Breakthrough

So fast!

Yang Huai's heart jolted in alarm, while the qi and blood within him surged violently. In an instant, he flashed into the kitchen. A terrifying heat struck his back, scorching it in the blink of an eye.

He endured the searing agony of the burn and glanced back over his shoulder. What he saw made him breathe a slight sigh of relief. A fist-sized cluster of black specks had reached the kitchen entrance, but perhaps sensing the extreme heat, it hesitated slightly.

At the same time, Yang Huai felt an immense wave of heat abruptly swell behind him. One of the firework Daoists had already strode to his side. Threads of fire force rose around his body, and a fierce, dangerous glint flickered deep within his thick-browed eyes.

"Ironwood Bees. Looks like we're in luck today to come across such rare and unusual insects!"

As he watched the countless slender insects packed together like black iron threads, delight rather than alarm filled his eyes. As for the Daoist boy who had already collapsed, he gave him only one glance before ignoring him.

Beside the split log, some of the black insects scattered toward Daoist Cloudmist like heavenly maidens strewing flowers.

Daoist Cloudmist's expression did not change. He remained where he stood, silently chanting a spell. Layers of invisible firelight spread around him, forming a red glow that shielded his body and instantly blocked the waves of black insects outside.

At the same time, the giant axe in his hand lifted slightly, and crimson light emerged across its blade. Seeing this, the firework Daoist at the kitchen entrance immediately changed expression and hurriedly called out.

"Junior Brother Cloudmist, hold your hand! Do not harm these Ironwood Bee soldiers. Your senior brother will reward you handsomely afterward!"

Hearing this, Daoist Cloudmist paused with his giant axe.

Seeing this, Daoist Hou Feng took a green-skinned gourd from his waist. He merely opened it a crack and silently recited an incantation. Invisible streams of green smoke then rose from deep within the gourd. Upon smelling the green smoke, the strange insects still flying wildly about in several directions were like sharks scenting blood, instantly turning into streaks of black light and flying into the depths of the green-skinned gourd.

Seeing this, a trace of delight appeared on Daoist Hou Feng's face as he smiled at Daoist Cloudmist.

"Good. I have Junior Brother Cloudmist to thank for this!"

"When these Ironwood Bees produce honey someday, how about I give Junior Brother thirty percent of the first harvest?"

Daoist Cloudmist glanced at him, tacitly accepting.

Only then did the two firework Daoists turn their gazes upon Yang Huai and the other Daoist boy.

Yang Huai had already darted out of the kitchen, his back scorched black.

But he was still far better off than the other Daoist boy.

That Daoist boy had swollen all over like a pig, and parts of his body had even puffed up into a purplish-black color.

Those strange insects were clearly highly venomous.

Daoist Hou Feng stepped forward to inspect him briefly and discovered that the Daoist boy had already lost his life. He frowned slightly.

The number of Daoist boys assigned to the kitchen each year was limited. If one died, there was no way to replace him.

His gaze then fell upon Yang Huai. Seeing Yang Huai's somewhat ulcerated back, his eyes flickered. Only after a moment did he sigh.

"Forget it. One has already died; a second cannot die as well. Otherwise, the kitchen chores will fall onto this Daoist master!"

He immediately took a wooden bottle from his sleeve and casually tossed it to Yang Huai.

"This is Flesh-Regrowing Ointment. Apply it yourself, and you will certainly recover within three days. However, your daily kitchen shifts cannot be waived, and your shift time will be doubled from now on. That is the price for using this bottle of Flesh-Regrowing Ointment..."

His words brooked no dispute and gave Yang Huai no room to object.

Yang Huai frowned slightly, only to see that the firework Daoist seemed to have suddenly remembered something. His gaze settled on Yang Huai.

"By the way, what is your name?"

Yang Huai cupped his hands slightly. "This disciple is Qingli!"

His words immediately stirred Daoist Hou Feng's eyes. The other two firework Daoists who had come out of the kitchen to watch the excitement also turned their gazes toward him, their eyes assessing.

"Oh, so you are the newly promoted Daoist citizen in our kitchen. You are quite quick-witted, knowing to take refuge in the kitchen!"

At that moment, one of the firework Daoists—a tall, thin man with a gaunt face and an especially sinister air—stared at Yang Huai.

A smile that was not quite a smile appeared on his face!

Yang Huai, meanwhile, put on a bashful expression, looking thoroughly at a loss.

"This disciple panicked and chose the wrong path in my desperation. I have disturbed the three Martial Uncles!"

Daoist Hou Feng pondered briefly.

"Forget it. Since you have obtained the status of Daoist citizen, we will waive the extra menial labor. Rest well for these three days, then come back afterward!"

His expression was far gentler than before, and the contrast left one stunned.

Yang Huai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If such a burn had happened to an ordinary mortal, they could only wait for bacterial infection and die in agony. Though Yang Huai cultivated the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method, which nourished his qi and blood and gave his flesh greater vitality, he still needed time to recuperate. Performing chores with such injuries would indeed be extremely difficult.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle Hou Feng!"

"Mm. Go on, then!"

Before leaving, Yang Huai looked at the other Daoist boy still lying on the ground, ignored by everyone. This Daoist temple was far crueler than he had imagined.

He had nearly died today!

If he had died, not only would he fail the mission and lose the precious Innate Sword Bone destiny, but according to the information the Bronze Mirror had given him, his soul might have suffered grave damage. He would no longer be able to activate the Bronze Mirror, would be unable to cultivate, and would live out his life as an ordinary person!

That was unacceptable to him!

A mission could fail, but he could not die. That was his bottom line!

His urgency for that unknown fundamental method deepened by several degrees.

He turned and left. The firework Daoists withdrew their gazes one after another, and the sinister firework Daoist sneered.

"The little brat has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. He even knows how to divert disaster eastward!"

"But Senior Brother Hou Feng, you are rather kind-hearted to exempt him from menial labor. Still, with that, the kitchen Daoist boys on duty these next few days will probably be shorthanded!"

Dissatisfaction showed in his eyes.

What did a newly promoted Daoist citizen amount to? With that kind of scheming, he should have been taught a lesson today.

Daoist Hou Feng's expression remained calm.

"Then let them share his chores for these three days!"

His words were light and casual, yet in the blink of an eye, they had nearly determined the futures and lives of the other Daoist boys in the kitchen.

Two hours of labor were already enough to leave an ordinary Daoist boy utterly exhausted, much less with the hours extended further.

Remaining for long periods amid heat poison and toxic miasma could easily erode one's foundation and affect one's future prospects.

But since Daoist Hou Feng had made his decision, the other firework Daoists had no intention of offending him and all tacitly accepted it.

Before the kitchen Daoist boys became Daoist citizens, they were all expendable goods. No one would hold anyone accountable if they died, so long as not too many died and affected the kitchen's operation.

"Hiss... it really hurts!"

After returning to his quarters, Yang Huai carefully applied medicine to the wound on his back. A palm-sized ulcerated patch had appeared there, a bloody mess of flesh with bits of skin charred into blackened lumps.

He poured a layer of moss-colored ointment from the wooden bottle and evenly spread it over the wound. Threads of coolness gradually covered the burning ulcerated flesh. He could clearly feel the capillaries slowly regenerating beneath the ointment, bringing a faint itch.

This ointment was highly effective. At this rate, he should recover within a day or two.

It was practically miraculous medicine.

Martial Uncle Hou Feng must have learned something. He will probably ask something of me in the future; otherwise, he would not be so kind...

Yang Huai understood clearly that he had no friendship whatsoever with Daoist Hou Feng.

But even if Daoist Hou Feng wanted something from him, that was a matter for the future.

Once he fully awakened and fused with the Innate Sword Bone destiny, even if Daoist Hou Feng did seek something from him, he would have no need to worry. He would be fully capable of refusing.

After recovering somewhat, Yang Huai continued to circulate the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method. He felt an endless stream of innate essence flow from the sword bone in his right arm. His recovery was extremely fast, and on the second day, he directly broke through into the Greater Heavenly Circuit realm.

This time, Yang Huai clearly sensed something different. As the great medicine nourished portions of his Eight Extraordinary Meridians and hidden apertures, he distinctly felt his perception—even the workings of his thought and logic—become clearer, like a dust-covered pearl gradually blooming with light.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians opened by the Greater Heavenly Circuit of the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method involved the soul and the mysteries of wisdom, and possessed the power to nourish the spirit.

When he completed his first Greater Heavenly Circuit, the phantom of an ancient sword slowly emerged deep within Yang Huai's sea of consciousness. It seemed formed from the gathering of countless glimmers of spiritual light, profound and unfathomable, faintly resonating with the threads of golden light flowing from his right arm.

"Is the second Innate Sword Bone in my Niwan Palace about to awaken?"

Sensing this change, Yang Huai was immediately overjoyed.