The size of this courtyard on Little Lingxu Peak was significantly larger than the one in Mengshan City.
Especially the backyard, it was several hundred square feet, with various fruit trees and tea trees planted.
The courtyard also contained several quiet rooms. However, Han Yi usually only practiced in the one that the Sword Immortal Painting was hanging in, and rarely used the others.
First, Han Yi patrolled the courtyard, mainly to confirm its safety.
After all, he had been away for a year, and since this courtyard didn't have an owner, the protective array had not been activated, and anyone could potentially sneak in.
As for those from the Law Enforcement Hall who were assigned to inspect the vacant courtyards, they hardly had time for such matters.
Of course, if there were any disciples secretly hiding in the vacant courtyard because they didn't want to go down the mountain, assuming they would go unnoticed, that would be a different story. If they were reported or caught, they would be directly expelled from the sect, left with their cultivation base destroyed and ejected from the mountain.
This was a rule within the sect. You can only take what is given to you. If something doesn't belong to you but is left unused, and you take it forcefully, then you would lose your hands.
Han Yi has always been a person who followed rules.
After ensuring the safety of the courtyard, he did not isolate himself to continue cultivating or lean on the task bar like he did in Mengshan City.
Instead, he for once, left the courtyard.
The courtyards of the Xuandan Sect didn't require a formation disc to control like in Mengshan City.
In these courtyards, there was a central hub. By channeling spirit energy into this hub, one would become the master of the courtyard. The courtyard master could control the courtyard array merely by his thoughts, as long as they were within the courtyard.
Of course, this control was limited to the most basic functions such, as turning the protective array on or off.
However, the array was connected to the Spirit Vein of Little Lingxu Peak, which was much higher in its origin. Even its basic functions could resist attacks from cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage.
After leaving the courtyard, Han Yi went straight to Zheng Hai's courtyard.
Zheng Hai's residence was not on Little Lingxu Peak, but on the adjacent Little Pan Stone Peak.
When Han Yi knocked on the door of Little Pan Stone Peak for some time and no one answered, he knew that Zheng Hai must be either engrossed in cultivation or pill refining, or he was not in the courtyard because he was out on business.
"Never mind then, I'll come back in a few days to share the good news of my return. At that time, I'll invite Zheng Hai to celebrate at the Drunken Immortal Tower."
Han Yi felt a bit regretful that he couldn't visit the Drunken Immortal Tower today.
The Drunken Immortal Tower is a renowned tavern in the outer peaks.
The alcohol served there was made from precious pills and elixirs, containing abundant spirit energy. It was extremely expensive, and Han Yi dared not set foot in it even though he had heard and seen it since he joined the sect.
This time, his return to the sect filled him with joy and with money in his pockets, it was worth inviting his good friend to celebrate.
"Oh, there's also Brother Guan Di."
Thinking of Guan Di, Han Yi couldn't help but recall his guilt towards Guan Sheng back in Mengshan City, making him slightly hesitant.
A moment later, he decided to seek out Guan Di and clarify things.
This was one of his hang-ups that he had to address.
Guan Di was originally also on Little Pan Stone Peak, but after he advanced to the fifth level of Qi cultivation, he moved to Little Dragon Whisker Peak, which ranks among the top three in the outer peaks.
After he progressed to the sixth level, he even got the opportunity to serve at Vermilion Bird Peak. This position was lucrative and could help him build more connections and gain more favors. Many disciples at the sixth level of the outer peaks did their best to get this position.
After leaving Little Pan Stone Peak, Han Yi went straight to Little Dragon Whisker Peak.
This time he did not make a wasted trip; Guan Di was indeed in his courtyard and had not gone out.
"Brother Guan Di, I've passed the sect re-entry exam."
Han Yi didn't waste any words, he shared his joy with a happy face.
No matter what, it was Guan Di who had helped him find a solution and arranged for him to be sent to Mengshan City. Although the incident with Jiang De happened whilst there, he never doubted Guan Di.
Guan Di was taken aback when he heard this, but he quickly showed a smile.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Han."
After some congratulations, Guan Di handed over a letter: "That's right, Junior Brother Han, I was planning to look for you. I didn't expect you to come here first. A few days ago, I received a letter from my cousin. He said that you didn't keep your word and left without a word. Could there be some misunderstanding in this?"
Han Yi felt a bit ashamed upon hearing this.
After dealing with the incident with Jiang De, he did doubt whether Guan Sheng had some other intentions towards him in his heart. However, he didn't have any solid evidence and from the surface, Guan Sheng was very good to him.
Now that Guan Sheng had sent a letter directly mentioning his breach of promise, it was hard for him to argue.
"Elder Brother Guan, here is the situation."
"At the time when Elder Brother Guan Sheng entrusted me with a task, I was in the key period of perceiving alchemy, which interfered with the matter of Elder Brother Guan Sheng."
"After coming out of seclusion, I felt embarrassed to face Elder Brother Guan Sheng directly and had to leave without saying goodbye."
"By the way, these are the pills I agreed to return to Uncle Guan Sheng, and here are my compensatory gifts.
"This is all I have, please help me deliver them to Elder Brother Guan Sheng."
Han Yi took out three bottles of the exorcise evil spirits pills that he had prepared earlier, based on the assumption that his success rate in making these pills was one and a half percent.
And he didn't go for the eight-to-two ratio of sharing, but instead gave everything to Guan Sheng.
He then took out three bottles of Nurturing Qi Pills, which were of average quality of course.
He wouldn't dare to show the pills of standard quality right now, fearing that he may attract unwanted attention.
Guan Di frowned, picked up the exorcise evil spirits pills and the Nurturing Qi Pills, examined them, and then relaxed his brows.
"You little rascal are not bad, the quality of these pills, I cannot guarantee that I could obtain."
"Your alchemy skills have improved so much, no wonder you could pass the sect-returning test that quickly."
"And, you are now at the third stage of Qi Cultivation, no, looking at your aura, you should not be far from the fourth stage."
"I didn't expect that after being deployed for a year, both your alchemy and cultivation base have made such big improvements, one could say you have been reborn."
"Alright, I will deliver the pills. We are all family, there should not be much conflict, even if there is some, there is no need to be too calculating, I will tell my clan uncle."
Seeing that Guan Di accepted the pills, Han Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
This matter, can be considered as more than halfway done, for the rest, when he becomes stronger in the future, he will take the opportunity to make more compensation.
At the end, Guan Di stopped Han Yi who was about to leave.
"There's one more thing, Brother Han, do you want to move to the Little Dragon Whisker Peak? With your reborn alchemy skills, if you move over, you would definitely get a better courtyard, and, the peak lords would also look after you."
Han Yi politely declined, and although Guan Di felt regretful, he did not force it and let the matter rest.
Back in the Little Lingxu Peak, activating the Array in the courtyard, Han Yi began to cultivate.
His goal this time is clear.
Fourth stage of Qi Cultivation.
He is only one step away from this realm.
In addition, having entrusted Guan Di with the pills, and finally settled one of the lingering matters in Mengshan City, he has cleared his mind, and attained perfection in his mindset.
Moreover, he had previously rented a cultivation room on the Little Lingxu Peak for ten days, and although he didn't deliberately push the progress, his spiritual power had reached 94/100.
Everything is ready, all that remains is the final step.
In the quiet room within the courtyard.
Han Yi took out all the remaining Spirit Stones, Nurturing Qi Pills, exorcise evil spirits pills.
First, he took four exorcise evil spirits pills, thought for a while, felt that it wasn't safe enough, and took two more.
Then, he activated the spiritual power of the Spirit Stones placed around him.
Suddenly, the entire enclosed quiet room was filled with rolling spiritual energy, reaching the intensity of a third-stage Spirit Vein in a short period of time.
Such wastage was unimaginable to other outer disciples.
But for Han Yi, all Spirit Stones are for breakthroughs. If he didn't use them now, then when? Wasting a little was worth it.
Boom!
The rolling spirit energy coursed into his body, compressed and gathered, and transformed into spiritual power in his body.
Moving towards the next level, he continued to advance.
What Han Yi, who was in seclusion for a breakthrough on the Little Lingxu Peak didn't know was that a few days later, thousands of miles away in Mengshan City, Guan Sheng received a letter and items from Guan Di.
After reading the letter, he looked at the pills on the table.
Guan Sheng was silent for a long time.