**Chapter 116: Returning Home**
The Inner Sect was the backbone of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. Those who broke through to Foundation Establishment and Core Formation almost all emerged from this group.
Its greatest benefit was the qualification to independently apply to garrison a city after breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Just look at Eroding Heart City to understand the immense profits one could gain by monopolizing a city. Outer Sect members who reached Foundation Establishment lacked this qualification. Even opening a shop within the sect required permission from relevant superiors. Supervisor Xu and the Xu Family Pill Shop were prime examples of this.
Wang Yu's promotion to the Inner Sect was also the result of careful consideration, a decision to deepen his roots within the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. The benefits lay in the future.
After respectfully taking his leave, Wang Yu, in his brand-new attire, appeared in the plaza of the Various Halls District. Many fellow disciples cast envious glances his way.
The Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's nine peaks had over a hundred thousand Outer Sect disciples, but the Inner Sect numbered only around ten thousand. Being one level higher in status meant standing above those hundred thousand-plus cultivators.
It was completely different.
"I, Wang Yu, am now an Inner Sect disciple! And it's the year's end; today is the first day of my Inner Sect生涯 (career)!" A surge of pride welled up in his heart. However, as he left the Various Halls District, he didn't notice the additional, covert gaze watching him from the shadows.
Corpse Rest District, Standard Cave Dwelling.
Nearly two months had passed since his promotion to the Inner Sect. Wang Yu quickly adapted to his new status. Currently, he was using his Cold Flame to refine the first-tier, top-grade **[Spirit Beast Nurturing Pills]**, which could assist the Snow Jade Fox's growth. He placed considerable importance on this, so once the pill recipe was perfected, he immediately started alchemy.
The little fox had been eating its fill for months. Wang Yu rarely kept it in the spirit beast pouch anymore, often holding it in his arms to pet. Since he was taking the elite route, fostering a bond was necessary. After all, spontaneous protection and forced execution were two different concepts. The former was more efficient and effective!
His alchemy skills, long since mastered, made refining first-tier pills no longer a challenge. He was even fully confident in refining low second-tier pills. The only issue was that the **Frozen Serpent Alchemy Technique** was still incomplete, and he had no free placement slots to rectify that.
When the time was right, Wang Yu slapped the pill furnace. The moment the lid flew off, three vibrant, green pills, brimming with vitality, were revealed.
After the processes of extraction, fusion, pill formation, and nurturing, the final result was近乎 (near) perfect.
Instinctive Alchemy was just that domineering.
"Three top-grade pills. The limitations of the spirit herbs' potency restricted my performance. If the potency were several times richer, producing nine top-grade pills in a single batch wouldn't be impossible."
As he placed the top-grade Beast Nurturing Pills into a jade vial, the long-impatient Snow Jade Fox rushed out, chirping "Yoyo!" at Wang Yu, even jumping into his arms to expose its soft belly.
Wang Yu couldn't help but smile. Since the Snow Jade Fox came into his life, his nearly paralyzed facial features had been saved. Humans were, after all, social creatures; enduring prolonged isolation was difficult. Having a cute pet for companionship significantly reduced his chances of developing into a变态 (pervert/deviant). In this environment, maintaining mental and physical health was truly not easy.
"Here, have it. When you grow up, you'll be my mount."
With an "awoo," it swallowed the fragrant pill. Immediately, the Snow Jade Fox's eyelids grew heavy, and it fell asleep between one breath and the next. Wang Yu placed it in his pocket and continued alchemy.
He refined four batches in a row, ensuring the fox could consume them until pill resistance set in before stopping. By the time he finished this secluded session, over half a month had passed.
Tanai Chan, who had gone quiet since his promotion, finally sent news about the second matter.
It was settled. Wang Yu needed to report to the Cold Blood Peak stone house district within seven days. A new round of slave-catching teams was about to depart.
The consumption rate of spirit slaves was always high; very few survived over twenty years. He had never heard of anyone else, like him, rising from spirit slave to Outer Sect disciple. No wonder he always caused a stir; it was too rare, perhaps the only case in the last century.
The high consumption of spirit slaves also led to clearly defined territories for slave-catching among the nine peaks. Some peaks operated within the Scarlet Kite Demon Domain. This was precisely why Wang Yu insisted on joining Cold Blood Peak's team. To return to the Taihu Spiritual Domain, to return to Stone Lake City, he had to retrace his steps, following the Black Mountain Pass route.
After all these years, he wondered how his family was doing.
After packing his belongings and informing acquaintances that he was leaving on a mission, Wang Yu left the Ten Districts of Reverse Blood without looking back.
......
......
At the foot of Cold Blood Peak, in the remote stone house district.
It was particularly lively today, with three slave-catching teams heading to different locations.
When Wang Yu arrived, he saw many familiar faces.
For instance, the old cultivator who had personally "delivered" him back then, and Overseer Liu, now the sole prominent figure in the stone house district, who gave Wang Yu a friendly nod when he saw him.
Even Duan Ping—Fatty Duan—who had disappeared for a while, was here. He was no longer an overseer but had become a member of this slave-catching team.
Seventh level of Qi Refining... Wang Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. This was different from his cultivation level when they first met.
After Wei Zhong and Su Yulong fell, a small fry like Duan Ping had emerged unscathed. The authorities probably caught the main culprits, and as a minor figure, they likely spared him out of deference to the Xiangshan Duan Clan. But he was still stripped of his position and assigned to a slave-catching team. His aged appearance was starkly different from before. He had probably attempted Foundation Establishment using a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill (Reverse Blood Pill) and clearly failed; otherwise, he wouldn't be so listless, and his cultivation wouldn't have regressed.
When Duan Ping saw Wang Yu, he shuddered and retreated fearfully behind the team leader, "Old Man Ning."
Seeing this attitude, Wang Yu flashed him a grin.
His teeth, reflecting the sunlight, didn't appear warm but made his smile seem particularly chilling.
"You... what do you want to do..."
"Nothing much. Brother Duan seems afraid of me. Have you done something to feel guilty about?"
"No, no! Stay away from me! Old Man Ning... Ning—"
"Enough."
Old Man Ning grabbed Duan Ping from behind and pushed him towards Wang Yu, smiling.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, this journey to the Taihu Spiritual Domain is perilous. Accidents are common on the road. While still within the sect, it's best to make ample preparations."
"Thank you for the advice, Fellow Daoist Ning."
Wang Yu was somewhat surprised by his attitude. The implied meaning was: within the sect, give me face; once outside, deal with Duan Ping as you wish.
Also a shrewd one.
Duan Ping understood the subtext, his face instantly changing dramatically. "No! You can't do this! I treated you well before, you—"
But Old Man Ning didn't even glance at him.
"Everyone's here. Let's depart."
Over a dozen late-stage Qi Refining cultivators simultaneously summoned their flight artifacts, preparing to leave. Duan Ping refused to go, but Old Man Ning paid him no mind.
"Not going? Then wait here for the sect's execution order. The rest of you, move out!"
With that, he took the lead and soared into the air.
The others followed one by one. Soon after, the pale-faced Fatty Duan also caught up, though he kept a wide distance from Wang Yu. Faced with certain death either way, it was better to venture out and take his chances.
**(End of Chapter)**