After spotting Jin Zhouheng, Jiang Hao stopped going to the Spirit Medicine Garden.
Instead, he stayed quietly in his courtyard, collecting bubbles each day and waiting until he had accumulated a hundred.
Liu Xingchen had not come to tell him any specifics, either.
He did not know whether they had uncovered anything.
This left him somewhat concerned.
Someone in the early Golden Core realm was far beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator could contend with. He worried that the man would be unable to suppress his hatred upon seeing him again.
As for hiding somewhere else...
It was not that he had never considered it, but he could not stay anywhere else for long. Besides, with so many people and prying eyes, nowhere was as safe as his courtyard.
If the man appeared, he would head straight for his master's residence.
That offered at least a little hope.
His greatest reliance, however, was advancing.
Just a few more days.
Jiang Hao murmured silently to himself.
Seven days passed in a flash. Throughout that time, he stayed in his courtyard consolidating his cultivation to make his next advancement easier.
Things were different now. Within the Foundation Establishment realm, advancing with a hundred points of cultivation and a hundred points of Blood Essence was nothing unusual.
But this time, he would be entering the ranks of Golden Core cultivators.
That was a tremendous leap. It was hard to say whether a hundred points of cultivation and a hundred points of Blood Essence would be enough.
If they were not, he would be in trouble.
Accumulating another hundred would take three months.
Jin Zhouheng had already discovered him. Would he wait another three months?
That was unlikely.
Perhaps he had already scouted the surroundings and would make his move in the next few days.
He let out a breath.
Jiang Hao checked his panel.
[Qi-Blood: 99/100 (available for cultivation)] [Cultivation: 100/100 (available for cultivation)]
Just one more day.
Today, Jiang Hao took out Half-Moon and began nurturing the blade.
The more critical the moment, the greater the danger.
Sure enough.
Once again, he felt that faint, elusive gaze upon him. It was so direct that it seemed to burn.
He's here?
It was too soon-so soon that he was not ready.
Jiang Hao's heart lurched, but he made no rash move. Instead, he waited for the man to attack, intending to flee afterward.
Of course, he had something else in mind as well: the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower.
Quite a few people were watching the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower.
Perhaps Elder Bai Zhi and that woman would think someone was trying to steal their possession and intervene.
After he waited a moment, that faint, elusive gaze suddenly vanished.
Hmm?
Jiang Hao was puzzled. Was the man not going to attack?
At the same time, Liu Xingchen's voice rang out from outside:
"Are you there, Junior Brother Jiang?"
"Yes," Jiang Hao answered immediately.
So Liu Xingchen had arrived. No wonder the man had withdrawn.
Still, it was daytime. There was also a fair chance the man would wait until night.
After inviting Liu Xingchen inside, Jiang Hao poured him a cup of tea.
"You were right, Junior Brother. He may indeed be a spy from another sect. We should be arresting him tonight." Liu Xingchen took a sip of tea before continuing:
"You'd best be careful tonight as well, Junior Brother. In all likelihood, this man is here for you.
"Since he dared to come, he's probably already prepared himself not to return.
"But everyone has the will to survive. If he can return alive, he won't want to die here.
"For now, he hasn't become desperate.
"But once we make our move, he will."
Jiang Hao nodded to show he understood.
He did not ask for someone to protect him, nor did he demand that Liu Xingchen make certain the arrest succeeded.
That would be asking too much.
It would easily breed resentment. Coming to warn him was already all he could reasonably ask.
Afterward, Liu Xingchen left, seemingly having come solely to tell him this.
Looking at the empty courtyard, Jiang Hao suddenly wondered.
If Liu Xingchen tried to persuade him to switch sides, what should he do?
Reluctantly agree, or tell that woman?
Or perhaps go to Elder Bai Zhi?
Jiang Hao shook his head, unable to find an answer.
He did not want to face that choice, either. It would be far too dangerous.
Then he stepped out of his courtyard, heading for the Spirit Medicine Garden.
They would make their move tonight, which meant whatever was coming would come tonight.
He was now just one point of Blood Essence short. As long as the Spirit Medicine Garden had it, he could advance right away.
If he was fast enough, he would still have time to face the danger.
At least he would have the ability to escape.
The Spirit Medicine Garden.
Jiang Hao saw Han Ming directing people to sort the spirit herbs.
"Senior Brother Jiang, I haven't seen you these past few days," Han Ming said with a measure of respect.
He was unwilling to accept his defeat at Jiang Hao's hands, but he also understood that he was currently no match for him.
If he was no match, he should not provoke him needlessly.
"Are you going on a long journey, Junior Brother Han?" Jiang Hao pointed at the spirit herbs.
Normally, there was no need to prepare so many.
Even pill refining did not call for this sort of preparation, so a long journey seemed more likely.
As a True Disciple, Han Ming could take a great many things. He only needed to register them.
"Yes. Azure Heaven Mountain has been holding some Dao Discussion Conference lately. None of them seem willing to leave, and they've had some clashes with our sect.
"It's a good opportunity for me to go out and gain some experience," Han Ming explained.
Clashes between the righteous and demonic factions? That was precisely what Jiang Hao least wanted to experience. It would make clearing his name difficult.
"Then be careful, Junior Brother," Jiang Hao reminded him kindly.
By then, he had already spotted the bubbles in the Spirit Medicine Garden.
There was only one blue bubble.
Now it all depended on whether it contained Blood Essence.
"All right. Once I return from gaining experience, I'll come spar with you again, Senior Brother," Han Ming said stubbornly.
Jiang Hao nodded.
Next time, he would just lose to him and spare himself all this trouble.
Having someone fixated on him was an unpleasant feeling.
After saying goodbye to Han Ming, he entered the Spirit Medicine Garden.
Of course, he also checked the people helping nearby. Jin Zhouheng was not among them. That was a relief.
A moment later.
The bubbles began flowing into him.
[Strength +1] [Spirit +1] [Endurance +1] [Spirit +1]
Feeling the minute changes in his body, he was rather pleased. By staying away these past few days, he had missed out on a great deal of growth.
Soon, he saw the blue bubble merge into him.
[Qi-Blood +1]
Got it.
Then Jiang Hao turned and left the Spirit Medicine Garden without even tending to it.
He needed to advance to the Golden Core realm while it was still early.
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