These masters of the Righteous Path were all figures of some standing, and naturally, mere empty words would not suffice. Beyond lavish praise and promotion, each arrived bearing a gift of considerable value.

Lu Xizi chuckled heartily, presenting Feng Zikang with a piece of Vermilion Jade Marrow Blood; Master Wule gifted him a hand-copied volume of the Vajra Sutra; and Mo Yudu offered a mechanical attendant—exceedingly nimble, and quite useful for delegating household chores. Wen Lingsu smiled gracefully, a vision of spring warmth.

She was a woman of profound gentleness, and her offering was the last to be presented. “Martial Nephew Feng is a young hero who aided a weak maiden in the mortal realm.

Our Sect Master was greatly pleased to hear of it, sighing: To cherish and protect life is the tradition of the Little Bamboo Forest lineage. The very bearing of Elder Brother Ye has reappeared in his disciple!” Feng Zikang wryly mused that the reputation of Ye Tiansheng as a 'good old man' had even reached the Sect Master of the Mount Tai Farmers in Shandong.

It seemed the impression of an amiable mentor was indelible in the eyes of others, a legacy passed down. This constituted a successful masquerade; he ought to be happy, as it would afford him greater convenience in future actions.

Yet, why did his heart feel so unsettled? “...Therefore, I was commanded to bring this scroll of the 'Silent Divine Ability of Spring Breeze Moistening Rain' to present to Martial Nephew Feng, as an expression of our Sect Master’s appreciation and encouragement...” “What?” Not just Feng Zikang, but everyone present—save for Master Wule, whose meditative cultivation kept him seated unmoving—shot to their feet in astonishment.

Yuan Buhuan felt a surge of shock mixed with considerable awkwardness. Spiritual weapons, spirit artifacts, armor, or other material objects—once given, they were simply gone.

Even Dharma artifacts or supreme treasures, no matter how precious, if the giver was willing, they were surrendered. Others might feel envy and heat in their faces, but they could say nothing.

But the action by the Mount Tai Farmers was the transmission of a Divine Ability! Dharma is not lightly passed on.

Let alone outside the sect, even within it, disciples had to hack through thorns and accumulate merit to earn the right to exchange for such techniques. This was the rule of the cultivation world: using the Great Reincarnation Disc and the Merit Jade Register to control the flow of cultivation methods prevented haphazard dissemination and the catastrophic errors that led to the tragedies of a thousand years past.

Although the exchange of Divine Abilities between sects was not unheard of, it was exceedingly rare, typically occurring only under dire necessity. Under normal circumstances, sect Divine Abilities were the highest secrets, and any disciple who received them swore never to divulge them, lest the ability be reclaimed and they be cast out.

To casually bestow an entire Divine Ability scroll was truly unthinkable. Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces, Wen Lingsu smiled and explained: “This scroll of Divine Ability was self-created by our Sect Master and has not been formally incorporated into the Farmers’ core cultivation methods...” This was somewhat more palatable.

If it were a sect secret, even the Sect Master should hesitate to use it for favors. A technique personally comprehended, while still slightly irregular to gift so freely, could be seen as an expression of amusement at seeing a pleasing junior.

Yet, the Mount Tai Farmers' Sect Master, Xu Rou, had always been known for her steadfast composure; why this sudden whim? Feng Zikang could not fathom it, yet he kowtowed his thanks, carefully tucking the emerald-green leaf bearing the ability into his storage pouch.

Wen Lingsu offered him a meaningful smile and nod. After the others offered Feng Zikang a final round of compliments, Yuan Buhuan dismissed him, asking him to return to the Little Bamboo Forest to rest, assuring him that the gifts from the other houses would be sent over later.

Feng Zikang bowed his thanks once more before descending Sunset Peak and returning to his thatched cottage in the Little Bamboo Forest. The residence had been empty for half a month, yet it remained immaculately clean, untouched by dust.

This celestial sanctuary naturally repelled all worldly grime. Feng Zikang collapsed lazily onto his couch, hearing a faint chirping from his robes.

He remembered the little fox was starving in the rouge box. He retrieved it, lifted the lid, and let the small creature out.

Arriving in a new place, the little fox was ecstatic, darting in circles around the cottage like a playful puppy. Feng Zikang procured a dish, dissolved a pill into a paste for it as food.

Watching it eagerly lick the offering with its delicate pink tongue brought a faint smile to his face. He then sat up properly, seriously contemplating the gains and losses of his recent journey to the Southern Barbarians.

The current level of prestige Feng Zikang enjoyed among the Righteous Path was beyond his prior expectations. A confluence of coincidences had forged this situation.

Though awkward, it was undeniably a great benefit to him. Under this mantle, his identity as the Limitless Heavenly Demon Incarnation would be even more deeply concealed, providing significant ease for future maneuvers.

Beyond that, the greatest achievement was acquiring the four fragments of the Divine Demon, which could form the Four Symbols Divine Demon Array, substantially boosting his strength. Even facing a Foundation Establishment expert, if properly prepared, he should now possess the power of self-preservation.

If he could find more fragments in the future, he would undoubtedly become even stronger! Feng Zikang held firm confidence in this.

As for stabilizing his demonic heart to lay the foundation for future cultivation, and earning four hundred Merit Points by slaying Wu Duya—while also good benefits—they paled in comparison to these two. Putting aside the others, the mere title of 'Rising Star of the Righteous Path' had procured him several excellent items.

That Vermilion Jade Marrow Blood could expand meridians and facilitate rebirth, greatly aiding his cultivation; the hand-copied Vajra Sutra served to suppress evil spirits, keeping external demons from disturbing his practice. Though this sounded absurd, Feng Zikang found it genuinely useful.

It was akin to how a brigand fears being targeted by petty thieves. He, as the Limitless Heavenly Demon, also detested the incessant harassment of scurrying, insignificant outer demons.

With this copy of the Sutra nearby, a faint golden light would radiate, the words of the Buddhist text appearing almost tangible, golden characters hovering in the air, making it difficult for external fiends to approach. During meditation, it also calmed the mind and sharpened focus, naturally increasing efficiency.

The mechanical attendant was also an object of interest. Once released, it proved to be an entirely black wooden figure.

Its limbs seemed clumsy, yet its actions were methodical and strictly disciplined. Before Feng Zikang could issue a command, it began tidying the room on its own initiative, slowly shelving a few scattered books, and patiently wiping down the already dust-free surfaces of the desk and shelves.

With a single instruction from Feng Zikang, it fetched water and brewed tea, its intelligence and responsiveness being nearly indistinguishable from a person. The little fox found it fascinating and zipped over to perch comfortably on its broad shoulder.

The mechanical attendant walked with steady, unwavering balance, allowing the fox to sleep soundly and happily settle in. As for the scroll of the Silent Divine Ability of Spring Breeze Moistening Rain...

Feng Zikang held the green leaf between his fingers, examining it closely. He sensed the ability was intricate and complex.

Though intended for healing, it seemed capable of penetrating countless minute channels within the body—he couldn't quite discern its ultimate purpose. “Martial Nephew Feng, are you home?” Suddenly, a soft female voice called from outside the door.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝ P1: Gratitude to the reader Shen Zhi Qingfeng Wuyu for designing the 'Silent Divine Ability of Spring Breeze Moistening Rain.' This technique has given me a new direction for the story; many thanks! P2: I recommend a new book by a friend—a supreme swordsman arrives in a world of cultivation.

It is written with fascinating interest and great satisfaction. A direct link is available in the book page index; readers can bookmark it now and let it mature!