Dust rose in clouds along the main road as a powerful horse galloped like the wind.
On its back, Jing Wen sat straight and tall, his resolute gaze fixed ahead.
With the rhythmic beat of hooves, thoughts surged through his mind.
Recalling the vow he had made before Red Rose's grave, Jing Wen could not help smiling bitterly.
His bold ambitions then had been somewhat inflated, but they were also the truest desires deep within his heart.
Still, he understood that his goal lay far in the distance. For now, he needed to advance one solid step at a time.
Over the past few days, Jing Wen had studied basic techniques while traveling.
The Object-Driving Technique was essential for controlling a flying sword to attack from a distance. After repeated practice, he could deftly manipulate external objects, targeting whatever he pointed his sword fingers toward.
The Gale Technique greatly increased movement speed. Traveling with it was far faster than riding a horse.
However, Jing Wen was only at Qi Refining, First Layer. The spiritual energy within him was a mere trickle, extremely limited. After using the Gale Technique for barely the time it took to drink a cup of tea, his spiritual power would run dry.
The Enhanced Vision Technique greatly sharpened his eyesight, allowing him to spot danger in advance.
In addition, Jing Wen had mastered the Fire Wall Technique and the Fireball Technique, which provided both offensive and defensive capabilities.
During his studies, he discovered something peculiar: he possessed an extraordinary talent for fire techniques, achieving twice the results with half the effort;
yet when faced with techniques of other elements, such as water and earth, he achieved half the results with twice the effort, finding them exceptionally difficult to cultivate.
With Jing Wen's meager magical power, mastering these techniques still meant little when facing other cultivators.
For now, his greatest trump card was the low-grade, first-tier Fire Wall Talisman in his possession.
The talisman possessed considerable power. Early Qi Refining cultivators often struggled to get close in the face of its might.
Why do fire techniques come so easily to me? Could Baleful Beads have different elemental attributes too? Jing Wen pondered, his brows tightly furrowed.
Soon, however, he set the question aside for the moment.
With his current understanding of Baleful Beads, he would struggle to find an answer even if he racked his brains.
Still, my predecessor did leave me some valuable assets. At that thought, the corners of Jing Wen's mouth lifted into a faint, gratified smile.
Although his predecessor had lacked a spiritual root and could not embark on the path of cultivation, he had lived in a world of cultivators. He had spent a great deal of time studying pill refinement, hoping it could solve his spiritual root problem.
As a result, Jing Wen's mind held a wealth of pill-refining knowledge. While he possessed no particularly valuable pill formulas, he understood the properties and effects of basic medicinal herbs.
If I can't find Han Li or Mo Juren in the Seven Mysteries Sect, I'll focus on learning pill refinement, Jing Wen planned.
For the time being, he had no intention of returning to the Black Fiend Cult.
In the Black Fiend Cult, even cultivators at the middle Qi Refining stage were mere cannon fodder sent charging into battle, let alone a lowly cultivator at Qi Refining, First Layer like him.
Without the help of the Black Fiend Cult Blood Pill, he could only improve his cultivation by earning spirit stones and purchasing pills.
Compared with talisman crafting, artifact refinement, and formations, pill refinement offered Jing Wen a stronger foundation and a more feasible path.
I'm a transmigrator, after all. Even without a cheat or a spiritual root, surely I should at least have some advantage from knowing the plot. Jing Wen prayed silently, hoping fate would favor him at a critical moment.
The horse continued galloping along the main road, the dust it raised gradually dispersing.
Jing Wen tightened his grip on the reins and rode toward the unknown ahead, his gaze resolute.
A month slipped by, and sunlight fell gently over Rosy Cloud Mountain in Jing Prefecture like a veil of gold.
The winding mountain path resembled a coiled dragon, hidden amid the lush forest.
Now, Jing Wen wore a black robe, its broad hood concealing his face. Only a lock of long, gray-white hair hung beneath its edge.
He stood tall on the mountain path, his eyes blazing as he faced two Seven Mysteries Sect disciples guarding the mountain.
"Take me to your sect leader!" Jing Wen spoke in a low voice, making himself sound like a middle-aged man while projecting an unquestionable air of authority.
A flicker of anger instantly crossed one disciple's face. He was about to rebuke Jing Wen and demand what sort of arrogant scoundrel dared cause trouble here.
Before the words could leave his mouth, however, his pupils abruptly contracted, and the anger on his face gave way to terror.
Beneath Jing Wen's feet, the hard stone path began shaking violently as though struck by a massive hammer. Cracks like sinister serpentine markings spread rapidly outward from him, extending several meters in the blink of an eye.
"S-Senior, please wait a moment. I'll announce your arrival at once!" the other disciple said, his voice trembling and his face full of deference.
With that, both turned and dashed through the mountain gate. Neither was willing to stay at his post.
The Seven Mysteries Sect leader's heart tightened when he heard the gate guards' report.
To shatter the rocky ground across several meters with nothing but his aura, without lifting a finger-such cultivation was far beyond his own reach.
He dared not delay and immediately hurried toward the mountain gate.
When he arrived and saw the alarming cracks beneath Jing Wen's feet, his shock surged like a raging tide that would not subside.
Suppressing his astonishment, he strode forward and saluted with clasped hands. "Forgive me for failing to welcome you sooner, Senior. I did not know you would be gracing us with your presence! May I ask what brings you to the Seven Mysteries Sect?"
Jing Wen remained composed, his gaze slightly lowered as he spoke unhurriedly. "To be frank, I suffered an injury while traveling and urgently need a peaceful place to recuperate for a while.
"I heard that the Seven Mysteries Sect enjoys a great reputation in this region, so I came to impose upon you."
The sect leader secretly rejoiced. This was a heaven-sent opportunity!
If he could recruit Jing Wen as an honored guest, the sect would gain a powerful safeguard.
His face wreathed in smiles, he hurriedly said, "Your presence is an honor for our sect, Senior! Please focus on your recovery. The Seven Mysteries Sect will spare no effort in caring for you.
"If you are willing, you could remain as an honored guest of our sect afterward. You would have no routine duties and need only lend a little assistance when our sect faces a matter of life and death."
Jing Wen had intended precisely that, but he revealed nothing and merely nodded. "Then you have my thanks, Sect Leader."
Jing Wen had feigned illness for two reasons: first, to give himself an excuse to stay in the Seven Mysteries Sect, and second, to make it easier to visit Divine Hand Valley.
Of course, if Han Li was not in the Seven Mysteries Sect, he would leave the next day without hesitation.
Jing Wen raised his head, sweeping his gaze over the sect leader and the people behind him. "Does the Seven Mysteries Sect have any renowned physicians?"
The sect leader hastily nodded and pointed to an elder behind him. "Several of our elders are highly skilled in medicine. Elder Zhang here is the finest among them."
Elder Zhang stepped forward and smiled at Jing Wen, his eyes holding both apprehension and eagerness. He clearly wanted to display his medical skills before Jing Wen.
Jing Wen's gaze lingered on Elder Zhang for a moment before he slowly shook his head, a trace of disappointment showing in his eyes.
The sect leader paused in surprise, then seemed to remember something and slapped his forehead. "Of course! There is a Doctor Mo in Divine Hand Valley whose medical skills are unparalleled.
"He is currently away from the valley, though, and will not return for some time."
Jing Wen was wild with joy inside, yet remained calm on the surface.
It seemed he had arrived at just the right time.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of anticipation entering his voice. "Oh? Is this Doctor Mo truly so accomplished? It seems I must see his skills for myself."
As the sun gradually sank in the west, the evening clouds glowed like blood, bathing all of Rosy Cloud Mountain in a brilliant red.
Led by the sect leader, Jing Wen walked into the Seven Mysteries Sect.
His gaze slowly swept over the surrounding buildings and disciples as he silently considered his next steps.
Meanwhile, though the Seven Mysteries Sect leader wore a smile, he kept pondering how to truly win Jing Wen over and put him to use for the sect.
Before you continue