After parting ways with Zhou Zhilán, Xie Zhaolin made a few changes to her plan. She no longer intended to disguise herself as a Hehuan Sect disciple to rob and kill.
Based on the intel Zhou Zhilán had given her, there were barely any Hehuan Sect disciples left outside. Most had either been captured or forced to join other sects. It was a pity she couldn't keep muddying the waters, but her goal was already achieved. She couldn't be bothered to keep playing pretend.
What nagged at her, though, was how Yu Xiaotang had completely vanished, as if she'd evaporated into thin air. All the major sects had sent out large search parties and even used tracking artifacts, but not even her shadow had been found.
"Looks like that Xi Tong really has some tricks," she thought.
To stay hidden under that kind of pursuit, Yu Xiaotang definitely wasn't relying on her own strength. She couldn't help but wonder what that woman's situation was now. Just what kind of life-saving methods had that mysterious Xi Tong given her?
At the same time, in a secluded valley elsewhere in the secret realm, Yu Xiaotang had just finished a bloody fight.
"Shhh—"
Her longsword slid free from the chest of the last cultivator, beads of blood flying. With a flick of her wrist, she shook the blade clean in one smooth motion. If anyone who knew her saw this, they'd be utterly stunned.
Rumors outside said the Hehuan Sect's young sect master only cultivated support techniques, her combat power nothing special. But right now, Yu Xiaotang's swordplay was sharp and ruthless, every strike fatal.
Five corpses lay on the ground, each killed in a single blow, clean and merciless. There wasn't a trace of support techniques to be found. No one would believe she was the one who'd done it.
"System, tally the loot." She spoke silently in her mind, at the same time swiftly stripping the storage bags from the corpses.
[Calculating… Acquired low-grade spirit stones x153, low-rank artifacts x5, common pills x23, low-rank talismans x15…]
[Total value: 36 points.]
She frowned. "Only 36 points? These trash really died poor."
[Exchange?]
"Exchange." She didn't hesitate.
She had no use for this garbage. Carrying it around only risked exposing her. Points were what she truly needed. The system had powerful functions, but everything had to be exchanged with points.
[Exchange complete. Current points: 214.]
She kicked one of the corpses in frustration. "Useless. I risk my life and this is all I get?"
Lifting her head, she stared at the sky, her eyes flashing with helplessness.
By now, the rumors of Hehuan Sect disciples running wild with robberies were spreading like wildfire. As young sect master, she was the biggest target. Every major sect was hunting her. But since she'd already been forced into this role, not making use of it would be a waste. Her reputation was already ruined anyway, so she might as well profit from it.
In the past, she'd never do something like this. She'd always cared about reputation and favorability. Robbing and killing was nothing but self-destruction.
But now…
Her gaze hardened.
Since she'd already been pushed into this pit, she had nothing left to hold back. By her sword, no less than a dozen had already fallen. A ruined name could be rebuilt, a low favorability could be restored. But pills and artifacts in her hand, that was real strength.
When you're weak, everything is fake. Only when you're strong do you show your true colors.
Love, ties, systems—those were just temporary crutches. The real Dao had to be carved out by her own sword, one bloody step at a time. She felt the spiritual power surging inside her. She was just a step away from late-stage Foundation Establishment, a breakthrough inevitable. Once she returned to the sect, with her current resources, forming her Core was only a matter of time.
This Nine Heavens Qingyun Road, she would tread to the very peak step by step.
Having sorted her thoughts, she asked in her mind, "Any lone cultivators nearby?"
[Scanning the surroundings will cost 10 points. Confirm?]
Her brows furrowed. "Even scanning costs points now? That used to be free!"
[System operations require energy.]
Cold light flickered in her eyes. She knew this system too well. It had always demanded points, yes, but never so stingily. Environmental scans were always free.
"Heh…" She sneered. "So this is punishment?"
The system didn't answer. Its silence was enough.
Her grip on the sword tightened until her knuckles turned white. Of course she understood. Ever since the Purple Cloud Ginseng debacle, her favorability with Yuan Yingqi had plummeted. From then on, the system's attitude toward her had shifted.
The demands for points were harsher, restrictions greater. Now even the simplest scan was charged. This was nothing but its way of expressing displeasure.
But she also knew how it worked. Their relationship was one of mutual use. The system needed her to grow stronger to harvest more energy. She needed it to speed up her cultivation. This punishment wouldn't last forever.
Most importantly…
She didn't have the power yet to turn against it.
"Confirm scan." She closed her eyes briefly. When they opened again, her voice was steady.
[Scanning… 10 points consumed. Current points: 204.]
[Three kilometers northeast, a group of three disciples. Strongest at early Foundation Establishment.]
Her figure blurred as she shot off northeast.
Less than the time of one incense stick later, three corpses bled out into the grass.
"Tally." She flicked the blood from her sword, her voice cold.
[Calculating… Acquired mid-grade spirit stones x29, mid-rank artifacts x2, common pills x5, mid-rank talismans x8…]
[Total value: 86 points.]
A mocking smile tugged at her lips. "Now you're being generous."
[Exchange?]
"Exchange."
[Exchange complete. Current points: 290.]
Her points rose, but there wasn't the slightest joy in her heart. She knew perfectly well this was the system feeding her a sweet taste, to push her into working harder for it.
"Just wait…" Her eyes shone with icy resolve. "Once I break through to Divine Transformation, the first thing I'll do is deal with you, you damn system."
The thought blazed across her mind, then she buried it deep into her sea of consciousness. She knew how terrifying the system was. It could sense her emotions and even skim the surface of her thoughts. But she'd long mastered the art of burying her true intent deep, cloaked beneath layers of distraction. On the surface, her thoughts still revolved around gaining points and growing stronger, as if she'd accepted everything.
[Emotional fluctuation detected. Activate mood regulation? Costs 5 points.]
She sneered inwardly, her face calm. "No need. Just remembered something unpleasant."
She deliberately let her anger over the lost favorability linger in her mind, letting the system believe that was the cause of her emotional spike.
Meanwhile, that dangerous thought was buried deeper than ever, sealed away as if it had never existed at all…