation Formation over the existing one.

Wenren Zimo watched her clean, efficient movements and frowned slightly. Though he was puzzled, he did not ask any questions, simply waiting for what would come next.

After Su Yunling confirmed that the Formation was operating normally, she retrieved a jade box from the depths of her Storage Pouch and handed it to him.

"This is for you."

Wenren Zimo took the jade box and opened it. He frowned at first, then froze completely.

The jade box was lined with a layer of Spirit Gathering Cotton, upon which rested a perfectly round Medicinal Pill. Its surface shimmered with a lustrous glow, and while its medicinal fragrance was restrained, it was incredibly rich; merely by being near it, one could feel a surge of pure Qi flowing slowly within the pill.

He recognized the foundation establishment pill; who among the Tiangang Sect Disciples would not?

The Sect allocated only a few foundation establishment pills to Qi Refining Disciples each year, and a High Grade one was already the pinnacle. Many people queued until their hair turned white without ever getting a turn.

But the Medicinal Pill before him was not like the foundation establishment pills he had seen in the Sect.

The luster was different from those he had seen in the Sect, the medicinal fragrance was not even in the same league, and the density of the internal flow of Qi was far superior, not just by a single level.

"Is this… a foundation establishment pill?" Wenren Zimo's voice sounded a bit dry.

"Yes," Su Yunling nodded. "A supreme grade one."

Wenren Zimo's mind buzzed. A supreme grade foundation establishment pill.

Records indicated that Alchemy Great Masters above the third rank could occasionally refine supreme grade second-rank pills, but the probability was so low it could be ignored.

Even High Grade foundation establishment pills were in limited supply in the Alchemy Hall of the Tiangang Sect. supreme grade? They simply did not exist in the Sect.

Where did this come from? The Zhenpin Pavilion? Didn't the Zhenpin Pavilion only sell first-rank supreme grade Medicinal Pills? Could they produce a second-rank supreme grade foundation establishment pill?

Wenren Zimo looked up at Su Yunling, a head full of questions stuck in his throat, yet he could not voice a single one.

Su Yunling saw what he was thinking and said, feigning calmness. "It was given by the Zhenpin Pavilion; I didn't ask for the specific source. However…"

Her voice lowered slightly.

"Just keep this for yourself, and do not mention it to anyone."

Wenren Zimo immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

A supreme grade foundation establishment pill—something the Tiangang Sect did not possess—suddenly appearing in the hands of a Tenth Level of Qi Refining Disciple. If this were to spread, it would not only cause trouble for him, but Senior Sister and the Zhenpin Pavilion would also be implicated.

Once the origin of such a Medicinal Pill was investigated by the Sect, the consequences would be more than he could bear.

"I understand, Senior Sister, rest assured." Wenren Zimo closed the jade box and tucked it into his Storage Pouch. "I will keep today's events locked in my heart; not a single word will leak out."

Su Yunling nodded, her expression relaxing slightly.

"Senior Sister, I…"

"Do not say such polite things." Su Yunling interrupted him, her tone very calm. "You have helped me a lot; from the time I joined the Sect until now, I have remembered everything, both big and small."

Wenren Zimo's hand tightened slightly on the opening of his Storage Pouch.

Su Yunling was silent for two breaths. When she spoke, her voice was softer, but every word was clear.

"Senior Brother Zimo, there is something I have never made clear to you. Let me speak plainly today."

Wenren Zimo's body stiffened for a moment.

(There is another chapter coming later, everyone!)