Man in Black Reappears

The next day, he dismembered the Fierce Tiger, made it into roasted meat, and settled down in the Waste Pill Room from then on.

However, near the Waste Pill Room, different wild beasts would come running every few days.

For this reason, he set up a large number of traps around his dwelling, tirelessly hunting these ferocious animals.

Although he still couldn't begin cultivation, fighting with various beasts every day had greatly improved his combat skills. Moreover, the better diet was also very beneficial to his physical growth.

That evening, Su Shi'er draped a tiger skin over himself, carried a bamboo knife, and came to a mountain hollow near his dwelling to hide.

He lay prone in the hollow, like a sleeping Fierce Tiger. Beneath the tiger skin, he pricked up his ears, listening quietly to the sounds all around.

This time, the fierce beast he had to face was a Green Wolf as strong as an ox. That Green Wolf was extremely ferocious, and could even spew gale winds from its mouth, very much like the legendary demonic beasts.

He had been matching wits and courage with this demonic beast for several days. Today, he had specially prepared a few more traps, intending to take care of this fellow in one go.

Just then, a rustling sound came.

Su Shi'er's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped the bamboo knife in his hand.

But the next second, the sound coming from not far away struck him like a thunderbolt.

"Where is the thing?!"

"Your subordinate has failed in his duty. Please punish me, Venerable Lord!"

Hearing the voices, Su Shi'er was frozen in place.

Then, a surge of intense hatred instantly flooded his heart.

The latter's voice was so familiar! It was a voice etched into his bones, one he could never forget in a lifetime!

At this moment, the figures of the murderer who killed his grandfather and the villagers, the Man in Black, instantly flashed through his mind.

"That person... he's actually in the Yun Ge Sect?!"

As the thought flashed by, Su Shi'er clenched his fists.

But he knew clearly in his heart that he was no match for that person now.

If he was discovered, he was dead!

That Man in Black was even more brutal and terrifying than the Fierce Tiger!

Holding his breath, Su Shi'er didn't dare to make a single sound.

By his ears, the voices of the two people's conversation continued.

"You do deserve punishment, but you wouldn't be trying to keep that Precious Furnace for yourself, would you?"

"Venerable Lord, you wrong me. That old thing in Little Stone Village had a mouth harder than stone. Your subordinate tried threats and bribes, used every method, but the old man wouldn't budge even in death."

"Hmph! If you can't even handle some mortals, what use do I have for you?!"

Listening to their conversation, Su Shi'er's heart skipped a beat.

"Venerable Lord? That person sounds even more powerful than the Man in Black?"

"Could it be... that the Man in Black has an even stronger person behind him?"

This realization startled him even more.

Lying on the ground, he didn't move a muscle, terrified that the two would discover his presence.

Through the gaps, he could faintly see, in the woods not far away, two blurry black figures talking under a giant tree.

Moonlight stretched their shadows long, casting them right over him.

"Thank you for sparing my life, Venerable Lord. Your subordinate has another lead on this matter!"

"Oh? What lead?"

"Afterward, your subordinate went back to Little Stone Village and found that a Hundred-Person Grave had appeared in the village. The one who erected the tombstone was named Su Shi'er, that old man's grandson. If your subordinate isn't mistaken, the Precious Furnace must be in the hands of that brat named Su Shi'er!"

"Hmm? Is that so? Fine, I'll give you another month. If you still can't find that Precious Furnace, you know the consequences yourself!"

Having said that, the two huddled together for another whispered discussion, then shot up into the sky, flying off in two different directions.

In the mountain hollow, Su Shi'er lay on the ground, his mind in turmoil.

Now, his head was full of the Man in Black's final words.

"He... he knows my name, and knows the Pill Furnace is with me?!"

"No, I have to get out of here immediately!"

At this moment, Su Shi'er's heart raced, his mind filled with thoughts of escape.

But on second thought, if he left the Yun Ge Sect, he had no idea where else he could come into contact with cultivation methods.

Moreover, having finally gotten a tiny clue about the Man in Black, he couldn't bear to leave without investigating further.

Thinking this way, Su Shi'er forcibly suppressed his panic and waited until the dead of night. He confirmed that the two hadn't returned, and the Green Wolf didn't show up either.

He then returned to his dwelling with a troubled heart.

The next day, early morning.

Su Shi'er had just woken up when he heard a series of urgent knocks at the door.

"Thump, thump, thump..."

The sound was neither hurried nor slow, but each knock seemed to strike against Su Shi'er's heart, making it beat faster.

"Damn it, could it be... that person found me so quickly?" Su Shi'er scrambled out of bed in one motion, his heart leaping to his throat.

His eyes darted around as he scanned his surroundings, considering whether he could escape.

"Junior Brother Shi'er, are you in there?"

Just then, an ethereal, beautiful voice came from outside.

Senior Sister Xiao Yue?

Su Shi'er was stunned at the words, but the heart in his throat didn't settle. Instead, he suddenly realized another troublesome matter: when he joined Luofu Peak, he had used his real name.

And now, that Man in Black not only knew of his existence but also knew his name!

What to do? Su Shi'er broke out in a cold sweat from anxiety.

Just as he was at a loss, Xiao Yue's slightly worried voice came again from outside the door.

"Junior Brother Shi'er?!"

Hearing the voice again, Su Shi'er had no choice but to temporarily suppress his worries. He took a deep breath and quickly went to open the door.

"Senior Sister Xiao Yue?"

As the door opened, he saw Xiao Yue standing at the entrance, dressed in a long gown with a long sword strapped to her back.

Seeing Su Shi'er for real, Xiao Yue's face was full of surprise.

Perhaps in her heart, she had thought Su Shi'er wouldn't have lasted this long—either dying at the jaws of wild beasts or having run away long ago.

Surprise aside, Xiao Yue quickly put on a smile and acted very naturally.

"Judging by your complexion, you've been doing... well here?!" As she spoke, Xiao Yue's gaze swept across the yard.

When she saw the pile of various beast hides stacked on the ground, her pupils contracted in utter shock.

"Huh? Are those beast hides? You... you actually killed so many wild beasts?!"

As she said this, Xiao Yue's eyes quickly scanned Su Shi'er up and down, unable to believe the scene before her.

A child only twelve years old could kill so many wild beasts? What a joke!

"I didn't kill them! I just dug a few traps around here, and those beasts were too stupid—one would fall in every now and then." Su Shi'er scratched his head with a smile, quickly inviting Xiao Yue in and pointing at the traps in the yard.

He didn't want Xiao Yue to think he was impressive, and he absolutely couldn't let anyone know about taking the Foundation Cultivation Pill.

"So it's traps, that explains it! Still, it's impressive you came up with that method! Anyone else would have been scared to death just encountering such beasts!"

Seeing the traps, Xiao Yue's emotions calmed down a bit; otherwise, she would have thought he was some kind of prodigy.

But her gaze toward Su Shi'er was still full of surprise and admiration.

When she was twelve, she hadn't had this kind of skill or courage.

This little guy was clever and bold, but it was a pity his spiritual root was so poor—otherwise, he would definitely be promising material.

"Hehe, thanks for the praise, Senior Sister!" Su Shi'er chuckled, then asked about her purpose, "Senior Sister, what brings you here this time?"

Xiao Yue smiled. "I came this time, first, to check on your safety and see how you're doing. Now it seems I worried for nothing. Second, I need to tell you about the newcomer trial!"

"Newcomer trial?" Su Shi'er raised an eyebrow slightly. He had heard the Tianhua Peak's peak master mention it when he first entered the sect.

Xiao Yue nodded. "That's right. The Yun Ge Sect's rule is that every batch of new disciples must participate in a newcomer trial five years after joining. Only by passing the trial can you stay in the Yun Ge Sect. Otherwise, you'll either be a menial disciple for life or be sent back."

"Menial disciple? Sent back?" Su Shi'er's heart trembled, and he quickly asked cautiously, "What does the trial involve?"

Xiao Yue replied, "The content of the trial changes every time; it won't be announced until the trial begins! But based on past experience, to pass, you need at least the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage or above."

"Fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage?" Su Shi'er's small face turned pale.

According to what Lu Mingshi had said, he could at most cultivate to the seventh or eighth level of the Qi Refining Stage in his lifetime.

With that in mind, not to mention that he had no cultivation technique now—even if he did, raising his cultivation to the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage in five years would be extremely difficult.

But as for giving up, Su Shi'er didn't even consider it.

After a moment's hesitation, he asked Xiao Yue in a low voice, "Senior Sister, if I want to cultivate, what should I do?"