"I'm grateful for your assistance, elder."

Xiao Mu expressed his gratitude.

"Cough, cough!"

The coughing sound abruptly echoed as a man in his fifties or sixties emerged from the Great Tang Ruins, moving closer to Xiao Mu and Xu Yi.

This man's power, roughly estimated, was at the late stage of the Fifth Realm. He wore a white horse robe over a pair of black loose lantern pants.

His attire was casual, yet his expression was serious, his complexion was sallow, and he was persistently coughing...

"Old Zhu, let me introduce you to a friend."

Xu Yi gestured to the man in the horse robe.

Taditionally robed man walked over to Xiao Mu and Xu Yi. He glanced momentarily at Xiao Mu, clearly lacking enthusiasm, then quickly shifted his gaze to Xu Yi.

Xiao Mu took this opportunity to size up the man in the horse robe.

Xiao Mu's power had now reached the peak of the Fifth Realm, nearing Perfection. He could roughly gauge the man's power level with a glance.

Indeed, the man in the horse robe was in the late stages of the Fifth Realm, and his actual cultivated strength seemed to be the Power of Thick Soil among the Five Elements Power.

Clearly, this robed man had been injured and faint signs of Curse Power could be seen on him.

Curse Power was permeating his Five Organs and Six Entrails, implying he was affected by some kind of Secret Art that taxed his physical constitution.

Since the Power of Thick Soil of the Five Elements Power didn't have the effect of healing such cursed Secret Arts, the man had no choice but to endure it, gradually dissipating the residual power of the cursed Secret Art in his body with the Power of Thick Soil.

"Old Zhu, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Xiao Mu, a member of the Alliance just like you. Mr. Xiao is from the ancient Song Relics."

With a smile on his face, Xu Yi introduced Xiao Mu and the robed man to each other. "Mr. Xiao, this is my friend, Zhu Leng."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhu."

Xiao Mu greeted Zhu Leng with a smile.

"Hello."

Zhu Leng responded coldly.

Quickly, Xu Yi added, "Old Zhu, Mr. Xiao is a benefactor of my family. He wants to exchange for a Breaking Reality Pill, could you help him?"

"A Breaking Reality Pill?"

Zhu Leng glanced at Xiao Mu in surprise, seemingly astonished by Xiao Mu's power, he refused almost immediately, "A Breaking Reality Pill is not something that anyone can obtain. I'm sorry, but I can't help with this. My apologies for any offense, Mr. Xiao."

"That's alright."

Xiao Mu responded with a smile again.

The Breaking Reality Pill indeed wasn't easy to obtain, but Zhu Leng's refusal was down to not wanting to invite any trouble.

If he truly wanted to help, then he wouldn't act like this. Even if he didn't have the means to get the Breaking Reality Pill himself, he would at least tell Xiao what methods there might be to acquire it.

Given that he didn't say anything, he clearly didn't want to get involved with the Breaking Reality Pill.

It seemed that there was something strange about the situation in the Great Tang Ruins. A simple Breaking Reality Pill was stirring up much complication.

"Old Xu, let's go. I'll take you in. Cough, cough!"

Zhu Leng turned his head to beckon Xu Yi and couldn't help but cough again.

The Curse Power was greatly affecting him; the functions of his Five Organs and Six Entrails had been weakened.

"This..."

Xu Yi looked at Xiao Mu apologetically, "Mr. Xiao, I...I'm really sorry. I'll treat you to a meal next time."

Xiao Mu nodded at Xu Yi while smiling again, "Noted. I'll definitely come to visit Elder Xu when I'm free."

"Old Xu, let's go. Cough, cough!"

Coughing, Zhu Leng urged Xu Yi, leading the way towards the main entrance of the Great Tang Ruins.

Xiao Mu followed behind with a smile.

"Halt!"

The guard of the Great Tang Ruins blocked the trio's path.

"He is my friend, a direct descendant of City God Xu of Ancient Daliang City."

Zhu Leng produced his Identity Badge for the guard to inspect.

"A direct descendant of City God Xu?"

The guard looked surprised by Xu Yi's identity. However, with Zhu Leng vouching for him, he quickly let them through.

"Here's my Identity Badge."

Next was Xiao Mu, producing his own Identity Badge. The guard inspected it and allowed his passage as well.

"Mr. Xiao, I suppose we should part here."

Zhu Leng greeted Xiao Mu with a dismissive gesture, as if he was afraid that Xiao Mu would continue to accompany him.

"Goodbye, Elder Xu. Goodbye, Mr. Zhu."

Xiao Mu greeted Xu Yi and Zhu Leng amicably, and then, nonchalantly added, "By the way, Mr. Zhu, you've been affected by some cursed Secret Art, haven't you? It seems like it's damaged your Five Organs and Six Entrails?"

"How did you know?"

Zhu Leng was taken aback, shooting Xiao Mu a surprised look.

Xiao Mu didn't respond, instead he chuckled and said, "I noticed that Mr. Zhu practices the Power of Thick Soil which doesn't have the ability to resist cursed Secret Arts."

"If it can't be healed in a timely manner, even if you gradually exhaust the Curse Power using the Power of Thick Soil, Mr. Zhu's power will inevitably regress. In severe cases, I am afraid it might even cause a setback in Realm, dropping back to the Fourth Realm."

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