Chapter 38

As the bell's chime echoed, this sound rose and fell in Meng Hao's heart, reverberating throughout the Mountain Rely Sect. Soon, Meng Hao, standing on the high platform, saw many disciples rushing over from a distance.

Before long, the square was densely packed with outer sect disciples. Each one, upon seeing Meng Hao on the platform, showed surprise and hurriedly clasped their fists in a salute.

The little fatty, in the crowd, proudly used a flying sword to clean his teeth, surrounded by many disciples who all wore fawning expressions.

"This time, it's actually Senior Brother Meng distributing the pills... Sigh, thinking back to when he was just like us, an outer sect disciple, but now he is an inner sect disciple."

"Senior Brother Meng is elegant and refined. I heard he was once a scholar who had already passed the imperial exams, but he abandoned his official career to devote himself to cultivation and joined the Mountain Rely Sect."

"To be honest, the first time I saw Senior Brother Meng, I felt he was extraordinary. Even in the battle with Wang Tengfei, I was sure Senior Brother Meng would win." The discussions echoed in the square, spreading around and reaching Meng Hao's ears. He coughed dryly.

Just a slight cough immediately silenced the many outer sect disciples below, all of whom respectfully looked at Meng Hao, who was dressed in a silver robe and seemed like a celestial being in the rosy light.

In the crowd, Meng Hao saw Zhou Kai with a complicated expression, Yin Tianlong who smiled bitterly in silence, and the few disciples at the fourth stage of Qi Condensation, who all subconsciously showed a flattering look when their eyes met Meng Hao's.

Meng Hao even saw Cao Yang, whose body was trembling.

"Today, I, Meng Hao, am distributing pills. Fellow disciples, you should focus on cultivation and strive to reach the seventh stage of Qi Condensation. I look forward to the day when there will be one more inner sect disciple in our Mountain Rely Sect." Meng Hao spoke calmly. Being a former scholar, he naturally had some literary talent, and his words required no preparation. As he spoke, an invisible pressure appeared in the hearts of those below.

This pressure was not due to Meng Hao's cultivation level, but to his status as an inner sect disciple.

"Senior Brother Meng's teachings are correct. We will remember your guidance, Senior Brother." Someone below quickly responded, looking excited as if they had heard divine words, and bowed repeatedly.

The others followed suit, and the sounds of their responses echoed, making the square appear harmonious.

Meng Hao took the storage bag from the child beside him, opened it, and with a flick, all the pills and spirit stones flew out, landing in front of everyone.

Then, he swiped his right hand in the storage bag and took out a milky white pill. This pill emitted white vapor and a medicinal fragrance, and faintly seemed to contain the glow of the morning light.

"It's... actually a White Spirit Pill!"

"This pill is highly effective for those below the fourth stage of Qi Condensation. It hasn't been distributed for a long time, and it appears today." The people in the square immediately breathed heavily, looking at the pill in Meng Hao's hand.

Meng Hao's gaze swept over the crowd, and the little fatty grinned. He didn't care about this White Spirit Pill; he had several in his storage bag, all given by Meng Hao.

"This pill is extraordinary, and you all know it. I intended to give it to a suitable disciple, but I remembered an old friend at first glance, so I will give it to this person." Meng Hao's gaze fell on Cao Yang, who immediately trembled. As Meng Hao flicked his right hand, the pill flew straight to him.

"Finished, this time I'll probably be seriously injured for a few months..." Cao Yang looked like he was about to cry, lamenting in his heart. He now realized that Meng Hao had a very good memory for grudges, even as an inner sect disciple, he still remembered the events of that day.

As the light in the square faded, Meng Hao flicked his sleeve and turned to leave, not watching the scramble below.

The little fatty quickly ran over, standing beside Meng Hao with a smug look, and glared at the child Zhao Hai, signaling him to stay away, as if afraid that he would lose his position. Then he followed Meng Hao forward.

"Senior Brother Meng, shall we take a walk around the outer sect?" The little fatty looked at Meng Hao expectantly, just like when Meng Hao had persuaded Senior Sister Xu years ago, which made Meng Hao recall the past and smile, nodding.

The two walked ahead, while Zhao Hai followed behind, looking aggrieved. They hadn't gone far from the square when Zhou Kai caught up.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Meng." Zhou Kai hurriedly spoke, looking somewhat uneasy. He had offended Meng Hao several times and thought that as an inner sect disciple, Meng Hao would maintain his dignity, but seeing Cao Yang's fate today, he immediately became nervous and rushed over.

Meng Hao glanced at Zhou Kai, but before he could speak, the little fatty immediately jumped out and shouted.

"What is it?"

"Zhou has obtained a treasure a few days ago. At first glance, I felt this treasure was destined for Senior Brother Meng and is very suitable. Please accept it, Senior Brother Meng." Zhou Kai bit his lip, took out a storage bag from his chest, and respectfully handed it to Meng Hao. The little fatty coldly snorted, grabbed it, and then smiled, passing it to Meng Hao.

Meng Hao took the storage bag, glanced at it, and put it in his chest, nodding to Zhou Kai, and then turned to leave, looking calm and composed. Zhou Kai, though frustrated, felt some admiration in his heart.

"Truly worthy of being an inner sect disciple, such a small thing might indeed be beneath his notice..."

As Meng Hao walked, Yin Tianlong sighed in the distance, quickly put on a smile, and ran over, saying that he had found something recently and felt it was destined for Senior Brother Meng, and specially presented it. It was also a storage bag, containing fifty spirit stones. Meng Hao took it and frowned slightly.

"We are all fellow disciples, past grievances are not worth mentioning. There's no need for this."

Hearing this, Yin Tianlong's heart skipped a beat, immediately understanding, and cursed Zhou Kai for giving more. He bit his lip and took out another storage bag, which Meng Hao accepted with a nod.

Meng Hao continued walking, and whenever he encountered someone with whom he had past grievances, they all did the same. Gradually, he had over ten storage bags on him.

"How about it? I did a good job, right? I had already hinted to them before, to avoid future trouble, they need to pay a price." The little fatty looked at Meng Hao proudly.

Meng Hao smiled and shook his head. He had already felt something was off today and guessed it was the little fatty's doing over the past half month.

"What about that fifth-stage disciple who wanted to kill you back then?" Meng Hao asked.

"Him? I used your jade pendant to find an outer sect official and arranged for him to go to the desolate mountain to catch demon beasts. He can't return until he catches a hundred." The little fatty looked like he wouldn't let anyone who offended him off easily.

"Don't push people to the brink." Meng Hao's eyes flashed, and he spoke softly.

"I understand. I'll find a way to deal with him, and Zhou Kai and Yin Tianlong will take care of it." The little fatty also spoke softly.

The two looked at each other, smiled, and stopped talking about it.

They walked around the outer sect, and many disciples who saw Meng Hao hurriedly came to pay their respects. When they reached the Pill Cultivation Hall, Meng Hao paused, looked at the hall, and smiled, stepping inside.

The middle-aged man in the Pill Cultivation Hall immediately stood up.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Meng."

Meng Hao smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping over the various pills.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Meng. The Pill Cultivation Hall is taken care of by Junior Brother Li Fugui, and business is good. No other disciples will have the chance to buy pills." The middle-aged man immediately patted his chest and said.

The little fatty beamed, stepped forward, and, unnoticed by others, handed the middle-aged cultivator a storage bag. The man skillfully took it, and both he and the little fatty had bright eyes. After all, the pills here belonged to the sect, not individuals, and earning more made the cultivator naturally happy.

Under the little fatty's eager and persistent urging, even though it was already noon, Meng Hao still fulfilled the little fatty's wish, walking around the entire outer sect, letting everyone see him. At the little fatty's pleading look, he even went to the Treasure Pavilion.

The shrewd man in the Treasure Pavilion had been waiting outside. Seeing Meng Hao arrive, he immediately bowed deeply, his voice loud and clear.

"Treasure Pavilion disciple Sun Tiandi, greetings, Senior Brother Meng. Senior Brother Meng is a dragon among men, with a majestic and extraordinary presence..."

The shrewd man, lacking in literary talent, spoke somewhat incoherently, but his expression was excited, though his inner unease was known only to himself. After all, he thought he had tricked Meng Hao back then and was afraid Meng Hao would bring it up. When he stood up, he looked at the little fatty with pleading eyes.

"Cough, this guy asked me to take another magic treasure. If he breaks the rules, it's on him." The little fatty spoke somewhat awkwardly.

Meng Hao was speechless. After inspecting the Treasure Pavilion, he finally left, despite the little fatty's reluctance, and returned to the Eastern Peak. The sun was setting, and Meng Hao sat on a rock outside his cave, reflecting on the day's events. His status as an inner sect disciple gave him a deeper understanding.

At dusk, Meng Hao looked at the red sky in the distance, as if sensing something. Turning his head, he saw a woman approaching like a celestial being, dressed in a silver robe, with black hair and a beautiful, pale face. This pale face, in Meng Hao's eyes, had a hidden charm beneath its coldness.

"Senior Sister Xu." Meng Hao clasped his fists in a salute.

"Congratulations on becoming an inner sect disciple." This woman was Xu Qing, as cold and clear as her name suggested. This was her personality, but it didn't mean she treated everyone this way. For example, she had just emerged from seclusion and, upon hearing from the child about Meng Hao, came here.

Meng Hao smiled slightly, standing beside Xu Qing. The mountain breeze blew, fluttering their clothes.

"I went to the Pill Cultivation Hall today and exchanged for another beauty pill." Meng Hao raised his right hand, and a pill appeared in his palm.

Xu Qing was silent, glanced at the pill in Meng Hao's hand, hesitated, and then took it without a word, standing there and looking at the red sky in the distance.

Her beauty was flawless, like jade, reflecting the red glow of the sunset, making her especially beautiful at that moment.

Time seemed to stop at that moment. The two figures in the twilight, on the Eastern Peak, became a timeless ink painting in the sunset of that year...

Until the rosy light in the sky faded, and the moonlight fell, Xu Qing turned and walked away. But after only five steps, she suddenly paused.

"I went to the Pill Cultivation Hall. The first beauty pill you gave me was not exchanged by you." She said, not looking back, and walked away.

Meng Hao stood there, stunned, and after a while, he finally reacted, scratching his head, his eyes gradually brightening. What he once thought was impossible seemed to become possible with the passage of time...

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