Late May.

Tie Kuang and Yu Shaohua finally returned.

However, they looked rather miserable.

This operation to annex Qingshuo County was overly forced, or rather, they underestimated the foundations of these two families, only seeing their overt power.

Xu Guang stood at the forefront of the crowd, looking at Yu Shaohua, who had lost an arm, and also noticing Tie Kuang's pale complexion.

Tie Kuang and Yu Shaohua exchanged a glance, observing Xu Guang, who had unknowingly taken the sect's central position, they both squinted slightly.

"Dharma Protector Xu, you've had a hard time."

Xu Guang just nodded.

He looked down on Tie Kuang's underhanded actions, but the Iron Armor Sect provided him with a long period of stability and supported General Wei's daily meals.

There was no deep-seated enmity between him and Tie Kuang.

The real hatred was between Tie Kuang and the Zhu Family.

In his heart, he had his own scales regarding gratitude.

After helping the Zhu Family rebuild and avenging them with Tie Xiong's life, he owed them nothing more.

Therefore, concerning the Zhu Family's true enemy, Zhu Cheng could take revenge if he could, if not, so be it.

Unless Tie Kuang had intentions against him, he would not precipitate an attack on Tie Kuang.

Recently, he'd been in the spotlight quite a lot, somewhat against his plans to lay low and hone his skills.

Perhaps his name was already on the desks of various power leaders, and he really wished to lay low for some time.

"Just performing my duty. It's the two Sect Leaders who have been laboring hard, pursuing the pests of Qingshuo County all the way."

Xu Guang slowly lowered his head from the elephant's back.

Just unintentionally, when his gaze swept past a middle-aged man behind Tie Kuang, his pupils suddenly contracted.

That is…

His heart skipped a beat.

"Let's all go inside. This is Master Song Rong from the Song Family, here to help us stabilize Qingshuo County."

Tie Kuang glanced at the majestic Great Beast, a look of longing flickering in his eyes. Knowing the Great Beast's feats, he now somewhat envied Xu Guang.

Xu Guang was also quite shocked.

Has this person come again? Could it be Tie Kuang intends to burn bridges, or act against him?

Or he is going to confront Grand Elder Liu Ning, inviting him into a trap?

His heart was filled with unrest.

"Is this the Dharma Protector Xu that Sect Leader Tie mentioned? Truly a talented individual."

Song Rong's slightly hoarse voice came through, not loud, but it seemed to make the air slightly tremble with each word.

But Xu Guang dared not take it lightly, this person was the first Innate he'd seen in reality, and not knowing the exact gap between Sixth Grade Innate and Seventh Grade, admitting inferiority was the wisest choice.

"Greetings, Master Song."

Song Rong showed a rather good attitude towards Xu Guang, even better than to anyone present.

"I've heard about you from the Sixth Young Master; you are a rare talent."

Sixth Young Master?

Song Di?

Xu Guang only gave an awkward smile. That Young Master Song paid a huge price to acquire the Celestial Register, yet it's now in his hands, and the key point is, he still doesn't fully understand it.

"The Sixth Young Master's praise is overrated."

Song Rong exchanged a few polite words with Xu Guang, then was led away to the Iron Armor Sect by Tie Kuang.

...

With the return of Tie Kuang and Yu Shaohua to the sect, the Iron Armor Sect restored its calm once more.

Everything seemed as though nothing had ever happened, everything returned to normal.

Even when Tie Kuang learned that all the Demon Beast Flesh in the treasury had been consumed by Xu Guang, he simply joked that it was a reward, and thus the matter was dismissed.

Xu Guang just nodded with a smile.

Two more days passed.

Xu Guang finally figured out the refining method for the Truth-Telling Pill, successfully concocting a batch of it.

Refining this Elixir was no easy feat; to fully understand each herb's properties, he tasted every one himself. The Pharmacist's Immune to Hundred Poisons talent hadn't fully developed yet, causing him to have an upset stomach for two days.

Truly not easy!

He quickly headed to the backyard.

Here, an enormous hole had been dug by the Earth Rhinoceros, containing an iron cage, inside which was the critically faint Elder Huai.

Xu Guang fed the Elixir to Elder Huai.

Soon, Elder Huai began to drool, convulsing all over.

But thankfully, he could respond to questions,

Xu Guang didn't mind, directly started asking.

"Do you know the secret of the Innate?"

"Y…yes, breaking through to Innate requires Innate Essence."

"What is Innate Essence?" Xu Guang quickly asked, seeing that Elder Huai couldn't answer many questions, he had to act fast, asking as much as possible.

"Innate Essence… is a Five Elements Spiritual Object… The number required depends on the Cultivation Technique."

Xu Guang asked a few more questions, which he answered honestly. Drool filled his mouth more and more, and his convulsions grew violent.

"Do you have the Feng Shui inheritance?"

"No..." he said before changing his tone, "Yes, it's in my father's grave; I'm not sure if it's true or not."

Xu Guang didn't expect him to hide so many secrets.

"Do you have any hidden secrets deep within your heart?"

He didn't know what else to ask, so he spoke up, curious about what she would reveal.

"I have connections with the Wei Family, they asked me…"

Here, Elder Huai seemed to realize what she was saying, her convulsions grew even more violent, like a seizure, her limbs moving uncontrollably.

A moment later, her head lolled to the side, frothing at the mouth as she collapsed.

Xu Guang squinted, ignoring Elder Huai, as he knew the effects of the Elixir he refined; it was essentially a Poison Pill balanced by multiple poisons.

Once erupted, the various toxins destroy bodily functions, even Immortals couldn't save her, let alone given Elder Huai's physical state, she wouldn't survive.

Xu Guang narrowed his eyes, finally understanding why Elder Huai so brazenly approached him that day.

One reason was to act for the Wei Family, the other was for himself.

What a pity…

She underestimated him.

Xu Guang thought to himself, then retrieved his Great Bow and walked out.

With the return of Tie Kuang and others, the current situation had stabilized somewhat, leading Xu Guang to lament that his intention to keep a low profile had utterly failed.

Recent events had drawn considerable attention, despite him not being the absolute central figure, people with insight noted.

In the struggles within the Iron Armor Sect against the two families, Dharma Protector Xu had always stood on Iron Armor Sect's side, even in battles against suspected Innate Ren Ziji, bloodfighting bravely, as testified by the disciples of the Scripture Pavilion.

This should have been the norm, but rumors began spreading as Xu Guang had not even practiced the Iron Armor Sect's Breathing Technique!

Outsiders quickly realized that Xu Guang's role as Dharma Protector was just a Tributor, like a waiter hired by a tavern; which waiter would risk his life for the employer!

Damn it, this is loyalty!

Connecting this with Xu Guang's previous efforts for the Zhu Family, and considering the gratitude from his past benefactor Liu Yu, along with Zhu Cheng's appreciation, which led to the grand reception of Old Li into town, who testified in Xu Guang's favor.

Among the Green Forest and Underworld, Xu Guang garnered admiration, essentially becoming the much-acclaimed 'Hero' of the moment!

Just listening to these tales, Xu Guang feared that even after death, in affairs of the Underworld and Green Forest, people would swear by his name in brotherhood.

Rumors are as ferocious as tigers!

Thus, Xu Guang's original thoughts to take Iron Head out to the countryside faded completely.

Let's wait for this wave to pass before considering it.

Meanwhile, he intended to cultivate peacefully within the sect, remaining low-key.

The only consolation was General Wei's growth.

It remained in the phase of rapid growth, as long as there were sufficient resources and his tailoring of the Elephant Cuisine was unimpeded, growth would not lag.

Recent changes in power dynamics had been too abrupt. General Wei's strengthening brought Xu Guang both joy and headache.

Given General Wei's appetite, he didn't know how many treasures were needed to fill it.

Resolutely suppressing General Wei's growth could work, these alien species' life spans are lengthy, with a Great Beast in the natural world taking a good twenty years to match General Wei's level.

But this fellow keeps mentally linking with him, pitifully crying 'hungry' through the Spiritual Link daily.

Whenever it cries, he finds it hard to be ruthless.

Finally, he thought of a good strategy, planning to capitalize on this wave of newfound fame to significantly raise his Elixir prices.

"Let the heroes suffer, but who will bear the blame for infamy?"

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