The Mass Burial Grounds lay on the back slopes of Little Bamboo Peak.
The Dao Sect's Registered Disciples were restricted to just two areas: Little Bamboo Peak and Little Green Peak.
Little Bamboo Peak needed no further explanation.
Little Green Peak was where all the Registered Disciples lived.
Nearly a hundred Registered Disciples were scattered across Little Green Peak's slopes and foothills.
The experience he could gain from cultivating the Qi Guiding Art had already reached its limit. After leaving the Mass Burial Grounds, Chen Yu did not intend to return to his lodgings on Little Green Peak. Instead, he headed toward the front of Little Bamboo Peak.
His strength had already broken through to the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining, and he wanted to put a few ideas into practice.
Beneath the veil of night, more than a dozen towering peaks rose around him. Their massive, pitch-black silhouettes formed a fence of sky-piercing pillars, encircling the much shorter Little Bamboo Peak and Little Green Peak.
"Consumables..."
"Their only value is to be refined into spirit essence."
Remembering those two Dao Sect disciples' conversation made Chen Yu seethe.
They all had two arms and two legs.
Why the hell did I have to be a consumable?
At that thought, he circulated his Spiritual Power into his fingertips, where a faint light began to glow.
Last night, he had watched Yun Miaozhen demonstrate her sword moves: thrusts, chops, taps, rising slashes... every move had been razor-sharp. If he could master those moves as thoroughly as she had, his chances of winning would certainly improve dramatically. Unfortunately, time was limited, and Chen Yu did not particularly like fighting people head-on. What had truly inspired him was Yun Miaozhen's final motion as she sheathed her sword.
The Wooden Sword slid into its sheath, and Spiritual Power gathered.
In an instant, a burst of light flared, briefly dazzling the eyes.
The key was not the fluid motion of sheathing the sword.
Nor was it the gathering of Spiritual Power.
It was the "dazzling" part.
When Chen Yu saw that gleam of light... enlightenment struck.
Why fight a Dao Sect outer disciple head-on?
I had no confidence in winning.
And it was dangerous.
Wouldn't it hurt if I accidentally got injured?
Conveniently, the assessment was scheduled for dusk. A group event like that could easily drag on into the night. Once darkness fell, he could ambush the Outer Sect Disciple with a bright flash during their fight and blind the bastard's eyes. Wouldn't that be glorious?
The question now is, what would release a burst of bright light when Spiritual Power was poured into it all at once? Chen Yu wondered.
To find something like that, he could only try his luck at Little Bamboo Peak's Miscellaneous Goods Pavilion.
It was late at night, but Little Bamboo Peak was still bustling.
Lanterns hung outside every building and along both sides of the streets, filling the place with light. Countless Registered Disciples strolled about, their faces wreathed in relaxed, happy smiles, as though what awaited them tomorrow was not an assessment, but attaining the Dao and ascending to immortality.
The sweetness in the air seemed richer than it had been a few days ago.
Chen Yu took a deep breath.
Strangely enough, the scent that had made him somewhat uncomfortable a few days earlier now seemed to refresh his heart and soul, lifting his spirits considerably.
The chatter of several Registered Disciples reached his ears.
"At last! Tomorrow, we'll be refined into spirit essence. Haven't we cultivated for three years precisely for this day?"
"Indeed! The Dao Sect has nurtured us for three years. It's finally time to repay the sect!"
"Hahahaha! A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to achieve sudden enlightenment and reach the Qi Refining second layer in one leap. The spirit essence I become will surely be top-grade!"
"Congratulations, Brother Li!"
"..."
Listening to the voices around him, Chen Yu unconsciously gave a slight nod.
That's right. As a Registered Disciple of the Dao Sect, if I could contribute to the Dao Sect...
The thought had barely begun to form.
Chen Yu suddenly jolted!
"No!" He hurriedly shook his head, a thin layer of cold sweat breaking out across his back. "Why the fuck would I have such an absurd thought?"
On a scale of one to ten, this was an eleven in wrongness.
Something was wrong with the front of Little Bamboo Peak. Although he did not know the exact cause, Chen Yu dared not stay any longer, afraid that lingering even a little would make him just like those Registered Disciples.
He quickened his pace and threaded through the night market, soon spotting a pavilion with a sign reading "Miscellaneous Goods."
The assessment was tomorrow, and the other probationary disciples were all in taverns, teahouses, card rooms, gambling dens, or similar places of entertainment.
The Miscellaneous Goods Pavilion was quite deserted.
Chen Yu walked inside and found a spacious hall. Farther in were numerous small rooms, each with a different wooden sign hanging outside its entrance: tools, household supplies, bedroom supplies...
Everything on Little Bamboo Peak was free. Whatever you needed, you could simply take.
Chen Yu first entered the "Tools" room. Its contents were arranged neatly, but after looking around, he found nothing he wanted.
So he turned and left, entering the "Household Supplies" room.
There were far more kinds of things here. Chen Yu browsed for a long time, and when he emerged, he held several white beads.
These were called "Little Bright."
As the name suggested, they were used for illumination.
All one had to do was channel spiritual energy into them, and they would give off light.
Judging by the description, they seemed very much like what Chen Yu was looking for. Their drawback was that they were a little large, making them unsuitable for sneak attacks.
Still, since they were free, Chen Yu took a few to experiment with.
Leaving the household supplies room, he passed the bedroom supplies room. As an upright gentleman, Chen Yu had intended to walk straight past, but his accursed peripheral vision happened to sweep over the shelves inside, and something caught his attention.
-Glowing Jade.
Strings of Glowing Jade.
Not Glowing Jade meant to be shoved into strange places, but Glowing Jade hung indoors to provide a colorful atmosphere.
He had seen Yun Miaozhen use it before.
The beads were tiny, yet they could emit a soft glow on their own in the dark, and there were several colors to choose from.
Chen Yu immediately went inside and picked up two strings of Glowing Jade, then turned to inspect the room's other contents... There really were plenty of ways to play. He had to admit that although the Dao Sect committed a monstrous evil by treating people as consumables, its everyday perks and benefits were genuinely beyond reproach.
However, these things held little appeal for Chen Yu, who had a succubus Dao companion.
He had already experienced everything worth experiencing.
He turned and left.
He also glanced inside a few other rooms.
He found nothing suitable.
Although the sweetness in Little Bamboo Peak's air smelled pleasant and refreshing, his earlier bizarre thought left Chen Yu thoroughly creeped out. He did not want to remain a moment longer.
Once he had chosen his things, he quickly left Little Bamboo Peak.
The mountain path was rugged and shrouded in darkness. Seeing no one around, Chen Yu took out a Little Bright and channeled Spiritual Power into it. The white bead in his hand immediately gave off a faint glow. It could light his way, but it was not dazzling.
Chen Yu withdrew his Spiritual Power, then poured a large amount into the Little Bright all at once.
Hum-
The light grew a little brighter.
But it still fell short of being "dazzling."
Moreover, after being used that way, the bead's surface immediately cracked, and it shattered.
Chen Yu threw it away.
Then he took out the Glowing Jade used to enhance the bedroom atmosphere...