Yun Heng had not yet wiped away the blood at the corner of her lips, and her sword-holding hand was trembling. Yet her footsteps were remarkably steady, her back unbent by even half a fraction.
High above, several elders finally revealed themselves.
Wen Fei was the first to land at the edge of the Martial Arena, eyes sweeping over the hand Yun Heng held pressed against her chest.
“How severe are your injuries, Miss Yun?”
The Martial Arena was inherently a place for disciples to spar. Since both parties had stepped onto the stage voluntarily, as long as no lives were threatened, elders generally would not intervene. What was more, with that final strike, it had been He Zhou who harbored murderous intent first.
Yun Heng halted her steps.
“I am fine.”
Wen Fei frowned.
“He Zhou is, after all, a full major realm higher than you. You took a strike from him, so how could you be fine?”
He Lansong walked over as well. He glanced at He Zhou on the stage, then looked back at Yun Heng.
“Danxia Peak has healing pills. If you need them, I can have some brought over.”
Yun Heng looked at him. “Thank you, Elder, but that won't be necessary.”
Wen Fei caught the refusal in her words.
“I have pills.”
She would not lightly consume anything from the Xuanxiao Sect.
He Lansong looked at her for a moment and did not force the matter.
“In that case, return and tend to your wounds.”
Yun Heng took a few steps forward, then turned her head to look back at the stage once more.
He Zhou was already being helped up by disciples of Xuanwei Peak. The bloodstains on his white robes were glaring, his face pale, and he had yet to fully regain consciousness. Several disciples surrounded him, expressions flustered.
Yun Heng withdrew her gaze and began walking back along the stone steps she had come from.
The Martial Arena behind her gradually receded into the distance. The mountain wind blew past her sleeves, carrying a faint scent of blood. With every step she took, a dull throb echoed in her chest. Although the Moon Soul Heart-Protecting Pendant had blocked the heaviest blow for her, the sword Qi of a mid-stage Nascent Soul had still penetrated her meridians.
She did not linger outside. The moment she returned to the guest courtyard and the gate shut, figures immediately dropped down from the shadows.
Xuan Yi supported her.
“Young Lord.”
Xuan Er and Xuan San appeared right behind him, the killing intent radiating from them nearly uncontrollable.
Xuan Yi looked at the blood on her sleeve and the corner of her lips.
“Who harmed you, Young Lord?”
Yun Heng braced herself against his arm to stand steady.
“It was merely a spar. I am fine.”
“Guard the outside.”
Yun Heng currently lacked even the strength to speak much, yet her tone was stern and resolute.
“Without my command, no one is allowed inside.”
Xuan Yi bowed his head.
“Understood.”
After Yun Heng entered the room, the courtyard gate closed again. She took out a Rejuvenation Pill, poured out one, and swallowed it.
As soon as the pill entered her mouth, its warm medicinal power quickly dispersed.
The lingering sword Qi in her chest was still rampaging through her meridians, carrying a cyan-white spiritual light as it cut through her spiritual channels inch by inch. Yun Heng sat cross-legged, circulating the Tianheng Guiyuan Art to direct the medicinal power toward her injuries.
The pain did not vanish immediately. With her eyes closed, cold sweat slowly beaded on her forehead.
The Tianheng Broken Sword rested across her knees, its frost-like glow significantly dimmed. For that final strike, she had poured nearly all her Golden Core spiritual energy into the blade. Had it not been for the Profound Bone Body-Forging Art protecting her bones and meridians, alongside the Moon Soul Heart-Protecting Pendant taking the brunt for a split second, she might not have been able to walk off the stage on her own feet.
She had given her absolute all during that battle in the Martial Arena. The gap between realms was truly a chasm.
Yun Heng let out a soft sigh. Her cultivation was still lacking.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened bit by bit.
An unknown amount of time passed before the sword Qi in her chest was finally suppressed by the medicine. Though a lingering sting remained in her meridians, it no longer hindered her ability to circulate spiritual energy.
Yun Heng exhaled slowly, her spiritual breath of the late Golden Core realm circulating steadily within her dantian.
Her injuries mostly recovered, Yun Heng decided to inspect today's gains. At the thought, the corners of her lips curled up uncontrollably. Just how wonderful would that number be?
She raised her hand, expanding the System interface within her sea of consciousness. When the number in the top-right corner lit up, she froze slightly.
[Current Awe Points: 2,200.]
This was the highest amount she had received since obtaining the System.
Yun Heng fought back the urge to throw her head back and laugh out loud, trying her best to suppress her rising smile.
Ahem. Most of the disciples had been present at the Martial Arena today, and elders had been watching from the shadows as well. Compared to the grade of a spiritual root, actual combat made a far more direct impression. He Zhou had fallen while she remained standing; the shock delivered at that moment far surpassed any rumors people might hear secondhand.
However, the same trick would not work indefinitely at the Xuanxiao Sect. If she stayed here, the shock she could deliver would only diminish, and gaining Awe Points would become increasingly difficult.
It was time for her to leave this place.
Yun Heng looked out the window at the night sky.
The Eastern Region was vast.
Beyond the Xuanxiao Sect lay secret realms, cities, and ancient families, as well as the characters and opportunities from the original book that had yet to appear.
For now, the most pressing matter was to convert her stored Awe Points into trump cards.
She summoned the System wheel. Thirty slots floated within the light screen, with Character, Item, Heritage, Artifact, Building, and Event cards flashing past in sequence.
“Ten-pull.”
[Spend 900 Awe Points to perform a ten-pull draw?]
“Draw.”
[Awe Points -900.]
[Current Awe Points: 1,300.]
The thirty slots spun rapidly. Character Cards flashed by, followed closely by Item Cards. The patterns for Heritages, Artifacts, Buildings, and Events blurred together, far too fast to discern clearly.
The first ray of light settled on a slot, and the screen suddenly blazed brightly.
[Draw Results—]
[1-Star Item Card: Spirit Stone Box.]
[Contains 10,000 high-grade spiritual stones.]
Yun Heng fell silent at the sight of the box. Having been at the Xuanxiao Sect for so long, she truly did not possess a single spiritual stone on her person.
Once she left the Xuanxiao Sect, entering cities, staying at inns, purchasing information, and buying materials would all require spiritual stones.
[1-Star Item Card: Taiyan Continent Map.]
[2-Star Item Card: Mother-Child Sound-Transmitting Pendant.]
[One mother pendant, several child pendants. Allows voice transmission within a range of one hundred li.]
Yun Heng immediately knew who to give these to. Xuan Yi and the others could not stay attached to her side forever; if they needed to split up to scout ahead or gather intelligence in the future, sound-transmitting pendants were much more reliable than temporary message talismans.
[1-Star Item Card: Meridian Compass.]
[Can discern directions, detect spiritual veins, and avoid low-tier ominous grounds.]
[1-Star Pill Card: Spirit-Replenishing Pill.]
[Replenishes spiritual energy. Most effective for Nascent Soul realm and below.]
[1-Star Pill Card: Detoxification Pill.]
[Dispels low-tier poisonous miasmas and demonic beast toxic breaths.]
[1-Star Item Card: Ever-Changing Wardrobe Box.]
[Contains casual wear, cloaks, veiled hats, face veils, and other attire; styles can be changed at will.]
[1-Star Item Card: Thousand Bottles of Spirit Dew.]
[Aids the growth of spiritual plants and can also nourish low-tier spiritual items.]
[1-Star Item Card: Dust-Averting Bead.]
[Wards off dust, low-tier miasma, and foul energy.]
[2-Star Identity Card: Rogue Cultivator Jade Slip.]
[Generates a rogue cultivator identity. Upon use, allows official registration and movement in ordinary cities across the Eastern Region.]
The ten rays of light came to a steady rest one after another.
Yun Heng felt as though she had been dealt a heavy blow on the head. Before pulling, she had daydreamed about getting another high-tier guard, or perhaps a spiritual treasure or artifact... and this was it?
Staring at the row of 1-star and 2-star cards, she finally could not help cursing under her breath, “Stupid System, scamming veteran players like always...”
Yun Heng rubbed her temples. Her luck with this ten-pull was truly abysmal.
Yet, on second thought, these were all necessary items for leaving the Xuanxiao Sect, so they were not entirely useless.
Ah well, luck comes and goes; I'll just have to accept it.
Yun Heng put all the items away one by one.
She kept the mother pendant for herself and retrieved five child pendants to hand over to Xuan Yi and the others.
Having finished this, Yun Heng looked out the window. The night was already deep, and she decided to offer her resignation tomorrow.
Rate on N.U.
