Soon, all the cultivators woke up.
But with the exception of You Jing, most of them hadn't regained consciousness yet. Their expressions were dazed, their eyes blank, and they had no recollection of what had happened.
While the Soul-Erosion Pills weren't as potent as the Demon Sect's poison pills, if taken in excess, their effects would penetrate deep into the body and wouldn't be easily dispelled. For now, it was a blessing to have them awake.
Shen Bailie shook his head helplessly. "I'm Shen Bailie, the steward of Qingxia Market. Everyone, follow me."
His words carried a certain spiritual pressure, and his voice was resounding. The group of unconscious cultivators, already at a loss, followed Shen Bailie out of the cave upon hearing his voice.
You Jing looked at Zhou Shu, puzzled, and asked, "Brother Zhou, what on earth is going on?"
Zhou Shu shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure. I just woke up a little earlier than you. I guess we were all captured here by the evil cultivators, and then Deacon Shen from the market town rescued us."
You Jing paused for a moment, then his expression brightened and he exclaimed, "Great! I was so scared when I met those masked men. I thought I was dead, but I didn't expect to survive."
Zhou Shu frowned. "Don't panic. Let's get out first."
Zhou Shu and You Jing worked together to lift the bucket and slowly walked towards the exit.
You Jing seemed to remember something. "How did the market town know we were here?"
Zhou Shu smiled. "Maybe we were lucky."
You Jing nodded, smug. "We were lucky. The other cultivators hadn't been rescued for so long, but we were rescued the moment we were captured. Maybe it's like what the master and brother from the Hundred Craftsmen's Workshop said. I really am a lucky star, haha."
Zhou Shu couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. He
had been terrified just a moment ago, but now he was so proud. That's quite a skill.
He didn't tell You Jing the details of the process. Firstly, he didn't want to attract too much attention. Secondly, he had ruined the evil cultivator's overall plan. If the evil cultivator didn't die and found out it was him, he would come back to seek revenge on him, which would be troublesome.
Although he actually wanted to find the evil cultivator and ask him a few questions, it was not possible at the moment.
The black flying boat stopped right in front of the exit.
Nearly a hundred independent cultivators had all boarded the flying boat, but it still looked very spacious. This flying boat magic weapon seemed to expand or contract according to needs, which was quite magical.
Under Yuan Li's instructions, Shen Bailie returned to the cave and searched the cave for items one by one.
Soon, the flying boat took off and headed back to Qingxia Market.
Yuan Li, Shen Bailie, and Hua Ruoan stood at the bow of the boat, discussing something, but no one could hear anything. It was obvious that a soundproofing formation had been set up.
Zhou Shu sent You Jing away and walked over slowly.
He bowed and saluted. "Hello, Manager Yuan, Steward Shen, and Manager Hua."
The discussion paused, and Yuan Li frowned. "Zhou Shu, what's up?"
Zhou Shu glanced at You Jing, who was not far away, and whispered, "Manager, could you please not mention me when you announce these things in the market?"
Everyone knew that the Qingxia Market would certainly make a big announcement about the recovery of missing cultivators and the extermination of evil cultivators to regain the reputation and business it had lost recently.
"Oh?"
They were all stunned.
Shen Bailie was puzzled. "Zhou Shu, what do you mean?"
Hua Ruoan shook his head. "Brother Zhou, you've accomplished such a great feat at such a young age, and the market will publicize it widely. It will bring you countless benefits. Why are you hiding it? I really don't understand."
Yuan Li glanced at Zhou Shu and said nothing.
Zhou Shu said slowly, "My cultivation is low, and I don't want to be the target of public criticism."
Shen Bailie glared and said, "So what if my cultivation is low? As long as you're in the market, the market will naturally protect you. Are you afraid of someone causing trouble?"
Hua Ruoan said nothing.
He simply thought that the master behind Zhou Shu didn't want to be seen. If that was the case, he wouldn't say anything more.
Zhou Shu smiled, "Thank you for your kindness, Manager Shen, but I've made up my mind. Please forgive me."
Shen Bailie frowned and wanted to say more, but Yuan Li waved him off.
Yuan Li looked at Zhou Shu and nodded in understanding.
If Zhou Shu had to be mentioned in the announcement, it would be very troublesome.
How could a second-level Qi Refining Realm cultivator escape from a cave infested with evil cultivators? And the Eclipse Pill was ineffective against him. If such a statement were made, no one would believe it, and it would also call into question the credibility of the market.
If the truth wasn't told, then what role did Zhou Shu play, and why did he deserve the reward? I'm afraid even more people would doubt it.
He didn't need to know, nor did he want to know, why Zhou Shu concealed it, but he was well aware that this outcome would benefit the market, not harm it.
Zhou Shu's proposal made things much simpler.
"Since you put it that way, we in the market can't force you. We don't have to mention your name, but we still have to give you the reward. What kind of reward do you want?"
Zhou Shu said calmly. "What I got in the cave is enough. I don't need any other rewards. I just hope that you can make it easier for me when I need it in the future."
Greed is a taboo, and he doesn't need much right now. The market won't give him what he really wants.
"You don't want the reward, and you don't care about the fame. Ha, cultivators like you are really rare."
Yuan Li was slightly stunned, then smiled, "But this won't do. It seems that our Qingxia Market is too stingy. Zhou Shu, I think your aptitude is really not that good. What's the matter?"
Zhou Shu bowed slightly, "Manager, you have a keen eye. I was born with broken meridians. It's not easy to practice."
"Born with broken meridians?"
Shen Bailie and Hua Ruoan shook their heads and sighed together, "So that's how it is... Oh, what a pity."
Born with broken meridians, the qi meridians are born broken. Although cultivators can practice, their strength is far less than that of cultivators of the same level, and their upper limit is also very low.
Yuan Li nodded gently, "It's the same as I guessed. If not, with your abilities, your cultivation level would be far beyond what it is now. But you don't have to lose heart. Broken meridians can be repaired. For example, things like the Heavenly King Heart-Replenishing Pill, the Seven Treasures Green Lotus Seeds, and the Glazed Dragon Bird Demon Pill can all do it. Or you can find a fifth-level exotic fire. If your meridians and energy merge with the exotic fire, as long as you can endure it, it will be a blessing in disguise, and your meridians and energy will be several times stronger than that of ordinary people."
Zhou Shu knew that it could be repaired, but he didn't know the specific methods. He nodded secretly and saluted, "Thank you for your concern, Manager Yuan."
Shen Bailie and Hua Ruoan still couldn't help shaking their heads. Which of these things was not a treasure of the fifth level or above, and the exotic fire was even more illusory. How could Zhou Shu possibly obtain it?
Yuan Li waved his sleeves, and a jade slip slowly floated in front of Zhou Shu.
"I originally wanted to recommend you to join the Tianliu Sect, but I guess you won't accept. But you're right, your current qualifications won't be of much use. So this "Liushui Jing" is a reward for you, and you can practice it in the future. Although the Guiyi mental method you practiced is peaceful and stable, it is of little help to you."
Hearing about the Liushui Jing, Hua Ruoan and Shen Bailie were slightly stunned, a little bit unbelievable.
The jade slip had already flown in front of them, and Zhou Shu couldn't refuse. He took it with both hands and thanked him again.
Zhou Shu held the jade slip, lowered his head slightly, and many questions popped up.
"Tianliu Sect, what kind of sect is that? Why haven't I heard of it in Qingxia Market? Liushui Jing, what kind of mental method is it?"