Han and his companions didn’t have to wait long before a large number of government officials arrived at the Shan Shui Temple to take over the scene.

Leading the group was none other than the governor of Heiyun Town, who personally expressed profound gratitude to the Taibai Martial Hall for their contributions.

From here on, the officials would handle the aftermath. When it came to wrapping up such matters, the government undoubtedly had the necessary experience.

As for rewards, those would naturally be distributed after everything settled down.

In the Great Qi Empire, martial artists were forbidden from private disputes but were encouraged to punish evil and uphold justice.

Had they reported the Shan Shui Temple’s activities to the government in advance, they might have encountered endless difficulties. But now that the case was open and shut, the authorities could show their "thunderous hand" with ease.

Looking back, the government still owed Han a reward from a previous incident.

However, Han wasn’t worried about them reneging on their promise. He understood that bureaucratic procedures always took time—it was simply the nature of the system.

On the way back, Han suddenly sighed.

“This world… is full of bad people.”

Huang Shiren, the monks of Shan Shui Temple…

These individuals would’ve been executed a hundred times over in his previous life.

The Taibai Martial Hall had revealed to Han the kindness and beauty of this world, yet the events he’d witnessed also exposed its darker, more sinister side.

Through a brief interrogation of the remaining monks, they discovered that these so-called monks were frauds.

Before arriving in Heiyun Town, they were bandits—men with blood on their hands, guilty of countless crimes.

But by donning monks' robes and branding themselves with vows, they transformed into revered holy men in the eyes of the public.

Was this what people meant by "putting down the butcher’s knife and attaining enlightenment"?

The notion was laughable.

These events only solidified Han’s resolve to train harder.

He would never allow himself to die a senseless death.

Zhang Yuantao patted Han on the shoulder, offering no words of comfort.

Some lessons in life could only be learned through personal experience.

When Han returned home, he pulled out a few items he’d taken from the Shan Shui Temple: seven sticks of incense and four books.

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Looting the temple was a natural conclusion to dismantling it.

Han claimed the possessions of Neng Wu, the leading cultivator, while leaving the other monks’ belongings to his senior martial brothers.

He had undoubtedly secured the most valuable items.

As expected, Neng Wu, a cultivator beyond the Visualization Stage, had a collection worth its weight in gold!

Among the four books, the first was a visualization technique titled Pleasure Immortal Visualization Chart.

A quick glance revealed that the so-called "Pleasure Immortal" was a seductive figure with fox ears, a bushy tail, and a sheer veil that barely concealed anything.

The image was so indecent that Han discarded the book in disgust.

Do they think I’m that easy to fool?

The second book, Lunar Essence Technique, explained how to collect the moon’s energy to temper one’s soul.

Unfortunately, Han couldn’t use this technique yet. It required one to reach the Out-of-Body Stage, far beyond the Visualization Stage.

The third book, Incense Crafting Techniques, detailed methods for making various incense types used to aid cultivation.

Comparing the information within, Han identified the purpose of the seven sticks of incense:

* Four were Spirit-Stabilizing Incense, which calmed the soul and enhanced the efficiency of visualization.

* Three were Soul-Guarding Incense, used to create a safe environment for souls leaving the body.

Han was thrilled. These items were incredibly useful for his training. Better yet, with the crafting techniques in hand, he could produce them himself in the future.

The fourth book, Dream Illusion Technique, introduced an illusion-based Daoist spell capable of trapping enemies in a dream-like realm.

Finally, Han had found a protective technique he could actually practice!

However, deciphering the book was challenging. The text was riddled with esoteric terms unfamiliar to him.

Han had made great strides in martial arts, but no one had taught him Daoist techniques. And unlike martial arts, dabbling in Daoist magic recklessly could result in severe consequences.

Being ignorant was a frustrating experience.

“This won’t do. I need to find a proper path to learn Daoist knowledge. I can’t stay a novice forever.”

After studying the materials again, Han reluctantly set them aside and began his soul cultivation for the day.

He refrained from using the Spirit-Stabilizing Incense, wary of any hidden traps Neng Wu might have left behind.

Fortunately, he had an opportunity to consult a Daoist expert tomorrow.

After completing his visualization, he turned to the sacred tree in his yard, striking it twice.

Three orbs of light fell:

*

Talisman: Explosive Yuan Talisman

Contains the Explosive Yuan spell, capable of causing an explosion of spiritual energy within a set area. Single-use.

*

*

Low-Grade Spirit Plant: Yuan Qi Fruit

A spiritual plant that boosts inner energy for martial artists.

*

*

Human-Grade Elixir: Revival Pill

Restores life when consumed by martial artists in critical condition. Effective for Flesh-Strengthening and Meridian-Reinforcing Stages.

*

Han noted that the variety of drops seemed to increase the more he interacted with the tree.

The Revival Pill, in particular, was a rare and life-saving treasure.

The next morning, Bai Ruoyue took Han to meet the Daoist expert who had declined to appear the night before.

“This isn’t the way to the town hall,” Han remarked.

“She lives elsewhere. Just follow me. What, afraid I’ll sell you off?” Bai teased.

With you? Anything’s possible.

After a series of turns, they arrived at a secluded peach grove on the eastern outskirts of town.

“I never knew there was a peach grove like this in Heiyun Town,” Han said in surprise.

“You couldn’t have entered it before,” Bai replied with a sly grin.

Damn these privileged martial aristocrats.

Deep within the grove, they reached a three-story pavilion surrounded by rare and vibrant flowers.

Before the pavilion stood a stunning woman in a black dress. She exuded an air of maturity and elegance as she watered the flowers.

Though Bai Ruoyue was no less beautiful or well-proportioned, she couldn’t compete with the woman's sophisticated allure.

At that moment, eighteen-year-old youth was no match for mature charm.