Li Xuan arrived before the village chief's mansion.
The large gates stood silent beneath the evening sky.
Two guards stationed outside immediately noticed him.
Their expressions changed.
His clothes were torn.
Bloodstains covered his body.
And behind him—
No one else appeared.
One of the guards stepped forward quickly.
"Where are the others?"
Li Xuan remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"Everyone died."
The words fell heavily.
Both guards froze.
Shock filled their faces.
"…What happened?"
Li Xuan did not answer.
His expression remained calm.
Tired.
The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
The guards exchanged looks.
Without wasting another second—
They hurriedly brought Li Xuan inside the mansion.
The main hall was quiet.
Li Xuan stood there silently.
Despite the wounds covering his body—
His expression remained steady.
After a short while—
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
The village chief appeared.
Mu Yao followed beside him.
The moment they saw Li Xuan standing alone—
Their expressions changed slightly.
The chief's gaze moved past Li Xuan.
Looking behind him.
Waiting.
Hoping.
But no one came.
A trace of sadness appeared in his eyes.
"…Everyone died?"
His voice was low.
Heavy.
Li Xuan gave a faint nod.
Silence filled the hall.
The village chief slowly closed his eyes.
A tired sigh escaped his lips.
"So…"
"…the mission failed."
His voice carried disappointment.
And helplessness.
After all—
Even the stronger cultivators had died.
No one believed Li Xuan, the weakest among them, could have succeeded alone.
Mu Yao stood quietly nearby.
Shock remained visible on her face.
Her eyes briefly glanced toward Li Xuan's injuries—
Then lowered slightly.
The atmosphere in the hall became unbearably heavy.
No one spoke again.
Then—
Li Xuan calmly spoke.
"Mission failed?"
A brief pause followed.
"…No."
The hall became still.
Before anyone could react—
Li Xuan raised his hand.
A faint glow appeared.
Then—
A pill materialized in his palm.
Pure energy spread through the hall instantly.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"The pill?!"
Shock appeared across every face.
Even the village chief froze for a moment.
His gaze locked onto the pill.
Disbelief flickered in his eyes.
"You…"
"You actually obtained it?"
Li Xuan gave a faint nod.
Then stepped forward.
Without hesitation—
He handed the pill over.
The village chief carefully received it.
Almost cautiously.
As if afraid to damage it.
His hands trembled slightly while examining it.
Moments passed.
Then—
His eyes brightened.
"Yes…"
"It's real."
"It truly is the pill."
Relief appeared across his face.
The heavy atmosphere in the hall instantly disappeared.
Nearby—
Mu Yao quietly looked at the pill.
A trace of happiness appeared in her eyes.
The village chief looked back toward Li Xuan.
Gratitude filled his expression.
"Thank you."
His voice carried sincerity.
"You have no idea how important this is for my daughter."
Li Xuan simply nodded.
"My pleasure."
Silence followed once more.
But now—
The eyes looking toward Li Xuan had changed.
Confusion.
Shock.
Disbelief.
No one understood—
How the weakest cultivator among them—
Had returned alive.
With the pill.
The village chief carefully stored the pill away.
Relief remained visible on his face.
Then—
He turned toward the elder standing nearby.
"Elder Chen."
His voice was calm.
Yet carried authority.
"Tomorrow…"
"Take Li Xuan to the treasure room."
The elder's expression changed slightly.
But he quickly nodded.
"Yes, Chief."
The chief continued,
"Whatever treasure he chooses—"
"Allow him to take it."
The moment those words fell—
Several people in the hall looked toward Li Xuan in shock.
The treasure room contained some of the village's most valuable resources.
Normally—
No outsider was allowed inside.
Yet now—
Li Xuan was being rewarded personally.
The village chief then looked back at him.
"For today…"
"Rest properly."
"You've done enough."
His gaze briefly swept across Li Xuan's injuries.
"Focus on your recovery first."
Li Xuan nodded calmly.
"Understood."
The next morning—
Li Xuan followed Elder Chen through the inner area of the village.
The path gradually became quieter.
Fewer people appeared around them.
After some time—
They stopped before a massive stone door.
Ancient patterns were carved across its surface.
A faint spiritual aura lingered around it.
"The treasure room."
Elder Chen spoke calmly.
Then raised his hand.
The stone door slowly opened with a deep rumbling sound.
Rumble—
A wave of spiritual energy flowed outward instantly.
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Inside—
Rows of treasures filled the room.
Weapons.
Herbs.
Ancient scrolls.
Armor.
Rare materials.
Each releasing different auras.
Even Li Xuan felt slightly surprised.
Elder Chen glanced toward him.
"You may choose one treasure."
"But only one."
Li Xuan nodded.
Then began walking deeper into the treasure room.
His gaze calmly swept across the treasures.
A sharp sword.
A movement technique.
Rare medicinal herbs.
Each item was valuable.
Yet—
He continued forward.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Then—
His footsteps suddenly slowed.
In the corner of the room—
Beneath layers of dust—
Lay a broken armor.
Its surface was cracked.
Old.
Worn by time.
It looked ordinary.
Worthless even.
Yet—
The moment Li Xuan saw it—
A strange feeling appeared within him.
Faint.
Subtle.
As if something was drawing his attention toward it.
His gaze remained fixed on the armor.
The surrounding treasures slowly faded from his mind.
After a brief silence—
He stepped closer.
Ancient markings were faintly visible across the damaged surface.
Almost erased by time.
Li Xuan quietly observed it for a moment.
Then spoke.
"I want this one."
Elder Chen froze slightly.
His gaze shifted toward the broken armor.
Then—
He laughed helplessly.
"That thing?"
"It's just an ancient broken armor."
"No one has ever managed to use it."
"It's been sitting here for years."
His expression became strange.
"To be honest…"
"Most people consider it useless."
But Li Xuan remained calm.
His eyes never left the armor.
"I still choose it."
Elder Chen stared at him for a few moments.
Then shook his head.
"…Fine."
"If that's your decision—"
"Take it."
Li Xuan raised the hand wearing his ring toward the broken armor.
A faint glow flashed.
The armor instantly disappeared—
Entering the ring.
Elder Chen watched from nearby and shook his head lightly.
Out of all the treasures in the room—
Li Xuan had chosen the most useless-looking one.
"Since you've made your choice…"
"Let's leave."