Chương 12: Chapter 13: The Golden Seal

As if a forbidden ritual had been ignited, a torrent of viscous black blood surged forth, drawn by an invisible tether toward the Golden Seal. Upon contact, the foul liquid was purified, its essence devoured by the artifact. As it feasted on the lifeblood, the seal began to radiate a soft, ethereal golden luster. Under this celestial glow, the corrosive black miasma that had been ravaging Reyn's body met its nemesis; the smoke-like toxins thinned and vanished in an instant.

Even the necrotic rot on his hand began to knit back together at a visible pace. Once the wounds were fully sealed, the Golden Seal, seemingly satiated, retracted its brilliance. It became translucent, shimmering like a fading mirage, before finally sinking directly into Reyn's chest and vanishing without a trace.... In the hazy borderlands of consciousness, Reyn felt as though he were submerged in a pool of liquid sunlight.

It was a profound warmth, a soothing energy that permeated every fiber of his being, washing away the cold touch of death. Inside the hidden cave, Reyn's fingers twitched. His eyes fluttered open, blinking away the confusion of the void. As the reality of his surroundings sharpened, a surge of wild ecstasy flooded his heart. He was alive! He had actually survived!

He lifted his hand before his face; the once-blackened, skeletal fingers were now pristine, the skin as healthy as if the corruption had been nothing more than a fever dream.

"The Golden Seal is gone, and the toxin is purged... there has to be a connection," Reyn whispered, his brow furrowing in bewilderment. Yet, even as he spoke, he sensed a strange resonance within his soul. Closing his eyes, he immediately channeled his focus, employing the Internal Vision Technique he had only recently mastered. His eyes snapped open a moment later, wide with shock. The missing Golden Seal had somehow manifested within his very soul, hovering silently in the center of his spiritual sea.

Reyn attempted to summon the artifact back into the physical world, but no matter how much True Essence he exerted, the seal remained as immovable as a mountain. After several failed attempts, he could only sigh in resignation. He performed a meticulous sweep of his meridians, and after confirming there were no hidden injuries or lingering poisons, he forced himself to calm down. He would have to unravel the mystery of the seal later; for now, survival took precedence.

Checking his surroundings, he saw that the battlefield remained undisturbed. No one had entered the cave during his unconsciousness. Among the four storage bags harvested from his fallen enemies, Reyn found one that looked deceptively plain but contained nearly fifteen cubic meters of space—a massive upgrade from his original half-meter pouch. With practiced efficiency, he transferred the spirit tools, talismans, spirit crystals, and medicinal pills into his new hoard.

He then meticulously scrubbed the cave of any traces of his presence, ensuring that even if the site were discovered, it could never be linked to him. Just as he was about to leave, he hesitated, his gaze falling upon the pitch-black gourd. He reached down, tucking it into his bag. The ghastly green flames it spat were lethal; if used correctly, it would be a formidable trump card. With one final look at the site of his near-death encounter, Reyn turned and vanished into the shadows.

A ripple disturbed the air near the stone wall as a youth emerged. Looking no more than fifteen or sixteen, he scanned the forest with cold, calculating eyes. He slapped a yellow Haste Talisman onto his thigh, and in a blur of motion, his figure transformed into a trail of green smoke, disappearing into the dense treeline of the Thunder Abyss Mountains.

In the Great Hall of the Lei Clan, within the walls of Thunder Abyss City.

"My nephew Reyn has been missing for four days now. Do you have any idea where he might be?" Lei Wanjun asked, his voice carrying a feigned note of concern.

"Today is the deadline for their return to the Xuanxiao Sect. If he is late, he will face the harsh judgment of the sect's laws." Lei Wanjun had already dispatched numerous clansmen to search the outskirts. They had found a site of absolute devastation—shattered earth and three mangled corpses—but not a single trace of Reyn. For the past two days, rumors had been rippling through the Lei Clan that Reyn had offended a powerful cultivator and had likely been reduced to ash. Internally, Lei Wanjun was gloating.

If that brat was truly dead, then Lei Tianqi would be the sole representative of the Lei Clan within the Xuanxiao Sect. His branch would once again hold absolute, uncontested power. However, a cold snort suddenly echoed from the entrance, cutting through the hall like a winter wind.

"My affairs are none of your concern. You would do well to mind your own business." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. As the voice fell, a slender figure stepped calmly into the hall. Reyn's gaze swept across the room like a predator's. The assembled clansmen, who had been whispering moments before, immediately lowered their heads, none daring to meet his icy stare.

"I was delayed by some business in the mountains," Reyn stated flatly, offering no further explanation about his brush with death.

"Good! It is good that you have returned!" Reyn's father, seeing his son standing unharmed, felt a weight lift from his chest, his voice trembling slightly with relief. Reyn turned his gaze toward Lei Wanjun. A flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes, causing the older man to shiver as a cold sweat broke out across his brow. Lei Wanjun hurriedly averted his eyes, his heart hammering against his ribs. Satisfied with the intimidation, Reyn turned on his heel and walked out.

An hour later, outside the gates of Thunder Abyss City, two figures blurred into the distance under the watchful, uneasy eyes of the Lei Clan. They moved with such speed that they soon became mere specks on the horizon.

"Let's go back," Lei Wanjun sighed, finally exhaling the breath he had been holding. As long as Reyn remained alive and well, this Clan Leader would have to live with his tail between his legs.

With Wind-Walking Talismans active, Reyn and Lei Tianqi moved with incredible velocity, covering a thousand miles in a single day. The landscape blurred beside them in a rush of wind and color. Throughout the journey, Lei Tianqi attempted to strike up a conversation, hoping to curry favor and mend their strained relationship. However, seeing Reyn's stony expression and lack of interest, he wisely shut his mouth after a few awkward attempts.

By dusk, after a day of grueling travel, the towering peaks of the Xuanxiao Sect finally loomed before them. Upon arrival, the two split up immediately. Reyn did not head for the dormitories; instead, he went straight to Hundred Herb Valley. After a quick wash to remove the dust of the road, Reyn hurried to the residence of Dan Chenzi. Standing before the heavy doors, he bowed deeply.

"Disciple Reyn has returned to the sect. I have come to pay my respects to the Master."

"Enter," Dan Chenzi's voice drifted out, calm and detached. Reyn pushed the door open and paused for a brief second at the sight before him, but he quickly regained his composure and knelt.

"I have returned on the fifth day as promised. I greet the Master." Dan Chenzi sat cross-legged on a meditation mat. Flanking him were five individuals—three men and two women. Among them stood Ji Yueli, positioned at the very end of the line. As Reyn entered, the other four disciples cast disparaging glances his way. They had heard of this new 'registered disciple'—a commoner with no spiritual roots.

To them, he was a mere mortal who had somehow tricked his way into the sect, a bug that would never achieve anything in the world of cultivation.

"Reyn, these five are my formal disciples. They are your Senior Brothers and Sisters," Dan Chenzi said, gesturing toward the group.

"This disciple shall remember. Reyn greets the Senior Brothers and Sisters," Reyn replied respectfully, performing the proper salutations. Aside from Ji Yueli, who gave him a brief, neutral nod, the other four acted as if he didn't exist, offering no response whatsoever. Reyn noted their arrogance but showed no emotion, stepping quietly to the end of the line to stand in silence.

"Since you are all here, I have matters to announce," Dan Chenzi said, his expression unreadable.

"I will soon enter the back mountains for a period of secluded cultivation to attempt the breakthrough to the Golden Core realm. Do not disturb me unless the matter is of dire importance. During this time, you five will be responsible for the sect's medicinal pill quotas."

"Master, do you already have the confidence to reach the Golden Core?" the eldest disciple asked, his face lighting up with genuine surprise and joy.

"I have had some recent insights that have given me a fair margin of certainty," Dan Chenzi admitted, a rare smile touching his lips. Reaching the Golden Core meant not only a massive spike in power but also an extension of his lifespan to five hundred years. It was the threshold of becoming a high-level cultivator. Even with his tempered heart, he could not hide his excitement.

"Congratulations, Master!" Duan Huaming exclaimed, his praise sincere. If Dan Chenzi became a Golden Core expert, their status within the Xuanxiao Sect would skyrocket.

"Master may rest easy in seclusion. With us here, the supply of pills will not falter," added the second disciple, his voice dripping with feigned humility.

"Good. Then I am at peace," Dan Chenzi nodded. He then looked toward Ji Yueli.

"Your Junior Sister Ji has just entered the sect, and I will not have the energy to guide her during my seclusion. While her cultivation is straightforward, someone must oversee her alchemy training. Who among you is willing to instruct Yueli for a time?"

"As the Eldest Brother, this responsibility naturally falls to me. I shall take charge of teaching Junior Sister Ji the arts of alchemy," Duan Huaming said, lowering his head slightly. However, a flicker of heat danced in his eyes as he glanced at Ji Yueli.

"Master, Eldest Brother is currently at the peak of the 6th level of Qi Condensation and is on the verge of a breakthrough. In my opinion, he should focus entirely on his cultivation. I can handle the task of teaching Junior Sister just as well," a young man in blue robes interrupted with a light laugh, stepping forward. This was Li Zidu, Dan Chenzi's second disciple. He appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in elegant silk robes with the air of a refined noble.

He was a man who commanded attention wherever he went. Duan Huaming's brow furrowed, a flash of irritation crossing his face before he masked it with a polite smile.

"Junior Brother Li makes a fair point, but with your current Grade 1 Alchemy skills, I fear you might not be up to the task of guiding someone of Yueli's talent."

"Eldest Brother is mistaken. While I am only Grade 1, my foundations are rock-solid—more than enough to teach a beginner. It is you who should be worrying about your bottleneck," Li Zidu replied, his eyes sharp. He clearly had no intention of backing down.