Zhu Wu reported the whole sequence of events to the sect's Disciplinary Hall, omitting only the part about his own breakthrough.
A month later, the Zhu family received one hundred low-grade spirit stones as compensation.
In accidental incidents, the compensation for a mortal was one spirit stone, for a Qi Condensation Stage cultivator ten spirit stones, for a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator one hundred spirit stones, and for a Golden Core Stage cultivator one thousand spirit stones. Anything above that involved magic treasures and medicinal pills, with spirit stones rarely requested directly as compensation.
Barring extravagant living and heavy spending, one hundred spirit stones were barely enough to sustain the Zhu family for a year.
It was said that the name Zhu Quanli had carved on the woman's stele was "Zhu Yibai".
It was said that Zhu Quanli proved unequal to the task of head of the family, and his younger brother, Zhu Quanfai, temporarily took over as head.
It was said that of the two spirit stone mines originally operated by the Zhu family, only one remained.
Zhu Wu was granted an exceptional, early promotion to outer disciple, on the condition that the matter no longer be pursued.
Zhu Wu chose to join Clear Moon Peak, where his cousin had once served.
Clear Moon Peak specialized in Illusion Techniques and was populated almost entirely by female disciples, because female disciples made it easier for opponents to fall under illusions.
Zhu Wu had not yet studied other techniques, nor did he know yet which techniques suited him.
His experience of killing jackals alongside his cousin had convinced him firmly that Illusion Techniques were the most effective way to control an enemy.
Once an opponent fell into an illusion, even a small dagger could easily take their life.
Zhu Wu continuously worked hard to practice Illusion Techniques. The more he practiced, the more he realized that his cousin must have been a genius at illusion.
He had tested them on a pack of jackals, but could only make half of the jackals fall under the illusion at most, and the duration was relatively short.
"There's no way to take revenge like this!" Zhu Wu suppressed the stabbing pain in his heart.
"One hundred spirit stones can buy a life, but they can't buy family affection. Wait, do I also need to find a place of Yin and Yang convergence to raise my Illusion Technique realm?"
Thinking of Sister Pingping, he suddenly remembered the precipice, and this thought popped into his head.
"Let's go take a look at the Mission Hall." With that, he walked toward Star Moon Peak.
"Ten hearts from second-rank monster beast jackals for thirty contributions. Are you sure you're taking this?" the steward asked.
"I'm sure. By the way, does this only require ten? Do extras count?" Zhu Wu asked.
"They don't. The demand for jackal hearts isn't high, capped at twenty per month. Anything more is a waste since we can't use them," the steward replied.
"Understood, thank you." With that, Zhu Wu turned and headed toward the Hengduan Mountains.
Inside the cliff cave, Zhu Wu placed a few spirit fruits.
Then he sat cross-legged in meditation until dawn.
"Illusion Techniques involve emitting true qi to alter the surrounding environment, thereby blinding the opponent's eyes and plunging them into a false environment."
"The advancement of an Illusion Technique lies in the condensation of true qi. As long as you can make your true qi as slender as a hair, you can advance to the first stage, Moon River. To make the thread stretch without breaking brings you to the second stage, Moon Lake. Interlocking threads lead to the third stage, Moon Sea. Threads within threads reach the fourth stage, Moon Ocean. Threads like a fishing net bring you to the New Moon stage, with true qi impenetrable between the net's meshes; reaching the sixth stage, Crescent Moon, the net has three layers; the seventh stage, Full Moon, yields a net like mist that cannot be touched; the eighth stage, Phantom Moon, makes the net invisible; and the ninth stage brings Flowers in a Mirror and Moon in Water."
"True qi and Illusion Techniques are somewhat like a chopstick as thick as a bowl versus a hundred chopsticks bound together to equal the thickness of a bowl. Ordinarily, a single thread of true qi travels through the meridians, but now it needs to become a hundred threads of true qi."
Recalling the illusion theory taught at Clear Moon Peak, Zhu Wu condensed his true qi and set it in motion.
"Second stage."
"Third stage."
The initial realms were easy to advance through, and he leaped two stages at once.
"Ha, as expected, even Illusion Techniques require picking the right place to break through. That said, no matter what I study in the future, I'll need to find such special places."
"Sister Pingping, do you see this...?"
Zhu Wu stood still for a moment, then left the cliff cave.
"Moon Sea!"
Zhu Wu's reserve of true qi was greater than Zhu Pingping's. Although their Illusion Technique realms were the same, his effect lasted longer than hers.
Zhu Wu did not linger for a prolonged fight; he picked off two packs of jackals and returned to the sect to submit his mission.
"I still need to consolidate my realm. Young Master Zhang has a magic treasure that defends against illusions, and for someone at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, I'll probably need at least the fifth stage to deal with them." Thinking this, Zhu Wu returned to Clear Moon Peak and continued his cultivation.
Half a month later, Zhu Wu headed toward the cliff cave once more.
"Fourth stage."
"Fifth stage."
"The fifth stage should be fine against fourth-rank monster beasts, right? Let's find a third-rank one to test it out. Sister Pingping, I'll come see you next time."
Sky Spiders were small in size, low in attack power, but poisonous. They hid in the forests, hard to detect, and were alert and cautious, typically not launching unprovoked attacks—which was how they managed to survive as third-rank monster beasts.
Zhu Wu found the area where the Sky Spiders lived and released his true qi to sense them.
"Found it!" Zhu Wu walked softly toward a large tree on the right, where a Sky Spider hung in the middle of the branches.
"New Moon!"
The Sky Spider paused, its limbs flailing as it stuffed something into its mouth.
About a quarter of an hour later, the Sky Spider stopped moving.
"Moon Ocean!"
The Sky Spider paused, but quickly resumed its movements.
"Although the fourth stage is effective against third-rank monster beasts, it's almost useless. I still need to rely on being a rank higher. In that case, if I want to deal with that tiger belonging to Achong, I must reach the seventh stage to be certain."
"Normal cultivation to the seventh stage takes at least three years. Time waits for no one; I have to think of other ways."
Zhu Wu slowly retreated from the forest and returned to the sect to submit his mission.
"Steward, are there any weapons or techniques available for exchange?" Zhu Wu asked.
"You don't even have three hundred contributions... The things you can exchange won't be of much use to you anyway. I see you use a short blade; there is precisely a mysterious-grade short blade that requires over five hundred contributions and suits you. As for techniques, we have a mysterious-grade body-refining technique that also costs over four hundred. You'd better wait a bit," the steward kindly reminded him.
"Thank you, then I'll look around to see what other missions I can do." Seeing no suitable missions, Zhu Wu returned to Clear Moon Peak to cultivate.
In another month, the sect's secret realm would open.
This was a minor secret realm, accessible only to those at the Foundation Establishment Stage and below. What was relatively easy to obtain here were fifth-rank spirit herbs, and some teams could even slay fourth-rank monster beasts to acquire inner cores.
Many people were busy exchanging for pills and equipment, starting their preparations.
"Peak Master, I wish to enter the sect's secret realm." Zhu Wu found the Peak Master and made a respectful request.
"Mm. Ah? You've reached Foundation Establishment? When did this happen, why didn't I know?"
Chen Yueling, the Peak Master of Clear Moon Peak, looked quite young. It was said she had already reached the eighth stage a few years prior, making her a rare genius in illusion.
The Bright Moon Sect's fire-attribute techniques provided a bonus to Illusion Techniques, which was how Chen Yueling had been able to stand on her own and become a peak master.
"Just a few days ago. I went to the Hengduan Mountains on a mission, and under a sudden surge of pressure, I broke through," Zhu Wu fabricated an excuse.
"Being able to break through on your own without relying on medicinal pills is a good thing, but do you know what your spiritual root is?" the Peak Master asked with concern.
"I don't know yet. Your disciple came here precisely to ask if I could have it tested, so I can see what kind of technique would be suitable to choose afterward," Zhu Wu replied.
"Now that you've reached Foundation Establishment, you really should specialize in a technique. I'll have a word with the inner-sect steward; go get tested tomorrow."
"Understood, thank you, Peak Master. This disciple takes his leave." Zhu Wu offered his farewells and departed.
"He broke through on his own... I've been somewhat derelict in my duties as a peak master. What should I give him tomorrow as compensation?"
"What a pity about Zhu Pingping."
The inner sect was normally off-limits to outer-sect disciples, unless brought along by someone, of course.
In the side hall, a black spirit stone the size of an egg sat on the table before an elder.
"Come, let me see what your spiritual root is." This nameless elder showed a sliver of interest in Zhu Wu.
"Fifth-grade water spiritual root."
"Fifth-grade fire spiritual root."
"Fifth-grade earth spiritual root."
"Fifth-grade wood spiritual root."
"Fifth-grade wind spiritual root."
"Huh???" Both Peak Master Chen and the elder were puzzled.
The light emitted by the spirit stone ultimately displayed as a wind spiritual root.
"Hm, a fifth-grade wind spiritual root, not bad," the elder said with a smile.
"What did the things flashing before mean?" Peak Master Chen asked.
"Uh... well, this must mean the spirit stone hasn't been used in a long time," the elder said, somewhat embarrassed.
Peak Master Chen had never witnessed such a situation either, so she pressed no further. She thanked the elder and took Zhu Wu to Star Moon Peak.
"Could he have some sort of special physique?" the elder wondered silently to himself.
"Go have a look in the Technique Pavilion to see what suits a wind spiritual root; I'll pay the contribution points," Peak Master Chen said.
"Understood, thank you, Peak Master." Zhu Wu stepped into the Technique Pavilion to search.
The techniques inside the Pavilion were arranged according to the practicality of spiritual roots. Zhu Wu quickly found an upper-grade yellow-tier technique, *Drifting Dragon Steps*, and another called *Heaven-Shattering Thunder*.
"Here, this is a small gift from this peak master. I hope you like it." Peak Master Chen handed over a black short sword.
"Earth-tier?" Zhu Wu was somewhat flattered.
"Good eye, you have a future. You really know how to pick—pity that earth-tier techniques require reaching the inner sect." Peak Master Chen paid the contribution points for the techniques and led Zhu Wu back to Clear Moon Peak.
"Cultivate diligently. The only thing I can teach you is this: no matter what situation you encounter, prioritize preserving your life."
Peak Master Chen looked at Zhu Wu, as if seeing Zhu Pingping.
She then handed over a talisman: "This seals a seventh-stage illusion of mine. Although the duration is very short, it should help you escape danger when necessary."
Before Zhu Wu could express his thanks, she instantly leaped away and vanished.
The secret realm opened.
Disciples from the various inner and outer peaks stood in twos and threes before the secret realm entrance, numbering at least several hundred.
Young Master Zhang turned his head to glance at where Zhu Wu was standing.
Zhu Wu stared fixedly at the entrance of the secret realm.
Outside, the elders could observe the situation inside the secret realm via the secret realm's precious mirror.
"Before entering, let me explain once more: everything acquired within the secret realm belongs to the individual. Upon coming out, you may go to Star Moon Peak to exchange them for contributions, or keep them for personal use."
"The secret realm will remain open for three days. Everyone relies on their own abilities; fellow disciples must not slaughter one another..."
After rattling off a long list of instructions, the steward finally waved his hand, and the crowd rushed into the secret realm together.
Inside the secret realm, everyone was randomly teleported to different locations.
This was an ordinary, repeatable secret realm that could be entered every year.
The strongest monster beast inside the secret realm reached only the sixth rank, which seven or eight Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators could suppress.
The inheritances were quite ordinary—mostly upper-grade yellow-tier techniques and the like. It was said that earth-tier techniques had appeared once in a certain year, but there was only a single record of it, indicating a very low probability.
Those at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage were mostly proud and arrogant, making it difficult to assemble a team specifically to raid inheritances. This also resulted in virtually no one being willing to come acquire them.
Some areas within the secret realm could not be observed by the secret realm mirror, such as inside caves and underground.
Zhu Wu judged his direction and headed toward the center of the secret realm.
Along the way, naturally, he encountered spirit herbs to harvest and monster beasts to fight.
They were universally first or second rank; some would even flee the moment they saw a person.
Zhu Wu walked up to a mountain cave.
"Moon Sea!" A second-rank monster beast fled into the cave.
Zhu Wu chased after it inside, emerging only after quite a long while, and then continued walking toward the center of the secret realm.
The second day.
Zhu Wu approached the center of the secret realm.
People around began to increase as well, and from time to time he could spot other fellow disciples.
Naturally, many of them he had never even met before, so quite a few didn't even bother exchanging greetings and simply went their separate ways.
"New Moon!" Zhu Wu cast an illusion upon a fourth-rank azure-patterned snake.
The azure-patterned snake fled toward a mountain cave, and Zhu Wu raised his sword in pursuit.
An hour later, Zhu Wu walked out of the cave, his body smeared with some snake blood.
Zhu Wu searched the surrounding area and returned to the cave that evening.
"Full Moon!" Zhu Wu took out the talisman and poured true qi into it.
A seventh-stage illusion from this spot could cover the center of the secret realm, as estimated previously via the map.
The talisman sustained itself for half an hour under a continuous injection of true qi.
"I hope everything goes smoothly..." Zhu Wu steadied his composure.
The third day.
Zhu Wu walked out of the cave and began heading toward the vicinity of the center.
A sixth-rank white-browed tiger was covered in wounds.
Zhu Wu observed for a while, scattering a large amount of spirit hemp powder around the area.
"New Moon!"
Zhu Wu hoisted his short sword, executed the Drifting Dragon Steps, gathered true qi for Heaven-Shattering Thunder, and charged forward.
The short sword was suffused with thunderous light as the white-browed tiger charged over.
Zhu Wu side-stepped and swung his sword, leaving an additional wound on the white-browed tiger.
"Roar!" A massive wave of sound spread outward, blowing the spirit hemp powder on the ground into the air, with a good deal of it falling into the white-browed tiger's mouth.
"Whoosh..." The white-browed tiger lunged at Zhu Wu.
Zhu Wu leaped onto a tree, then pivoted to another, dodging back and forth.
Before long, the white-browed tiger's movements slowed down.
"New Moon!"
Zhu Wu cast the Illusion Technique once more, causing the white-browed tiger's movements to falter briefly.
"Heaven-Shattering Thunder!" Zhu Wu swung his short sword, the thunderous light tracing a graceful arc through the air along with the blade.
"Roar..." Wounded yet again, the white-browed tiger staggered as it charged forward.
"Heaven-Shattering Thunder! Heaven-Shattering Thunder! Heaven-Shattering Thunder!" Having consumed true qi through successive attacks, Zhu Wu already felt fatigued.
"Roar!" The white-browed tiger's roar had also grown feeble.
"New Moon!"
Having finished casting the illusion, Zhu Wu raised his short sword and rushed toward the white-browed tiger's neck.
Zhu Wu lay flat on the ground, gasping for breath.
Having poured his all into the fight, he had finally slain the half-dead white-browed tiger.
Hearing the commotion, quite a few people walked over, staring in astonishment at Zhu Wu and the dead white-browed tiger.
"Who is that person?"
"I've never seen him in the inner sect; could he be from the outer sect?"
"Can an outer sect have this kind of strength? Could he be a personal disciple of some elder who just came out of seclusion?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, but no one stepped forward; after all, anyone capable of slaying a white-browed tiger was certainly not someone to be easily offended.
"Junior Brother Zhu Wu?" A female cultivator from Clear Moon Peak ran over. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, Senior Sister Luo..." Zhu Wu replied slowly.
"Come, have a sip of water." This Senior Sister Luo shoved a medicinal pill into Zhu Wu's mouth while holding a water skin to his lips.
"Zhu Wu? That handyman who joined Clear Moon Peak?"
"What realm is he in to actually be able to kill a white-browed tiger?"
"..."
Having taken the pill, Zhu Wu quickly recovered.
After retrieving the white-browed tiger's inner core, he set to work deboning and scraping the meat. In no time at all, the tiger was cleaned up entirely.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Luo. Take these." With that, he took out a portion of the tiger bones and meat and handed them to her.
"This..."
"Take it, I'm going to receive the inheritance." Saying this, Zhu Wu walked toward the entrance of the inheritance.
Only those who had slain the white-browed tiger could enter this entrance.
"What inheritance did you get?" Senior Sister Luo rushed up to ask.
Several other senior sisters from the same peak gathered around as well, while dozens of other inner and outer sect disciples discussed animatedly in the surroundings.
"It's an upper-grade yellow-tier technique called *A Thousand Wounds in One Method*, a healing technique," Zhu Wu replied, raising his voice so that those nearby could basically hear it.
"Ah, something suitable for wood spiritual root cultivation."
"I have a younger brother with a wood spiritual root; I'll go ask him later if he wants to buy it."
The crowd continued discussing in a babel of voices.
The resources within the secret realm were neither too few nor too many, allowing everyone to reap decent gains. Thus, people weren't afraid of wasting time by chatting idly, and so it continued until the secret realm closed and everyone was automatically teleported out.