"The Grand Elder?" ChenYa asked in confusion: "Master, why would the Grand Elder help us?"
The Sixth Elder curled his lips into a smile. He knew very well that the Grand Elder had been stuck at that Realm for more than twenty years. If she didn't Breakthrough, her Cultivation would gradually decline because she frequently 'Dual Cultivation' with the Sect Master.
Therefore, nothing suited her better than Ri Guang. A Human Pill was the best medicine to solve this problem.
"Don't ask so much." The Sixth Elder said: "You just need to kill him in the arena."
"Master! Please forgive me for asking too much…" ChenYa frowned and asked: "Why don't we choose a more secretive method? We can just keep hiring assassins to kill him. Even if the assassin is caught, it has nothing to do with us."
"Too risky…" The Sixth Elder shook his head. "Just do as I say. This is the 'Mad Blood Pill'."
As he spoke, he handed a blood-red pill to ChenYa: "If you can't beat him, just use this pill. For thirty minutes, you will rise by 2 minor Realms."
ChenYa took the pill and asked worriedly: "Master, like this… if it's discovered, I'm afraid…"
"Huh!" The Sixth Elder snorted, his cold voice ringing out: "I am your Master. Would I harm you?"
"No! I… I didn't mean that, it's just…"
"Don't worry! Even if it's discovered, I will step forward for you and explain for you. After all, you are my Disciple. How could I ignore you?"
Hearing that, ChenYa felt reassured. Thinking again, he felt his master was right. After all, he was the Sixth Elder's Disciple and also represented the Law Enforcement Hall. If he ran into trouble, the Sixth Elder definitely wouldn't just stand by without helping him.
He held the pill and said firmly: "Yes, Master."
The Sixth Elder nodded lightly.
He did this because using assassination was too troublesome. If others investigated, they might discover that Ri Guang was a Human Pill. The more people who knew, the harder it would be for him to keep this red-hot coal that burned the hand.
Only if Ri Guang died in the arena would no one suspect anything. After all, every year, at least ten disciples died in the arena, and at most it could reach hundreds. Who would care about some nobody dying?
ChenYa left. The Sixth Elder revealed a cold smile and muttered: "Even though I have to share a bit of the benefits with the Grand Elder, it's still much better than holding this burning coal alone. Hahahaha…"
….
Ri Guang frowned now, sensing that there was a strand of spiritual power he absorbed into his body, but it quickly dispersed like smoke.
Although he knew he couldn't Cultivation, he still wanted to try. After all, he currently couldn't 'Dual Cultivation' with Lan Yue, and he also hadn't found anyone suitable to be his second cultivation partner. Therefore, he wanted to use his free time to try and see if there was any way to Cultivation.
But right at this moment, his mind was dragged into a dark space, heavy enough that he felt as if a mountain were pressing down on his shoulders.
"Damn it!" he muttered and cursed: "This feeling again, could it be…"
BAM!
A loud explosion, yet there was no smoke, no fire, only an intense vibration, as if Ri Guang were standing in an ocean, and terrifying waves were sweeping past him at a horrifying speed.
WHOONG! WHOONG! WHOONG!
A piercing sound rang out, like something enormous was spinning at high speed.
Ri Guang raised his head and saw a gigantic eye staring at him. That eye did not look like a human eye. It was like a black hole, yet it had a structure like an eye.
Ri Guang's soul and mind felt as if they were being seen through by it, making him shiver with fear.
At this moment, a voice came from far away, like countless people speaking at once.
[Don't forget… who you are…]
"Heh?!"
Ri Guang jolted, eyes wide, and realized he was still sitting on the bed, but his body was drenched in sweat, and his hands were still trembling slightly.
"That voice just now…" Ri Guang muttered, feeling both confused and a nameless fear in his heart.
At this moment, a notification panel suddenly appeared in front of him.
[Curse: Human Pill Slave Brand – 18%]
"What?! The curse progress increased by 3% already?" He jolted when he saw the panel, thinking to himself that perhaps until he removed this damned curse, he couldn't Cultivation on his own.
Ri Guang sighed, thinking inwardly: 'Looks like… I need to leave the Hehuan Sect for a trip.'
'There's only one week left until the disciple selection to enter the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, I can't delay any longer.'
BAM!!!
Right at this moment, a loud boom rang out. Ri Guang jolted, sensing spiritual power erupting from Lan Yue's place. He didn't think much and immediately rushed out of the house, running toward Lan Yue's house.
…
He saw that at the front door, XiaoLian was standing still, looking toward the house.
"XiaoLian, what happened?" Ri Guang asked anxiously.
XiaoLian was calm at this moment. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes looking at Ri Guang with a bit of shyness, and also a bit of avoidance: "Ri… Ri Guang, it seems Miss is about to Breakthrough, it's just… she still hasn't succeeded."
"What?!" Hearing that, Ri Guang frowned and looked toward the house.
Around the house, a surge of spiritual power spilled out. Although it looked terrifying, if he sensed carefully, he could feel that the surge of spiritual power was very easy to disperse.
Just as he thought, that surge of spiritual energy slowly dispersed, but a portion of it was pulled into the room.
Ri Guang didn't leave, but sat on the stone chair beside it to wait. XiaoLian stood next to him, head slightly lowered, and said shyly: "Ri Guang, earlier, the pills you gave me… I…"
"Hm?! Have you used them yet?" Ri Guang asked with a smile.
"Th-that… those pills are too precious, I…"
Ri Guang waved his hand, feeling it wasn't a big deal, and smiled: "Don't worry, just use them. They're a gift from me to you. I won't force you to do things you don't want."
After all, he couldn't Cultivation. Keeping pills by his side was useless. He might as well distribute them to people close to him. It would be better to raise their affection toward him.
Hearing that, XiaoLian smiled gently. Her face flushed, her heartbeat going wild as if a deer were jumping inside her chest.
In this world, people with no talent for Cultivation were like trash, casually trampled on by others. Those with low talent for Cultivation were the same, their fate only slightly better than ordinary people.
Although XiaoLian had talent for Cultivation, it was also the lowest grade, so low that even ordinary sects didn't want to take her in.
Therefore, her fate was no different from ordinary people. She could only serve as Lan Yue's maid. Fortunately, Lan Yue didn't treat her warmly, but she also wasn't overly cold and cruel. Life passed by fairly normally.
Now, there was a man treating her well, making a young girl who had never felt the warmth of the world begin to stir.
But… even if her heart stirred, she also knew she was only a servant and couldn't reach the man before her.
Ri Guang didn't notice XiaoLian's thoughts. After all, he came from the modern era, so he didn't feel the existence of class distance between him and XiaoLian.
XiaoLian lowered her head slightly and said softly: "I… I'm not worthy of you, I'm only… a servant…"
Hearing that, Ri Guang frowned and said: "I haven't even thought about that yet, why are you thinking so much? Besides, worthy or not, that's up to me."
After hearing that, XiaoLian's heart beat even harder, her heart filled with hope. Who wouldn't want to escape the status of a mortal and become a Cultivator?
What woman wouldn't want her beauty preserved forever?
But…
Ri Guang glanced at her, no, more precisely, at her information panel.
[Name: XiaoLian]
[Age: 19]
[Looks: 83]
[Aptitude: Mortal Grade (Heaven Grade)]
[Current Realm: Body Refinement, Stage 2]
[Affection: Tier 2 - Deep Affection | Rebate: x 50 times.]
[Main Cultivation technique: None]
[Note: Conditions met.]
Seeing the information panel, Ri Guang's eyes focused on the line [Note], and he thought inwardly: 'Looks like… as long as looks reach 80, it's enough to meet the conditions. However… XiaoLian's aptitude doesn't seem ordinary at all.'
He looked at the [Aptitude] field. Although it displayed Mortal Grade, there was also a line of text beside it: 'Heaven Grade', which meant XiaoLian's aptitude had been locked.
If he could unlock her aptitude, she definitely wouldn't be too far behind Lan Yue.
He controlled the System and clicked on XiaoLian's [Aptitude] information.
[Heaven Grade – Locked: Seriously injured since birth, aptitude locked. Must use the Heaven-Breaking Pill to break the physical shackles.]
'Heaven-Breaking Pill…' he muttered inwardly.
At this moment, hearing Ri Guang's words, XiaoLian felt even warmer inside, and hated herself even more for being so useless. If… if she just had a little bit of talent… just a little would be enough.
"Agh!" XiaoLian jolted and let out a small cry because her hand had been tightly gripped by Ri Guang.
She pulled her hand back slightly, but for some reason, she wanted him to keep holding her hand.
"XiaoLian, do you want to follow me?"
"Th-that… I…" XiaoLian pressed her lips together. Countless chaotic thoughts surged in her heart, and she didn't know how to answer.
Just as she wanted to say something, a clear voice rang out from inside the room: "Ri Guang, come in!"