As soon as Su Yu returned to his courtyard, Fifth Elder Su Bin sent someone to summon him. After some consideration, Su Yu followed the messenger to the Scripture Pavilion, where Su Bin was leisurely perusing ancient texts.
Upon seeing Su Yu, Su Bin put down the book in his hand and looked at him. After a moment of scrutiny, he clicked his tongue in admiration and said, "Well done, kid. It was you who took down Lin Xiu from the Lin Family yesterday, wasn't it?"
The incident had happened on the street, and many people had seen Su Yu.
While the Lin Family didn't know who Su Yu was, a simple investigation by the Su Family would reveal his identity.
Su Yu pondered for a moment before nodding, "It was me, but I didn't strike first. I was just passing by when he suddenly attacked me with a Mystical Art—a water serpent. I had no choice but to defend myself."
Su Bin snorted, looking at Su Yu with disdain, "Don't play dumb. You 'defended yourself' by turning him into mincemeat in an instant."
Su Yu was speechless. He had only thrown one punch.
It was just that the other guy's body was too weak.
Before Su Yu could respond, Su Bin waved his hand dismissively and pulled out a pouch from his robe. "Enough of that. How you killed him doesn't matter. What's important is that you took out a cultivator from the Lin Family, and not just any cultivator—he was the grandson of the Lin Family's Fourth Elder."
"That's commendable. Here, take this. It's a Qiankun Bag. Though it's only a low-grade magical artifact, it'll do for now. Inside, there are also thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones as a reward from the family."
"Remember this: the next time you encounter a Lin Family cultivator, even if they don't attack, you should beat the hell out of them."
"And if they do attack, kill them if you can—though if you can't, make sure to run fast."
Su Yu didn't catch the rest of Su Bin's words. His eyes were fixed on the Qiankun Bag, shining with excitement.
He could actually get a reward for this?
He quickly took the Qiankun Bag and thanked him with a grin, "Thank you, Fifth Grandfather, and thank you to the family head and all the elders."
Su Bin waved his hand again, "If there's nothing else, get out of here."
Su Yu shrugged and took his leave.
As he watched Su Yu's retreating figure, Su Bin fell into deep thought, murmuring to himself, "Still at the second layer of Qi Refining Realm... Could it be that he's practicing a Body Refinement Art?"
At this thought, Su Bin's expression turned to one of surprise, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
"Could it be... that Body Refinement Art?"
If it really was—
Su Bin's eyes grew even more delighted as he watched Su Yu's figure disappear into the distance. His gaze deepened, and he sighed with a hint of admiration, "This kid, he's really hiding his true depth."
Back in his courtyard, Su Yu immediately claimed ownership of the Qiankun Bag and began refining it.
The space inside was about three cubic meters—small, but more than enough for his current needs.
He stored his accumulated Low-Grade Spirit Stones and the remaining Qi Refining Pills inside, along with some clothes and Low-Grade Spirit Rice.
"With this, traveling will be much more convenient," Su Yu thought to himself.
With the thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones from the reward, the fifteen he had obtained from killing Lin Xiu the day before, and the twenty-five remaining from the herb garden, he now had a total of seventy Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
"I can focus on cultivating for a while now."
While Su Yu was quietly cultivating, over at the Lin Family, Fourth Elder Lin Hai had also uncovered his identity.
"Su Yu? A little bastard dares to kill my grandson? I'll make sure he dies!" Lin Hai growled in a low, furious voice.
Three days later.
The Su Family's eldest daughter, Su Zhi, returned from the Cloud Sword Sect. Family Head Su Peng held a grand family banquet to welcome her back, and the atmosphere was lively and festive.
Two more days passed, and under a pavilion in Su Zhi's courtyard, Su Zhi, Su Yu, and Su Qingyi gathered together.
Su Qingyi couldn't help but size up Su Yu and said, "I really didn't expect it to be you who killed that Lin Xiu."
Su Yu shook his head and replied, "I had just returned to Jiangcheng, and without saying a word, he attacked me. I had no choice but to fight back." Su Qingyi, puzzled, asked, "Wasn't he at the third level of Qi Refining? How did you manage to kill him?"
Su Zhi smiled faintly at Su Yu, as she knew some inside information.
After a moment of contemplation, Su Yu said, "I've also been practicing the Body Refinement Art."
Su Qingyi's pupils contracted slightly, and a look of realization crossed his face as he murmured, "The Body Refinement Art? So that's how it is."
He no longer looked down on Su Yu and spoke to him with much more respect and enthusiasm.
As for Su Zhi, Su Qingyi's tone remained as respectful as ever.
This was because Su Zhi's cultivation had reached the fifth level of Qi Refining upon her return.
Su Zhi shared some secrets about the Cloud Sword Sect, saying, "Do you remember Gongsun Yi, who ranked first in the previous disciple entrance examination?"
"He has an Earth Spirit Root talent, and I heard his cultivation has reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. He was even taken in as a disciple by the sect leader."
Su Zhi then went on to talk about the general situation of the other disciples. Not all of the thirty disciples who entered that year had progressed smoothly in their cultivation.
According to Su Zhi, eleven of them were still stuck at the third level of Qi Refining.
From this perspective, Su Yu and Su Qingyi, who were eliminated back then, might actually be stronger than some of them.
Su Zhi looked at Su Yu and Su Qingyi and said, "In three years, I plan to try for the inner disciple qualification. At that time, I might need your help."
Before Su Yu could respond, Su Qingyi quickly said, "No problem, sister. Just let me know when the time comes, and I'll definitely help if I can."
Su Yu had no choice but to agree as well. The process of becoming an inner disciple in the Cloud Sword Sect was likely not simple.
But as a fellow clansman, he couldn't refuse.
Later, Su Yu asked about the market towns under the Cloud Sword Sect and the blood essence of late-stage first-tier demon beasts.
Su Zhi said, "The market towns are much more prosperous than Jiangcheng, with most of the people being cultivators. There, you can find everything from pills and talismans to magical tools and formations."
"If you get the chance, both of you should apply to go to Yunshan Market. There, you should be able to obtain more resources and opportunities."
"As for the blood essence of late-stage first-tier demon beasts, it's not hard to find in the market, but it's not cheap either. A single drop costs two or three low-grade spirit stones."
After chatting for a long time, Su Yu and Su Qingyi left with different thoughts in their minds.
Su Qingyi, having heard about the prosperity of Yunshan Market, was clearly more ambitious and determined to become an alchemy apprentice and go there.
Su Yu also wanted to visit Yunshan Market, not to settle there, but to purchase some resources.
A round trip of a week would be enough.
But he was still hesitating about whether to go or not.
After all, the journey was long and quite risky.
After staying in the mansion for half a month, Su Yu spent a day persuading the fifth elder, Su Bin, to take him to the medicinal garden.
The Lin Family cultivators who were watching Su Yu could only flee in frustration, gnashing their teeth in anger.
This guy is really afraid of death, damn it.
Upon returning to the herb garden, Su Yu resumed his daily routine. Each day, apart from cultivating the Phoenix Tree Azure Wood Art, practicing the Body Refinement Art, and honing his Mystical Arts, he followed Su Changyu to learn about the cultivation and growth habits of Spirit Herbs.
In his spare time, he would hunt a few Earth Rock Rat demon beasts.
He used the Demon Beast Blood Essence to enhance his Body Refinement Art.
However, outside the garden, the friction between the Lin Family and the Su Family grew increasingly intense, with members of the Lin Family frequently appearing near the herb garden.
Under such circumstances, Su Yu spent another year in the herb garden.