Return To The Spirit Sword Sect

The journey back to the Spirit Sword Sect wasn't a long one, with the strength of Liu Bei's sword at their side no creature dared to approach them; especially after seeing the fourth demonic beast being laid to eternal rest in his sword's wake.

The demonic beast infested hilly and mountainous region was annoyingly complicated to traverse, but in only half a day the two returned; standing at the front gate of the sect the two bid each other farewell.

"I owe you, Sha Ku. I was unconscious, and you treated my wounds… luckily there is no damage. I will return the favour." Liu Bei gave a final gesture, before leaving, following the five-coloured path to Five Element Peak.

"Kid, why did you tell him that you gave him the Ice Phoenix Fungus to heal him?" Yan Huang appeared out of nowhere, questioning his actions.

"The answer to that is twofold, Yan Huang." Sha Ku set foot upon the demonic path, glowing a terrifying mix of blood-red and purple.

"If anyone knew about the existence of the Ice Phoenix Fungus, they now have to take it up with Liu Bei. I'm off the hook. Especially since that old geezer, Zhang Long warned me about probably knows about his grandson's demise." Sha Ku explained to Yan Huang, as he continued walking up the steep steps that led to the lower Demonic Peak.

"Secondly, Liu Bei is now formally in my debt. Which will be useful for my future." Sha Ku said decisively, his jaw jutted out all the while.

"That seems a bit… manipulative, Sha Ku…" Yan Huang muttered.

"Manipulative? Well, yes. But I also gave him a body that's perfect for martial arts… he won't encounter a single bottleneck until he starts to deduce the laws of the world." Sha Ku explained it was more appropriate to say that Liu Bei should be heavily in his debt!

"That is true." Yan Huang nodded, admitting that Sha Ku was correct about the matter.

"Also," Sha Ku's eyes turned sharp, "If such a talented young man appears in the Wei Empire, it'll cause strife between the Emperor and the Great Duke Liu."

Sha Ku ignored Yan Huang's reaction, tired of explaining his motivations to the old ghost. One mustn't forget, in Sha Ku's former life he was High Marshal of the God-Slayer Race.

High Marshal!

He was head of all military matters, imagine what kind of man it takes for him to ascend to such a position in a group of people called, 'God-Slayers'.

That kind of man must be impeccably suited to strategy and thinking ten moves ahead of his enemies.

By dusk Sha Ku had returned to the Lower Demonic Peak, his lips were dry, and his eyes were sore, smacking his lips he felt he needed a drink.

"I should get some wine… I haven't had a bottle of good wine in years." Sha Ku mumbled to himself.

He made his way to the contribution store, which was open until late.

The person manning it was no longer the older man, nor the seemingly possessed boy. No, instead it was a woman. She was bald, bald and wrinkled. She had a wretched scar across her face, half her nose was missing, and her left eye was white.

"Greetings Senior." Sha Ku took a bow towards the woman, his face as calm as water.

In response, the old woman gave a smile, showing her blackened teeth, crooked and rotten, "Aren't you a sweetie. I bet you'll be ripped to shreds within a month." She cackled to herself.

'So, you're as demented as the rest of them?' Sha Ku thought to himself.

"I've come to claim contribution points, it's five points per head of every Rank One, fifty for Rank Two and one-hundred for Rank Three demonic beasts, if I'm correct?" Sha Ku spoke while brushing the outside of his interspatial ring.

The old woman gave a nod, "Yes, yes. Get on with it, youngster, before I skin you." She laughed to herself, getting tired of a six-year-old's imperative demeanour.

Sha Ku's eyes went cold, "Your name is Senior?"

"Lian Ling," The woman replied off-hand.

"Good, I'll remember your name." Sha Ku responded in a low voice, his eyes cold and emitting not killing intent, but the feeling of a thousand soul's being slaughtered in a moment.

"What?!" Lian Ling, spoke, shocked.

Bang!

A massive pile of decapitated demonic beast's heads started to pile up in front of her, each and everyone causing a shock to her….

Sha Ku was rewarded 20,000 Contribution points that day.

He was sure that he'd spend them wisely in the future. His plans hadn't come to fruition just yet. Instead, all he bought of the old witch, Lian Ling was a map and a bottle of wine.

The map was old, ancient. It showed all the locations of antiquity, from ten-thousand years in the past. While this map was useless to some, if paired with a modern map, perhaps he'd be able to find ancient burial grounds! Which, of course, should hold vast amounts of treasures.

That is the nature of cultivators, not to gift their items upon their deaths, but to seal it up in ancient tombs. The likes of which are filled to the brim with untold amounts of traps and tribulations!

A ridiculous notion if you asked Sha Ku.

Such people have no notion of what's essential, or even how to preserve power…

"Huuu." Sha Ku shook his head sighing.

Uncorking the bottle of wine, he took a swig from it, "Mmm, good stuff." The wine was a rosemary flavour, but it was also slightly sweet and spiced, dancing on Sha Ku's taste buds.

Now the moon hung high in the sky, he remembered back to the Astral Egg, wondering how it was doing.

It wouldn't be anywhere near hatching yet though; it would still be another four years at least.

"The die is cast… to the rise of the Yang Clan." Sha Ku raised his wine to the moon, toasting his new life which had finally managed to find a place deep within his heart.