Desolate Ancient Martial God

Huo Lian’s death did not leave much of an impact on Ye Ling and the others. After all, he had brought it upon himself.

The group of four continued their journey. Xiao Yun and Ye Ling took the lead, escorting the group from the front, while Li Feng and Fei Yan followed behind.

Ye Ling chatted casually with Xiao Yun, occasionally stealing glances at him out of the corner of her eye, only to quickly avert her gaze when noticed. Li Feng and Fei Yan, trailing behind, had already picked up on Ye Ling’s subtle interest. They exchanged knowing smiles but chose not to comment.

“I didn’t expect Senior Brother Xiao to be a sword cultivator,” Li Feng remarked. “Sword cultivators are so rare. I’ve never seen one before, only heard of them.”

Seeing Xiao Yun in action today, Li Feng realized how formidable sword cultivators truly were. With just a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivation, Xiao Yun had inflicted a severe injury on Huo Lian, who was at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining, with a single strike.

“It’s a pity that Senior Brother Xiao’s Qi Sea is damaged, leaving him with only 30% of its capacity,” Fei Yan said with a tone of regret. Li Feng paused, then let out a sigh.

A damaged Qi Sea didn’t just weaken a cultivator’s power—it also made future breakthroughs significantly harder. For someone like Xiao Yun, reaching a higher realm would be far more challenging than it would be for those with an intact Qi Sea.

The rest of their journey went smoothly, without any incidents.

At the Heavenly Secrets Hall Foreign Affairs Hall, Ye Ling handed in the mission token.

“A silver-level task?” the deacon of the Foreign Affairs Hall exclaimed, clearly surprised. Tasks issued by the Foreign Affairs Hall of Heavenly Secrets Hall were already rare, and silver-level tasks were even less common.

The deacon carefully examined the token and confirmed it was indeed a silver-level mission. To his greater astonishment, it was a designated task, issued personally by the Hall Master of Heavenly Secrets Hall.

Designated tasks were specific assignments meant for particular individuals. The deacon’s previously indifferent demeanor shifted noticeably, becoming far more respectful. “The mission has been completed. The reward totals 20,000 contribution points. How would you like to distribute them?”

Ye Ling spoke decisively. “I suggest 8,000 contribution points go to Senior Brother Xiao, with Senior Brother Li Feng and Senior Sister Fei Yan receiving the remaining amounts. What do you think?”

Li Feng and Fei Yan quickly nodded. “No problem. Let’s distribute it as you said.”

However, Xiao Yun interjected, “Let’s split it evenly.”

“Senior Brother Xiao, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t even be here right now. If you don’t accept this, we’ll all feel guilty,” Ye Ling insisted.

“Junior Sister Ye is absolutely right. Without you, Senior Brother Xiao, we’d have been doomed,” Fei Yan added.

“Senior Brother Xiao, this is your due,” Li Feng said earnestly.

Hearing their words, Xiao Yun finally relented. “In that case, I won’t refuse.” He also needed contribution points for exchanges, so he stopped declining.

Seeing Xiao Yun accept, Ye Ling let out a sigh of relief.

“Sir Steward,” Ye Ling addressed the deacon, “we’ve completed a silver-level mission. Can we exchange for second-level items?”

“Second-level items?” Li Feng and Fei Yan looked puzzled. Xiao Yun, however, was surprised but not unfamiliar—having been an inner sect disciple, he knew the Foreign Affairs Hall had three levels of exchanges.

The first level contained common items such as basic medicinal salves, fragments of spirit stones, and occasionally some cultivation liquid. The second level, however, was much more exclusive, available only to inner sect disciples and deacons. The items there were significantly superior.

“Yes, you may exchange for second-level items after completing a silver-level mission,” the steward confirmed. He then opened a cabinet on the second level, revealing an array of treasures.

The cabinet contained a variety of items, including yellow-grade low-tier martial arts manuals, healing liquids, and low-tier spirit stones.

“Is that a spiritual medicine?” Li Feng asked, pointing to a vermilion fruit at the far end, glowing like red jade.

“Yes, it’s called the Soul Gathering Fruit,” the deacon explained. “It was accidentally damaged during harvesting, leaving only about 10% of its medicinal properties. That’s why it’s placed in the second pavilion. Even with just 10% of its properties, its value remains significant. It costs 7,500 contribution points to exchange.”

“So expensive?” Feiyan exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

The annual contribution points they could earn from tasks were only around 8,100. This mission alone rewarded them with 4,000 contribution points each, the equivalent of four years of work. Yet this defective Soul Gathering Fruit required 7,500 contribution points to exchange.

“Expensive? Spiritual medicines are exceedingly rare,” the deacon retorted with a slight snort. “Out of a million similar herbs, only one might evolve into a spiritual medicine. Furthermore, spiritual medicines require at least ten years of natural growth to take form. The condensed spiritual energy within this Soul Gathering Fruit can be directly absorbed by martial artists. If it were a complete Soul Gathering Fruit, the spiritual energy it contains could enable a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator to have a chance at breaking through to the Fused Essence realm.”

His tone softened slightly as he added, “If not for Ye Ling’s extraordinary status, I wouldn’t have bothered explaining all this.”

“Please bring it down for me,” Xiao Yun said firmly.

“Senior Brother Xiao, you’re really planning to exchange for it?” Li Feng interjected, concerned. “That’s 7,500 contribution points! Isn’t it a waste? As the steward said, only a complete Soul Gathering Fruit can help someone attempt a breakthrough to the Fused Essence realm. With just 10% of its properties, this one is unlikely to help you even advance by a single level. Wouldn’t it be better to use those points to get Qi Refining Liquid? That amount could bring you to the eighth level of Qi Refining.”

The steward glanced at Xiao Yun. “Are you sure you want to exchange for it?”

“Yes,” Xiao Yun replied without hesitation.

Seeing his determination, Li Feng and the others could only sigh and let it be. It was Xiao Yun’s choice, and while they thought it wasn’t worth the cost, they couldn’t interfere.

The steward retrieved the Soul Gathering Fruit, and Xiao Yun carefully put it away. Meanwhile, Li Feng and Feiyan exchanged their contribution points for Qi Refining Liquid and other cultivation items. Xiao Yun noticed something peculiar—Ye Ling hadn’t exchanged for anything.

“Why didn’t you exchange for anything?” Xiao Yun asked, puzzled.

“I don’t need anything at the moment,” Ye Ling replied with a light smile. “Qi Refining Liquid and similar items are of no use to me right now.” She glanced around before leaning closer and whispering, “Senior Brother Xiao, come with me. I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Take me somewhere?” Xiao Yun frowned slightly.

“You’ll see when we get there,” Ye Ling said with a mysterious smile, motioning for him to follow.

Curiosity piqued, Xiao Yun had no choice but to follow her.

After a short walk, Ye Ling led Xiao Yun to a grand gate guarded by two burly men. Xiao Yun’s eyes widened in surprise—he had been here before.

“This is the main house of Heavenly Secrets Hall,” he murmured. It was the place where he had completed the promotion ceremony when he became an inner sect disciple. This hall, used primarily for promotions, was also the residence of the Hall Master of Heavenly Secrets Hall.

In Heavenly Secrets Hall, there were eight hall masters in the outer sect, each of whom held a status second only to the elders. They wielded considerable power and oversaw their respective halls.

“Junior Sister Ye, why did you bring me here?” Xiao Yun asked, puzzled.

“Senior Brother Xiao,” Ye Ling began with a smile, “you’re a rare sword cultivator—the first in Tianji Hall in a hundred years. It would be a waste for you to remain buried in the outer sect. So, I want to introduce you to someone.”

“Who?” Xiao Yun frowned, his curiosity mounting.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Ye Ling remained cryptic as she tugged on his sleeve and led him toward the gate.

The guards didn’t stop them. It seemed they were familiar with Ye Ling and had grown accustomed to her coming and going. They merely glanced at Xiao Yun being pulled along by her and allowed them to enter the main house.