Windy Cool Mountain was worthy of being a branch of the Ten-Pace Courtyard. Although the concentration of Spirit Energy was much lower than on Little Bamboo Peak, it was definitely a place that even first-rate sects would fight over.
Therefore, Li Yan and the others did not need the assistance of Spirit Stones for their daily cultivation here. But the places where Golden Core cultivators like Wei Zhongran lived had much denser Spirit Energy than Li Yan's Cave Residence.
Li Yan waited for a full two hours. When Wei Zhongran returned with a weary face, he just waved at Li Yan and walked towards the Cave Residence first.
Li Yan shook out his clothes and stood up, his expression as normal as ever as he followed, without a hint of impatience.
After entering the Cave Residence, Wei Zhongran plopped down in the seat of honor and first rubbed his forehead with his fingers.
The continuous days of great battle, coupled with nearly a day of formulating follow-up plans and arranging various affairs at Windy Cool Mountain, had left even a cultivator feeling a bit exhausted.
Seeing Li Yan come in, Wei Zhongran casually waved his hand, signaling Li Yan to sit down.
"I called you here today mainly because you completed your mission this time exceptionally well, so the higher-ups want to give you some rewards."
As he spoke, Wei Zhongran did not hesitate. With a flick of his sleeve, a Storage Pouch was tossed to him.
Hearing his master get straight to the point about rewards, Li Yan was a little surprised, but thinking about the tricks he had played right under the nose of a Nascent Soul demon general, he felt he deserved it.
It was just that when he accepted the mission, he had been scared out of his wits and had forgotten to mention conditions for a moment. It seemed his master was very thoughtful.
Li Yan couldn't help but feel a little frustrated that he hadn't taken the opportunity to propose conditions back then. His own mental fortitude still needed strengthening.
Otherwise, he should have been able to take the opportunity to ask for what he wanted, instead of this kind of random reward.
However, even if it was a reward from the higher-ups, it probably wouldn't be too bad. After grabbing the Storage Pouch, Li Yan verbally thanked Wei Zhongran.
Seeing Wei Zhongran's indifferent look, Li Yan thought it might be some Spirit Stones or a cultivation method or immortal art. He wasn't too short on Spirit Stones right now, but a good offensive or defensive immortal art was what he lacked the most.
As for some kind of Spirit Power cultivation method, Li Yan would definitely not practice it. With his Miscellaneous Spirit Root aptitude, practicing anything was useless.
At that time, he would just propose to exchange it for a high-powered immortal art. Perhaps that would be no problem. As Li Yan's thoughts raced, he had already released his Divine Sense.
But when Li Yan's Divine Sense entered the Storage Pouch, his originally calm face, after a brief moment of being stunned, actually showed a look of ecstasy.
Only then did Wei Zhongran's leisurely voice come over.
"Here are most of the body parts of a third-rank peak 'Jade-Horned Serpent' that failed its tribulation. The 'Jade-Horned Serpent' you mentioned last time probably doesn't require a whole one.
"These materials should be enough for you to use. I was originally planning to go to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains myself after returning to the sect this time. I remember there should be a third-rank 'Jade-Horned Serpent' there.
"But with this opportunity, I was able to ask for it. This was personally requested from the Tai Xuan Teachings by Ancestor Mo Qing. It also took quite a bit of persuasion. See if it's usable."
Li Yan's Divine Sense swept over a collection of crystal-clear, jade-like materials in the Storage Pouch. An eyeball, seven teeth, several vertebrae, and half of a ferocious head about two chi in size were all there. (TN: 1 chi ≈ 1/3 meter)
Then there were some dried organs. Finally, Li Yan's Divine Sense landed on a pair of feelers that were like the ice of the nine heavens. The feelers shone with a cold, crystalline light that made Li Yan's Divine Sense a little dizzy.
"Third-rank, these are third-rank 'Jade-Horned Serpent' materials, and from one that failed its tribulation..." Li Yan murmured to himself in pleasant surprise.
Then, hearing Wei Zhongran's words, Li Yan quickly replied.
"Usable, of course they're usable. This disciple thanks Master!"
After withdrawing his Divine Sense from the Storage Pouch, Li Yan quickly knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed.
This great gift was not only unexpected but also extremely valuable. The third-rank Ice Cloud Feather was much inferior to these "Jade-Horned Serpent" materials.
Those two Ice Cloud Feathers were obtained by Wei Zhongran and others after jointly killing an Initial-stage third-rank Seven-Colored Ice Goose.
And the "Jade-Horned Serpent" materials here were from a third-rank peak demonic beast that had failed its tribulation. This was like the difference between an Initial-stage Golden Core and a Pseudo-Core cultivator; the gap was not just a little bit.
A demonic beast that had undergone a tribulation, even if it ultimately failed, had its physical body tempered by the heavenly tribulation. The benefits were hard to describe. At the very least, its bones and flesh were raised by a level, or even higher.
And what was most difficult to explain was that some demonic beasts that died in the heavenly tribulation might have a trace of the power of heaven and earth on them, such as lightning, wind, rain, etc. These might bring additional attributes to one's refined natal magical treasure.
It could give the magical treasure attack characteristics that did not originally belong to it. Of course, this was only a possibility, but this sliver of hope was what cultivators looked forward to the most.
Although Wei Zhongran could now easily crush an Initial-stage Golden Core cultivator, almost as easily as waving his hand, Golden Core stage cultivators would definitely not want to encounter a demonic beast of this level.
Even Wei Zhongran didn't have much of a chance of winning, not to mention that this kind of demonic beast was something you couldn't find even if you wanted to. You had to have heavenly great fortune just to see one.
Wei Zhongran raised a single hand and lifted Li Yan's body.
"Your mission this time was really well done. Ancestor Mo Qing is very appreciative of you, which is why he was willing to put in a word for you, changing the original other rewards to this item."
Wei Zhongran said faintly, not mentioning himself at all. But Li Yan wasn't stupid. Only Bai Rou, Sun Guoshu, and his master knew about the refining materials he needed.
For Ancestor Mo to specifically exchange for these refining materials... he wasn't a real immortal who could divine the future. Only his master would have proposed it, as this was what he needed most at the moment.
Li Yan did not continue with the thanks. The master and disciple were both intelligent people; some things were better left unsaid.
At this moment, Li Yan suddenly remembered something.
"Master, could it be that among the Nascent Soul cultivators who attacked the nameless valley that time, Ancestor Mo was one of them?"
Li Yan remembered that when he was lurking on the steep mountain peak where he had ambushed the beautiful woman in the green gauze, a wisp of Divine Sense had been circling around him, as if secretly protecting him.
Now, connecting it with Wei Zhongran's words, Li Yan immediately had an idea. Could that Divine Sense have been Ancestor Mo's? Otherwise, no one else would have taken care of him like that.
Especially at the last moment of his escape, when that Divine Sense appeared again and saved his life.
Wei Zhongran nodded lightly. This time, he did not hide it.
"It was I who pleaded with Ancestor Mo to act. Your cultivation is ultimately too low. There was no guarantee you would receive protection from others."
The "others" Wei Zhongran mentioned were, of course, Nascent Soul old monsters like Xiao Yaoyuan. The master and disciple had a tacit understanding.
Li Yan was moved again. He hadn't expected Ancestor Mo's appearance to be due to Wei Zhongran's plea. As a master, Wei Zhongran had protected his disciple down to the smallest detail.
Li Yan's eyes flickered a few times, but he still did not say words of thanks again.
"Master, was the great battle that suddenly broke out a few days ago related to the mission I carried out?"
"Mm, you thought of this layer too? It's very related. That's why the higher-ups gave a death order that day, demanding that the high-powered magical treasure in the nameless valley be destroyed before dawn.
"Otherwise, you can imagine, when the great battle began, although they couldn't use high-powered magical treasures on the battlefield, almost all of the mid-to-high-level cultivators from both sides were mobilized. The three defensive formations at Windy Cool Mountain, Demon-Swallowing Ridge, and Sword-Subduing Abyss would have been hit hard.
"If there weren't several Nascent Soul cultivators standing guard, the rear would have fallen. No matter how well the front line fought, they would have been directly threatening the Devil's Cliff Crevice.
"And the enemy only needed one Nascent Soul demon general with a high-powered magical treasure in the nameless valley to tie down three to six of our Nascent Soul cultivators, preventing them from advancing. With so many fewer Nascent Soul cultivators on the front line, the pressure and the outcome would not have been optimistic."
"What if I had failed to complete the mission?" Li Yan asked.
"A forced assault!
"Or have two Nascent Soul cultivators desperately tie down that demon general, not giving her any chance to cast spells. But at the Nascent Soul level, casting a spell is an instantaneous matter. Wanting to tie them down is easier said than done.
"At most, under attack and without the support of the altar in the valley, she just wouldn't be able to fire multiple shots in quick succession.
"But in flight, that demon general could still control that kind of magical treasure to attack a certain place from time to time. So that plan was only a last resort.
"By the way, now that you have the 'Jade-Horned Serpent' materials, the materials for your natal magical treasure are all gathered. Do you want to return to the sect?
"You've performed quite well on your missions these past few times. If you go back, no one will have anything to say."
After his simple answer, Wei Zhongran thought of the fact that Li Yan had not yet refined his natal magical treasure, which was very important for a cultivator.
Li Yan's own combat strength was already considerable. If he also had a natal magical treasure, his chances of survival in this war between the two races would increase by at least ten to twenty percent.
At this, Li Yan's heart was already moved. He pondered for a moment.
"This disciple also has this intention. Now that the final main ingredient has been obtained, it is time to refine my natal magical treasure."
For the "Jade-Horned Serpent," Li Yan actually only needed some bone-type materials. He had seen that the teeth and vertebrae were there, but now he didn't plan on using them.
Because the pair of well-preserved feelers were the hardest part of the "Jade-Horned Serpent's" body. For Li Yan, it was a better choice.
Fortunately, that senior from the Tai Xuan Teachings hadn't used them. This was heavenly luck for Li Yan.
Next, Wei Zhongran asked in detail about Li Yan's escape this time. When he learned that if it weren't for Ancestor Mo's intervention at the last moment, Li Yan might have been seen through and killed, his heart was also filled with relief.
An hour later, Li Yan flew away from Wei Zhongran's Cave Residence, his mood truly joyous. He would go back and pack his things. He planned to teleport back to the sect with Elder Chigong and the others early the next morning.
Thinking that he had been away from the sect for two years, Li Yan, flying in the air, felt a little homesick for Little Bamboo Peak and his small courtyard for a moment.
Although only Fourth Senior Sister Miao Wangqing was guarding the peak now, Little Bamboo Peak was, after all, where his true cultivation began. Every blade of grass, every tree, every bamboo stalk, every cloud there held his most tender memories.
And under the huge, round moon, a pair of a man and a woman on the platform, chatting idly in the night.
"I wonder how Zhao Min and Chenying are doing now?
"The Devil's Cliff Crevice... after I finish refining my natal magical treasure this time, I'll propose to go there too."
Two figures appeared in Li Yan's mind, touching a long-lost emotional chord in his heart, and a wave of warmth surged through him.
Then, the faces of Li Wuyi, Lin Daqiao, and the others appeared before his eyes.
"Hehehe, I wonder if they'll be greatly surprised when we meet again."
Thinking of his current cultivation, Li Yan couldn't help but feel a little proud. However, he knew that refining a natal magical treasure, even at the fastest, would probably take about three months, or even half a year. And that didn't include the time for nurturing it.