Xiao Ling'er's Character, Returning a Plum for a Peach

"Being able to take first place was truly a stroke of luck."

Xiao Ling'er gently shook her head. "Besides, though this disciple is young, I understand that winning this championship may not necessarily be a good thing for our Moon Embracing Sect."

"As the saying goes, a common man is innocent, but he becomes guilty by possessing a jade..."

"Utter nonsense!"

Su Xinghai rebuked her sharply. "You won the championship because you possess extraordinary talent and have diligently cultivated and refined pills all this time. How could it possibly be called luck?!"

"As for it not being a good thing, that is only because the sect has held you back!"

"If our Moon Embracing Sect were still as it was in those days, who would dare entertain such thoughts? Who would dare point fingers?"

His expression gradually turned cold. "But you need not worry too much about this. Though the Moon Embracing Sect has declined over the years, us old fellows are still here!"

"As long as we old fellows are alive, no one will be able to touch you."

"Go cultivate." Duan Qingyao gently stroked Xiao Ling'er's smooth, silky hair and smiled. "The First Elder has a hard mouth but a soft heart. Don't take his words to heart."

"Do not feel any pressure. Nurturing outstanding successors for the sect is precisely our duty."

"As long as you can rise, that will be our greatest fortune."

"We old fellows are incompetent, and there are many things we cannot accomplish."

"But for the sake of the sect, we have never known fear."

"This is not for your sake, but for what we hold fast to in our hearts."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling'er nearly choked up.

How could she not understand that the elders themselves had no certainty?!

Though the rewards this time might not draw the attention of truly powerful figures, her talent for pill refinement could very well catch the eye of experts!

They all understood this clearly.

Therefore, Xiao Ling'er could not possibly stand by and do nothing.

If even a single elder were injured or killed because of her impulsiveness, she would never be able to forgive herself.

"Whew."

She took a deep breath, then patted her storage pouch and took out a jade bottle, respectfully presenting it before Su Xinghai. "First Elder, this is one of the rewards from the pill refinement competition: a Fifth Grade Pointing Profound Pill."

Seeing Su Xinghai widen his eyes, on the verge of scolding her, she hurriedly said, "First Elder, please don't refuse just yet!"

"The Pointing Profound Pill is indeed extremely valuable, but this disciple is only in the Core Condensation Realm right now. Who knows when I will be able to use it? Having it but not using it—would that not be a waste?!"

"Besides, we all know that a fierce battle is bound to come before long. It would be better to put it to its fullest use. If First Elder takes it and can use it to break through to the Pointing Profound Realm, our odds of victory will increase by a few points."

"Moreover, if you elders fall, or even if the sect is gone, would this disciple still have any path to survival?"

Su Xinghai's expression changed again and again.

Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Ling'er struck while the iron was hot. "Furthermore, it is merely a Fifth Grade Pointing Profound Pill. This disciple is only at the Second Core Condensation Realm, yet I can already refine Ninth Grade Profound Origin Pills!"

"Once this disciple reaches the Third or Fourth Realm, what would a mere Fifth Tier Fifth Grade Pill amount to?! Even a Ninth Grade Pointing Profound Pill may not be beyond this disciple's ability to refine!"

"To this disciple, I do not even wish to consume such a mere Fifth Grade pill."

The moment those words came out, the expressions of the four elders became particularly marvelous...

This was a Fifth Tier Pill!!!

And a Fifth Grade one at that!

Third Grade was considered passing; Fifth Grade was already quite a high standard.

While we have to look after the sect and cultivate at the same time, we cannot even afford to buy one!

Forget Fifth Grade—even Third Grade is beyond our means.

Yet here you are, a little Core Condensation Realm cultivator, opening your mouth only to look down on it???

And yet every word Xiao Ling'er said was true, reasonable, and without the slightest falsehood.

This... how were we supposed to bear it?!

Seeing the First Elder's lips tremble wordlessly, Xiao Ling'er swiftly stuffed the pill into his hand and added, "If First Elder feels bad about accepting it, then consider it this disciple lending it to you."

"In the future... just help this disciple find some more spirit herbs and materials."

Seeing her sincerity, Su Xinghai took a deep breath. The twitching in his face ceased, and he said solemnly, "Since things have been said to this extent, if this old man still refuses to accept it, I would be far too foolish."

"Very well. This Pointing Profound Pill, this old man shall accept."

"In the future... this old man will surely repay you double!"

"First Elder, you are being too polite." Xiao Ling'er smiled bitterly. "Ever since this disciple entered the sect, all the elders have taken exceptional care of me. You have even gone through great trouble traveling outside to seek spirit herbs."

"Perhaps their value cannot compare to this Pointing Profound Pill, but affection is priceless!"

"Could it be that, in First Elder's eyes, the bond between fellow disciples, the affection between us, is so distant?"

Her words left Su Xinghai almost too ashamed to show his face.

It was not that he did not understand reason, only that...

As a sect elder—and an old man at that—he naturally had a certain desire to hold his head high.

Moreover, he was an upright man. In his view, it was only proper to give to the younger generation, especially talented juniors. But asking juniors for their things—what would that make him?

Besides, a Fifth Grade Pointing Profound Pill was far too valuable. He could not even afford to buy one!

Yet at this moment, he could not utter another word.

Only then did Xiao Ling'er break into a smile. She turned to Duan Qingyao, Li Changshou, and Chen Erzhu. "There is no need for you three to worry either. The pill furnaces acquired at this alchemy convention are quite extraordinary."

"Once this disciple rises another level and obtains suitable spirit herbs, I can begin refining Cave Heaven Pills. Ninth Grade may still be somewhat difficult, but Fifth Grade and above should be no problem!"

To spare them their dignity, she blinked and added, "If you also feel indebted, then one set of ingredients in exchange for one Cave Heaven Pill will do."

"When you reach Cave Heaven Peak and require Pointing Profound Pills, the same arrangement will apply."

With those words, Duan Qingyao and the other two naturally had no reason to refuse, and they nodded at once.

At the same time...

They secretly felt quite pleased with themselves.

Although they had not received the pills yet, still...!

At least they had gotten a taste of what it felt like to belong to a great sect.

Need pills?!

The sect would arrange them!

And the quality would be extremely high!

Of course, the prerequisite for all of it was surviving this crisis...

"I will say no more. I shall immediately enter seclusion and attempt to break through to the Fifth Realm! Third Brother, once the Sect Master and the others return, convey this to them for me."

"Alright!" Li Changshou nodded.

Su Xinghai then strode away, entered his cave abode, lowered the stone door, and began cultivating.

The three elders went to inspect the formations throughout the sect for any flaws, then began preparing talismans and other supplies.

Xiao Ling'er also returned to her residence, but her little face remained tightly drawn. "Teacher, my heart is a little unsettled. Tell me, what should I do?"

"Concern breeds disorder. You have come to regard Moon Embracing Sect as your own home. That is a good thing."

"Though Moon Embracing Sect is not strong at present, it is full of human warmth. In that regard, perhaps not even a few places on the Immortal Martial Continent can compare with Moon Embracing Sect."

Liang Danxia smiled and comforted her. "The fortunate are blessed by Heaven."

"What you need to do is as you always have."

"Refine pills and cultivate."

"The sooner you grow stronger, the greater the help you will be to Moon Embracing Sect."

But there was something Liang Danxia did not say. She merely thought to herself, Besides, I am here.

After finally finding a place so suited to you—and one that even this old woman cannot see through—how could I possibly...