Chapter 131: Withholding the Reward

Jiang Min followed the middle-aged Golden Core cultivator through a series of winding corridors until they reached a towering pavilion. She climbed the stairs, ascending to the very top.

A figure in white and cyan robes stood with hands clasped behind his back, facing away from them at the edge of the railing.

"Master, the person has arrived." The Golden Core cultivator bowed slightly, offering a salute.

"You may go."

The robed cultivator turned to face Jiang Min. As their eyes met, Jiang Min—having already suspected his identity from his attire—confirmed it upon seeing his face: he was the man who had saved the Black and White Eagles the previous night, the City Lord of Villain City, Old Man Guishan.

Seeing him, Jiang Min was reminded of the white jade fragment she so desperately craved. Had it not been for this powerful figure intervening to save the Eagles, the fragment from the Silver Wolf would have already been hers.

*Young in appearance yet calling himself an "old man"—truly, one cannot judge a cultivator by their looks,* she mused.

Outwardly, however, she remained perfectly respectful. She quickly bowed and cupped her hands, saying deferentially, "Greetings, True Monarch."

Old Man Guishan’s gaze rested upon her. During their encounter the previous day, he had already assessed her situation clearly: Foundation Establishment, early stage; five-element spiritual roots; a sword cultivator who had attained the realm of Sword Intent.

Having cultivated for hundreds of years and traveled across vast lands, he had encountered other five-element Foundation Establishment cultivators who were indeed formidable. Coupled with the aggressive nature of the sword path, it was not surprising that she could best ordinary peak Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators.

Old Man Guishan retracted his spiritual pressure and baleful aura, his tone becoming patient and almost amiable. "Ming Ruoshui? Where are you from?"

"I am from the Yushuang Kingdom in the Eastern Plains. I heard about the Villain Tournament from a fellow daoist and came here out of admiration," Jiang Min replied calmly, her hands still cupped in a salute. She possessed the memories of Jia Fugui, who was a native of Yushuang, so she had no fear of being pressed for details.

Old Man Guishan raised an eyebrow slightly. The ten kingdoms of the Eastern Plains were indeed a distance away from Villain City, which sat closer to the Great Hong Dynasty and the Yuntian Plains.

"Yushuang Kingdom? It is rare for someone to travel so far. Are you interested in joining Villain City? While I am not a sword cultivator myself, I know several experts in the path of the sword who would be more than capable of guiding your training," he asked with interest.

Jiang Min was slightly stunned. She recalled hearing that those who performed exceptionally in the tournament were often recruited by the city or the spectators.

After a brief pause, she wore a look of regret and hurriedly bowed, politely declining. "This... True Monarch, I have been a wanderer for too long and have grown accustomed to my own ways. I fear I would offend you and the other seniors. I hope you will forgive me."

Though subtle, the refusal was clear.

Old Man Guishan frowned slightly. "If you cannot join, then the first-place reward will have to be reconsidered."

Seeing the shock on Jiang Min’s face, he added quickly, "Do not worry; I am not withholding your reward. In fact, depending on the situation, I may even give you more. What I am about to discuss concerns that ancient secret realm."

Jiang Min’s heart stirred. It seemed this ancient secret realm was truly extraordinary if even a cultivator of Old Man Guishan’s standing needed to speak with her personally.

"I will be direct," Old Man Guishan continued. "The first-place reward I added is a spot to enter a fragment of an ancient heavenly cave, and there is something within that cave that I desire."

"However, this fragment can currently only be entered by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the number of people allowed inside is limited. Therefore, I need to find the strongest person at the Foundation Establishment stage to help me achieve my goal."

"Although your cultivation base is not the highest, winning this tournament proves you are the most capable. I have high expectations for you and hope you can cooperate with two other disciples of Villain City to retrieve what I need."

Jiang Min caught two key points: she had to help him retrieve an item, and she would be supervised by two other Foundation Establishment cultivators.

*No wonder he wanted to recruit me,* she realized. *If I joined, I would be one of his own, making me easy to command. But by refusing, I remain an outsider—a hired blade. He has many concerns.*

Though she did not know what he sought, it was undoubtedly precious. As an outsider, he would surely worry she might abscond with it. This seemed like a dangerous job.

"Inside the secret realm, any inheritances or treasures you obtain on your own belong to you as payment for your help. Furthermore, if you retrieve what I desire, I will replace the previously promised Essence of Heavenly Sun with the far more precious Essence of Extreme Yang," Old Man Guishan added.

Jiang Min’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. The Essence of Extreme Yang! If the Essence of Heavenly Sun was already a rare, precious treasure that could accelerate cultivation and assist in Golden Core formation, the Essence of Extreme Yang was the ultimate manifestation of Yang. A single drop, combined with sufficient spiritual energy, could bridge the threshold of any Foundation Establishment stage or help one form an Extreme Yang Golden Core. It was impossible to find and highly coveted.

This was an incredibly generous offer. The trade-off was that her original reward would be partially withheld.

"So, depending on whether you help me obtain that item, your reward will vary. If you succeed, you get the Essence of Extreme Yang; if you fail, you receive the Essence of Heavenly Sun. As for the rest of your rewards, you may take them now."

Old Man Guishan raised his hand. Five top-grade spirit stones and one top-grade Pure Yang Pill appeared in his palm. These, along with the Essence of Heavenly Sun, constituted the rewards for the top three. He gave her these as promised.

Jiang Min accepted them, her face filled with pleasant surprise and deference, while her mind raced with criticism.

*The art of "suppress before lifting"—Old Man Guishan has mastered it. The value of the Essence of Heavenly Sun is far greater than these pills and stones. A Foundation Establishment cultivator would never let it go. Even knowing it is a leash, I am forced to work for him, perhaps even risking my life for the Essence of Extreme Yang.*

With this in mind, she bowed slightly, her expression earnest. "I shall certainly brave the fires and waters to serve your will, True Monarch."

"May I ask, when do we depart? What preparations are needed? Should I meet the other two fellow daoists to familiarize myself with them for better coordination? I wish to prepare early to ensure the greatest chance of success in retrieving the treasure for you."

Her cautious and seasoned inquiry further dispelled Old Man Guishan’s suspicions about her being a clan disciple. While clan disciples could be smooth, few were as polished and humble as Jiang Min; such behavior was typical of a seasoned rogue cultivator.

"Only nine people may enter this realm," Old Man Guishan said patiently. "Villain City is sending three. The other six will be your competitors."

Jiang Min understood. *Competitors? That means they must be eliminated.*

"The realm will open soon. Settle down and focus on your cultivation; you will be notified of the departure date. You will meet the two disciples I have arranged then. Once inside, they will tell you what it is I seek."

A flicker of unease crossed Jiang Min’s heart. *He won’t let me see the others, nor does he want me to prepare. It means they have already made all the arrangements, and I am merely the tool to be used.*

*From start to finish, he has not mentioned what the item is. It must be so precious that he fears I would leak the information. But what if it isn't just precious—what if it is taboo? If I know this, will I be silenced?*

Having survived countless dangers, she never hesitated to assume the worst in others. Since there was risk, she had to prepare for the worst.

*This is a rare opportunity, and I must go,* she thought. *But before entering the secret realm, I must contact my master and inform them of this.*