As Li Shuntian finished his oath, a clump of essence blood flared with light, reaching a brilliant peak before rapidly dimming and shooting into his brow. It vanished instantly, cementing the bond.
Lin Haoming watched the process, noting Li's slightly pale face. He felt a grudging respect for the man; Li was decisive and knew when to fold. Had he not misread the political winds years ago and offended so many people, he likely wouldn't be a butcher today. Conversely, if Li hadn't sworn the vow, Lin wouldn't have dared keep someone so capable and ruthless by his side.
Now that the vow was in place, Lin's demeanor shifted to friendly approval. "Junior Brother Li, I am very satisfied with your sincerity. Here, take this little toy."
Lin slapped his storage bag, and a black iron sphere the size of a man's fist flew toward Li.
"This... a Mid-Grade Magic Tool!" Li gasped. Even a poor-quality mid-grade tool cost a hundred spirit stones. To have it tossed to him so casually was a display of wealth he couldn't fathom.
"It's a Mystic Iron Sphere, a tool from the Buddhist Vajra Temple that I acquired by chance," Lin said, adopting a superior tone. "Your cultivation isn't very high, so use this for now. Work hard for me, and there will be more rewards."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lin!" Li cradled the tool, a genuine flash of joy in his eyes.
As he gave thanks, Lin felt a small pulse from his Merit Bead. It wasn't enough for a full Small Merit, but it proved Li felt actual gratitude. Lin mused that the carrot and stick approach—though unplanned—had worked perfectly.
---
Destination: The Mortal Realm
After refining the sphere, Li Shuntian asked curiously, "Senior Brother, what exactly do you need me to do?"
"I told you," Lin replied. "We're going to your home country."
"Southern Liang?" Li was stunned. "Why go to a mortal kingdom? Is Senior Brother practicing a technique that... requires living sacrifices?"
Lin didn't bother to explain. He drew his Sub-Mother Sword and flew toward the Second Level entrance. Li followed, riding his iron sphere. Though wobbling on a ball looked ridiculous, the thrill of his first flight dampened much of his lingering resentment.
Lin used his high-level token to bypass the guards at the Second Level. Seeing the ease with which Lin moved through restricted areas, Li Shuntian's respect grew. Following a powerful figure was, at the very least, a form of security.
They soon arrived at the Teleportation Hall. Since the Red Leaf Mountain array was currently disabled, Lin led Li to the array marked for Southern Liang.
The Blood Refining Sect controlled vast territories. While they were based in the Cheyun Kingdom, they held sway over many smaller mortal nations. Southern Liang was one such small country—though small still meant millions of square kilometers. The sect stationed low-level disciples in these lands to scout for children with spiritual roots.
Lin tossed several spirit stones to the hall disciples, who professionally slotted them into the array.
---
Arrival
With a flash of white light, the two disappeared.
When the dizziness faded, they found themselves in a room with four plain brick walls illuminated by dim oil lamps.
Am I really back in Southern Liang? Li Shuntian found it hard to believe. Just hours ago, he had been a butcher in the Stupa Grotto.
A section of the brick wall vibrated and slid aside, revealing a secret door. A white-haired elder appeared, bowing deeply. "Yue Haixia greets the two Senior Brothers."
The elder was a cultivator, but his aura was weak—only the 6th level of Qi Refining. At his age, his path was clearly at its end. Lin knew that many outer disciples who lost hope of reaching the inner sect would save up some funds and retire to the mortal world to live in luxury.
In the mortal realm, spiritual energy was thin and chaotic, making it unsuitable for cultivation. No one with ambition came here. For a country like Southern Liang, the sect didn't even bother sending a Foundation Establishment cultivator; the overseer was usually just a late-stage Qi Refining inner disciple—often someone being punished or with nowhere else to go.
"Is this Southern Liang?" Lin asked.
"It is," Yue Haixia replied respectfully.
Li Shuntian let out a long sigh. After years of exile, he was finally home.