Chapter 52: Rewards

"What is the person from the Pavilion of Rites doing here?"

Liang Yan felt a surge of doubt, but he still rose and walked outside. Opening the door, he saw a man in white standing in the courtyard, looking at him with a smile.

"So, Senior Brother Wang has graced us with his presence. May I ask what business brings you here?"

"Haha, Junior Brother Liang, there is no need for such modesty! Your recent excursion to assist Senior Sister Tang in purging the rogue cultivators who opposed the sect in Yongle Town, as well as your investigation into the specifics of their association, has been a great service! I have come specifically to announce the sect's reward for you."

Wang Biao’s expression turned solemn as he said formally, "Array Vein handyman disciple Liang Yan, hear my command. For your meritorious service in defeating enemies, the sect specially grants you two hundred high-grade spirit stones, one mid-grade spirit stone, five Spirit Gathering Pills, and one 'Petition Order'."

As he spoke, he took out a green cloth bag and handed it to Liang Yan, continuing, "The pills and the Petition Order are inside. As for the spirit stones, you will need to collect them from the Pavilion of Rites yourself."

Liang Yan’s expression shifted, and he asked Wang Biao, "Senior Brother Wang, it sounds funny, but there are a few things I don't quite understand."

"Oh? What is it you don't understand? Please, speak."

"What is the difference between a mid-grade spirit stone and an ordinary one? Also, what is the use of this Petition Order?"

"So that is what you were asking," Wang Biao nodded. "In the cultivation world, spirit stones are divided into high, mid, and low grades. Theoretically, one high-grade spirit stone is equal to one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and one mid-grade is equal to one hundred low-grade spirit stones. However, in practice, in certain special locations, the price of higher-grade spirit stones is slightly higher than the theoretical value."

"Why is that?" Liang Yan asked, puzzled.

"Because certain formations and restrictions can only utilize higher-grade spirit stones. No matter how many low-grade spirit stones you have, you won't be able to use them."

"I see," Liang Yan said, realizing the truth. "Then what about this Petition Order?"

"That is simple. With this 'Petition Order,' you may go to the Hall of Transmission and choose any two secret techniques or cultivation methods to comprehend. You should know that our Yixing Pavilion is extremely strict in its transmission of methods. Not only do handyman disciples have no chance to enter the Hall of Transmission, but even outer disciples are only allowed to enter once every three years to select a single cultivation method or secret technique. This shows just how significant the sect's reward is for you."

Liang Yan felt a surge of joy. He had long admired the ways of sword cultivation, but he had struggled to make any progress due to a lack of secret sword techniques. This was a rare opportunity; he intended to go to the Hall of Transmission and select a sword cultivation secret technique to study thoroughly.

In high spirits, he bowed to Wang Biao and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Wang!"

"Hahaha, I am merely a messenger. Junior Brother Liang, your achievements are the result of your own hard work."

Wang Biao seemed quite satisfied with him as well, nodding. "I shall tell you one more thing. The Pavilion Master is aware of your recent excursion. She is quite pleased with your performance. I believe that when the time comes, the Six-Year Agreement will be nothing more than a formality. I shall congratulate you in advance on your promotion to an outer disciple!"

"I didn't expect such a small matter to even reach the Pavilion Master..." Liang Yan seemed somewhat incredulous.

However, Wang Biao spoke with a strange expression, "A small matter? No, no, no, this is no small matter." He paused and added, "Restoring the normal mining of the spirit mine branch might be a small matter, but Senior Sister Tang's life is a matter of utmost importance..."

Seeing Wang Biao's hesitant manner, the shrewd Liang Yan naturally understood the implication: Tang Diexian must have a significant background.

But in the next moment, Wang Biao returned to normal. As if suddenly remembering something, he took a bamboo slip from his robe and handed it to Liang Yan.

"An Uncle Master asked me to pass this to you."

Liang Yan reached out to take it, asking in confusion, "May I ask which Uncle Master?"

"I don't know the specifics. This bamboo slip was passed to me by another disciple; perhaps you will know once you open it. Very well, I have delivered the items and completed my task. I shall take my leave."

Liang Yan escorted him out of the courtyard and watched him depart before turning back into his room. First, he took out the bamboo slip and examined it for a moment, thinking to himself, *In the entire Yixing Pavilion, I only know two people of the Uncle Master generation. Could it be Uncle Master Lin or Uncle Master Zhou?*

At this thought, two figures surfaced in Liang Yan's mind: a scholar in green robes and a woman in blue attire. A slight smile touched his lips as he slowly unfurled the bamboo slip.

Unexpectedly, just as the slip was halfway open, it suddenly flew from his hands, spiraling in mid-air. With a *bang!*, it turned into a puff of green smoke, and immediately after, a woman's voice drifted from within

"Seven days from now, meet me at Listening Plum Peak."

The voice was dignified and gentle, devoid of any emotion, yet it carried a faint, irresistible pressure.

It took Liang Yan a long time to recover his senses. He vaguely remembered that Zhuo Bufan had once mentioned a type of "Voice Transmission Jade Slip." However, such an item was not common; forget ordinary disciples, even those of the Uncle Master generation rarely used them. Moreover, he was merely a handyman disciple—why would this person go to such great lengths to use a "Voice Transmission Jade Slip"?

"Unless this person does not want anyone else to know they are summoning me!"

A sudden thought struck Liang Yan. This "Voice Transmission Jade Slip" was single-use, destroying itself automatically after use to leave no evidence, and there was no fear of any disciple eavesdropping on the way. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed; he feared the motives of this "Uncle Master" were not simple.

Yet, no matter how hard he racked his brains, he could not recall anyone he knew whose voice matched the one in the slip. After pondering for a long time without any clues, he could only drop the matter, thinking, *Since it has come to this, I shall accept it. Since I am within my own sect, it is unlikely to be a trap. I will know their purpose when we meet.*

He shook his head and suddenly noticed a jade pendant floating in the air where the slip had vanished. He reached out to take it, only to find it was an extremely ordinary jade pendant, devoid of any spiritual energy.

"It seems this is the token for the meeting."

Liang Yan put it away and stopped thinking about it. Instead, he took out a green cloth bag and poured out a green token inscribed with four ancient characters: "All Laws Return to the Sect."

"So this is the so-called 'Petition Order'!"

Thinking of the sword cultivation secret techniques in the Hall of Transmission, Liang Yan's heart burned with anticipation. He could not wait to leave his room and head toward the Hall of Transmission.

Following the sect map, he walked for about half an hour before spotting a lush, towering peak. On the mountain path stood a stone monument engraved with the words "Hall of Transmission Mountain."

"This is the place!" After confirming with the map, Liang Yan began to climb the stone steps.

He was currently at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, and as a physical cultivator, climbing mountains and ridges was a trivial matter. In less than the time it took to burn half an incense stick, Liang Yan had reached the summit.

A vermilion pavilion sat atop the peak. It was described as "sitting" because the pavilion was massive, covering an area of several dozen feet, far surpassing the Library of the Array Vein, which was barely six or seven feet wide.

The vermilion pavilion was divided into three floors. A giant plaque hung in the center of the middle floor, bearing the large characters: "Hall of Transmission."

The pavilion had four doors, one facing each cardinal direction. In front of each door sat a wooden table with a gatekeeping disciple seated there. Observing their cultivation, the lowest were at the 8th level of Qi Refinement, while the highest had reached the peak of the 9th level—the half-step Foundation Establishment realm.

And these were merely the gatekeeping disciples. With his keen senses, Liang Yan had already perceived a faint, murderous aura around the Hall of Transmission; clearly, more than one Uncle Master was present. However, due to the vast difference in their realms, he could not pinpoint their exact locations. But if anyone dared to cause trouble here, Liang Yan would not be surprised if they were instantly ground into ash.

His heart tightened slightly. He straightened his clothes and walked toward the eastern gate.

Behind the wooden table at the eastern gate sat a tall man in green, wearing a gatekeeping disciple's identity tag that read "Li San."

While inwardly grumbling that the name sounded like a common waiter, Liang Yan took out the "Petition Order" and respectfully placed it on the table.

Li San glanced down at the token, nodded, and put it away. "You have one hour. You may choose any two cultivation methods or secret techniques on the first floor of the Hall of Transmission."

"Understood, Junior Brother."

Liang Yan gave a respectful salute and impatiently entered the Hall of Transmission.