Fairy, don't be afraid, I, Wang Daqi, am truly an honest man.

Next, the so-called identification was nothing more than a formality.

Wang Daqi truthfully recounted the various strange occurrences that had taken place in the mine in the preceding days.

After learning how the managers knew but didn't report it, Zhou Cheng and the others didn't even have the strength to beg for mercy.

"Hmph, a black sheep, take him away and punish him severely according to sect rules!!!"

Xu Huaiyan waved away the criminals, then his gaze fell on Wang Daqi, his tone unusually gentle:

"Wang Daqi, you remained calm and composed during the recent turmoil in the mine, and you have rendered meritorious service in rescuing your fellow disciples. After review by the Enforcement Hall, you are hereby awarded a third-class merit."

He paused, then with a flick of his sleeve, a black cloth bag fell into Wang Daqi's hands.

"A reward of twenty spirit stones and two bottles of spirit-nurturing pills. Also…"

Xu Huaiyan gave him a deep look, "The sect has made an exception and allowed you to enter the 'Martial Arts Pavilion' to exchange for a single Earth-rank technique!!!!"

Earth-rank spell!!

In the world of cultivation, techniques are divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.

Ordinary Qi Refining disciples can only come into contact with the highest level of Xuan rank on a daily basis.

Earth-rank techniques are often considered treasures that only inner disciples or even direct disciples are qualified to learn.

Wang Daqi felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that twenty spirit stones and pills were just a drop in the ocean.

The real benefit is the qualification to exchange for that "Earth-Rank Technique"!

After all, a low-level Earth-rank spell is worth hundreds of spirit stones!

What Wang Daqi didn't know was that there wasn't originally a reward for Earth-rank spells.

Xu Huaiyan was only doing this out of respect for Nangong Ling, and he readily offered her such a huge benefit.

"Thank you, Elder!" Wang Daqi bowed respectfully.

After leaving the Hall of Law Enforcement, Wang Daqi first returned to Qingfeng Garden.

After learning of his return, many of his familiar disciples came to visit him.

After working for most of the hour, Wang Daqi finally saw them off.

Wang Daqi closed the door tightly, checked the surroundings, and then mysteriously pulled out the heavy black reward bag from his pocket.

With a crash, the items scattered across the table.

Twenty crystal-clear spirit stones and two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills emitting a faint fragrance.

And a completely black token that was neither gold nor wood.

"So many rewards???"

Xu Yan sat to the side, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter, even happier than if she had received a treasure herself.

"Well, we were lucky this time."

Wang Daqi carefully put away the token, then pushed the spirit stones and pills inside in front of Xu Yan, saying, "Each of us will have a bottle of Spirit Nourishing Pills, and you can take ten spirit stones. We'll split them equally."

"Great talent? This won't do!!!"

Xu Yan was stunned for a moment, then quickly stuffed the spirit stones back into her hands, shaking her head repeatedly, "This is the reward you earned with your life, how can I take so many? I'll just take this bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills. As for the spirit stones for household use, I haven't even finished the ones you gave me last time, how can I use so many?"

Seeing Xu Yan's resolute attitude, Wang Daqi felt a warmth in his heart.

In this treacherous world of cultivation, it is truly a blessing to have a woman who saves money for herself and is not greedy for personal gain, guarding the home.

He didn't refuse too much, and readily took back the spirit stones, nodding and saying, "Alright, I'll leave the things with you for now. Anyway, it's still early, I plan to go to the Martial Arts Pavilion to exchange for that technique. Earth-rank techniques are no small matter, choosing the wrong one would be a waste of an opportunity."

Xu Yan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suggested, "We really don't understand these profound techniques, but Senior Sister Shen Ruyan is, after all, a prodigy of the inner sect and comes from a prestigious cultivation family, so her knowledge is much broader than ours. Why don't you ask her for guidance? We've come back safely, so we should tell her so she won't worry."

Wang Daqi thought to himself that Xu Yan was indeed thoughtful and knew how to get along with people.

Shen Ruyan had taken good care of him back then, and now that he's back, he should indeed say hello.

"Alright, let me see if she's there." Wang Daqi took out a communication talisman and infused it with a trace of spiritual power.

…………

…………

Meanwhile, inside the Cold Jade Palace.

A faint, cool fragrance lingered in the air as Shen Ruyan sat cross-legged on a futon, her brows slightly furrowed.

Opposite her, Nangong Ling, dressed in a red dress and exuding unparalleled elegance, was quietly watching her.

Shen Ruyan was asking about the operation of a spell, but for some reason, she felt somewhat distracted.

Ever since Wang Daqi left the sect for the mining area, Shen Ruyan has always felt empty inside.

Especially as time went on, her cultivation speed actually slowed down considerably.

In fact, what Shen Ruyan didn't know was that her current speed was actually quite average, not slow at all.

It's just that with Wang Daqi's help, the progress was more obvious.

"Your mind is not at peace, your breath is not flowing smoothly, like smoke; you are in a very bad state today."

Nangong Ling suddenly spoke, his voice like the clinking of jade stones, clear and cold yet tinged with a hint of majesty.

"Disciple knows her sins, please punish me, Master." Shen Ruyan's delicate body trembled slightly, and she quickly lowered her head.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I heard yesterday that something happened at the Xuanjin Mine, and many disciples died. I suddenly remembered that Junior Brother Wang also went there..."

"Huh? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Nangong Ling's gaze sharpened.

Just as Shen Ruyan was about to explain, the communication talisman at her waist suddenly lit up rapidly.

After taking a look, Shen Ruyan's expression brightened with joy.

"Master, it's Junior Brother Wang sending a message. He's alright and has already returned with the main force."

"Phew, that's good then." Nangong Ling actually felt a little jealous.

Thinking about it, now that the kid is back, why is he only contacting Shen Ruyan and not her?

"Master, Junior Brother Wang sent me a message."

Shen Ruyan immediately showed a shy yet overjoyed expression.

The spring-like allure in her eyes and brows was so palpable that even without close inspection, one could tell she was distracted and restless.

Seeing this, Nangong Ling helplessly rubbed his temples.

Why does my disciple, who usually seems so dignified and poised, become so absent-minded whenever Wang Daqi is mentioned?

This isn't about instructing on magic; it's clearly about getting carried away with lust and rushing off to indulge in debauchery.

Why don't they learn from their master and be a little more pure and virtuous?

"What do you want?"

Nangong Ling asked the question knowingly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sourness.

"Junior Brother Wang said that the sect has given him a great opportunity to exchange for a Rank 1 Earth technique. He doesn't know how to choose, so he came to ask for my opinion."

Shen Ruyan lowered her head, her voice barely audible, but her hand tightly gripped the communication talisman.

"Go away, go away, stop getting in the way."

Nangong Ling waved his sleeve, as if shooing away a little sparrow that was disturbing his peaceful dream.

Seeing Shen Ruyan happily running out of the main hall, lifting her skirt, Nangong Ling's dignified expression instantly crumbled.

Instead, there was a desolate loneliness.

She leaned against the cold jade seat, muttering to herself with a hint of resentment, "That brat, all he remembered to do after coming back was contact his senior sister, not a single word to junior sister Shen???"

As soon as he finished speaking, the specially made communication talisman in his arms suddenly trembled slightly and emitted a soft light.

Nangong Ling's heart skipped a beat, and he probed with his divine sense.

A line of small characters appeared on it: "Junior Sister Shen Younan, I am your Senior Brother Wang Daqi. I have returned safely from the mine and even performed a meritorious service. I will come to see you in a couple of days when I have some free time. Don't worry about me."

"Pfft!!!!"

Nangong Ling's previously tense face instantly melted away like ice and snow, blossoming into a bright smile like that of a young girl in love.

She held the communication talisman with delight, even straightening her clothes before suppressing her excitement and rapidly typing a message to Wang Daqi.

…………

…………

…………

Inside Qingfeng Garden, Wang Daqi received a reply from Shen Ruyan inviting him to her cave for a chat.

The sun was shining brightly at that moment.

Since most of the outer disciples were out taking on missions and accumulating contribution points during the day, the mountainside where Shen Ruyan's cave was located was exceptionally quiet and deserted.

"You're going to see Senior Sister Shen Ruyan again???"

Seeing Wang Daqi put away the talisman, Xu Yan couldn't help but pout, her tone filled with a strong hint of jealousy, "Daqi, I think Senior Sister Ruyan asked you to come over, ostensibly to teach you how to choose a spell, but she's probably up to something else, wanting you to 'serve' her."

Wang Daqi chuckled and playfully flicked her nose: "What's wrong, Yanyan? Are you jealous???"

"Not really..."

Xu Yan nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, then let out a soft hum and whispered in his ear, "I'm just worried about you. That slut, Sister Ruyan, has been away from you for so many days, she's probably already itching for something. You'd better take care of yourself, don't let her drain you dry."

Wang Daqi shook his head speechlessly.

He figured it out.

Xu Yan was very generous to Jiang Xuerou, and even took the initiative to arrange for the three of them to sleep together.

But he always felt a strange jealousy towards Shen Ruyan.