Lou Yi walked into the cave mansion and saw a familiar figure in a black robe standing ahead, smiling at him.

He appeared to be in his fifties, with a darker complexion, a slender black scar on his right cheek, and a wisp of goatee on his chin.

He didn't quite have the air of a Foundation Establishment Elder from a grand sect, but more like the leader of a gang.

It was Elder He, named He Xiang, also known as Yan Bozi, who had previously taught Lou Yi's batch of newcomers.

"Broken through to the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage?"

"In less than four years since you entered, you've broken through to the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, faster than many with mid-grade Spirit Roots.

It's evident you've devoted a great deal of effort, without slacking."

"And I remember, when you first joined, you grasped the Rain Technique in just over ten days, a testament to your exceptional talent..."

"With such perceptive talent and a willingness to work hard, in my eyes, you're in no way inferior to those so-called geniuses with top-grade Spirit Roots."

Unexpectedly, before Lou Yi could speak, Elder He had already sung a series of praises.

The undertones conveyed made Lou Yi delighted, and when he saw Elder He's expectant gaze...

Lou Yi hesitated no more, immediately bowed deeply in respect.

"Disciple greets Master!"

Then, he took out a carefully prepared gift and placed it in a red storage bag, respectfully offering it up.

"Just a token of appreciation, I hope Master won't mind it."

"Haha, thoughtful indeed!" He Xiang stroked his goatee, quite pleased, "You brat, no wonder I took a liking to you the first time I saw you.

Turns out the fateful connection of master and disciple awaited here!"

He took the storage bag, and his Divine Sense inadvertently swept over it.

"Tsk…" He Xiang's expression changed involuntarily.

In the next moment, a delicate black ruler appeared in his hand.

As the Spiritual Essence flowed in, the black ruler shone brightly.

Instantly, densely packed red eyes appeared on it, dizzying and nauseating at a glance.

With a wave of He Xiang's hand, all the phenomena disappeared.

"An upper-grade Spiritual Artifact, and a rare Spirit Soul attack type Spiritual Artifact at that."

"This is too precious, your Master hasn't done anything to deserve it!"

"Take it back, quickly take it back!"

He Xiang continuously stroked the black ruler with clear affection, but still insisted on returning the spiritual ruler to Lou Yi.

"Master, no matter how precious this ruler is, it's useless to me at the moment, better to let you use it first.

The stronger Master is, the more secure I will feel." Lou Yi said earnestly.

He was indeed sincere.

Before coming, Lou Yi had been pondering what gift to give He Xiang as a disciple's tribute.

Gold, silver, and jewels were out of the question, ordinary Magical Artifacts were of no use to him, and the Elixirs and talismans Lou Yi had were only at the Qi Cultivation level.

After much consideration, only the Linghe Ruler, a Spiritual Artifact from the Li Family of the East Sea, seemed most suitable.

The Spiritual Artifact looked valuable, but it was really of little use to Lou Yi at his current stage.

Qi Cultivators using Spiritual Artifacts can only utilize a small portion of their effects, the Spiritual Power required is hard to sustain, and most of the time, it's not as effective as a top-grade Magical Artifact.

Moreover, Lou Yi possessed a treasure embryo, capable of exerting the strongest power of a cultivator's artifact in any period.

He would have to wait until reaching Foundation Establishment to fully realize the Linghe Ruler's potential.

But by then, Lou Yi's Martial Arts Cultivation could be at an unknown realm, making the Linghe Ruler unnecessary.

Therefore, Lou Yi offered this Spiritual Artifact, almost as useless as chicken ribs to him, as a tribute to his Master.

But He Xiang had no idea of the background story.

He just felt his disciple was generous, valued his Master, and looked more pleasing the more he observed him.

"Master, quickly accept this Spiritual Artifact!" Lou Yi bent over and lifted the Linghe Ruler, respectfully handing it to He Xiang.

He Xiang declined a few times, but not wanting to refuse Lou Yi's good intention, he reluctantly accepted it.

"I can't let you suffer a loss." He Xiang inquired, "Your Master's entry gift hasn't been given, do you want a Cultivation Technique, Elixir, or even a top-grade Magical Artifact, your Master has ways to procure them."

Top-grade Magical Artifacts are the highest quality, with potency surpassing upper-grade Magical Artifacts, capable of unleashing a Qi Cultivator's full combat potential.

However, they are extremely difficult to forge, scarce in the Cultivation Realm, and often valued higher than low-grade Spiritual Artifacts.

"Master, the disciple doesn't need an entry gift." Lou Yi hesitated a bit, then continued, "I have something I must confess, I hope Master won't blame me.

Your disciple is burdened with a trouble, please don't be mad."

"Oh?"

"This began with Master Han Yue's cave mansion emerging... Elder Wang suspects I killed his grandson, repeatedly summoned me to his cave mansion, but I was too scared to go…"

Lou Yi explained the matter concisely.

After listening, He Xiang immediately blew his beard and glared.

"I said why you gave me such a precious Spiritual Artifact, turns out there's a pit here waiting for me!"

"Please punish me, Master!" Lou Yi didn't elaborate, merely bowing in worship, feeling a bit uneasy as well.

The most crucial point had arrived.

Success or failure hinged on this moment.

"Did you ultimately kill his grandson or not?" He Xiang inquired lightly, his tone betraying no hint of emotion.

Lou Yi pondered and then said, "This disciple has never actively attacked the other, willing to swear a Dao heart oath to prove it."

"Hmph! No need for a Dao heart oath!" Elder He snorted coldly, "He who kills, shall be killed. Since you're not at fault, why shouldn't I stand by you? Rise."

Upon hearing this, Lou Yi was overjoyed.

"Master is magnanimous!"

"Magnanimous, nothing of the sort, if you offended a Golden Core Master, I'd kick you out this very moment!

These days, move into my cave mansion, this old fellow happens to be free, I can instruct you." He Xiang said.

"Yes!" Lou Yi replied.

"If Wang Hongyue dares summon you again, tell me!" He Xiang huffed, "It'll be a good chance to weigh my old defeated opponent's current strength."

He spoke as if not putting Elder Wang in his eyes at all.

"Elder Wang hasn't summoned me recently.

However, a black crow suddenly appeared around my residence, acting quite peculiarly.

It follows wherever I go, and just followed me to Master's cave mansion."

"Is this true?!" He Xiang's face darkened suddenly.

He followed Lou Yi outside the cave mansion, abruptly looking in a certain direction.

They saw a black crow perched on a tree dozens of feet away, its scarlet eyes meeting He Xiang's gaze.

"Wang Hongyue, you damn turtle grandson, truly shameless!"

With a light wave of his hand, He Xiang launched a gray beam.

It directly hit the black crow, causing it to explode with a 'bang', gray feathers flying, blood rain pouring!

'Fwoosh!'

At the same moment, in another cave mansion on Wendao Peak.

Elder Wang, sitting cross-legged on a mat with closed eyes, turned pale and spat out a mouthful of blood.

…

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