"Interesting. Truly interesting. By a strange twist of fate, you actually managed to secretly learn Old Dog Chu's [Taiwu's Secret Heart Scripture of the Lotus]."
A brilliant golden light shone in Chen Xuanba's eyes, making him seem like a god.
Aided by the Sect's Nascent Soul Grand Array, in that instant, threads of karma appeared on Qin Xuan's body in his eyes.
He pinched his fingers to perform a divination and immediately understood.
'So it was copied from that little whelp in the Scripture Pavilion who just reached Foundation Establishment.'
'Old Dog Chu has always been an arrogant show-off, to the point that the disciples of his Talisman Decree Hall don't even respect the laws of my Punishment Hall. This is perfect. I can use this kid to thoroughly disgust him.'
Chen Xuanba could already picture True Monarch Chu Hong's face, red with rage and stomping his feet in fury, upon discovering that his personal Dharma Aspect had fallen into someone else's hands.
At this thought, the gloom that had settled in his heart from being plotted against by Chen Qingjing vanished, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift into a slight smile.
As a result, the more he looked at Qin Xuan, the more pleasing he found him.
Qin Xuan's breathing grew slightly ragged. A large bead of sweat rolled down his chin and dripped to the floor with a SPLAT.
How could he possibly know what Chen Xuanba was thinking at that moment?
Things had already come to this; he could only brace himself and see it through.
'Damn it, surviving in this Demon Sect is so hard! Even with a Golden Finger, it's easy to get killed!'
'I wonder if my Golden Finger has a "load save file" feature.'
Qin Xuan's mind raced. He closed his eyes, stiffened his neck, and prepared to be slapped to death by Chen Xuanba. But who would have thought that Chen Xuanba's hearty laughter would suddenly ring out beside him?
"Rest assured, I am a man of my word. I said before that if you could survive among the Demon Disciples, I would grant you my protection."
"Now, it is time to fulfill that promise."
Qin Xuan was stunned.
A sense of unreality washed over him… 'In the Demon Sect, there's actually a Demon Cultivator who keeps his word?'
He even suspected that Chen Xuanba had some sort of ulterior motive.
In the next moment, Chen Xuanba waved his large hand.
A profound and mysterious aura suddenly rippled around Qin Xuan.
"You're too careless, kid. How could you stand so casually before a Purple Mansion Daoist? Here, let me help you cover your tracks."
BUZZ!
With a light tremor, Qin Xuan felt as if an indescribable layer had formed around him.
A sudden realization struck him.
Qin Xuan understood at once. This was the Sixth-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the divination.
From now on, within the Holy Sect Demon Gate, unless someone's Cultivation was higher than Chen Xuanba's, no one would be able to spy on what special Cultivation Techniques and Divine Techniques he was practicing!
Qin Xuan was thrilled.
This opportunity was a huge help. Even though it didn't benefit his Cultivation Realm, he couldn't forget that he was in this damn beastly Demon Sect.
Having his secrets seen through so easily would never happen again!
"You've got good fortune, kid, and your strength is passable. I already know about your meritorious service on Profound Demon Peak. You killed two Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer spies while being at a lower realm. Your contribution to this 'Fierce Soldier' mission was the greatest. The rewards you deserve will only be more, not less, and they will be sent to your Identity Token shortly."
"After you reach Foundation Establishment, you can come find me in the Inner Sect's Punishment Hall. I'll give you a position as an Incense Master. But before that, don't go stirring up trouble using my name, or don't blame me for being merciless!"
'Incense Master?'
'Isn't that the same status as Zheng Qi!'
Qin Xuan let out a long breath, his eyes shining brightly. "Thank you, Master Demon Child! Rest assured, Master Demon Child, I will be sure to remember your teachings."
"Mm, it's good that you understand." Chen Xuanba glanced at Qin Xuan, his eyes sharp, and spoke with a smile.
"...As for those few Li Fire Golden Dates in your possession."
"Don't be in a rush to consume them. Although their grade isn't high, their advantage lies in their age. When you have time, go browse the texts in the Scripture Pavilion. If you use them with a few other Spirit Medicines, it will be of great benefit to your Foundation Establishment."
'There's a trick to it?'
"Thank you for the guidance, Master Demon Child," Qin Xuan said, his face full of gratitude.
Qin Xuan wasn't surprised at all that Chen Xuanba could see the Spiritual Plant he was carrying. He hadn't intended to hide it in the first place, or else he would have found a place to stash the golden dates before coming here.
The two chatted for a little while longer.
Although Chen Xuanba acted domineeringly, for some reason, the more he looked at Qin Xuan, the more he liked him.
Perhaps it was also out of gratitude for Qin Xuan saving his life. He casually gave Qin Xuan a few more pointers.
Just a few words were enough to give Qin Xuan a sudden epiphany, like a sacred blessing. Many of the complicated and obscure difficulties he had faced in his cultivation suddenly became clear.
"That's all for today. We'll talk again when there's a chance. I have other matters to attend to. Kid, until we meet again." As his voice fell, Chen Xuanba stepped into the air and rose.
Watching Chen Xuanba disappear over the horizon with Sword Control, Qin Xuan was filled with emotion.
'Truly bold and unrestrained. I wonder when I'll ever be as free and unfettered as him.'
...
Not long after Chen Xuanba left, a faint golden light suddenly glowed on the Identity Token at Qin Xuan's waist.
The Contribution Points had arrived.
Qin Xuan focused his gaze and his face lit up with pleasant surprise.
'Senior Brother Chen is so generous.'
'He actually gave me double the Contribution Points in one go!'
On the Demon Order at his waist, 200 Contribution Points had suddenly appeared.
At that moment, Hou Qi also slowly regained consciousness.
Seeing the withered skeleton in a cyan robe next to him, Hou Qi was so moved he was on the verge of tears. "Junior Brother Qin, was it you who saved me?"
He had called for help a million times in his Jade Talisman transmission, but no one had come. Yet Junior Brother Qin, a mere Qi Cultivation Fifth-Layer, had risked his life to save him.
'Junior Brother Qin is so warm-hearted and righteous. Just like Fellow Daoist Xiao Ran I met the other day, they're both good people!'
If he weren't so heavily injured right now, Hou Qi would have loved to capture Qin Xuan on the spot and make him the main soul in his Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
Qin Xuan was also taken aback for a moment. Then he immediately reversed his Demonic Essence to make his complexion appear paler and weaker, waving his hand and saying with a serious expression, "Senior Brother Hou, there's no need for this. We are fellow sect members. It's only natural that we help each other."
As he spoke, Qin Xuan quietly sheathed the Lifebound Iron Sword he had just drawn.
He inwardly lamented that he had acted too late.
Otherwise, he could have had one more Qi Cultivation Sixth-Layer Bone Shadow Soldier.
'Hou Qi has too many Secret Techniques. The best opportunity to strike has passed. To be safe, it's better not to act.'
Both had ulterior motives, but their expressions grew increasingly enthusiastic.
...
With the Contribution Points in hand, Qin Xuan immediately returned to the second floor of the Sect's Scripture Pavilion.
While there, he also took stock of his gains from the trip.
'The Demon Disciple Dormitory has Instructor Li and the other Demon Disciples. It's not safe. The Scripture Pavilion is much more reassuring.'
[Fire Crow Banner], [Jade Scroll Daoist Scripture], [Li Fire Golden Dates].
The three rare treasures from the Blazing Fire Sect were laid out before Qin Xuan.
In addition, there were three Bone Shadow Soldiers.
They were the two Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer Cyan Robe Cultivators from the Blazing Fire Sect and the other early-stage Foundation Establishment middle-aged man in a cyan robe.
Logically, there should have been one more Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer Bone Shadow Soldier, but that corpse had been contaminated by Tang Tianhe's Black Poison Worms. Qin Xuan found it disgusting, and it would be even more unbearable if he got any of it on himself.
So he simply turned it in to the Sect for recycling.
'The Holy Sect is great. They'll take anything.'
The two Storage Pouches yielded 100 Contribution Points, the skeleton of a Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer Cultivator yielded 80 Contribution Points, plus the 200 points from the mission reward.
Qin Xuan had gotten 380 Contribution Points in one go.
As for how the Holy Sect would use the skeleton and Storage Pouches, that was not his problem to consider.
The previous potion and Talisman loans were only a mere two hundred points. If early repayment weren't forbidden, Qin Xuan would already be debt-free!
"Let me see what exactly is recorded inside this Jade Scroll Daoist Scripture."