Family Turmoil Chapter 8: Monthly Ritual
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Suppressing his excitement, Chu Xing cautiously stepped forward. He discovered that at the root of the half-withered Blue Vein Grass hung several plump, deep blue fruits, each about the size of a fingernail. They were clearly long ripe but had not fallen because they lacked the nourishment of spiritual energy.
This was the true essence!
Without a moment’s hesitation, Chu Xing carefully picked all the blue fruits and held them tightly in his palm.
Hum!
At that moment, the stone bead in his dantian emitted an unprecedented fiery yearning, like a dormant beast scenting blood.
Before Chu Xing could even consciously activate it, an invisible suction force suddenly burst forth!
The blue fruits in his hand shriveled rapidly, visible to the naked eye. A stream of energy far purer and more concentrated than any he had absorbed before transformed into a brilliant flow of light, rushing wildly into his body through his palm!
If the previous energies were but a trickling stream, this surge was a raging river breaking its banks!
The firm bottleneck in his cultivation realm shattered like paper before this overwhelming force.
Boom!
A muffled sound echoed within his body as the bottleneck shattered in response!
A stronger, more condensed power spread throughout his limbs; the vortex of spiritual energy in his dantian abruptly expanded, becoming denser yet more agile.
Body Refinement Realm, Sixth Stage!
Chu Xing’s eyes snapped open, a gleam of sharp light flashing through them. He took a deep breath, feeling the surging power within, his joy almost overflowing.
Just a few fruits had propelled him through a breakthrough on the spot!
He exhaled a thick breath, preparing to savor the changes brought by this breakthrough, but immediately sensed something amiss.
How could such a treasure appear in a place like this?
Even a withered Blue Vein Grass would be reclaimed by the alchemy hall, never discarded in such a forsaken spot!
Suddenly calm, he suppressed his ecstatic joy, a chill rising from his feet.
Where there is abnormality, there must be something sinister!
This Blue Vein Grass was like bait, left here with an indescribable eeriness.
Chu Xing’s gaze sharpened; instead of touching the grass, he followed its fallen direction to carefully observe the surrounding environment.
Soon, on the stone wall behind him, he noticed an anomaly.
Behind a thick cluster of vines, the color appeared darker than elsewhere.
Intrigued, Chu Xing stepped forward and gently pushed aside the vines with an iron shovel.
A dark, black hole quietly revealed itself.
A scent several times purer than the outside air, mingled with the fragrance of earth, surged out from the entrance!
A thought flashed through Chu Xing’s mind like lightning.
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Someone had discovered this hidden sanctuary and tried to secretly transplant the Blue Vein Grass from the Spirit Herb Garden here to cultivate it privately. But for some unknown reason, they failed; the grass withered and died, and in anger, that person tossed the grass at the cave entrance!
Who could it be?
The steward senior brother? But he was just an ordinary inner sect disciple. Though he might have such a crooked heart, he probably lacked the courage to tamper with the Spirit Herb Garden under direct control of the alchemy hall.
Whoever did this must possess strength and status far beyond the steward senior brother—enough to make even the steward turn a blind eye.
The image of the steward senior brother’s expressionless face and his first words to Chu Xing flashed through his mind:
“Remember, don’t go where you shouldn’t, don’t look at what you shouldn’t.”
So that was no mere platitude—it was a warning!
A chill ran down Chu Xing’s spine; cold sweat instantly broke out.
But then, an even wilder excitement surged from his heart, overwhelming all fear.
Afraid? Afraid of what!
Since the original owner of this secret cave had failed once, they wouldn’t return anytime soon. This interval was his chance!
No matter who it was, since he had stumbled upon it, it belonged to him now!
Thrilled, Chu Xing grinned broadly, his face now devoid of fear, replaced by the reckless zeal of a gambler.
Without hesitation, he entered the cave.
Inside was another world.
A fresh herbal fragrance greeted him. A spring no larger than half a foot square gushed out water filled with spiritual energy. Nearby was a small patch of fertile black soil, carefully cultivated.
“I’ve hit the jackpot… this time it’s really my lucky day!”
Looking at everything before him, Chu Xing’s joy burst forth uncontrollably, a low laugh escaping his lips.
His laughter echoed through the small cave, tinged with an uncontrollable madness.
Carefully, he transplanted the half-dead Blue Vein Grass along with its seeds into the black soil. Then he took out the tattered cloth bag from his bosom and planted the dozen or so precious seeds he had painstakingly revived.
After finishing, Chu Xing watered each seed with the spring water, watching as new life blossomed in the fertile soil, filling him with unprecedented satisfaction.
Finally, he stepped back and expertly camouflaged the cave entrance with moss and vines, making it seamless.
From outside, no one would suspect that behind this tangled cluster of rocks and vines lay a secret garden that could make a powerful sect elder furious.
And Chu Xing was now the new master of this garden.
Having perfectly concealed the entrance, he dusted off the dirt from his hands and let out a long breath.
Having completed this top priority task, he suddenly remembered: today was the day the sect distributed monthly allowances to outer disciples.
He had almost forgotten amidst all the cultivation and research on spirit fruits these days.
Chu Xing tidied his clothes and double-checked the disguise at the cave entrance. Satisfied it wouldn’t be easily discovered, he set off toward the Steward Hall.
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Contribution Hall.
Chu Xing respectfully presented his identity token.
The old white-haired man barely raised his eyelids as he took the token and habitually swiped it over a jade stone on the counter.
“Beep.”
The number representing Chu Xing’s entire fortune—a five—began to flicker.
Soon, a new number settled on the token: thirty-four.
Chu Xing’s heart leapt with joy.
This month’s twenty points of monthly allowance, plus the nine points he had painstakingly earned in the Hundred Herb Valley in recent days, plus the five points he had left over, totaled exactly thirty-four points!
This was the largest fortune he had amassed in three years since joining the sect.
“Hm?”
The old white-haired man, who had been half asleep leaning on his chair, suddenly straightened up. His cloudy old eyes widened as he grabbed the token and brought it close, clicking his tongue in amazement.
“Kid, not bad! Is the sun rising from the west today?” The old man lifted his head, curiously appraising Chu Xing up and down.
Chu Xing chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. “Just lucky, took on a good job.”
“Really?”
The old man snorted and suddenly lowered his voice, speaking in a knowing tone: “Tell me the truth, did some inner sect junior sister with poor eyesight—or rather, keen insight—take a liking to you?”
Chu Xing’s face darkened as he coughed twice. “Old White, you’re overthinking.”
Seeing he couldn’t pry out any gossip, the old man quickly changed his tone. “Thirty-four points contribution, not bad at all. Want to exchange for some good stuff? I just got a batch of Dragon Tiger Pills here—they’ll make you howl at night! Since it’s your first time with so many points, I’ll give you a 1% discount!”
Chu Xing twitched at the corner of his eye, snatched back his token, and respectfully said, “Thanks, Old White. Next time, next time for sure!”
With that, he slipped out of the Contribution Hall as if escaping.
After walking far enough away, he glanced back toward the hall and muttered softly, “This old fellow looks so serious, yet so mischievous?”
Though he teased, the joy in Chu Xing’s heart was undiminished.
He slipped the token into his bosom; its warm texture brought him an unprecedented sense of security. Thirty-four points of contribution—the largest sum he had ever amassed in three years.
Walking along the path back to the courtyard, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on the ground.
Chu Xing pondered to himself.
The lowest-grade Body Refining Pill cost ten contribution points; thirty-four points could buy three. If he used them sparingly, it would be enough to firmly stabilize his sixth-stage Body Refinement.
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