Emerging from Fei Yun Hall and arriving at a deserted spot, Wei's smile gradually faded, replaced by a grim expression, a fleeting glint of murderous intent in his eyes.

After standing quietly for a moment, Wei's thoughts were on Elder Ma, who had made a lasting impression on him. For now, he would bide his time, but once he gained strength...

As footsteps approached, Wei’s brooding expression swiftly disappeared. By the time he looked up, his demeanor was normal, betraying no hint of his prior emotions.

“Haha, did you know? That Wei, the useless one, got two bottles of dud pills.”

“What’s so surprising about that? A mortal without a spiritual root doesn't deserve real elixirs. Trash with trash, isn’t it apt?” The other person mocked openly, unconcerned that their subject was nearby.

...

Unperturbed by their words, Wei passed by as if he heard nothing, a firm believer that great deeds require patience and restraint, not impulsive bravado. He mentally noted these insults, planning to settle scores later...

His immediate concern was to focus on cultivation. Strength was the ultimate truth. Originally hoping to break through to the second layer of his technique with the help of the Marrow Cleansing Pills, Wei looked at the dud pills in his hand, then silently turned towards the outskirts of Piao Yun Valley.

Without the aid of elixirs, and with his ordinary talents, even coupled with his relentless efforts, breaking through the bottleneck would be tough. After much consideration, Wei decided to try his luck.

Near the sect, there was a secluded little canyon, rarely visited, which Wei had stumbled upon. There, he occasionally found rare herbs.

Though the chances were slim, Wei had found such herbs a few times. Besides elixirs, millennia-old spiritual herbs could also enhance cultivation.

Weighing his options, Wei saw this as his best chance to advance to the second layer of Ling Dong phase. Even if he found no herbs, there was nothing to lose. With this in mind, he left Piao Yun Valley.

After leaving the sect's area, Wei didn’t head straight to the canyon but wandered aimlessly to ensure he wasn’t followed. The canyon, a source of precious herbs, was a secret he didn’t wish to share.

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An hour later, confident he wasn’t being followed, Wei slipped off the main path into a secluded trail. After several twists and turns, he arrived at the hidden canyon.

A kaleidoscope of flowers bloomed across the meadows, the air fragrant with their scent - a beautiful sight. However, Wei was not there for leisure; he began searching for herbs that could aid his cultivation.

Time passed without success, but Wei wasn’t discouraged. He had only searched a small area and continued his quest.

Suddenly, distant voices reached his ears. Startled, Wei instinctively hid in the nearby bushes.

A flash of red light approached, followed by the sound of two people landing in the canyon, not far from Wei.

“Master, are you alright?” a young woman’s voice asked with concern.

Peering through the bushes, Wei saw they wore Piao Yun Valley’s attire. Fellow sect members, but Wei chose to stay hidden. Better to observe and stay out of trouble.

“Cough, I can manage. Yan'er, are we close to Piao Yun Valley?” a weak voice asked, familiar to Wei. Which senior from his sect could it be?

“Don’t worry, Master. We’re just a few miles away. Our pursuers won’t dare follow here.”

“That’s good.” The voice sounded relieved, yet heavily injured.

“Master, let’s rest for a while.”

The young woman, supporting the injured person, sat down against a tree. From his angle, Wei could see their faces clearly.

“No wonder the voice sounded familiar.”

The man on the ground, appearing to be in his forties with a long beard, would have looked distinguished if not for his pale face and blood-stained chest. Wei gasped inwardly.

Zhang Yu, the teacher who taught them the spiritual shield spell half a month ago, was a mid-stage foundation builder and one of the sect's protectors.

The woman, Zhou Yan, was a senior disciple who joined years before Wei. Although of the same generation, her cultivation was at the peak of Ling Dong phase, ranking among the top three junior disciples. She was likely to reach the foundation stage in a few years.

Why were these important sect members in such disarray?

Their expressions, secretive and panicked, were odd. Being within the sect's territory, they shouldn’t be so cautious. Could they be hiding a secret?

In just a few seconds, Wei analyzed the situation. Curious, yet cautious, he chose to stay hidden.

If they harbored a great secret and accidentally discovered Wei, they would surely silence him. The cultivation world was ruthless and Wei had no wish to fall victim to unforeseen danger.

Against a mid-stage foundation builder and a peak Ling Dong phase disciple, even if injured, killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant.

After carefully assessing their strengths, Wei remained still and silent, hoping they would rest briefly and leave soon.

“Someone's here!”

Zhou Yan’s sudden exclamation startled Wei. Had she discovered him? Before he could react, a cry of pain and betrayal followed.

“You... you ambushed me?” The voice was a mix of shock, anger, and disbelief: “Why?”

“Hmph, Master, don’t bother. This Golden Chain was a gift from you, you know its power. With your current condition, you can only exert a fraction of your strength. Escape is impossible.”