Chapter 5

Han Jue was extremely nervous.

He tried to act surprised, always on guard against Xing Hongxuan's moves.

Xing Hongxuan suddenly stepped forward, tightly grabbed his hand, and laughed excitedly, "You really are my lucky charm!"

"As long as you're happy."

[Xing Hongxuan's affection towards you has increased, and you can now become her dao companion. Current affection level: 3 stars]

These words appeared before Han Jue, and he forced a bitter smile.

However, Xing Hongxuan didn't see through it. She walked around Han Jue, picked up the pill manual, and began to flip through it.

She seemed to be looking for something.

Han Jue waited anxiously.

Should he make a move?

If Xing Hongxuan takes the pill manual, he won't get the sword technique.

Xing Hongxuan seemed to be injured, her aura very unstable.

Should he trick her?

Make her give up.

Just as Han Jue was hesitating, a cold wind swept in from the door.

Caught off guard, Han Jue was knocked flying, crashing into the wall and bouncing to the ground.

It didn't hurt much.

It was just a bit scary.

Han Jue focused and saw Old Iron!

He tilted his neck, trembled his right foot, and pretended to faint.

"Put down my pill manual!"

Old Iron said coldly.

Xing Hongxuan replied coldly, "You actually came back!"

Old Iron, expressionless, said, "I've been back for a long time, just waiting for you to show up. When I first returned, I saw the two of you. For so many years, no other disciples have taken my missions, but you two did. There must be something fishy."

With that, Old Iron suddenly attacked, striking Xing Hongxuan with a palm.

A talisman was attached to his palm.

Xing Hongxuan instinctively jumped back, and lightning burst from Old Iron's palm, forming a web that entangled Xing Hongxuan.

Old Iron followed up with a kick, sending Xing Hongxuan flying.

Almost instantly, Old Iron snatched the pill manual.

Xing Hongxuan landed, her body convulsing.

Old Iron pressed his advantage, and Xing Hongxuan hurriedly fled.

The two quickly rushed out.

Han Jue, lying on the ground, hesitated about getting up.

No!

If he got up, he wouldn't be able to clear his name.

Han Jue had also considered fleeing.

But it was too dangerous, and he didn't know where to run.

He waited patiently.

After an hour, Han Jue couldn't help but scratch his buttocks.

He suddenly felt a presence approaching the attic.

Old Iron!

Han Jue didn't dare to move.

Old Iron entered the attic.

Seeing Han Jue, he frowned.

Han Jue suddenly coughed.

Old Iron walked to a chair and sat down, staring at Han Jue.

Han Jue put on his best and most convincing act.

He held his head and got up, looking around in confusion. When he saw Old Iron, he was immediately delighted.

"Old Iron! You're finally back!"

Han Jue缩了缩脖子，紧张地环顾四周。

他小心翼翼地问道：“那个魔女去哪儿了？”

Old Iron looked at him expressionlessly.

Han Jue quickly stood up, bowing his head in front of Old Iron, looking extremely anxious.

Han Jue was taking a gamble!

He was betting that Old Iron hadn't noticed his interaction with Xing Hongxuan.

If he had, Han Jue would have to fight.

"What did she say to you?" Old Iron asked.

Han Jue didn't dare to hide anything and answered truthfully.

"Hmph, she wanted to cultivate you as her husband. What a joke."

Old Iron laughed, thinking the boy was dreaming.

He carefully examined Han Jue.

Hmm.

Come to think of it.

This boy really has become handsome. Just looking at his face and eyes, he's no less impressive than the inner disciples.

The change was too great!

Could it be...

Old Iron reached out, grabbed Han Jue's right wrist, and examined it closely.

Han Jue was very nervous, ready to act at any moment.

"This boy has no spiritual root and no cultivation. Could I be overthinking it?"

Old Iron thought to himself. Seeing Han Jue's fearful expression, he couldn't help but think of Han Jue's parents, feeling irritable.

He said irritably, "Go back to sleep!"

Han Jue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed.

He quickly left the attic.

Old Iron then began to tidy up the room.

...

Back in his room, Han Jue quietly got into bed.

[Since you did not help Xing Hongxuan steal the pill manual, you have successfully obtained the sword technique — Absolute Finger Sword]

Han Jue felt elated, finally having a means to protect himself!

He immediately chose to inherit the technique.

A flood of memories entered his mind.

The Absolute Finger Sword was not a martial art but a spell, using the finger as a sword and converting spiritual energy into sword qi.

Han Jue had supreme sword comprehension and learned the spell that night.

However, he didn't reveal it, maintaining a low profile.

The next day.

After getting up, Han Jue heard from other servants that Zhang Ge was dead.

It was said that he died a terrible death, with blood flowing from all seven orifices.

The male cultivator guarding the herb garden gate also left early in the morning, as if something significant had happened last night.

Han Jue couldn't help but mourn for Zhang Ge.

[Xing Hongxuan's affection towards you has increased, and you can now become her dao companion. Current affection level: 3.5 stars]

Han Jue was stunned.

How did her affection increase again?

It was inexplicable!

However, Xing Hongxuan probably wouldn't dare to show up again in the short term, so Han Jue could focus on cultivation.

...

Half a month later.

Old Iron left the herb garden again.

In the past ten years, he had been leaving more frequently.

Han Jue heard from Old Wang that Old Iron seemed to be nearing the end of his life and was searching for herbs to extend his lifespan.

Not everyone could easily break through like Han Jue.

Old Iron's cultivation was stuck at the seventh level of the Qi Condensation stage, unable to advance further.

This was the difference in talent.

Old Iron was a typical mortal cultivator, trying to defy fate.

Han Jue prayed in his heart, hoping the old man would die on the road.

He was so ruthless because he noticed that Old Iron still had a 1-star enmity towards him.

A potential enemy!

...

In the blink of an eye.

Two years passed.

At the age of twenty, Han Jue had cultivated all four spiritual roots to the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage.

He only needed to cultivate his lightning and fire spiritual roots to the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage to begin preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, he couldn't capture lightning or fire spiritual energy around the herb garden.

Han Jue knew it was time to leave.

That night, he quietly departed.

Han Jue still had a thousand high-grade spirit stones that he hadn't taken, which would be his confidence in the cultivation world.

On the way, Han Jue walked while using his divine sense to explore the surroundings.

He planned to go directly to the Jade Purity Sect and become a disciple of the Jade Purity Sect.

The Jade Purity Sect shouldn't refuse a cultivator at the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage.

The next morning.

Han Jue finally found the entrance to the Jade Purity Sect.

The Jade Purity Sect was located in a valley between mountains, shrouded in mist. Two huge stone statues resembling qilins stood at the entrance.

"Stop, show your sect token."

A Jade Purity Sect disciple raised his sword and said.

Four disciples were guarding the entrance to the valley, all at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage.

Han Jue turned off his concealment and bowed, "I am Han Jue, an independent cultivator at the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage. I wish to join the Jade Purity Sect. Is there a way?"

Ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage!

The four disciples' attitudes instantly changed.

The sword-wielding disciple said something to the disciple beside him, who quickly left.

"Wait a moment, I'll have someone notify the outer sect supervisor," the sword-wielding disciple said.

Han Jue thanked him.

Inside the Jade Purity Sect, no one except Old Iron knew his name. Old Iron hadn't returned and was likely dead, so Han Jue wasn't worried about his identity being exposed.

Besides, he had never done anything to harm the Jade Purity Sect, so he had a clear conscience.