The next day, he dismembered the fierce tiger and made it into roasted meat, then settled down in the Discarded Pill Room.

However, every few days, different wild beasts would come near the Discarded Pill Room.

To deal with this, he set up numerous traps around his dwelling, tirelessly hunting these beasts.

Although he hadn't started cultivating yet, his combat skills improved significantly from daily battles with various beasts. Moreover, the improved diet greatly benefited his physical growth.

***

That evening, Su Shi'er, draped in a tiger skin and holding a bamboo knife, hid in a mountain hollow near his dwelling.

Lying in the hollow, he resembled a sleeping tiger. Under the tiger skin, he strained his ears, listening intently to the surrounding sounds.

This time, he was up against a fierce blue wolf as strong as an ox. The blue wolf was extremely vicious and could even spew strong winds from its mouth, much like the legendary demonic beasts.

He had been outsmarting this demonic beast for several days, and today, he had prepared several extra traps, intending to finish it off once and for all.

Just then, a rustling sound reached his ears.

Su Shi'er's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped the bamboo knife in his hand.

But the next second, the voice that came from not far away struck him like a bolt of lightning.

"Where is it?!"

"Subordinate failed to accomplish the task, please punish me, Lord!"

Hearing the voice, Su Shi'er froze in place.

Immediately, a surge of intense hatred welled up in his heart.

The latter's voice was so familiar! It was a voice he could never forget for the rest of his life!

At that moment, the image of the black-clothed person who murdered his grandfather and the villagers flashed through his mind!

"That person, he's actually in the Cloud Song Sect?!"

The thought flashed by, and Su Shi'er clenched his fists.

But he knew in his heart that he was no match for that person now.

If discovered, he would be doomed!

That black-clothed person was more brutal and terrifying than a fierce tiger!

Holding his breath, Su Shi'er didn't dare to make a sound.

Nearby, the conversation between the two continued.

"You indeed deserve punishment, but you wouldn't be trying to keep the Treasure Furnace for yourself, would you?"

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"Lord, you wrong me. That old man from Small Stone Village had a mouth harder than stone. Despite all my threats and bribes, he refused to speak until his death."

"Hmph! Can't even handle a few mortals, what use do I have for you?!"

***

Listening to their conversation, Su Shi'er's heart skipped a beat.

"Lord? That person sounds even more formidable than the black-clothed person?

Could it be... there's someone even more powerful behind the black-clothed person?"

This realization shocked him even more.

Lying on the ground, he remained motionless, fearing the two would discover his presence.

Through a gap, he could vaguely see two shadowy black figures conversing under a towering tree not far away.

The moonlight stretched their shadows, casting them onto him.

"Thank you, Lord, for sparing my life. I have another lead on this matter!"

"Oh? What lead?"

"Afterward, I went back to Small Stone Village and found a new cemetery with a hundred graves. The person who erected the monument is named Su Shi'er, the grandson of that old man. If I'm not mistaken, the Treasure Furnace must be with that boy named Su Shi'er!"

"Hmm? Is that so? Fine, I'll give you another month. If you still can't find the Treasure Furnace, you know the consequences!"

***

After speaking, the two conspired for a while longer before soaring into the sky, flying off in different directions.

In the mountain hollow, Su Shi'er lay on the ground, his mind in turmoil.

His head was filled with the black-clothed person's final words.

"He... he knows my name and that the Pill Furnace is with me?!

No, I must leave here immediately!"

At that moment, Su Shi'er's heart raced, his mind consumed with thoughts of escape.

But on second thought, if he left the Cloud Song Sect, he wouldn't know where else to learn cultivation methods.

Moreover, he had finally obtained a clue about the black-clothed person. If he left without investigating further, he wouldn't be satisfied.

With this in mind, Su Shi'er forced himself to calm down and waited until the latter half of the night. Confirming that the two hadn't returned and the blue wolf hadn't appeared, he returned to his dwelling with a nervous heart.

***

The next morning, at dawn.

Su Shi'er had just woken up when he heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Knock, knock, knock...

The sound was neither fast nor slow, but each knock seemed to strike Su Shi'er's heart, quickening his pulse.

"Oh no, could it be... that person found me so soon?" Su Shi'er jumped out of bed, his heart in his throat.

His eyes darted around as he considered the possibility of escape.

"Junior Brother Shi'er, are you there?"

At this moment, a melodious voice came from outside.

Senior Sister Xiao Yue?

Hearing this, Su Shi'er was momentarily stunned, but his heart didn't settle. Instead, he suddenly realized another problem: he had joined Luofu Peak using his real name.

And now, not only did the black-clothed person know of his existence, but he also knew his name!

What should he do? Su Shi'er broke out in a cold sweat.

As he was at a loss, Xiao Yue's slightly worried voice came from outside again.

"Junior Brother Shi'er?!"

Hearing the voice again, Su Shi'er had no choice but to temporarily suppress his worries, take a deep breath, and quickly go to open the door.

"Senior Sister Xiao Yue?"

As the door opened, he saw Xiao Yue standing at the entrance, dressed in a long gown with a sword on her back.

Seeing Su Shi'er, Xiao Yue's face was full of surprise.

Perhaps in her heart, she thought Su Shi'er wouldn't last this long, either dying at the hands of a beast or having fled in fear.

Despite her surprise, Xiao Yue quickly smiled, appearing very natural.

"Judging by your complexion, it seems you've been doing... quite well?" As she spoke, Xiao Yue glanced into the courtyard.

Seeing the pile of various beast hides on the ground, her pupils contracted in shock!

"Hmm? Are those beast hides? You... you actually killed so many beasts?"

As she spoke, Xiao Yue quickly scanned Su Shi'er up and down, unable to believe what she was seeing.

A mere twelve-year-old child capable of killing so many beasts? What a joke!

"It wasn't me who killed them! I just dug a few traps around, and those beasts were too stupid, falling in every few days." Su Shi'er scratched his head and smiled, quickly inviting Xiao Yue in and pointing to the traps in the courtyard.

He didn't want Xiao Yue to think he was impressive, and he certainly couldn't let anyone know about taking the Foundation Pills.

"So it was traps, I see! But still, it's impressive you came up with such a method! Others would probably be scared to death encountering these beasts!"

Seeing the traps, Xiao Yue's emotions calmed a bit. Otherwise, she would have thought he was a prodigy.

But her gaze at Su Shi'er was still full of surprise and admiration.

At twelve, she didn't have such skills or courage.

This little guy was smart and brave, but unfortunately, his spirit root was too poor; otherwise, he would be a promising talent.

"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Senior Sister!" Su Shi'er chuckled, then asked about her visit, "Senior Sister, is there something you need this time?"

Xiao Yue smiled and said, "I came to check on your safety, but it seems I worried for nothing. Secondly, I'm here to inform you about the newcomer trial!"

"Newcomer trial?" Su Shi'er raised an eyebrow slightly. He had heard the Peak Lord of Heavenly Splendor Peak mention it when he first entered the sect.

Xiao Yue nodded, "Yes, according to Cloud Song Sect's rules, every batch of newcomers must participate in a trial five years after entering. Only by passing the trial can they stay in the sect; otherwise, they can only be servant disciples or be sent back."

"Servant disciples? Sent back?" Su Shi'er's heart trembled, and he cautiously asked, "What does the trial entail?"

Xiao Yue replied, "The trial content varies each time and will be announced when it begins. However, based on past experiences, to pass the trial, one must have at least the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage or higher."

"Fourth level of the Qi Refining stage?" Su Shi'er's face turned pale.

According to Lu Mingshi, he could only cultivate to the seventh or eighth level of the Qi Refining stage in his lifetime.

At this rate, let alone not having a cultivation method now, even if he did, reaching the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage within five years would be extremely challenging.

But giving up was not an option for Su Shi'er.

After hesitating for a moment, he quietly asked Xiao Yue, "Senior Sister, if I want to cultivate, what should I do?"