By the time they returned to Furnace Peak, dusk had already fallen.
Senior Cultivator Sanyun, Jiang Fenghuo's Master, appeared to be a middle-aged man.
He had earned his Daoist title after cultivating the Three-Essence Fire and breaking through to the Golden Core stage.
His gaze swept over the new disciples assembled before him.
"Not bad… Nine of you entered the secret realm for this trial, and six have returned."
Hong Yao glanced around, sorrow flickering in her eyes. The three Senior Brothers who had been laughing and joking before entering the secret realm—she would never see them again.
Seeing her grief, Jiang Fenghuo could only sigh inwardly. New disciples had always been treated as expendable; their deaths carried little weight in the grand scheme of cultivation.
"Hm?"
Senior Cultivator Sanyun's gaze lingered briefly on Jiang Fenghuo's Dantian. Then he gestured. "You, come with me."
"The rest of you may leave."
It was impossible to hide anything from Master's eyes, Jiang Fenghuo thought. Still, this was perfect—he had been planning to ask for permission to challenge Lin Zhen in the new disciples' competition.
He followed Senior Cultivator Sanyun into the house. The Master formed a sequence of hand seals, casting a sound-insulating spell. A faint red glow spread along the walls.
"Well, Jiang," Sanyun said evenly, "it seems you had quite a fortuitous encounter in the secret realm?"
Jiang Fenghuo nodded. "There were the remains of a great cultivator within. The moment I touched the bones, they crumbled to dust—but I managed to inherit a portion of his legacy."
Senior Cultivator Sanyun narrowed his eyes slightly, then nodded. "Your luck is good. Were there any other gains?"
His Master was probing him. If there was anything valuable left from that encounter, and if it were of use to Sanyun, the Master would surely demand it.
Of course, Jiang Fenghuo had no intention of revealing the Golden Light Sutra or the Human Refining Demon Art.
Keeping his expression calm, he replied, "Aside from that, this disciple was fortunate enough to find two Qi-Nourishing Pills, both of which I have already consumed."
Senior Cultivator Sanyun took Jiang Fenghuo's wrist, checking his pulse. After a moment, he shook his head. "You're not being truthful, boy."
A jolt of alarm shot through Jiang Fenghuo's heart, but his expression didn't waver. When his Master finally released him, he asked evenly, "Master, what do you mean by this?"
Sanyun's tone softened; he didn't seem intent on punishing him. Instead, he smiled faintly. "That legacy from the great cultivator… it was a pill, wasn't it? Care to explain why you left that part out?"
Jiang Fenghuo scratched his head sheepishly. "This disciple did not lie. It's just that… I don't know the name of that pill. It seemed incredibly profound, and I feared I wouldn't be able to answer properly if Master questioned me about it."
Sanyun remained silent. Then, with a flick of his hand, he took out a jade bottle from his interspatial ring and handed it to Jiang Fenghuo. Inside were two small cyan pills.
"The pill toxin in your body doesn't lie," he said calmly. "These are Purge Toxin Pills. Take one tonight and another tomorrow morning, and the poison should be mostly neutralized. Remember—after taking it tonight, circulate your Qi with your breathing technique to drive out the remaining toxins."
He looked up at Jiang Fenghuo's expression. "Do you understand?"
Jiang Fenghuo bowed deeply. "Disciple understands. Thank you, Master!"
So that was the reason he'd felt something off while refining that large Benevolence Pill—made from the essence of three cultivators at the second level of Qi Condensation. It hadn't only been due to the instability of his Qi or his shallow foundation, but also the hidden pill toxin invading his meridians.
It was fortunate he had stopped in time. Had he continued, and the poison seeped deeper, the consequences would have been disastrous. If it had damaged his foundation and hindered his future cultivation… he might as well have ended his life and started over from a few days ago.
Senior Cultivator Sanyun waved a dismissive hand. "You may go."
But Jiang Fenghuo didn't move. He hesitated, then said, "Master, regarding the new disciples' competition in three days…"
Sanyun looked at him with calm eyes. "What is it?"
Jiang Fenghuo straightened his back and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Although this disciple's cultivation base has improved, I still lack battle experience. I wish to challenge the prodigy of Golden Sword Peak—Lin Zhen."
As he spoke, he watched his Master's expression carefully.
He had already reached the late stage of the second level of Qi Condensation and possessed the protection of the Golden Light. Even if he couldn't defeat Lin Zhen, he was confident he could at least retreat unscathed. But what would his Master think?
"I have my own arrangements," Senior Cultivator Sanyun said, shaking his head. "Besides, Lin Zhen may not even be interested in fighting you."
Lin Zhen… wouldn't want to fight me?
No, that couldn't be right. Jiang Fenghuo frowned inwardly. In his previous life, he had followed his Master's orders and sent another disciple to face Lin Zhen instead. Lin Zhen had accepted every challenge from all the peaks, refusing none—and remained undefeated.
"Master," Jiang Fenghuo said steadily, "Lin Zhen has already declared he will accept challenges from all peaks. When the time comes, aside from this disciple, who else from our Furnace Peak has the strength to face him?"
Sanyun studied him for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly. Then he closed them, dispelling the sound-insulating barrier with a simple wave. "Go back and focus on your cultivation."
Jiang Fenghuo could only bow and withdraw, his heart heavy.
Though his Master's words had clearly meant to keep him safe, it was, in a way, a sign of recognition.
Still, he only possessed a sixth-grade pseudo-Spiritual Root. His Master likely expected little from him—otherwise, he wouldn't have been dismissed with just two Purge Toxin Pills.
If his Master refused to let him fight Lin Zhen, then… wasn't Hong Yao doomed to die?
He let out a quiet sigh. "If she must die, then so be it. Such is the path of cultivation. I can save her today—but what about tomorrow?"
Though his tone was detached, the furrow in Jiang Fenghuo's brow didn't ease.
A soft knock came at the door. Jiang Fenghuo sighed.
"Hong Yao, what are you doing here?" he asked as he opened it—just as he'd expected, she stood outside.
Hong Yao giggled lightly and slipped inside with practiced ease. "What did Master say to you? Did he praise you?"
Jiang Fenghuo nodded. "He did."
He lit a candle; Hong Yao had always been afraid of the dark. Yet, looking at her face in the warm flickering light, he couldn't feel a trace of joy.
Under the glow of the candle, Hong Yao studied him. Her smile faded. "But Senior Brother," she asked softly, "why do you look so troubled?"
"Hm…"
Jiang Fenghuo fell silent, lost in thought. Hong Yao couldn't guess what Senior Cultivator Sanyun had said to him. She simply watched the play of candlelight across his face, shadows shifting in his eyes.
At length, Jiang Fenghuo forced a faint smile. "It's nothing, Junior Sister. I was just thinking… I'd like some of your congee."
Hong Yao blinked, surprised. "Ah?"
She fidgeted, twisting her fingers at the hem of her robe, then lowered her head. "Is it really that good?" she asked in a shy whisper.
Jiang Fenghuo's smile softened. "Of course. In the secret realm, I stumbled into an icy chamber and nearly froze. All I could think about was your warm congee… with extra pepper."
Unconvinced, Hong Yao reached out to touch his hand. It was indeed cold as ice. She smiled in relief. "Alright then, I'll go to the kitchens and make some for you."
She left cheerfully, but as soon as the door closed, the smile vanished from Jiang Fenghuo's lips. He sank onto the couch, his mind a tangled mess.
"What was I thinking just now?" he murmured with regret. He didn't even know why he had asked her for congee.
When Hong Yao comes back, I'll eat with her.
Right… I still need to take the pill Master gave me.
…
He pressed a hand to his forehead. Then his eyes widened. "Are my hands really this cold?"
Some time later, Hong Yao returned, carrying a bowl of steaming congee.
Jiang Fenghuo had her sit beside him, and they ate together, blowing gently on each spoonful.
After Hong Yao's death in his previous life, her face had haunted him endlessly. Since returning to this world, she was the only one who had ever cooked for him—perhaps that was why the words had slipped from his lips without thought.
When they finished, he used the excuse of needing to take the Purge Toxin Pill to send Hong Yao away.
If he had to face her any longer, the frown on his face would only deepen.
"I can't keep worrying about it," he muttered. "It's beyond my control. Maybe the timeline has already changed… Maybe Master won't send Hong Yao to fight after all."
He sat cross-legged, swallowed the Purge Toxin Pill, and began circulating his Qi, guiding his breathing along the path of his introductory cultivation method.
Overthinking was pointless. The pill toxin in his body was what demanded his focus now.
At cock's crow the next morning, Jiang Fenghuo took the second Purge Toxin Pill. Feeling that most of the poison had been cleansed from his body, he stepped outside to attend to his routine sect duties.
As he passed through the courtyard, two disciples walked by, chatting in low voices.
"Have you heard? That Lin Zhen from Golden Sword Peak is about to break through to the third level of Qi Condensation."
"He's probably planning to make a grand display at the new disciples' competition and secure a spot in the inner sect. But breaking through to the third level… that's no small feat."
"If he had a Realm-Breaking Pill, it would be different. Still, even with a third-grade single spiritual root like his, he'll likely fail his first attempt. Only on the second try will he truly succeed."
Lin Zhen again. Jiang Fenghuo frowned, unwilling to hear the name any longer—until their words suddenly sank in.
Wait... Lin Zhen is still at the peak of the second level right now?
He froze mid-step, then began pacing before his door, thoughts racing. Slowly, the light that had been absent from his eyes since the night before returned.
"That's it!" he whispered. "Master may not want me to fight him during the competition… but that doesn't mean I can't act before it!"
"If I can injure him severely, he won't even be able to participate."
A faint, dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "He's only at the peak of the second level of Qi Condensation—barely above me. And with the Golden Light protecting me, what do I have to fear?"
As he muttered to himself, lost in dark excitement, a soft voice called out behind him.
"Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?"
Jiang Fenghuo started, turning sharply. It was Hong Yao.
He hurried toward her. "Junior Sister, please ask for a day's leave for me. I have something urgent to take care of!"