As the night deepened, several hours later, the banquet orchestrated by Xu Que was also drawing to a close.

Many sect leaders and elders drank to their heart's content, and before leaving, they kept pulling Xu Que along, insisting he come back with them to continue drinking.

Xu Que naturally declined politely.

Today, after putting on a show at Tianwu Sect all day and attending the final banquet, he gained over two hundred points of pretentiousness value, enough to exchange for the cheapest mid-level formation.

Opening the system interface, personal information leapt before my eyes:

"Host: Xu Que

Realm: Fifth Level of the Foundation Establishment Stage (Thoroughly Proficient)

Experience Points: 0/200000

Pretentiousness Value: 280 points

Cultivation Technique: "Ancient Five Elements Art" Intermediate Level

Skills: Dragon Soars Nine Transformations (Perfected); Three Thousand Thunder Movements (Perfected); Secret of the Soldier (Progress 0); Flame Splitting Wave Ruler (Progress 0); Six Harmonies Wandering Ruler (Progress 0).

Essence: Cultivation Method (330 points)

Occupation: None

Status: Prince Consort of the Fire Yuan Kingdom in the Eastern Wilderness Continent

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"Oh, I almost forgot to improve my proficiency in the spell."

After Xu Que exchanged for a new spell, he hadn't used it yet, and the progress remained at 0. It was only when he saw it now that he realized.

However, there are only a little over three hundred points of cultivation essence left. How should they be allocated?

The previous Dragon Soaring Nine Transformations and Three Thousand Thunder Movements both belong to the Earth-level techniques. To elevate each technique to the perfect realm, it requires consuming one hundred points of cultivation essence.

But now the secret of the "Soldier" character he mastered belonged to a heavenly-level technique. To bring it to perfection, it would likely consume far more than a hundred points of essence.

"Forget it, let's take out a hundred points of cultivation essence and give it a try first!"

Xu Que thought for a moment, then immediately operated the system, using all one hundred points of cultivation essence on the "Bing" character secret.

"Ding, consumed one hundred points of cultivation essence, 'Secret of the Soldier' successfully upgraded, current progress 10."

Damn!

Xu Que almost jumped up.

A full hundred points of cultivation essence, an Earth-level technique could be perfected directly, yet a Heaven-level technique only improved by 10? This is maddening.

No, no, I can't waste it like this.

"System, add the essence of the other two hundred techniques to the Flame Devouring Ruler and the Six Harmonies Wandering Ruler."

Xu Que felt that what he needed most at the moment was this kind of technique to wield weapons. Otherwise, he would definitely be at a disadvantage when fighting those cultivators with flying swords, as his physical body was far from being impervious to blades and spears.

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"Ding, consumed one hundred points of cultivation essence, Flame Devouring Wave Ruler successfully upgraded, current progress 100, cultivation complete!"

"Ding, consumed one hundred points of cultivation essence, the Six Harmonies Wandering Body Ruler has successfully upgraded, current progress 100, cultivation complete!"

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Following two consecutive notification sounds, Xu Que felt two streams of heat suddenly coursing through his body, quickly converging in his dantian, and immediately felt his entire body brimming with strength.

"Feels great, it's about time to return to the village."

Xu Que felt a wave of comfort wash over him and was about to step away when he noticed a figure had appeared not far ahead.

The person stood calmly under the pitch-black night, their gaze full of meaning fixed in this direction.

"Master Zhang, haven't you rested yet?"

Xu Que immediately smiled, but he felt a bit uncertain inside. This Sect Leader Zhang was probably here to inquire about Duan Jiude.

Zhang Danshan stood at a distance and nodded towards Xu Que.

Then, without any visible movement, he merely blinked, and in an instant appeared in front of Xu Que, almost startling him.

"Several hundred years ago, I had the chance to meet your master a few times. I wonder how he is doing now?" Zhang Danshan asked in a gentle tone, clearly having truly mistaken Xu Que for Duan Jiude's disciple.

Xu Que smiled, "He's doing very well, spending the past few years enjoying himself in the Eastern Wilderness."

"Oh? Is the elder currently in the Fire Origin Country?" Zhang Danshan said, his eyes slightly brightening.

"I don't know, that old guy is elusive, I have no idea where he is right now. But he gave me a secret talisman, and as soon as I'm in mortal danger, he'll show up immediately. Would Master Zhang like to give it a try?" Xu Que asked with a smile.

The so-called secret symbols and such were, of course, just his past life's experience from reading online novels, something he made up on the spot.

However, Zhang Danshan clearly believed it. He was silent for a moment before shaking his head lightly and saying, "Forget it, if it's meant to be, we'll meet again."

Then he looked at Xu Que again and said gently, "From now on, you can stay at the Tianwu Sect. If you need anything, feel free to ask. As for Panshan Village, I assure you that no one will disturb it again."

"Alright, then I must thank Sect Leader Zhang! However, I need to go back for a bit to pack some things," Xu Que said with a smile, cupping his hands.

Zhang Danshan nodded, "Mm, go ahead."

Xu Que stopped being polite, executed the Three Thousand Thunder Movement, lightning intertwined beneath his feet, and immediately flew down the mountain.

Zhang Danshan's attitude is certainly a good thing, but the potential risks remain significant.

If one day my identity is exposed, that would be a big problem!

However, Xu Que was still bold and confident in his skills. When Zhang Danshan invited him to stay at the Tianwu Sect, he gladly accepted.

The last time, I only stole from the treasure pavilion of an outer sect of the Tianwu Sect. If there's an outer sect, there must be an inner sect, and it surely holds even more powerful techniques. When I steal from there and return them to the system, I can make a huge profit again.

However, before doing this, Xu Que knew he had to return to Panshan Village first.

Although Zhang Danshan had just assured that no one would touch Panshan Village, it was still necessary to quickly exchange for a mid-level formation to protect the village, in case things were exposed in the future and implicated the villagers.

However, just as he was hurrying towards Panshan Village, he suddenly felt a bit of tightness in his chest, an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

It was without warning, just a feeling that something bad seemed to have happened.

He furrowed his brows, and his first reaction was that he had been poisoned. It must have been that old fox Zhang Danshan who had poisoned the food and drink at the banquet.

"System, quickly check my body and see what kind of poison I've been affected by."

"Ding, host 'Xu Que' is in good physical condition, with vigorous energy and no signs of poisoning."

Huh, not poisoned?

Xu Que was momentarily stunned. How could he feel so restless if he wasn't poisoned?

"Forget it, let's head back to Panshan Village first. Yesterday, Xiaorou asked me to bring her some silk fabric, saying she wanted to make clothes for me. Haha, that girl is probably getting impatient by now."

Xu Que shook his head with a smile, dispelling a trace of annoyance from his heart, and quickened his pace towards Panshan Village.

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At this moment, a figure swept across the sky above the Tianwu Sect, swiftly heading towards a pavilion. As they landed, their footing faltered, causing them to fall directly to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Elder Sun." Several disciples of the Tianwu Sect who were on guard immediately ran over in a panic when they saw the situation.

The old woman's face was terrifyingly grim, and she gritted her teeth as she said, "Damn it, I didn't expect the formation set by that little beast to be so powerful. This time, not only was the formation-breaking shuttle destroyed, but even I, the elder, suffered severe injuries."

When she said this, she looked at several disciples of the Tianwu Sect and asked coldly, "Is that little beast still in the Tianwu Sect?"

"Reverend Sun, I just saw him going down the mountain."

"He's gone back? Haha, perfect, let him see the grand gift I've left for him and see what he can do to me." The old woman let out a cold laugh and, with the support of several disciples of the Tianwu Sect, struggled to stand up and walked into the pavilion.