CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 8: LITTLE PEARL OF THE CULTIVATION WORLD (PART 8)

Liao Junyi hesitated for a few days, but eventually went to find Li Shuning.

"Senior Sister, I wonder if the Heavenly Heart Grass is still with you? I’m about to make a breakthrough and really need it. If Senior Sister hasn’t used it, could you transfer it to me? I’m willing to pay twice the Spirit Stones."

Li Shuning pretended to hesitate, seeming a bit troubled, "Junior Brother Liao, I’ve already had our uncle refine the Heavenly Heart Grass into a Primordial Yang Pill. At the time when I was training outside and broke through, I wasn’t at the Sect and didn’t use the Primordial Yang Pill, but another method, leaving some aftereffects. So although I’m already at the sixth rank of Nascent Soul, wanting to go higher is quite difficult, all because I didn’t use the Primordial Yang Pill. If Junior Brother urgently needs it, just take it with no need for the Spirit Stones."

Liao Junyi was delighted inside, it came so simply; he didn’t care whether Li Shuning needed it or not, it was originally his after all. Moreover, Li Shuning’s power exceeds his, stealing his thunder, causing him quite a crisis feeling; if Li Shuning couldn’t improve her strength any further, wouldn’t that be ideal?

If he broke through and his cultivation strengthened a bit more, he could use it as an excuse to get close to Li Shuning. And by expressing gratitude, showing willingness to become her companion, surely Li Shuning, unable to enhance her strength, would be moved?

Liao Junyi wore an expression of gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Sister. If Senior Sister ever needs anything from me in the future, I would go through fire and water for her."

Li Shuning just smiled without taking it seriously. Such words, if believable, would not lead to the sect’s downfall in the story.

Liao Junyi returned to his dwelling and began his breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Li Shuning released a mission within the Sect to find the Heavenly Heart Grass.

Those who went out with Li Shuning that day were curious and asked her.

Li Shuning told them everything just as it was.

When Liao Junyi successfully broke through and came out of seclusion, several Golden Core disciples went to him together.

Liao Junyi originally thought he would receive adoring glances from junior siblings and rewards from the Sect’s seniors.

Seeing those Golden Core disciples brought him joy.

"Senior Brother Liao, congratulations on becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator. By the way, did you use the Primordial Yang Pill for your breakthrough?"

"Indeed, Senior Sister showed great kindness by letting me have the Pill, and so I fortunately broke through."

The disciples’ faces turned somewhat unpleasant, "Senior Brother Liao, we always respected and admired you before, thinking you were self-driven and cared for junior siblings, but didn’t expect you to be so selfish."

"Was it you who asked Senior Sister for the Primordial Yang Pill? Senior Sister is searching for the Heavenly Heart Grass. Refined Primordial Yang Pill needs many materials. Senior Sister gave everyone so many Spirit Stones that day, did Senior Brother replenish them for her? And know the Pill’s value? For your own sake, you ignored that Senior Sister also needed the Pill and shamelessly took it away. I refuse to associate with you any longer, farewell."

The other disciples followed suit.

Liao Junyi was dumbstruck, never expecting this upon leaving seclusion.

Within days, the entire Mingwu Sect knew about Liao Junyi’s shamelessness, seeking the Primordial Yang Pill from Li Shuning without compensating even one Spirit Stone, and the Pill was originally meant for Li Shuning herself.

Li Shuning ended up speaking on Liao Junyi’s behalf, saying she didn’t need Spirit Stones, and Junior Brother had offered double.

But these words made the disciples angrier, feeling Liao Junyi had trampled Senior Sister’s dignity for personal gain. What lacking Spirit Stones would Senior Sister have?

After that, no one followed Liao Junyi anymore, even female cultivators found him lacking integrity and excessively selfish.

Li Shuning managed to secure the Heavenly Heart Grass alone initially, and it should have been hers, yet she distributed benefits, everyone received many Spirit Stones, including Liao Junyi.

Li Shuning refined the Heavenly Heart Grass into Primordial Yang Pill, Liao Junyi shamelessly sought the Pill, even boasting offering double what Shuning had disseminated.

Did he understand the cost of a Primordial Yang Pill?

Utterly shameless.

Liao Junyi was aggrieved, not expecting such persistence over merely asking for one Pill.

Although he didn’t care, having endured mistreatment as a servant, he could survive without anyone’s favor. He wasn’t eager to lead anyone.

As long as his cultivation rose, and Li Shuning couldn’t, one day they would need him.

Unbeknownst to Liao Junyi, the affair reached all disciples and elders, who had high hopes, now considered his poor character troubling.

Talent is valuable; they’ll nurture it, but poor character demands reconsideration.

Li Shuning never anticipated such fortunate surprise.

If Mingwu Sect guarded against Liao Junyi unlike storylines, heedless of his presence, she’d see how he’d acquire resources for advancement without her alliance or favor with elders.

Even if his ring contained goods, how long would that last?

A year later, Li Shuning spread news of acquiring a Primordial Yang Pill at a high price, urging disciples not to blame Liao Junyi, claiming she willingly contributed for another young Nascent Soul cultivator.

Li Shuning’s altruism elevated her reputation continuously, yet people distanced even further from Liao Junyi, despising him.

Liao Junyi received the Primordial Yang Pill but lingered near Shuning; Li Shuning ignored him, he still bothered, frustrating observers.

Lacking a romantic bond, abundant sect resources, or allies for shared training diminished his resource pool.

Centuries passed with Liao Junyi’s cultivation stalled at the fifth layer of Nascent Soul, hearing Li Shuning reached Out-of-Body cultivator.

Liao Junyi harbored resentment; though Shuning spoke up for him once, bitterness simmered due to unmet expectations from widespread knowledge about their Pill exchange.

Conferring with his senior, deciding to discreetly leave Mingwu Sect for enhancement possibilities.

He left a remnant divine soul within a Jade Token at the Sect, worrying about the consequences of fleeing.