The Pavilion Master's Welfare

Meanwhile, after receiving the Deputy Pavilion Master's message that their Pavilion Master was about to distribute benefits, many veteran members who knew Xiao Han's habits became wildly excited.

Although the new members did not know what the benefits were, they were full of anticipation as well. After all, whatever the Pavilion Master gave out, it definitely would not be low-grade.

"Come on, hurry up! The Pavilion Master is distributing benefits. This is a huge deal!"

Someone urged the person ahead of him.

At that moment, many people were puzzled.

"Brother, you don't have to be this excited, do you?"

"What do you know?" The man addressed as Brother looked at him disdainfully, as though mocking his intelligence.

"Do you know our Pavilion Master's former nickname?"

"What nickname?"

"You know the Central Plains sucker?" As he spoke, he contemptuously dismissed the other man's ignorance.

"The Pavilion Master has always been generous. He never haggles when buying things and never holds back when distributing benefits."

Then, reminiscing about the happy times of the past, he said, "After the Pavilion Master disappeared, the turnover of many famous shops in the Central Plains dropped by more than ten percent..."

"And it's first come, first served. The good stuff is all up front." He glanced at the man. "Now do you understand why we have to hurry?"

"Huh? Where'd he go?" He looked around but could not find the figure from before, and immediately became furious.

"What a despicable bastard!"

In less than fifteen minutes after the message was sent, everyone except those in seclusion had arrived. They were even faster and more punctual than during an emergency assembly.

Very good. We'll set the assembly time at fifteen minutes next time. Looking at the orderly ranks before her, Yi Huang silently made a note of it.

"Ahem~"

Seeing that nearly everyone had arrived, Xiao Han coughed a few times to signal everyone to quiet down, then got straight to the point.

"You all know why I called you here this time, so I won't say much. As Pavilion Master, I first want to express my gratitude and appreciation for your contributions to the pavilion over all these years."

After a brief pause, he said, "Now, come and collect your rewards."

Xiao Han merely waved his hand, and under everyone's expectant gazes, cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, pills, Medicinal Herbs, weapons, and more—all usually rare sights—appeared before everyone as though they were being sold at a street market.

Many people sighed inwardly, As expected, the Pavilion Master never disappoints us.

After a whirlwind of activity, all the rewards had been divided up in less than the time it took an incense stick to burn.

Seeing the satisfied smiles on everyone's faces, Xiao Han said, "All right, that was the first piece of good news. Next is the second."

Oh? There's more good news? After the buildup from earlier, everyone's confidence in the Pavilion Master soared.

Xiao Han continued, "You all know that I found a secret realm."

No one was surprised by this. It had long since become common knowledge.

Then Xiao Han dropped another bombshell.

"The Spiritual Energy in this secret realm is extremely dense. Cultivating inside can increase your cultivation speed by more than threefold."

Upon hearing this, everyone instantly became restless again. What should we do if we want to become stronger?

Aside from cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, and various auxiliary items, wasn't cultivation the only answer?

Such a secret realm was practically a blessing for everyone.

"I've already brought this secret realm back through a special method. Everyone can use their personal contributions to obtain cultivation time.

"I'll have the Deputy Pavilion Master formulate the detailed regulations later. All right, that's all for today. You're dismissed."

After everyone left, only Yi Huang and Ye Jianxin remained in the room.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Han cautiously said to Yi Huang, who was radiating a faint killing intent, "Huang'er, I'll have to trouble you with this." Hearing this, Ye Jianxin looked at Xiao Han in surprise.

I never thought this blockhead would have an enlightened moment.

The dark aura around Yi Huang immediately dispersed, and she answered gently, "All right."

"Next is my true harvest this time." Neither of them was surprised by this.

As close friends who had supported one another and walked alongside Xiao Han all the way to the present, they understood Xiao Han's personality very well—he never took a loss.

Although Xiao Han had always been nicknamed the "Central Plains sucker" in the outside world, that did not mean he was actually foolish.

Everything he paid was worth far more than its cost. He had also used this rather undignified nickname to gain priority access to many good things.

As far as Xiao Han was concerned, you might not lose money, but he would definitely profit.

And although Xiao Han was generous whenever he distributed benefits, that also meant he had even more resources.

Considering how extravagantly Xiao Han had acted this time, the two could already imagine how "substantial" his harvest was.

"This secret realm was actually somewhere I entered by chance. Only afterward did I discover that it was a secret inheritance realm left by an alchemist." Xiao Han never disappointed when he opened his mouth. His first statement was already a trump card.

How precious was an alchemist's inheritance realm? Moreover, judging from Xiao Han's gains this time, the alchemist who had left behind the secret realm was definitely no ordinary person.

An alchemist's inheritance was often accompanied by a large number of rare pill formulas, alchemy experiences, Medicinal Herbs, and more.

At that moment, even Yi Huang, an alchemist herself, felt jealous. This fellow, who was not even an alchemist, had actually obtained an alchemist's inheritance.

However, she quickly composed herself. After all, based on her understanding of Xiao Han, this inheritance would soon belong to her anyway.

Then, as though she had thought of something, Yi Huang asked somewhat nervously, "An alchemist's inheritance must have related trials. How did you pass them?"

Xiao Han said helplessly, "Don't remind me. That trial trapped me for a hundred years."

"What kind of trial was it?" Ye Jianxin asked.

"Soul Strength." x2

Noticing Xiao Han's surprised gaze, they looked somewhat pleased with themselves.

Yi Huang analyzed confidently, "The only alchemy-related trial that someone like Xiao Han, who isn't even an alchemist, could pass must have been one involving Soul Strength."

Then, feeling a little too pleased with herself, Yi Huang asked, "What level of Soul Strength did it require?"

"Heaven Realm Perfection."

"..."

They were petrified.

Yi Huang said somewhat aggrievedly, "I'm an Eighth-Rank Alchemist, yet I'm only at the Spirit Realm Middle Stage."

Then she felt terrible all over again. "How did you cultivate such a high soul realm? I remember that Soul Strength has always been your weakness!"

By the end, her voice even carried a hint of a sob.

Xiao Han said somewhat awkwardly, "There were quite a few Medicinal Herbs in the secret realm that could increase Soul Strength."

"Not just that. An Eighth-Rank Alchemist couldn't possibly reach Heaven Realm Perfection through pills alone." Yi Huang refuted him again.

"So I could only cultivate. By improving my cultivation, I nourished my soul realm in return. After spending a hundred years, I finally met the requirements of the trial."

Xiao Han spoke helplessly.

"How high is your current cultivation realm?" A bad premonition flashed through Yi Huang's heart.

Xiao Han's cultivation talent had always been astonishing. He had reached Dou Zun Peak before turning forty.

On top of that, he had originally already been at Peak Dou Zun. After cultivating for a hundred years in the secret realm at a speed of at least three times faster, along with the Medicinal Herbs and pills that might aid the growth of his cultivation, even if he could not consume them without limit, they still represented another factor in his growth.

There was also the difficulty of nourishing his soul until it reached Heaven Realm Perfection through his cultivation.

Do not assume that Heaven Realm Perfection was easy to reach. For those who were not alchemists, this realm often signified an extremely high level of cultivation.

Unless they possessed a special technique for improving their soul realm, even ordinary Eighth-Rank Alchemic Grandmasters could not reach such a level.