Resolving a Heart's Knot

The courtyard on Little Spirit Void Peak was far larger than the one in Mengshan City.

The backyard in particular spanned several hundred square meters, planted with fruit trees and tea trees.

There were also several Meditation Chambers in the courtyard. Normally, however, Han Yi only cultivated in the one hung with a painting of a sword immortal, rarely using the others.

Han Yi first inspected the entire courtyard, inside and out, mainly to confirm its safety.

After all, he had been gone for a year. With no master present, the courtyard's protective array had not been activated, so anyone might have slipped inside.

As for the people from the Enforcement Hall tasked with checking whether vacant courtyards had been occupied, how could they truly have the time for such things?

Of course, if an externally assigned disciple truly refused to leave the mountain, believing no one would notice and secretly hid in a vacant courtyard, that was another matter entirely. If reported or discovered, they would be stripped of their sect status, have their cultivation abolished, and be driven down the mountain.

That was sect law: you could take what was given to you, but if it was not yours and merely sat there vacant, yet you insisted on taking it, then your hand would be chopped off.

Han Yi had always been one to follow the rules.

After checking that the courtyard was safe, he did not, as he had in Mengshan City, immediately enter seclusion to grind his progress bar or cultivate.

Instead, he did something rare and left the courtyard.

The courtyards of the Mystic Pill Sect were unlike those in Mengshan City, where an Array Disk was needed to control the residence.

Here, every courtyard had a central hub. Once one infused it with spiritual power, one became the courtyard's master. So long as the master was within the courtyard, they could control the courtyard array with a thought.

Naturally, such control only covered the most basic functions: fully activating the defenses, partially activating them, or shutting them down.

But the array was connected to Little Spirit Void Peak's spiritual vein, its starting point far higher. Even its basic functions could withstand the attacks of cultivators below Foundation Establishment.

After leaving the courtyard, Han Yi headed straight for Zheng Hai's residence.

Zheng Hai did not live on Little Spirit Void Peak, but on the neighboring Little Firm Rock Peak.

On Little Firm Rock Peak, Han Yi knocked for a long while without anyone answering. He knew that either Zheng Hai was at a critical juncture in cultivation or pill refinement and could not leave, or there was simply no one in the courtyard and Zheng Hai had gone out on business.

"Forget it. I'll come back in a couple of days to share the good news of my return. Then I'll treat Zheng Hai to a celebration at Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

Han Yi felt slightly regretful that he could not visit Drunken Immortal Pavilion today.

Drunken Immortal Pavilion was a restaurant on the Outer Peak, renowned far and wide.

The liquor within was brewed from precious spirit pills and medicinal herbs, rich in spiritual qi and exorbitantly expensive. Since entering the sect, Han Yi had only heard of it and seen it from afar; he had never dared step inside.

This time, having returned to the sect, his heart was exhilarated and his pockets were full. It was worth pulling a friend along for a celebration.

"Right, there's also Senior Guan Di."

The thought of Guan Di reminded Han Yi of how he had wronged Guan Sheng in Mengshan City, and he could not help hesitating.

After a moment, he still decided to seek out Guan Di and explain matters clearly.

This was the knot in his heart. He had to untie it.

Guan Di had originally lived on Little Firm Rock Peak as well, but after advancing to Qi Refining Layer 5, he had moved to Little Dragon Beard Peak, one of the top three Outer Peaks.

After advancing to the sixth layer, he had gained the opportunity to serve on duty at Vermilion Bird Peak. That position was rich with benefits, expanded one's connections, and earned one more favors. Many sixth-layer Outer Peak disciples pulled every string they had to squeeze their way in.

Han Yi descended Little Firm Rock Peak and headed straight up Little Dragon Beard Peak.

This time, his trip was not in vain. Guan Di was indeed in his courtyard and had not gone out.

"Senior Guan Di, I passed the Return-to-Sect Assessment."

Han Yi did not beat around the bush. He shared his joy, his face bright with delight.

No matter what, it had been Guan Di who helped him think of a solution and arranged for him to be assigned to Mengshan City. Although the matter with Jiang De had happened there, Han Yi had not the slightest suspicion toward Guan Di.

Upon hearing this, Guan Di froze for a moment before quickly breaking into a smile.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Han."

After exchanging congratulations, Guan Di took out a letter. "Oh, right, Junior Brother Han. I was actually planning to look for you, but I didn't expect you to come to me first. A few days ago, my clan uncle wrote to say that you had gone back on your word and left without farewell. Do you think there might be some misunderstanding here?"

Han Yi felt somewhat ashamed upon hearing that.

After the matter with Jiang De, he had suspected that Guan Sheng might harbor some ulterior motive toward him. But he had no evidence whatsoever, and on the surface, Guan Sheng had shown him no small measure of kindness.

Now that Guan Sheng had sent a letter directly accusing him of breaking their agreement, Han Yi found it difficult to argue back.

"Senior Guan, this is what happened."

"When Senior Guan Sheng asked me to handle that matter, I happened to be at a critical point in my pill-refining insights, and I delayed Senior Guan Sheng's affairs."

"After coming out of seclusion, I was too embarrassed to face Senior Guan Sheng directly, so I could only leave without saying goodbye."

"Oh, and these are the pills I was supposed to return to Senior Guan Sheng according to our agreement. This, meanwhile, is my compensation."

"This is all I have. Please help me pass them on to Senior Guan Sheng."

Han Yi took out three bottles of the Evil Warding Pills he had refined earlier. This was calculated according to his fifteen-percent success rate in refining Evil Warding Pills.

Moreover, he did not calculate an eighty-twenty split this time. He gave them all to Guan Sheng.

Then he took out three more bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills. Naturally, these too were ordinary-quality Qi Nourishing Pills.

He still did not dare take out Standard Quality pills, for fear of drawing unwanted attention.

Guan Di frowned, picked up the Evil Warding Pills and Qi Nourishing Pills, and examined them. His brow gradually relaxed.

"You're not bad, kid. The quality of these bottles of pills—even I wouldn't dare guarantee I could produce them as easily as reaching out and grabbing them."

"Your alchemy skill has improved so much. No wonder you passed the Return-to-Sect Assessment so quickly."

"And you're already at Qi Refining Layer 3. No—judging by your aura, you shouldn't be far from Layer 4."

"Who would've thought that after being sent away for a year, both your alchemy and cultivation would improve so greatly? Calling it a complete rebirth wouldn't be an exaggeration."

"Fine. I'll pass the pills along. We're all family; there's no real conflict between us. Even if there are some minor grievances, there's no need to dwell on them too much. I'll tell my clan uncle."

Seeing Guan Di accept the pills, Han Yi finally let out a sigh of relief.

This matter could be considered more than halfway settled. As for the rest, once he grew stronger in the future, he could find an opportunity to make further compensation.

Just as Han Yi was preparing to leave, Guan Di called out to him.

"There's one more thing, Junior Brother Han. Do you want to move to Little Dragon Beard Peak? With your now-reborn alchemy skill, if you move here, you'll definitely be able to claim a better courtyard. And the several Peak Masters will take care of you as well."

Han Yi politely declined. Though Guan Di found it regrettable, he could not force the matter and could only let it go.

After returning to Little Spirit Void Peak and activating the courtyard formation, Han Yi began cultivating.

This time, his goal was clear.

Qi Refining Layer 4.

He was only a single step away from that realm.

Moreover, entrusting the pills to Guan Di had settled one of the matters in Mengshan City. With one burden less in his heart, his state of mind advanced another step, drawing closer to perfection.

In addition, he had previously rented a cultivation room on Little Spirit Void Peak for ten days. Although he had not deliberately pushed his progress, the spiritual power within him had already reached 94/100.

As the saying went, everything was ready; all that remained was the final kick at the door.

Inside the courtyard, within the Meditation Chamber.

Han Yi took out all his remaining spirit stones, Qi Nourishing Pills, and Evil Warding Pills.

He first swallowed four Evil Warding Pills. After thinking it over, he felt that was not quite safe enough and took another two.

Then, he activated the spiritual power within the spirit stones arranged around him.

At once, spiritual energy churned through the sealed Meditation Chamber, its density briefly approaching the level of a Third Order Spirit Vein.

Such extravagance was unimaginable to other outer sect disciples.

But to Han Yi, every spirit stone existed to be used for a breakthrough. If not now, then when? He would not hesitate to waste a little.

Boom!

Billowing spiritual energy surged into his body, compressed and condensed, flowing into his bodily spiritual power.

It continued advancing toward transformation.

Han Yi, who was in seclusion on Little Spirit Void Peak to attempt his breakthrough, did not know that several days later, thousands of miles away in Mengshan City, Guan Sheng received Guan Di's letter and the items he had sent.

After reading the letter, he looked again at the pills laid out on the table.

Guan Sheng remained silent for a long time.