Renault's explanation gradually piqued Yu Zhenzi’s interest. This little disciple’s reasoning was more thorough than he had anticipated. Yu Zhenzi nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Holding the soil, Renault slowly said, "Master, I discovered some footprints near the entrance of the Chiyan Cave. Upon observation, I noticed that these were not human footprints. Moreover, the tracks were chaotic, suggesting that there were more than just one or two creatures. It seems that these monsters return to the cave after their attacks. The direction of the footprints points both toward the cave and the village."

Yu Zhenzi nodded. The analysis was solid; this disciple was indeed sharp. However, the task he had set was to obtain concrete proof, not just deductions. Deductions were something any clever person could make.

"Is that all you're basing your conclusion on?" Yu Zhenzi shook his head, clearly dissatisfied.

Seeing Yu Zhenzi shake his head, Renault broke out in a cold sweat. If the task failed, the next one would likely be even more difficult, just like in the games he used to play. Even though this was not a game world, the system seemed to mirror the rules of the games, and Renault knew the consequences of failure.

The potential failure of the task weighed heavily on him, and he said anxiously, "Master, please don't be hasty. Your disciple hasn’t finished yet."

"Oh? There’s more? Interesting. Go on, then," Yu Zhenzi responded, intrigued by what else Renault might say.

Yu Zhenzi had always thought Renault was a slippery and clever individual. While being clever could serve as a safeguard in life, Yu Zhenzi didn’t want his disciple to use that cunning to gloss over his duties to the sect, as that would indicate character flaws.

"Master, please look at the soil your disciple brought back," Renault said with a slight smile.

There was something mysterious in the way Renault spoke, and seeing this expression on his disciple’s face piqued Yu Zhenzi’s interest. He leaned in closer to inspect the pile of soil.

While Yu Zhenzi noticed something unusual, he still wasn’t convinced. "Continue your explanation; don’t try to leave me hanging. If you don’t give me a full account, this task will be marked as a failure."

"No, no, no… Master!" Renault said, growing more agitated. A failed task would spell disaster for him!

Seeing Renault’s sudden anxiety, Yu Zhenzi was a bit surprised. Why did this little disciple care so much about the success or failure of a mere task? There was no direct reward attached to it. Could it be that Renault realized this was a test of his worthiness to become the next head of the sect?

In reality, Renault had no idea about becoming the next sect leader. He just didn’t want the task to fail, which would render all his efforts useless and require him to wait for a new mission.

"Master, your disciple would not dare!" Renault said hastily. He then grabbed a handful of soil and sniffed it. "Master, within this soil, I found traces of human blood. The blood does not carry any spiritual power, indicating that it belongs to ordinary people, not our sect's disciples."

Yu Zhenzi’s interest deepened. This was turning out to be more than he had initially expected. "Go on," he urged.

"There’s only one place nearby where there could be ordinary people—those villagers. The villagers are too frightened to leave the protective barrier around their village, knowing full well that monsters lurk outside."

Renault went on to explain that near the major sects, villages were often shielded by protective formations, allowing the villagers to carry out their lives in relative safety. Beyond those barriers, however, were dangers such as monsters and wild beasts.

"The blood is undoubtedly from ordinary villagers," Renault continued, "and within the soil, there are faint traces of beast blood as well. It's clear that these creatures clashed with the protective formation, got injured, and left behind their blood."

Yu Zhenzi’s expression changed slightly. Renault’s reasoning was unexpectedly logical, and it was apparent that he hadn’t rushed to his conclusion without proper evidence. Yu Zhenzi had to admit that his disciple’s observations were quite detailed.

“Well done, Renault. Your analysis is thorough, and the evidence you’ve provided is compelling,” Yu Zhenzi said, finally satisfied. “I now trust that the monsters indeed come from the Chiyan Cave.”

Renault finally let out a sigh of relief, seeing that his master was no longer dissatisfied. Completing this task successfully was crucial for his future progress. If the task had been deemed a failure, he would have had to face a much harder one next.

"From now on, you are officially promoted to an inner disciple of Tianji Sect. Your future training will become much more rigorous. There are many profound skills that I have yet to teach you," Yu Zhenzi said seriously, "so don't let your guard down."

"Thank you, Master! I will certainly live up to your expectations!" Renault said excitedly, kneeling down to bow in gratitude. The prospect of being an inner disciple and receiving more advanced teachings filled him with anticipation.

Yu Zhenzi continued, "Although you’ve identified the source of the danger, the Chiyan Cave remains highly dangerous. At your current level, it’s best that you do not attempt to enter it. Once your strength has improved, we’ll consider the next steps."

Renault nodded. He knew his master was right. Though his curiosity about the cave and its secrets was piqued, he understood that venturing inside prematurely would be reckless.

“For now, focus on refining your skills, especially the ‘Lingjian Break’ technique I taught you earlier. You’ll need it for future challenges. As for the Chiyan Cave, I will send other disciples to investigate further. You’ve already provided critical information.”

Just as Yu Zhenzi finished speaking, Renault heard a familiar sound:

"Player Renault has completed the Spiritual Training Quest: ‘Investigate the Monsters,’ earning 50 reputation points and 3000 experience points. Player Renault now meets the requirements to break through to the next cultivation level. Would you like to proceed?"

Renault’s heart leaped with joy. Not only had he earned his master’s approval, but the system had also granted him the opportunity for a breakthrough in his cultivation.