Family Rewards

No sooner had he returned to his courtyard than Fifth Elder Su Bin sent someone to summon him. After giving it some thought, Su Yu followed the man to the Archive Pavilion, where Su Bin was leisurely reading an ancient book.

Upon seeing Su Yu, Su Bin set down the book in his hands and looked him over. After examining him for a moment, he clicked his tongue in amazement. "Good lad, you were the one who dealt with that Lin Family brat, Lin Xiu, yesterday, weren't you?"

The attack had taken place right on the street yesterday, and quite a few people had seen Su Yu.

The Lin Family did not know who Su Yu was, but the Su Family only needed to investigate a little to find out.

Su Yu paused before nodding. "It was me, but I didn't strike first. I was just passing by when that guy directly attacked me with a Water Snake spell. I could only fight back."

Su Bin snorted and looked at Su Yu disdainfully. "Don't play dumb. You were forced to fight back, yet you turned him into a pile of mangled flesh in an instant."

Su Yu was helpless. He had only thrown one punch.

The other man's body had simply been too weak.

Before Su Yu could speak, Su Bin waved a hand and pulled a bag from his robes. "Enough. How you killed him doesn't matter. What matters is that you killed a cultivator from the Lin Family, and he was even a grandson of the Lin Family's Fourth Elder."

"That alone deserves praise. Take this. It's a Cosmos Bag. Though it's only a Low-grade Magical Artifact, it'll do for now. There are also thirty Low-grade Spirit Stones inside, a reward from the family."

"Remember this: next time you run into a Lin Family cultivator, even if they don't make a move, beat the hell out of them."

"If they do make a move, kill them if you can—though if you can't beat them, remember to run faster."

Su Yu did not hear the rest of what Su Bin said. His eyes gleamed as he stared at the Cosmos Bag.

This could actually earn him a reward?

He hurriedly accepted the Cosmos Bag and thanked him happily. "Thank you, Fifth Grandpa. Thank you, Family Head and Elders."

Su Bin waved his hand again. "If there's nothing else, get lost."

Su Yu shrugged and took his leave.

As he watched Su Yu's departing back, Su Bin wore a thoughtful expression and muttered, "He's still only at Qi Refining Stage Two. Then... did he cultivate a Body Refining Technique?"

At that thought, Su Bin's expression changed, and he could not help but feel shocked.

"Could it be... that Body Refining Technique?"

If it really was—

Su Bin's gaze grew ever more delighted. Looking at Su Yu's gradually receding figure until it disappeared, his eyes deepened as he sighed softly. "That brat has been hiding himself well."

After returning to his courtyard, Su Yu immediately bound the Cosmos Bag to himself and refined it.

There was roughly three cubic meters of space inside. It was very small.

But for him now, it was already enough.

He placed the Low-grade Spirit Stones he had saved up, along with his remaining Qi Refining Pills, into the Cosmos Bag. Then he packed some clothes and Low-grade Spirit Rice inside as well.

With this thing, going out will be much more convenient in the future, Su Yu thought.

Thirty Low-grade Spirit Stones, added to the fifteen he had obtained from killing Lin Xiu yesterday and the twenty-five remaining from the Medicine Garden—

He now had seventy Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Next, I can cultivate properly for a while.

While Su Yu cultivated in peace, Fourth Elder Lin Hai of the Lin Family also uncovered his identity.

"Su Yu? A little bastard like him dared to kill my grandson? I'll make him die!" Lin Hai roared in a low voice.

Three days later.

The Su Family's eldest daughter, Su Zhi, returned from the Cloud Sword Sect. Family Head Su Peng held a family banquet in her honor, and the festivities were exceptionally lively.

Two more days passed. Beneath a pavilion in Su Zhi's courtyard, Su Zhi, Su Yu, and Su Qingyi gathered together.

Su Qingyi kept looking Su Yu over and could not help saying, "I really didn't expect that you were the one who killed Lin Xiu."

Su Yu shook his head. "I had just returned to Jiang City. Before I even said a word, he attacked me. I could only retaliate."

Su Qingyi asked in confusion, "Wasn't he at the third layer of Qi Refining? How did you kill him?"

Su Zhi watched Su Yu with a faint smile. She knew some of the inside details.

After pondering for a moment, Su Yu said, "I also cultivated a Body Refining Technique."

Su Qingyi's pupils shrank slightly, and understanding dawned on his face. He murmured, "A Body Refining Technique? So that's how it was."

He put away his contempt for Su Yu, and his tone became much more polite and warm when speaking with him.

As for eldest miss Su Zhi, Su Qingyi remained as respectful as ever.

That was because upon returning this time, Su Zhi's cultivation had already reached Qi Refining Stage Five.

Su Zhi spoke of some secrets from the Cloud Sword Sect. "Do you remember Gongsun Yi, the one who ranked first in the previous entrance disciple assessment?"

"He has an Earth Spirit Root. I heard his cultivation has already reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, and the Sect Master has taken him as a personal disciple."

Afterward, Su Zhi spoke of the general circumstances of the others. Of the thirty entrance disciples from that year, not every one of them had cultivated so smoothly.

According to Su Zhi, eleven people were still stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining.

From this alone, Su Yu and Su Qingyi, who had been eliminated back then, might both have been stronger than them.

Su Zhi looked at Su Yu and Su Qingyi. "In three years, I plan to fight for the qualifications to become an inner sect disciple. When the time comes, I may need to ask the two of you for help."

Before Su Yu could speak, Su Qingyi readily replied, "No problem. Sis, just say the word when the time comes. As long as I can do it, I definitely won't refuse."

Su Yu could only agree helplessly. Advancing to an inner sect disciple of the Cloud Sword Sect was likely no simple matter.

But as fellow clansmen, he could not refuse her.

Afterward, Su Yu asked about the market towns under the Cloud Sword Sect's jurisdiction, as well as late-stage Rank 1 demonic beast essence blood.

Su Zhi said, "The market towns are far more prosperous than Jiang City. Most of the people there are cultivators, and pills, Talismans, magical artifacts, formations, and everything else can all be found there."

"If you two get the chance, you can apply to go to Cloud Mountain Market. You should be able to obtain more resources and opportunities there."

"As for late-stage Rank 1 demonic beast essence blood, it isn't scarce in the market, but it isn't cheap either. A single drop costs two or three Low-grade Spirit Stones."

After talking for a long while, Su Yu and Su Qingyi left with different thoughts on their minds.

Having heard of the flourishing scene at Cloud Mountain Market, Su Qingyi's heart clearly grew wilder. Filled with longing, he resolved to become an alchemy apprentice and head to Cloud Mountain Market.

Su Yu also wanted to visit Cloud Mountain Market, though not to settle there, but to purchase some resources.

A week was enough time for a round trip.

But whether he should go or not, he was still hesitating.

After all, the journey was long and rather dangerous.

After staying at the residence for half a month, Su Yu spent an entire day persuading Fifth Elder Su Bin to escort him back to the Medicine Garden.

The Lin Family cultivators watching Su Yu had no choice but to flee, gritting their teeth in hatred.

This guy was really afraid of death. Fuck.

After returning to the Medicine Garden, Su Yu resumed his usual life. Every day, aside from cultivating the Wutong Greenwood Art, the Body Refining Technique, and spells, he followed Su Changyu in learning how to plant spirit herbs and understand their growth habits.

In his spare time, he hunted a few Earth Rock Rat demonic beasts.

He used their essence blood to cultivate the Body Refining Technique.

Outside, however, the friction between the Lin Family and the Su Family grew increasingly intense. Members of the Lin Family frequently appeared near the Medicine Garden.

Under such circumstances, Su Yu remained at the Medicine Garden for another year.