"Elder Xu, long time no see!" Lian Chen expressed his greetings to Elder Xu as he stood outside the Treasury Hall entrance.
"Hey young lad, news about you has spread to here y'know. About you defeating Huo Tianlu and all." Xu Tianyi chuckled and responded to Lian Chen.
"Hahaha. It's nothing much Elder Xu." Lian Chen responded humbly.
"Wait… Your cultivation… You are at the Core Formation, Low Stage already?!" "Xu Tianyi's eyes widened in astonishment as he noticed Lian Chen's cultivation level.
He sighed, realizing the missed opportunity. 'Damn brat, if only I could have taken you as my disciple. But my other disciple insisted that she would be my only apprentice.' Xu Tianyi lamented, recognizing the immense potential Lian Chen held for the future."
Lian Chen lost in his thoughts as he wondered who is the lucky one to be Elder Xu Tianyi disciple.
"Well, young one, let me tell you something. My disciple is not only the most beautiful but also possesses an icy demeanor that matches her extraordinary talent. She holds limitless potential within the Buddha Benevolent Sect, and her name is Bing Chuyan!" Xu Tianyi boasted proudly of his esteemed disciple.
"She is actually on her way here, and I can introduce you to her later! Who knows, perhaps destiny will bring you two together as husband and wife. Hehehe!" Xu Tianyi chuckled with a mischievous tone that seemed oddly out of place for his age, leaving Lian Chen feeling slightly unsettled.
"Well, you can introduce her to me later. I will be on my way to collect my monthly pills." Chuckled Lian Chen as he walked towards Elder Hu.
"Elder Hu, I have come to collect my monthly pills. I hope this time you won't be so stingy and only give me one pill," Lian Chen said, his tone revealing a lingering resentment towards Elder Hu.
"Hmmph. Here you go." Elder Hu tossed Lian Chen a bottle that consists of 2 core consolidation pills.
Lian Chen observed the two core consolidation pills in his hand, realizing that their potent aura signified their efficacy for cultivators at the Core Formation stage.
However, he couldn't help but feel frustrated since he was still at the Foundational Establishment, High Stage, and couldn't yet make use of their benefits.
"Elder Xu, I have returned. Has your disciple arrived yet?" Lian Chen inquired of Elder Xu Tianyi.
"Well, it seems she may be delayed or preoccupied with something," sighed Xu Tianyi, reflecting on the possibility that Bing Chuyan had encountered some trouble or encountered individuals who had crossed her path.
With that, Xu Tianyi noticed a ring on Lian Chen's finger and couldn't help but inquire, "Hey... Isn't that a storage ring? Where did you acquire it? None of the disciples in the Inner Disciple Court have one."
"Well... I obtained it during my Sect Missions," Lian Chen replied, choosing not to disclose the encounter with the Huo mansion's assassins. He intended to personally address the debt with the Huo family and didn't want to involve others unnecessarily.
"Hmm... Well, if you drop a drop of blood on top of the ring, it will automatically recognize you as the owner, provided that the previous owner, from whom you acquired the ring, is deceased. Then, you inject your qi inside the ring, allowing you to see how big the space is," chuckled Xu Tianyi. He had a suspicion that there was more to this storage ring than meets the eye.
As Xu Tianyi made that remark, a figure emerged from the distance, steadily approaching them.
"Master, I have arrived." Bing Chuyan arrived and paid her respect to her master.
"Oh, it's you! So you are called Bing Chuyan." Lian Chen was shocked to see that she is actually Elder Xu Tianyi disciple.
"Oh? You 2 know each other?" Xu Tianyi was shocked to see both of them know one another.
"Hmph, just a little monkey that bumped into me before. Ignore him, master," Bing Chuyan coldly retorted, refusing to even spare a glance at Lian Chen once again.
"However... I must admit that I'm surprised he has reached the Core Formation Stage in his cultivation," Bing Chuyan added with a hint of astonishment.
"Well. Elder Xu, I am going to the treasury hall to learn some martial skills. See you again senior sister Bing Chuyan" Lian Chen clasped his hands together and bid farewell to both of them.
"Hey, Chuyan, why don't you join him and assist him in selecting his martial skills?" Xu Tianyi suggested, his mind brimming with an idea.
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to. I'm off to complete sect missions. Goodbye, master. Oh, and you better not forget the things you promised me regarding my divine body," Bing Chuyan remarked before departing.
"Haiya… This disciple of mine… Still as cold as ever…" Xu Tianyi said before laying down on his back, and taking a short nap.