By the time they returned to the sect, the sky had already paled with the first light of dawn.
Jiang Ling flicked his sleeve, and a soft surge of power spread out, settling the rescued souls on the square before the sect's main hall. Most of them were listless, covered in wounds, their eyes still haunted by fear and bewilderment.
Gazing down at the terrified boys and girls, Jiang Ling's eyes were deep and calm, his voice unhurried yet laced with a comforting power:
"The Shadow Demon Sect is no more. This is the Primordial Beginning Sect—you are free from your suffering now.
This pill is called the Essence Nurturing Pill. It fortifies the foundation and nourishes primordial energy, dispelling the evil miasma in your bodies. You may take it without fear."
He brushed his sleeve lightly, and dozens of High-Grade Profound-Rank Essence Nurturing Pills, each the size of a longan and exuding a soft, fragrant aura, floated as if held by invisible hands, landing precisely in each survivor's palm.
On the square, the dozens of boys and girls, lying or sitting huddled, clutched the pills, their gazes still filled with alarm. They had become birds startled by the mere twang of a bow, holding the pills yet daring not to swallow them, fearing they had fallen into another den of wolves, tricked once more.
Amid the crowd was a boy of about fourteen. Though he too was ragged and bruised, his eyes were astonishingly clear, brimming with a calm and sharpness far beyond his years. He did not swallow the pill at once, but carefully sensed its medicinal fragrance and spiritual energy fluctuations, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes.
Then, the boy forced himself upright and said to the others: "This healing pill is real— the immortal elder is not lying to us!"
With that, he tilted his head back and swallowed the pill in one gulp. In an instant, a gentle yet mighty medicinal power spread through his body, nourishing his parched and damaged frame.
Only then did the others take their pills one after another. Once the pills melted in their mouths, a warm current rose slowly, the medicinal power seeping into their bodies like sweet rain moistening parched earth. Their haggard faces twitched slightly, and the frozen stillness in their hollow, numb eyes seemed to crack open a tiny crevice, where a wisp of faint, almost imperceptible vitality quietly took root.
Their bodies were still terribly weak, but at the very least, the agonizing pain of their essence being drained had eased.
A bolder girl tugged timidly at Ye Qingshuang's sleeve: "L-Little Fairy... we... we really don't have to go back there anymore?"
Ye Qingshuang's movements froze, and she nodded stiffly in response. Tears immediately streamed down the girl's face as she choked out: "Thank you for saving us, immortal elder..."
The boy who had taken the pill first was already regaining some strength. He quickly scanned the chaotic cluster of injured on the square, his brows furrowing instinctively.
"Esteemed... Senior Brother," he said, his voice weak as he addressed Hua Yuntian, the closest to him, "the Essence Nurturing Pill holds immense medicinal power. The wounded are frail and low on energy—taking it abruptly requires them to lie still and guide the power to fully harness its effects. Moreover, their injuries vary in severity; being huddled together like this, their auras intermingle, which is detrimental to the recovery of the severely wounded and may lead to unforeseen troubles..."
He rallied his strength to speak, only to break into a fit of heart-wrenching coughs, as if he would cough up his lungs.
Hua Yuntian was scowling as he fed a pill to another boy. He paused at the words, shooting the boy a sidelong glance: "You can barely stand on your own two feet, and yet you meddle in other people's business?"
His words were sharp, but his discerning eyes saw at once that the boy was extraordinary—at the very least, he had a clear head.
Naturally, Jiang Ling had also noticed the boy, and his eyes lit up slightly.
This is a talent!
Brave and careful, with a natural sense of management—he was born to be a steward.
System, lock onto him!
[Ding! Detected target with exceptional managerial potential. Name: Jiang Munan. (This individual possesses unwavering will and a keen intellect; eligible for sect recruitment.)]
Just as I thought!
A flash of approval crossed Jiang Ling's eyes. He immediately took out a bottle of Life Creation Pills, poured out one, and placed it directly into Jiang Munan's mouth.
"Young man, you have great insight. First, live. There will be plenty for you to take care of in the future."
The pill melted on his tongue, and a surging, gentle medicinal power spread through his body at once. The sallow hue on Jiang Munan's face faded, replaced by a faint flush, and his breathing steadied significantly. He stared at Jiang Ling in shock, struggling to thank him: "M-Many thanks, Sect Master!"
Jiang Ling waved a hand, signaling him to rest and not to speak further.
[Ding! Sect Upgrade Quest completed. Please host upgrade sect territory in a timely manner. After upgrade, sect territory will expand to a hundred-li radius; the coverage of the Immortal-Grade Mountain-Protecting Formation, the Nine Heavens Earthly Dragon Guard Array, will expand synchronously, with defense enhanced to invincibility against all below the Golden Immortal Realm!]
The system's timely reminder chimed in.
"Then upgrade it at once."
Jiang Ling's eyes brightened, and he spoke without hesitation.
In the next moment, a deafening rumble seemed to erupt from the very depths of the earth.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The entire Primordial Beginning Mountain Range, like an ancient behemoth roused from slumber, let out a low, majestic roar. The ground shook violently, as if a dragon were stirring beneath the earth.
Everyone on the square was stunned by the commotion, lifting their heads in alarm!
They saw an invisible barrier surge outward from all around the sect, with an overwhelming momentum that crushed all obstacles in its path. Wherever it passed, mountains shifted and rivers changed course. Within a hundred-li radius, spiritual energy converged toward the Primordial Beginning Sect like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, swirling madly.
In the sky, thick black and yellow qi gathered into clouds, churning and surging, with faint dragon-shaped phantoms swirling and roaring within them. Massive pillars of black and yellow light shot up from the depths of the earth's veins, connecting with the black and yellow clouds in the sky, forming a breathtaking, heaven-shaking spectacle!
The main peak rose visibly amid the rumbling, its summit piercing the clouds, stretching endlessly into the distance as far as the eye could see. The three ancient characters "Primordial Beginning Sect" on the simple mountain gate plaque suddenly burst forth with ten thousand zhang of black and yellow divine light, shooting straight into the vault of heaven, lingering for a long time without fading!
The black and yellow light barrier that usually shrouded the entire sect materialized abruptly, growing dense and thick, with countless profound and inscrutable runes flowing upon it like living things, exuding a terrifying pressure that suppressed all ages and repelled all techniques. The entire space within a hundred-li radius was firmly enclosed by this light barrier, filling everyone with an immense sense of security.
This earth-shaking vision lasted a full dozen breaths!
When all returned to calm, the Primordial Beginning Sect's territory had firmly expanded to a hundred-li radius, and the concentration of spiritual energy within the sect had multiplied several times over. The black and yellow light barrier, though its divine light had dimmed, appeared even deeper and more solid, as if it had merged completely with the earth beneath their feet, unbreakable!
On the square, all the rescued boys and girls, Jiang Munan included, stared dumbfounded at this miracle-like scene, their hearts filled with indescribable shock. Their gazes toward the green-robed Sect Master on the high platform were filled with the same awe one would have for a god.
Jincancan fluttered curiously close to the light barrier, pecking it gently with its beak, and a clear, crisp "ding" echoed out.
Chirp!
Good—can't peck through it!
It twitched its numb beak, then landed dejectedly on Jiang Ling's shoulder.
Jiang Ling stroked its head, chiding it: "Told you not to peck at random things. Don't forget the lesson your second junior brother learned."
Chirp!
Jincancan tilted its head to look at Hua Yuntian, a flash of mockery crossing its glazed eyes.