The Undying Immortal System Chapter 432 – Life 111, Age 16, Martial Disciple 5

Upon our return to the Broken Spear Outpost, we went straight to the Sect Affairs Bureau and turned in the two missions that we had actually completed, a process that proved as tedious as it was macabre.

As the clerk drew each head from our sack one at a ti, stacking them neatly on his counter, we were forced to answer a long series of questions under truth stone to verify that these heads belonged to who we said they did. Once this was done, we then had to spend another ten minutes providing sworn statents about that final group of bandits and why we had decided not to pursue them.

When this debrief was finally over, the clerk warned us not to abandon any more missions in the near future, then awarded us 20 contribution points.

Taking these points up to the second floor of the Bureau, we purchased two guandaos for 10 contribution points each. When used for cultivation, these weapons would only be equivalent to High-Yellow qi filters, and the rate at which they could filter qi was only suitable for Martial Disciples. This was less than ideal, but they would allow us to continue walking forward.

After leaving the Bureau, I stopped at a nearby shop to buy five batches of herbs for Rank 1 Energy Expulsion Pills, along with the cheapest pill furnace available. Part of was hesitant to show off my alchemy skills too early, but I wasn’t willing to let this hesitation destroy my sect. We needed Perfect pills, and short of completing an inordinate number of missions, the only Bureau-Approved way to obtain them was to make them ourselves.

With everything we needed in hand, we returned to our suite, closed the doors, and entered another long period of seclusion.

Having only two decent guandaos available ant that only two of us could cultivate at once. However, with everyone only cultivating a few hours each day, this limitation didn’t cause any issues. We set up a simple rotation schedule, then fell into a steady rhythm of cultivating, sparring, and resting.

Since everyone now had experience cultivating weapon qi, I replaced our Low-Yellow technique with a slightly stronger Peak-Yellow version. The difference between these techniques was minor, only a few optimizations to the positioning of the qi vortices, but even these small improvents were enough to give us an edge over our competition.

Down in the training room, the effects of our new weapons and techniques were undeniable. No longer driven mad by opening a few acupoints, Kan and YuLong were able to let loose on one another while still remaining in full control of their emotions. With qi flowing freely through every movent, their clashes beca faster, heavier, and longer-lasting than anything they had managed with strength alone.

anwhile, in our suite’s common room, JiuLi and ng LuYao had begun experinting with using guandao qi to refine fabrics. I gave them a few basic tips to get them started, but after that, I left them to their own devices. I might have understood the principles involved in working with tals, but I could only speculate on how to refine organic fibers such as hemp. Better to let them discover their own thods before I clouded their thinking with ideas about how refining was supposed to work.

When not training, my teammates retreated to the Plane of Woody Earth for so much-needed rest. There, they spent ti with YuHua and helped the Bao Clan care for their gardens and groves. In that serene environnt, away from the weight of missions and the dangers of the Central Continent, the walls between my teammates began to fade. YuLong wasn’t the “Dragon Ancestor,” and ng LuYao wasn’t the “Reverend Elder of Light.” They were just five youths doing our best to survive, one day at a ti.

I, however, not being able to enter my own inner world, wasn’t able to join in this.

After a month and a half of steady effort, everyone had reached Peak Disciple, so we began taking on missions. We hunted low-level beasts, gathered wild herbs, and put down the occasional bandit group. We could have earned more points by splitting up, but that would have just been courting death, and with more than half a year left before the next Heaven’s Ascension Tournant, there was no need to rush.

With each mission we completed, our stock of contribution points grew, until we were finally able to afford better weapons—weapons that were capable of fully purifying any qi that passed through them. Unlike so of the moon spades that I had used, though, these weren’t just cultivation tools. They were true Rank 1 weapons that had been constructed to withstand the rigors of battle as well as to refine qi.

After buying five such weapons, one for each of us, we took Energy Expulsion Pills to reset our cultivation bases and start anew.

This round of cultivation was faster than ever before—in this life, at least. Having used exceptional weapons and a Peak-Yellow technique that everyone was already familiar with, our cultivation bases were nearly pristine. This, combined with our training and mories, put us near the very apex of what it ant to be a nine-star sect.

However, we were still missing one thing: soul-bonded weapons.

At Rank 1, the value of a soul bond was limited, but the value of a fully empowered refined weapon could not be understated. So, after using a few contribution points to purchase the proper herbs, I made an unpatterned Cicada Pill for each of us, and we used them to form simple bonds with the weapons that we had previously purchased.

Once this was done, we could have raced right back up to Peak Disciple, but I wanted to let my teammates experience one of the most important rites of passage in this domain: the Return to Simplicity. I, personally, hadn’t found too much value in this ritual, but with several months remaining before the end of the year, there was no harm in visiting Black Point City to let my teammates experience it for themselves.

Walking around the Broken Spear Outpost as re mortals was sowhat dangerous, but with a few dozen gold and a handful of contribution points, we were able to hire a Martial Master to escort us all the way to Black Point City. From there, after passing through the city’s gate, we were safe—from all but the city’s guards and Lord, of course.

As a normal, ordinary city, Black Point held far less potential for adventure than sowhere like the City of Selfless Courage. There were no independent boroughs and no warlords conquering villages. However, we did still pass a couple of inns serving questionable “at.” All in all, Black Point was nearly identical to what we had seen in Iron Spear. It had the sa worn streets and the sa weathered houses, with everything marked by the slow decay of ti and neglect.

That said, Black Point had far fewer people walking its streets, and those we passed moved quickly, keeping their heads down as they hurried wherever they were going. There were no bustling markets and no gangs of petty thieves watching from the alleys. The whole city felt on edge, as if waiting for the next shoe to drop.

After being exposed to this oppressive atmosphere for only a few minutes, ng LuYao forced herself to break the silence of our surroundings. “What’s wrong with this place?”

YuLong let out a soft chuckle. “That’s what I want to know. Should be interesting.”

As we continued walking, I kept my eyes open for any sign of danger—particularly from the guards—but nothing seed out of place. Our plan had been to find an inn first and settle in, but when we passed a surprisingly well-kept restaurant standing proud amid the city’s weariness, I decided to make a small detour.

“Let’s check this place out. Maybe we’ll overhear sothing that explains what’s going on.”

After receiving a nod from each of my teammates, I led them into the restaurant, only to stop short at the sight that greeted us. The interior was brightly lit and lavishly appointed, a clear sign of prosperity, yet not a single custor occupied the tables.

Before I could consider this situation further, a woman in a red-and-gold qipao glided toward us, her steps asured and precise as she studied the guandaos that were strapped across our backs. “Welco to the Crimson Lantern Pavilion. Would you like to dine in the main hall, or would you prefer sothing more private?”

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The silence of the empty restaurant pressed in around , making the fine decorations feel more trap than luxury. I glanced around at my team, uncertain whether we should actually stay here.

Kan, however, was not so reticent. “A private room!”

I shot him a look, but he didn’t even pretend to be embarrassed. He just shrugged, grinning as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “What? Sitting out here alone would feel creepy. At least in a private room, we won’t have all these empty chairs staring at us.”

ng LuYao and JiuLi seed to share my unease, but YuLong just patted Kan on the shoulder and looked at the hostess. “Exactly. A private room, please.”

“Which room would you prefer?” she asked, motioning to a balcony with five doors that overlooked the hall below. There was a touch of… anticipation in this question, but I wasn’t sure why. I couldn’t detect any deceit or ill intentions from the woman, but there was more to this question than simple courtesy.

“Our Hall of Radiant Phoenixes represents the pinnacle of luxury, with the finest cuisine and service the Crimson Lantern Pavilion can provide. There is, of course, a small surcharge for such accommodations, though the experience more than justifies the cost.”

With one look at YuLong and Kan, I knew that our choice was already made.

“Let’s go with the Hall of Radiant Phoenixes," I sighed.

Upon hearing this, the hostess was practically bouncing with excitent. “Excellent, right this way.”

She led us up the narrow staircase along the left wall and through the first door on the landing. Inside, the air slled faintly of sandalwood and wine. Gilded panels glead beneath lamplight, red silk hung from the rafters, and carved phoenix screens cast long, feathery shadows across the bright redwood table. Once we were seated, the hostess beckoned for an elderly musician to play his pipa before departing to arrange our al.

Allowing this soft music to fade into the background, I looked around at my teammates. “We can all agree that sothing is going on here, right?”

JiuLi and ng LuYao nodded, while Kan and YuLong just grinned.

“This is why you brought us here, isn’t it, Fang?” said YuLong, leaning back in his chair with an eager gleam in his eye. “Didn’t you say the point of this ‘Return’ was to have so fun and find a few fights where we’ve got to rely on nothing but our weapons? We might’ve just found the perfect place for that.”

A discordant note from the pipa broke the silence that followed YuLong’s words, and I could only shake my head. “Fine, but try not to die, alright?”

Once again, the old man’s fingers faltered, and a few notes went sour.

With this settled, we let our conversation ander into harmless pleasantries, nothing worth noting to any unseen listeners, and ti slipped by in the rhythm of poured tea and exchanged smiles. Nearly an hour later, the doors opened once more, and several waiters entered bearing platters of artfully arranged dishes. There were steaming bowls of rice, sliced vegetables arranged like petals, glazed fish that glead beneath lantern light, and several other things that I couldn’t put a na to.

After checking each dish for potential poisons and finding nothing amiss, I signaled for everyone to start eating. However, just as the first bite entered my mouth, the door to our room flew open with a resounding crash, and a powerfully built man clad in shining armor stepped inside, his gaze cold and accusing.

“This hall is reserved for Young Master Hei,” the man declared, his tone dripping with entitlent. “Have them moved sowhere more… suitable.”

The waiter who’d just delivered us a fresh pot of tea stumbled forward in a panic, bowing low before the armored man. “Forgive , sir, but—”

The man’s palm cracked against the waiter’s cheek. “How dare you question Master Hei! Move them out. Now!”

The waiter staggered, clutching his face as he bowed over and over. “Y-yes, sir! Right away!” He turned to us with a strained smile. “Honored guests, please forgive this inconvenience. The Hall of Flowing Jade is available. We can transfer your al imdiately.”

Kan pushed his chair back with a scrape, his eyes narrowing, but I gestured for him to sit.

“It’s not worth it,” I said evenly. “We’ll move.”

I rose to my feet, gave the man a polite bow, and placed a few gold coins in his palm. “Apologies for the misunderstanding. I didn’t realize that this room had been reserved. Please, consider this a token of goodwill.”

He grunted, then struck across the face. “Master Hei doesn’t take handouts from peasants. Get out.”

Despite his words, the coins disappeared into his sleeve only a heartbeat later.

My teammates’ expressions hardened, outrage flickering across their faces. Both YuLong and Kan looked a breath away from drawing their weapons, but I raised a hand before either could move. It was clear that this was a setup, and I wanted to see where it was going before we acted.

Outside, the quiet luxury of the private room gave way to the din of a now-packed dining hall. As we stepped into view, dozens of faces turned toward us, and whispers rippled through the crowd, followed by a few soft chuckles as eyes landed on the faint red mark across my cheek.

Ignoring this, I motioned for my team to follow, as the waiter led us to the next of the private halls. There, he once again laid out our dishes, before scurrying out as though the walls themselves might explode. We settled in and began to eat, but again, just as the first bite reached my mouth, the door burst open with a thunderous crash.

“The room has been reserved by Young Master Hong. Get out!”

Once more, I gave a quiet nod to my teammates, and we complied without protest.

The waiter led us first to the Hall of Golden Bamboo, then to the Hall of Crimson Peonies, and finally to the Hall of Quiet Lanterns. By the ti we were driven from the last room, the waiter was nearly in tears, bowing so low his voice trembled. “A-apologies, honored guests. If you’d permit it, I can prepare a table for you in the main hall, instead.”

I almost laughed. By this point, I had already pieced together what was happening. This wasn’t just a restaurant. It was a stage for Returnees to test themselves against one another, a place where strength determined standing. By claiming a private room and refusing every challenge, we had effectively slapped ourselves in the face. I was curious to see what they would do next.

Just as the waiter began leading us back to the staircase, the door to the Hall of Radiant Phoenixes swung open, and a young man in an ornate black hanfu stepped out, flanked by two burly guards. His gaze slid over our group before lingering on JiuLi and ng LuYao, his eyes gleaming with open, lecherous intent.

“The n can leave, but the ladies should stay. They need to repay for disturbing my al.”

YuLong placed a calming hand on Kan’s shoulder as I took out a handful of gold and gave this man a look of practiced innocence. “No need to trouble yourself. I can repay you right now.”

The young man licked his lips, eyes still fixed on JiuLi and ng LuYao. He didn’t even bother to look at as he motioned to his guards. “Take them away.”

As one of the guards took a heavy step forward, I fixed his Young Master with a level stare. “You intend to force them, then?”

He chuckled, low and dismissive. “Force? Call it that if you want. Either way, they now belong to . You can have them back once they’re done warming my bed.”

I looked over at YuLong. “Think that’s enough?”

He didn’t even bother replying. In a single motion, his guandao appeared in his grasp and cut through the air with a heavy crack. The guard to our right crumpled. A second strike followed an instant later, and the guard to our left joined him. Then, with a third and final swing, he brought “Young Master Hei” to his knees.

“You… you can’t do this to ,” the boy stamred, voice high with outrage. “My father is the Lord of Black Point. If you touch , he will—”

I drew my weapon and drove its haft into the child’s left forearm. There was the sickening snap of bone, followed by the boy’s sharp howl of pain.

“Have you ever done this before?” I asked, my voice calm and steady.

“You can’t—”

I slamd the haft of my weapon into his right arm, then kicked him to stop the screaming. “Well?”

“N… No.”

Behind Young Master Hei, YuLong held up a truth stone that had turned pitch black.

After giving him a mont to reset it, I looked back down at the Young Master. “Have you forced any other won into your bed?”

“No, I haven’t!”

The stone turned black, so YuLong was forced to reset it once again.

“More than once?”

“No, I—”

As soon as he started speaking, YuLong’s truth stone had already begun registering the lie.

I turned to Kan. “That’s all we needed.”

With a grim nod, Kan drew his weapon and swung in a single, fluid motion. The blade traced a crimson arc, and the Young Master’s head struck the floor before his body realized it was dead.

After stuffing this head into a sack, I looked at my teammates. “If that really was the Lord’s son, we should probably get out of here. I don’t feel like testing whether this Lord of Black Point is willing to follow proper procedures or not.”

When my group nodded in understanding, I led them straight into the Hall of Radiant Phoenixes, kicked out its current occupants, and laid down a simple privacy formation. Then, without wasting another second, I pulled them into my inner world and began subvocalizing.

“System, teleport back to our suite in the Broken Spear Outpost.”

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