C9 He Could also Make Some Unexpected Gains While He Was in Seclusion in the Back Mountain

Sect Master Yang was utterly taken aback by Su Ping'an's defiant stance; he hadn't seen it coming at all.

As he regarded the thorn in his side before him, Yang's frustration was palpable, but then an idea struck him.

This kid was brimming with hostility, and there was a perfect place to temper it.

With a stern face, he addressed Su Ping'an succinctly.

"You've disrespected the elders, and today, you must face the consequences. Otherwise, what becomes of our sect's honor?"

Sect Master's seriousness caught Su Ping'an off guard; it was an unexpected turn of events.

Elder Chen, on the other hand, was quite pleased, yet he couldn't hide his eagerness for retribution.

"Boy, you're going to pay dearly for your insolence to the sect's elders, even if it doesn't kill you!"

Elder Chen's over-the-top reaction prompted Sect Master Yang to cough pointedly, signaling him to dial it back.

With Elder Chen silenced, Yang began to lecture Su Ping'an, his words dripping with virtue.

"Though you're spared from death, you cannot escape punishment. You are to spend a month in solitary reflection on the back mountain as a warning to others."

Elder Chen was livid, unable to believe the leniency of the punishment, and he began to protest.

"Sect Master, this simply won't do! Such a light punishment won't serve as a deterrent," he argued, shooting Su Ping'an a fierce look that promised severe consequences.

But Sect Master Yang remained unmoved, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand.

After all, Su Ping'an's formidable strength could prove useful in the future; it wasn't wise to burn bridges just yet.

For a fleeting moment, Su Ping'an considered fleeing the sect, confident in his ability to thrive anywhere. But before the thought could fully form, the system's voice chimed in.

"Alert: The martial world is fraught with danger. You must reach the Other Shore Stage to ensure your safety. You cannot leave the sect at this time."

He never expected to still be shackled by the system, but his reluctance to accept it spurred him to initiate a conversation with it in his mind.

"What happens if I just bolt from the sect? I refuse to accept this nonsense."

[Beep. If the host defies the system's will, the system will be forcibly terminated.]

Su Ping'an was taken aback by the severity of the consequences and quickly quashed the rebellious thought.

After all, the system had a wealth of untapped resources awaiting him, and its past assistance had been invaluable. It wasn't worth risking everything for a moment of defiance.

Resigned to his fate, he made his way to the mountain's rear. Su Ping'an was unfazed; he saw it as an excellent opportunity to solidify his cultivation level.

Upon reaching the mountain's backside, fortune smiled on him as he stumbled upon a cave, sparing him from the harsh elements.

He aimlessly surveyed the cave, noting the moss-covered rocks and steep terrain. Just as he settled into a meditative posture, the system's voice interrupted his tranquility.

[Beep. You have discovered the Elite Wounds Sect's Medicine King's ancient tome, a text that merges ancient pill refining techniques. You must demonstrate extraordinary pill refining prowess within the Elite Wounds Sect.]

Then, silence. The system went quiet as if it had crashed, leaving Su Ping'an to wonder if it was all a ruse and if there was even a reward.

[Beep. Completion of the mission rewards you with the Ten Thousand Year Soul Returning Grass, capable of concocting the One Breath Soul Returning Pill.]

He hadn't anticipated the system's deceitful nature. Had he not inquired, the reward might have been surreptitiously consumed by the system itself.

Driven by urgency, Su Ping'an frantically began his search. There was no time to waste; he needed to find the scripture to progress with his tasks.

But despite his efforts, he turned the cave inside out and found nothing—not a single strand of hair, much less the scripture.

In that moment, Su Ping'an was engulfed in disappointment, suspecting the system was nothing but a trap, and the scripture didn't exist.

Overcome with frustration, he lashed out at a stone with a fierce kick, only to hear a "crack" as it struck something unexpected.

Driven by curiosity, he made his way to the spot where the stone had landed and began a diligent search. Tucked behind a wall overgrown with wild grass, he stumbled upon a stunning skeleton, its bones as white as mutton fat jade.

Su Ping'an's eyes opened wide in amazement. He hadn't anticipated encountering such a remarkable skeleton, which suggested the person's previous realm must have been quite advanced.

Could this be the Medicine King the system had mentioned? Although desecrating a corpse was taboo, Su Ping'an had no time for such concerns now.

He approached and searched meticulously, yet found nothing. Had someone really spent their entire life hidden in the mountain's shadow?

A shiver of dread crept over Su Ping'an. The level of wrongdoing necessary to end up like this must have been immense—perhaps even to the extent of abducting the former sect master's wife.

With a heavy heart, Su Ping'an walked away, abandoning all hope. After all, what's meant to be will be, and what's not can't be forced.

But no sooner had Su Ping'an taken a couple of steps than a thunderous crash echoed behind him. The skeleton had collapsed into a heap of bones.

Startled, Su Ping'an hurried back to investigate and discovered a gleaming golden light emanating from within the milky-white bones.

His eyes sparkled with anticipation; it seemed there might be an unexpected windfall after all. He returned to the scattered remains and sifted through them with care.

Among the bones lay a golden waist tag, engraved with four bold characters: "Medicine King is here!"

Was this person a figure of great importance? As Su Ping'an's search continued, he indeed found a book resembling cowhide among the bones—the Medicine King Scripture he had been desperately seeking.

With reverence, Su Ping'an gently opened the tome. The first chapter read:

"Whoever finds my scriptures is destined to be connected to me. I hope you will aid the Medicine Sect in their time of dire need. For this, I offer my gratitude."

The scripture's characters, brimming with a fierce aura, unleashed a formidable pressure that filled Su Ping'an with even greater respect.

He marveled at the power of the written word, realizing that the author's strength must have been close to ascending to the Immortal Realm.

As Su Ping'an was lost in thought, a sudden beam of golden light pierced the sky, snapping him out of his reverie.

[Beep. The Medicine King Scripture has been located. Integration will now commence.]

The abrupt announcement from the system gave Su Ping'an quite the start.

Before his eyes, the Medicine King Scripture and the Ancient Alchemy techniques began to radiate golden light as they merged, leaving Su Ping'an in awe at the spectacle.