Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou returned together half an hour after sunset. Both of them looked exhausted, sporting injuries all over their bodies.

Some of sister Zhou's hair was missing, either burnt or cut. A deep gash on her forehead was slowly healing. Her sleeves had been completely discarded at some point, revealing forearms full of bloody scabs. But compared to Mu Ran, she appeared unharmed.

Both of Mu Ran's hands were bandaged. Streaks of blood seeped through the gaps unceasingly, hinting at serious damage. His nose must have been broken and healed at some point, judging by the crooked shape. One of his eyes had turned murky, the white parts dotted with bloody spots. As for the rest of his body, Han Xuhan couldn't tell much because of the intact clothing, which he must have stolen recently. He hadn't been wearing those the last time time Han Xuhan had seen him.

The questioning look on Han Xuhan's face must have been apparent, because Mu Ran hurried to answer before he could even speak.

"Xiao Wu got caught in a trap with a very insidious design. Even the defender who built the trapping formation doesn't know how to forcibly unlock it. We can only wait it out. The source of power running the trap should be emptied by tomorrow morning. Until then, Xiao Wu will have to spend the night inside the formation."

That threw a wrench in Xuhan's plans. Face sour, he readjusted some schedules in his mind and turned to look at Yuen Zhou.

"Does the teeth set have any latent problems with it that I should know? With that useful poison spray ability, it seems like something too precious to be traded away as a favor."

While Mu Ran looked between the two of them in confusion, Yuen Zhou shook her head.

"Useful to you, maybe. At my current cultivation level, the poison can't even harm me as long as I take some precautions."

Han Xuhan was flabbergasted.

At her level? She was just two...or three layers above him in terms of cultivation. Was the difference really that great?

Oh well, maybe she was secretly practicing some physique-enhancing technique. The same could be said for Mu Ran. Not counting his Astral Heatwave Technique and her flying sword formation, both of them had chosen to cultivate their bodies. He wasn't privy to the details, of course. But it wasn't difficult to figure out from their combat styles and strategies. Even facing cultivators above their level, both could suppress their opponents with raw physical ability.

"Regardless, I appreciate the sincerity. I'll try my best to deliver my part of the deal," he said with a nod.

Yuen Zhou wore a satisfied expression as she left for her hut. Hai Yinzhe let out a cheerful hiss and shot out of the yard, following her trail.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"Underling, what was all that about?" Mu Ran said in a low tone, unable to repress his curiosity any longer.

"Same as you. Sister Zhou wanted something in exchange for a treasure. I am helping her acquire it. She doesn't know the right people, you see?"

"Oh? What does she-no, wait a minute, what do you mean 'same as me' ?"

Smirking, Han Xuhan took a couple of steps back and revealed the spear laid on the table behind him, the one he had just salvaged from the Holy Land of Laws.

Mu Ran's eyes went wide. He leaped past him, grabbing the shaft. Han Xuhan recalled what kind of dump Zhanxian had pulled it out of and pressed his lips into a thin line.

Hopefully, Mu Ran wouldn't notice the faint stink of rotten carcass. Even a thorough washing hadn't been able to clear the stink away.

In his excitement, Mu Ran hugged Xuhan's shoulders with one hand, twirling the shaft in his other palm.

"I can't believe it! You actually did it! You-you..."

Seeing him lost for words of praise, Han Xuhan chose to strike.

"Boss...I need a favor."

A happy Mu Ran was a generous Mu Ran. From his experience with dealing with his boss's antics, Han Xuhan understood this principle very well.

Convincing him to let Zhanxian learn the Fifth Limb Form of the Tentacle Monster Manual alongside him was an easy accomplishment. In his delight, Mu Ran even promised to teach the more difficult bits of the technique to Zhanxian whenever it was needed.

It raised a creek of doubt in Han Xuhan's heart. Was this broken spear really that precious? If it was so powerful, why did it break during their very first adventure?

Mu Ran refused to explain despite his indirect probing. So he could only give up.

That night, while Mu Ran was busy imparting the basics of the technique to Zhanxian, Han Xuhan went to the Sect's kitchens to purchase some cooking materials.

What he came to know there was alarming.

"Just as I had feared...now we'll need to rely on new sources for food."

The kitchen had run out of many materials, and the reserve of meat, fish, salt, and rice had declined to a dangerous level. The sect could feed its hundreds of members for maybe another day, at most.

Stealing from other sects wasn't exactly a viable option. Every sect had its own mouth to feed. Within a couple of days, everyone would run out of reserve food no matter how much they managed to rob or protect.

Han Xuhan's gaze flickered towards the edge of the floating island as he walked out of the kitchen with some leftovers.

The sea. That was the only option left for all participants now. It wouldn't offer the abundance of spices and exotic meals, but it had enough inside it to keep everyone's stomach filled.

On his way back to the hut, Xuhan couldn't help wondering which realm of cultivation one needed to be in to be free from mortal limitations such as hunger. It had to be beyond whatever realm the Elders of his sect were in. Because those guys never missed a meal on a regular day. Many of the Elders even dined during lectures, imparting the dao through mouthfuls of delicacies.

Their dinner that night brought great disappointment to Mu Ran.

"How am I supposed to recover my peak shape with such a poor diet?" he complained.

"You could always go fishing again, boss," Han Xuhan replied eagerly. He was looking forward to the next time Mu Ran brought a spirited fish back with him. He'd even eat the bones if that's what it took to enhance his physique.

"Right now I'm too injured for another fight. I think even my astral form has suffered some minor damage from all the heatwave spells I cast today. Let's try fishing tomorrow."

Unsatisfied, Mu Ran went to bed. Han Xuhan took another look at the message Tun Shi Tian had returned with from the Stardust Sect.

"We can help you, provided that you explain what your objective is. Why do you need our help in subduing someone at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm? Can't you ask for help from your martial siblings? Who is your target?"

Shen Mi's suspicion wasn't unwarranted. But if only it was that easy to explain.

"Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, you two need to learn something within tonight," he said in a serious tone. Both minions instantly became vigilant.

"I'll provide you two with some memory sequences inside the dao tower. Go through them repeatedly and master the concept. It's not too difficult. The workload will be divided between you two. So all you need to pay attention to is mastering what comes after what and what to do in some specific situations that will take place tomorrow. Any questions?"

"...Yeah."

"A lot."

"Too bad. I can't answer any of them. Now, come, let's learn the art of formations!"

Han Xuhan felt like he had become better at reading the skeletal version of expressing emotions. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian looked super worried as he canceled their summons.