Chapter 66

Kun Tu watched helplessly as Yuan Ming was taken away by the Third Cave Master, his face turning ashen.

"Kun Tu, today we failed to cut the roots completely, and now the enmity is sealed. In the future, it will be either your death or his," Hu Huo Elder said with a deep gaze.

"You don't need to remind me," Kun Tu said, his eyes narrowing coldly.

...

It was Yuan Ming's first time riding a spirit beast, soaring high in the sky, and he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

However, after a brief adjustment, he calmed down, feeling the wind whistling past him and glancing down.

At this height, the dense forests below were shrouded in darkness, leaving only a vague outline of the undulating mountains, making him feel small and insignificant, as if standing on a hundred-foot tower, where people are like ants.

Yuan Ming retracted his gaze and looked up at the sky, where the clouds were ethereal and the stars were bright, but they didn't seem any closer despite his high altitude.

At this moment, Yuan Ming felt a gaze and saw that the fire marten on the Third Cave Master's shoulder had poked out half of its furry head, its round eyes staring at him.

Yuan Ming, who had been indirectly saved by it, smiled at it, and it blinked in response.

The fire-feathered falcon soared over the darkness, and soon, clusters of bright lights appeared below. Yuan Ming looked and saw a large area of buildings illuminated, coming into view.

The Bi Luo Cave Sect was backed by the Ten Thousand Mountains and was built in the dense forest, though the vegetation in the main area of the sect was not as lush as in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

As they got closer, Yuan Ming suddenly noticed a faint, almost invisible mist covering the area where the sect buildings were concentrated, making it hard to see clearly.

Only when he focused his soul power around his eyes did he finally confirm that the mist indeed existed.

Moreover, the mist seemed like a large pot inverted, becoming thicker the closer it was to the bottom of the pot and thinner the closer it was to the rim.

Yuan Ming wanted to ask, but seeing the Third Cave Master's cold back, he ultimately held back.

At this moment, the fire-feathered falcon stopped just outside the mist.

Suddenly, a red waist tag on the Third Cave Master's waist glowed, casting a hazy light that enveloped both of them and the two beasts.

Then, under the light, they easily passed through the light barrier and entered.

Inside the mist barrier, the fire-feathered falcon began to descend, and the scenery below became clearer.

Yuan Ming immediately recognized the canyon and the massive bronze gate through which he and the group of wild people had been brought in, located in the northeast of the Bi Luo Cave Sect.

The entire Bi Luo Cave had a terrain that was higher in the west and lower in the east, distributed in three tiers.

The easternmost area was a spacious stone square, with several raised martial arts platforms on either side. In the central area, which was one level higher, there were about seven or eight round buildings with a foreign style.

This was largely consistent with what Yuan Ming had seen when he first entered the Bi Luo Cave.

On the highest western side, there were three slightly elevated peaks. The southwestern peak was the lowest, resembling a raised hill, with visible sections like furrows.

The central peak on the western side was slightly higher, while the northernmost peak, closest to the Ten Thousand Mountains, was the highest and most expansive.

Despite it being night, the sect was still brightly lit, with various animal roars faintly heard.

The fire-feathered falcon flapped its wings and landed on the central peak.

As they got closer, Yuan Ming gradually saw several courtyards scattered on the mountaintop, varying in size and style, more similar to the Central Plains architecture he remembered.

Finally, the fire-feathered falcon landed on a white stone square about a hundred feet wide at the front of the mountain.

After landing, Yuan Ming looked around and saw a green stone stele at the edge of the square, inscribed with the characters "Fire Refining Hall" in the Southern Border script.

The Third Cave Master then had Yuan Ming follow her, and they crossed the square to a courtyard.

At this moment, a woman in a fiery red dress, with a conspicuous green waist tag, ran over from a distance, stopped in front of them, and bowed to the Third Cave Master.

"Master," the woman said.

The moment she spoke, Yuan Ming recognized her voice and looked closely, confirming it was indeed someone he knew.

"Chen Wan, you came just in time. This is a new registered disciple, Yuan Ming. Take him to the registered disciples' courtyard and arrange a residence for him," the Third Cave Master said, looking at the woman.

The moment Chen Wan heard the name, she immediately looked up, meeting Yuan Ming's gaze and momentarily stunned.

Regaining her composure, Chen Wan quickly responded, "Disciple understands."

The Third Cave Master nodded and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something. She looked at Yuan Ming, noticing that the wounds on his body had already scabbed over, and was surprised by his recovery.

"You are a fur beast slave by origin, and the Heart-Corrupting Pill's poison in your body has not yet been removed. Take these Clear Heart Pills. Although they are not a specific antidote for the Heart-Corrupting Pill, taking them for three days will also remove the remaining poison from your body," the Third Cave Master said.

"Thank you, Third Cave Master," Yuan Ming immediately bowed in gratitude.

The Third Cave Master left a small white porcelain bottle and then walked away, holding the fire marten.

The "Fire Craver" poked its head out from her shoulder and looked at Yuan Ming.

After she had walked far enough, Chen Wan relaxed her posture and looked at Yuan Ming with a hint of confusion.

"Master usually has a laid-back personality and never brings back registered disciples on her own. Why did she...?" Chen Wan frowned, puzzled.

"Why did she bring back a fur beast slave?" Yuan Ming added.

Chen Wan didn't avoid the question and nodded frankly.

"Consider it a blessing in disguise. Speaking of which, I should thank Kun Tu..." Yuan Ming chuckled.

Hearing "Kun Tu," Chen Wan's heart skipped a beat, already aware of what had happened. However, as Yuan Ming recounted the events, her expression grew increasingly grim.

"I didn't expect him to be so evil, plotting to harm you."

"Killing to cover up, only the dead can keep secrets. There's nothing strange about that..." Yuan Ming paused, looking at Chen Wan.

He raised an eyebrow and asked, "What I'm curious about is why you didn't report to the sect about the previous conspiracy and mistreatment by them?"

Chen Wan's gaze flickered for a long time before she sighed, "That day, everything was based on verbal testimony, with no substantial evidence. Our words wouldn't be taken seriously."

Hearing her say "our words" rather than "your one-sided words," Yuan Ming's expression eased slightly.

"Moreover, Kun Tu has already entered the inner sect. His master, Elder Meng Shan, is the second-in-command of the Beast Taming Hall, with a status different from other elders. I..."

"I understand," Yuan Ming nodded.

He wasn't a stubborn person and knew that people sometimes have no choice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know this would almost cost you your life... But you can consider it a blessing in disguise. I hope this matter ends here and isn't mentioned again. Master has a personality that avoids secular affairs, and I don't want to cause her trouble right after joining her sect," Chen Wan suddenly changed her tone.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming was about to respond when a long, drawn-out meow sounded.

"Meow..."

The prolonged tail sound seemed to express a sense of dissatisfaction.

Yuan Ming was surprised and looked around but saw no sign of any cat.

Chen Wan was also puzzled, "Strange, when did there start to be wild cats on the mountain?"

"Senior Sister Chen, can you take me to my residence?" Yuan Ming took the opportunity to change the subject.

Chen Wan nodded and led him past the nearby courtyard, explaining as they walked, "This is the residence for the Fire Refining Hall servants, responsible for the disciples' daily life. The registered disciples' courtyard is behind here. There are currently 138 registered disciples, each with their own independent living quarters."

As she explained, they arrived at a vast complex of buildings, with houses closely spaced, no separate courtyards, and a rather compact layout.

"Senior Sister Chen, is there a relatively quiet place?" Yuan Ming asked.

Chen Wan thought for a moment and said, "Yes, after the last trial, eight Fire Refining Hall disciples died. Five of them were close friends and lived near each other, but none of them returned. Their area is now vacant, and no one will choose to live there for a while."

"Good, take me there," Yuan Ming immediately said.

"You... Okay," Chen Wan hesitated for a moment but agreed.

They walked along the path between the houses, heading deeper into the courtyard. The houses in front were mostly dark, clearly unoccupied.

Yuan Ming felt no aversion and chose a house under an old pine tree in the corner as his residence.

"The bedding has already been changed. I'll inform the servant manager tomorrow to arrange for daily cleaning. As for the Fire Refining Hall's curriculum, it is handled by Second Senior Brother Fang Ge. You'll know more when you go to the fire workshop tomorrow," Chen Wan instructed.

"Thank you," Yuan Ming noted everything down.

"Rest well," Chen Wan said and turned to leave.

Just as Yuan Ming was about to push the door open, he heard Chen Wan's voice again, "By the way, I hope you don't reveal to anyone that you know me."

Hearing this, Yuan Ming's movements froze.

Then, he pushed the door open with a creak and walked in.

Yuan Ming lit the oil lamp on the table, and the room was illuminated by the dim yellow light, revealing a simple and elegant interior.

The room wasn't very large. On the left, by the window, was a desk and a large armchair, with ink, brush, and inkstone on the table, but no paper or books.

In the center of the room was a round table with four stools, with tea cups on top.

On the right side of the room, a carved wooden frame with a curtain served as a simple partition, behind which was a rectangular jujube wood bed, with bed sheets and neatly folded blankets.

Yuan Ming sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the softness beneath him, and was momentarily speechless.

He had maintained a relatively calm demeanor earlier, but his mind was still a bit dazed.

"Is this it? I'm now part