Chapter 120: Is This How You Show Your Gratitude?

"The third lightning tribulation is here."

Su Yifan narrowed his eyes, keeping a sharp gaze on the clouds above, waiting for the third strike to descend. He was, in truth, taking a gamble. If the python-dragon succeeded in its tribulation, all would be well; if not, he would have wasted all that spiritual energy for nothing.

Mo Xingtian and his companion were filled with a mixture of excitement and dread. They were excited because this was their first time witnessing a demonic beast undergoing a tribulation, yet they were terrified that if the beast succeeded, they might lose their lives right there.

"Sect Master, should we take our people and run now?" the elder of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect whispered. Without the toxic mist obscuring their vision, leaving would be effortless, but once the beast succeeded, there would be no guarantees.

"Do you think I don't want to leave?" Mo Xingtian replied, his eyes fixed on Su Yifan ahead. Su Yifan had explicitly told them to stay put. If they fled now and displeased him, Su Yifan would kill them long before the beast could swallow them. How could they afford to offend someone capable of easily repelling a near-Level 3 python-dragon?

"But..." the elder began, only to be cut off by Mo Xingtian. "Don't overthink it. Perhaps things aren't as dire as we imagine." They had witnessed Su Yifan’s capabilities firsthand; a man of such power helping a beast breakthrough without a hint of panic could only mean one thing: this was all under his control.

Su Yifan overheard their conversation. Hearing that there was at least one clever person among them, a faint smile played on his lips. It was fortunate they hadn't fled; otherwise, he would have had to send them off ahead of the python-dragon. After all, if he hadn't intervened, they would already be in the creature's belly.

"Rumble!"

At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted from the clouds, and three massive bolts of lightning crashed down.

"Roar!"

Seeing the final tribulation descending, the python-dragon let out a defiant cry. Its massive body, nearly thirty meters long, surged directly toward the lightning.

"Boom!!!"

A deafening blast shook the air, sending dust and debris swirling. Immediately after, the python-dragon plummeted from the dust cloud, and the dark, overcast sky suddenly cleared.

What? Had it failed? Mo Xingtian and the elder watched with regret, mingled with a sliver of admiration. Even though it had failed, the beast had shown an indomitable spirit.

"Very good, little one. You didn't disappoint me," Su Yifan said with a light smile.

Mo Xingtian and the elder were utterly confused. What did he mean? Hadn't the beast failed?

However, just as they thought this, the python-dragon, now nearing the ground, suddenly opened its crimson eyes. The next second, it let out a thunderous roar and lunged straight toward Su Yifan.

"Senior, watch out!" Mo Xingtian shouted in terror.

But the next moment, just as the python-dragon reached Su Yifan, its massive body came to a sudden halt. Looking at it now, its length had grown from thirty meters to over forty, its scales shimmering with a brilliant, lustrous sheen under the sun.

Mo Xingtian and the elder were stunned. What was happening? The beast wasn't attacking; it was acting as obediently as a pet. Could it be that the Senior hadn't helped it out of kindness, but to claim it as a pet?

"You truly didn't disappoint me," Su Yifan said, reaching out to pat the creature’s head. Grateful for the help in its breakthrough, the python-dragon nudged his hand affectionately.

"Hiss..." It emitted a low, rumbling sound, as if in thanks.

Su Yifan understood its meaning and laughed. "No need for thanks. I don't do things expecting a reward."

Hearing this, the python-dragon was moved, shaking its massive head. It wondered if this was truly a human. Every other human who had come here either wanted to steal the Tuoluo Flower it guarded or hunt it for its demonic core. Yet this one had done neither.

Just as it thought this, Su Yifan’s voice came again: "However, if you insist on thanking me, give me one thing."

The python-dragon immediately understood. It turned away, and a moment later, it returned with the fully matured Tuoluo Flower in its jaws. This rare medicinal herb was what it had guarded, waiting for it to mature so it could consume it to survive the third tribulation. Now that the tribulation had passed, it no longer needed the herb and offered it as a token of gratitude.

Su Yifan took the flower and shook his head. "You're mistaken. That is not what I want."

The python-dragon froze. A moment later, it sensed a killing intent emanating from the human. What! This human... Sensing danger, the python-dragon tried to flee.

"Trying to leave now? Isn't that a bit late?" Su Yifan said calmly. With a quick motion, he grabbed one of the horns on the creature's head and slammed it into the ground.

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed as dust billowed up. Mo Xingtian and the elder were left dumbfounded. Damn it! They had been moved for nothing. It turned out the Senior had been coveting the beast's core all along.

"Roar!"

Knowing the human intended to kill it, the python-dragon roared in fury. It tried to lift its head to resist, but found the human's strength insurmountable; it couldn't move an inch. In desperation, it whipped its tail toward Su Yifan.

"Senior, watch out for its tail!" the elder cried out in alarm. He knew that even a casual swipe from this creature had previously cracked their sword formation, and now that it was a Level 3 beast, a direct hit would surely pulverize a person. If this man died, they would certainly follow. Mo Xingtian was equally frantic, wanting to help but knowing his own strength was insufficient.

"A beast is a beast. You promised to thank me, and this is how you do it?" Su Yifan sighed. He watched the massive tail approaching, unperturbed, and calmly raised his left hand to block it.

"What? Is he mad? He wants to block that with his bare body?!" The elder watched in utter shock, unable to comprehend it. This was a Level 3 demonic beast!

The next second, something even more shocking occurred.

"Boom!"

After a massive crash, Su Yifan stood perfectly still, his left hand having successfully blocked the blow.

Silence. The area fell into a deathly stillness. Mo Xingtian and the elder were struck by a tidal wave of awe. How could anyone be this strong? To block a blow from a Level 3 beast with nothing but raw physical strength—what kind of cultivation level was this?

"You little mud-loach, you don't have much skill, but your temper is quite large. How dare you act so insolently before me." Su Yifan added, "However, in exchange for your demonic core, I'll make your end quick."

With a sharp motion, Su Yifan pressed down.

"Bang!"

The python-dragon's head was crushed into a bloody pulp, its massive body shuddering a few times before falling still. Su Yifan then approached the creature's heart, his fingers forming a blade, and sliced through its iron-hard hide. With a quick reach, he pulled out a glowing, pale-gold demonic core.

"That's the demonic core!" Mo Xingtian and the elder approached, their eyes filled with envy as they looked at the artifact brimming with power.

Su Yifan stowed the core away and turned to them. Mo Xingtian reacted quickly, bowing deeply. "Senior, I am Mo Xingtian, Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. Once again, thank you for saving our lives."

"Lin Changkong, Elder of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. Thank you, Senior," Lin Changkong added, bowing as well.

"Forget the pleasantries. I don't do things expecting rewards," Su Yifan waved his hand.

Mo Xingtian and the elder exchanged looks, finding the phrase familiar. They immediately remembered the fate of the python-dragon and hurriedly pulled out their storage bags.

"Senior, you saved our lives. Please accept this as a token of our gratitude."

Su Yifan didn't stand on ceremony, taking the bags. "This is your own choice, mind you. I didn't force you."

Mo Xingtian and Lin Changkong’s faces twitched. They had the urge to curse, but remembering Su Yifan’s power, they swallowed it.

"Of course, Senior. Please, keep them," Mo Xingtian said, his heart breaking. These were the herbs they had spent days of grueling effort to find. Now, they were gone.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Su Yifan turned to leave.

"Senior, please, wait a moment!" Mo Xingtian called out.

"Something else?" Su Yifan didn't turn back.

Mo Xingtian hesitated, gritted his teeth, and knelt on one knee. "Senior, I implore you to save the Azure Cloud Sword Sect." He was out of options. Tomorrow was the deadline to deliver medicinal herbs to the Ghost Fiend Sect, and they had none left. If they failed to deliver, their only options were submission or death.

"Sect Master!" Lin Changkong tried to pull him up, but Mo Xingtian stopped him with a hand gesture.

"Please, save us. The Azure Cloud Sword Sect is willing to follow your lead from this day forward," Mo Xingtian pleaded. He would rather serve this Senior than the Ghost Fiend Sect, an evil faction in the martial world. Even as a third-rate sect, they had their dignity. If the Senior refused, they would rather die than yield to the likes of the Ghost Fiend Sect.

"You are too weak. I have no interest," Su Yifan shook his head. He didn't want to get involved with so many people; he didn't have the time to deal with such trivialities.

Mo Xingtian felt his heart sink, but then Su Yifan’s voice sounded again.

"However, I do have an interest in spirit stones. If you can come up with two thousand of them, perhaps I can consider it."

Mo Xingtian was stunned, then immediately prepared to agree. But Lin Changkong spoke first: "Sect Master, those are the last two thousand spirit stones our sect has left!" They were a small sect, already drained by the Ghost Fiend Sect's exploitation. Without those stones, they would have nothing left.

"Compared to the survival of the sect, what are two thousand spirit stones?" Mo Xingtian didn't hesitate. "Senior, if you save us, I will hand them over personally."

"Very well. Get up," Su Yifan turned around.

Mo Xingtian stood up. "Thank you, Senior. Please, return to our sect with us. After a night's rest, I will brief you on the Ghost Fiend Sect, and we can discuss how to deal with them."

"No need for such trouble. Just tell me the strength of their strongest member," Su Yifan waved him off. If he needed a strategy to deal with a trash sect, his status as a Nascent Soul powerhouse would be a joke.

"But..."

"If you keep talking, I'm leaving," Su Yifan snapped. Annihilating a sect was simple; if not for the spirit stones, he wouldn't even bother.

Mo Xingtian didn't hesitate. "The Ghost Fiend Sect is a second-rate evil faction. Their Sect Master is a Martial Emperor at the middle stage."

A middle-stage Martial Emperor? Was that all? Su Yifan was about to speak when a female voice called out from nearby: "Father!"

A group of over a dozen people approached, led by a young girl.

"Hanyue? Why are you here?" Mo Xingtian asked, surprised and moved to see his daughter.

"Father, I was worried, so I decided to come look for you. Are you alright?" Mo Hanyue asked with concern.

"We are fine. The elders just fainted," Mo Xingtian said, then looked at Su Yifan. "Hanyue, this Senior is our savior. If not for him, we wouldn't have made it back."

Mo Hanyue looked at Su Yifan. "It's you." Her beautiful eyes widened in surprise. It was him? He had saved her father? Though hard to believe, she bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for saving my father."

"No need for thanks. They've already paid the price," Su Yifan said, turning to Mo Xingtian. "Enough wasting time. Who knows where the Ghost Fiend Sect is? Send someone to lead the way."

"Senior, I know the way. I will accompany you," Lin Changkong stepped forward.