“Normally, there wouldn’t be a pill today, but I hear that this month a disciple has advanced to the outer sect. This old man is very pleased. The glorious day of the Reliance Sect is approaching, so I shall bestow this pill upon this person as encouragement.”
Shangguan Tu smiled, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling directly on Meng Hao.
Meng Hao flinched. Hearing the old man’s first half-sentence, he already felt a bad premonition, but before he could react, Shangguan Tu waved his hand. The purple pill instantly appeared before Meng Hao, giving him no chance to refuse as it dropped straight into his palm.
In that instant, for the first time since entering the Reliance Sect, Meng Hao became the center of everyone’s attention. All eyes around him were cast in his direction.
The ferocity and greed in those gazes seemed to want to tear Meng Hao apart. Even the male and female cultivators beside Shangguan Tu looked at Meng Hao. The woman, upon seeing Meng Hao, was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained her indifferent expression.
“Haha, I didn’t expect a first-level Qi Condensation disciple to get the pill. This time, it should be easy to snatch! This fellow has become everyone’s common enemy!”
“This guy is finished! The last time a pill was given out, I remember the recipient was a second-level Qi Condensation cultivator. Because he hesitated, Senior Brother Zhao Wugang, who hadn’t managed to snatch a pill himself, dragged him into the open area and chopped off his head.”
A murmur of whispers rippled through the crowd. The second and third-level Qi Condensation disciples, though aware of the danger, couldn’t suppress their greed. After all, the cultivation of the person who received the pill this time was truly incredibly weak, making them feel as if they, too, had the right to contend for it.
Cold sweat drenched Meng Hao’s clothes. He wanted to immediately throw the pill away, but found that it seemed to be stuck fast to his palm, impossible to discard. The piercing gazes from all directions made Meng Hao feel as if the shadow of death was drawing near. He even saw quite a few individuals, their faces grim, quickly advancing towards him.
“Junior Brother, throw that pill to me in a moment. If you don’t listen, I’ll make you regret it.”
“If you dare not give it to me, this day next year will be your death anniversary.”
These voices, like cold winds, swirled around Meng Hao.
At the same time, on a mountain beside the Reliance Sect, two old men sat cross-legged on the peak, smiling faintly as they looked down at the plaza at the foot of the mountain.
“Nephew Shangguan is truly cruel, giving the pill to a newly initiated brat. It’s over; I reckon our Reliance Sect will lose another disciple this time.”
“This snatching contest isn’t interesting at all. I bet that as soon as the restriction lifts, that kid will immediately throw the pill away.”
As the two old men conversed, the colors on the nine pillars beneath the plaza gradually dimmed. In about ten seconds, they would completely extinguish, and at that moment, the restriction on the plaza would also vanish.
Meng Hao’s heart pounded. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that once the glow on the nine pillars faded, a frenzy would await him. Even throwing the pill away would only displease some people, causing them to vent their anger on him.
“This thing… why did it have to be given to me!”
Meng Hao was drenched in sweat. In a flash, countless thoughts raced through his mind: if he didn't throw it, he would die; if he did throw it, he would face retribution later. Meng Hao racked his brain, drawing on all the knowledge from his three years of diligent study. Seeing the glow on the pillars gradually dim, Shangguan Xiu on the stone platform flicked his sleeve, preparing to leave. At this critical moment, a flash of inspiration struck Meng Hao. He lunged forward a step and cried out.
"This disciple has something to say! This disciple's ability to reach the Reliance Sect, to feel the magnificent immortal aura of this great Reliance Sect, is entirely due to good fortune. This disciple is immensely grateful to the person who granted me that good fortune. Day and night, this disciple has yearned to meet that person, to express my gratitude. And today, this disciple has finally met them!"
Meng Hao spoke faster and faster. As his words rang out, Shangguan Xiu on the platform was startled. He no longer turned to leave, but instead turned back to look at Meng Hao.
"This person is none other than Senior Sister Xu! Senior Sister Xu, this junior brother thanks you profusely. Having nothing else to repay your kindness, I specially present this pill to Senior Sister. Only in this way can I repay Senior Sister's life-changing grace!"
Having said that, Meng Hao immediately raised his hand, lifting the pill, which was stuck fast in his hand, high into the air.
Shangguan Xiu was taken aback, clearly not expecting Meng Hao to say such words. His expression was somewhat peculiar, and a smile slowly formed at the corner of his mouth. The silver-robed woman named Xu was naturally also stunned. Even with her usual cold demeanor, her expression changed. Although her cultivation was now at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, this Spirit Restricting Pill no longer had much effect on her. However, even for an inner disciple, Spirit Restricting Pills were extremely rare, and it wasn't easy for her to acquire one. She mused that if she were to re-refine this pill with a few other elixirs, she could concoct a batch of Five Spirit Pills, which would be of great use to her. At this thought, her heart began to pound.
Even the silver-robed man, usually aloof, couldn't help but glance at Meng Hao several times.
In that instant, everyone around fell silent. The cultivators who were advancing towards Meng Hao also stopped in their tracks. Each of them had a peculiar expression, staring at Meng Hao in astonishment.
"You can do that...?"
"I can't believe he just gave a pill away in front of so many people, and to an inner disciple at that! Like this... who would dare to contend for it now? That would be snatching a pill from an inner disciple!"
"Such a simple method, why didn't I think of it back then? Damn it, damn it!"
"Damn it all, I didn't think of this method back then, and it led to me being severely injured and bedridden for over three months!"
After a brief moment of silence, a clamor erupted from all directions. All eyes on Meng Hao held countless emotions. Without even mentioning ancient times, this was the first time in many years that the cultivators here had witnessed such a way of handling a pill. It couldn't help but make them look at Meng Hao and remember him in that very moment.
At the same time, the light on the nine pillars completely faded. Yet, in that instant, no one came to snatch the pill from Meng Hao's hand. This scene was truly rare on the pill distribution day of the Reliance Sect.
The woman named Xu quickly regained her normal expression. Without the slightest hesitation, she raised her hand and grabbed it. Immediately, the pill Meng Hao had held high flew straight to her, grasped in her hand. Seeing the pill taken, Meng Hao secretly felt a pang of regret, but he also understood that the item was now a source of disaster for him. At this moment, the surrounding crowd all sighed, wanting to vent their anger on Meng Hao, but thinking of Senior Sister Xu, they all hesitated and abandoned that idea.
The woman surnamed Xu hesitated, feeling uncomfortable taking something for free from an outer disciple given her status as an inner disciple.
“That year, the outer sect granted me a cave dwelling in the south. I’ll lend it to you to stay there.”
The woman surnamed Xu was silent for a moment, then took out a white jade slip from her storage pouch and tossed it to Meng Hao, who caught it.
“Senior Sister Xu’s cave dwelling… This guy is so lucky. I heard that cave dwelling is incredibly rich in spiritual energy; there aren’t many like it in the entire sect.”
“Senior Sister Xu said she’s lending it, but it’s clearly a gift. The word ‘lend’ just preempted many people’s thoughts. It seems this kid’s pill offering worked out very well.”
“Damn it, why didn’t I think of that back then?”
At the same time, on the mountain next to the outer sect, the tall old man in the gray robe, one of the two old men who had just made a bet, had his eyes light up. He then burst into hearty laughter, full of praise.
“This kid is truly interesting! He just entered the sect and already knows how to find a backer. Is this instinct?! Good, good, good. This is truly understanding the true essence of my Reliance Sect. He’s not bad, very not bad.”