The Scourge of Forbidden Medicine

Zhao Lei looked at the dozens of Deacon Elders surrounding him, despair written all over his face.

He knew that today, he was as good as dead. Taking Forbidden Medicine to boost his cultivation was strictly prohibited by the sect. Add to that the theft of the sect's Spiritual Medicine, and the two charges combined were enough to ensure he died without a burial place.

"Hmph! You think you can catch me that easily?" A flicker of madness flashed in Zhao Lei's eyes. He abruptly channeled the remnants of Spiritual Energy within him and lunged at the Chief Deacon Elder leading the group.

"Courting death!" The Chief Deacon Elder snorted coldly, raised his hand, and swept it through the air. A sharp Sword Qi instantly sent Zhao Lei flying backward.

Zhao Lei crashed heavily to the ground, coughing up blood, several bones in his body broken. He struggled to get up but found he didn't even have the strength to move.

The Chief Deacon Elder walked slowly up to Zhao Lei, staring down at him with an icy gaze: "Zhao Lei, do you know your crimes?"

Zhao Lei let out a bitter laugh and said, "What crime have I committed? I only wanted to raise my cultivation, to become stronger! This Cultivation World has always been about the strong preying on the weak—the victor reigns supreme!"

"How dare you!" the Chief Deacon Elder roared. "The sect's rules are not yours to trample on as you please! You stole the sect's Spiritual Medicine and took Forbidden Medicine to boost your cultivation—your crimes are heinous, and you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

He paused, then added, "Men, drag Zhao Lei away, abolish his cultivation, and expel him from the sect!"

Two Deacon Disciples stepped forward and hauled Zhao Lei off. His screams echoed through the dense forest, gradually fading into the night.

Shen Hao stood at the back of the crowd, watching the scene unfold, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that Zhao Lei's fate was the result of his own doing. With a crooked heart and a desire to take shortcuts, he had only ended up harming himself and others.

"Alright, everyone disperse," the Chief Deacon Elder said, waving his hand. "What happened today is not to be spoken of outside. Starting tomorrow, strengthen the guards at the Medicine Garden to prevent anything like this from happening again."

"Yes, sir!" the elders replied in unison.

The Deacon Elders gradually left, and Shen Hao turned to head back toward his quarters.

Returning to Room C, Shen Hao's mind could not settle for a long time. He sat at the table, gazing at the moonlight outside the window, lost in thought.

This Cultivation World was indeed fraught with danger. One misstep, and you could fall into irredeemable ruin. Zhao Lei's talent was undeniably good. A top-grade Single Spirit Root placed him among the best of the Outer Sect Disciples. If he had devoted himself to cultivation, he could have become a powerful figure one day. But his crooked heart and pursuit of shortcuts had led him to have his cultivation abolished and be expelled from the sect.

"It seems that walking the path of cultivation requires not only talent but also a disciplined mind," Shen Hao murmured to himself.

He knew that his own talent was far inferior to Zhao Lei's. But he had the aid of the Companion Jade Pendant and a steady heart. As long as he devoted himself to cultivation, step by step, he would one day surpass Zhao Lei and become a true powerhouse.

Shen Hao set aside his thoughts, took out the Companion Jade Pendant, and infused it with a thread of Spiritual Energy. Pure Spiritual Energy flowed endlessly into his body. He sat cross-legged on the bed and began to cultivate.

With Zhao Lei's fate as a warning, Shen Hao trained even more diligently. He knew that only by becoming stronger could he protect himself and those close to him in this perilous Cultivation World.

The night deepened, and the moonlight flowed like water. With the aid of the Companion Jade Pendant, Shen Hao's aura steadily rose. His cultivation was advancing toward the middle of the Qi Refining Second Layer.