《Spiritual Energy Rejuvenation: I Began Cultivating By Farming》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 The Golden Finger Isnt Given at the Start ?1: Chapter 1 The Golden Finger Isn¡¯t Given at the Start 1: Chapter 1 The Golden Finger Isn¡¯t Given at the Start The blazing sun scorched the sky, and the cicadas¡¯ relentless chirring offered no respite. ¡°Song Ping, one stone of Immortal Valley Grain, grade B+, priced at ten taels of silver.¡± ¡°Zhao Yang, two stones of Spirit Rice, grade A-, priced at two hundred taels of silver.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Under the shade of a cool pavilion, an elderly man dressed in dark clothing and wearing a Jade Crown sat, calling out prices resoundingly while recording everyone who came up to sell their grain. If Jiang Tang were still in his previous life where he could enjoy air conditioning, he would have definitely sat under the cool breeze eating an ice pop, remarking on the pleasant weather and the glorious sun. But now, he could only wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield himself from the sun, his two arms bare under the fierce sunlight, as he strenuously pushed his wooden cart, constantly looking ahead. Jiang Tang wiped the sweat from his brow. To hell with glorious sun; it was hot enough to kill a person. He was originally a modern college student from a different time and space until he woke up to find himself transmigrated into this fictional world where cultivation was possible. Every transmigrated individual probably had some innate advantages¡ªupon arrival in this world of cultivation, they would receive a ¡®Golden Finger¡¯ from the start, allowing them to smite gods or subdue buddhas with ease, climbing to life¡¯s peak. But Jiang Tang was an exception. Embracing the conceited attitude of a chosen one from a transmigration, he had proudly gone to the Immortal Sect to participate in the test for Spiritual Roots. The dream was beautiful, the reality, brutal. A harsh reality struck him squarely in the face. He had the lowest of Mixed Spiritual Roots and couldn¡¯t even complete the basic cultivation task of Qi Introduction, let alone achieve Ascension¡ªthose were things for others, not for him. Thus, Jiang Tang was gloriously assigned to the role of a Servant Disciple in the Immortal Sect, becoming a farmer. The farmers of the Immortal Sect planted Immortal grains bestowed from the heavens above as well as various types of Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass. This year, the Sect was experiencing a shortage of grain, which was why Jiang Tang¡¯s cart was piled high with unhusked Immortal Valley Grain. ¡°Hey there, young friend, I¡¯m talking to you; hurry it up, there¡¯s a line forming behind you.¡± Just as Jiang Tang was reflecting, a voice suddenly pulled him back to reality. Seeing that the man in dark clothing was addressing him, Jiang Tang quickly composed himself and bowed, bringing his cart over for inspection. ¡°Jiang Tang, one stone of Immortal Valley Grain, grade A-, priced at five hundred taels of gold!¡± After a careful examination, the elder in dark clothing revealed a satisfied smile, nodded appreciatively, and then made a note of it. Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. After three long years of earnest farming, Jiang Tang had resigned himself to a lifetime at the bottom of the societal ladder as a farmer. Then one day, he suddenly found that the piece of jade he wore around his neck was actually a Spirit Field Space. Because he had nurtured the jade, he became connected to it, forming a contract and becoming the master of this space. Once Jiang Tang entered the space, he found himself surrounded by dense fog that obscured his vision, allowing only a glimpse of a single acre of land beneath his feet, a few scattered seeds, and several ancient texts. Delving into the ancient texts, Jiang Tang learned that the Spirit Field Space was a mysterious treasure granted to those predestined to possess it. Whatever was planted within it would grow infused with Spiritual Energy, and each would be a treasure on its own. The boundaries of the Spirit Field were vast, even greater than the Nine States Continent. The reason he could only see an acre of land underneath his feet was entirely due to his insufficient cultivation. As long as he increased his cultivation, he could plough new Spirit Fields. According to the ancient texts, cultivated Spirit Fields would gift countless, unexpected treasures. Treasures! Thus, guided by the ancient texts, Jiang Tang planted the seeds found in the space and tended to them with great care. After they matured, Jiang Tang followed an ancient prescription to concoct pills, consuming them to reshape his Spiritual Root, thereby allowing him to introduce Qi into his body and begin cultivation. This batch of Immortal Valley Grain was indeed the first crop he had planted in the Spirit Field. He had sown them with a try-and-see attitude. To his surprise, this batch of seeds, which were only average in quality, had actually grown into superior grains rich in Spiritual Energy! Jiang Tang was completely excited. The Golden Finger had arrived a bit late, but it was still better than aimlessly waiting for death. ¡°Young friend, of all the crops this year, yours are the most outstanding. Work hard at your farming, do not slack off,¡± the old man said as he handed Jiang Tang a written plaque, speaking words of encouragement. ¡°Disciple will keep it in mind,¡± Jiang Tang replied with a bow, taking the plaque and hurriedly went to find the Outer Sect Steward to exchange it for money, leaving behind the envious gazes of the other Servant Disciples. ¡°Jiang, you have been diligent for three years. Why not report to the Sect and apply to join the Spirit Farmer Association?¡± the Steward, handing Jiang Tang a Qiankun Bag filled with money, kindly reminded him. ¡°Steward¡¯s words are most astute, but as a disciple with humble skills, I dare not wield an axe at the door of the Immortal¡¯s class. It¡¯s better to just honestly continue farming,¡± Jiang Tang replied, scratching his head. The Spirit Farmer Association was specially organized by the Immortal Sect. Those who could join it were bound to become influential figures¡ªof course, not in cultivation, but in the recognition they received from Immortals for their farming prowess. It was only his first attempt at planting in the Spirit Field; joining hastily could lead to disaster if things went south later. After three years of farming, Jiang Tang had learned a lesson. Be honest and steady, and do your best to survive. Furthermore, though he was on the path of cultivation, at his core, he remained human. People live for money. His goal was not limited to the Spirit Farmer Association¡ªhe wanted to earn a great fortune while cultivating, allowing himself to become wealthy. After all, money is not omnipotent, but without it, one is truly powerless. Even in the world of cultivation, the Major Sects of the Mortal Realm needed to eat and maintain their disciples of mortal flesh¡ªthey, too, needed to earn money. Jiang Tang had thought his dream of sudden wealth was hopeless, until a space from the heavens descended. After his first harvest, Jiang Tang, reinvigorated by the thought of getting rich, planted seeds of the Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass he had secretly hidden in an acre of land. Now, all he needed to do was to water and weed the plants, then cultivate and wait for the Spirit Grass to mature. Lost in these delightful thoughts, Jiang Tang headed towards the Practice Room. He was completely unaware that the gold he had harvested today had already attracted the greedy eyes of some. At the entrance to the Practice Room, Jiang Tang paid the on-duty Servant Disciple the silver fee and was about to enter when a hand suddenly stopped him. ¡°Younger Brother Jiang, I have reserved this room,¡± said the man with a grin, showing a hint of a smile before turning to enter. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. He might lie low but that did not mean he would tolerate bullying. ¡°Brother Du, I arrived at this Practice Room first, and I have already paid the fee,¡± Jiang Tang said, grabbing the man¡¯s sleeve and speaking softly. As the latest disciple to enter this generation, and because of his inadequate strength, every Servant Disciple here was his senior brother. This chap was Du Long, the infamous Little Overlord among the Servant Disciples. He took advantage of his backing in the Outer Sect to bully the other Servant Disciples and was rumored to have even secured a chance to participate in the Outer Sect¡¯s entrance examination. Chapter 2 - 2 2 Opportunity Knocks at the Door ?2: Chapter 2 Opportunity Knocks at the Door 2: Chapter 2 Opportunity Knocks at the Door ¡°What, you want to fight me for it?¡± Du Long narrowed his eyes. Feeling the overwhelming strength of this fellow, which was far greater than his own, Jiang Tang said, ¡°¡­ I wouldn¡¯t dare, wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± If he couldn¡¯t beat him, he certainly couldn¡¯t just stand his ground and fight. ¡°You wastrel, you¡¯re wasting my time, hand over the silver now!¡± Du Long¡¯s face showed a trace of anger as he held out his palm toward him. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± So he was after his gold. He couldn¡¯t fight him, nor could he run away. Not admitting he was scared and yet reluctant to cough up the silver, Jiang Tang pondered for a while before finally presenting a stalk of Spirit Grass with a sycophantic grin, hurrying over and saying, ¡°Here I have a stalk of Nourishing Soul Grass, obtained by a stroke of luck. I offer it to Brother Long as an apology.¡± This Nourishing Soul Grass was a treasure from the Spirit Field, not to mention its top quality, and was even purer than the mixed breed Nourishing Soul Grass outside¡ªit could absorb a densely concentrated amount of Spiritual Power. Moreover, the Nourishing Soul Grass was extremely rare and expensive, and only the wealthy sons outside could afford it. In the Sect, it belonged to resources available only to the Outer Sect disciples and above. Upon seeing the Nourishing Soul Grass, Du Long immediately forgot about money. His anger subsided with a cold snort, he pocketed the Nourishing Soul Grass and entered the Practice Room. The duty Disciple looked at Jiang Tang with sympathy in his eyes. Jiang Tang felt a pang in his wallet and thought to himself that once he started his cultivation, he definitely needed to consume lots of these grasses. He turned and returned to his own courtyard, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to focus, and began to inspect his own Spirit Field. The Spirit Field spanned one mu, divided into five sections, where he had planted a total of two hundred stalks of Spirit Grass. He initially wasn¡¯t very familiar with these matters, but having worked the land for three years and with the help of ancient texts¡¯ introductions and cultivation methods, he had managed to become skillful. In fact, he hadn¡¯t fully cultivated the one-mu plot because he had built a cowshed in a small corner of it. When Jiang Tang first began to till the Spirit Field, he found insects in it, so he tried putting a few chickens in to catch them, realizing later that living creatures could be brought into this place. Thus, not long ago, Jiang Tang went down the mountain, bought a Little Blue Ox, and brought it into the space specifically for ploughing the field. Since the seeds in the space were running out, one section was left empty. Jiang Tang, who had some Spirit Grass seeds left, took the Little Blue Ox out, harnessed it to the Spirit Plough, and began ploughing that section of the Spirit Field. In less than a quarter of an hour, this young calf had ploughed the field with brute strength. Jiang Tang led it to the cowshed, took out the stored dry Spirit Grass from his Qiankun Bag and filled the feed trough, poured a large trough of Spirit Water, patted its head, and then, picking up the hoe, walked to the front of that particular section of the field. Twisting his fingers to activate his Spiritual Power, Jiang Tang struck the hardened soil with the hoe repeatedly. The soil broke apart, and the trapped Spiritual Energy was released and began to flow in every direction. Breaking up the soil was a delicate task; back then, Jiang Tang had learned it for a long time before he became adept as he was now. Wiping the fine sweat from his forehead, Jiang Tang looked at the finely crumbled soil overflowing with Spiritual Energy, feeling a sense of pride. He picked up the rake, brought the well-fed and rested Little Blue Ox to rake the field once more, saw that the soil became even without any high or low spots, then scattered the Spirit Grass seeds, watered the land, and applied fertilizer. ¡°Little fella, you worked hard. Go back and rest,¡± Jiang Tang said with a slight smile, stuffing a handful of beans into the mouth of the Little Blue Ox. The Little Blue Ox nodded obediently and returned to the cowshed to drink the Spirit Water. Jiang Tang continued to look over the crops in his space, occasionally pinching his fingers to pull out a weed. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crops here grew at an astonishing pace, some having only just been planted when sprouts were already peeking out. Moments later, the few rows of Spirit Fields in front had already matured. Jiang Tang hurriedly took the sickle hanging beside the cowshed, carefully harvesting the mature Spirit Grass and storing them in the Qiankun Bag. After adding beans and Spirit Water for the Little Blue Ox, Jiang Tang finally departed the space, drenched in sweat. After taking a bath, the sun had already begun to set. As Jiang Tang stepped outside, he suddenly heard laughter coming from nearby. He climbed onto the fence of his own yard, stealthily peeking over. A Servant Disciple was showing off a two-foot-long sword, proudly proclaiming, ¡°This is a Yellow-Tier sword gifted to me by my brother from the Outer Sect. Although it is of the lowest quality, it is still an incredibly sharp treasure.¡± Listening to his boastful tales, a flash of envy crossed Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes, identical to that of the other Servant Disciples around. In this world of cultivation, plants are categorized into four grades: A, B, C, and D, with each grade divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, adding up to twelve ranks in total. Weapons are also classified accordingly, just categorized as Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, and Yellow. Four grades, also separated into upper, middle, and lower, likewise make up twelve ranks. Those that attain a rank are known as Spiritual Artifacts, and only cultivators can wield them. For someone like him, who¡¯d only reached the second level of Body Refinement after half a year of practice, dreaming of wielding such weapons was a long journey indeed. Ah, no rush, why the hurry? Once he became a major cultivator with wealth spreading in all directions, would he still worry about not being able to vigorously harvest Spirit Grass to enhance his cultivation, or holding a Longsword to travel the world? Some things became even more elusive the more you rushed them, while not rushing sometimes brought them to you more frequently. And wasn¡¯t that the case? The opportunity presented itself to Jiang Tang the very next day. At the crack of dawn, staring at the two Outer Sect Stewards standing before his fence, a drowsy Jiang Tang suddenly felt a jolt of alertness and quickly woke up. ¡°Honorable Stewards, I¡¯m not sure what brings you here to seek me out at this hour,¡± Jiang Tang welcomed them in, inviting them into the hall and respectfully bowing. Frowning at the humble courtyard that was so modest even his own dog would scorn it, both Stewards knit their brows. ¡°Jiang, friend, I¡¯ve seen the records. You¡¯ve worked hard these past three years and earned a fair amount of silver. Why do you still live in such a miserable place instead of moving to something more spacious and comfortable?¡± one Steward asked with a furrowed brow. Jiang Tang served them a pot of tea brewed with herbs picked from the Spirit Field, then scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, ¡°To be honest, I lived in poverty as a child, and I wanted to save some silver to open a shop at the foot of the mountain and earn some money for myself.¡± The Immortal Sect allowed disciples to conduct business, but the income was taxable, with twenty percent going to the Sect. Paying taxes had its benefits as well; you could hang the Immortal Sect¡¯s insignia above your storefront, akin to having a powerful patron. Unless one sought trouble for themselves, people generally wouldn¡¯t dare provoke them. The two Stewards nodded in approval, taking a sip from their old tea cups and instantly noticing the aroma and the Spiritual Energy rushing through their lips straight into their Dantian. They praised the excellent tea, and their gazes toward Jiang Tang grew warmer and more benevolent. ¡°Jiang, friend, considering your three years of diligent farming without slack, we¡¯ve taken the liberty to secure you a spot in the agricultural fair. The top prize comes with thousands of silver; are you willing to participate?¡± the Steward who spoke earlier now said slowly. The agricultural fair held by the Immortal Sect was a market event similar to a temple fair, occurring once a year and specially meant for selling the Sect¡¯s harvest. Those who sold the most would get a reward in silver from the Sect. That top prize, he recalled, was indeed worth a thousand silver. Chapter 3 - 3 3 Truly Came Out on Top ?3: Chapter 3 Truly Came Out on Top 3: Chapter 3 Truly Came Out on Top ¡°Disciple is willing to go, thank you both, Stewards.¡± What a great chance to make money, it¡¯s too good to miss. Jiang Tang hurriedly bowed and accepted the offer. The two Stewards stood up, patted his shoulder, and then left. With the agricultural fair only a few days away, Jiang Tang was going to be busy. He got a batch of top-grade Spirit Grass seeds from the Immortal Sect¡¯s Farm Manager. After harvesting the previous batch of crops, he added some natural fertilizer to the soil. He then led the Little Blue Ox to plow the land, loosened the soil, and finally sowed the Spirit Grass seeds. While eating a Spirit Fruit, Jiang Tang¡¯s hand, tired from raking, accidentally twitched, and the fruit fell to the ground. He looked at the Spirit Fruit with some regret, then silently took out a white steamed bun, nibbling on it while watching the Spirit Grass seeds sprout and take root quickly. Suddenly, he felt something moving under his feet. Jiang Tang looked down and discovered that the Spirit Fruit had been buried in the soil and was sprouting branches on its own. Moreover, it seemed to be of a better grade than the one he had just eaten. After gobbling down the bun in two or three bites, Jiang Tang hurriedly found a shovel and carefully loosened the soil and fertilized it around the growing tree. After watering it with Spirit Water, Jiang Tang noticed that the haze over an adjacent Spirit Field had become incredibly thin. After doing some calculations, he realized he was about to enter the third heaven of Body Refinement and would soon be able to unlock this field. With this thought, Jiang Tang quickly left the space, took some Spirit Grass that could absorb Spiritual Power, and began to cultivate. Sure enough, by early the next morning, he had stepped into the third heaven of Body Refinement. Jiang Tang looked at the surging Spiritual Power in the palm of his hand and silently teared up. He really envied those big shots who had cheat modes activated to the max and could ascend effortlessly, unlike him, who spent three years just to reach the third heaven of Body Refinement. The Cultivation Realms of this world are divided into Body Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Ocean Wheel, Spirit Mansion, Mahayana, Divinity Transformation, and the Nine Divine Realms. Cultivators in the Divinity Transformation Realm can be called Demi Gods or Demi Immortals. Beyond that, one must cross the Tribulation for Ascension. Success in the Tribulation means becoming a Deity, while failure results in severe injury at best or the scattering of one¡¯s soul at worst. This is a golden age of cultivation. To be precise, this is a golden age of cultivation after the decline of the law when Spiritual Energy began to revive. Because too many from the previous generations ascended, it led to the depletion of Spiritual Energy and resources couldn¡¯t keep up, causing many Major Sects, even including the number one Immortal Sect in the Mortal Realm, to nearly lose their legacy. Latterly, The Upper Realm noticed this issue and opened the Spiritual River, channeling Spiritual Energy into the Mortal Realm, allowing people to tread the path of cultivation again. Throughout ancient and modern times, countless have ascended, but the number of those who truly ascend to The Upper Realm is very few. Better to farm diligently and cultivate earnestly. After planting four or five batches of crops and collecting a vast array of things, the agricultural fair began. Guided by the two Stewards, Jiang Tang followed a few Outer Sect brothers to the fair. Those doing business were all Outer Sect Disciples and Servant Disciples of the Immortal Sect, while those patronizing the stalls were some disciples from Noble Clans and ordinary folks. The fair was bustling, selling Spirit Grass, Spiritual Medicine, and even Pills, featuring a wide range. Jiang Tang found a quiet spot and started setting up his stall. Before long, a few neatly dressed young men approached, picked up a few Spirit Grasses to inspect closely, then with delighted expressions, asked him for the price. Jiang Tang glanced at the Spirit Grass and said with a slight smile, ¡°The price is set by the imperial court, ten coins per kilo.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You, young man, are not like the others who only think of taking advantage. The quality of this Spirit Grass is not bad either, so give me one quintal,¡± said the young man holding the Spirit Grass, nodding at once. Seeing this, the others also began to pick up Spirit Grass they liked and asked him for the price. Jiang Tang accepted their money and handed over the goods. After watching them leave, he realized that he had made a thousand taels of silver from his first transaction. ¡°Junior brother, you¡¯re really lucky. Those were sons of the Ten Great Clans, and they were willing to give your business a shot,¡± a Servant Disciple who was selling Spirit Grass under a nearby awning said enviously when he saw that Jiang Tang had made so much silver on his first sale, his words tinged with a hint of sourness. ¡°The Ten Great Clans?¡± Jiang Tang was taken aback. ¡°Yes, the top ten noble clans in the Mortal Realm. Little brother, you really are ignorant. The first one who bought your Spirit Grass was a disciple of the Medical Gate Hua Clan. The ones behind him were also disciples of the Ten Great Clans.¡± Seeing this, the man couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. Jiang Tang realized then. He had long heard of these top ten peak cultivation clans in the Mortal Realm from stories. Since they each specialized in certain areas, they were crowned with exclusive household names. Take the Medical Gate Hua Clan for example¡ªthey were known throughout the Mortal Realm for proving the Dao through medicine. Oh, those were the great figures he had to look up to. Jiang Tang didn¡¯t have time to reflect on this because a few more buyers approached for his Spirit Grass¡ªthey had seen the rich family¡¯s sons buying here, showing satisfied expressions, and out of curiosity, they came to take a look. Once they saw it, they were pleased. The quality was excellent. When they heard Jiang Tang¡¯s asking price, they were even happier, promptly paid him in silver, took the Spirit Grass, and left. Thus, Jiang Tang¡¯s business gained momentum like a rolling snowball. In less than half a day, he had earned a full basin of shiny silver coins, even causing the steward elder in charge of counting the money to be somewhat flabbergasted. Good lad, all the members of the agricultural conference together didn¡¯t earn as much as he did alone. Without surprise, Jiang Tang dominated the conference, winning the top spot. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Jiang Tang smiled silently to himself as he collected a thousand taels of silver. Indeed, the happiest thing was having silver in hand. Back in his courtyard, Jiang Tang suddenly remembered that he hadn¡¯t yet cultivated the second plot of land that appeared in his space. Because he had been busy preparing for the agricultural conference the past few days, he had put off this task. Now recalling it, Jiang Tang quickly bought a batch of Spirit Grass seeds and immediately entered the space. He carefully examined the second plot of land. It had a slight color difference from the first plot, with one plant that had already borne white fruits. Jiang Tang walked over and picked one. The fruit immediately split open, and the core fell to the ground, transforming into a three-foot-long longsword. Stunned for a moment, Jiang Tang realized that this was probably the other layer of meaning in the ancient texts about every planted thing being a treasure. Picking up the longsword with all his might, Jiang Tang examined it closely. The quality was upper third grade, an excellent treasure for him. Given this plot¡¯s slight color difference, he figured that the crops grown here would all be weapons of this sort. Thinking this, Jiang Tang brought over Little Blue Ox to plow the Spirit Field. After a while, Jiang Tang looked at the divided five furrows of Spirit Field and scattered the first batch of seeds. The first-planted Spirit Grass quickly grew mature, bearing large fruits. Jiang Tang used a sickle to cut one down, and the fruit immediately split open, with the core falling to the ground and turning into a harrow. A harrow? Jiang Tang, munching on the flesh, picked up the harrow and found it abundant in spiritual energy. He went to the first plot of land and used the harrow on the empty field, discovering that the loosened soil¡¯s spiritual power grew even more intense, revealing a look of delight. The wooden harrow was no longer needed. Using this harrow for farming, the soil would likely nourish even finer crops. Jiang Tang collected the ripe fruits from the second plot of land into his newly purchased Qiankun Bag and suddenly remembered something. Chapter 4 - 4 4 He Really Cant Fight ?4: Chapter 4 He Really Can¡¯t Fight 4: Chapter 4 He Really Can¡¯t Fight He was already at the third level of Body Refinement, and according to the cultivation realm, he was eligible to go to the Scripture Pavilion and ask the Steward for a lower grade, yellow-tier cultivation technique. A cultivation technique, he had never seen what one looked like in this lifetime. Jiang Tang rubbed his hands together and left his simple fenced-in courtyard. It was dawn, and a line had already formed in front of the Scripture Pavilion. The disciples lining up at this time were all Servant Disciples¡ªthey had low talent and had only barely managed to reach the realm that allowed them entrance to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a Cultivation Skill Manual. They feared that the Outer Sect disciples would snatch them away, so they had to get up early and come over at this time to collect the techniques. Jiang Tang was among the early arrivals, thus he quickly joined the queue. After registering, he followed a few other Servant Disciples inside and looked around the Scripture Pavilion with curious eyes. As expected of the number one immortal cultivation sect in the world, the Scripture Pavilion, though seemingly small, contained an immense space within¡ªupon a closer count, there were twelve floors, but they, the lowliest, could only choose secret manuals on the first floor. They couldn¡¯t even go to the upper floors even if they wanted to, as every floor was protected by restrictive spells, and any attempt to forcefully ascend would result in being eradicated by the triggered formation. Following the rules, Jiang Tang walked around and noticed that the secret manuals were written on either books or bamboo scrolls, and there was only one copy of each. So, the question arose, how did they manage to have multiple people own a single copy? As Jiang Tang pondered this, he took a liking to a physical strength secret manual. The name of the manual was the Golden Body Spell, which could enhance one¡¯s physique and was very suitable for cultivators in the Body Refinement stage. With this, he wouldn¡¯t suffer from physical exhaustion when plowing and farming, thereby saving him from wasting a great amount of precious Spirit Grass. Actually, this was just one of the reasons. Another was that when taking hits, he wouldn¡¯t feel as much pain. Mainly because in his past life he was a student of the liberal arts and had never learned any fighting techniques, in this life at most he could swing a hoe. Thus, he had no knowledge of martial arts moves¡ªthose successful transmigrators who started off cultivating powerful secret techniques were, to him, not just irrelevant, but totally out of reach. When he opened the secret manual and saw nothing but a bunch of abstract illustrations, Jiang Tang was utterly baffled on the spot. He wanted to ask if this thing was even meant to be understood by humans¡ªhow did those transmigration protagonists understand the manuals and learn to cultivate just by looking at them? He begged for the trick! Outside, the copper bell jingled, and everyone else happily departed, leaving only Jiang Tang with a troubled expression. When the Steward saw him holding the manual with a long face, he couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow and ask, ¡°Young friend, what seems to be the issue?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand this secret manual,¡± Jiang Tang replied with an embarrassed smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This manual is just for your selection. The real cultivation method and the tricks are inscribed in the Jade Token,¡± the Steward explained with an immediate knowing smile. He took the book from Jiang Tang and handed him a Jade Token, ¡°Newcomers don¡¯t understand this. Here, take your Jade Token, and when you return, imbue it with your Divine Sense to view the contents.¡± Jiang Tang suddenly saw the light, so that was how it worked. He took the Jade Token and saw how the handful of books in the Steward¡¯s hands turned into points of light that flew back to the Scripture Pavilion, leaving him astonished. So that¡¯s the secret to their unlimited use. As Jiang Tang walked back, he tried to infuse the Jade Token with his Divine Sense, and sure enough, as the Divine Sense came into contact with the inscribed cultivation method within the Token, an entirely new cultivation mindset, incantation, and introductory tips suddenly appeared in his mind. Even detailed annotations for beginners in ancient dialect were included. With such detailed step-by-step instructions, if he still couldn¡¯t learn, then he would truly be hopeless. Jiang Tang couldn¡¯t help but be moved. He hadn¡¯t walked far when he bumped head-on into someone. ¡°Ouch! Who¡¯s the blind one here!¡± A cry of pain shocked Jiang Tang, who had been absorbed in the cultivation method and walking with his head down, into awareness. He looked up and a twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth. Why was it this Little Overlord again¡­ Du Long, looking up, recognized Jiang Tang and couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°Yo, Little Junior Brother, it¡¯s you again.¡± That ¡®again¡¯ was indeed curious. Jiang Tang took a step back and gave a sheepish smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to bump into you, Senior Brother. Good morning.¡± ¡°Just came out of the Scripture Pavilion, huh?¡± Du Long eyed the direction from which he was approaching and raised an eyebrow again, ¡°What Secret Manual did you get? Show me.¡± As he spoke, he reached out his hand. Jiang Tang instinctively tucked the Jade Token away a bit. He hadn¡¯t completely memorized it yet. ¡°Brother, this is just a lower-rank Yellow-tier cultivation technique; it¡¯s not worthy of your attention, so let¡¯s forget about it,¡± Jiang Tang grinned, offering an awkward smile again. But the more Jiang Tang hid it, the more Du Long believed he had obtained a good Secret Manual. His expression turned stern at once, ¡°What? Won¡¯t you give Long face?¡± Jiang Tang felt like crying but had no tears. How could he not give in? He dared not refuse. But he was telling the truth. ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want to give it up, I won¡¯t waste words with you. Three days from now, do you dare to fight me in the arena?¡± Du Long suddenly gestured dismissively. ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Tang was somewhat unable to follow Du Long¡¯s train of thought. Why fight on the martial arts stage? ¡°Since you¡¯ve obtained a cultivation technique, you must be planning to diligently practice it. My challenge in the arena is simply to offer you some guidance. What, you don¡¯t want to?¡± Du Long narrowed his eyes. ¡°¡­¡± Was this coercion? He only knew how to farm; he didn¡¯t know how to fight. ¡°How about this, if you win against me, Long, I won¡¯t come to give you guidance anymore. If you lose, you¡¯ll give me three Nourishing Soul Grasses. What do you say, junior brother?¡± Seeing him dumbstruck, Du Long grew impatient and decided to get straight to the point without mincing words. By now, if Jiang Tang still didn¡¯t understand Du Long¡¯s scheme, he¡¯d be a real fool. He was still after his Nourishing Soul Grasses. Jiang Tang hesitated. If he didn¡¯t agree, with the Little Overlord¡¯s temper, he would surely find endless excuses to pick on him. If he agreed, once they wrote the duel agreement for the arena, according to the rules, if he won, Du Long would have to abide by the agreement to avoid backfire from the contract¡ªhe¡¯d stop causing trouble, and he could then get rid of the problem once and for all. And anyway, Du Long was only at the fourth layer of Body Refinement, just one small realm higher than himself. Maybe¡­ he should give it a try? After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Tang slowly nodded, ¡°Fine. But brother, we must make an agreement.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so hard about that?¡± Thus, Du Long and he slapped hands agreeably, swearing by the soul. As the words were uttered, an Array instantly formed under their feet. ¡°Little junior brother, have your Nourishing Soul Grasses ready early.¡± Seeing his goals achieved, Du Long patted his shoulder and left in a rather good mood. Jiang Tang looked at the Jade Token in his hand and let out a slow sigh. Being a person who transmigrated, yet feeling so aggrieved, was indeed uncomfortable. But he truly didn¡¯t know how to fight. However¡­ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Tang felt he still had to put in the effort. Without trying, how would he know the outcome? So, after returning to his courtyard, aside from tending the fields and harvesting, he put all his effort into practicing the Golden Body Spell. Three days later, Jiang Tang slowly opened his eyes, a smile spreading across his lips. Heaven rewards the diligent, and he had successfully made a breakthrough in the Golden Body Spell. Chapter 5 - 5 5 Why are you going easy senior brother ?5: Chapter 5 Why are you going easy, senior brother? 5: Chapter 5 Why are you going easy, senior brother? In order to test his Golden Body Spell, Jiang Tang entered the space and began to farm the land. This time, he plowed an acre of land at twice the speed he had before, and his qi didn¡¯t become disordered! He then let Little Blue Ox bump into him, and when Little Blue Ox used its horns to nudge him, Jiang Tang didn¡¯t feel any pain at all. Heh, the Golden Body Spell was a success. After harvesting the ripe Spirit Grass, Jiang Tang plowed the five furrows of land with Little Blue Ox, sowed new seeds, watered, and fertilized before finally leaving the space. Seeing that the time for the duel of magic and martial arts was approaching, Jiang Tang hurriedly washed his face and rushed to the arena. Du Long had been waiting at the arena for quite some time. Since he was somewhat notorious as Little Overlord, the moment he stepped onto the stage, he immediately attracted the attention of a cluster of servant disciples who had snuck some free time early in the morning to wander around. Which unlucky sod is going to duel in magic and martial arts with this Little Overlord? Out of curiosity, some approached to check the dueler¡¯s contract that appeared automatically on the arena¡¯s light screen, and upon discovering it was Jiang Tang, the recent winner of the top position at the agricultural fair, they couldn¡¯t help clicking their tongues in surprise. Clever boy, he¡¯s definitely going to be squeezed dry by Du Long. As the time agreed upon in the contract approached and Jiang Tang was still nowhere to be seen, the watching servant disciples began to whisper among themselves. ¡°Could it be that Jiang Tang is planning to run away?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he know the rules? A no-show is considered a forfeiture, making him a loser without honor.¡± ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s none of our business; just here to join the fun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Just when Du Long thought Jiang Tang was going to forfeit, Jiang Tang came running over, panting heavily. ¡°I, I went to the latrine, sorry, sorry for being late,¡± Jiang Tang walked onto the stage with an embarrassed grin. After a brief silence, everyone burst into roaring laughter. They¡¯re probably thinking he was scared pissless. ¡°Cut the crap and make your move,¡± Du Long suppressed his laughter, looking at Jiang Tang with mocking eyes, ¡°I, Long, will let you have three moves.¡± This scrap of a third level Body Refinement, no matter how much he fusses about, he won¡¯t be able to defeat him. Jiang Tang summoned a stalk of Spirit Grass and consumed it to recover his strength; then, he brought out his weapon for today¡¯s fight. A hoe. When they saw this muddy hoe, the disciples who had stopped laughing burst out in laughter once more. Du Long stared coldly at Jiang Tang, and the words that came from his mouth seemed somewhat through gritted teeth¡ª ¡°You little punk, who are you looking down on?!¡± This guy actually brought a hoe used for digging to a fight! ¡°Ah, well, this Magic Artifact just happens to be it. There¡¯s nobody saying that in a duel of magic and martial arts, you must use swords, spears, halberds, right?¡± Jiang Tang scratched his head. In reality, he could barely even lift those weapons, let alone use them¡­ haha, without a manual or a cultivation technique, what¡¯s the use? Du Long, with a grim face, summoned a longsword, charged his Spiritual Power, stepped forward, and slashed toward Jiang Tang. That was a low-ranking Yellow-Level Spiritual Artifact he had recently snatched; it was more than enough to deal with this kid. Out of instinct, Jiang Tang raised the hoe to block. The sword qi from that longsword was thus nullified by the hoe. Du Long was taken aback and simply employed the swordsmanship technique he had recently been practicing, stepping forward to rush at Jiang Tang. The longsword struck Jiang Tang, who couldn¡¯t dodge in time, but it only left a shallow scratch. Du Long¡¯s wrist winced from the recoil, feeling numb and tingling, nearly causing him to drop the sword. He took a step back, sizing up Jiang Tang from head to toe, and suddenly remembered that this chap had visited the Scripture Pavilion three days ago. Could it be that this guy has successfully cultivated a technique? ¡°Senior brother, it¡¯s only fair to return the favor, now it¡¯s my turn,¡± said Jiang Tang, unfazed by the pain due to his initiation into the Golden Body Spell. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a slight smile, he raised his hoe and smashed it toward Du Long. Du Long resisted with his sword, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated Jiang Tang¡¯s seemingly tall and thin figure to possess such immense strength. With the hoe coming down, Du Long¡¯s sword instantly split apart. And on Du Long¡¯s nose, the hoe left a deep bloody gash. The servant disciples all gasped in shock. It couldn¡¯t be real. An iron hoe without any grade actually damaged a low-level Yellow-grade Spiritual Artifact? Wiping the blood on his hand, a killing intent rose in Du Long¡¯s heart, no longer holding back, he mustered all his Spiritual Power and struck at Jiang Tang. Seeing this, Jiang Tang immediately resorted to the Immortal Sect Spell, maneuvering flexibly according to the moves spelled out in the technique to fight Du Long. The Immortal Sect Spell was an exclusive cultivation technique that every disciple of the sect had to learn upon joining. If one failed the mental comprehension test, they¡¯d have to say goodbye during the entrance assessment. This was the only technique Jiang Tang could show off. A few days ago, when he was practicing the Golden Body Spell, it suddenly dawned upon him that he still remembered the Immortal Sect Spell after three years of farming, which he had almost forgotten. So, over the past three days, Jiang Tang had carefully recalled the technique he had memorized during late-night study sessions, barely managing to invoke the technique and maneuvers. Thanks to the refinement from the Golden Body Spell and Spirit Grass, Jiang Tang¡¯s physique looked frail but was in fact robust. Even with Du Long exerting all his strength, he could only leave superficial scratches on Jiang Tang¡¯s skin, without even drawing blood. On the contrary, Du Long had hurt his wrist from the recoil of his own Spiritual Power, so much that he couldn¡¯t hold onto his sword. Finally, when another sword strike reflected back, Du Long¡¯s sword fell to the ground. And his hand hung under the sleeve of his robe, trembling. ¡°Senior brother, why are you going soft now?¡± Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. He was inwardly laughing with joy. It seemed practicing the Golden Body Spell was the right choice; it didn¡¯t hurt at all when getting hit. ¡°Damn kid, are you playing tricks?¡± Du Long cursed furiously, his anger making him break into profanity. Being beaten up by someone at the third level of Body Refinement was too humiliating. ¡°I¡¯m not cheating,¡± Jiang Tang shook his head. ¡°Long, I keep my word, I won¡¯t come looking for you in the future. But you brat, don¡¯t be too smug! I will return today¡¯s humiliation!¡± Du Long sneered as he picked up the completely broken longsword and quickly left the arena. As the entertaining fight ended, the crowd dispersed. Jiang Tang shrugged his shoulders. It looked like there would still be trouble. Oh well, it was time to go back; the crops in his field had ripened quite a bit. After leaving the arena, Jiang Tang hurried back to his courtyard, entered the space, and began to harvest the mature crops in the two-acre field. Halfway through the harvest, he suddenly heard a strange noise. He turned around to look and caught sight of Little Blue Ox lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth, eyes filled with pain. ¡°Come on, little guy, what did you eat?¡± Jiang Tang was startled and hurriedly dropped his sickle to check on the ox. He saw Little Blue Ox had vomited a peculiarly shaped flower. After picking it up and identifying it, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°I told you not to be greedy. This is poisonous; I planted it for self-defense, and you ate it.¡± As it turned out, this was a type of poison grass in the Spirit Field. According to ancient texts, grinding this poison grass into juice could produce various highly toxic pills. He had planned to use this stuff to concoct pills or poisonous powder for self-defense in the future. After planting it, he didn¡¯t confine Little Blue Ox, allowing it to graze in the first acre of the field with the finest Spirit Grass. Little Blue Ox kept grazing until it encountered the poison grass. Chapter 6 - 6 6 First Encounter with Yuchen His Swordsmanship Is So Immortal 1 ?6: Chapter 6: First Encounter with Yuchen, His Swordsmanship Is So Immortal (1) 6: Chapter 6: First Encounter with Yuchen, His Swordsmanship Is So Immortal (1) Jiang Tang found some detoxifying Spirit Grass for Little Blue Ox and fed it to him, then he directly carried it back to the cowshed. ¡°Little guy, you must learn to recognize these things clearly from now on. If I had not arrived in time, your little life would have been over,¡± Jiang Tang poked at the forehead of Little Blue Ox. ¡°Moo¡ª¡± Little Blue Ox nuzzled Jiang Tang¡¯s waist and immediately fell into a deep sleep. Jiang Tang added some fodder and water for him before continuing to harvest. Both of his Qiankun Bags were almost full. He decided to go down the mountain in a few days to buy a bigger one, and along the way, look for a good shop. After all these days, Jiang Tang had saved enough startup funds. He carefully planned and decided to start a small shop first and earn money to open branches later on. After harvesting from the two acres of land, seeing that Little Blue Ox was still weak, Jiang Tang did not make him get up to plow the land. Instead, he took it upon himself to break up the soil and rake the land. Once the fertilizer and soil were mixed evenly, he then sowed the seeds. Because he practiced the Golden Body Spell, he did not feel very tired after finishing with the two acres of land. A thin layer of light sweat covered his back. He took a stalk of Spirit Grass that restored physical strength, which melted in his mouth and surged toward his Dantian. Jiang Tang immediately felt invigorated again. However, he did not plan to continue working. The so-called combination of work and rest, after all. After leaving the space, Jiang Tang took a bath and emerged when the night was deep. But he did not feel sleepy in the slightest. Looking up at the sky, Jiang Tang quietly listened to the cicadas and frogs in the night. In the Mortal Realm, the top cultivation Major Sects totaled four: the Immortal Sect in the Northern Region, the Taiji Sect in the Southern Region, the Yuan Sect in the Eastern Region, and the Holy Medical Valley in the Western Region. If ranked by their strength, the Immortal Sect would take the lead. As the number one cultivation Major Sect in the world, they owned sixty percent of the resources, while the remaining three Major Sects had to split the other twenty percent between them. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following these four Major Sects, each ruling over a part of the Nine States Continent, there were countless smaller forces under their influence. As for the middle of the continent, the Central Plains Dynasty, it was protected very tightly¡ªknown as the Celestial Empire that unified the Central Region. The royal family of the Celestial Dynasty belonged to the Xuanyuan Clan, thus earning the name of the Imperial Sect. With its abundance of resources, what trickled down to them from the Immortal Sect was actually only a little; but compared to other sects, the resources provided by the Immortal Sect were definitely first class. This was because the current Sect Master of the Immortal Sect was an Earth Immortal. It was said that the Sect Master could have achieved Ascension a thousand years ago, but he did not ascend. Instead, he chose to stay in the Mortal Realm, protecting the four directions and deterring Evil Spirits. Oh, how I wish to see what The Upper Realm is like. Forget it, let¡¯s not think about these impractical things. The goal in my lifetime should be to cultivate and farm diligently, striving to become a major planter. Jiang Tang returned to his room and continued to practice the Golden Body Spell. Having tasted the sweetness of success, Jiang Tang decided to cultivate the Golden Body Spell to the Minor Achievement stage before he would apply for permission to leave the mountain. In the blink of an eye, five days flashed by. That day, as Jiang Tang sat on the bed completely still, a golden glow suddenly radiated from his body. His eyes snapped open, and a smile spread across his lips. Golden Body Spell, Minor Achievement! Not only that, he had also incidentally reached the Minor Achievement stage of the third level of Body Refinement. The crops, ripe for harvest, had been plowed by Jiang Tang leading a lively little blue ox. Suddenly, he realized that his seeds were gone. Well, it might be good to go down the mountain to look for some rare medicinal herbs to plant. Thinking thus, Jiang Tang exited his space, quickly found the Outer Sect steward, registered to leave the mountain, received a token, and leisurely left down the long staircase that wound to the foot of the mountain. Little did he know, someone had been watching him for a long time. This person was Du Long. Since being beaten up by Jiang Tang, who was an entire realm lower than himself last time, Du Long had been the butt of jokes by his older brother from the Outer Sect. Therefore, Du Long¡¯s resentment toward Jiang Tang grew even stronger. ¡°This stinking kid, finally heading down the mountain. Humph, just watch how I deal with you!¡± Du Long sneered, shoved the two servant disciples beside him, and said, ¡°You know what to do, right?¡± ¡°We know, we understand!¡± The two disciples gave ingratiating smiles, hurried to find the steward elder, registered, and then left the mountain. Stinking brat, you¡¯d better die out there. If you come back to the Sect, young master here still has ways to deal with you. With a vicious look, Du Long glanced in the direction of the mountain base, sneered coldly, and turned to leave. At this moment, Jiang Tang was blissfully unaware of the misfortune that awaited him. After leaving the mountain, guided by the vague memories in his mind from his original self, Jiang Tang arrived at a piece of farmland that had long been desolate and ruined. There were two graves in the annex of a farmhouse. This was once the home of his original self. For some unknown reason that year, the harvest was poor everywhere on the continent, and crops mysteriously withered and died en masse, causing a famine. It was later when the Ten Great Clans and the four major Sects opened their granaries and distributed grain that they managed to quell the disaster spreading across the Nine States Continent. Despite Saint Medical Valley and the Medicine Sect mobilizing to distribute medicinal herbs and aid people in all directions, countless numbers of people still died in the crisis. The parents of his original self gave all remaining clean food in the house to their child, eating tree bark themselves in hopes of surviving. But when they could no longer bear the hunger, they went to the Mass Burial Mound and caught rats that had fed on human corpses. The dead people thrown in the Mass Burial Mound were all victims of the famine and subsequent epidemic. Rats feasted on their flesh, and after his parents ate the rats, they contracted the epidemic and died amidst that disaster. Leaving behind the original self, lonely and desolate, who cremated his own parents and grew up relying on others¡¯ charity. Until the age of sixteen, when his original self unfortunately drowned after falling into a river, coincidently, he transmigrated and took over, later joining the Immortal Sect, where he finally found shelter and could afford to eat and dress warmly. What a pitiable person. After sighing, Jiang Tang bowed to the graves, lit some incense, burned paper money, and then left. But Jiang Tang hadn¡¯t walked far before he began to sense something amiss. It wasn¡¯t so much amiss as a feeling that someone was following him. Jiang Tang looked around, saw nothing, and thinking he must be imagining things, shrugged his shoulders and headed to the nearby market town. Sold here were Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine dug up in the mountains by villagers. Because some herbs were unrecognizable, mixed with weeds, they were difficult to distinguish. Among these mixed Spirit Grasses and Spiritual Medicines, Jiang Tang found some rare ones mentioned in medical texts, and seeing that they were of decent quality, he planned to buy them at market price. The shopkeeper, seeing Jiang Tang dressed in simple clothes but with a demeanor not befitting a commoner, did not dare to haggle with him and even lowered the prices further. ¡°Old timer, we all depend on this to make a living. Please accept it; the price I¡¯m offering is the one set by the Celestial Dynasty,¡± said Jiang Tang as he shook his head and stuffed the silver into the old man¡¯s hand. Once Jiang Tang mentioned the Celestial Dynasty, the shopkeeper hastily, and with trepidation, accepted the silver. After browsing for a while and buying some rare but not-so-great looking Spirit Grass, Jiang Tang rented a horse carriage and instructed the coachman to head for Spirit Water Town, planning to purchase a Qiankun Bag with a larger storage space. (PS: Trying to save up chapters for the launch, friends who feel it¡¯s not enough can reward for more chapters, with a reward of ten thousand giving one additional chapter, and so on, up to a maximum of three extra chapters) Additionally, thank you to our first signed reader and their reward under user ID 20210301106504299418, your support is greatly appreciated and fuels my progress. Chapter 7 - 7 7 First Encounter with Yuchen His Swordsmanship Is So Immortal 2 ?7: Chapter 7: First Encounter with Yuchen, His Swordsmanship Is So Immortal (2) 7: Chapter 7: First Encounter with Yuchen, His Swordsmanship Is So Immortal (2) While traveling, Jiang Tang took the opportunity to enter his space, broke the soil again, and scattered seeds across two acres of land, watering them with the newly purchased fertilizer. Before he could converse with Little Blue Ox and tell it to go out and eat some weeds, he suddenly felt the space shake. With an uneasy premonition in his heart, Jiang Tang exited the space to find that the carriage had come to a halt. Peeking out from behind the curtains, he saw the coachman sitting there, trembling, his body tense as if he had just witnessed something terrifying. Following the coachman¡¯s gaze, he saw two men in white robes standing not far off, swords in hand, blocking the carriage¡¯s path. Those robes¡­ Are they Outer Sect disciples of the Immortal Sect?! Jiang Tang stepped down from the carriage and bowed distantly to the two men, ¡°May I ask why you two brothers block my path? ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to eliminate you,¡± the person on the left said with a sinister smile, approaching slowly with his longsword in hand. Jiang Tang had a bad feeling, signaled the coachman to leave quickly, and while retreating, forced a smile and said, ¡°Brothers must be joking. We¡¯ve never met before¡ªhow could we have any grievances?¡± ¡°Quit your yapping. Today you¡¯ll find no place to be buried!¡± The other man also approached with his sword. Seeing Jiang Tang attempting to flee, they both charged at him with swords raised. Realizing escape was impossible, Jiang Tang gritted his teeth and randomly pulled an agricultural tool from his space and hurled it at them. As luck would have it, it was a shovel; he put all his strength into it, and instantly snapped the longsword of the disciple who charged at him first. ¡°My newly purchased Spiritual Artifact for 500 taels!¡± The disciple felt a numbness in his wrist, quickly retrieved his sword, and glared at the nearly destroyed Spiritual Artifact. He was surprised by Jiang Tang¡¯s strength and at the same time, his teeth itched with hatred. Casting aside all caution, he raised his cultivation and struck at Jiang Tang. The other disciple circled to Jiang Tang¡¯s back, raising his sword to pierce through Jiang Tang¡¯s brow. Jiang Tang focused all his attention on twisting the Golden Body Spell, hoping to endure less pain when struck. The moment the two closed in, he clenched his eyes shut. But the anticipated pain never came. ¡°Whoosh!¡± ¡°Clang¡ª¡ª¡± Two strange sounds followed, piquing Jiang Tang¡¯s curiosity, compelling him to open his eyes. There stood a youth in a maroon robe not far away. He stood with his hands behind his back, casually holding a three-foot longsword. With brows like a painting and gentle eyes, a purple crescent moon jade pendant hung at his waist. The tassels of the Jade Crown swayed in the wind along with his loose hair, making him appear at first glance like a banished Immortal from The Upper Realm. Jiang Tang was stunned. He could swear that in the three years since he transmigrated, this was the most handsome young man he had ever seen. ¡°Fellow Daoist, are you unharmed?¡± The young master sheathed his sword and approached Jiang Tang with a bow, ¡°I saw they wanted to kill you, so I stepped in and knocked them unconscious.¡± ¡°I am unharmed, unharmed, thank you, fellow Daoist.¡± Jiang Tang quickly returned the bow. He caught a glimpse of the jade pendant from the corner of his eye, feeling a sense of familiarity but could not recall where he had seen it before. ¡°How did you manage to provoke disciples of the Immortal Sect, fellow Daoist?¡± The young man saw Jiang Tang¡¯s stunned look and smiled gently, ¡°Do not fear, my name is Su Chang¡¯an, a disciple from the Sword Sect Su Clan.¡± The Sword Sect Su Clan¡­ Su Chang¡¯an¡­ Su Chang¡¯an?! Jiang Tang now realized why the youth before him looked so familiar. He was the young master of the Sword Sect Su Clan from the Ten Great Clans, famous for questioning the path with his sword¡ªSu Chang¡¯an. Su Chang¡¯an, styled Yuchen with the sobriquet Lord Qianchen, had reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm by the tender age of twenty-eight and was among the outstanding individuals of his generation. And his sword just now appeared to be a top-grade immortal sword¡ªthese are all resources of the Sword Sect, not something one can envy. ¡°I have long admired the great name of Lord Qianchen. My name is Jiang Tang, a disciple of the Immortal Sect. These two are my senior brothers, and as for why we drew our swords, I am unaware of the cause and effect,¡± Jiang Tang said as he scratched his head. ¡°Brother Jiang has just rented a carriage, may I inquire as to your destination?¡± Seeing that Jiang Tang appeared somewhat older than himself, Su Chang¡¯an changed his form of address. Pointing to the ruts on the ground, he asked amiably. ¡°To be honest, I wish to go to Spirit Water Town to acquire some supplies.¡± ¡°I see. It so happens that I am also on my way to Spirit Water Town to meet with a friend. If Brother Jiang doesn¡¯t mind, would you like to join me on the journey?¡± Su Chang¡¯an understood and then gestured towards the Quad-Beast Carriage behind him. These four spirit beasts were trained kylins, capable of traveling through the sky and the earth; naturally, their price was also extremely high. Indeed, the rich know no bounds. Even their mode of transport is a celestial creature among the finest in the Mortal Realm. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After envying for a moment, Jiang Tang gave his thanks with a bow and set off for Spirit Water Town with Su Chang¡¯an. This was the first meeting between Jiang Tang and Su Chang¡¯an. The two of them did not know that they were destined to have a deeper connection in the future. However, that is a story for another time. As for those two servant disciples, upon waking up and remembering who had knocked them out, a shock ran through them, and a sense of dread arose in their hearts. ¡°The rules of the Sword Sect dictate, if the Young Master wishes to kill, the Shadow Guards will not spare them. Retreat quickly!¡± one of them said urgently, turning his head to run towards the Immortal Sect. Remembering the fleeting coldness in Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s eyes when he drew his sword, the other trembled and quickly followed, leaving as fast as possible. But before they had run far, a flurry of flying leaves neatly severed their heads. A group of Shadow Guards dressed in black landed before the two corpses. ¡°Master¡¯s secret command, take them away,¡± the leader picked up a leaf and ordered coldly. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The two bodies, along with their heads, were tossed by the Shadow Guards into the Mass Burial Mound. At the entrance to Spirit Water Town. ¡°Thank you, Master Su, for the life-saving grace. I have nothing with which to repay you, only some Spirit Grass to offer,¡± Jiang Tang brought out a few stalks of top-grade Nourishing Soul Grass and passed them to Su Chang¡¯an. ¡°As people who wield swords, it is our duty to act with valor and righteousness. This was but a trivial matter, no need to mention it,¡± Su Chang¡¯an waved his hand and smiled gently. ¡°Please accept it, Master Su. I don¡¯t like to owe others,¡± Jiang Tang insisted. Seeing Jiang Tang¡¯s determination, Su Chang¡¯an accepted the Nourishing Soul Grass. Watching him leave, the warmth in Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s eyes gave way to a trace of coldness. ¡°How goes the investigation?¡± Su Chang¡¯an sat in the Quad-Beast Carriage, picked up his teacup for a small sip, and asked indifferently. ¡°Reporting back to the young master, that group of people is currently in Spirit Water Town, seemingly vying for the miraculous elixirs and medicines dispatched by you,¡± a Shadow Guard appeared outside and reported with a bow. ¡°The fish have entered the net, it¡¯s time to pull it in,¡± Su Chang¡¯an touched the teacup lid and slowly aimed his gaze steady and bright as pearls and jade. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The Shadow Guard acknowledged the order and watched the Quad-Beast Carriage fly away into the sky; he then turned and entered Spirit Water Town. After buying a Qiankun Bag, Jiang Tang went next door to the blacksmith shop and asked them to make several low-grade yellow-tier farming tools for him. His ordinary farming tools were almost ruined by his own strength, and he needed to replace them with better ones soon in order to continue his work. With nothing better to do, Jiang Tang curiously looked around. All of a sudden, he saw a talisman hanging in the shop and pointed at it to ask, ¡°Shopkeeper, is that talisman hung high on the wall meant to ward off evil spirits?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± the shopkeeper replied with a shake of his head and a smile as he crafted the farming tools. Chapter 8 - 8 8 The Pill Developed Starts to Work 1 ?8: Chapter 8 The Pill Developed Starts to Work (1) 8: Chapter 8 The Pill Developed Starts to Work (1) ¡°This is a talisman from the Saint Sect, exclusively used by the Upper Realm Immortals to keep an eye on our shops,¡± the shopkeeper said with a smile as he explained to Jiang Tang. It turned out that in order to protect the Mortal Realm, the Immortal Court of the Upper Realm chose the best among the ten paths of cultivation to form the Imperial Sect, Sword Sect, Medicine Sect, Taoist Sect, Buddhist Sect, Poison Sect, Worm Sect, Blade Sect, Spirit Sect, and the Saint Sect. The Imperial Sect sought to rule the world and prove the Way; the Sword Sect wielded swords to uphold justice and prove the Way; the Medicine Sect used their skills to save the world and prove the Way; the Taoist Sect proved the Way by slaying demons; the Buddhist Sect attracted worshippers and proved the Way with their incense offerings; the Poison Sect purged evil spirits with poison to prove the Way; the Worm Sect proved the Way by using worm techniques to eliminate harm; the Blade Sect proved the Way by slaying scourges of the world; the Spirit Sect proved the Way by mastering beasts and banishing demons. Most of these were directly linked to cultivation, except for the Saint Sect, which proved the Way by supporting the world through commerce. The top noble clans were involved in these industries. But though they were called the Ten Great Clans, there were only nine. That was because ever since the clan leader of the ancient Saint Sect lineage ascended, the descendants declined and disappeared from sight. Since then, no merchant has been able to join the Saint Sect and be listed among the Ten Great Clans. ¡°As for this talisman, all of us business folks write one up to facilitate observation from the Upper Realm. If one day you strike it big, who knows, you might become the second generation of the Saint Sect,¡± the shopkeeper said, filled with longing. Jiang Tang listened carefully but remained silent. These high and mighty things had nothing to do with him. He only wanted to farm earnestly, become a wealthy landowner in this world, and then be able to freely enjoy Spirit Grass. After the farming tools were forged, Jiang Tang paid with silver, and with a few days to spare, he decided to look for some Spirit Grass seeds to stock up on, which he could later sell to his own sect. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He settled in a nearby small inn, casually nibbled on a couple of steamed buns, and began meditating after nightfall. While meditating, Jiang Tang entered the Spirit Field Space. All the crops in the space had matured. Jiang Tang quickly brought out the newly forged sickle and started harvesting the mature Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine. He didn¡¯t know if it was the effect of money, but he felt that his harvesting speed had increased. Busy for an hour and a half, Jiang Tang finished reaping two acres of the Spirit Field. While harvesting the second section of the Spirit Field, Jiang Tang unearthed several ancient scrolls from the ground. He dusted off the soil and examined them closely to discover that they were ancient medical texts. After flipping through a few pages, his excitement soared. The texts contained prescriptions for pills, including common ones that had been passed down to the present and ancient prescriptions that had been lost. Moreover, many of the rare medicinal ingredients were available in his Spirit Field! If he could refine these pills and sell them, wouldn¡¯t he make a fortune? Jiang Tang carefully stored the ancient texts into his Qiankun Bag, then led the Little Blue Ox over to plow the fields. ¡°Little guy, you¡¯ve grown so fast, you¡¯re a big fella now. I¡¯ll call you Niu from now on. Work hard, and I¡¯ll buy you lots of new fodder,¡± Jiang Tang patted the strong forehead of the Little Blue Ox and stuffed a handful of beans into its mouth. The Little Blue Ox chewed the beans while wagging its tail, putting its strength into plowing the field with vigour. In less than an hour, they had plowed the entire two acres. Jiang Tang blended several loads of quality manure bought from the market into the Spirit Field soil, then activated the Golden Body Spell to break the soil. The soil quickly became fertile and rich with Spiritual Energy. Satisfied with sowing the seeds and watering, Jiang Tang added a large bunch of fodder for the Little Blue Ox before leaving the space. By the time he exited, it was the end of the second watch of the night. Jiang Tang used his Divine Sense to inspect his Dantian. The accumulated cultivation was pitifully small. Before entering the space, he had cultivated for two hours. His body¡¯s talent was not good, quite mediocre in fact. If it wasn¡¯t for using the prescriptions in the ancient texts to refine pills that used the medicinal plants from the Spirit Field to cleanse his marrow and tendons, he might still be stuck at the half-baked stage of Qi Introduction. Cultivation was still too slow. Jiang Tang decided that after returning to the sect, he would borrow the Alchemy Room, refine another batch of pills, and improve his qualifications. However, this time, he intended to revise the alchemy prescription according to the medical canon. Jiang Tang called over a waiter to add a bucket of hot water, and after bathing and taking advantage of the refreshing early morning, he leisurely made his way to the western market he had never visited before. Along the way, he heard some early-rising women, while picking vegetables, gossiping in small groups. ¡°Did you hear about the big incident last night?¡± ¡°I heard. They say that heartless one, how could they run all the way to our place, huh.¡± ¡°Ah, who knows. Last night, the Young Master of the Sword Sect¡¯s Su Family, that Lord Qianchen himself took action, which stirred up quite a commotion.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? My little girl was frightened awake in the middle of the night and has been crying until now.¡± ¡°Who knows when they¡¯ll be able to wipe out all these heretics in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Tang paused listening to the fragmented chatter, and then he grasped the gist of it. Su Chang¡¯an had captured heretical disciples last night in Spirit Water Town. He deployed quite a few Shadow Guards and captured more than a dozen heretic disciples alive. The eldest brother truly lived up to the name of eldest brother. Jiang Tang sighed with emotion. In this world, where there is a righteous path, there naturally exists a heretical path as well. Those who practice on the heretical path cultivate wicked and devious techniques, all of which are used to harm common folk. Righteous disciples are chivalrous and just; their goals are not only to achieve immortality through cultivation but also to eradicate the heretical path. However, the heretical forces are just as intricate and entwined as the righteous ones, and so, for thousands of years, the righteous path has always strained every nerve to clear out heretic disciples wherever they appear. The righteous and the heretical are like water and fire, never coexisting peacefully with each other. Jiang Tang strolled around for a few more days, buying lots of Spirit Grass seeds he fancied to stock up before returning to the Immortal Sect. Du Long had been waiting for news of Jiang Tang¡¯s death. But after waiting for two or three days, there was still no news. Not long ago, an Outer Sect Steward came with two grayed soul stones, found the Servant Steward, reported that two servant disciples encountered danger and died outside, registered the names, collected the stones, and left. Only then did he realize that his two underlings had been killed. As for who killed them, he hadn¡¯t found out. He heard that an Elder used time reversal, but after seeing it, remained silent on the matter. Could it be¡­ that someone else killed them? Or was it Jiang Tang who killed them? Du Long did not think it was likely someone else, considering these two were only servant disciples. The Immortal Sect has its rules; internal cultivation must not involve killing unless a life-and-death agreement is signed, while life and death during outside experiences were not a concern. For this reason, in order to compete for resources and resolve personal grudges, many disciples would secretly execute their fellow sect members when they went out. The more Du Long thought about it, the more he was convinced that Jiang Tang had killed the two of them. He gritted his teeth furiously, a ruthless light flashing in his eyes. Don¡¯t think this will let you off the hook. Du Long had always been narrow-minded and vindictive; he was the type to repay any slight or humiliation manifold. His eyes rolling in contemplation, he concocted a plan and then quietly slipped away. Upon returning to the courtyard, Jiang Tang busied himself harvesting the ripe crops in the Spirit Field, then he loosened the soil, sprinkled the newly bought seeds, and watered them before heading to the place where the Outer Sect received Spirit Plants. Chapter 9 - 9 9 The Pill Developed Starts to Work 2 ?9: Chapter 9 The Pill Developed Starts to Work (2) 9: Chapter 9 The Pill Developed Starts to Work (2) The person who collected the items was still the same old man in black robes as last time. Upon seeing the Spirit Plants Jiang Tang had grown, the old man¡¯s face showed a look of amazement. Most of these Spirit Plants were top-quality, and even the worst, the Immortal Valley Grain, was of middle-tier quality. ¡°The amount of gold is substantial, I¡¯ll exchange it for silver notes for you to take with you,¡± the old man stroked his long beard and smiled slightly. True to being the farming association¡¯s number one, the quality of what he produced was indeed different. Jiang Tang nodded eagerly. In this world, all gold and silver were officially minted and solid, never fake. When the shiny silver notes were in hand, Jiang Tang counted them carefully. After deducting the taxes, he still had ten thousand taels of silver. With the additional five hundred taels he had left over, he could be considered a small wealthy man now, couldn¡¯t he? At least that¡¯s what Jiang Tang thought. When he had just arrived, he only had a single coin to his name. The white bun he had bought, he was so reluctant to eat it. He hid it for several days until it turned hard and started to go green, then he ate half of it. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Had it not been for his entry into the Immortal Sect, by now he would have been nothing but a starved corpse. Jiang Tang was gleefully happy in his heart as he put the silver notes into his Qiankun Bag and headed straight for the Alchemy Room. The Servant Disciple¡¯s Alchemy Room was the most rudimentary of facilities. A thatched cottage, an alchemy furnace of the lowest grade of the yellow class. There were no tables or chairs, not even candles. And don¡¯t even mention a scale for apportioning the medicinal ingredients. Jiang Tang was already accustomed to it¡ªthe first time he learned alchemy, he was shocked for half a day, thinking all the facilities were this simple. It was only after listening to a fellow disciple elaborating on measuring and weighing medicines that he realized the Alchemy Room was as makeshift as necessary to accommodate people. It was hard to blame the Sect. Servant Disciples weren¡¯t highly talented, and there were few who knew alchemy. Those who practiced alchemy had all either gone to the Outer Sect, or even to the Inner Sect and to the Sect¡¯s direct disciples. Upon seeing him, the duty disciple guarding the Alchemy Room yawned lazily and said, ¡°Renting the Alchemy Room costs twenty wen per hour.¡± Jiang Tang hurriedly paid for six hours and went inside, locking up from within. He started the furnace, then took out a set of scales and tools for preparing the ingredients from his Qiankun Bag. These were all harvested from the Spirit Field. Seeing that they were of good quality, he decided to keep them for his own use. ¡°One part Nourishing Soul Grass, two qian of Spirit Cage Grass, six li of Body-Sculpting Medicine¡­¡± Following the ancient Secret Manual¡¯s prescription and making adjustments based on his own situation, Jiang Tang weighed out the ingredients while silently reciting the formula. After weighing them out, Jiang Tang saw that the furnace was at the right temperature. He quickly crushed the ingredients and placed them into the small dish inside the furnace, then poured a jug of Spirit Water into the top opening before starting to watch the flames intently. Alchemy, like tilling soil, was also a technical task. If the flame control and medicinal ingredient measurements weren¡¯t accurate, not only would the finished product be of poor quality, but it would also contain many impurities, resulting in less potent pills that were impure. Such pills were neither fit for treating others nor able to sell at a good price. Initially, Jiang Tang was somewhat worried that the ingredients might burn, but as they dissolved in the water, a burst of medicinal fragrance wafted out. Jiang Tang relaxed and let the ingredients coalesce on their own. About an hour later, the first batch of pills was completely finished. As the rich medicinal scent drifted out, Jiang Tang knew the pills were ready, so he quickly pinched a spell to extinguish the pill flame, then put on a pair of thick gloves to take out the steaming hot dish. There were four or five pills in the dish, and the pills were of excellent color with clear lines on them. Jiang Tang grinned from ear to ear. Body Tempering Pill, success! The quality was second-tier, although not as good as the ones made by the Medicine Sect and Holy Medical Valley, they were still enough for him to refine his body. Thinking this, Jiang Tang packed the pills into porcelain bottles, and then took out even more harvested Spirit Grass to start making other types of pills. These pills were all intended to be sold for money. He refined Pills with utmost care until six hours passed, and the disciple outside knocked on the door, urging him to leave. Jiang Tang put away his things and hurriedly left. ¡°What kind of Pills could a Servant Disciple possibly refine? It¡¯s nothing more than playing the god and tricking the ghost,¡± said the disciple with a sneer after a glance at the departing Jiang Tang before going in to clean up. But just as he stepped inside, he smelled a refreshing fragrance of medicine. It was top-grade Pills! The disciple was shocked, looking in the direction Jiang Tang had left, feeling a burning pain on his face. Jiang Tang returned to his courtyard, not bothering to check on the crops in the Spirit Field and directly took out a Body Tempering Pill to consume. This was something he had refined after making improvements, and he didn¡¯t know if it would be more effective than before. Jiang Tang cast aside all distractions, feeling a burning tear-like pain in his veins and he began to concentrate fully on using the Spiritual Power that surged from his Dantian to temper his body. The pain intensified more and more until it seemed as though even his bones were starting to burn. Jiang Tang¡¯s face turned as white as paper. He had to endure it, to earn a fortune! He had to endure it, to earn a fortune! Drawing a deep breath, Jiang Tang shook hands to form a seal and started to guide the impurities in his body to be expelled through his veins and skin. Time flashed by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next day¡¯s last hour. Suddenly, Jiang Tang opened his eyes, and a burst of radiant light dispersed from his body. He looked down at his palm. Spiritual Power churned in his hand, denser and more powerful than before. Body Refinement was successful! That was not all, his Cultivation level had been pulled up, advancing into the fourth layer of Body Refinement. Furthermore, looking at the Spiritual Power in his Dantian, his realm was not unstable but very much firm. This ancient Alchemy Prescription indeed was wonderful. Jiang Tang laughed a few times and then suddenly smelled a foul odor. His stomach churned, and he quickly boiled a bucket of hot water, adding soapnuts and herbs for a bath. In this era, one of the joys shared by the ancients and modern people was bathing. Of course, what they used was Spirit Water, and the medicines for the bath were Spiritual Medicine used not only for strengthening the body but also needed to be effective over time. Moreover, the effects of a medicinal bath were not as immediate as those of Body Tempering Pills and were only suitable for ordinary people to prolong life. For those who practiced Cultivation, it was purely for the purpose of bathing or killing idle time. While soaking in the bath, Jiang Tang used his Divine Sense to check on the Spirit Field Space. Niu had already fallen into a deep sleep, and the crops in the two acres of land were growing robustly, seemingly ripe. Niu was resting, it was better to harvest tomorrow. Jiang Tang glanced at the nearby fog and noticed a spot had thinned a little. He grinned. With another boost in realm, he could unveil this area. He wondered what could be planted in this excellent Spirit Field. Leaving the Spirit Field Space, Jiang Tang got up to dress and emptied the bathwater, when suddenly he heard a faint cry. Brother, Jiang Tang walked over quietly and saw that, in the neighboring courtyard, that person was¡­ burning paper money in the middle of the night? However, within the Sect, performing ancestral worship was not allowed. If one wished to pay respects, they had to do so outside. ¡°Senior brother, is it the death anniversary of someone in your family?¡± Jiang Tang coughed. The man panicked, hurriedly got up to stamp out the fire. ¡°Don¡¯t stamp it out, don¡¯t stamp it out, I won¡¯t report you to the Sect. I don¡¯t like to tattle,¡± Jiang Tang said. Chapter 10 - 10 10 Magic Artifact is Farming Tool Im Proud and I Boast 1 ?10: Chapter 10 Magic Artifact is Farming Tool, I¡¯m Proud and I Boast (1) 10: Chapter 10 Magic Artifact is Farming Tool, I¡¯m Proud and I Boast (1) The disciple heard the words, a look of astonishment crossed his face, followed by a sigh, ¡°Thank you, Junior Brother, today is not the death anniversary of my family.¡± It turned out, the disciple named Yao Xuan, had joined the Immortal Sect with Jiang Tang. Because he was older, he became Jiang Tang¡¯s senior brother. Yao Xuan¡¯s talent was not high either, having reached only the second level of Body Refinement by now. He diligently and earnestly farmed for income, keeping a little for himself and sending the rest to his only living relative down the mountain, his elder brother Yao Sheng. Yao Sheng was not a cultivator, he was a scholar. After about ten years of hard study by candlelight, Yao Sheng¡¯s health deteriorated badly, and in recent years, his condition had become progressively worse, preventing him even from attending the autumn examinations. This greatly worried Yao Xuan. He practically had to call a doctor every month to take Yao Sheng¡¯s pulse, filling prescriptions, entrusting others to decoct the medicine, and also purchasing herbs to concoct pills to treat his brother¡¯s illness. As a result, Yao Xuan¡¯s hard-earned silver was all spent. During this period, because Yao Xuan was overly exhausted, he failed to contribute his farm produce, thus did not receive any compensation. Seeing that Yao Sheng was about to die from the illness, Yao Xuan could bear it no longer, and poured out his grievances to his late parents by the gravesite, crying as he spoke. ¡°Senior Brother Yao, I have a bottle of First-Stage Cleansing Spirit Pills here that can cure diseases. If you don¡¯t despise it and trust me, then take them for your brother to consume. The medicinal effect is better than those from outside, I concocted them myself.¡± After listening, Jiang Tang took out a bottle of pills from his Qiankun Bag and handed it over. Pills are graded by their patterns, one pattern for the first grade, two for the second, up to nine. Nine Revolutions Elixirs, never mind the Mortal Realm, even in the Immortal Realm, are extremely rare. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because during the concoction of Nine Revolutions Elixirs, the pill could develop sentience, which could trigger heavenly tribulation commonly referred to as the Pill Tribulation. Should the Pill Tribulation be overcome, the pill would be successful; should it fail, the pill would be destroyed and the person could die. Throughout the ages, those who could concoct Nine Revolutions Elixirs were only several great figures from the Medicine Sect and Holy Medical Valley from the ancient times. They have long since passed away or ascended, and now that spiritual energy has begun to recover in the Mortal Realm, someone capable of making a Fifth Grade Pill can be praised as a living Immortal on earth. Yao Xuan and Jiang Tang had a good relationship, being neighbors, they always looked after each other. He also knew that Jiang Tang had recently taken up the study of medicine and alchemy¡ªhis concocted pills were genuinely good. At this moment, he was willing to reach out to help, and Yao Xuan, being at his wits¡¯ end, could hardly refuse. Yao Xuan immediately received the small porcelain bottle with both hands, treasuring it as he stored it into his Qiankun Bag. Then, he knelt down toward Jiang Tang, preparing to kowtow in gratitude. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this, Senior Brother, you fluster me,¡± Jiang Tang was startled and hastily pulled Yao Xuan to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s only right, this is a life-saving grace,¡± said Yao Xuan, his eyes reddening, on the verge of tears again. ¡°A grown man like Senior Brother shouldn¡¯t be crying,¡± Jiang Tang patted his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s best if this fire is put out after the spirit money has burned. If someone else sees you, they¡¯ll surely gossip, and Senior Brother would be punished.¡± Yao Xuan nodded heavily and watched Jiang Tang leave. He felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. Without hesitation, he applied for leave to go down the mountain the next day, heading for his brother¡¯s home. Jiang Tang, on the other hand, went to see the Outer Sect Steward and presented the batch of pills he had concocted for them to inspect, and then sold them to the Sect. When it was confirmed that all these pills were indeed concocted by Jiang Tang, several Stewards from the Outer Sect were simultaneously amazed. They had not expected a Servant Disciple to be capable of concocting such high-quality pills. ¡°What a pity, if his cultivation weren¡¯t so poor, I would¡¯ve considered bringing him to the Outer Sect,¡± one Steward said, watching Jiang Tang walking to collect his silver, and sighed. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? This kid has cultivated to the fourth level of Body Refinement in just three years, already far surpassing other Servant Disciples by who knows how much,¡± a nearby Steward said with a slight smile. ¡°Exactly, did you hear about it? Not long ago, Jiang Tang fought against Du Long on the platform, and with his third-level Body Refinement cultivation, he completely overpowered Du Long, who was nearly at the peak of the fourth level. And now, it hasn¡¯t been much time since then, and he has already reached the fourth level. This kid has been toiling in the fields for three years, he¡¯s honest and sincere, withstands hardships, and is diligent. Isn¡¯t it a done deal that he will enter the Outer Sect in the future?¡± Several Stewards nodded their heads in silent approval of Jiang Tang. After Jiang Tang had left, he counted his silver with delight, then went to sell a batch of Spirit Plants. He was about to rush over to help his friends with the harvest when suddenly a group of Servant Disciples blocked his way. A basin of cold water was suddenly thrown onto Jiang Tang. It was the height of summer, and with the hot weather, the sour and stinky smell of the rancid water immediately wafted out. Not only did Jiang Tang frown, but those who had thrown the water also pinched their noses and kept their distance. Once they had moved a bit further away, they loosened their grip and unabashedly sneered with wide grins. ¡°This is for killing Brother He and Brother Wang! This basin of water is us paying back on behalf of the two brothers,¡± the disciple who threw the water sneered coldly as he raised the wooden basin in his hand. Endure, endure. Jiang Tang took a deep breath, nearly fainting from the disgusting smell emanating from himself. He forced a slight smile and gritted his teeth as he said, ¡°Brothers, there must be some misunderstanding.¡± Jiang Tang did not even recognize the so-called Brother He and Brother Wang. ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± The water thrower spit on the ground and looked sideways at the people behind him, pointing at Jiang Tang, ¡°Listen everyone, he¡¯s killing people outside and denying the debt! Our Sect has produced such a scum, and we must take action to teach him a lesson, to seek justice for the two brothers, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± It was then clear to Jiang Tang that their clamoring for justice was for the two people who had intended to kill him outside. If he didn¡¯t understand this, then he would truly be foolish. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, it wasn¡¯t me who killed them,¡± Jiang Tang said with a hint of displeasure in his eyes. Even the best of tempers would evaporate along with the stench covering his body at this point. Damn it, he felt like hitting someone. ¡°Attack!¡± The leader among the disciples brandished a wooden stick and charged at Jiang Tang. His name was Chu Zuo, and he had a close relationship with the two killed disciples. Knowing that Jiang Tang was the last person they encountered before they died, he was convinced that it was Jiang Tang who had killed them, harboring a grudge ever since. Finding an opportunity that day, Chu Zuo led his followers to this secluded place, intending to give Jiang Tang a severe lesson. Seeing this, the other Servant Disciples also drew their long sticks and struck at Jiang Tang. ¡°A group fight? Are you playing dirty?¡± Jiang Tang was shocked, and the anger that had been stirred up suddenly vanished. While activating the Golden Body Spell, he quickly ran towards his own courtyard. He had laid poison powder in the courtyard, which would knock out anyone with malicious intentions as soon as they got close. However, these disciples all had the cultivation of the fourth level of Body Refinement, and Chu Zuo was already at the fifth level. Their speed was almost the same as his own ¡ª in fact, Chu Zuo was even faster. Seeing Chu Zuo about to catch up, Jiang Tang gritted his teeth and suddenly stopped. Chapter 11 - 11 11 Magic Artifact is Farming Tool Im Proud and I Boast 2 ?11: Chapter 11 Magic Artifact is Farming Tool, I¡¯m Proud and I Boast (2) 11: Chapter 11 Magic Artifact is Farming Tool, I¡¯m Proud and I Boast (2) ¡°Take this!¡± Chu Zuo, seeing him stop, immediately put all his strength into a strike, hitting the other¡¯s shoulder with his stick. The expected scream did not come. ¡°Crack¡ª¡± There was only the crisp sound of the wood breaking in two. ¡°How¡­ how could this be?¡± Chu Zuo looked at the stick in his hand, as thick as a wrist, his eyes filled with disbelief. Jiang Tang turned his head and twisted his shoulder. It seemed that the Golden Body Spell was indeed useful. ¡°Don¡¯t push people too far.¡± With newfound confidence, the anger that had dissipated in Jiang Tang¡¯s heart surged up again. He slowly narrowed his eyes, and his voice grew unconsciously colder. ¡°You little punk, what can you do if I beat you? Get him!¡± Chu Zuo sneered coldly, waving his hand, and several disciples behind him immediately rushed forward. ¡°I told you, don¡¯t push too far!¡± Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Jiang Tang took a deep breath. After smelling an indescribable stink, he frowned and, unable to bear it anymore, he swung a shovel backhand, smacking the disciple who came at him first. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream suddenly erupted, spreading across the sky. The disciple who was smacked felt his head vibrating, wobbling for a moment, then collapsed to the ground, fainting. Just one hit? This one hit knocked out a disciple with the same level of cultivation as him? Holding the shovel, Jiang Tang swung it at a few other disciples nearby. They dodged quickly, but the shovel seemed to have eyes of its own, hitting each of them precisely on their buttocks. Several more agonized cries ensued. ¡°You should go back and apply some medicine properly,¡± Jiang Tang said, looking at the disciples lying on the ground, continuously rubbing their buttocks, crying and wailing with snot and tears streaming down. He felt a surge of amusement. They got what they deserved. ¡°You brat, who do you think you are fooling with a shovel!¡± Chu Zuo stood in the middle, grinding his teeth. ¡°Not allowed to use a shovel? Then let¡¯s change it,¡± Jiang Tang grunted, putting away the shovel and bringing out a muddy rake. Chu Zuo: ¡°¡­¡± Who is he looking down on? He immediately brought out his longsword and chopped at Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang was ready to go all out. At worst, he¡¯d get hurt a bit. So he mustered all his strength and started fighting with Chu Zuo. As Chu Zuo fought, he discovered that his precious longsword had actually developed a crack. And as he kept fighting, he found that when he chopped at someone, it only left a shallow scratch, while he himself was being hit by the rake, tearing his clothes and leaving him with a swollen face. Chu Zuo felt like the script had been flipped. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be thrashing Jiang Tang? ¡°Hey, senior brother, don¡¯t get distracted during a fight.¡± At these words, Chu Zuo suddenly snapped back to reality and felt a chill below. Turns out, Jiang Tang¡¯s rake had directly struck his belt loose, and his pants, along with his undergarments, were pulled down by the rake! ¡°Jiang Tang, you scoundrel!¡± ¡°Senior brother¡­ who¡¯s a bit more shameless, huh.¡± Jiang Tang, holding the rake, pointed to the group of servant disciples lying on the ground and wailing. ¡°You!¡± Chu Zuo was so angry he was lost for words. ¡°Jiang Tang, we¡¯ll see about that!¡± He glared fiercely at the former, hitched up his loose drawers, and quickly left for a deserted place. Jiang Tang glanced at the disciples wailing on the ground, pursed his lips, took out a bottle of pills and tossed it to one of them, and then turned to leave. The person holding the bottle slowly stood up, looking at Jiang Tang with complicated eyes, ¡°Jiang Tang, what is the meaning of this?¡± Jiang Tang, with both hands on the pitchfork, paused and looked back. ¡°Fighting is fighting, and saving is saving, they are two different things. We¡¯re all disciples of the same sect; why must we harm each other when we can stand united against outsiders? If you trust me, take these pills internally. You will recover within a day.¡± ¡°We were about to seriously hurt you just now,¡± said the disciple in astonishment. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, fighting is fighting,¡± Jiang Tang rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡­ your weapon¡­ why is it farming equipment?¡± another disciple stood up, looking at Jiang Tang with a complicated gaze. ¡°I am merely a farmer, what need have I for swords and staffs?¡± Jiang Tang laughed, put away his pitchfork, and pointed at his clothes, ¡°I need to go back and bathe.¡± Upon hearing this, the few disciples who had gotten up touched the backs of their heads and started to laugh somewhat embarrassedly. Watching Jiang Tang walk away, a servant disciple quietly spoke up, ¡°Is he really the killer of those two brothers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± He looked down at the pills in his hand and shook his head. If he really had killed them, by now he would have beaten us half to death, not given us such precious First Rank Elixir. Furthermore, these pills are brimming with medicinal fragrance and haven¡¯t been tampered with¡ªhe did not poison them. Pills tampered with extraneous substances wouldn¡¯t have such a pure medicinal scent. The disciples exchanged glances, each holding their own sore backsides, and limped away. After that, they never troubled Jiang Tang again. Of course, this did not include Chu Zuo. Jiang Tang returned to his courtyard, quickly stripped off his clothes, and immerse himself in a tub of cold water. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not that it was cold; the sun had heated the water until it was warm. He washed away the sour sweat and brought in some fragrant Spirit Grass from the Spirit Field Space to soak in, and finally, he comfortably closed his eyes. Thinking back to the fight with Chu Zuo and the others, Jiang Tang felt quite incredible. What¡¯s there to disdain? Farming tools can be magic artifacts, farming tools too can thrash you bunch holding weapons. I am proud of my farming tools, and I am proud to use them as my magic artifact. Let them seek trouble, they deserve it. After soaking for an hour, Jiang Tang, wearing only his underpants, stood up, intending to head back to his room to harvest the crops in the Space and then meditate and cultivate. Just as he was about to step out of the large tub, he suddenly locked eyes with a pair of watery ones. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± It must be an illusion, right? Is there actually a woman here? ¡°Ah! I¡¯m so sorry, Jiang!¡± The young girl immediately screamed and covered her face with her hands. But through the gaps between her fingers, Jiang Tang could still see the girl¡¯s shining eyes. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± This isn¡¯t a dream, she¡¯s real. He conjured a robe to wrap himself in and bowed to the young girl, ¡°Junior Sister, I was rude just now.¡± Only upon hearing Jiang Tang speak did the young girl snap out of her daze from those eight-pack abs. The guy looked lean, but he was well-proportioned with muscles¡ªplus, that wheat-colored skin from the sun tanning¡­ She cannot, the young girl felt like she was about to get a nosebleed. ¡°No harm done. Uh, Jiang, are you free right now?¡± The young girl coughed, waving her hand. ¡°Er, I¡¯m free at the moment.¡± Jiang Tang wasn¡¯t used to chatting with girls, which made him feel a bit awkward. Moreover, the girl in front of him seemed even younger than him, her skin so delicate it looked like you could squeeze water from it. ¡°That¡¯s great, Jiang, come with me,¡± the girl¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, and she started walking away while beckoning to him. Chapter 12 - 12 12 The Spirit Beast Ate Up His Spirit Field Space ?12: Chapter 12 The Spirit Beast Ate Up His Spirit Field Space 12: Chapter 12 The Spirit Beast Ate Up His Spirit Field Space Jiang Tang patted his stomach. He craved plain white steamed buns. He wanted to go to the Spirit Field Space to harvest crops. He wanted to go cultivate. Oh well, he might as well go have a look. After some hesitation, Jiang Tang put on his homemade wooden clogs and, with his hair disheveled, followed along. Along the way, through casual conversation, Jiang Tang learned that this female disciple was the child of two generations of Servant Disciples who had married within the Immortal Sect and had grown up in the Sect, named Yan Weiwei. A few days earlier, Yan Weiwei had come across an injured Spirit Beast while playing in the back mountains, and although she wanted to save it, she couldn¡¯t afford the Sect¡¯s skilled doctors. Hearing some fellow disciples mention that Jiang Tang had some Medical Skills and often used his own crafted Pills to treat the ill Servant Disciples. Carrying the sentiment of ¡®a drowning man will clutch at a straw,¡¯ she came looking for Jiang Tang. Her visit coincided with the sight of an attractive man fresh from a bath. At this, Yan Weiwei glanced sidelong at Jiang Tang. He was handsome, lean but not emaciated, and could be considered a good-looking young master. ¡°Jiang, it¡¯s just up ahead,¡± Yan Weiwei pointed towards the bamboo forest in front. As Jiang Tang approached, he saw a Spirit Beast with snow-white fur lying among the bamboo leaves, its weak voice barely managing a soft cry. It was only the size of a palm, with a pair of bone wings, and large eyes like springs of clear water, the black pupils filled with pain. This little thing, however you looked at it, resembled the Snow Dragon Youngling described in Ancient Tomes. Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow and walked over to squat down. The little thing, seeing a stranger approach, arched its back high, its downy hair standing on end. It bared its teeth at Jiang Tang with a fierce stare, and its black pupils seemed to faintly turn golden. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Jiang Tang took out a Spirit Grass and offered it gently, ¡°Here, eat this, it¡¯s not poisonous.¡± The little thing paused, its black pupils returning to their original color and suddenly widening. It looked¡­ almost as concentrated as a cat, quite adorable. Jiang Tang even wanted to stroke the little thing¡¯s fluffy head. The little thing sniffed the Spirit Grass and pounced on Jiang Tang¡¯s palm, voraciously starting to munch on it. Jiang Tang noticed a wound on its hind leg that had started to fester, so he then took out a Spiritual Medicine capable of healing injuries. The little thing sniffed it and immediately closed its eyes. ¡°Cheep¡ª¡± It pushed the Spiritual Medicine away and turned its head aside. ¡°Don¡¯t be picky, it¡¯s for healing,¡± Jiang Tang turned the little thing¡¯s head back. Seeing that it did not resist, he stroked its head again, ¡°If you eat nicely, I will give you more tasty things.¡± He had plenty of Spirit Grass, a big patch of it in his space. The little thing¡¯s eyes instantly sparkled and, taking the Spiritual Medicine with a scrunched-up face, gobbled it up in a few bites. ¡°Jiang, you¡¯re amazing. I¡¯ve been persuading it for days, and it wouldn¡¯t eat anything,¡± Yan Weiwei exclaimed with surprise and admiration in her eyes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Tang, who had already identified from the Ancient Tome that it was a Snow Dragon Youngling, touched his nose and offered a wry smile. Should he tell his little senior sister that Snow Dragons are fussy eaters by nature? After feeding the little thing a handful of Spirit Grass from his Qiankun Bag and seeing its wounds beginning to heal, Jiang Tang got up, bowed to Yan Weiwei, and prepared to leave. The little thing, licking its fur, upon noticing Jiang Tang was leaving, chirped loudly and flew onto Jiang Tang¡¯s shoulder with spread bone wings. Jiang Tang reached out, grabbed the back of the little thing¡¯s neck, and brought it in front of him. The little thing¡¯s wide eyes looked so harmless and innocent. No, he must uphold his image as a gentleman. With forced composure, Jiang Tang coughed, ¡°Go find your little senior sister.¡± He put the little thing down on the ground and turned to leave. The little thing chirped and flew onto Jiang Tang¡¯s shoulder again. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Clinging to me now, huh? ¡°Junior Brother Jiang, it seems to really like you. If you don¡¯t mind, go ahead and form a contract with it,¡± Yan Weiwei chuckled. Jiang Tang pondered for a moment. Snow Dragons are descendants of the Ancient Dragon Clan. A purebred Snow Dragon, once fully grown, is absolutely a cute powerhouse with off-the-charts combat abilities. So, isn¡¯t this basically providing food, shelter, and clothes in exchange for a bodyguard? ¡°Little one, would you like to form a contract with me?¡± Jiang Tang had an idea and looked down at the small creature he was holding. The little one nodded agreeably, wriggled free, and clambered up Jiang Tang¡¯s arm. ¡°Senior Sister, I¡¯ve never formed a contract before,¡± Jiang Tang remembered something and gave a sheepish smile with a side glance. ¡°Just cut your finger and drip a drop of blood,¡± Yan Weiwei covered her mouth. Jiang Tang nodded and formed the contract with the little creature. A golden formation suddenly appeared beneath Jiang Tang¡¯s feet. The little one¡¯s phantom appeared on the formation, and then along with the formation, it merged into Jiang Tang¡¯s body. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look like an equal contract,¡± Yan Weiwei gasped. ¡°Daddy, this is a soul contract, oh,¡± a soft, mushy voice suddenly rang out in Jiang Tang¡¯s mind. Jiang Tang hadn¡¯t recovered from his surprise when the voice added, ¡°Daddy, your qi smells so nice, just as nice as Mommy¡¯s.¡± He looked down and saw the little one grabbing his sleeve and wagging its tail joyfully. ¡°So, this is a soul contract?¡± Jiang Tang tried asking the little creature through his thoughts and seeing it nod, he swiftly understood. ¡°Little Senior Sister, I have other things to do, so I¡¯ll take my leave first,¡± Jiang Tang bowed and left. Yan Weiwei watched the little creature now obediently perched on Jiang Tang¡¯s shoulder with envy in her eyes. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m so hungry.¡± On the way back, the little one climbed onto Jiang Tang¡¯s head and started pulling at his hair. ¡°Get down, I¡¯m not your daddy,¡± Jiang Tang twitched the corner of his eye. ¡°But Daddy, your qi smells so good, just like Mommy¡¯s,¡± the little one spoke softly, looking somewhat wronged. ¡°¡­Alright, you win, call whatever you like.¡± ¡°Daddy is the best!¡± Jiang Tang plucked the little creature from his head and asked, ¡°Do you have a name?¡± ¡°I was born, and then some bad people took Mommy away. To protect me, Mommy intentionally kept me from hatching too soon,¡± the little one shook its head. It had been targeted by those bad guys who captured Mommy the moment it was born. It ended up here in these mountains because of fleeing. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a name, let¡¯s call you Eryao. ¡®Yao¡¯ means brilliance; you must be like me in the future, and not become a bad person,¡± Jiang Tang stroked the little creature¡¯s head. Eryao nodded, quite curious about what the ¡®Eryao¡¯ in front of it meant. Of course, Jiang Tang would not tell this little one that ¡®Eryao¡¯ was a play on the word used for a certain pig Senior Brother. Back in the courtyard, Jiang Tang chewed on two steamed buns. Seeing Eryao staring at him with big, expectant eyes, he felt a bit guilty and simply took it into the Spirit Field Space. ¡°Eryao, I¡¯m going to take Niu to plow the fields. You¡¯re free to eat any of these spirit plants,¡± Jiang Tang gestured generously to his first plot of land. ¡°Daddy, can I really eat them?¡± Eryao smelled the rich scent of the Spirit Grass, swallowing saliva visibly. ¡°Eat as much as you want, fill yourself up,¡± Jiang Tang waved his hand, beginning to harvest crops on the second plot. Well, how big could one little creature¡¯s stomach be, after all? Half an hour later, Jiang Tang looked back after harvesting a plot and wiped his face. Hm? Something¡¯s not right? Jiang Tang paused, then turned around sharply, and was suddenly stunned on the spot. The Spirit Field behind him had been completely emptied out. And it was truly empty¡ªno more roots of the Spirit Grass were left. In the middle of the Spirit Field lay a snow-white little beast. It caressed its round belly and squinted contentedly, continuously burping after its feast. Chapter 13 - 13 13 Eryao Helps Till the Land ?13: Chapter 13 Eryao Helps Till the Land 13: Chapter 13 Eryao Helps Till the Land ¡°Daddy, Eryao is full,¡± Eryao burped loudly and grinned at Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± expressed the pain in his wallet. Well, one chose to raise the cub oneself, even if it meant crying, one had to nurture it. He sighed, took out the fertilizer he had bought at the market from his Qiankun Bag, and began to pour it over each row of soil. ¡°Niu!¡± At Jiang Tang¡¯s call, the Green Ox mooed and walked out from the shed, hitched itself to the plow, and started plowing the field with Jiang Tang. As he plowed, Jiang Tang scattered the newly purchased Spirit Water, moistening the soil to make it easier for breaking up and raking later on. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Green Ox was strong and quickly finished plowing two acres of land. Jiang Tang patted the Green Ox¡¯s head, fed it a handful of tender Spirit Grass, and then picked up a hoe to start breaking up the soil. After mixing in the fertilizer and Spirit Water, the Spiritual Energy, which had been absorbed by the crops, began to grow dense again in the two acres. The soil also became fertile and just right. Jiang Tang wiped the sweat from his forehead, took out a large sack of seeds from his Qiankun Bag, placed it next to the shed, grabbed a gourd, and then channeled a spell to fill it with seeds. This gourd, too, had been harvested from the Spirit Field; he had heard others say this kind of gourd could be used to nourish swords. But since Jiang Tang didn¡¯t practice swordsmanship, he found the gourd to be a good container for sowing seeds and decided to use it for that purpose. ¡°Niu, keep an eye on this bag of seeds, okay? These are our future money-making treasures,¡± said Jiang Tang as he removed the Green Ox¡¯s plow, led it back to the shed, and provided it with fodder and Spirit Water, patting its head affectionately. The Green Ox nuzzled Jiang Tang¡¯s waist to show it understood. Jiang Tang walked over to the Spirit Field, took out a wooden stick, and gently tapped the gourd while walking towards the front of the row of land. Seeds fell out of the gourd, evenly covering the ground. In less than an hour, Jiang Tang had finished sowing the seeds over the two acres. The first batch of seeds already started to sprout roots and shoots. The crops planted in the Spirit Field Space grew quickly. Jiang Tang took out some Spirit Soil from his Qiankun Bag, started to construct a nest next to the shed, added Spirit Grass to it, and then brought Eryao over, placing it inside. ¡°From now on, Eryao will live here, helping me watch over the Spirit Field. Once the crops are ripe, you can eat as much as you want,¡± Jiang Tang rubbed Eryao¡¯s head while saying this. ¡°Thank you, Daddy.¡± Eryao was already sleepy, blinking its eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep. Jiang Tang clearly saw that after Eryao fell asleep, dense mists from all directions started to converge towards Eryao. They turned into wisps and carefully merged into Eryao¡¯s body. Then, a visible mass of Spiritual Power appeared, swirling around Eryao¡¯s body. This was¡­ self-cultivating while asleep? Jiang Tang exclaimed, impressed. Born with a natural advantage indeed. Enviously watching the little one for a while, he left the space. After bathing, Jiang Tang also began to meditate and cultivate¡ªhe needed to unlock other Spirit Fields quickly, plant better things, and feed the little dragon cub. Thinking thus, Jiang Tang closed his eyes and began to enter meditation. He was completely unaware that once he deeply entered meditation, his mind wholly focused, the jade on his neck released a faint white mist, enveloping him. The Spiritual Energy absorbed from all directions, originally thin and rife with impurities, became rich and pure after being filtered by the light before it entered Jiang Tang¡¯s Dantian. Much of the Spiritual Energy entered the Dantian, assimilating it, while a smaller portion was absorbed by the jade. The jade sparkled for a while, transforming into a smooth-surfaced Jade Pendant. Several hours later, the light of the jade dimmed slowly. Outside, day and night exchanged places, three days fleeting by in the blink of an eye. At the hour of Mao, Jiang Tang suddenly opened his eyes. He had actually¡­ stepped into the perfect realm of the Fifth Layer of Body Refinement, only a step away from the Sixth Layer! Didn¡¯t that mean he could unlock the Spirit Field again? Jiang Tang felt delightfully satisfied. Thinking of the Spirit Field, he remembered Little Dragon Eryao. Oh no, it seemed he hadn¡¯t fed it for a few days, could it have starved to death? With a thud in his heart, Jiang Tang hurried into the space to check. What he saw next left him somewhat astonished. That tiny Spirit Beast, floating in mid-air with a sickle larger than itself in its hands, was vigorously harvesting the crops in the first mu of the Spirit Field. The harvested Spirit Plants were neatly placed beside the cowshed¡ªthere was already a mountain of Spirit Grass there. That was not all; Eryao had even imitated him, plowing the field with Brother Niu, and then used spells to rake and water the earth before sowing seeds taken from its pouch? It must have become sentient. ¡°Daddy!¡± Having finished sowing the last ridge, Eryao turned back, saw Jiang Tang, and immediately pounced over, rubbing against him affectionately. ¡°Eryao, tell me honestly, how many times did you plow the fields with Brother Niu?¡± Looking at the small mountain-like Spirit Grass and weapons, Jiang Tang slowly came back to his senses from the astonishment. ¡°Eryao plowed four times. The first time, half of it went wrong. Afraid of being scolded by Daddy, Eryao ate it all up,¡± Eryao said sheepishly, grinning. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Truly a genius. When he first learned to farm, he didn¡¯t know anything and ruined much more than half a mu of land; he spoiled a whole thirty mu. Those months were full of toil and trouble for him, and in the end, it was all for naught; he was so heartbroken that he almost became reclusive. It was only when a more experienced senior brother couldn¡¯t bear to watch and taught him by hand that Jiang Tang painfully learned and eventually became proficient as he was today. This little thing had watched him only once and was already able to grow six mu of top-quality crops. Talent really is something to be envied and jealous of. ¡°You did a great job. This is your reward,¡± Jiang Tang said as he collected the Spirit Grass and took out a piece of candy from his Qiankun Bag to hand over. ¡°Daddy, what is this?¡± Eryao smelt the rich Spiritual Energy and immediately lit up with excitement. ¡°This is a candy made from Spirit Grass, it can help you improve your cultivation. Grow up quickly so that you won¡¯t be bullied in the future.¡± Upon hearing this, Eryao nodded promptly, grabbed the candy, and hugged it in its arms as if it were a treasure, reluctant to eat. Not until the candy was almost melted from being held did Eryao finally eat the sweet treat. Seeing a decline in the quality of the Spirit Field, Jiang Tang decided not to continue farming. He already had enough stockpiled goods; it was time to go down the mountain and find a shop. Without hesitation, Jiang Tang quickly took a bath, changed into a fresh outfit, and applied for leave to descend the mountain. Little did he know, this trip down the mountain would once again draw unwelcome attention. And not from just one source. In a courtyard, upon receiving the report from his underling that Jiang Tang had descended the mountain, Chu Zuo sneered coldly, ¡°He likes farming, doesn¡¯t he? Go break his legs and arms for my sake, and let¡¯s see how he farms then!¡± The underling immediately called his dozen or so brothers and set off down the mountain. In another place, upon hearing of Jiang Tang¡¯s descent, Du Long hardened his heart and sent several more underlings, instructing them to gather a dozen brothers and plan to go down the mountain with the intent to completely eliminate Jiang Tang. Poor Jiang Tang, it looks like his troubles are far from over. Chapter 14 - 14 14 Posting Talismans The Holy Pavilion Opens ?14: Chapter 14: Posting Talismans, The Holy Pavilion Opens 14: Chapter 14: Posting Talismans, The Holy Pavilion Opens On the official road, there sped a Spirit Beast Carriage. Jiang Tang pulled aside the carriage curtain and looked out, feeling a strange sense of familiarity as he saw the distant red walls and glazed tiles. This place, could it be¡­ ¡°Driver, where are we?¡± Jiang Tang asked the coachman. ¡°Young master, this is Sunside City, one of the most bustling great cities in the Northern Region,¡± the coachman answered loudly. Jiang Tang nodded. After descending the mountain, to speed up his journey, he had gritted his teeth and spent a considerable sum to rent a Spirit Beast Carriage, telling the coachman to hurry to the nearest large city. And so this scene unfolded. The coachman drove the Spirit Beast Carriage to the city gate, brought it to a stop, and leisurely left after Jiang Tang got off. Jiang Tang looked at the most bustling palace within Sunside City; the more he looked, the more familiar it became. After inquiring, he learned that the palace was called Purple Forbidden City, the imperial capital of the former Qing dynasty. The Celestial Dynasty was established later, with its capital in Central Realm Chang¡¯an, leading to this place¡¯s decline. Despite its decline, it was still one of the busiest and most lively great cities in the world. Just like that. Jiang Tang didn¡¯t have the time to care for the magnificent and vast scenery of the former imperial city. As soon as he entered the city, he started looking everywhere for a suitable place to open a shop. After searching for most of the day, Jiang Tang finally found a teahouse in an alley that was up for lease. He went with the shopkeeper to the Government Office to change the land deed and pay the Silver Taels, and then Jiang Tang entrusted the teahouse owner to find two people with clean backgrounds to serve as the Shopkeeper and the accountant. Afterwards, Jiang Tang made a trip to the market, found some good-looking and capable lads, and brought them back to the courtyard he had purchased. He handed the keys over to the Shopkeeper and, after training them on their conduct, began to prepare for opening the shop. Having closed himself in to produce enough Pills for half a year and cultivated many Spirit Grasses and Spiritual Medicines, Jiang Tang, with his greasy hair, sought out the Shopkeeper, the accountant, and the lads. Talking to them in detail, Jiang Tang asked, ¡°If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, feel free to ask me.¡± The few shook their heads, clear about everything in their hearts. Jiang Tang thus said no more, gave a few reminders, and sent them off to rest early. After everyone left, Jiang Tang quietly took out a piece of Talisman Paper. Dipping it in Vermilion Sand, Jiang Tang closed his eyes for a long time to settle his thoughts. Until, at a certain moment when inspiration struck, Jiang Tang suddenly opened his eyes, picked up the Vermilion Sand Brush, and quickly made his strokes, completing it in one breath. It is said that everyone, when they receive a Saint Sect Talisman, will have an epiphany and write their own Talisman. Therefore, every Saint Sect Talisman is different. Today, his Saint Sect Talisman, succeeded! Looking at the ugly Talisman that looked like a ghost¡¯s drawing, Jiang Tang silently put down the Vermilion Sand Brush. He really wasn¡¯t the type to impress all with a stroke of the brush. In the end, unwilling to discard it, Jiang Tang posted the Talisman in the main hall, then returned to his room to continue producing Pills. The next morning, in the cold and deserted alley, due to the commotion and drumming of a Lion Dance Troupe, it became lively. Countless passing tourists stopped in their tracks, flocking into the alley to watch the lion dance and the music. ¡°Distinguished guests who are passing by, don¡¯t miss out! Have a look, take a gander! Today, Holy Pavilion opens with great fortune, selling all Pills and Spirit Grasses at half the market price!¡± The Shopkeeper walked out from Holy Pavilion, cutting the red ribbon and greeting everyone with smiles and bows from all directions. The tourists listened with curiosity. But what they were even more interested in were the Pills. ¡°Is this pill possibly counterfeit?¡± one of the men asked. ¡°Esteemed guest, please look, what sect symbol is that hanging beside the Holy Pavilion¡¯s golden plaque?¡± In response to the customer¡¯s suspicion, the shopkeeper was nonchalant, pointing to the signboard overhead with a smile. The crowd looked up together. Beside the prominent words ¡°Holy Pavilion,¡± there was a white symbol of the Auspicious Cloud Immortal Crane. If one looked even closer, they would notice that the symbol was faintly shimmering. ¡°The white Auspicious Cloud Immortal Crane¡­ is it the Immortal Sect? The Holy Pavilion is backed by the Immortal Sect?!¡± The customer was immediately shocked. This symbol was the emblem of the Immortal Sect, and it was also printed on the robes of the Immortal Sect. One could not fake such a symbol¡ªfor if it were to be discovered one day, it would enrage the entire Immortal Sect. And the Immortal Sect was the foremost cultivation sect of the Mortal Realm; the consequences of angering it, no single power could afford. Even the Imperial Xuanyuan Clan. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, the First Rank Elixirs inside are all of the finest quality, and the quantity is limited. First come, first serve,¡± the shopkeeper said smilingly, his eyes gleaming like a wily fox. Now, the onlookers couldn¡¯t stay put. Elixirs, after all, were an industry monopolized by the noble clans of the Mortal Realm. Common folk couldn¡¯t afford them; they were delicacies only the upper class could enjoy. To them, mere mortals, even the most inferior pill, even one adulterated with scraps, was considered a supreme honor. Not to mention these openly sold, legitimate pills. One person entered the Holy Pavilion first, then emerged shortly after with a smile brimming in his eyes, excitedly proclaiming, ¡°It¡¯s true! Their pills are of excellent quality, not something ordinary people could refine!¡± The crowd¡¯s eyes lit up, and they no longer hesitated, rushing inside. In less than half a day, everything in the Holy Pavilion was sold out. The shopkeeper did not hold onto any stock. When the noon hour came, he closed the door leisurely, under the earnest and surprised gazes of the people. Despite this attitude, the reputation of the Holy Pavilion for its good quality and low prices spread far and wide. In the following days, often it wouldn¡¯t take more than half a day, even less than two hours, for the Holy Pavilion¡¯s goods to be sold out completely. Most buyers were commoners who couldn¡¯t afford pills on a regular day. They would line up early, purchasing pills to save for future use. Some had severe illnesses at home that needed immediate attention. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These comings and goings, those who had bought pills and Spiritual Medicine, tasted the benefits and naturally boasted everywhere about the Holy Pavilion¡¯s good quality and low prices. Thus, word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and the Holy Pavilion became the hottest shop in Sunside City. Those who were jealous behind the scenes and thought of foul play upon seeing the backing of the Immortal Sect, they wimped out. After all, it was just a shop too small to be any smaller, with strange and archaic rules, closing at noon¡ªoffending the Immortal Sect for such a tiny shop seemed somewhat unwise. And not worth it. So, they all quietly dismissed the idea. Little did they know, years later, the Holy Pavilion would spread across the world, no longer just a tiny shop. But that is a story for another time. In these days, Jiang Tang had been tirelessly refining a batch of pills and cultivating some Spirit Grass. Then, he summoned the shopkeeper and carefully instructed him before he left. ¡°My lord, why close the doors halfway through the day?¡± Out of curiosity, the shopkeeper finally crossed the line and couldn¡¯t help but ask. Jiang Tang grinned: ¡°Sometimes, the fewer the items, the better they sell. A surplus diminishes their value, and naturally, no one bothers with them. It¡¯s like everyone thinking exotic delicacies are good just because they¡¯re rare.¡± Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper fell into thought. Chapter 15 - 15 15 Trial Planting Exotic Flame Grass 1 ?15: Chapter 15 Trial, Planting Exotic Flame Grass (1) 15: Chapter 15 Trial, Planting Exotic Flame Grass (1) The shopkeeper listened to Jiang Tang¡¯s words, thoughtful. ¡°Supply and demand dictate the value,¡± said Young Master Jiang, ¡°whether there are customers or not, closing the store for half a day would generally be to build a reputation of selling rare and high-quality items.¡± Such a move would attract even more customers. Seeing the shopkeeper¡¯s demeanor, Jiang Tang reached out and patted his shoulder, then took out a wad of silver notes and handed it over. ¡°Young Master Jiang, this won¡¯t do, this won¡¯t do!¡± The shopkeeper, seeing the large sum on the silver notes, hurriedly waved his hands in panic, ¡°The standard silver we receive is enough!¡± ¡°This is the standard silver for the future, as I¡¯ll be leaving and won¡¯t always be here. Besides, I trust Mr. Xu. Please bother Mr. Jiang to deliver it to him for me,¡± Jiang Tang said with a slight smile. Mr. Xu was the accountant. Jiang Tang had learned about his past and tested him for several days, after which he valued Mr. Xu highly, leaving the account books to his care. Handing over these silver notes to him was more reassuring than to anyone else. ¡°Alright.¡± Mr. Jiang took the silver notes, nodding with a smile. Being trusted and valued by their master in just over a dozen days was indeed their most prideful achievement. Jiang Tang left Sunside City, rented a bullock cart, and headed towards the dense forest in the east. The dense forest, known as Qingloujian, was a part of Chang¡¯an Mountain. Spiritual energy came from The Upper Realm, and it was under the control of the Immortal Sect. Inside were treasures and Demonic Beasts, with countless adventures to be had. Throughout history, it had been a place where disciples from Noble Clan Sects had to visit for their training. Upon reaching Qingloujian, it was high noon. The place was already filled with disciples who had come for training. Some were Loose Cultivators, while others were disciples from Noble Clan Sects. Jiang Tang saw several people dressed just like Su Chang¡¯an, presumably they were Sword Sect disciples. For some reason, they stayed far from the dense forest and did not enter. It was only when Jiang Tang saw several Immortal Sect disciples descend from the sky on their swords, looking solemnly in all directions. They bowed in unison, then loudly announced, ¡°Qingloujian is about to open, those who wish to enter, report your names. Those who trespass without permission, triggering the protective spells, will not be held responsible by the Immortal Sect.¡± As they finished, they all cast spells simultaneously, and the originally serene forest suddenly had spiritual lights flickering, with a barrier appearing in front of all the trainees. It turned out that every Sect¡¯s secret realm was guarded by disciples and a protective formation. If any trespasser dared to enter uninvited, they would immediately trigger the restrictions and be killed on the spot. The trainees immediately lined up in an orderly manner, handing over their tokens for registration before proceeding inside. Suddenly, Jiang Tang remembered that when he said he wanted to go out for training, the steward kindly gave him a token with his name engraved on the back, saying it would be useful during the training. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So this was its use. When it was his turn, he quickly took out the token and handed it over. ¡°A fellow sect junior, I see,¡± the disciple registering him said with a hint of surprise. ¡°Eh, can¡¯t one from the same sect train in their own Sect¡¯s secret realm?¡± asked Jiang Tang, momentarily taken aback and feeling a bit embarrassed. He was unaware of this rule. ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s just that sect disciples have to hand over seventy percent of the treasures they obtain during their training on the spot,¡± said the disciple with a smile. Seventy percent¡­ that¡¯s downright extortion. But recalling that the Immortal Sect was his trump card ¨C its deep foundations something he had to rely on ¨C Jiang Tang instantly nodded in agreement, ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Going deeper into the forest, Jiang Tang astonishingly noticed that everyone else had companions, while he was alone. He didn¡¯t feel lonely at all; he still had fellow sect brothers. Jiang Tang silently chanted to himself and stepped further into the woods. This trip to the dense forest was intended to find some high-quality Spirit Grass to plant in his space. If it were possible, he would also like to attempt breaking through to the Sixth Heaven of Body Refinement. As Jiang Tang walked for a while, he found that there were indeed many excellent Spirit Grasses and Spiritual Medicines, but around them, one or two Demonic Beasts were always lingering. According to ancient records, these Demonic Beasts were the guardians of the Spirit Grasses and Spiritual Medicines. If one wished to harvest the Spirit Grass, one had to defeat them first. In this world, regardless of demons, ghosts, or other creatures, they are all divided into nine ranks, and beyond that are beings from ancient times, who mostly have become immmortal or demons and are no longer in the Mortal Realm. However, even the weakest of these creatures is at the late stage of the first rank, comparable to the perfect completion of the Ninth Heaven of Body Refinement. He was only at the Fifth Heaven of Body Refinement¡ªhow could he possibly defeat them? At that moment, Jiang Tang suddenly saw a strangely growing Spirit Grass. To call it a grass wasn¡¯t quite accurate, it was more like a fire grass. Its stem was that of a plant, while the leaves were shining, dark red flames. Is this¡­ Exotic Flame Grass? Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned, then he hurriedly took out the ancient book to look through it carefully, and when his gaze landed on one of the pages, his excitement surged. It was, without a doubt, Exotic Flame Grass! Turns out, Exotic Flame Grass is naturally formed by heaven and earth, born with the seed of the Exotic Flame. Although it is not as preeminent as the Innate Exotic Flame, the fire seed that proliferates from it is also extremely rare. For example, the Exotic Flame Grass in front of him, with flames of a dark red color, was the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, ranked twentieth in the Ding Xiang category. In this world, there are a total of one hundred types of post-heaven derived Exotic Flames, divided into Jia Xiang, Yi Xiang, Bing Xiang, and Ding Xiang, with each category further divided into twenty-five levels. Among them, Jia Xiang Exotic Flames are the best, which if they could grow to a later stage, their power could be comparable to Innate Spiritual Fire. The Xuanming Spiritual Fire, ranked at the end of Ding Xiang, was already extremely good for Jiang Tang. Taming this Exotic Flame Grass, if he successfully hatched the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, the quality of the Pills he refined would improve significantly. Since there was Exotic Flame Grass, then¡­ Jiang Tang looked around and felt something fall on his head. When he reached up, he found a sticky liquid. Disgusted, he shook it off, and as he looked up, he saw eight bright red eyeballs. Jiang Tang shuddered and immediately retreated a large step backward with the ancient book in his arms. Such a large spider, with its bristles clearly visible, was way too much to handle! As it turned out, this Eight Eyes Spider was the guardian beast of the Exotic Flame Grass. Looking at its appearance, it was already at the full completion of the first rank, comparable to the peak of the Ninth Heaven of Body Refinement for a Cultivator. And Jiang Tang was only at the Fifth Heaven of Body Refinement, not having even entered the Sixth Heaven. Although he could take a hit, it didn¡¯t mean he could take such a ferocious beating. ¡°Daddy, Daddy!¡± At this moment, Eryao suddenly transmitted his voice secretly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Jiang Tang, cautiously retreating step by step as he spoke. ¡°Daddy, let me out.¡± Jiang Tang did as he was told and summoned Eryao. Eryao landed in front of him, flapping its wings, baring its teeth and making faces at the Eight Eyes Spider. Jiang Tang suddenly felt a strange fluctuation. Immediately afterward, he saw the Eight Eyes Spider shudder and, turning its head with a pitiful howl, run away. Could this be the soul suppression? ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Daddy. Ryao¡¯s bloodline dominance is stronger than that of the beast, so imposing the soul suppression can drive away these low-ranked Demonic Beasts that have not awakened their wisdom,¡± Eryao turned its head, leapt into Jiang Tang¡¯s arms, and grinned. Jiang Tang understood. It turns out that not only are humans differentiated into many levels, but also the various races, due to their bloodlines, are divided into different levels. For instance, his Eryao, compared to this Eight Eyes Spider, was a bit like a sovereign to a subject. Faced with the soul pressure from a superior, those of a lower bloodline will naturally feel fear. Chapter 16 - 16 16 Trial Planting Exotic Flame Grass 2 ?16: Chapter 16 Trial, Planting Exotic Flame Grass (2) 16: Chapter 16 Trial, Planting Exotic Flame Grass (2) How fortunate that I raised a dragon cub. Jiang Tang felt immeasurable gratitude. He put away the ancient tome and rubbed Eryao¡¯s head, ¡°Eryao, you¡¯re such a good boy. The first field is all yours to eat from.¡± Eryao was immediately delighted. In recent days, Father had been feeding him Spirit Grass bought from outside, and though they were of superior quality, they just didn¡¯t taste as good as those Father grew himself. Now with permission granted, Eryao entered the Spirit Field Space and first helped Jiang Tang harvest the crops from the second field, piling them up together before diving into the first field and gobbling them down ravenously. Meanwhile, Jiang Tang stood guard over the Exotic Flame Grass, waiting for it to mature before carefully uprooting it, roots and all, and transplanting it into the spatial Spirit Field. Atop the Exotic Flame Grass, dark red flames flickered gracefully, casting a wondrous sheen. Jiang Tang had perused the ancient tome and knew the method of harvesting. He slowly mustered a strand of Spiritual Power, twirled it on his fingertips, and cautiously approached the sapling of Xuanming Spiritual Fire. ¡°Little fella, would you like to form a bond with me?¡± Feeling the scorching resistance from the flame, Jiang Tang became even gentler in his approach. The range of the flame¡¯s sway lessened, gradually condensing into a sphere of light that detached from the stem and flew into Jiang Tang¡¯s palm, merging into it. Jiang Tang instantly felt a connection with the Xuanming Spiritual Fire. He opened his palm, attempting to summon it with his intent, and a wisp of dark red flame immediately appeared. With the appearance of the Exotic Flame, the bond was formed! He could finally use the Exotic Flame for alchemy. Eager to test it out, Jiang Tang nevertheless remembered the purpose of his trip was to find some Spirit Grass, so he hurriedly left the space and started looking around. He had just picked a stalk of Spirit Grass and was about to harvest the second one when he encountered troublemakers. ¡°Hey, lad, this Suixian Grass is something our Young Master is looking for. Hand it over to us. You can go pick elsewhere.¡± Two men dressed in brocade clothes slowly approached, their eyes scoffing at Jiang Tang who was clad in simple cloth. ¡°But, first come, first served,¡± Jiang Tang furrowed his brows. This Suixian Grass was essential for crafting the First-Stage Heart-Nurturing Pill; without it, the pill could not possibly be made. ¡°Stop your babbling. Are you asking for a beating?¡± One of the men brandished a long saber and glared at Jiang Tang menacingly. Two men, one of the Fifth Heaven of Body Refinement and the other of the Sixth Heaven. I might not be able to beat them, but grabbing this Suixian Grass should be no problem. After pondering briefly, Jiang Tang swiftly picked the Suixian Grass and turned to run away. The two men stood there dumbfounded. By the time they came to their senses and thought to give chase, the Demonic Beast guarding the Suixian Grass came out and pounced on them. The pair had no choice but to deal with the Demonic Beast with all their might. Jiang Tang ran for a while and suddenly saw an elegant figure ahead. He stopped to catch his breath and looked closely. It was a young noble. Dressed in a dark purple robe with a purple crescent moon Jade Pendant at his waist, he stood tall and straight, looking from a distance like a handsome Immortal, graceful and refined. If it wasn¡¯t Su Chang¡¯an. ¡°Lord Qianchen?¡± Jiang Tang was overjoyed. Su Chang¡¯an turned around upon hearing the voice and caught sight of the panting Jiang Tang, slightly startled. This seemed to be the cultivator he saved last time, named Jiang Tang. ¡°Jiang, what¡¯s got you in such a flurry?¡± Seeing Jiang Tang rushing toward him, Su Chang¡¯an greeted with a bow. Jiang Tang returned the gesture and, after catching his breath, explained what had just happened. At that moment, the two men ran over. Upon seeing Jiang Tang, they started cursing and preparing to attack him. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su Chang¡¯an stepped in front of Jiang Tang and asked indifferently, ¡°The Young Master you two speak of, who might he be?¡± ¡°An Outer Sect Disciple of the Immortal Sect, Su Chenye,¡± one of the men said, tilting his chin up pridefully. ¡°Su Chenye¡­ from the Sword Sect Su Clan, Su Chenye?¡± Su Chang¡¯an slowly raised an eyebrow. ¡°Our Young Master may not be a direct descendant of the main family, but he¡¯s a genius of a collateral branch. From the looks of you, robed in your finery, you better not meddle, or I¡¯ll beat you along with him!¡± The other man glared at Su Chang¡¯an. Su Chang¡¯an chuckled. Jiang Tang¡¯s heart inexplicably shuddered. He felt¡­ these two were in for bad luck. Rustling sounds came from all around as a group of black-clad people suddenly appeared beside them. ¡°Those who wish to kill the Young Master shall be slain by us first,¡± a person in black slowly drew a long saber from his waist, his eyes cold and sharp like an eagle¡¯s. The Young Master? The two were stunned, turning their gaze towards the amiable-faced Su Chang¡¯an. When their eyes landed on the jade pendant at his waist, they suddenly widened. The purple crescent moon¡­ Was that¡­ the symbol of the Sword Sect Su Clan¡¯s jade pendant?! He is¡­ ¡°Su Clan¡¯s Young Master, Su Chang¡¯an?! Run!¡± The two recognized Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s identity, realizing they had carelessly offended someone they shouldn¡¯t have, and immediately turned to flee. But the black-clad people weren¡¯t going to give them a chance to escape; just raising their long sabers and striking forward, the two screamed tragically and fell to the ground, dead. Su Chang¡¯an waved his hand, signaling them to back off, and then glanced at Jiang Tang, who stood with his mouth agape in surprise, and couldn¡¯t help but cover his mouth with his fist and cough. It seems I scared Brother Jiang. In fact, Jiang Tang wasn¡¯t scared. He was just shocked that the scenes he had read about in martial arts novels were being enacted right before his very eyes. Okay, that blood was a bit frightening. ¡°Lord Qianchen, are you alright?¡± Jiang Tang came back to his senses, looked at Su Chang¡¯an, and seeing his slightly pale complexion, couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°It¡¯s an old illness from years ago, I¡¯m used to it,¡± Su Chang¡¯an said with a faint smile, nonchalantly waving his hand. Jiang Tang grunted, producing a porcelain bottle from his Qiankun Bag and passed it over. ¡°This is a First-Stage Cleansing Spirit Pill that I made in my spare time. If Lord Qianchen trusts it, please feel free to use it,¡± Jiang Tang said, scratching his head with a grin. Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s eyes flickered. He made it himself? In the Mortal Realm, alchemists were a much-sought-after profession and the target of countless peoples¡¯ admiration. Looking at Brother Jiang¡¯s expression, it seemed he wasn¡¯t aware of the preciousness of pills. ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble Brother Jiang,¡± Su Chang¡¯an waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, I have made many of these pills, so please take them and use them,¡± Jiang Tang insisted, placing the porcelain bottle into the other¡¯s hand. ¡°In that case, I shall accept them without further ado,¡± Su Chang¡¯an reluctantly received it and smiled, ¡°Brother Jiang, since we¡¯re both here, shall we travel together for a while? If there¡¯s more trouble, Brother Jiang won¡¯t have to worry about being frightened anymore.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Jiang Tang nodded. And so, the two set off together. Of course, if you disregard those Shadow Guards that didn¡¯t count. On the way, they shared their intentions. It turned out that Su Chang¡¯an was also there to gather herbs for making his own pills. Incidentally, he was dealing with a few troublesome pests. With Su Chang¡¯an present, those who saw Jiang Tang dressed plainly and thought to rob him quickly retreated, keeping their distance. As a result, Jiang Tang picked many Spirit Grasses along the way. As for the demonic beasts, they were all intercepted by the Shadow Guards. When they found the herbs they were each looking for, the two had also reached the edge of Qingloujian. ¡°Lord Qianchen, let us part ways here,¡± Jiang Tang bowed to Su Chang¡¯an, ¡°If we meet again, I shall gift you a Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill.¡± A Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill? Could it be that he was already an alchemist of the pill-master level? Su Chang¡¯an was slightly taken aback. Chapter 17 - 17 17 Subduing the Xuanming Spiritual Fire ?17: Chapter 17: Subduing the Xuanming Spiritual Fire 17: Chapter 17: Subduing the Xuanming Spiritual Fire In this world, alchemists are also classified by their ranks. If divided by hierarchy, the ranks of alchemists include Medic, Pharmacist, Senior Pharmacist, Medicine Ancestor, Medicine King, Medicine Emperor, Medicine Saint, Medicine Venerate, and Medicine Sovereign, totaling nine ranks, each corresponding to the grade of the pills. For instance, a Medic can only concoct First Rank Elixirs. If a Medic could transcend his rank to concoct a Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill, then he would certainly be noticed by the Holy Medical Valley, accepted as a disciple despite the norms, and become an exceptional Cultivator Physician of his generation. Among them, Medicine Kings and alchemists beyond that rank are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the Mortal Realm. He had seen Jiang¡¯s constitution; although not a prodigy chosen by the heavens, it was nonetheless extremely good. Presumably, due to the lack of resources in the Immortal Sect, it has taken him until the age of nineteen to reach the fifth level of Body Refinement. ¡°Thank you, Jiang, for your kind intentions, I take them to heart.¡± Su Chang¡¯an smiled faintly. The two made a customary bow to each other and then went their separate ways. Jiang Tang approached the disciples guarding this place and, after handing over seventy percent of the Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine as agreed, found a quiet inn to settle down and rest. Entering the Spirit Field Space, Eryao, who was tilling the field, saw Jiang Tang, her face lit up with joy, and she dropped her hoe and threw herself into his arms, cooing, ¡°Daddy.¡± ¡°Eryao has grown heavier,¡± Jiang Tang said as he weighed the Dragon Cub, noting that it had grown quite a bit. ¡°The Spiritual Energy here is abundant, and time flows differently from the outside world. Eryao has been absorbing a lot of Spiritual Energy and has spent a longer time here; naturally, I¡¯ve grown quickly. Look, Daddy, Eryao has planted so many Spirit Grasses for you.¡± Eryao pointed to the ox pen with a wide smile. Jiang Tang touched Eryao¡¯s head: ¡°Go rest, I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Eryao obediently flew over to the ox pen and began to meditate and cultivate. Jiang Tang first collected the Spirit Grass, and upon noticing the pile of weapons that the Spirit Grass had transformed into, he was momentarily stunned. He gathered up the weapons and singled out a round Pill Furnace from among them. This¡­ seems to be an Alchemy Furnace. Judging by its quality, it seems to be a mid-grade Yellow-tier Spiritual Artifact. He was in need of an Alchemy Furnace, and here one had presented itself right before him. Jiang Tang was pleased and quickly stored the Alchemy Furnace in his Qiankun Bag, tucking it close to his body, while the rest of the items were placed into the Qiankun Bag within his storage space. He brought over Niu and found that it had also grown much stronger. ¡°Niu, after we finish plowing the field, let¡¯s take a rest,¡± Jiang Tang patted Niu¡¯s head and flashed a grin. ¡°Moo¡ª¡± Niu called out, put on the plow, and quickly finished plowing the remaining acre and a half of land with Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang fed Niu a handful of Spirit Grass, removed the plow, and gestured for it to go to the ox pen, before he himself picked up a hoe to start breaking up the soil. This time, he used Spiritual Liquid of his own concoction to irrigate the Spirit Field, which had doubled the quality of the soil compared to before, with incredibly rich Spiritual Energy. He believed the Spirit Plants that grew would be extraordinary. He wondered if he could get his hands on some better farming tools. As Jiang Tang thought this, he stirred the Golden Body Spell, and the action of breaking the soil sped up. In less than an hour and a half, he had finished breaking the soil and raking the ground. When he began to sow the seeds and irrigate the Spirit Field, Jiang Tang suddenly discovered that his Golden Body Spell, which he hadn¡¯t cultivated for a long time, had unexpectedly advanced to the Intermediate Realm on its own. Doesn¡¯t that mean his endurance and ability to take hits had reached a new level? Jiang Tang watched the Spirit Field contentedly for a while as the seeds began to sprout, then withdrew to ponder over using the Xuanming Spiritual Fire for alchemy. However, the Xuanming Spiritual Fire was, after all, an Exotic Flame, not as easy to manage as the flames generated by his own Fire Spirit Root. Losing control of the flame temperature, Jiang Tang accidentally burnt the pills completely. After three days and nights of trying, having wasted countless Spirit Grasses, Jiang Tang, in unbearable pain, finally refined a First Rank Elixir of superior quality. ¡°Why are there only five pills in one batch?¡± Jiang Tang looked at the Pills that had just come out of the furnace and silently twitched the corner of his mouth. Without using Exotic Flame, he could at least produce ten Pills in one batch. At this moment, Jiang Tang had no idea that after binding with a master, an Exotic Flame would go through an adjustment period, after which it would completely submit to the master. For an ordinary Medician at the level of an Alchemist, being able to Refine one or two top-quality Pills in an initial batch would already indicate exceptional talent. If what Jiang Tang had just said were heard by the group of old men in Holy Medical Valley and Medicine Sect outside, they would surely be speechless with shock. After bathing, Jiang Tang chose a First Rank Elixir named Heavenly Spirit Pill and took it to begin his Cultivation. According to ancient texts, consuming this Pill could enhance one¡¯s Cultivation, and it wouldn¡¯t have any side effects nor would it affect one¡¯s talents. For Jiang Tang, who currently had meager strength, this was precisely the kind of Pill he needed the most. However, Jiang Tang also understood that true cultivation progress comes from steady effort. Any realm achieved through the accumulation of Pills would surely have hidden problems later on. Therefore, he only used one Pill, intending to sell the rest to the Holy Pavilion in the future. Three days later, Jiang Tang slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air with a hint of discouragement. He had reached the pinnacle of the Fifth Layer of Body Refinement, yet was unable to break through to the Sixth Layer no matter how he tried. He wanted to take a look at the third Spirit Field as well. Forget it, let¡¯s just let nature take its course. With that thought, Jiang Tang casually ate a couple of plain steamed buns, then entered the Spirit Field Space and found that the Spirit Plants had matured, so he called Eryao over to help him with the harvest. ¡°Daddy, Eryao wants to go out and play.¡± After resowing the two Spirit Fields with seeds, Eryao clung to Jiang Tang¡¯s arm, its eyes brimming with longing. ¡°Go, Daddy will take you out to play.¡± Jiang Tang had already gotten used to how Eryao called him, and then he started quietly taking advantage of this little Dragon Cub. He took Eryao out of the Spirit Field Space, and after bathing, they quietly left. After all, this was the era after the resumption of Spiritual Energy, and the Dragon Clan had become the rarest Spirit Beasts since the golden age of Cultivation. If he didn¡¯t carefully conceal it, someone with ill intentions might snatch away this little cub and slice it up to eat. To Cultivators, Demonic Beasts were like animals to humans. People eat non-rank animals, while they eat ranked Demonic Beasts. Although the Dragon Cub was a descendant of an Ancient Snow Dragon, it was still a fledgling with immature mentality and easily deceived. Thus, as its father, he naturally needed to protect his own cub properly. After giving Eryao several instructions and seeing it nod obediently, Jiang Tang went to a vacant hill, allowing it to soar high into the sky. As Eryao flew up high, riding the winds in excitement, it let out one long cry after another. The soul pressure characteristic of the Dragon Clan dispersed in all directions, startling countless birds and beasts. Jiang Tang sat cross-legged, looking up at the Dragon Cub in midair. The Dragon Clan, by nature, belonged to the sky, just as blue whales belonged to the ocean. Throughout its healing period, the little cub kept talking about wanting to soar into the blue sky. Only the sky in the space was too small for the little cub to fly comfortably. So, Jiang Tang brought Eryao out, allowing it to fly in the vast sky. A gust of wind suddenly blew by, causing Eryao to sway unstably. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Tang was smiling when he suddenly heard a voice coming from behind¡ª ¡°You little rascal, how dare you make me search high and low for you!¡± Chapter 18 - 18 18 Mysterious Old Man Guiding Medicine Skills 1 ?18: Chapter 18 Mysterious Old Man, Guiding Medicine Skills (1) 18: Chapter 18 Mysterious Old Man, Guiding Medicine Skills (1) Jiang Tang suddenly stood up and turned around, seeing a group of people dressed in white robes, panting heavily as they ran up, wielding longswords, their eyes ominously fixed on him. Noticing the ill intent of the newcomers, Jiang Tang carefully edged backward while flashing an awkward smile, ¡°Fellow seniors, we have never met before. What do you want with me?¡± The moment they appeared, Jiang Tang noticed the patterns of the Auspicious Cloud Immortal Crane on their clothes. This was the symbol of the Immortal Sect; they were disciples of the Immortal Sect. Could it be, they were here seeking revenge again? In fact, Jiang Tang had guessed right. ¡°You little brat, we¡¯ve been chasing you for over a month, and finally caught up with you,¡± the leading disciple sneered coldly, ¡°Go!¡± With that, the group of people simultaneously drew out their magic artifacts, their faces cruelly set as they charged towards Jiang Tang. ¡°Bullying with numbers, where¡¯s the martial honor in that, hey!¡± Jiang Tang shuddered in fear and immediately turned to run. However tough he was, he couldn¡¯t withstand a beating from over a dozen people. At this moment, Eryao in the sky had seen Jiang Tang being chased by a dozen people with knives and was momentarily stunned. Was Daddy¡­ encountering villains? It squinted its eyes and swooped down, landing steadily behind Jiang Tang. ¡°Where did this little brat come from, scram!¡± The leading disciple glared at Eryao impatiently, and when he saw it didn¡¯t leave, he swung his sword directly at it. Eryao dodged to the side, and its pupils instantly turned golden. It was brewing a ball of fire in its throat. Before it could spit it out, it felt itself being embraced in a pair of arms. ¡°Forget your life, run!¡± Jiang Tang held Eryao tightly and sped away. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Eryao, nearly choked to death by a mouthful of molten lava, thought: ¡°¡­¡± Daddy really loves him. The group behind was about to catch up when they suddenly heard rustling noises from the side bushes, causing them to stop in their tracks and look over with caution. With a flurry of movement, another group of people emerged. This group, dressed in plain clothes and wielding weapons, started cursing as they saw the retreating figure of Jiang Tang and attempted to follow. The disciples recognized one of them as a disciple of the Immortal Sect. Thinking they were there to steal the credit, their eyes hardened, and without another word, they attacked with their weapons. The other group wouldn¡¯t just stand there and be beaten; they turned around to fight back. After both groups were battered and bruised from the fight and stopped from exhaustion, they each announced their affiliations. Realizing they were all disciples of the Immortal Sect, and all were after Jiang Tang¡¯s life: ¡°¡­¡± If only they had talked first, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this, and Jiang Tang would not have slipped away; they were sure to be scolded when they got back. So the more they thought about it, the angrier they got, arguing and bickering until they started fighting again. In the end, they returned to the Sect with heads bleeding and bodies staggering, a truly sorry sight. As for Jiang Tang, after running until he was out of breath and confirming that the group had not caught up, he released Eryao and collapsed to the ground. ¡°Daddy, Eryao can help Daddy drive away those bad people,¡± Eryao flitted around Jiang Tang before landing on his shoulder, its mouth puffed up in clear dissatisfaction. ¡°I was afraid those people had the Spirit Sect¡¯s Beast Control Talismans with them, and they could capture you and make a stew out of you,¡± Jiang Tang poked Eryao¡¯s fluffy head, ¡°Get inside.¡± If those people were to come back and see Eryao, they would surely try to capture it¡ªEryao clearly wasn¡¯t an ordinary demonic beast, they would definitely take it to sell for money, or eat it to boost their cultivation. After sending Eryao into the Spirit Field Space, Jiang Tang was about to cultivate when he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his chest. He looked down and saw that the jade was emitting a wondrous light. At the same time, a feeling of dizziness suddenly overtook him. Jiang Tang crashed to the ground, and in his daze, he spotted a pair of mud-covered cloth shoes that had appeared before him at some unknown time. ¡°Young man, this jade stone of yours, I find it very familiar,¡± the owner of the shoes slowly squatted down, reaching towards the jade around his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ move¡­¡± Jiang Tang weakly spat out these words before completely losing consciousness. When Jiang Tang awoke again, the night sky was already aglow with stars. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a campfire and a white-clothed old man leisurely roasting a fish. Upon seeing Jiang Tang wake up, the old man couldn¡¯t help raising an eyebrow, ¡°I thought you were going to sleep until the sun was three poles high.¡± The old man¡¯s voice was extremely amiable, resembling that of a kind elder. Yet to Jiang Tang, it sounded eerily familiar. Could it be¡­ it was¡­ the voice of the owner of the cloth shoes he had glimpsed before passing out? Jiang Tang instinctively touched his chest. Thankfully, the jade stone was still there. ¡°Young friend, this treasure of yours has quite a history. If used appropriately in the future, you will surely become a powerful figure,¡± the old man glanced at Jiang Tang and, seeing his stunned expression, couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Be at ease, I have no intention of taking your treasure. The Immeasurable Ancient Jade is fated to be with you and has formed a pact; it acknowledges you as its master, so even if I took it, it would be of no use to me.¡± Immeasurable Ancient Jade? ¡°Senior, you recognize the origin of this jade stone?¡± Jiang Tang quickly got up and gave the old man a bow in greeting. ¡°Immeasurable Ancient Jade, one of the ancient Spiritual Treasures, was once possessed by the Immortal Emperor. After the Immortal Emperor descended into the cycle of reincarnation, the whereabouts of the ancient jade became unknown. Having traveled far and wide, naturally, I recognize it,¡± the white-clothed old man nodded and slowly revealed the history of the jade stone. The Immortal Emperor, wasn¡¯t he the ruler of this world, a distinguished powerhouse said to have lived for a very, very long time? However, how did he know that this was the so-called Immeasurable Ancient Jade? Seeing Jiang Tang with his mouth open, appearing somewhat skeptical, the old man couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Young friend, lower your head and take a closer look at this jade stone.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang immediately looked down and scrutinized the jade stone closely. Somehow, the jade stone had transformed into the shape of a Jade Pendant, within the auspicious clouds an intricate Bagua symbol was concealed, looking very classy and upscale. Upon closer observation, the Jade Pendant emitted a faint mist, and this mist was exactly what he had encountered in the Spirit Field Space. Jiang Tang released his Divine Sense to inspect the Spirit Field Space and discovered that beside the Spirit Field, an ancient stele had been added, tilting slightly among them. On the stele, a line of characters was neatly inscribed. Heaven and Earth, Immeasurable Spirit Field. What the venerable elder said was true! ¡°Senior, I was disrespectful earlier,¡± Jiang Tang quickly exited the space and bowed to the old man again, ¡°May I inquire about the senior¡¯s esteemed surname?¡± ¡°This old man has neither name nor surname, knowing only that I awoke at the peak of Heaven Mountain,¡± the white-clothed old man shook his head. Heaven Mountain, described in ancient books as a place connecting the Mortal Realm with the Immortal Realm above. Those with destiny who climb to the mountaintop and traverse the boundless lands would see a Sky City enveloped by dense fog. Beyond Sky City, a waterfall cascades from the heavens. Going against the waterfall¡¯s flow leads to the realm of Immortals. There lies the home of the gods and deities. Heaven Mountain is a mysterious place, its location still undiscovered; no one knows which territory it occupies. ¡°Senior, did you truly come from Heaven Mountain? Is it really, as written in the books, the unparalleled place beyond the Immortal Realm?¡± Jiang Tang suddenly became excited. Intuition told him the venerable elder wouldn¡¯t lie, but he still wanted to confirm it. ¡°There, every flower, every blade of grass, every wisp of fog is unmatched in the Mortal Realm,¡± the white-clothed old man stroked his long beard and smiled faintly. Chapter 19 - 19 19 Mysterious Old Man Guiding Medical Skills 2 ?19: Chapter 19 Mysterious Old Man, Guiding Medical Skills (2) 19: Chapter 19 Mysterious Old Man, Guiding Medical Skills (2) ¡°Since the senior comes from Heaven Mountain, I might as well address you by that association and call you Tianlao. What do you think of this, senior?¡± Jiang Tang made a polite bow. ¡°A name means little to me. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You can call me as you like, young friend,¡± the white-clothed elder said, waving his hand with indifference. Jiang Tang cracked a smile. It had been a long time since he had encountered such a kind and amiable elder. ¡°Young man, there is a scent of medicine on you. Could you be a disciple of the Medicine Sect?¡± Tianlao suddenly spoke up. ¡°I am not a disciple of the Medicine Sect. I am a disciple of the Immortal Sect. However, I have not yet entered the Outer Sect and am preparing to take the assessment,¡± Jiang Tang sheepishly conveyed his status as a servant disciple. In truth, he was somewhat vain. After three years of muddling through without making a name for himself and still being just a servant disciple, it was indeed a bit embarrassing for someone who had traversed worlds. ¡°Your skill in medicine is passable, but your ability to cure is lacking some innate talent. Young friend, come here.¡± Tianlao beckoned Jiang Tang after a moment¡¯s contemplation. Jiang Tang, puzzled, complied. ¡°Stretch out your hand.¡± Jiang Tang extended his hand. Tianlao reached out with his finger and slowly wrote a character in Jiang Tang¡¯s palm that the latter could not understand. When he stopped, the character emitted a golden light, which then merged into Jiang Tang¡¯s body. In an instant, countless profound insights about the art of medicine sprang up in Jiang Tang¡¯s mind. Jiang Tang¡¯s head buzzed. It felt a bit numb. It ached a bit. And there was another feeling¡­ indescribable. This feeling was like those small-time thugs in kung fu movies, who suddenly had their governor and conception vessels unblocked and turned into matchless martial artists. Of course, Jiang Tang wasn¡¯t referring to martial arts secrets, but the path of medicine. Indeed, after Tianlao wrote that line of characters in his palm, Jiang Tang, just like those protagonists, instantly went from a nobody to a peak existence. It wasn¡¯t that he was boasting; the medical knowledge flooding his brain was so profound that even a small part of it could easily overwhelm any disciple of the Medicine Sect, including those from the Holy Medical Valley. Because this medical skill came directly from the inheritance of The Upper Realm. It included legacies left by previous generations of the Medicine Sect and the Holy Medical Valley who had ascended to become immortals. After the decline of spiritual energy in the previous generation, the transmission of knowledge was interrupted. Although much has been restored today, there have still been omissions. Yet, Jiang Tang could feel that this inheritance was not only complete but also included detailed annotations from those great beings, like a beginner¡¯s guide, carefully guiding you to become an unparalleled master of life and death by medicine. Higher than the mortal understanding, the profundity within these medical principles dwarfed the medical practices of the Mortal Realm, as if a novice encountering a grand master. In response to this, Jiang Tang felt his own knowledge was too shallow to express his astonishment in words. If he had to use one word to describe it, that would be awesome. Too damned awesome. Utterly incredible. After absorbing this medical knowledge, Jiang Tang¡¯s view of Tianlao had completely changed. ¡°Senior, are you really just wandering the Four Seas?¡± Haven¡¯t ascended or gone to other places? Tianlao was startled, then stroked his long beard and suddenly smiled. ¡°The Four Seas are vast indeed, with shores that touch the heavens. The Nine States Continent is the only land within the Mortal Realm. Its territories are expansive, but always there are taller mountains beyond. Young friend, have you ever heard of ¡®The Free and Unfettered Journey¡¯?¡± Tianlao asked, smiling. ¡°In the northern darkness there is a fish, known as Kun, so huge I do not know its tens of thousands of miles in size,¡± Jiang Tang nodded and recited the familiar lines. ¡°Hmm. Do you know, then, where Kunpeng aspires to go?¡± ¡°Could it be¡ª¡± ¡°The Upper Realm. The place they reach at the edge of the sky is marked by a towering column of water that pierces the heavens. If they can soar upward for ninety thousand miles, the place they arrive at will be the Immortal Realm,¡± Tianlao explained, laughing again as he slowly rose to his feet and walked into the distance. ¡°Young friend, I have bestowed upon you these skills because I saw a connection between us. If you use them to kill indiscriminately, I will have to take all of them back. If that happens, may we meet again by fate,¡± he said as his figure blended into the darkness. Was he implying that he would take the Immeasurable Ancient Jade with him? Jiang Tang bowed in the direction Tianlao had left: ¡°Tianlao, I will certainly not disappoint your expectations.¡± He scattered a ring of poison powder around him to induce fainting, then entered the Spirit Field Space. Eryao had already gathered the mature crops and was plowing the field with Niu. After plowing two acres, Eryao helped Niu remove the plow and turned to see Jiang Tang excitedly pouncing on him, pawing at his arm with a soft, sticky voice, ¡°Daddy, when can we expand this place? Eryao feels so cramped.¡± Jiang Tang noticed that time flowed swiftly within the space, and Eryao¡¯s form had become much more robust than before, gaining weight, no longer light and airy, but somewhat heavy. Its eyes were no longer muddled but clear¡ªit seemed that Eryao¡¯s consciousness had cultivated to the state of enlightenment. ¡°In a few more days, once your old father consolidates his cultivation, he will break through the Six Heavens and expand the Spirit Field here,¡± Jiang Tang patted Eryao¡¯s head, ¡°Go eat something with Niu. Your old father needs to return to the Sect.¡± Eryao nodded obediently. Before leaving, Jiang Tang found a courier station in the nearby town and entrust them with a batch of Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine for the Holy Pavilion. The Holy Pavilion¡¯s business was booming. In less than half a day, that Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine would be snatched up. If Jiang Tang did not limit the quantity each day, the visitors would likely be even more continuous and unending. Even so, it still kept several people very busy. Of course, there were those who envied this business and wanted to cause trouble. But upon seeing the Immortal Sect emblem next to the doorframe, they would stop in their tracks. After purchasing a batch of seeds at the foot of the mountain, Jiang Tang hurried back up. He was almost late and had to pay the fine. Fortunately, all was well. Upon returning to the courtyard, Jiang Tang saw Yao Xuan standing there, looking around anxiously. ¡°Yao Senior Brother, what are you standing there for? Please, come in and have a seat,¡± Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow slightly as he approached Yao Xuan with a bow. Upon seeing Jiang Tang, Yao Xuan jumped, then calmed down and touched the back of his head, laughing somewhat embarrassedly, ¡°Ah, Jiang, I¡¯ve brought you a batch of top-quality Spiritual Plant Seeds as a token of gratitude. Please accept them.¡± As he spoke, he handed Jiang Tang a Qiankun Bag. Jiang Tang tried to decline, but Yao Xuan simply pressed the Qiankun Bag into his hands and bowed to him, ¡°Thank you, Jiang, for saving my life with your pills.¡± Then he quickly left as if Jiang Tang was some kind of terrible disaster. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t that scary. Helplessly looking down, Jiang Tang opened the Qiankun Bag to examine the seeds. He was fine until he saw them, then Jiang Tang was utterly dumbfounded. The batch of seeds on the top was fairly ordinary, but the batch below was the extremely rare Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass Seeds that he had read about in ancient texts! Chapter 20 - 20 20 Medicine Sect Disciple Friendly Sparring 1 ?20: Chapter 20: Medicine Sect Disciple, Friendly Sparring (1) 20: Chapter 20: Medicine Sect Disciple, Friendly Sparring (1) Jiang Tang returned to his room, closed the door, and started to examine the ancient tome. Once he confirmed that these seeds were indeed Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass, Jiang Tang became thoroughly excited. Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass, once cultivated, could be combined with the Spirit Grass provided by the space to concoct the ancient First Stage Hunyuan Pill. This pill could restore physical strength manifold, far exceeding the commonly used Rejuvenation Pills. The most exhausting part of his farming work was physical strength, and if he could refine the First Stage Hunyuan Pill, he would certainly get twice the result with half the effort. After planting the seeds and estimating their maturation time, Jiang Tang immediately got up and headed to the alchemy room used by the Outer Sect disciples. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to go to the alchemy room designated for Servant Disciples, but it was the deep dead of the night, and the guardians of the Servant Disciples¡¯ alchemy room had already left. A broken-down pill room like that didn¡¯t have much worth guarding. Thus, those disciples had locked it up early and returned to their own courtyards, either to meditate or wash up and go to sleep. By the time Jiang Tang rushed from the land of Servant Disciples to the area of the Outer Sect, it was just the beginning of the 0:00 hour. The alchemy room entrance was lit; someone was indeed watching over it. When Jiang Tang approached, the disciple on duty yawned, recognized Jiang Tang¡¯s outfit as that of a Servant Disciple, and couldn¡¯t help showing a look of contempt. ¡°It¡¯s ten silver per hour to use the alchemy room,¡± the disciple said indifferently. Ten silver! Jiang Tang gasped. To concoct a batch of pills would squander the equivalent of a crop with the top ¡®Third Class¡¯ quality in the span of an hour?! It turned out, in this world, every grade of Spirit Plant had a standardized price set by the Celestial Dynasty. That was the market price. For ¡®First Class¡¯ Spirit Plants, it was a daughter¡¯s worth per bushel; ¡®Second Class¡¯, a hundred silver per bushel; ¡®Third Class¡¯, ten silver per bushel; ¡®Fourth Class¡¯, one silver per bushel. For those of medium quality, the prices were halved. And for those of low quality, they were reduced to one-tenth of the original price of the high quality. One thousand coins made one silver, one thousand silver made one gold. This Outer Sect alchemy room, why was it so expensive? Although he was no longer short on silver, Jiang Tang still felt pained. ¡°Are you going in or not? If you¡¯re not, others are waiting to,¡± the disciple said, glancing impatiently over Jiang Tang¡¯s shoulder. Jiang Tang looked back and saw that there were people heading their way. In order to avoid the emergence of another Du Long, a situation akin to harvesting rabbit grass, Jiang Tang, with great reluctance, took out two ten-silver ingots and handed them to the disciple, then went into the alchemy room. Checking the surroundings, Jiang Tang felt that his silver hadn¡¯t been wasted. The inside of the room was much more refined compared to what the Servant Disciples had at their disposal. Not to mention that it was somewhat better equipped, even the tools for weighing and selecting herbs were more complete. Although the craftsmanship wasn¡¯t great, it was still a cut above the crude alchemy room. As expected, different classes received different treatments. Jiang Tang sighed, reminded of the purpose of his visit, and hurriedly took out the alchemy furnace, picked up the tools on the desk, and started sorting and selecting the herbs. Once all that was done, Jiang Tang then extended his Divine Sense into the Spirit Field Space to check on the Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass. The earliest batch had already matured. Delighted, Jiang Tang quickly gathered a small portion of the ¡®Second Class¡¯ quality Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass and stored it in his Qiankun Bag. As for the rest, he asked Eryao to keep a watchful eye, and after giving instructions, he left the space and began sorting the Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass. Since it was a trial for medicine, the amount of herbs prepared this time wasn¡¯t much. Jiang Tang quickly weighed the ingredients according to the quantities recorded in the ancient texts and inspected them carefully, feeling that something wasn¡¯t quite right. In an instant, Jiang Tang pinched his fingers and picked out an inferior piece from a smashed Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass. Looking at the inferior piece in his palm, Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned. This was instinctive. Did it mean that the legacy Tianlao had passed on to him was actually useful here? It seemed likely. Since ancient times, medicine and healing had been one and the same. Jiang Tang ignited the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, lighting his alchemy furnace. Once he estimated the temperature was right, Jiang Tang began the alchemy process. Because fewer herbs were put in, Jiang Tang controlled the fire with even more care than before during the alchemy. However, the Xuanming Spiritual Fire was extraordinary, and despite Jiang Tang¡¯s meticulous control, the edges of the herbs still got burnt. Jiang Tang, feeling the pinch of loss, carefully retrieved the ruined Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass. Selecting a batch of medium-quality Hunyuan Lingzhi Grass, he weighed the correct amounts and started the second attempt. With the experience of the first burn, this time Jiang Tang controlled the Xuanming Spiritual Fire to just a small flicker, but still, a bit got burnt. Jiang Tang was not discouraged and tried for the third and then the fourth time. It was not until the seventh attempt that he finally succeeded in producing a batch of First Stage Hunyuan Pills. Wiping the sweat off his forehead casually, Jiang Tang, smiling broadly and enjoying the medicinal fragrance filling the room, tucked the porcelain bottle into his Qiankun Bag. After tidying up the place and packing up the alchemy furnace, Jiang Tang opened the door, ready to return and rest well. Just then, a group of young men in golden robes approached, chatting and laughing. Smelling the lingering fragrance of the medicine, they looked around in surprise. ¡°Who is making pills here?¡± A young man at the front suddenly looked over and saw Jiang Tang coming out, his eyes lighting up, ¡°Could it be this fellow daoist?¡± ¡°Indeed, it is I,¡± Jiang Tang replied, seeing no one else around and had to give a bow. ¡°What pills are you making? The fragrance is so distinct and pleasant,¡± the young man said, sniffing around Jiang Tang with curiosity. Jiang Tang touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Nothing extraordinary, just First Rank Elixirs.¡± ¡°Fusu, show some respect,¡± a slightly older young man standing in front coughed into his fist and glared at the youngster. ¡°Understood, big brother,¡± the young man sheepishly acknowledged and then gave Jiang a bow, ¡°I am Hua Sheng, a disciple of the Medicine Sect. Fortunate to meet a fellow daoist today, I wonder if we might exchange knowledge in pill-making?¡± The Medical Gate Hua Clan¡­ Jiang Tang recognized the white peony pendant hanging from his waist and understood immediately. He was the young master of the Medical Gate Hua Clan, Hua Sheng. Hua Sheng, also known as Fusu, titled Lord Yuanshan, had become a third-grade Senior Pharmacist by the age of just 28. His talent in alchemy was considered to surpass his predecessors, leading his younger peers. It was also due to his talent that he was selected by Holy Medical Valley from a young age and taken in as an Inner Sect Disciple. Hua Sheng had one peculiarity. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whenever he met an alchemist with some talent, he would always love to join in and exchange insights, grasping the essence of the other¡¯s alchemy technique. Having met Jiang Tang today, Hua Sheng saw that Jiang¡¯s talent in the way of alchemy was not weak, which sparked his interest to exchange knowledge. Jiang Tang looked at the eager Hua Sheng, at the group of Medicine Sect disciples behind him, and then at the on-duty disciple wildly gesturing to him. ¡°Disciple Jiang, do not refuse them. This is a great opportunity for you to bring honor and recognition to the sect,¡± the disciple changed his earlier disdainful attitude, communicating privately to him. Chapter 21 - 21 21 Medicine Sect Disciple Friendly Sparring 2 ?21: Chapter 21: Medicine Sect Disciple, Friendly Sparring (2) 21: Chapter 21: Medicine Sect Disciple, Friendly Sparring (2) Cannot refuse, huh. Jiang Tang looked into Hua Sheng¡¯s eyes brimming with anticipation, pondered for a moment, and then slowly nodded in agreement. ¡°What does the young master of the Hua family wish to compare? My skills are modest; I dare not show off,¡± Jiang Tang said, bowing respectfully. ¡°How about making a First Rank Elixir?¡± Hua Sheng hurriedly waved his hand, ¡°I just want to see the pills you make; it¡¯s not really a competition, consider it a friendly exchange.¡± Seeing this, Jiang Tang felt it would be inappropriate to refuse any further, so he nodded in agreement. Both of them entered alchemy rooms, one on the left and the other on the right. With the door securely locked, Jiang Tang began to contemplate which First Rank Elixir he should make to bring honor to his sect. He recalled the Ancient Spirit Field Texts, and suddenly remembered there was a particular type of Staying Youth Pill that was very difficult to make. This type of Staying Youth Pill was created using ancient methods and could not only preserve one¡¯s youthful appearance but also enhance one¡¯s cultivation and eliminate impurities in the body. Jiang Tang revisited the alchemy prescription and found that all the required medicinal herbs were readily available, so he secretly made a decision. Make this elixir then. Jiang Tang hesitated no longer, took out the corresponding medicinal herbs, and began to meticulously sort them. During this process, he didn¡¯t forget to take care of the Spirit Field Space, asking Eryao to help collect the mature Spirit Plants. Lately, Eryao had experienced significant improvement in his cultivation. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing his father¡¯s request, he cheerfully picked up a scythe taller than his entire body and began to harvest the Spirit Plants from the first two rows of the first acre of the field. After Jiang Tang finished sorting the herbs, picking out a few impurities, he mixed the herbs with Spirit Water and slowly placed them into the Alchemy Furnace, which was already warmed up by the Xuanming Spiritual Fire. There was a slightly larger quantity of herbs this time, but Jiang Tang did not dare to be careless. He released the Xuanming Spiritual Fire bit by bit until the medicinal herbs dissolved and combined with the Spirit Water, and then he let go of his Divine Sense to let the fire and medicine in the Pill Furnace burn freely. After half an hour, a strand of peculiar medicinal fragrance wafted out from the Pill Furnace. The First Rank Staying Youth Pill, success! A delighted expression appeared on Jiang Tang¡¯s face as he hastily retracted the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, opened the Alchemy Furnace, and looked inside carefully. Inside were more than a dozen pills, crystal clear and lustrous, calmly floating in the center of the Pill Furnace. On the pills, ancient patterns were visible to the naked eye. They were First Rank Staying Youth Pills of superior quality! Jiang Tang was quite pleased, collected the Staying Youth Pills into porcelain bottles, and then put away the Alchemy Furnace before turning to unlock the door. At that moment, a different alluring fragrance drifted from the neighboring alchemy room. Jiang Tang¡¯s nostrils flared as a pill recipe quickly came to mind, along with the effects of that pill. It was a First Rank Heart-Protecting Pill! This type of pill is generally used in life-saving situations. That is, when a person is left with only a breath of life, taking this Heart-Protecting Pill can cling on to that last breath, waiting for others to find a healing medicine. Then, the Heart-Protecting Pill will transform into an excellent medicine guide, aiding the Spiritual Medicine in treating the patient. This kind of pill is also quite challenging to make among First Rank Elixirs. Worthy of being a descendant of the Medicine Sect. Indeed, the work of a tycoon truly commands admiration. Seeing Jiang Tang emerge first, several Medicine Sect disciples were surprised and raised their eyebrows. Not even an hour had passed, and he had already come out; could it be that he had not made anything? But as the scent of medicine filled the room, they all fell silent. On this side, Hua Sheng also finished making his elixir and stepped out the door. Seeing Jiang Tang, he couldn¡¯t help but pause, ¡°This fellow daoist has remarkable cultivation techniques to have made it so quickly.¡± Jiang Tang didn¡¯t know how to continue the conversation, so he simply touched his nose and gave a sheepish smile. ¡°Fellow cultivator, what kind of pills are you making? The scent is quite peculiar and refreshing. Let me have a look,¡± Hua Sheng fluttered his nostrils, smelling the fragrance from Jiang Tang¡¯s house, his eyes suddenly brightening. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, just a Staying Youth Pill,¡± Jiang Tang scratched the back of his head, opened the porcelain bottle, and handed it to Hua Sheng. Hua Sheng poured it onto his palm, and everyone gathered around to take a look in the light of the lamp. The pills were plump, translucent, with an ancient pattern especially clear on them. They were top-quality First Rank Elixirs! ¡°The pattern on the pills is excellent, indeed a supreme First Rank Elixir. Fellow cultivator, you are remarkable,¡± Hua Sheng said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the pills in his hand. Was he praising him or was he trying to make enemies for him, big brother? ¡°Young Master flatters me,¡± Jiang Tang managed a sheepish smile and, to confirm his own assessment, asked, ¡°May I know what kind of pills the Young Master is refining?¡± ¡°Mine are not as good as yours,¡± Hua Sheng put the pills back and handed them to Jiang Tang with a wave of his hand and a smile. He took out a small gourd tied to his waist, uncorked it, and spilled two or three steaming pills before Jiang Tang. ¡°I¡¯m making First Rank Heart-Protecting Pills. Heart-Protecting Pills are mostly used for saving lives, which I believe you are aware of,¡± Hua Sheng explained. ¡°Heart-Protecting Pill, huh? Such a pill is extremely difficult to make even among First Rank Elixirs. The Young Master is truly worthy of his title, far surpassing some cats and dogs,¡± a Medicine Sect disciple standing by immediately chimed in with flattery, not forgetting to give Jiang Tang a sideways glance and put him down with the swiftness of his tongue. Jiang Tang didn¡¯t mind and seemed lost in thought. The way of medicine passed down to him by Tianlao had fused into his mind, as if etched within. His earlier question was just to validate the accuracy of his own knowledge. And now it seemed that it wasn¡¯t false. Jiang Tang was now completely certain that he had acquired another golden finger. ¡°Please don¡¯t praise me to death,¡± seeing Jiang Tang¡¯s indifferent demeanor, Hua Sheng felt embarrassed and gradually put on a cold face, glaring at the outspoken person and saying, ¡°Hua Qing, when did it become your turn to interrupt while the Young Master and the fellow cultivator are speaking?¡± ¡°Young Master¡¯s authority is not to be overstepped. Slap him,¡± the man who had just advised Hua Sheng stared at Hua Qing, his expression emotionless. Hua Qing¡¯s face turned pale. Two Medicine Sect disciples immediately came forward, held down Hua Qing in front of Jiang Tang, the duty disciple, and a few other passing Inner Sect disciples from the Immortal Sect, and started slapping his face with a disciplinary ruler. Is this the arrogance of a Sect Noble Clan? Jiang Tang watched idly as Hua Qing was slapped, feeling a bit of pain for him but also somewhat amused. He seemed to have never heard the saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t seek death, you won¡¯t die.¡± Isn¡¯t being a background character quite pleasant? In this era, where power and Sects are supreme, he wasn¡¯t a transmigrator, so how could he not understand this? If one wants to stand out, they need to pick a better time. That¡¯s just incompetent. ¡°Fellow cultivator, my apologies for the Sect¡¯s discipline in front of you,¡± Hua Sheng turned to Jiang Tang again, grinning awkwardly and then, as if remembering something, he quickly asked, ¡°May I know your esteemed name, so I can seek you out for pill-refining discussions in the future? It would make it easier to ask around.¡± ¡°I am honored by the Young Master¡¯s guidance in alchemy, my name is Jiang Tang,¡± Jiang Tang clasped his fist and bowed. ¡°Oh, there was no real guidance. It¡¯s actually your First Rank Staying Youth Pill that has taught me quite a bit,¡± Hua Sheng hurriedly waved his hand, ¡°You seem a bit older than me, so how about I call you Jiang Brother, would that be alright?¡± ¡°Young Master, as you wish,¡± Jiang Tang touched his nose. He was just a Servant Disciple who hadn¡¯t even entered the Outer Sect, and yet in a short period of time, he had met two of the Mortal Realm¡¯s leading figures among the younger generation. Incredible. Chapter 22 - 22 22 Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill 1 ?22: Chapter 22: Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill (1) 22: Chapter 22: Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill (1) ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late; time to go find the elders. Fusu, let¡¯s go,¡± the man glanced at Jiang Tang, nodded slightly, and then turned to Hua Sheng. Initially eager to ask more questions, Hua Sheng reluctantly left upon seeing this. The Medicine Sect disciples, who had released Hua Qing with his mouth swollen from being beaten, followed the two and left. Hua Qing, covering his mouth, glared furiously at the mocking Immortal Sect disciples surrounding him, and then stared venomously at Jiang Tang. ¡°You little brat, just don¡¯t let this young master encounter you outside!¡± Hua Qing spat out a threat, quickly swallowed a pill, and left swiftly. Jiang Tang shrugged his shoulders. Somehow, he had garnered yet another wave of enmity. ¡°Disciple Jiang, with such talent, you should have been admitted into the Outer Sect, or even the Inner Sect. As your senior brother, I am proud to see you bringing glory to our sect. Still, I must remind you,¡± the duty disciple dropped his previous disdain and spoke to Jiang Tang earnestly, ¡°One shouldn¡¯t be too ostentatious. When it¡¯s time to lay low, you must lay low. I won¡¯t publicize today¡¯s events to save you trouble; making a fuss will only attract problems, so take care of yourself.¡± Then he patted Jiang¡¯s shoulder and left to return to his own courtyard after his shift ended. Jiang Tang looked bewildered. He hadn¡¯t been showy at all. Well then, better to check on the spirit plants in the space. Jiang Tang returned to his courtyard. The moment he stepped into the small fenced yard, he hesitated, then scattered a circle of a low-grade sleeping drug outside before leisurely entering his house and securely fastening the door. After hastily bathing and casually munching on two white buns, Jiang Tang sat cross-legged in meditation and entered the Spirit Field Space. At that time, Eryao was hugging a hoe several times its own length, laboriously tilling the soil. Those little hands looked soft, but they held the hoe steady. Suddenly, Eryao¡¯s nostrils quivered and its eyes lit up. Looking up, its gaze shone even brighter. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Daddy!¡± Eryao immediately threw away the hoe and flew into Jiang Tang¡¯s arms. Feeling the warmth in his heart as Eryao clung to his arm and acted spoiled, Jiang Tang thought, Perhaps Eryao would be one of the few friends, or even family, that he had in this world. He rubbed Eryao¡¯s fluffy head and took out a handful of candy made from Spirit Grass from his Qiankun Bag, placing it in Eryao¡¯s arms: ¡°Little kids need to sleep more; be good.¡± Eryao nodded obediently and took the pile of variously shaped candies back to its room. Jiang Tang picked up the hoe, glanced at the third field where the fog had almost cleared, and then at his own Dantian, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh heavily. When will I reach the Six Heavens, cultivation is so hard. I really envy those transmigrated brothers who had a straight rise to power, unlike me, who has to honestly till the land, waiting to level up. Sigh. With another sigh, Jiang Tang stopped the unproductive thoughts and began to focus on plowing the land. Niu, diligent as ever, saw his master working and didn¡¯t wait to be called; he harnessed himself to the plow and went to the second field, whose Spirit Plants Eryao had already harvested, to start plowing. By channeling the Golden Body Spell and using the Spiritual Artifact for plowing, with Niu¡¯s help, Jiang Tang quickly sowed seeds in two fields within one and a half hours. After sprinkling Spirit Water and watching the seeds sprout, Jiang Tang removed Niu¡¯s harness and smiled broadly. All these, they are pure silver. After adding superior Spirit Grass and Spirit Water to the cowshed and providing Eryao with fresh straw and cotton for its nest, Jiang Tang then exited the Spirit Field Space and continued his cultivation of the Golden Body Spell. The moment he entered meditation, the Immeasurable Ancient Jade on his body began to emit and absorb spiritual energy from all directions like before, transforming it into the purest Spiritual Energy, flowing through every inch of Jiang Tang¡¯s veins. In the blink of an eye, it was the next day at 9:00. Jiang Tang slowly opened his eyes, revealing not a trace of fatigue but rather a clear and bright look. The Golden Body Spell, perfected! Not only that, but he had also managed to cultivate the Immortal Sect Spell to the Intermediate Realm along the way. Quite impressive. Jiang Tang rose from his bed in high spirits, casually washed up, and was ready to go see the Farm Manager to purchase a batch of high-quality seeds for storage. He had just stepped out the door when two Immortal Sect Disciples blocked his path. ¡°Is that Jiang Tang?¡± one Immortal Sect Disciple asked the other. Is this¡­ some kind of issue? Jiang Tang frowned. ¡°It is him!¡± the other one, after comparing with the portrait in his hand, suddenly looked stern, ¡°Take him!¡± Upon saying that, the two simultaneously formed hand seals and attacked, turning Spiritual Power into ropes to bind Jiang Tang¡¯s hands firmly behind his back. And so, Jiang Tang was bewilderedly taken to the Water Cloud Peak of the Immortal Sect. In the Immortal Sect¡¯s general knowledge, the Sect Master divided it into twelve peaks, each governed by one of the twelve Elders. Among them, Water Cloud Peak specialized in swordsmanship, mostly gathering female disciples, though occasionally male disciples were also initiated, primarily practicing Water Cloud Swordsmanship. At that moment, inside the grand hall of Water Cloud Peak, stood a group of young men wearing golden robes and white peony medallions at their waists. Of course, there were also several Inner Sect Disciples of Water Cloud Peak, and the middle-aged beautiful woman sitting above them in the grand hall. This middle-aged beautiful woman was the Peak Master of Water Cloud Peak, Elder Liuyue. At this time, Elder Liuyue was half-closing her eyes with a headache. When would the disciples of the Medical Gate Hua Clan finally stop causing trouble? Meanwhile, the Medicine Sect¡¯s disciples were also embroiled in internal strife. Hua Sheng looked angrily at the calm-faced Hua Qing and asked coldly, ¡°Hua Qing, why did you frame Jiang?¡± ¡°Young Master, I wouldn¡¯t dare to frame anyone!¡± Hua Qing bowed, and his righteous indignation made others subconsciously believe him. Clenching his teeth, Hua Sheng was about to throw a punch when the man beside him patted his shoulder, ¡°Fusu, a man should not get angry too easily. Have the magnanimity of a noble clan¡¯s son and don¡¯t stoop to a dog¡¯s level.¡± The speaker was Hua Jing, the man who had protected Hua Sheng yesterday. He was from the direct line of the Hua Clan, the eldest son of the Clan Leader. Though Hua Jing had passed the age of thirty, he was still considered one of the younger generation of disciples because of his outstanding talent. He had held the position as the leading disciple of the Hua Clan¡¯s youth, never surpassed by anyone. Because he and Hua Sheng were half-brothers with the same father, although not born of the principal wife, he received both the love of the Clan Leader and the admiration of the family. It could be said that Hua Jing¡¯s words carried the same weight as Hua Sheng¡¯s. Even more, his authority was subtly higher than Hua Sheng¡¯s. However, Hua Sheng couldn¡¯t care less about all this. He had always considered Hua Jing his closest brother, so the so-called power struggle meant nothing to him. He never yearned for the title of Young Master; he was simply born into it. Hearing Hua Jing speak, Hua Sheng took a moment to consider, then snorted coldly and said no more. He deliberately turned his head away, refusing to give another glance. Although Hua Qing was furious in his heart for being called a dog by Hua Jing, he could only suppress it and coldly smiled. He was the one who had framed Jiang Tang. He wanted Jiang Tang to die without a place to be buried! He deserved it for making him lose face! Little did Hua Qing know, the smile on his face was clearly seen by Hua Jing. As Hua Jing¡¯s eyes flickered, he gradually formed a plan in his mind. Chapter 23 - 23 23 Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill 2 ?23: Chapter 23: Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill (2) 23: Chapter 23: Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill (2) ¡°Report! The criminal disciple Jiang Tang has been brought here!¡± Elder Liuyue waved her slender hand, her gaze containing hidden rage, ¡°Bring him forth!¡± She wanted to see for herself what Jiang Tang was capable of to incite such fury from a disciple of the Medicine Sect. When Jiang Tang was escorted by two disciples from Water Cloud Peak, he immediately spotted the malicious-looking Hua Qing. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this guy intended to frame him? He had guessed right. ¡°Jiang Tang, my junior only wished to engage with you in a friendly competition of alchemy skills. Had you refused, it would have been fine, but why resort to such harsh insults? He nearly lost his Cultivation Heart because of you. Can you bear that responsibility?¡± Hua Qing pulled forward a disciple from the Medicine Sect with a depressed expression and loudly accused Jiang Tang. ¡°I did not insult anyone,¡± Jiang Tang was startled, then shook his head immediately. This person he had not even met before, how could there be any insults, what a joke. ¡°Still trying to argue!?¡± Hua Qing revealed an outraged demeanor and whipped out a long whip, about to lash out. Hua Jing¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Brother Jiang!¡± Hua Sheng couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, struggling to break free and disperse the Spiritual Power unleashed by the long whip. At that moment, a surge of Spiritual Power descended abruptly from the high platform above, forcibly blocking the whip and even rebounding it back. Hua Qing, caught off guard, stumbled and fell to the ground, whip and all, in an even more wretched state than the day before. ¡°This is the Immortal Sect¡¯s territory, how dare you juniors be so presumptuous!¡± Elder Liuyue withdrew her hands, her beautiful eyes filled with a cold sharpness. ¡°Elder, I beg you to see the truth! My junior merely wished to exchange friendship through a competition with him, yet he insulted to such an extent that it nearly destroyed my junior¡¯s Cultivation Heart. Without the Cultivation Heart, how can one talk about Cultivation or attaining the Immortal Dao!¡± Hua Qing got up, cupping his fists in salute, his indignation seeming quite genuine. He spoke with such passion that even Jiang Tang almost believed it. Almost believed that he really had insulted this disciple from the Medicine Sect. Jiang Tang smirked. He might be easy to bully, but that didn¡¯t mean he was so easily bullied. ¡°If that is the case, how would you propose we resolve the grievances between our two Sects?¡± Elder Liuyue massaged her temple, hiding the helplessness in her eyes. If this involved the Cultivation Heart, it indeed posed a tricky issue. However, she had observed Jiang Tang, though an Outer Sect disciple, to be full of righteousness, not appearing to be the sort who would insult others without cause. Furthermore, not long ago, he even won first place at the farming conference, earning great respect for the Servant Disciples. Poor child, he seemed to have incurred the Medicine Sect disciple¡¯s resentment. Ah, serving as the acting Sect Leader for a few years, how could she have encountered such a troublesome matter. Originally, the Immortal Sect¡¯s leader had been traveling around to ensure peace in the Mortal Realm for many years, rarely appearing in the Sect unless there was a significant matter. Therefore, the affairs of the Immortal Sect were managed by the Elders of the Twelve Peaks in turn. In recent years, it happened to fall to Elder Liuyue of Water Cloud Peak. Although Elder Liuyue favored the Inner Sect disciples, when facing major issues, she would still be fair and impartial, not showing leniency. Anyone verified to have committed severe mistakes would have their Cultivation base stripped and be expelled from the Sect. ¡°To untie the bell, the person who tied it must untie it. My junior only wanted to compare his alchemy skills with Jiang Tang. This morning, both of them need only to compete in the alchemy of Pills, a simple sparring. Right, junior?¡± Hua Qing said, elbowing the gloomy Medicine Sect disciple. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Medicine Sect disciple nodded carefully and cautiously looked up at Jiang Tang, but upon seeing his indifferent gaze, his heart skipped a beat and he quickly looked down again. For some reason, he always felt that Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes were too clean. As if¡­ they could see through everything. ¡°Very well, then let¡¯s have a competition. Jiang Tang, do you have any objections?¡± Elder Liuyue¡¯s sharp eyes suddenly turned to Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang instinctively shrank his neck. The pressure from a superior was indeed terrifying. Coughing once, he composed himself and nodded in agreement, ¡°I have no objections, Elder.¡± ¡°Fine, disciple of the Medical Gate Hua Clan, this elder asks you, what Pills do you wish to compete in concocting?¡± Elder Liuyue glanced at the Medicine Sect disciple again. The Medicine Sect disciple also shrank his neck. Unlike the former¡¯s subconscious reverence, his was caused by a guilty conscience. ¡°To answer the Elder, concocting¡­ any Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill at will.¡± No sooner had he spoken than the room fell utterly silent. The crowd frowned in unison. Elder Liuyue looked at Jiang Tang, then rubbed her forehead again. She was certain to set this kid up. Judging by his attire, he was just a Servant Disciple. Even if he could concoct Pills, how good could he possibly be? Hua Sheng pursed her lips, staring intently at Hua Qing. How complacent the petty are! Little did they know, Jiang Tang remained silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak, ¡°Fine, then let us concoct a Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill here in this hall, with everyone as witness.¡± He raised his eyes, looking at the Medicine Sect disciple with a clear and clean gaze. Seeing this, the Medicine Sect disciple dared not meet his gaze. He felt increasingly guilty. ¡°Good, to ensure fairness, this elder will have disciples bring up two Pill Furnaces of the same quality for the two of you to use for alchemy. Retrieve your own Spiritual Medicine, with everyone as witness. Should anyone dare to harbour fraudulent intent¡ª¡± Elder Liuyue was holding a strand of spiritual light in her hand, and as she spoke, she narrowed her eyes slightly, causing the strand of light to disintegrate into powdery dust. ¡°The end will be just like this spiritual light.¡± Elder Liuyue was beautiful in appearance and her voice was as melodious as the music of the heavens. However, at this moment, that heavenly voice sounded more horrifying than any demon or ghost to that Medicine Sect disciple¡¯s ears. He might not be aware of it, but he distinctly felt the pressure in the tone of someone of higher status, a pressure that seemed to be uniquely bestowed upon him. She knew he harbored ill intentions! The Medicine Sect disciple grew more apprehensive, subconsciously raising his eyes to look at Hua Qing. Hua Qing nodded slightly to him, signaling that there was no need to panic. ¡°Are you not already capable of concocting a Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill? Concoct the one you are most skilled at and crush Jiang Tang. Let his reputation be ruined, and have the Sect abandon him,¡± whispered Hua Qing secretly to him. With Jiang Tang¡¯s level of cultivation, he certainly couldn¡¯t concoct a Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill. This was both a friendly exchange between two Sects and a matter of the Immortal Sect¡¯s reputation. When Elder Liuyue made the offer, wasn¡¯t it also a bold gamble? A gamble to resolve grievances if won, or a total loss of face if lost. How ridiculous it would be for the Mortal Realm¡¯s foremost cultivation Sect to be defeated by an Outer Sect disciple from the Medical Gate, and what a grand joke it would be. The Immortal Sect would surely rage, and find an excuse to kick Jiang Tang out of the Servant Disciples, expelling him from the Sect. By then, he would have plenty of opportunities to catch Jiang Tang and make him unable to live or die! A person without the support of power, without the backing of a clan, was just clay in his hands. Thinking this, a cold smile curled at the edges of Hua Qing¡¯s lips. Indeed, Hua Qing had inquired about Jiang Tang¡¯s background yesterday and, upon learning that he had none, had harbored thoughts of revenge. Thus, today¡¯s scene unfolded. A short while later, several Inner Sect disciples from Water Cloud Peak quickly brought over two large Alchemy Furnaces. They also brought two piles of Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine and after the Medicine Sect disciple verified there was no difference, he and Jiang Tang began selecting their medicines simultaneously. The Medicine Sect disciple quickly selected his materials, his familiarity betraying a sense of satisfaction in Hua Qing. Chapter 24 - 24 24 Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill 3 ?24: Chapter 24: Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill (3) 24: Chapter 24: Refining the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill (3) In contrast, Jiang Tang stared at those pills and stroked his chin, appearing to be in deep thought, which drew a burst of mockery and derision from Hua Qing. ¡°If you can¡¯t refine Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills, then don¡¯t pretend that you can.¡± ¡°Flaunting your skills before the disciples of the Medicine Sect here, what are you aiming for?¡± ¡°A mere clown.¡± Hua Jing glanced sideways and coldly said to Hua Qing, ¡°Shut up.¡± Upon hearing these words, Hua Qing felt a unique spiritual pressure bearing down on him, which took him by surprise, and he quickly fell silent. He had already heard that the eldest disciple had reached the realm of the Spirit Mansion, and he always thought that the Clan Leader favored his legitimate son, Hua Sheng, and didn¡¯t think highly of Hua Jing. Seeing him today seemed to confirm that the rumors were not false. This kind of spiritual pressure, even his father couldn¡¯t match half of it. And to think, his father had already reached the fifth level of the Ocean Wheel as a spiritual cultivator. After witnessing Hua Jing¡¯s spiritual pressure, Hua Qing wisely closed his mouth. After recalling the medical codex in his mind, Jiang Tang decided on the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill he needed to refine and began to select the herbs slowly. Seeing him picking only a few herbs at random, Hua Qing scoffed. These few herbs could not possibly produce any kind of pill. Jiang Tang, just wait to be swept out the door, become the ghost under my blade. Hua Jing and Hua Sheng, on the other hand, became thoughtful upon seeing the herbs Jiang Tang had selected. The order in which the herbs are processed can also lead to different pills being produced. Which Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill could these herbs possibly refine? I can¡¯t seem to recall. After grinding the herbs and weighing them properly, Jiang Tang was about to release his Xuanming Spiritual Fire when he suddenly remembered there were others present, so he quietly summoned a common Spiritual Fire to begin refining the pills. Seeing his casual movements, Hua Qing laughed scornfully again. ¡°Who refines pills so casually? Just look at the disciples of the Medical Gate Hua Clan.¡± ¡°This insignificant Servant Disciple is probably here to deceive us. Today he¡¯ll be exposed for what he is, just wait to be thrown out.¡± Thinking of cleaning up Jiang Tang made Hua Qing uncontrollably excited. About an hour later, the Medicine Sect disciple slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, made a hand gesture to withdraw the flames, and closed the Pill Furnace. ¡°Is it done?¡± Elder Liuyue, who had been closely observing the activity below, slowly raised an eyebrow. ¡°To the Elder, it is done!¡± The Medicine Sect disciple¡¯s eyes were lit with joy as he took out the pills, placed them on a porcelain dish, lifted it up, and bowed respectfully. Seeing the excitement on his face, Elder Liuyue¡¯s eyebrow quirked slightly and she spoke in a tone that was neither salty nor bland, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then wait. Let¡¯s judge together after Jiang Tang has finished refining.¡± The Medicine Sect disciple had also been promoted from being a Servant Disciple, and after much difficulty had managed to become an Outer Sect disciple, getting the chance to go out for experience with the Young Master of the Medicine Sect. Hua Qing had sweet-talked him with a few words, turning him into his follower. Truth be told, this Medicine Sect disciple was rather petty and hadn¡¯t seen much of the world. Upon hearing this, the Medicine Sect disciple felt somewhat put out and was about to complain when he suddenly felt an imposing pressure from someone superior. He immediately clamped his mouth shut and obediently moved back to the side of the Pill Furnace, waiting for Jiang Tang. It was odd, during the initial phase of Jiang Tang¡¯s refining process, a scent of medicine wafted out, but as it progressed, the scent fainter until the Medicine Sect disciple had finished his successful refinement, and not a whiff of the fragrance could be detected. Jiang Tang quietly kept track of the time, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on the fiercely burning Alchemy Furnace. At a certain moment, he suddenly increased the heat and secretly summoned the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, fusing it into the process. The Medicine Sect disciples immediately felt their innate Fire Spirit Roots begin to stir, their expressions turning to one of astonishment. Although their Fire of the Spiritual Root was not particularly powerful, it possessed a measure of intelligence. There are different ranks among men, and so it is with the kinds of fire. Could it be that their Fire of the Spiritual Root trembles and submits before his, signifying that Jiang Tang harbors an Exotic Flame? Indeed, even if the Fire of the Spiritual Root has exceptional aptitude, it cannot compare to an Exotic Flame. Even a Ding Xiang Exotic Flame could dominate and crush any human¡¯s Fire of the Spiritual Root. It was for this reason that, when Jiang Tang¡¯s Xuanming Spiritual Fire was released, those Fires of the Spiritual Root sensed the pressure of a superior entity and began to cower. But Jiang Tang did not notice the changing expressions of everyone present, for he was wholly focused on the Pill Furnace. The instant a whiff of medicinal fragrance reached his nostrils, Jiang Tang knew that the batch of pills was ready. He extinguished the flames, manipulated the incantations to open the Pill Furnace, and after seeing that each pill had two very distinct lines, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, letting go of the tension in his heart. Just now, he merely wanted to test whether using two different flames would enhance the success rate of refining pills beyond his own rank. Now, he had succeeded. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without being certified as a Medician, he had refined Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills, which are reserved for qualified Medicarians! ¡°Elder, the disciple¡¯s pills are ready; I humbly request for everyone¡¯s assessment,¡± Jiang Tang said as he carefully took out the pills, placed them on a porcelain plate, and presented them with a respectful, yet unyielding gaze. Witnessing Jiang Tang¡¯s composed manner, Elder Liuyue nodded in approval, ¡°Everyone, let us together appraise his pills.¡± The two sets of pills were laid side by side, and it was easy to tell the superior from the inferior at first glance. The Medicine Sect disciple¡¯s Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill, although clearly patterned, had imperfections visible to the naked eye¡ªhe only paid attention to the quantity of the medicinal herbs and not their quality, resulting in a pill with excess filler. In contrast, Jiang Tang, when selecting his medicinal herbs, set aside those unsuitable for use, taking a bit more time. Not only were the lines on the pills he refined clear, but each pill was also crystal clear, plump, and obviously of high quality at first sight. ¡°Jiang, what kind of pills are these?¡± Hua Sheng picked up one and inspected it closely. ¡°Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills,¡± Hua Jing slowly parted his lips. With those words, the room buzzed with shock. ¡°Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills?¡± Hua Sheng took a sharp breath. Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills? That difficult-to-refine Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill among the second-rank pills? ¡°Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills enhance the Spiritual Root Aptitude and expand the Sea of Consciousness. If well-refined, they leave no adverse effects after consumption. Despite being second-turn, they are of immeasurable worth on the market,¡± Hua Jing confirmed, nodding that his own assessment was correct. He glanced sideways at Jiang Tang, his eyes deepening ever so slightly. This young man¡¯s talent in the path of medicine is not lacking. If he were taken into Holy Medical Valley, he would achieve great things in the future. Hua Qing¡¯s expression darkened upon seeing the pills Jiang Tang had refined. He knew that any plans to kill Jiang Tang outside the Sect were now off the table. That Medicine Sect disciple was really useless, unable to even surpass a Servant Disciple. Having him as an underling was a disgrace. The alchemy exchange concluded with Elder Liuyue¡¯s repeated praises for Jiang Tang. Chapter 25 - 25 25 Six Heavens Two Spirit Fields 1 ?25: Chapter 25: Six Heavens, Two Spirit Fields (1) 25: Chapter 25: Six Heavens, Two Spirit Fields (1) After the Medicine Sect disciples had left, Elder Liuyue beckoned Jiang Tang to remain and then passed him the stack of Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills he had concocted. ¡°Elder, what is the meaning of this?¡± Jiang Tang bowed respectfully, seemingly puzzled. ¡°Keep these pills and take them with you,¡± Elder Liuyue said indifferently. ¡°The ingredients for these Rejuvenation Pills were all provided by the Elder; they should be considered as my contribution to the Sect,¡± Jiang Tang shook his head, placed the pills into a bottle, set it on a porcelain dish, and bowed once again. ¡°If the Elder has no further matters to discuss, I shall take my leave.¡± ¡°Your talent in pill confection is decent. If you are willing, this Elder would promote you to be an Outer Sect Disciple of Water Cloud Peak. Would you like that?¡± Elder Liuyue saw he was unwilling to accept and did not hesitate to put them away, then promptly extended an olive branch to Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± How should he put it? He wanted to work his way up steadily and honestly. Having honestly tended to the fields for three years, Jiang Tang had put away his past arrogance. Now all he wanted was to develop quietly. After a moment¡¯s contemplation, Jiang Tang again cupped his fists in salute: ¡°Thank you for your kind offer, Elder. Knowing my own limited talent, I wish to advance step by step on solid ground, relying on my own assessments to enter the Outer Sect.¡± Elder Liuyue was surprised to hear this. Ordinarily, if she extended an olive branch, even the scions of the nine major families would nod their heads without hesitation. This Jiang Tang had an honest nature indeed. However, she liked it. With this thought, Elder Liuyue showed a hint of approval for the younger generation on her face: ¡°You may go then. Regarding today¡¯s matter, this Elder will inform the Elder responsible for next year¡¯s Outer Sect assessment, and add some credit to your record.¡± This credit was like the extra points in their era¡¯s college entrance examination, and these points could be critical at that time. ¡°Thank you, Elder. I shall take my leave now,¡± Jiang Tang¡¯s heart leapt with joy, but he kept a composed face, bowed once again, and turned to return to his own courtyard. In another location, within a certain courtyard, Du Long was sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. Suddenly, a man burst in, cursing and swearing as he sat down. Disturbed from his meditation, Du Long opened his eyes with displeasure but switched to a fawning smile upon seeing who it was. ¡°Oh, Mr. Hua, what has happened?¡± Du Long approached and poured him a pot of fine tea, smiling obsequiously. ¡°It¡¯s that damned Jiang Tang! He actually managed to concoct Second Rank Elixir, making us Medicine Sect disciples lose face!¡± Hua Qing slammed the table heavily, and it immediately turned into a pile of dust. Du Long: ¡°¡­¡± That was his pear wood table worth five hundred taels! Wincing at the loss, Du Long shifted his gaze and thought about Hua Qing¡¯s words, his expression subtly changing. Because Jiang Tang was known for concocting First Rank Elixir in large quantities and his cultivation wasn¡¯t high, so he had unconsciously thought of him as a mediocre medician. Unexpectedly, he had been pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. However, on the flip side, since Hua Qing had taken such a fall here at the Medical Gate Hua Clan, if he did not find a good excuse to extricate himself, one could hardly imagine what his fate would be. Indeed, Hua Qing managed to dig up so much dirt on Jiang Tang thanks to both Du Long and Chu Zuo. If not for their help in gathering information from all around, Hua Qing wouldn¡¯t have been able to devise such a scheme to deal with Jiang Tang. Though, it hadn¡¯t worked out in the end. Wiping the sweat from his forehead with a restless swipe of his hand, Hua Qing was about to say something when some commotion suddenly came from outside. Immediately after, a group of people burst in. Seeing the familiar color of their robes, Hua Qing¡¯s heart sank. He had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looked closely and was suddenly startled: ¡°Young Master?¡± The ones kicking in the door were none other than a group of Medicine Sect disciples. Hua Jing walked at the forefront, his gaze fixed coldly on Hua Qing, ¡°Someone, bind them both for me!¡± Several Medicine Sect Inner Sect disciples promptly swarmed forward, without discussion they bound Hua Qing and Du Long securely. Under the soul pressure of Hua Jing, Hua Qing and Du Long trembled as they were tied up, not daring to utter a single word. Disgustedly glancing at the two, Hua Sheng looked toward Hua Jing and bowed slightly, ¡°Brother Zizhe, how should these two be dealt with?¡± ¡°Discipline for Medicine Sect disciples shall follow the Sect¡¯s methods. As for him, hand him over to Elder Liuyue,¡± Hua Jing extended his hand and snapped his fingers indifferently. Spiritual energy from all directions began to shift and in a blink, it condensed into a group of spirit persons dressed in white. The spirit persons stepped forward and took over from the Medicine Sect disciples, each holding onto Hua Qing and Du Long. Hua Jing took a step forward, heading toward the main hall of Water Cloud Peak, with the spirit persons quickly following. Seeing this, Hua Sheng¡¯s eyes flickered, and he turned his head, thinking of sneaking away. ¡°Fusu, if I return and don¡¯t see that you¡¯ve begun your meditation, the Medicine Sect¡¯s rules will be waiting for you,¡± an indifferent voice transmitted over a thousand miles at that moment. Hua Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± The rules of the Medicine Sect, that was truly a dreadful thing. Complex in every way, it seems apart from big brother¡¯s brilliant talent, few could ever memorize it. After hesitating for a while, Hua Sheng was afraid of being punished to transcribe the Sect¡¯s rules and decided to meet Jiang Tang some other day, then returned to his courtyard to begin meditation and cultivation. Their visit this time was to exchange alchemy techniques with the Immortal Sect disciples and seek guidance on martial skills on the side. If he lost face for the Medicine Sect, what awaited him back home would undoubtedly be a stern scolding from the old man. Meanwhile, Jiang Tang returned to his own courtyard and suddenly realized something. His dantian was overflowing with spiritual energy, he was about to make a breakthrough! Jiang Tang was overjoyed. After waiting for so long, he could finally break through to the Six Heavens! Jiang Tang hesitated no further, hurriedly shut his small gate and entered his house, beginning to meditate and cultivate in a seated position. The moment he closed his eyes, the Immeasurable Ancient Jade emitted a soft white light, wrapping Jiang Tang¡¯s entire body within it. In the Spirit Field Space, Eryao, who was tilling the field, saw the misty spiritual energy turn into a tornado flying towards the void and engulfing Jiang Tang in white light, he was startled at the sight. It seemed that father had gained the recognition of the ancient jade. Indeed, the speed of cultivation in the Spirit Field Space was hundreds of times faster than in the outside world. A single day outside translated to hundreds of years inside. All that Eryao learned and practiced came from his ancestral legacy. His mother was a direct descendant of the Ancient Snow Dragon lineage, and her legacy originated from ancient times. As her child, Eryao naturally inherited all of the ancestral legacy¡ªeven surpassing his mother in talent, he received even more. Because of this, Eryao¡¯s spiritual intelligence grew rapidly, and all that was embedded in his bloodline became known to him. Including this Immeasurable Ancient Jade. Eryao knew these spiritual energies were a great opportunity, which he normally could not touch. Now that he saw his father advancing in rank, Eryao quickly set down his hoe, sat in the air, and began to meditate with closed eyes. Not far away, Niu was chewing on dry grass, sensing the tumult in the spiritual energy of the void, and its eyes like copper bells slowly looked over. As if having an epiphany, Niu also leisurely closed its eyes. Its body, too, emitted a white light identical to that of Jiang Tang. Chapter 26 - 26 26 Six Heavens Two Spirit Fields 2 ?26: Chapter 26: Six Heavens, Two Spirit Fields (2) 26: Chapter 26: Six Heavens, Two Spirit Fields (2) Jiang Tang, during his seclusion, was completely unaware of a minor incident that had occurred outside. When Hua Jing brought Hua Qing and Du Long once again to visit Elder Liuyue, Elder Liuyue, who was drinking tea, spurted it out. She brought a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes slightly. Finally having a moment to relax amidst her busy schedule to savor a few sips of precious tea, and yet the disciple from the Medicine Sect Hua Clan had sought her out again. With displeasure, she set down the teacup, conjured a cleansing spell to tidy up her appearance, and Elder Liuyue sat up straight, parting her lips lightly, ¡°Send them in.¡± When Elder Liuyue saw Hua Jing enter with the two men, followed by a group of Spirit People, the temples of her head throbbed. Was this going to be another ruckus? Elder Liuyue guessed right. ¡°Elder, I have another matter to report, and I ask that you do not get angry,¡± Hua Jing said respectfully, and slowly revealed the truth about Hua Qing and Du Long¡¯s conspiracy to harm Jiang Tang. After listening, Elder Liuyue narrowed her eyes slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with anger. She glared at Du Long, laughed out of extreme anger, and could not help but speak harshly, ¡°How audacious!¡± Fighting within the Sect was something even the Immortal Sect would not interfere with ¡ª this was the law of the survival of the fittest, where only the strong had the chance to live in this era. However, fighting within the Sect was prohibited, according to the explicit rules. Du Long knowingly committing the offense was equivalent to disregarding the teachings of the Immortal Sect, wasn¡¯t it? This spiritual pressure was even more terrifying than Hua Jing¡¯s. Hua Qing and Du Long couldn¡¯t endure it; they felt as if all their organs were in agonizing pain and immediately knelt down trembling. Elder Liuyue mulled over how to deal with this situation while feeling internally troubled. Why did it seem that ever since she had been in charge of the Immortal Sect, there were constant troubles? ¡°Elder, Hua Qing is a disciple of the Medicine Sect, and I have my own ways to deal with him. As for him,¡± Hua Jing glanced at Du Long who shuddered again, ¡°let¡¯s dispose of him according to the teachings of the Immortal Sect.¡± Elder Liuyue nodded slowly. ¡°From the moment you joined the Immortal Sect, you were supposed to follow the Sect¡¯s teachings. Since you have failed to comply, you no longer need to be a disciple of our Immortal Sect. This Elder hereby declares that, effective immediately, Servant Disciple Du Long, will have his cultivation abolished and be expelled from the Sect, never to be employed again in his lifetime.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elder Liuyue looked down at Du Long whose complexion was pale, her expression cold, ¡°You¡¯d better find another path for yourself. Someone, take him away!¡± Two female disciples immediately came forward and dragged Du Long away. Despite his wails and complaints along the way, it was all in vain. Du Long¡¯s cultivation was abolished, and his expulsion from the Sect was a settled affair. Hua Jing bowed and left with Hua Qing. Tied up and stooping, Hua Qing followed behind Hua Jing. Seeing his silence along the way, Hua Qing felt uneasy. Perhaps¡­ perhaps the young master did not wish to severely punish him and was only trying to find a way out for him. Comforted by this thought, Hua Qing¡¯s mind gradually settled. Until¡­ ¡°Hua Qing, considering your past contributions to the Medicine Sect, I will not abolish your cultivation; let this account for your merits,¡± Hua Jing said slowly, calling a halt to the Spirit People. He spoke indifferently, his back to Hua Qing so that the latter could not see his expression. After pondering for a moment, Hua Qing subconsciously thought that he was going to be let off. He nodded eagerly, ¡°Thank you, young master, thank you!¡± At that moment, Hua Jing slowly turned to the side, looking emotionlessly at him, ¡°From today onwards, you are no longer a disciple of the Medical Gate Hua Clan. With such conduct, you will struggle to shoulder greater responsibilities in the future.¡± Hua Qing was stunned for a moment before he realized that Hua Jing intended to drive him out of the Sect. He immediately became panicked, knelt down, and cried out pleadingly, ¡°Young master, please be merciful! I know my mistakes, I will never dare to harbor ill intentions again!¡± Hua Jing, however, did not pay him any more attention, commanded a Medicine Sect disciple to strip him of his robes, took away his Medicine Sect Jade Token, and wrote a letter of decree to the Sect, thereafter allowing Hua Qing to be thrown out of the Immortal Sect, no longer concerning himself with the matter. This side, Jiang Tang¡¯s advancement was nearing its end. When the white mist slowly dissipated, Jiang Tang suddenly opened his eyes. Six Heavens, achieved! He was overjoyed, and quickly released his Divine Sense into the Spirit Field Space. The space anomaly had already calmed down, and both Eryao and Niu were still meditating with their eyes closed. Jiang Tang didn¡¯t disturb them and turned his attention to the two new Spirit Fields that had appeared. He was somewhat surprised. This time, upon reaching the Six Heavens, two Spirit Fields had unexpectedly emerged. Both fields were covered with weeds, but as Jiang Tang approached to inspect them closely, he found, to his astonishment, a mature Spirit Plant in the third field. He reached out to pick the fruit and the moment it landed in the palm of his hand, it instantly transformed into a talisman. Jiang Tang understood. The Spirit Plants grown in this third field could all turn into talismans. Then¡­ Jiang Tang looked towards the fourth field next to it. This Spirit Field was brimming with Spiritual Energy, visibly distinct from the previous three fields. Jiang Tang also spotted a Spirit Plant. It seemed not yet mature¡ªthe growth rate of this field was much slower than the others. Upon closer examination, Jiang Tang was startled to find that this Spirit Plant contained an egg inside. Could it be¡­ Jiang Tang glanced around and saw a bamboo scroll buried in the soil, hurriedly walked over to pick it up, and dusted off the dirt to examine it closely. He wouldn¡¯t have recognized these ancient characters, but Tianlao had included the ability to recognize such ancient text among the Medical knowledge he had imparted to him. Thus, he could read it like simplified characters. Having read the scroll, Jiang Tang understood that this fourth Spirit Field was for hatching Demonic Beasts. However, the incubation time for Demonic Beasts was very long, and it might take a hundred years to see one. As for the breed that hatched, it would all depend on the grade of the Spirit Plant the space owner had planted. Jiang Tang looked at Eryao in the distance, then at the fourth Spirit Field, and began to ponder. Eryao was a little creature who was always in the space; it must be quite lonely, he thought. With this in mind, Jiang Tang decided to wait until their cultivation was finished before beginning to cultivate the Spirit Fields. Jiang Tang exited the space, just as the sky underwent a startling change. Jiang Tang raised his eyes and looked into the void. He saw a group of disciples from the Immortal Sect¡¯s Inner Sect, dressed in Auspicious Cloud Crane Robes, flying across the void on their swords. One of the disciples was dragging along a Demonic Beast bound by a demon-binding rope¡ªthe beast¡¯s pipa bone was hooked by chains of Spiritual Power, and it followed in the air, controlled by the disciple¡¯s mana. They were Inner Sect Disciples out on experiential training, each one exceptionally talented and intelligent. Jiang Tang envied them silently for a moment, then turned to leave, when a voice suddenly stopped him. ¡°Are you Jiang Tang, young friend?¡± He turned and saw the elder¡¯s robes, and with a slight start, immediately gave a respectful bow, ¡°I am Jiang Tang, indeed.¡± The newcomer¡¯s robes indicated he was an Elder of the Sect Affairs Hall, a Steward Elder of the Sect. ¡°Elder Liuyue sent a message to Elder Liuqing, instructing him to find several missions for you, to have you descend the mountain for training and improve your cultivation, in good preparation for the Outer Sect Disciples¡¯ entrance examination next year,¡± The Steward Elder said with a slight smile, waving his hand, and several Jade Tokens appeared in the void. Chapter 27 - 27 27 Certification in Name Only Became a Second-Grade Pharmacist 1 ?27: Chapter 27: Certification in Name Only, Became a Second-Grade Pharmacist (1) 27: Chapter 27: Certification in Name Only, Became a Second-Grade Pharmacist (1) What¡­ what¡¯s happening? ¡°Elder, these¡­¡± Jiang Tang looked at the drifting Jade Tokens with some hesitation. If there were any highly difficult tasks, and he failed to complete them, he wouldn¡¯t be able to explain himself for staying outside. ¡°These were personally selected by Elder Liuqing for you; you can confidently go and do them,¡± the Steward Elder noticed Jiang Tang¡¯s twitch and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He waved his hand, swept his sleeve, stored the Jade Tokens in a brocade pouch, and handed it to Jiang Tang, ¡°Elder Liuyue has specifically instructed that as long as Jiang Tang completes the tasks before next year¡¯s Outer Sect assessment, returning to the Sect will suffice.¡± Elder Liuyue¡­ truly a good person. Jiang Tang bowed deeply in thanks, received the brocade pouch, watched the Steward Elder leave, returned to his courtyard, took a bath, and then began to use his Divine Sense to check the tasks. All of them were tasks that could be easily completed and would earn silver. Silver, ah. Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes lit up, feeling a surge of energy throughout his body. He applied to leave the mountain that very day. Glancing back at the mountains enveloped in Immortal Qi, Jiang Tang resolved to complete the tasks well¡ªwhether there was silver or not wasn¡¯t the issue; it was mainly because completing tasks was rather enjoyable. Thinking about the tasks on the Jade Token, Jiang Tang decided to make his first stop at a nearby small town to find the disciples from Holy Medical Valley stationed there, get certified, and become a Second Grade Medic. Then, he would visit a Medicine Sect disciple¡¯s clinic to purchase medicinal herbs, using the name of an Immortal Sect disciple, borrow their pill room to concoct a batch of Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills, and then¡­ sell them to Medicine Sect disciples. Plainly speaking, it was going there to show off¡ªthe abundance of resources in the Immortal Sect and the many well-trained disciples they produced. Jiang Tang silently twitched the corner of his mouth. As he took his leave, he was completely unaware of a pair of sinister and icy eyes that had fixed on him the moment he left the foot of the mountain. After asking around in all directions, Jiang Tang zigzagged his way and finally found the Holy Medical Valley pharmacy tucked away in an alley. Outside, a long line of common folk waiting for consultations had formed. Seeing this, Jiang Tang quietly sat down beside a stone trough and used his Divine Sense to check the Spirit Field Space. Eryao and Niu had finished cultivating and also saw the two new patches of Spirit Field. As Jiang Tang¡¯s right hand, Eryao very conscientiously helped to cultivate the third mu of Spirit Field, dividing it into five ridges, breaking up the soil, fertilizing, and sowing seeds. The first batch of Spirit Plants had matured and had been collected into the Qiankun Bag. When Jiang Tang entered, Eryao was helping Niu with loosening the soil of the fourth mu of the Spirit Field. Upon seeing Jiang Tang, Eryao didn¡¯t throw itself into his arms as usual but instead conscientiously loosened a whole mu of land, unloaded the plough from Niu, used a cleaning spell to wash its own body, and then threw itself towards Jiang Tang. ¡°Daddy!¡± Eryao clung to Jiang Tang¡¯s arm, wagging its tail and acting spoiled. Its fluffy head rubbed back and forth, but it didn¡¯t forget to hand over the Qiankun Bag filled with Spirit Plants, ¡°Daddy, these are Spirit Plants for Taoist Sect talismans, please keep them safe.¡± ¡°My hardworking Eryao,¡± Jiang Tang pulled out a handful of candy and gave it to Eryao. Only then did he take the Qiankun Bag and tucked it into his chest, ¡°Daddy has work to do soon, but in a few days, when he concocts the Disguise Pills, he¡¯ll take you out for a fun trip.¡± In these past days, he had recalled the medical canons and found a kind of Disguise Pill that could change the appearance of Demonic Beasts¡ªit was just right for the little dragon. Once he concocted it, the little one could transform into an ordinary Demonic Beast to go out and play, without worrying about encountering any ill-intentioned villains. Eryao obediently nodded its head. Jiang Tang did not call for Niu but went forward to the two mu of Spirit Field ahead, sprinkled some Spirit Water, and took a look at the Spiritual Plant Seeds by the side of the cattle shed. It seemed he was running low again. Well, he would restock them sometime later. Jiang Tang saw that the crowd had mostly dispersed and finally rubbed his somewhat numb legs, stood up, and walked into the clinic. ¡°Young Master, our medical hall is about to close for the day, please come again tomorrow,¡± said a servant cleaning the floor littered with herbal residues, catching sight of Jiang Tang slowly walking in, and couldn¡¯t help but speak up. He furrowed his brows. It was almost closing time, and if he attended to this Young Master now, it was bound to cause a delay. He was also hoping to get home early to hold his son. ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that you close at the third quarter of the hour of You? There¡¯s still some time left. I¡¯m here to seek your master, to discuss an important matter.¡± Jiang Tang gave a faint smile and slowly produced a token. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The servant took a close look and realized it was a token of an Immortal Sect disciple; he quickly changed his expression to a fawning smile, put down the broom, and scurried inside. It wasn¡¯t long before he hurried back out. This time, he was followed by a handsome young master. The young master was dressed in a golden robe, with a white peony jade pendant hanging at his waist, evidently a disciple of the Medicine Sect. Upon seeing Jiang Tang, the young master saluted with a bow, ¡°Fellow Daoist, have you come for a consultation?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m here for name-registration certification to become a second-tier alchemist. May I inquire if the pill room is available for use now?¡± Jiang Tang shook his head and returned the salute. The Medicine Sect disciple was taken aback, then quickly smiled, ¡°Of course, please come inside, fellow Daoist.¡± Seeing this, the servant hurriedly stepped forward to lead Jiang Tang into the pill room. ¡°To certify as a second-tier alchemist, one must at least concoct one type of second-turn pill of medium or higher quality. Additionally, one must write down ten common first-tier pill prescriptions. If these two tasks cannot be accomplished within one and a half hours, please come again another day, fellow Daoist.¡± The Medicine Sect disciple smiled slightly, handing over a tray of paper, ink, brush, and inkstone. ¡°Alright,¡± Jiang Tang nodded. ¡°Another reminder for you, fellow Daoist, you should bring your own medicinal materials. If you need to use the materials from our store, you must purchase them before use,¡± the Medicine Sect disciple added. Jiang Tang shook his head, ¡°I have my own medicinal materials. Please wait for me for a short while, fellow Daoist.¡± The Medicine Sect disciple waved his hand, and once he was behind closed doors, the disciple turned to the servant beside him, ¡°Go invite the presiding elder here, and you can finish work and go home to rest. I heard your wife has given you a new plump baby boy.¡± He teased with a playful smile. The servant scratched the back of his head and gave an embarrassed grin, ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± ¡°Off you go then, you¡¯re granted a small half-month leave, to take good care of your wife and child. If they¡¯re frail, take some pills from my account book over there,¡± the Medicine Sect disciple pointed to the account book near the shopkeeper. The servant¡¯s heart felt touched. He had never been so well-treated by nobility before, and this was the first time in his life. It was said that disciples from the Medicine Sect and Holy Medical Valley are mostly of good nature, and it appeared to be more than just a well-earned reputation. He quickly bowed and thanked him, then invited the presiding elder before hurrying off work. ¡°Huating, what matter brings you to seek me?¡± The presiding elder yawned and sat lazily on an armchair. ¡°Elder, a disciple from the Immortal Sect has come to certify as a second-tier alchemist,¡± said Huating, also known as the young master, bowing to the elder. ¡°What is his age?¡± ¡°He has just registered his information¡ªhe¡¯s nineteen and is a servant disciple,¡± Huating looked down. ¡°Nineteen¡­ a servant disciple¡­ and a second-tier alchemist,¡± the elder mused thoughtfully. Most of the servant disciples of the Immortal Sect are those with extremely poor aptitude. Chapter 28 - 28 28 Certification in Name Only Became a Second-Grade Pharmacist 2 ?28: Chapter 28: Certification in Name Only, Became a Second-Grade Pharmacist (2) 28: Chapter 28: Certification in Name Only, Became a Second-Grade Pharmacist (2) This young man was able to come here for certification, he must have some confidence. It¡¯s clear that his alchemy talent is not bad. If he is brought under the wing of Holy Medical Valley and cultivated well, in the future, it¡¯s not impossible for him to step into the realm of Medicine King and become a top figure capable of refining fifth grade pills. As it turned out, this Elder was a member of Holy Medical Valley who was traveling outside because of some connection with Huating, he agreed to Huating¡¯s request to come to this small place in the Northern Region to serve as a resident Elder. In recent years, as the spiritual energy has been gradually reviving, Holy Medical Valley has been searching everywhere for individuals with medicinal talent to take into their doors for proper cultivation¡ªthe disciples of the Medicine Sect almost always end up under Holy Medical Valley, forming the main force of the Valley. The rest are the servant cultivators brought in by these traveling Elders, or the disciples with alchemy talent from other Sects. Indeed, this Elder had another purpose for his travels. That was to seek out disciples with alchemy talent and bring them under his wing for specialized training. This wasn¡¯t a decision made by Holy Medical Valley alone, but by the four major Sects. For, the Sect Leader of Immortal Sect had once left behind a divination. Although it is an era of the revival of spiritual energy, it has also ushered in the Age of Dharma Decline for the Mortal Realm. This Age of Dharma Decline was caused by the human race themselves, not by natural disasters. If they were well-prepared before the storm, it was not impossible to transform the Age of Dharma Decline into yet another golden age of cultivation¡ªafter the revival of spiritual energy, the spiritual energy in the Mortal Realm was denser than before. If this generation manages to survive, the number of individuals achieving Ascension will certainly be several times that of previous generations. He reminded the four major Sects to be prepared for battle before he went wandering the lands. This is also the fundamental reason why Elders from various Sects travel to scout for disciples to nurture. If the Age of Dharma Decline could not be withstood, then he would perish along with his Dao, putting forth his last breath to protect this world. Because the Mortal Realm is his home where he has established his existence, protecting its well-being is the reason he embarked on the path of cultivation. After a moment of contemplation, the Elder slowly came back to reality and looked towards the sky outside. Half an hour had already passed, and he didn¡¯t know how the young man was progressing. Sleepiness creeping in, the Elder leisurely closed his eyes for a brief rest. Inside the pill room, Jiang Tang had already placed the herbs needed for the second-turn Rejuvenation Pill into the Pill Furnace and started the refining process with the Xuanming Spiritual Fire. Quietly estimating the time needed for the Rejuvenation Pill to form, Jiang Tang hurriedly prepared ink, spread out the rice paper, and picked up a thick brush to start copying down some commonly used first grade pill prescriptions. He wrote quickly without any omissions, but¡­ Looking at the characters on the rice paper that looked even uglier than a dog¡¯s gnawing, Jiang Tang put down the brush and silently covered his face. He really wasn¡¯t cut out to be a calligrapher. This brush, he couldn¡¯t use it at all. However, now wasn¡¯t the time to consider practicing his handwriting. Jiang Tang glanced back at the Pill Furnace, adjusted the flame a bit, and it wasn¡¯t until a faint scent of the medicine wafted through the air that he breathed a sigh of relief. Also, he was still capable of multitasking. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the pills were fully formed. The rich scent of the medicine drifted through the cracks of the door and woke up the Elder who was napping. This is¡­ The Elder flared his nostrils and after a careful discernment, his eyes suddenly widened. It was a second-turn Rejuvenation Pill! This was one of the most difficult to refine among the second grade pills. Ordinary disciples who came for assessment would bring what they were best at¡ªthis young man started by refining the hardest pills, which showed that he was not a common fish in the pond. The Elder became secretly excited. However, this time, he was overthinking it. Because¡­ Jiang Tang could only refine this one type of Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill. As the fragrance of the medicine began to subside, the wooden door creaked open. Jiang Tang opened the door and brought out a tray with paper, ink, brush, and inkstone. ¡°Elders, I have successfully refined the Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills, and here are ten alchemy prescriptions.¡± Jiang Tang placed the tray with paper, ink, brush, and inkstone on the desk, along with a bottle of freshly baked Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills and pushed them forward. The elder hurriedly poured out the pills and examined them carefully by the light of the lamp. When he saw the two clear lines, he was immediately astonished. Is this¡­ is this truly the work of a beginner in pill refining? For an old hand like him, wanting to perfect the most difficult Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill, it might not possible to achieve such crystal clear perfection. What the elder didn¡¯t know was that talent is important, but external assistance is just as crucial. Jiang Tang possessed an exotic fire, and using that to refine pills could make the finished product purer and improve its quality significantly. He picked up the alchemy prescription to take a look, and his smile instantly froze. This¡­ ¡°What excellent calligraphy! If it weren¡¯t for my extensive knowledge and experience, I would have almost failed to recognize it.¡± The elder coughed, spouting nonsense with a serious face while heaping praise on Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang responded with an embarrassed smile. He hadn¡¯t missed the twitch in the elder¡¯s eye. It was clear he had nearly failed to decipher his scribbled talisman. And yet, calligraphy¡­ After his compliments, the elder did not forget the main business and asked Huating to fetch a medallion, engraved Jiang Tang¡¯s name on it with mana, and handed it over. ¡°This is the medallion of a second-grade alchemist. Congratulations on passing the examination and advancing!¡± Seeing him express his thanks, the elder took the opportunity to draw closer and asked with a smile, ¡°Are you perhaps a servant disciple from the Immortal Sect?¡± Jiang Tang nodded: ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°You have excellent talent for pill refining. Would you be willing to accompany me to the Holy Medical Valley and become an Inner Sect Disciple? I can guarantee you, once you¡¯re in the Holy Medical Valley, the resources at your disposal will be of the highest quality.¡± The elder continued to smile amiably at Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± So that was why he felt something was off about the elder¡ªit turned out he was there to poach him. Although he was somewhat tempted, the Immortal Sect was the former owner¡¯s second home, and he could not simply go against the former owner¡¯s wishes. Besides, refining medicine was merely his side job¡ªhis plan was to make a fortune by farming and selling Spirit Grass. Thinking of this, Jiang Tang quickly asked, ¡°Elder, and you, young master, may I know if your medical institution would purchase the pills I have refined?¡± ¡°Certainly, we will purchase them. Huating, quickly fetch some silver notes,¡± the elder said, patting Huating¡¯s shoulder. Huating: ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s only when you¡¯re recruiting disciples that your true intentions are revealed, Elder. He silently went to the accountant to withdraw a thick stack of silver notes, counted them carefully, came over, and handed the total amount to Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang took them, glanced briefly at the substantial amount on the silver notes, and silently stored them away in his Qiankun Bag. He suddenly understood why people admired alchemists so much. Because in this profession, one could make a fortune. Casually refining a bottle of Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills could sell for so much silver. Not to mention those that elevate a whole grade, becoming increasingly rare and precious, with efficacies that soar to new heights¡ªThird-turn, Fourth-turn, and even Fifth Grade Pills. ¡°Young friend, about the earlier proposition I made, what are your thoughts?¡± The elder circled back to the original topic. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Thank you for your generous offer, but since I am a disciple of the Immortal Sect, I shall not join any other sect.¡± Jiang Tang bowed, replying respectfully yet firmly. Chapter 29 - 29 29 Eryao Goes into Battle The Terrifying Strength of the Dragon Whelp 1 ?29: Chapter 29: Eryao Goes into Battle, The Terrifying Strength of the Dragon Whelp (1) 29: Chapter 29: Eryao Goes into Battle, The Terrifying Strength of the Dragon Whelp (1) This¡­ such good terms, and he didn¡¯t accept? The Elder was astounded for a moment, and seeing that he seemed unwilling, he could only nod his head and sigh with regret, ¡°Alright. If young friend is willing, our Holy Medical Valley will always welcome you.¡± It was such a pity to lose a disciple like that. After Jiang Tang bowed and left, he hadn¡¯t walked more than a few steps when he was blocked by a group of beggars. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, kid, hand over the money and grandpa here will spare your life,¡± declared the beggar leader, holding a brick in his hand and looking at Jiang Tang with a smirk that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Why did he always encounter people picking fights every time he descended the mountain. Isn¡¯t that annoying? ¡°If I refuse to hand it over, are you going to use that thing to hit me?¡± Jiang Tang pointed at the brick in the beggar leader¡¯s hand. ¡°With this little thing, I can easily smack you to death,¡± the beggar snickered. Two figures secretly observing the scene quietly facepalmed. Indeed, mortals are mortals, with incomprehensible folly. They were given a sleeping drug and yet insisted on using a brick¡ª they had already said that Jiang Tang was no ordinary person, yet these fools were acting just as common folks do. A hopeless case. Jiang Tang looked at the filthy face of the beggar and twitched the corner of his mouth in silence. Forget it, no point in telling them he was a Spiritual Cultivator. ¡°Please excuse me, I need to find an inn to meditate and rest.¡± Without paying any more attention to the beggars, Jiang Tang raised his hand to push through the crowd and headed straight for the nearest inn. The beggar boss, used to throwing his weight around due to his numerous underlings, had never been disregarded like this before. Jiang Tang was certainly the first in a very long time. He was immediately infuriated, raising the brick and rushing forward to fiercely strike the back of Jiang Tang¡¯s head. The brick shattered upon impact. Jiang Tang stopped dead in his tracks. The beggar leader looked at the unmoving figure of Jiang Tang, and his heart skipped a beat. Damn it, this might have gone too far. ¡°Bro, you got no strength in your hands, huh.¡± Jiang Tang felt the back of his head, turned to stare at the beggar, and grinned, ¡°Let me teach you.¡± He picked up a piece of wood from beside him, and under the astonished gazes of the beggars, calmly drove it into the ground. The ground instantly cracked open, the entire piece of wood embedding itself within. Feeling the dust rushing to his face, the beggar leader swallowed hard. He suddenly remembered that this fellow was a Spiritual Cultivator. Against them, mere mortals, it was absolutely a crushing defeat. Jiang Tang dusted off his hands and headed toward the inn ahead. ¡°Useless trash, I gave you the sleeping drug for nothing!¡± Right then, two men emerged from hiding, cursing at the beggar leader in frustration. The beggar leader shrank his neck, suppressing the fear in his heart, and looked up fawningly, ¡°Sirs, he has entered the inn. Why not wait like stalking a rabbit¡ªcatch him as he comes out?¡± ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll do it ourselves. Now scram!¡± The man in a golden robe said impatiently with a wave of his hand. The beggar, feeling like he had narrowly escaped a disaster, wiped the sweat from his forehead and promptly led his minions away. ¡°Hua Qing, what a great idea you came up with! Dragging in any old crap to be our underling!¡± The other man beside him stared at the man in the golden robe angrily. The two men speaking were none other than Hua Qing and Du Long, who had been expelled from their Sect. At this point, Du Long had already been crippled, losing not only his cultivation but also a leg, limping as he walked, now lacking the imposing air of the Little Overlord of yesteryears. When Du Long opened his mouth to curse at Hua Qing, Hua Qing could no longer contain his murderous intent. All because of this brat. If not for his unsolicited advice, offering what seemed to be a clever plan, would he have been driven out of the Medicine Sect? It was all useless now. Might as well just do away with him to avoid further annoyance. ¡°Du Long, go to your death!¡± With this thought, Hua Qing no longer concealed his murderous intent and reached out to grab Du Long by the throat, hoisting him up viciously. Under the long night, the figure struggled for a while before his hands went limp. The next morning, having meditated through the night, Jiang Tang was woken by the sounds of bustle and drumming. He got up from his bed and walked to the window, watching as people filled the streets running in one direction, some even holding sunflower seeds, which made the corners of his mouth twitch involuntarily. Indeed, no one refuses a spectacle. After freshening up, Jiang Tang looked over the Spirit Field Space and decided to buy some high-quality fertilizer from the nearby town to enhance the spiritual energy of the Spirit Field. When he went downstairs to pay with silver, the shopkeeper sighed heavily. ¡°Shopkeeper, why such heavy sighs? Are you troubled by something?¡± Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Last night, someone died right outside my shop¡¯s door.¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s face was full of sorrow. ¡°I heard it was a disciple from the Immortal Sect. This has blown up into a big incident now. How am I supposed to receive guests at my inn after this?¡± A disciple from the Immortal Sect? Dead? Jiang Tang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He bought two steamed buns from the shopkeeper and munched on them while leaving the inn, heading towards the Government Office at the end of the street. He caught a glimpse of some officers carrying a corpse inside. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Immortal Sect disciple was expelled from the Sect and had his cultivation destroyed.¡± ¡°Yes. A disciple who has not committed a grave mistake would never be subject to such a severe punishment.¡± ¡°That poor young master was strangled to death. His tongue was sticking out so much.¡± ¡°Ei, don¡¯t talk about it anymore. My kid went out for a stroll early in the morning, saw that corpse, and was scared witless, urinated all over the place.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a real disgrace to die like that.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s really unlucky to have someone die first thing in the morning.¡± ¡°In these times, it¡¯s good enough if no one dies in your own home.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Listening to the folks¡¯ discussions, Jiang Tang started to feel a strange sense in his heart. He had an inkling that the poor soul might be someone he knew¡­ Just then, he spotted a sly-looking character poking around the area. Jiang Tang quietly approached the man and grabbed him, pulling him aside into Gada Alley. ¡°Oh my lord, mercy, mercy, please! I didn¡¯t see anything, I know nothing at all!¡± The man trembled, not bothering to look at his captor, and immediately knelt down with eyes closed, kowtowing and begging for mercy while crying out. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­Brother, I¡¯m not going to kill you.¡± At the sound of Jiang Tang¡¯s voice, the man abruptly looked up, astonishment written all over his face: ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± As it turned out, this was the same beggar who had threatened to split Jiang Tang¡¯s head open the previous day. ¡°Yesterday, what did you see?¡± Jiang Tang leaned against the wall, continued to nibble on the steamed bun, and queried him. The beggar hesitated and struggled to speak, unable to utter a word for a long time. ¡°Do you still remember the piece of wood from yesterday? Would you like me to give you the same treatment?¡± Jiang Tang smiled slightly. Sometimes, threats can be quite effective. The beggar flinched, then blurted out everything he had witnessed the previous night. It turned out that having realized he hadn¡¯t returned the sleeping drug yet, the beggar headed back halfway. But the sight that greeted him upon his return was alarmingly horrific. It was Hua Qing, dog-eat-dog, who couldn¡¯t stand Du Long¡¯s insults, and lifted him up, strangling him to death mid-air. The beggar was terrified. Sensing Hua Qing¡¯s awareness and his sinister gaze turning in this direction, the beggar quickly held his breath. He was so frightened that he wet his pants. Chapter 30 - 30 30 Eryao Goes into Battle The Terrifying Strength of the Dragon Whelp 2 ?30: Chapter 30: Eryao Goes into Battle, The Terrifying Strength of the Dragon Whelp (2) 30: Chapter 30: Eryao Goes into Battle, The Terrifying Strength of the Dragon Whelp (2) Only after watching Hua Qing leave did the beggar breathe a sigh of relief, breathing heavily. Fearing that Hua Qing might return halfway, he hurriedly ran back. The beggar was so frightened that he couldn¡¯t sleep all night. Every time he closed his eyes, he would see Du Long¡¯s eyes, wide-open in death¡ªhe would see Du Long with his long tongue sticking out, coming straight for his life. As he spoke, the beggar collapsed to the ground, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face. Jiang Tang remained silent. He just knew he had that feeling. It turned out that the person expelled from the Sect was Du Long. Poor Du Long, after years of tyranny, ended up being expelled from the sect and even died on the streets. Tsk tsk, as they say, evil begets evil karma. However¡ª ¡°You and your lackeys, could it be you were instructed by them to kill me?¡± Jiang Tang swallowed the last bite of the hot bun, raising an eyebrow at the beggar. The beggar: ¡°¡­¡± If he confessed, it meant he had to kill him, and he would either be beaten up or killed. While he was agonizing over his dilemma, Jiang Tang didn¡¯t ask further and turned to leave. After inquiring about the price of the Spirit Beast Carriage, Jiang Tang felt it was more economical to walk. It was just a short journey, and with his current physical strength, he could reach his destination in less than two days with ease. Yet, troubles tend to come one after another. No sooner had Jiang Tang stepped out of the town than Hua Qing, who had been lying in wait, followed suit Watching Jiang Tang¡¯s leisurely figure, Hua Qing¡¯s eyes were unguarded with murderous intent; he summoned a Longsword and swung it forward. This sudden strike caught Jiang Tang off guard, causing him to take a nasty tumble forward. But that was all¡ªhis hair was slightly dishevelled, and his body was completely unharmed¡ªnot even his robe was damaged in the slightest. Jiang Tang got up, dusting himself off, and looked back calmly. Hua Qing was stunned. He had used seventy percent of his Spiritual Power, yet he couldn¡¯t defeat someone with only Body Refinement stage? Keep in mind, he was already at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer. His strike was enough to kill a Spiritual Cultivator at the peak of the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment. How come it felt like a playful gesture against Jiang Tang? Hua Qing had no idea that Jiang Tang had already cultivated the Golden Body Spell to the Great Perfection and had undergone Body Refining. Even if a Spiritual Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Great Perfection came at him, he could barely withstand it. And to Jiang Tang, Hua Qing¡¯s attack was as insignificant as a tickle. ¡°Hua Qing?¡± Jiang Tang slowly narrowed his eyes. Enemies on a narrow road, indeed. What were the odds of encountering him here? Jiang Tang was unaware that Hua Qing had been expelled from the Sect for framing him. ¡°Jiang Tang, die!¡± Hua Qing¡¯s face twisted with malice as he brandished the Longsword. Jiang Tang¡¯s expression changed. If this guy went all out, even if it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be hit, his body would become numb¡ªit was an uncomfortable feeling, like being electrocuted. Just as he was about to turn and quickly leave, he suddenly heard Eryao¡¯s voice in his mind¡ª ¡°Daddy, daddy, let Yao Yao out, Yao Yao will teach him a lesson.¡± With a cute voice uttering such a serious statement, Jiang Tang nearly burst into laughter, barely managing to hold it in. After considering it, he decided to let Eryao out. Firstly, to see the fruits of Eryao¡¯s training, and secondly, to deter this ongoing nuisance from bothering him again. The moment Eryao came out, Jiang Tang suddenly remembered something. He had not yet refined the shape-shifting Pills for this little one! But Hua Qing seemed to be clueless about valuables and failed to recognize the identity of Eryao¡¯s Snow Dragon, thinking it was just a round dumpling-like Demonic Beast. Seeing it block in front of Jiang Tang, Hua Qing suddenly became furious, ¡°Get out of my way!¡± With that, he swung his longsword, intending to cleave the dumpling to death. Eryao dodged with a grimace, a sharp glint erupting in his eyes. The bone wings on his back suddenly unfurled as Eryao let out a heaven-piercing howl. The void around him trembled, and Hua Qing sensed something unusual, hastily halting his advance. But this was exactly what Eryao had hoped for¡ªhe abruptly pulled in his bone wings, and spiritual energy in the void transformed into ice, which turned into razor blades, hurtling towards Hua Qing. These ice blades were like a torrential downpour of hidden weapons, so numerous that Hua Qing felt his skin crawl. He instinctively tried to dodge, but to his surprise, his feet didn¡¯t obey, remaining firmly in place no matter how he tried to move. Hua Qing looked down only to find his feet solidly frozen without him noticing. With no other choice, Hua Qing was forced to raise his longsword to fend off the rain of ice blades. Despite his wrist flickering rapidly and his sword flowers spinning swiftly, two ice blades symmetrically pierced Hua Qing¡¯s shoulder blades, one on the left and one on the right. Hua Qing cried out in pain and, upon discovering that the ice encasing his feet had melted and he could move again, he stared murderously at Eryao, who was now arched high on his back. ¡°You little beast! Dare to hurt your grandpa! I won¡¯t let you live!¡± He consumed a Pill and, wielding his longsword once more, charged forward. This time, however, he changed his target¡ªthe dragon cub with a faint glimmer of golden light in its eyes became his primary target. Jiang Tang had planned to simply watch the fray from the sidelines, but upon hearing Hua Qing¡¯s insults, his expression darkened immediately. This was intolerable. Fighting was one thing, but hurling insults was another. He produced a hoe, and while Eryao was busy with Hua Qing, Jiang Tang advanced a few steps and, unexpectedly, knocked him on the head. Hua Qing¡¯s head burst open, bleeding profusely. He turned around howling in pain, glaring at Jiang Tang with eyes full of rage, ¡°Jiang Tang! You shameless brat, dare to ambush me!¡± The gritting of his teeth appeared as if he wished to devour Jiang Tang whole. Seeing this, Eryao¡¯s eyes flashed with golden light. An array suddenly appeared under Hua Qing¡¯s feet, and the spreading chill in an instant turned him into an ice sculpture. ¡°You can insult Yaoyao, but you can¡¯t insult daddy,¡± Eryao snorted coldly, sitting atop the ice sculpture¡¯s head. The ice sculpture collapsed with a bang, instantly disintegrating into dust. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Tang was astonished. The cub¡¯s strength was truly remarkable. ¡°Daddy, from now on Yaoyao will protect you. Anyone who bullies you, Yaoyao will freeze them all!¡± Eryao leapt onto Jiang Tang¡¯s arm, hugging it and wagging his tail, his eyes brimming with adoration. As if the puffed-up dragon cub from a moment ago wasn¡¯t him at all. Jiang Tang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. After putting away the hoe, Jiang Tang stroked Eryao¡¯s head, ¡°From now on, don¡¯t kill people indiscriminately. Bad people will get their comeuppance.¡± Although he had reincarnated, the sight of others casually killing still unsettled Jiang Tang. After all, the world he came from was a one-on-one rule of law society. Okay, actually he hadn¡¯t yet learned to be at peace no matter the circumstances. Eryao paused for a moment. Bad people¡­ will get their comeuppance? The dragon cub thought of the people who had slaughtered his mother years ago, a flash of viciousness crossing his eyes. No matter what, daddy was the only family he had now. Anyone who dared to harm his daddy would not be easily forgiven. Jiang Tang was completely unaware that he had become an untouchable scale in Eryao¡¯s heart. On their journey, Jiang Tang took some time to refine a Disguise Pill, allowing Eryao to successfully alter his appearance so he could always stay outside. Chapter 31 - 31 31 Difficult! ?31: Chapter 31 Difficult! All the Talismans Have Been Used Up 31: Chapter 31 Difficult! All the Talismans Have Been Used Up Upon arriving at the small town, Jiang Tang swiftly bought a batch of top-quality fertilizer, had just finished tilling the Spirit Field and sowing the seeds, when a strange noise erupted from outside. Jiang Tang hurriedly withdrew his Divine Sense, retracting it back to his body and opened his eyes to look sharply. He hadn¡¯t intended to look, but once he did, he was immediately drenched in cold sweat. In front of him, a tiger with hanging eyes and a white forehead was salivating while staring at him. Seeing him open his eyes, it slowly and steadily began to advance step by step. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± He was just meditating in the small forest, so how could he encounter a Demonic Beast here? In this world, the Beast Clan is divided into Spirit Beasts and Demonic Beasts. Spirit Beasts are those that have been domesticated by humans, while Demonic Beasts, on the contrary, eat people upon sight, showing no mercy. Both Demonic Beasts and Spirit Beasts have the same ranks, divided into Nine Realms, and above the Nine Realms come the Ancient Beast Clan. However, such beasts are mostly in a state of nirvana or have succeeded in their cultivation and ascended to The Upper Realm. This Spirit Beast in front of him had already reached the third rank. Which is to say, he was comparable to a Spiritual Cultivator in the Core Formation Realm. And Jiang Tang was only at the sixth level of Body Refinement; facing off against this huge tiger was simply like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It was seeking death. Jiang Tang slowly stood up, moving at an extremely slow pace, while retreating backwards. Meanwhile, he racked his brain to think of a way to escape. Demonic Beasts are afraid of righteous objects, and such things are exceptional Magical Treasures to counter Demonic Beasts. Righteous objects¡­ Righteous objects¡­ Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes lit up. Talismans! He had Talismans! With that thought in mind, Jiang Tang hurriedly reached into his Qiankun Bag to grab a handful of Talismans, glancing at them in his palm. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were all first-grade Talismans, which if thrown at the Tiger Demon Spirit, might only serve to increase its hatred towards him. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± He suddenly felt that he should not have been stingy with his silver. Next time, he definitely would procure a batch of top-quality seeds and high-grade Talismans! But for now¡­ He could only use the dead horse as a living horse doctor and make do with what he had. Jiang Tang threw a handful of Talismans forward, activating them all at once. The Five Elements suddenly manifested in the Void, like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their methods, hoping to trap the tiger with the hanging eyes and white forehead. But the low-grade Talismans, striking the Tiger Demon Spirit, were exactly as Jiang Tang suspected¡ªmerely scratching an itch for it. The Tiger Demon Spirit had indeed been provoked, and seeing Jiang Tang at a loss, it cast its reservations aside and charged at him with its gaping maw wide open. Jiang Tang threw another handful of Talismans and, after activating them, quickly climbed up a tall tree behind him. The Tiger Demon Spirit, having its vision obscured by the Talismans, shook them off and began to search for Jiang Tang¡¯s figure in all directions. Jiang Tang did not miss the towering rage and murderous intent in the eyes of the Tiger Demon Spirit. Eryao was in retreat, and Niu was not a fighter¡ªIf he were to be discovered this time, he would be utterly doomed. Looking at his space, he saw that most of the usable items were of low quality, and he didn¡¯t even have a weapon that could stand up to the Tiger Demon Spirit in a fair fight. Jiang Tang felt disheartened. He gathered up his Qi, crouched on the tree, held his breath, concentrated his spirit, and watched nervously from above. The tiger lingered around the tree for a long time but eventually, not seeing Jiang Tang¡¯s figure, let out a long howl and ran off into the distance with a burst of speed. Seeing this, Jiang Tang let out a long sigh of relief. Suddenly, he felt a chilling sensation on his back. A strand of unusual heat was coming from his shoulder. A bad premonition rose faintly in his heart. Jiang Tang stiffly turned his neck, only to meet the gaze of six blood-red eyes. Big spider?! ¡°Holy shit!¡± When the coarse hair on the spider demon¡¯s leg touched Jiang Tang¡¯s cheek, he got goosebumps all over and couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, leaping up and jumping onto another tree. It was only after he landed that another spider demon, awakened by the noise, opened its six eyes and coldly stared at him. Jiang Tang quickly jumped to the ground, looked up, and realized that the trees above were swarming with spider demons. The tree branches were densely covered in spider silk. ¡°¡­¡± How did he not notice when he came in? Just thinking about having run into a spider den, Jiang Tang¡¯s goosebumps rose again. Meanwhile, the spider demons, disturbed from their cultivation, ran down the tree trunks to the ground, ready to kill Jiang Tang and feast on him. Jiang Tang grinned and placated with a flatterer¡¯s smile, ¡°Big brothers, I meant no offense. Why not continue your cultivation?¡± The spider demons seemed not to understand human speech and continued to close in on Jiang Tang. Seeing this, Jiang Tang turned pale and figured he might as well go for broke. He pulled out a handful of talismans from his Qiankun Bag, activated them, and threw them forward. Most of these spider demons were first-order demonic beasts. This time, the talismans were useful. The spider demons struck by the spiritual power released by the talismans all disintegrated into dust and scattered on the ground. But no matter how many talismans there were, they could not match the number of spider demons. Group after group of young spider demons crawled down the tree trunks and rushed towards Jiang Tang at an alarming rate. His fear of clusters was kicking in. Jiang Tang furrowed his brows, simultaneously pulling more talismans from his Qiankun Bag to throw, while considering whether to collect some spider demon corpses, dry them out, grind them into powder, and refine them into pills. Indeed, among the alchemy prescriptions Tianlao had taught him, there were many pills that could be refined using the skin and flesh of demonic beasts¡ªand the efficacy of the pills refined in this way was not inferior to those refined using only Spirit Grass. In fact, they were sometimes even better. As this thought came to him, Jiang Tang reached into his Qiankun Bag again and suddenly realized something. All his talismans were used up?! Jiang Tang felt around uncertainly once more. It was completely empty inside. ¡°¡­¡± Unlucky. After a batch of spider demons was wiped out, another batch came down, and their speed was increasing. Jiang Tang pulled out a spade from his Qiankun Bag designated for storing weapons. After infusing it with spiritual power, he closed his eyes, activated the Immortal Sect Spell, and swept it before him. Wherever his divine sense felt more spider demons, he flailed wildly in that direction. The more spider demons died, the fewer seemed to come at him. Realizing this, Jiang Tang fought even more fiercely. It wasn¡¯t until the last spider demon was killed that he gasped for air and finally opened his eyes. That was close, too close. Jiang Tang put away his spear and started looking around for spider demon corpses that could be used. Most were turned into ashes by the talismans, and the few that were left intact were also scarred. After finding a few spider demon corpses that could be ground into powder for alchemy, Jiang Tang was about to leave when he suddenly sensed a different kind of qi spreading slowly from behind him. This familiar feeling¡­ Jiang Tang turned his head and met the blood-red eyes of the tiger demon spirit with a white mark on its forehead and immediately his mouth twitched. It turned out that while Jiang Tang was fighting with the spider demons, the tiger demon spirit had caught his scent, felt it had been toyed with, and in a fit of rage, hurried back. It just so happened to see Jiang Tang collecting bodies. So it snuck up, planning to catch him off guard, bite Jiang Tang to death, and swallow him whole. The tiger demon spirit hadn¡¯t tasted human flesh for decades. Just thinking about the savory taste of human flesh made it unconsciously salivate. Chapter 32 - 32 32 Hatching in the Nick of Time The Resonance of the Xuanming Spiritual Fire ?32: Chapter 32: Hatching in the Nick of Time, The Resonance of the Xuanming Spiritual Fire 32: Chapter 32: Hatching in the Nick of Time, The Resonance of the Xuanming Spiritual Fire With that thought, the Tiger Demon Spirit no longer hesitated and pounced forward directly. Jiang Tang didn¡¯t hesitate either, he dropped the corpse and bolted. He channeled all his spiritual power, running towards the plains ahead with all the strength he could muster. But how could two legs outrun four? Very soon, the droopy-eyed, white fore-headed tiger caught up with Jiang Tang, just one more step and it would capture him. The Tiger Demon Spirit leaped into the air, opening its gaping maw to bite off Jiang Tang¡¯s head. Damn! Jiang Tang¡¯s expression changed, he frantically lunged forward, tumbling to the ground in a sorry state, yet narrowly avoiding this fatal strike. The Tiger Demon Spirit¡¯s pounce missed its mark, but far from being annoyed, it approached the slowly rising Jiang Tang step by step, with the assurance of victory. Jiang Tang felt a sense of despair. Could this be where his life came to an end? At this critical moment, an anomaly occurred in the Spirit Field Space. The egg that had been incubating all this time suddenly let out an immature cry. Responding to the cry, the eggshell cracked open with several fissures, and countless beams of light shot out from them. At the same time, Jiang Tang faintly felt that the Xuanming Spiritual Fire within his body began to stir restlessly¡ªas if it had encountered an old friend, excited to greet them. Moments later, the eggshell shattered, a red light shot up from the ground, piercing through the Spirit Field Space and landing steadily in front of Jiang Tang. Upon seeing the red light, the Tiger Demon Spirit was momentarily stunned; after a brief pause, its eyes were filled with wariness. ¡°Who goes there?¡± The Tiger Demon Spirit¡¯s lips wriggled as it slowly uttered human speech. Though its voice was husky and deep, even somewhat unpleasant to hear, Jiang Tang could still make it out. This creature was speaking human language. The red light dissipated to reveal a little bird, red all over. The little bird slowly opened its eyes, the golden light within them flashing briefly. Flapping its downy wings, it took to the air and landed steadily on Jiang Tang¡¯s shoulder. The little bird suddenly pecked Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang winced with pain, baring his teeth. A drop of blood seeped into his skin through the bird¡¯s beak, and an array formed beneath Jiang Tang¡¯s feet. The array disappeared, and in the eyes of the little bird which had seemed slightly blurred, there was now a hint of clarity. It looked steadily at the Tiger Demon Spirit and uttered human words as well. ¡°Scram.¡± The Tiger Demon Spirit felt the pressure coming from the other, shrank its neck, and looked back at Jiang Tang. It swallowed another gulp of saliva. Human flesh so fragrant. This was just a fledgling, after all. It couldn¡¯t harm it anyway. As long as it didn¡¯t kill it, there would be no waters muddied between them. With this thought, the Tiger Demon Spirit steeled its heart and pounced towards Jiang Tang once again. The little bird¡¯s gaze turned cold: ¡°Refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.¡± It sharply cried out and took off towards the void. At that moment, Jiang Tang felt the unrest in the Xuanming Spiritual Fire growing stronger; he opened his palm and released it into the center of his hand. In that instant, the Xuanming Spiritual Fire turned into a long light, flying towards the rear of the little bird, transforming into an ancient flying bird totem. The little bird spread its wings again, and the flying bird totem turned into a fire phoenix, diving down from above. A blaze of fire shot towards the sky, its heat searing, nearly singing Jiang Tang¡¯s hair. He ducked down, and the flames directly engulfed the Tiger Demon Spirit in front of him, reducing it to ashes. All of this happened in just an instant. But Jiang Tang was left stunned. This little bird, impressive! The Tiger Demon Spirit didn¡¯t even have a chance to let out a wail before it was turned into dust due to its greed. The little bird landed, the murderous look in its eyes fading. It looked up at Jiang Tang with adoration and called out crisply, ¡°Daddy!¡± Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Another kid? ¡°I¡¯m not your daddy,¡± Jiang Tang said, shaking his head. He put away the Xuanming Spiritual Fire and crouched down to cradle the bird in his palm, gently stroking the fluffy head of the little bird, and cracking a slight smile. ¡°Eryao told me that daddy is his daddy, and also my daddy. Why can Eryao call you that, but I cannot? Could it be, daddy doesn¡¯t recognize me?¡± The little bird¡¯s eyes suddenly filled with a hint of loss. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± So, daddy can be shared. He stroked the little bird¡¯s head again: ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± There was suddenly a glimmer of joy in the little bird¡¯s eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve already formed a Soul Contract with daddy. If daddy is ever in trouble, Eryao and I will protect you together!¡± Jiang Tang gave an awkward laugh. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s a bit embarrassing to always be protected by a bunch of kids. Once he became stronger, he could protect them. ¡°But how are you able to use my Xuanming Spiritual Fire?¡± Jiang Tang recalled something and asked curiously. ¡°Because, I am a descendant of Vermilion Bird,¡± said the little bird proudly, declaring its lineage. As it turned out, the creature hatched from the egg was a descendant of the ancient Vermilion Bird. Eryao, having received the inheritance, naturally could recognize it. When Eryao felt that Jiang Tang was in danger, it was at a critical moment in its meditative retreat, and it absolutely could not afford to create an Avatar to help Jiang Tang¡ªforcing its way out would cause it to deviate and go berserk, effectively handing itself over as an extra meal to the Tiger Demon Spirit. So, it thought of the little bird about to hatch. After contacting the little bird through a mental message, Eryao secretly imbued the little bird with the Dragon Clan¡¯s Spiritual Power to stimulate its hatching. Once it emerged, the little bird swiftly activated its spiritual consciousness using the Soul Contract. Thus, the little bird was able to hatch in a timely manner and came to save Jiang Tang. As to why it could use the Xuanming Spiritual Fire and resonate with it, that was due to the little bird¡¯s identity. Being a descendant of the ancient Vermilion Bird lineage, which is a branch of the Phoenix Clan, its body carried mainly Fire Spirit Power. The Vermilion Bird Clan is born with the Sovereign Fire of their race¡ªthe fire that is considered of Jia Xiang caliber; and all fires of lesser rank can be utilized by the Vermilion Bird Clan. And the little bird had summoned the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, which ranks at the end of the Ding Xiang category, using the yet unawakened Sovereign Fire within it, to deal with the wide-eyed white-browed Tiger. Although the Xuanming Spiritual Fire is the lowest amongst the Exotic Flames ranking in the Ding Xiang category, it is still a Spiritual Treasure of heaven and earth that restrains demons and spirits. Demons and spirits are inherently fearful of objects of the righteous path, and as an Exotic Flame, the Xuanming Spiritual Fire naturally becomes their nemesis. After listening to the little bird¡¯s explanation, Jiang Tang reflected thoughtfully. It turned out that Exotic Flames could be used not only for forging Pills. But also for driving away demonic beings. ¡°Daddy, you named Eryao. Could you also give me a name?¡± The little bird nuzzled against Jiang Tang¡¯s palm. Jiang Tang¡¯s heart softened. The sentimental heart of an old man. He coughed lightly and replied calmly, ¡°Since you¡¯re a descendant of Vermilion Bird, I will name you Chong Li. To reignite the fires of the stars, to brighten the dawn of the Mortal Realm. Does that sound good?¡± The little bird agreed and nuzzled Jiang Tang¡¯s palm again, ¡°Daddy, Chong Li wishes to practice outside, not within the Immeasurable Ancient Jade.¡± Being of the Phoenix Clan¡¯s bloodline, the Vermilion Bird Clan inherently yearns for freedom and despises confinement. They prefer the vast skies more than the Dragon Clan does. Jiang Tang nodded in agreement, remembering the remaining Disguise Pill he had earlier refined. He took it out and fed it to Chong Li to alter its appearance, then began to sit cross-legged on the ground to cultivate. Chapter 33 - 33 33 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm Top-Tier Seed 1 ?33: Chapter 33 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm, Top-Tier Seed (1) 33: Chapter 33 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm, Top-Tier Seed (1) With a blink, three days flashed by. The early sun began to rise. Chong Li quietly protected Jiang Tang as he meditated, and upon seeing him open his eyes, he couldn¡¯t help but joyfully call out, ¡°Daddy!¡± Jiang Tang smiled slightly and cast his eyes down to his own palm. Sure enough, his talent had been reforged. Just three days, and he had already stepped into the Intermediate Realm of the Six Heavens. Not only that, but he had even indirectly stimulated the cultivation of both the Golden Body Spell and the Immortal Sect Spell¡ªboth had been pulled from their Great Accomplishment stages to the peak of perfection. Such favorable progress. Jiang Tang decided to complete his second task. Find a secret realm and harvest a top-quality Spirit Plant. As for the remaining opportunities, a three-to-seven split with the Sect would suffice¡ªwhat he would give up depended entirely on his own intentions. However, this time, it would be him taking seventy percent, while the Sect would receive thirty percent. Most disciples wouldn¡¯t be stingy¡ªafter all, the Sect nurtured them, lead them in cultivation, and if someone were to carelessly hand over some worthless things, they¡¯d be no different from an ungrateful wolf, deserving of the world¡¯s scorn. Naturally, Jiang Tang wouldn¡¯t just carelessly submit his offerings either. He pulled out a map, examined it carefully, and realized that ten miles ahead was a place called the Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm¡ªa wonderful site managed by a small Sect, meaning he wouldn¡¯t have to hand over any of the opportunities he found there. Jiang Tang had no hesitation; he promptly stood up and hastened in that direction. For him as he was now, ten miles was nothing more than a half-day¡¯s journey at a running pace. Upon arrival, he happened upon the opening of the Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm. Disciples from various Sects were queuing, presenting their tokens and registering their information before entering one by one. This was Jiang Tang¡¯s first encounter with that stone gate shimmering with waves of light. As the disciples passed through the light waves of the stone gate, their figures disappeared on the spot. When Jiang Tang¡¯s turn came, he rubbed his hands excitedly and took a step into it. A brilliant light instantly enveloped his entire being, and the odd sensation made Jiang Tang involuntarily close his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, the scenery around him had changed, and he found himself in an entirely different world. Jiang Tang clicked his tongue in amazement. Was this the abrupt change of worlds found in novels? It was truly magical. Remembering the purpose of his journey, Jiang Tang quickly released his Divine Sense, scanning around for nearby Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass. Because he had inherited Tianlao¡¯s legacy, his Divine Sense could automatically search for those items. Soon, Jiang Tang spotted a Spirit Grass of excellent quality. It was Qingming Grass, graded as second-best, suitable for refining many Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills. From what his Divine Sense had detected, there seemed to be more than one plant, perhaps even a whole patch? However, such items were likely guarded by beasts, right? Remembering the Demonic Beast he had encountered last time, Jiang Tang stroked Chong Li, who was sleeping on his shoulder, and then took out a spade, carefully approaching the Qingming Grass. As expected, around the corner, Jiang Tang saw the guardian beast. A¡­ Yellow-Skinned Immortal? At that moment, the creature was lying comfortably on the slope, dozing off without any awareness of Jiang Tang¡¯s approach. Judging by its appearance, it seemed to be just a first-stage beast? Or perhaps still a cub? Jiang Tang got an idea, put away the spade, and took out a few pieces of homemade jerky from his Qiankun Bag. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Weasel Demon was enjoying its sleep when suddenly it caught a whiff of a delightful aroma. It promptly opened its eyes to see a huge piece of jerky. The Weasel Demon gulped down its saliva, which uncontrollably drooled down its chin, pooling on the ground. Although it was quite embarrassing, it still really wanted to eat¡­ Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow and put all his strength into throwing the jerky ahead of him. The Weasel Demon shot off like an arrow released from its bow, chasing after the jerky as it went far away. By the time it ran back, full of excitement, the Qingming Grass had been stripped bare¡ªthe entire ground was as bald as a shaven head. Weasel Demon: ¡°¡­¡± Polite, much, thief? It felt deeply offended. However¡­ The Weasel Demon found a spot, started nibbling on the fragrant jerky, and flung the thought of guarding the Qingming Grass to the back of its mind¡ªguarding the Spiritual Grass or whatnot, meat was clearly more substantial. Isn¡¯t meat delicious? Delicious, of course it is. Meanwhile, after Jiang Tang harvested the Qingming Grass, he placed one of the best-looking ones onto his finger and into the newly purchased Storage Ring. All possessions in the Storage Ring had to be handed over to the Sect. He placed the remaining Qingming Grass into the Spirit Field Space, right next to the first plot of the Spirit Field. When he found some free time, he planned to plant the Qingming Grass. This stuff could be used to refine many Second-turn Rejuvenation Pills that were incredibly easy to succeed at¡ªafter challenging the difficult Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill, Jiang Tang was very confident that he could easily succeed at refining those Second-turn Pills. Jiang Tang sat cross-legged and took out a Rejuvenation Pill to consume. Taking advantage of the thick Spiritual Energy here, why not meditate for a while and break through to the late stage of the Six Heavens? But just as Jiang Tang was about to get comfortable, an unexpected visitor disrupted his peaceful cultivation. ¡°Hey, you there, don¡¯t get into deep meditation, what are you pretending for? Up, up, I have something important to ask you,¡± a disdainful voice called out from in front of him, sounding extremely impatient. Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang slowly opened his eyes. His gaze landed on a young man in black robes with a golden flying fish jade pendant hanging at his waist, looking down at him with his chin raised. Flying Fish Jade Pendant¡­ A disciple of the Blade Sect. Jiang Tang got up and greeted with a cupped fist, ¡°Fellow Daoist, may I ask what you need?¡± ¡°First tell me, the Qingming Grass was clearly around here, so why had it vanished by the time I got here?¡± The Blade Sect disciple waved a piece of sheepskin paper in his hand. It turns out that maps of every Secret Realm would circulate¡ªthese were all personally drafted by pioneer disciples who entered the Secret Realm for training and exploration, almost never with mistakes. Aside from some perilous areas depicted vaguely, other small places, including where Spiritual Treasures were hidden, were marked very clearly. Just like a game map. ¡°¡­Fellow Daoist, I simply got here first,¡± Jiang Tang touched his nose. He was not in the habit of lying and couldn¡¯t tell a falsehood. ¡°All of it picked by you? The only batch of Qingming Grass from this trial was completely harvested by you?¡± The Blade Sect disciple stared in surprise, his eyes wide. Jiang Tang cringed with a smile and instinctively took a step back. This fellow Daoist was aggressive¡ªthe sign of an ill-mannered visitor. ¡°Holy shit, how did you manage that without getting suffocated to death by that yellow-skinned critter¡¯s farts?¡± The Blade Sect disciple was so astonished that he didn¡¯t even realize he had cursed aloud. Jiang Tang, however, noted his choice of words. Wasn¡¯t that¡­ a product of their era? Could it be, this fellow Daoist was also a time-traveler like him? ¡°I merely fed it two pieces of jerky, then used a diversionary tactic,¡± Jiang Tang rubbed the back of his head. The Blade Sect disciple stood still for a moment, then realizing what Jiang Tang meant, he slapped his forehead in frustration. How did he not think of using clever strategy himself? As it turned out, this Blade Sect disciple was a Servant Disciple participating in the Outer Sect examination, who had come here year after year for trials, to gather Qingming Grass. Year after year, they were thwarted by the putrid stench of the young Weasel Demon¡¯s farts and returned empty-handed. This time, he had prepared Pills in advance for the trial. Chapter 34 - 34 34 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm Top-Tier Seed 2 ?34: Chapter 34 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm, Top-Tier Seed (2) 34: Chapter 34 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm, Top-Tier Seed (2) Who would have thought that before he could even start picking, he would run into Jiang Tang. And he plucked the Qingming Grass completely bald. The Blade Sect disciple looked despairingly at the area where the Qingming Grass grew, then turned the same forlorn gaze towards Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± He made it seem like he had committed some serious mistake. Producing three stalks of Qingming Grass and handing them over, Jiang Tang spoke with evident distaste, ¡°Take it, take it.¡± Blade Sect disciple: ¡°??¡± ¡°You¡¯re just giving it to me like that?¡± He took the Qingming Grass, assessing the quality of the Spirit Plant, and was immediately astonished. This was of upper third-grade quality, enough for him to concoct the Pills required to enter the Outer Sect. ¡°Don¡¯t want them? Give them back then.¡± Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course, I want them!¡± Fearing that he might actually take them back, the Blade Sect disciple quickly ran off. At this moment, Chong Li, who had been deeply asleep, let out a yawn and leisurely opened his eyes. ¡°Daddy, you are too kind. People who are too kind and honest tend to be bullied,¡± Chong Li commented as he watched the disciple¡¯s retreating figure and yawned again. Jiang Tang touched his nose. He always felt awkward being lectured by a child. ¡°Li, I¡¯m going to meditate and practice cultivation. Now that you¡¯re awake, would you protect me?¡± Jiang Tang took a candy made of Spirit Grass from his Qiankun Bag and gave it to Chong Li. ¡°Mhm, Daddy, rest assured and meditate.¡± Chong Li, holding the candy obediently, landed on the ground. Once Jiang Tang sat down cross-legged to meditate, Chong Li flapped his wings and erected a barrier around him. Although Chong Li appeared to be just a fledgling, his strength was not to be underestimated¡ª He would occasionally close his eyes to rest, yet while doing so, he was also inheriting the legacy of his bloodline. Since he had grown from the Spirit Field Space, he had directly inherited the abilities of his ancestors¡¯ bloodline¡ªand this was not just bragging. Chong Li could assure you that, given time, he could become the first phoenix of this era to evolve from the Vermilion Bird and ascend. Therefore, the barrier he set up was not something that those of exceptional strength could easily breach; ordinary people were basically unable to see Jiang Tang. At most, they might sense the existence of the barrier. But now¡­ The candy Daddy made was too fragrant! Chong Li nibbled eagerly at the candy, finishing it off in short order. He lay quietly in front of Jiang Tang, curiously observing him. Jiang Tang was very handsome, and because he had tilled the land for years, his handsome face had a tanned hue, which made him seem neither like a frail scholar nor a rough peasant. Like what, then? Chong Li couldn¡¯t figure it out. Right then, sleepiness swept over him again. Chong Li, seeing that the barrier was stable, released his Divine Sense to scan the surroundings, and after confirming that there was no danger, closed his eyes again to accept the inheritance from his bloodline. He needed to grow fast so he could protect Daddy with Eryao. As Chong Li fell asleep, his form and the barrier merged into one. At that time, two uninvited guests suddenly intruded. They were a man and a woman, dressed ordinarily but with extraordinary features. They looked quite young, yet their faces and bodies were riddled with wounds, showing a bit of a disheveled state. ¡°Yi, they ran away!¡± The girl gasped for breath, her eyes shining with excitement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother will protect you.¡± The young man stroked the girl¡¯s head, smiled faintly, and then collapsed to the ground. His back was drenched with cold sweat. Just now, he had nearly been killed by that herd of wild boars. If he hadn¡¯t been burdened with this dead weight, he could have run even faster. But this dead weight had its uses, too. For instance¡­ ¡°Yi, here are some Pills for you.¡± The girl handed over a bottle of Pills with a sweet smile. ¡°Ling¡¯er concocted them herself, Yi, please feel at ease and take them.¡± Her alchemy skills were peerless. It was a Pill Furnace she could carry with her at all times, without needing him to carry it. With this in mind, a feigned look of difficulty appeared on the man¡¯s face, ¡°Little sister Ling¡¯er, this doesn¡¯t seem quite right.¡± ¡°Oh, brother Yi, Ling¡¯er has already said, all of Ling¡¯er¡¯s Pills belong to brother Yi. As long as brother Yi wishes, Ling¡¯er can also refine Fourth-grade Pills.¡± The woman gazed at the man, a trace of embarrassment fleeting across her face. The man felt disgusted in his heart, yet still, he laughed lightly, ¡°Fine.¡± They both sat down on the spot and began to adjust their Qi. As night fell, stars dotted the void. Chong Li turned over lazily and opened his eyes, catching sight of Jiang Tang, whose body was consolidating Spiritual Energy. He promptly sat up. Father is about to have a cultivation breakthrough! Eryao had mentioned that father, with the help of the Immeasurable Ancient Jade in secret, was making rapid progress in Body Refinement. From a mere mortal who couldn¡¯t lift a Spiritual Artifact to a Spiritual Cultivator who could now easily wield an iron shovel imbued with spells. However, in Chong Li¡¯s view, his own father¡¯s cultivation was really not that impressive. After a moment, the Spiritual Energy fully integrated into Jiang Tang¡¯s body. Jiang Tang slowly opened his eyes, which seemed to flash with a spiritual light. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, a smile appearing on his face. The minor achievement of the Seventh Layer of Body Refinement, achieved! Tch, after tempering his body, cultivation sure is fast. ¡°Li, thank you.¡± Jiang Tang looked at the little bird beside him and smiled broadly. ¡°Daddy needs not thank Li. Daddy, daddy, Li is going to dissolve the barrier now, be careful,¡± Chong Li flapped his wings and flew up into the air, his gaze became sharp, and the protective barrier around them immediately dissipated. The fierce wave of air spread in all directions and quickly reached the man and woman who were meditating nearby. Both of them opened their eyes at the same time and looked in this direction. Seeing Jiang Tang suddenly appear, they were first startled and then instinctively on alert. In such a Secret Realm, Sect disciples follow the law of the survival of the fittest, often attacking and killing those weaker than themselves to seize their treasures. This fellow is certainly no pushover. The man narrowed his eyes, only to notice something. This man, he seems to only have the cultivation of Body Refinement. And that little bird beside him looks quite ordinary. Where did that domineering Qi come from just now? ¡°Umm, I did not mean to offend, I ask for both of your understanding,¡± Jiang Tang, noticing their tense expressions, silently made a bow and then quietly turned to leave. Just now, Li had communicated with him through Divine Sense, indicating that there was an extremely precious seed about to appear here. An extremely precious seed, which is considered the very best amongst the top-quality goods. One in ten thousand. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was also the purpose of Jiang Tang¡¯s journey. ¡°Did not mean to offend? You make it sound so easy.¡± The man snorted with a mocking laugh. ¡°What does the fellow Daoist suggest?¡± Jiang Tang furrowed his brow. He was probably going to try to extort him. This thought was soon confirmed. ¡°My companion and I came close to cultivation deviation, fellow Daoist, you ought to compensate us with some silver or Spiritual Medicine at least,¡± the man said with disdain after confirming Jiang Tang was only at the Seventh Layer of Body Refinement. What a joke, it was only a false alarm. ¡°Here is a bottle of First-grade Rejuvenation Pills, let it be my apology,¡± Jiang Tang produced a bottle of Pills and handed it over. The woman shook her head, about to refuse, but the man snatched the bottle and examined it while snorting coldly, ¡°Just look at your pitiful state, you could only afford such common First Rank Elixirs.¡± Chapter 35 - 35 35 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm Top-Tier Seed 3 ?35: Chapter 35 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm, Top-Tier Seed (3) 35: Chapter 35 Mysterious Immortal Secret Realm, Top-Tier Seed (3) Jiang Tang: ¡°???¡± What kind of nonsense is he speaking? He had offered a First Rank Elixir out of apology, and this guy accuses him of being poor and can only come up with a First Rank Elixir? His painstakingly self-refined elixirs, how did they become so commonplace¡ªmoreover, even though First Rank Elixirs were sold in large quantities, they weren¡¯t so common as to be everywhere, right? ¡°Since you think they¡¯re so commonplace, then give it back.¡± Jiang Tang sneered, snatching the porcelain bottle from the man¡¯s hand and putting it back into his Qiankun Bag. ¡°I¡¯m poor and I treasure it a lot.¡± The woman heard this and immediately covered her lips, lightly laughing. The man was taken aback, his face coloring with an additional shade of anger. ¡°Is this your way of apologizing?¡± ¡°I have indeed apologized.¡± Jiang Tang was unfazed as he brushed past the man and walked ahead. ¡°Excuse me, I have matters to attend to and must be leaving first.¡± He could clearly feel the fluctuations from the exceptional seed. In just a moment more, the seed would appear in this world, and he needed to go see what kind of creature was guarding it. Seeing how he was being ignored like this, the man¡¯s anger grew. Already aggrieved from being chased by a Demonic Beast, now this Body Refinement Seventh Layer youngster had walked into his line of fire, and he could no longer hold back. He summoned a longsword and chopped down with it. ¡°Clang!¡± With a loud noise, the man¡¯s longsword split apart on the spot. Man: ¡°????¡± Why is that guy¡¯s head unscathed, while his precious weapon is the one damaged? This was a high-grade yellow-tier weapon he had purchased at a great cost. It usually cut through iron as if it were mud, so why was this kid¡¯s head even harder than iron? His hand was numb. Jiang Tang touched the back of his head and turned around to glance at the man, just in time to see the broken longsword in two pieces on the ground. ¡°Are you asking for a beating?¡± After stroking Chong Li to smooth its ruffled fur, Jiang Tang laughed again. He was honest, but that didn¡¯t mean he was easy to bully. Without any more hesitation, Jiang Tang took out a shovel and slapped it toward the man. ¡°Hahahaha, you, with that? With that muddy shovel?¡± The man saw him using the shovel as a weapon and burst into laughter, his eyes filled with mockery and disdain. ¡°Really, what a poor sod, doesn¡¯t even have a decent weapon to use.¡± ¡°Yi, be careful!¡± It was the woman who noticed something amiss and quickly warned the man. The man didn¡¯t move, calm and composed. He refused to believe that he, a distinguished Spiritual Cultivator of the Foundation Establishment realm, could be overpowered and pounded into the ground by a mere Body Refinement realm brat. Then¡­ Expectations are beautiful, but reality is cruel. When the shovel hit the man¡¯s head, he felt as if his soul had been struck and started resonating, his body trembling and shaking along with it. The man spat out a mouthful of blood and fell straight back. ¡°Yi!¡± The woman¡¯s expression changed drastically as she hurried forward to support him, taking out a elixir without saying a word and stuffing it into the man¡¯s mouth. Spitting blood from seven orifices? Jiang Tang looked at the man¡¯s miserable face and was taken aback. ¡°Er, sorry, I went a little too hard.¡± He only meant to give back what he got, but who knew his shovel would almost send the man off. Supported by the elixir, the man regained his senses, pushed the woman away, stood up unsteadily, and pointed at Jiang Tang with eyes full of murderous intent that he couldn¡¯t hide: ¡°You little runt, do you know¡­ know who I am?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know your name.¡± Jiang Tang flicked through the spell to activate a cleaning spell, wiping the blood from the shovel, and rolled his eyes. ¡°I am Su Chenyi from the Outer Sect of Sword Sect Su Clan from the Northern Region! You little runt, you dare to injure me, you just wait!¡± The man immediately flicked through his spell, and a strange light flashed in his palm, dissipating in just a moment. Another Sword Sect disciple? Jiang Tang¡¯s mouth twitched. That¡¯s right, the Northern Region was the stronghold of the Sword Sect Su Clan, so it wasn¡¯t surprising to bump into one outside. However, it seemed that he was calling for help? Jiang Tang felt he should run. If he couldn¡¯t beat his opponent, he certainly shouldn¡¯t stand there and take a beating. With this thought, Jiang Tang quickly used his Divine Sense to access the Spirit Field Space, plucked a Swift Movement Talisman, and hurried to retreat. ¡°Chong Li, catch it.¡± Jiang Tang transmitted a message to Chong Li¡¯s heart, then crushed the talisman and activated the spell within it. The man, basking in his own sense of pride, lifted his gaze only to catch a glimpse of Jiang Tang, who seemed stunned for a moment before he vanished without a trace in the next. The man: ¡°???¡± Not even a rabbit could run as fast as him, right? ¡°Yi, are you alright? Let me take your pulse for you,¡± the woman said worriedly, looking at the man and attempting to step forward. ¡°Get lost, you didn¡¯t even try to block a single hit for me, you burden!¡± Su Chenyi pushed the woman away, casting an annoyed glance at her before he turned and sat down cross-legged to meditate. Once his people arrived, he would make sure to kill that brat. If he didn¡¯t kill that scum, his surname wasn¡¯t Su! The woman fell to the ground, not even caring about the wound on her wrist, just staring blankly at Su Chenyi. Yi¡­ calling her to get lost¡­ And saying that she is¡­ a burden¡ª Somehow, the woman began to smile with her eyes downcast. As she smiled, her eyes welled up with tears. He had changed, no longer the Yi she knew from ten years ago. All this time, it was she who had been deceiving herself. The Yi she knew had disappeared after the drowning incident ten years ago. The woman slowly stood up, looking at the meditating Su Chenyi and murmured reluctantly, ¡°Yi, Ling¡¯er¡­ will never bother you again.¡± Brother, take good care of yourself. She turned her head, activated a spell, and transformed into a streak of light as she swiftly left. Jiang Tang had been running for a long time when he sensed that the precious seed was just ahead, and stopped abruptly. With this halt, he came face to face with a large black leopard that was eating a human. The sight of the big black leopard with its mouth full of flesh almost made Jiang Tang vomit. Too disgusting, too much to handle. He glanced next to the large black leopard and was momentarily surprised. Wasn¡¯t that the seedling of the precious seed? As it turned out, the seed was of the Xuanming Grass¡ªa Spirit Plant that, like some others, sprouts leaves before producing seeds. And the Xuanming Grass seedling in front of him was on the verge of collapse, with the seed almost ripe. The big black leopard, noticing Jiang Tang and after swallowing a mouthful of human blood, looked over calmly and with cold detachment opened its mouth to speak human words, ¡°Get lost.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Who are you telling to get lost?¡± Chong Li slowly opened his eyes, flapped his wings, and perched in mid-air in front of Jiang Tang, looking down from above with a voice that was childish yet colder than that of the big black leopard, ¡°Apologize to him.¡± Chong Li slowly narrowed his eyes. A wave of spiritual intimidation belonging to a Spirit Beast immediately emerged, bearing down on the big black leopard. The big black leopard¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and it quickly scrutinized the young bird before it. It appeared ordinary, so why did its spiritual intimidation instill such fear? As the big black leopard contemplated this, Chong Li released a tenth of his spiritual pressure, the icy severity in his eyes deepening by threefold, ¡°Apologize to him!¡± Shivering all over, the big black leopard hastily apologized to Jiang Tang and then scurried away in a disgraceful escape. Chapter 36 - 36 36 Ill Take Advantage of the Confusion 1 ?36: Chapter 36 I¡¯ll Take Advantage of the Confusion (1) 36: Chapter 36 I¡¯ll Take Advantage of the Confusion (1) After driving away the big black leopard, Chong Li quickly cleared away the corpse, set up a barrier for Jiang Tang, yawned, and then fell into a deep sleep. Jiang Tang knew that this little guy was still a fledgling, needing to sleep to assimilate the inheritance, just like Eryao¡¯s dragon cub. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So enviable, others grow stronger just by sleeping. Jiang Tang let out a sigh and sat down with legs crossed. He stimulated his Divine Sense to enter the space, harvested a batch of Spirit Plants, and then called Niu over to plow and fertilize the land during his leisure. Seeing the spiritual energy in the soil had become denser than before, he then planted another batch of second-grade seeds in the Talismanic Spirit Field. After sprinkling Spirit Water, he finally left the space with a Qiankun Bag full of talismans. They are all life-saving treasures. This time, Jiang Tang discovered quite a few second-grade talismans hidden among them. Although they were not the best, they were more than enough as trump cards. At that moment, the seeds shone with a gentle luster and emitted a faint and unusual fragrance¡ªthe Xuanming Grass seedlings had finally matured! Jiang Tang was overjoyed, quickly plucked the seeds, collected them into his Storage Ring, and uprooted the Xuanming Grass, storing it in the space. Another sect mission completed. Next, he planned to wander around this Secret Realm for a good exploration, looking for more Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass to store in the space. With this thought in mind, Jiang Tang carefully picked up Chong Li, placed him on his shoulder, rose to his feet, waved his sleeve to dissolve the barrier, and walked off into the distance. ¡°Young Master, please wait.¡± A gentle woman¡¯s voice called out, halting Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang looked back and caught sight of the newcomer, startled, ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± It turned out that the woman was the one who had been accompanying Su Chenyi earlier. ¡°I am Xu Ling¡¯er, an Inner Sect Disciple of Holy Medical Valley, betrothed to that young master since childhood. Su Chenyi was rude to you, Young Master. On his behalf, I apologize for his behavior,¡± Xu Ling¡¯er said with a gentle voice as she bowed. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Jiang Tang said, not minding the previous incident. He had thought she was here for a quarrel, which scared him to death. ¡°Young Master, this is a Second-turn Rejuvenation Pill that I have concocted. If it¡¯s not too much to ask, please accept it as an apology,¡± Xu Ling¡¯er offered a bottle of pills. Jiang Tang shook his head. ¡°I can concoct my own pills. Besides, I wasn¡¯t really injured, so I won¡¯t need the Rejuvenation Pill. Miss Xu, you better keep it for yourself.¡± Pills are incredibly precious, and this lady was giving them away freely, which showed that Holy Medical Valley had an abundance of pill resources. True to their reputation as the foremost Medicine Major Sect controlling the lifeline of medicinal materials in the Mortal Realm. Seeing his insistence on refusing, Xu Ling¡¯er reluctantly took the pills back and bowed before departing. Jiang Tang continued on his way, following his Divine Sense. Along the journey, he drove off several first-order guardian Demonic Beasts and obtained many fine Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass. He selected some of the best to put in his Storage Ring and tossed the rest into the Spirit Field Space¡ªthe abundant Spiritual Energy of the space would be enough to transform these second-grade items. However, his walking speed was always somewhat slow. Jiang Tang decided that, once back at the sect, he would go to the Scripture Pavilion and choose a good Secret Manual of movement techniques¡ªnot only to boost his speed but also to have a means of escape when necessary. While he was pondering this, suddenly a hubbub came from up ahead. Hm? Voices of people? Jiang Tang parted the bushes and looked forward, spotting a large group of people sitting cross-legged in front of a cave dwelling. The cave dwelling was a low-grade one, but with spiritual light flashing brightly, it was evidently about to open¡ªall these things Jiang Tang had read about in ancient texts. The crowd consisted of disciples from various sects and noble clans, with a few Loose Cultivators, though they were pitifully few. The ancient texts said that a cave dwelling was the essence of a Secret Realm¡ªthe Spirit Plants and Spiritual Treasures generated inside were much better than those outside by more than just a notch. Looking around, Jiang Tang saw that most of these disciples were at the Foundation Establishment stage. With his current physique, it seemed he could withstand their attacks. This was evident from the broken Longsword of that nuisance Su Chenyi¡ªhis Golden Body Spell was definitely effective. Should he take the opportunity to fish in troubled waters, focusing on finding Spirit Plants and Spiritual Medicine while they fought over the treasures? Jiang Tang was somewhat tempted. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure. Su Chenyi?! He¡¯s actually here too?! Jiang Tang narrowed his eyes. As long as he doesn¡¯t provoke him, he wouldn¡¯t retaliate. Well-water does not interfere with river-water. With this thought in mind, Jiang Tang sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate. Not until nightfall did the cave dwelling burst into radiance, and the disciples waiting outside all opened their eyes. ¡°Disciples of Holy Medical Valley, follow me inside!¡± ¡°Disciples of Blade Sect, follow me inside!¡± ¡°Disciples of Yulin Academy, follow me inside!¡± ¡°Disciples of Sun and Moon Sect, follow me inside!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, all the major Sects and Noble Clans announced their presence, leading a group of disciples into the cave dwelling in search of secret treasures and opportunities. Jiang Tang opened his eyes, looked around in all directions, and, noticing no one else, quickly walked into the cave dwelling. Little did he know that after he had left, another group appeared. The one in the lead was dressed in a deep purple robe, with a crescent moon jade pendant between his eyebrows and a purple round moon jade pendant on his waist¡ªso graceful and handsome, he looked like a prince descended from the heavens, if not Su Chang¡¯an himself? ¡°Young Master, the other Sects have all entered, do you wish to find another cave dwelling?¡± asked a black-clad Shadow Guard with a bow to Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s side. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The medicinal herbs I need are here. As for the rest, if people do not bother me, I will not bother them,¡± Su Chang¡¯an coughed lightly, his lips parting faintly. ¡°Yes.¡± After Su Chang¡¯an and his group of Shadow Guards entered, that area became completely tranquil. The outside of the cave dwelling seemed petite and exquisite, but inside it was a completely different world. As Jiang Tang stepped in, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the wonders of this world once more. It was practically a mini-world. At that moment, Chong Li yawned leisurely and opened his eyes. ¡°Daddy, Brother Eryao is about to leave his retreat. You can take it out and seek fortune together with daddy,¡± Chong Li rubbed against Jiang Tang¡¯s cheek. Jiang Tang nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after it leaves its retreat.¡± Now, he had to find the Spirit Grass first. Those disciples who had entered earlier were now nowhere to be seen¡ªJiang Tang had to be extremely careful, for a careless move might bring fatal disaster upon himself. He released his weak Divine Sense to feel all around him and, sensing a patch of Spirit Grass not far away, he hurriedly walked toward it. Sometimes when you fear trouble, trouble tends to find you anyway. Jiang Tang had scarcely taken a few steps when a surprised and questioning voice came from behind him¡ª ¡°Is it you?¡± That familiar voice¡­ Jiang Tang stopped and turned back to look, and indeed it was Su Chenyi. This time, he had actually brought several people along with him. Probably these were the helpers he had mentioned. ¡°Big Brother, is this the little brat who humiliated you just now?¡± a tall and burly disciple of the Sword Sect Su Clan raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s him. Brothers, take him down for me, and you¡¯ll all be rewarded handsomely afterward!¡± Su Chenyi sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble Big Brother to help us get into the Outer Sect later! Brothers, attack!¡± Upon hearing this, the burly disciple¡¯s eyes lit up, and the look he gave Jiang Tang grew more murderous. Chapter 37 - 37 37 Ill Take Advantage of the Confusion 2 ?37: Chapter 37 I¡¯ll Take Advantage of the Confusion (2) 37: Chapter 37 I¡¯ll Take Advantage of the Confusion (2) Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± This is just my rotten luck. ¡°Father, fear not. They are only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, with your own strength, you can totally crush the opponent using the Golden Body Spell. Li will clear the way for you, Father, then you take the opportunity to counterattack.¡± After transmitting his voice secretly, Chong Li flapped its wings, soared into the air, let out a long cry, and dove down. It squinted its eyes, and a fierce aura immediately rushed forward¡ªthe group felt the threat from Chong Li and were distracted against their will. Seeing this, Jiang Tang took out the iron shovel he had previously used to strike Su Chenyi from his Qiankun Bag, activated the Immortal Sect Spell, and rapidly moved towards the group. Don¡¯t be fooled by Jiang Tang¡¯s thin and weak appearance, his strength was terrifyingly mighty. With one shovel strike, he sent the people in front sprawling in all directions, their heads spinning as they lost their sense of direction. Damn it, how is this brat so strong! The others looked at the grimacing little bird above and then at the calm-looking Jiang Tang holding the iron shovel. They couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of their mouths. A shovel and a little bird, what a bizarre combination. At that moment, one person suddenly formed a hand-seal, and a glow of spiritual light emerged in his hand. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The spiritual light followed the movement of the owner¡¯s wrist and swiftly lunged at Jiang Tang. ¡°Father, be careful!¡± Chong Li was startled and immediately sent a low shout through secret transmission. Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes changed, and he swung the shovel to strike at the spiritual light. The spiritual light passed straight through the shovel and hit Jiang Tang¡¯s chest firmly. Jiang Tang staggered back several steps, dropped the shattered shovel, and steadied himself. He felt a bit numb. ¡°Use spirit arts, he doesn¡¯t know any spirit arts! Let¡¯s hit him with spirit arts!¡± One person observed for a while, suddenly realized that all of Jiang Tang¡¯s skills were physical combat without spirit arts, and his eyes brightened as he urgently yelled. Seeing this, the rest immediately exhibited their diverse talents like ¡®eight immortals crossing the sea¡¯¡ªall sorts of diverse spiritual powers danced in the air, speeding towards Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Like watching fireworks, it seems. ¡°Father, activate the Golden Body Spell and withstand it with all your strength. Then use talismans to counterattack.¡± As Chong Li dove from the void, it continued to harass those individuals while transmitting its voice secretly. It wasn¡¯t that it didn¡¯t want to help Jiang Tang¡ªwith its strength, it could annihilate these ants in an instant. But its father couldn¡¯t. Right now, Jiang Tang had only reached the seventh level of Body Refinement and had just set foot on the path of cultivation¡ªa path long and distant. So far, the adversaries he had encountered were merely his peers. In the future, as Father becomes stronger and travels further on the path of cultivation, he will face even stronger opponents. Li could protect Father once or twice, but it couldn¡¯t ensure to be by his side every moment. Father needed to become strong on his own, to steadily walk to the end of the Mortal Cultivation path¡ªascend to become an Immortal, step into the Upper Realm, and seek deeper opportunities. Similarly, Jiang Tang knew he couldn¡¯t always rely on his little ones¡¯ protection to survive all the way to the pinnacle of the cultivation world. One day he would meet stronger opponents¡ªhe could only survive and protect his little ones if he grew up on his own. But for now, if he can hunker down, he will hunker down. Jiang Tang no longer got distracted, immediately activated the Golden Body Spell, and used all his strength to resist the various spiritual power techniques flying at him like fireworks. He thought he would be beaten black and blue; in the end, aside from feeling a bit limp and numb, it seems¡­ That¡¯s all he felt. Jiang Tang slowly opened his eyes and raised his hand to summon a longsword. Showboating lasts only three seconds; the weight of the longsword almost caused him to lose his grip. Damn! Why is this sword just as heavy as the first time I picked it up. Seeing Jiang Tang couldn¡¯t even hold a sword steady, Su Chenyi scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s this, can¡¯t even hold his weapon steady, how can he battle? Come on, everyone, let¡¯s kill him!¡± ¡°Father, switch to another weapon and use your spiritual power from within to attack them from a distance!¡± Chong Li held up the person charging most fiercely and continued to communicate through secret transmission. Jiang Tang nodded, hurriedly put away his longsword, and used his divine sense to quickly select a longbow that looked quite handy, and held it in his hands. It was indeed more manageable this time. However, he then remembered something. He didn¡¯t know how to shoot a bow. Well, it¡¯s worth a shot as a last resort! Jiang Tang leaped onto a huge rock and, imitating characters he had seen in movies before, drew the bow and nocked the arrow, then used his divine sense to stimulate his spiritual power. With clear meridians, that spiritual power surged swiftly, gathering at the tips of Jiang Tang¡¯s fingers. A strange sensation surfaced in his heart, and he saw the spiritual power turn into a long arrow, resting steadily on his hand. It worked! Jiang Tang¡¯s heart leaped with joy, and he shot one arrow followed by another. The arrows left the bow, charging toward those disciples rapidly and fiercely. ¡°Didn¡¯t he know nothing about spirit arts? What the hell are you blabbering about!¡± The leading disciple finally freed himself from Chong Li¡¯s clutches, only to raise his head and be met by an incoming arrow. His heart skipped a beat; while cursing angrily, he hurriedly leaped to the side. Consequently, the disciple behind him tragically became cannon fodder, struck by an arrow in the chest, dying on the spot. ¡°Third brother!¡± Another person witnessed the fallen disciple and could not help but shout. Glaring at Jiang Tang with veins popping from his eyes, he exclaimed, ¡°You little bastard, go to hell!¡± It was Jiang Tang¡¯s first time taking a life, and his heart thumped uncontrollably. At that moment, as he faced the fierce and sinister murderous intent from those people, he finally realized something. In this world, the strong rule, and the defeated are outlaws¡ªonly those who survive have the right to discuss morality with others. The legal system of his old world simply didn¡¯t apply here. This was a time of survival of the fittest, where the losers perished. Cold determination began to solidify in Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes. It was also at this time that his mentality finally underwent a slight change. ¡°I don¡¯t bully others, but I will never allow you to bully me to your whim.¡± With another leap to a higher rock, Jiang Tang sneered, drew his bow, and fired three arrows simultaneously. With the sound of whooshing thrice, the long arrows left the bow and swiftly struck the hearts of three disciples. That included the one who had earlier been clamoring to kill him. Jiang Tang, without any hesitation, continued to shoot several long arrows in quick succession¡ªthe arrows seemed to have eyes, and once they left the bow, they would firmly strike the hearts of those charging at him. In fact, this was utilizing divine sense to control spiritual power. Spiritual power turned into arrows; Jiang Tang only needed to control them slightly at the moment the arrows left the bow to achieve perfect accuracy with no misses. Soon, most of the disciples lay slain, leaving only Su Chenyi, who watched in bewilderment. Su Chenyi, looking up at Jiang Tang from below, felt something was off. This kid seemed to have suddenly become enlightened¡ªchanging in an instant from someone who was honest and easy to bully into someone with the commanding presence of a superior being. Decisive in killing, without any hesitation. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Su Chenyi secretly gathered his spiritual power while fixating on Jiang Tang, who had just leaped down. ¡°I¡¯m just an insignificant servant disciple.¡± Jiang Tang slowly nocked an arrow on the bow in his hand, his spiritual power slowly condensing into a fletched arrow, he looked at Su Chenyi, his expression calm, ¡°In your next life, remember not to hate so thoughtlessly.¡± Chapter 38 - 38 38 Ill Take Advantage of the Confusion 3 ?38: Chapter 38 I¡¯ll Take Advantage of the Confusion (3) 38: Chapter 38 I¡¯ll Take Advantage of the Confusion (3) Having said that, he gave Su Chenyi no chance to escape and let loose an arrow that ended that scoundrel¡¯s life. ¡°Daddy is mighty, Daddy is domineering!¡± Chong Li, who had been shocked into a daze by Jiang Tang¡¯s fluent and decisive action, had just come to his senses and hurriedly stretched his mouth into a cheer. His daddy had finally seen the light! That¡¯s how it should be¡ªbeing honest is fine, but you can¡¯t be so honest that you let others bully you. Jiang Tang shivered. He looked at the corpses strewn on the ground, then at the longbow in his hands, dazed for a moment before he hurriedly threw it to the ground. Damn, succumbing to the killing spree was like being high on drugs, completely losing all reason. ¡°There¡¯s a disturbance over there, could it be that a spiritual treasure has appeared?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, let¡¯s go have a look and we¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°Be careful though, I smell a strong scent of blood.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, a burst of voices came from not too far away. Jiang Tang was startled and, without a second thought, picked up Chong Li and quickly ran deeper inside. After Jiang Tang had left, a group of disciples from other sects came from a cave nearby, and upon seeing the corpses, they were all astonished. What a horrific slaughter must have just taken place here. ¡°Eh, look at that fellow, doesn¡¯t he look like a disciple of the Sword Sect Su Clan?¡± One of them pointed to the robes of a corpse and whispered. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a disciple of the Sword Sect Su Clan. Forget it, the spiritual treasure must have been taken. Let us go and find another opportunity. Let¡¯s go, this place has bad energy,¡± said the leading disciple with a frown, disdainfully waving his sleeve. The others nodded and walked together further inside. The direction they headed was precisely where Jiang Tang had gone. At that moment, Jiang Tang was standing atop a cliff, staring blankly at a mysterious light ahead. That light seemed somewhat like the glow emitted by a Spirit Grass on the verge of maturity. Wait, Spirit Grass? Jiang Tang suddenly scented an unusual Qi. He glanced back and saw a gigantic bat, black as ink, hanging upside down from the sharp rock on the ceiling of the cave. It had sensed Jiang Tang¡¯s Qi, and at the moment he turned his head, it startlingly opened its blood-red eyes. ¡°What a huge bat demon!¡± At that moment, an exclamation came from below. Jiang Tang glanced downward to see a group of disciples dressed differently entering the area, all following the direction of the voice and looking up in unison. Of course, they also saw Jiang Tang standing on the cliff, seemingly cornered by the bat with no way out. ¡°Kill that bat, and let¡¯s divide its flesh and Demon Core.¡± Ignoring Jiang Tang, a mere Body Refinement practitioner, the leader among the disciples was the first to bring out a weapon, leaping towards the bat. Seeing this, the other disciples also summoned their weapons and joined the fray. The bat, startled by the various Spirit Arts, flapped its Bone Wings and swooped down. All they saw was dust billowing, boulders shaking, and mud raining down. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± This chaotic battle was going splendidly! He could take advantage of the chaos to fish in murky waters and quietly pick that Spirit Grass. He had previously used his Divine Sense to probe inside, and there was another passage that seemed to lead even deeper into the cave dwelling. Having made up his mind, Jiang Tang took a swift glance at the ground swallowed by dust, swiftly concealed his Qi, and holding Chong Li tightly, headed further inside. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the mysterious light became increasingly brilliant. ¡°Li, could you set up a barrier for me to prevent outsiders from noticing?¡± Jiang Tang was worried someone would detect something unusual, so he transmitted his voice to ask. Chong Li nodded, and a flash of light briefly twinkled in his eyes. An invisible barrier appeared behind Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang carefully examined the mysterious light, and as it dimmed a little, revealing the form of the Spirit Plant, he was finally able to identify what sort of plant it was. It was a medium-grade Nourishing Soul Grass. What a treasure this is. If he planted it carefully in his space, it was a sure bet that he¡¯d grow top-notch Nourishing Soul Grass of the highest quality in the future¡ªNourishing Soul Grass was one of the species highly sought after by Spiritual Cultivators, even if its quality was low. Without any hesitation, as soon as the Nourishing Soul Grass matured, Jiang Tang took out a small shovel, dug up the entire plant along with the soil, and planted it in the Spirit Field Space. Then he put away the shovel, stood up, and continued walking forward. The spiritual energy inside was dense, sticky to the point of resembling a thick fog. At that moment, Jiang Tang heard the sound of water under his feet. ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t go any further. There is a large lake ahead,¡± Chong Li warned Jiang Tang after releasing his Divine Sense to perceive their surroundings. Jiang Tang nodded, stepped back a few paces, and, driven by curiosity, reached out to touch the dense spiritual energy in front of him. At that moment, the Immeasurable Ancient Jade emitted a gleam of light, which rapidly became brighter and more blinding. The pervasive spiritual energy before him visibly condensed and compressed into a whirlwind at a speed visible to the naked eye, then transformed into a droplet and merged into the Immeasurable Ancient Jade. Looking bewildered in his fluttering robes, Jiang Tang: ¡°?? What¡¯s going on?¡± He hadn¡¯t yet made sense of the operation the Immeasurable Ancient Jade had just performed. ¡°Daddy, the ancient jade is a product of The Upper Realm. Although it possesses countless Spirit Fields, the spiritual energy inside is not inexhaustible,¡± Chong Li spoke slowly. The legacy it had received told it that the Immeasurable Ancient Jade would also absorb external spiritual energy of its own accord, firstly to aid its master¡¯s cultivation, and secondly to maintain the abundance of spiritual energy within to ensure that all Spirit Plants that grow there can become great. Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang did not inquire further. He looked around and suddenly saw a flat boat drifting over from afar. There was no wind in the surrounding area, yet the boat seemed to sail on the breeze, looking extremely eerie. The flat boat stopped in front of Jiang Tang. A dark shadow swiftly appeared on the boat, slowly coalescing into an old man with white hair, wearing a bamboo hat. ¡°Young man, would you like this old man to give you a ride?¡± The old man smiled, lifting his hand to conjure a bamboo pole. ¡°Daddy, he is the spirit of the cave and means no harm,¡± Chong Li once again communicated to Jiang Tang through voice transmission. Jiang Tang hesitated for an instant, then nodded, bowing respectfully, ¡°Thank you, senior.¡± So he stepped onto the flat boat. The old man paddled with the bamboo pole, and the boat slowly drifted further inside. ¡°Senior, at the end of this journey, what place shall we reach?¡± Jiang Tang sat cross-legged, looking into the deep, seemingly endless cave ahead, suddenly feeling a curious sensation. ¡°Young man, the heart¡¯s direction is the place to return to,¡± the old man stroked his beard, his face benign as he looked into the distance. The heart¡¯s direction¡­ Jiang Tang subconsciously thought of the home he remembered. His parents back home, and his naive little sister. They must be very sad now. Sighing softly, Jiang Tang lowered his eyes. ¡°Daddy, Li and Eryao have always been by your side,¡± Chong Li, feeling his emotions, rubbed against his neck. Jiang Tang smiled. Yes, he still had a long life ahead of him. Since he had come, he might as well settle in. There was no harm in embarking on a journey and making a name for himself. After all, he was someone determined to make a fortune. Thinking of the wealthy days to come, Jiang Tang looked up with a renewed spark in his eyes. ¡°Young man, we have arrived,¡± the old man announced after an indeterminate amount of time, as a light suddenly appeared ahead of them. At that moment, the old man brought the boat to a precise halt before the light and gave a slight smile. Chapter 39 - 39 39 Mass Burial Mound Subduing the Qianji Fire 1 ?39: Chapter 39: Mass Burial Mound, Subduing the Qianji Fire (1) 39: Chapter 39: Mass Burial Mound, Subduing the Qianji Fire (1) ¡°Thank you, senior.¡± Jiang Tang bowed deeply to thank the old man and turned to look at the white light. A mysterious force of attraction swept over his Sea of Consciousness. Unconsciously, he began to step forward and walk inside. Chong Li yawned again, closed his eyes, and transformed into a streak of light that vanished into the Spirit Field Space. It had been forcing itself to stay awake, and now it truly had to cultivate and inherit. Upon entering the space, he happened to see Eryao slowly opening his eyes. Eryao¡¯s stature had grown somewhat, with a pair of dragon horns also emerging on his forehead. The golden pupils belonging to the Dragon Clan began to faintly take shape. Catching sight of Chong Li¡¯s entrance, he couldn¡¯t help but grin, ¡°Li, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°Brother Eryao, let Dad face the trials alone from now on. This is the opportunity the cave dwelling has given Dad, and the Demonic Beasts he encounters will not exceed the realm that Dad can handle,¡± Chong Li said, overtaken by drowsiness, flew over to Eryao¡¯s nest, and slowly closed its eyes. Eryao looked toward the Void and then stood up, grabbing the iron staff to help loosen the soil in the Spirit Field. Dad, you have to keep going. Beyond the white light lay the Mass Burial Mound. Scattered all over were the corpses of humans and animals, many of which had decayed. The standalone graves with grass growing over their tombstones had clearly been there for a long time. The sky was overcast, with occasional hoarse caws from old crows. Jiang Tang always felt an eerie chill and wanted to brandish his longbow for protection. He rummaged through his Qiankun Bag for quite some time but could not find it. Only then did Jiang Tang remember that he had dropped it earlier and hadn¡¯t picked it up. Curving his lips awkwardly, Jiang Tang looked at the pile of weapons that he was still not proficient with, silently took out a Talisman, and released his Divine Sense to perceive in all directions. At that moment, a lone grave in front of him began to shake violently. Jiang Tang quietly tightened his grip on the Talisman he held. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It couldn¡¯t be that thing, could it? Suddenly, the blue stone on the grave cracked open, and a rotting zombie burst out of the coffin, straightening its arms and lurching toward Jiang Tang with a snarling grin. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± It really was whatever comes to mind. He threw a Spirit Fire Talisman, chanting an incantation to ignite it out of thin air. When the zombie reached the side of the Spirit Fire Talisman, the Talisman burst into flames, completely engulfing the creature¡¯s body. In but a moment, the zombie was reduced to a pile of ash. Thank goodness it was just one zombie. Jiang Tang continued forward, oblivious to the fact that several graves behind him were shaking, causing the nearby corpses to convulse as well. A series of deep groans floated from behind, giving Jiang Tang goosebumps all over. He slowly turned around only to be faced with a pair of pupil-less eyes. The zombie was almost touching him, with maggots from its sunken cheeks nearly crawling onto Jiang Tang¡¯s face. An overpowering stench assaulted his nostrils, and Jiang Tang snapped back to reality, hastily taking a big step backward. This step revealed a horde of zombies following close behind him. ¡°¡­¡± If he had known it would be this thrilling, he wouldn¡¯t have come. But then again, fortune favors the bold. Jiang Tang forced himself to remain calm, tossed the Talisman in his hand forward, and activated them all at once. An array of Spirit Arts burst forth, blasting the crowd of large zombies into pieces that flew in all directions. Seeing this, Jiang Tang quickly invoked the Golden Body Spell and ran forward. ¡°Dad, be careful behind you!¡± At that moment, in the Spirit Field Space, Eryao, who appeared to be cultivating the land but actually had been paying close attention to Jiang Tang¡¯s every move, sensed an evil presence following closely behind Jiang Tang and urgently sent a telepathic alert. Jiang Tang¡¯s heart jolted with alarm. The rear? What the hell is that? At that moment, an even more sinister and cold evil Qi caught up to them. ¡°Ying¡ª¡± The sharp, infantile cry wafted from behind, sending chills down Jiang Tang¡¯s spine. He didn¡¯t even need to think to know it was a ghost baby. That kind of thing that feeds on human souls. ¡°Daddy, use the Spiritual Artifact to lure the Xuanming Spiritual Fire to attack the ghost baby! Exotic Flames are the nemesis of evil beings!¡± Eryao continued to communicate telepathically. Spiritual Artifact? He couldn¡¯t even lift it up, kiddo! Sensing the oddness of the creature, Jiang Tang ran with even more effort¡ªdon¡¯t assume that just because the ghost baby was only first-tier, it was easy to handle. In reality, fighting it was more terrifying than a second-tier Demonic Beast. According to ancient texts, ghost babies had a secret technique that could distract their opponents and seize control of their Divine Sense, striking unexpectedly and leaving their opponents clueless about their own deaths. Eryao: ¡°¡­¡± Daddy is so dumb. ¡°Daddy, pour your Divine Sense into the Spiritual Artifact so that they merge into one. By doing so, Daddy will be able to hold the Spiritual Artifact steady.¡± Eryao, touching his forehead, communicated telepathically with Jiang Tang. Hastily, Jiang Tang summoned a longbow and poured his Divine Sense into it, immediately feeling as light and nimble as a swallow. Indeed, it was as so. ¡°Kiddo, I¡¯ll make you candy when we get back.¡± Without hesitation, Jiang Tang turned around, the bowstring taut as he released three arrows together, aiming at the ghost baby flying through the air. Atop the arrowheads burned the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, drawn forth by Jiang Tang¡¯s Divine Sense. The ghost baby hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Tang to suddenly counterattack. When the arrows flew straight at it, the ghost baby tried to stop mid-air¡ªalas, the arrows were too swift, and though it wished to dodge, it was already too late. With a soft ¡®puchi¡¯, the three arrows, with the silent aid of Jiang Tang¡¯s Divine Sense, pierced steadily into the ghost baby¡¯s seven orifices. After screaming miserably, the ghost baby was engulfed by the flames and burned into ashes on the spot. When the ashes hit the ground, they strangely transformed into a round stone. Jiang Tang gripped the longbow and walked forward, picking up the stone to find it unusually cold yet devoid of evil Qi. ¡°Daddy, that is a Heavenly Essence Stone from this world, beneficial for your cultivation. You can rest assured and take it,¡± Eryao said, eyeing the stone and addressing Jiang Tang¡¯s doubts. In fact, these kinds of things were comparatively rare in this era. However, in the Dragon Clan¡¯s Secret Realm, Heavenly Essence Stones were everywhere, and the dragons consumed them as if they were food. It turned out to be loot drop. Jiang Tang nodded in realization. He placed the stone into his Qiankun Bag and continued walking forward. Having grasped the knack for holding the Spiritual Artifact firmly, Jiang Tang walked, pondering left and right, deciding to use the longbow as his proper weapon for now. In the future, once he acquired a good Secret Manual, he would go and cultivate swordsmanship. The reason was simple; after witnessing Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s nonchalant Swordsmanship that day, Jiang Tang shamelessly admitted to himself that he envied it. Those Sword Cultivators looked so cool and powerful wielding their Swordsmanship. Jiang Tang reigned in his thoughts and extended his Divine Sense as he proceeded forward. Within the Mass Burial Mound, zombies and ghosts continuously sprang forth, only to be cut down by Jiang Tang¡¯s longbow. It was also at this time that Jiang Tang belatedly realized that the Xuanming Spiritual Fire could not only be used for refining medicine but was also effective in combat and attack. If utilized in combat on the fighting stage, it might even serve as a life-saving trump card. After exterminating a group of zombies, Jiang Tang had already found over a dozen Heavenly Essence Stones¡ªvarying in size and purity. Selecting a good one, Jiang Tang sat down cross-legged and began to absorb the Heavenly Essence Stone into his being, following the methods described by Eryao, and entered into meditation for cultivation. Chapter 40 - 40 40 Mass Burial Mound Subduing the Qianji Fire 2 ?40: Chapter 40 Mass Burial Mound, Subduing the Qianji Fire (2) 40: Chapter 40 Mass Burial Mound, Subduing the Qianji Fire (2) The Heavenly Essence Stone is equivalent to those enhancement pills, only that the spiritual energy contained within is much richer; one Heavenly Essence Stone is equivalent to four or five pills. Before entering meditation, Eryao couldn¡¯t help but speak out in advice, ¡°One step at a time. Daddy, Eryao thinks that one should not take shortcuts, as establishing a strong foundation is the true path to strength.¡± If one advances too rapidly in the early stages, causing the foundation to be unstable, it could limit one¡¯s innate talent. And when Daddy reaches the advanced stages later on, it would be extremely difficult to make any progress. Daddy has, with great difficulty, undergone Body Refinement again, if he were to regress to his pre-liberation state, wouldn¡¯t all this valuable time for cultivation be wasted for naught? ¡°Hmm, I will compress my cultivation,¡± said Eryao, which was a true enlightenment for Jiang Tang. Initially planning to be lazy and quickly advance his cultivation, he quickly abandoned his joy upon realizing the consequences of taking shortcuts. Indeed, it would be a loss not worth the gain. Having made up his mind, Jiang Tang placed a talisman on each side and then began to meditate. This session of cultivation lasted three days and nights. When Jiang Tang opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of foul air, he had already absorbed all of the Heavenly Essence Stone. However, his cultivation had not advanced too rapidly, barely entering the Intermediate Realm of the seventh layer of Body Refinement. But if he were to fight against Su Chenyi and the others again, he could defeat them at a much faster speed. After roughly estimating, Jiang Tang felt that he could now withstand several full-strength blows from Spiritual Cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. After entering the Spirit Field Space, he noticed that Eryao and Niu had already turned over the entire Spirit Field, applied fertilizer, broken up the soil, and sown a batch of new seeds. Jiang Tang touched his nose and walked to the storeroom to collect a batch of talismans that Eryao had put in the Qiankun Bag. These talismans were his life-saving trump cards that he could bring to the table; he definitely needed to keep a good supply. The more, the better. As for the Exotic Flame¡­ After some thought, Jiang Tang decided to bring it out only in the face of life-threatening danger. Speaking of the Exotic Flame, Jiang Tang realized that after regaining consciousness, the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, which had been quiet in his Dantian, suddenly showed signs of agitation. Some excitement, and some¡­ fear? Feeling the Qi of the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, Jiang Tang frowned slightly. Only a peer, and a higher-order one at that, could instill fear in a flame like this. Could it be that there was another Exotic Flame in this Mass Burial Mound? After stuffing all the candies he had crafted into Eryao¡¯s hands, Jiang Tang promptly left the space. Eryao silently put away the candies and continued to farm with Niu, harvesting Spirit Plants. These candies, all for sister Li. As his Divine Sense withdrew from the Immeasurable Ancient Jade, Jiang Tang quickly opened his eyes and extended his Divine Sense to sense the surroundings. Just as he expected, in the southeast, he sensed a trace of Exotic Flame¡ªactually, it was not him sensing it, but the Xuanming Spiritual Fire that trembled excitedly. This is probably, the resonance between Exotic Flames. Picking up the talismans around him, Jiang Tang activated the Golden Body Spell and swiftly ran towards the location from where the Exotic Flame¡¯s Qi was emanating. Half an hour later, Jiang Tang stopped in front of a small hill piled up with bones. A cold and gloomy Qi dispersed from the small hill, and the bone skulls with their empty eye sockets stared straight at him, causing Jiang Tang to break out in goosebumps. Too freakin¡¯ intense. At that moment, Jiang Tang felt a burning sensation in his Dantian. The Xuanming Spiritual Fire was undergoing a change! He quickly flipped his wrist and summoned the Xuanming Spiritual Fire. The small flame seedling emerged within the palm and, after a series of movements, the dark red blaze actually grew slightly larger. Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes widened. What¡¯s happening here? ¡°Master, Xuanming has reached the initial stage of formation; thank you for your additional nurturing,¡± a childlike voice suddenly rang out in Jiang Tang¡¯s mind. It turned out that exotic flames were divided into five stages of growth: seedling, initial, intermediate, mature, and Great Perfection. The seedling stage was the nascent state, with consciousness yet to awaken. Upon reaching the initial stage, divine sense is enlightened, enabling spiritual sense communication with the contractor; after reaching maturity, it can transform into a human form. When the Great Perfection stage is reached, the exotic flame become sentient, possessing an independent consciousness, no longer controlled by its master¡ªunless it voluntarily follows, most contractors cannot control a Great Perfection exotic flame. However, in today¡¯s world, aside from the first-ranked deity fire of the Jia Xiang rank, there seemed to be no other flames that had achieved Great Perfection. Having understood, Jiang Tang looked up at the pile of bones. The bone pile trembled slightly and then suddenly exploded into a cloud of black mist. The black mist slowly condensed into a pale black flame that hovered in mid-air, floating up and down in front of Jiang Tang. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Senior Qianji, I am Xuanming,¡± Xuanming bowed slightly to the pale black flame. ¡°It is because of me that you have reached the initial stage and awakened your spiritual intelligence?¡± The pale black flame slowly parted its lips, emitting a deep voice. ¡°Yes, yes, thank you, Senior Qianji,¡± Xuanming quickly nodded. It turned out that this flame was called Qianji Fire, ranked eighteenth within Ding Xiang, and was already at the intermediate realm. It was also because of his divine sense that it had influenced the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, causing the seedling to enlighten and advance to the initial stage of development. ¡°The Xuanming Spiritual Fire lineage, once ranked among the Jia Xiang ranks in ancient times, has now declined to the point where descendants rely on Exotic Flame Grass to be born. The world is indeed cold and harsh,¡± Qianji let out a slow sigh. ¡°Aren¡¯t exotic flames supposed to be one of a kind for each lineage?¡± Jiang Tang frowned. ¡°Not so. In this world, not all things are unique; exotic flames can naturally produce offspring, with one generating two, two giving birth to three, and three producing countless others. There are innate exotic flames born from natural forces, as well as those like the Xuanming flame in your hand that are cultivated and born later. However, since the decline of spiritual energy, most exotic flames have ascended to The Upper Realm. Those left behind are seedlings born of later times,¡± Qianji sighed again. It was the last remaining innate exotic flame of the Qianji lineage. Because the spiritual energy had waned, it had hidden itself in this Mass Burial Mound to hibernate, waiting only for the revival of spiritual energy before returning to the world. ¡°Spiritual energy has been revived, Senior Qianji,¡± Xuanming quietly said. ¡°Already¡­ revived?¡± Qianji was stunned for a moment, and the pale black flame seemed to brighten slightly. Xuanming repeated, ¡°It¡¯s already revived, Senior.¡± ¡°Good, very good,¡± Qianji murmured in appreciation before scrutinizing Jiang Tang. ¡°Marvelous. Your heart is pure, without a single speck of darkness for me to glimpse. In this world, there is still one with a crystal-clear conscience,¡± Qianji expressed in surprise, and then proposed, ¡°Youngster, would you form a bond with me, protect you for life and elevate you to the highest heights?¡± Although it was now ranked eighteenth in Ding Xiang, it too had once been a top-tier flame among the ranks of Jia Xiang. If it were not for the falling of its seniors, it would not have been relegated to the lower tiers by the Heavenly Book. Just like the Xuanming. Jiang Tang, feeling Xuanming Spiritual Fire¡¯s eager mood, agreed without hesitation. He wondered if pills refined with Qianji Fire would have even better effects than those refined with Xuanming Spiritual Fire. Qianji Fire slowly condensed into a cluster of black flames, merging into Jiang Tang¡¯s forehead. An array suddenly appeared at Jiang Tang¡¯s feet. Chapter 41 - 41 41 Five Elements Sword Art An Introduction to the Fire Art ?41: Chapter 41: Five Elements Sword Art, An Introduction to the Fire Art 41: Chapter 41: Five Elements Sword Art, An Introduction to the Fire Art The array activates, the contract is formed. Having absorbed the two exotic flames into his Dantian, Jiang Tang looked around at the dimly lit Mass Burial Mound with a hint of bewilderment. How to get out of here¡­ ¡°Master, Qianji knows of a direct path leading out of the cave dwelling. Please heed Qianji¡¯s words,¡± Qianji, hearing Jiang Tang¡¯s inner voice, slowly opened her lips and meticulously described the way out. Jiang Tang listened to the left and right turns until he was completely confused, nearly seeing stars in front of his eyes. Fortunately, he had enhanced his aptitude during his previous cultivation, and with some effort he managed to remember the directions well enough. Following the route guided by Qianji, Jiang Tang arrived at a stinking sewage pond. There were many corpses floating in it, and one could even see the clearly visible corpse grease. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Do I really have to go down there? Could he refuse? Forget it, just hurry and go. Endure it, just endure¡­ After taking a Water-Avoidance Pill, Jiang Tang sealed off his sense of smell, closed his eyes, and leaped into the sewage pond. The pond seemed small, but it was actually bottomless. The moment Jiang Tang sank, an icy coldness hit him in the face¡ªa powerful vortex pulled at his body, nearly tearing him to pieces. Enduring intense pain, he activated the Golden Body Spell and felt the tearing force lessen slightly. Only then did Jiang Tang open his eyes and look around. There was a light ahead; perhaps that was the exit Qianji mentioned. He hurriedly swam toward it. The moment he got close to the light, Jiang Tang was suddenly driven by a suction force, and was thrown out of the water. Jiang Tang landed on the grass with a splash. He quickly cast a cleansing spell and changed into a new set of clothes before feeling somewhat better. Looking around, Jiang Tang¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched. He had made it outside the cave dwelling, but not completely¡ª he had ended up right at the entrance of the dwelling. Not far from him, a group of people with looks of astonishment were watching the gentleman who had just emerged from the cesspool. How did this person come out of the cesspit? Turning to see the cesspit, Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Qianji, this time he had truly lost face. ¡°¡­¡± Qianji coughed silently, and like Xuanming, started to feign cultivation. Would it admit that it had forgotten the original route because of its age? No, of course not. ¡°Excuse me for disturbing everyone¡¯s cultivation. I will take my leave now,¡± Jiang Tang said with a forced smile, bowed, and before the group could react, he hurriedly ran off. A social death scene, oh my. ¡°Master, there is a Wooden Pavilion within the dense forest ahead. The Pavilion may contain the opportunity you seek,¡± Qianji suddenly said at that moment. Jiang Tang sighed, ¡°Qianji, ah.¡± Because of the Soul Contract, he could hear Qianji¡¯s inner voice. So, huh. Qianji: ¡°¡­Master, this time Qianji will not remember it wrong.¡± Trust it one more time. Jiang Tang walked to the dense forest. As expected, after moving aside some thick bushes, Jiang Tang saw a dilapidated Wooden Pavilion. Could there really be an opportunity here? With a belly full of doubt, Jiang Tang pushed the rotten wooden door, which responded by¡­ Falling over. The dust raised choked him, and he couldn¡¯t help but cough incessantly. By the time the dust had settled, Jiang Tang opened his eyes to take a look around. He was blocked by a huge spider web. Jiang Tang sacrificed a talisman, burning away the spider webs, while at the same time using hand seals to activate a cleaning spell and walked further in. Thereafter, he saw on the moss-covered wooden table, a pile of ancient books were neatly placed. He leaned down for a closer look and inwardly exclaimed in awe. All these piled up were Cultivation Skill Manuals. He flipped through a few and found many were comparable to the secret manuals of Major Sects, including martial arts. Martial arts! Jiang Tang had only the life-saving Golden Body Spell and was indeed lacking in martial arts. He quickly began searching and soon took a liking to a martial arts manual called the Five Elements Sword Art. This martial art was classified as a mid-tier yellow-grade, suitable for both defense and offense. Since he wanted to learn swordsmanship, it would be perfect to start with this. Jiang Tang pulled out a Jade Token, activated the spell to engrave the Five Elements Sword Art into it, and then returned it to its original place. He turned his attention to other secret manuals, and quickly set his eyes on one called Wind-racing Step, a manual on movement techniques. This manual was also of mid-tier yellow-grade and could enhance speed once cultivated. Wasn¡¯t this precisely where he fell short? Jiang Tang hurriedly took out another Jade Token, engraved the manual into it and placed it into his Qiankun Bag. This spell, he devised himself after studying ancient books, but it was a pity that there had been no opportunity to use it. Today was the perfect day to apply it. After placing the books back properly, Jiang Tang couldn¡¯t wait to leave, finding a quiet place to settle down. He also plucked some Spirit Grass and then sat cross-legged in meditation to start cultivating the Five Elements Sword Art and Wind-racing Step. With these two techniques, his ability to preserve his life had increased by two. To avoid conflict and not stir trouble, to survive discreetly till the end, that was the supreme path. In a blink of an eye, three days flashed by. As dawn broke, the chorus of cicadas in the woods resounded, and the young gentleman wet with morning dew slowly opened his eyes. Five Elements Sword Art, Fire Art, beginners level! Wind-racing Step, beginners level! Jiang Tang suddenly stood up, summoned a Longsword, channeled Spiritual Power into it, and fiercely swung forward, stirring up the Xuanming Spiritual Fire. A bright trail of firelight slashed through the early morning, blooming into a spectacular flower in the Void before dissipating. It worked! His self-created skill was a success! Jiang Tang was exhilarated. This sword move shall be named Burning Lotus. Jiang Tang then activated the Wind-racing Step. No sooner had the spell been cast than he had already moved twenty steps away in the blink of an eye. Wow! ¡°If I could also fly, wouldn¡¯t this be like taking off?¡± Jiang Tang marveled in a split second. Wait, he seemed to have forgotten something. Damn, he hadn¡¯t collected the Spirit Field! Jiang Tang laid down talismans in all directions and hurried into the Spirit Field Space. Glancing at the fields all planted with crops, Jiang Tang paused for a moment, then saw the young dragon charging towards him. ¡°Daddy!¡± Eryao clung onto Jiang Tang¡¯s arm, eyes filled with excitement, ¡°Daddy, Eryao has collected lots of Spirit Grass for you, now you can refine many Pills.¡± Jiang Tang grinned, patting Eryao¡¯s head, ¡°Eryao is good. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Where¡¯s your sister Li?¡± ¡°Sister Li is still in closed-door cultivation,¡± Eryao touched its own dragon horns, somewhat helplessly. The traditions of the Vermilion Bird clan were very ancient, and no one knew when Sister Li would be able to come out of cultivation. ¡°I will refine some candy for you. Don¡¯t plant any more Spirit Plants when they mature, just concentrate on your cultivation,¡± Jiang Tang stepped forward and within a few moments arrived in front of the storage area. He picked up a few full Qiankun Bags and again patted Eryao¡¯s head. The Spirit Field was already lacking in fertilizer; he needed to make some himself and irrigate the field with it. There wasn¡¯t much Spirit Water left either, he would have to search for more in this Secret Realm. Eryao obediently nodded, watching Jiang Tang leave with a tinge of relief in its eyes. Daddy had finally started learning martial arts. That was wonderful. Chapter 42 - 42 42 Robbery ?42: Chapter 42: Robbery? Take That! (1) 42: Chapter 42: Robbery? Take That! (1) I do not know how long I had spent in the Secret Realm, but when my container of merit was full, a Golden Light directly transported me out. Transported with me were countless disciples, each returning from their adventures. Among them, I quickly spotted Su Chang¡¯an, standing out as a scene on his own. ¡°Lord Qianchen!¡± I hurried forward to bow, my face wearing the smile of reunion with an old friend. ¡°Jiang, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well,¡± Su Chang¡¯an paused briefly, then returned the smile warmly. ¡°Lord Qianchen, has your health improved at all lately?¡± I asked. ¡°As it has always been, just so,¡± Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s gaze lingered for a moment, his expression becoming gentle again. Indeed¡­ as it has always been. This time, he had gained nothing. Could it be that he truly¡­ A trace of unwillingness flashed in Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s eyes. ¡°No matter. Once my studies are complete, I will definitely concoct a Pill that can cure all illnesses in the world for Lord Qianchen!¡± I declared with confidence. Unable to repay the life-saving debt, the only thing I could offer was my Alchemy. Tianlao had taught me the way of Medicine, assuring me that as long as I worked diligently, making a Nine Revolutions Elixir was not an issue. Even if I faced the calamity of Pill Tribulation, as long as I maintained a firm Daoist heart, there would be no risk of death or Dao extinction. At most, I would endure a Thunderstrike or two, taking it as a chance to fortify my spirit. Although, all these were still far away for me. A Pill that can cure all the illnesses in the world¡­ If it could truly heal his affliction, then a Nine Revolutions Elixir would be necessary. Isn¡¯t that what he¡¯s been searching for all this time, the herbs to concoct that very Elixir? Yet years of searching had yielded nothing. It seems as if, after the resurgence of Spiritual Energy, those peerless herbs that once grew abundantly had also gone into slumber. Su Chang¡¯an lowered his eyelashes, hiding the disappointment and despondence in his eyes. ¡°Thank you for your kind intentions, Jiang,¡± Su Chang¡¯an exhaled a breath, ¡°I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must be on my way.¡± Having said that, he left with a group of Shadow Guards. ¡°That kid, thinking he can concoct a Pill that cures all diseases?¡± Not far away, a disciple from another Sect saw Su Chang¡¯an leave and suppressed the sourness in his heart, mocking me mercilessly. ¡°Yes, and he even thinks to cling to the Young Master of the Su Family. Do you really think you are worthy?¡± ¡°The Sect Master of Holy Medical Valley, that renowned entity, doesn¡¯t dare to claim that he can concoct a Pill that can cure all diseases. And here you are, a greenhorn, bragging without any hesitation.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang: ¡°¡­¡± I was numb. I turned my head and left, not noticing the flickering eyes of a group of people watching in secret. Seeing that the second Sect mission was complete, I prepared to continue to the next task. But before that, I needed to sort out the Spirit Field properly. It had been a long time since I had tended it; it had always been Dragon Cub helping me out, which made me feel somewhat embarrassed. I had gone ten miles when suddenly I sensed something amiss. As the sunset in the west, the sand dunes were bathed in the endless beauty of the slanting sun. I turned sharply, facing a group of people who wore faint smiles. ¡°This young master, you seem to have a very kind face,¡± said the leader, grinning to reveal a mouthful of big yellow teeth. ¡°Ah, you flatter me.¡± Jiang Tang was about to turn his head when the leader spoke again¡ª ¡°My brother is lacking a medicinal herb, and it takes some gold and silver to treat the illness. Kind-looking young master, why not share some spiritual medicine and money with us?¡± The man arched his eyebrows. ¡°¡­Thank you for the compliment. If you want spiritual medicine and money, can¡¯t you earn it yourselves?¡± Jiang Tang¡¯s mouth twitched. His spiritual medicines were all painstakingly dug up and cultivated by himself, and his gold and silver came from selling those spiritual medicines. They had hands and feet, they weren¡¯t disabled, so why worry about not being able to earn money to buy medicine? ¡°How dare you speak to my brother like that?¡± One of the lackeys, seeing the look on Jiang Tang¡¯s face, immediately scolded harshly. ¡°Do you know who our brother is?¡± ¡°My brother, Cang Hansheng, is the third-ranked disciple in the Inner Sect of the Canglang Sect! If you dare to speak disrespectfully, be careful my brother might chop you down with a single blow!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡±. He hadn¡¯t spoken disrespectfully at all. Besides, according to the information he had hastily gathered, the Canglang Sect was just a minor, unimportant sect in the Northern Region, wasn¡¯t it? If the sect wasn¡¯t up to par, the disciples they raised¡­ Well, not only were the people not up to par, but it seemed their moral character wasn¡¯t either. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Boy, do you mean to say you¡¯re unwilling to be a good person and share your money and medicinal materials with me?¡± Cang Hansheng waved his hand, immediately silencing the insults from his lackeys, and looked up at Jiang Tang with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m advising you to be kind,¡± said Jiang Tang, unflinchingly. ¡°Good, that¡¯s the spirit!¡± Cang Hansheng laughed heartily, and then his eyes turned fierce, and with a wave of his hand, he commanded, ¡°Rob him!¡± It turned out that Cang Hansheng had been leading his lackeys in looting and robbery. Whenever they encountered someone with low cultivation and who seemed easy to bully, they would immediately go upfront to rob them, and then, without caring for those people¡¯s begging on the ground, they would kill them to silence them. Over the years, there were no less than a hundred and eighty people who had died under the knife of Cang Hansheng, if not dozens. As for this, the Kanglang Sect merely turned a blind eye. They were now so busy with their own troubles, facing the risk of being wiped out at any moment by major sects looking to expand their power, that they had no time to oversee the disciples outside. Moreover, Cang Hansheng always brought some of the loot to pay his respects to the sect, which they could then use to curry favor with the major sects around them. The Sect Master of the Canglang Sect was too happy to receive such tributes, why would he stop him? So, formally speaking, both the Canglang Sect and Cang Hansheng were of the same stripe. Following Cang Hansheng¡¯s command, the lackeys at the forefront immediately activated their spiritual power and surged forward. ¡°I told you to be kind, but you insisted on coming at me. Since it¡¯s like this, don¡¯t blame me for not showing mercy.¡± Jiang Tang sneered, drew a longbow, leaped into the air, swiftly drew the bowstring, and then released three arrows simultaneously. The three lackeys at the forefront hadn¡¯t even touched the soles of Jiang Tang¡¯s feet when they were shot dead beneath him. The two behind them, seeing what happened, quickly scattered and each brandished a magic artifact to encircle him from both sides. Jiang Tang landed, calmly activated his Wind-racing Step, and in an instant, he was a dozen steps away. He put away the longbow and brought out a longsword with his other hand. Good, this was an opportunity to test out his newly mastered swordsmanship. Jiang Tang activated the Immortal Sect Spell, wielding his longsword and started to fight against the two lackeys. But Jiang Tang¡¯s opponents, despite being at the seventh level of Body Refinement just like him, couldn¡¯t cause him pain. He didn¡¯t even feel a twinge when they hit him. But when Jiang Tang struck out, the two lackeys screamed in agony. At one moment, Jiang Tang slashed with his sword, the tip of the blade gathering flames, and sent the two lackeys straight to the afterlife. Jiang Tang slowly turned his gaze towards the group of Canglang Sect disciples nearby, who had been staring in shock. The Canglang Sect disciples trembled with fear: ¡°¡­¡± This time, they may have bitten off more than they could chew. ¡°Attack, everyone together, kill him, and avenge our brothers!¡± After swallowing hard, Cang Hansheng¡¯s eyes gleamed with a murderous intent. Chapter 43 - 43 43 Robbery ?43: Chapter 43: Robbery? Take That! (2) 43: Chapter 43: Robbery? Take That! (2) Though he said that, he was the one crouched at the very back. Watching all the underlings wield their weapons and charge towards Jiang Tang, Cang Hansheng¡¯s eyes revealed a fierce smile. I just don¡¯t believe you won¡¯t die! Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Heaven has a path you didn¡¯t take; hell has no gate yet you barged in¡ªthis saying must be about you guys, all scared to death but still rushing forward recklessly. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And that one who spoke, Cang Hansheng, what about charging at me yourself? Hiding like a coward in the back. I¡¯m speechless. While his complaints flashed through his mind, Jiang Tang lifted his longsword and charged into the crowd, propelling himself with Wind-racing Step. At the same time, he invoked the fire technique from the Five Elements Sword Art. So, what everyone saw was a man running fast as the wind, trailed by a long flame. He freely dueled among them, coming and going as he pleased. It was like a ridiculous mix of the ridiculous and its mother¡ªtoo damn absurd. Dammit! All these disciples were full of youthful vigor, and seeing themselves being ground down by someone of the same generation, of the same cultivation level, they couldn¡¯t stand it and stared furiously at the trail of fire. Wherever the fire appeared, that¡¯s where they¡¯d fiercely attack. But Jiang Tang was too slippery and fast, resulting in their spirit arts hitting their own companions. ¡°Damn it, you hit me!¡± ¡°Hit him, why are you hitting me!¡± ¡°To hell with this, you hit me again!¡± ¡°Wow, are you blind? He¡¯s over there, and you¡¯re throwing your spirit art at me!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The cries of pain burst forth, followed by the sound of cursing like fishwives. Cang Hansheng: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know them. Too damn embarrassing. Ten-odd people attacking one and still not winning was one thing, but it had turned into infighting. It really was giving absurdity a wide-open door¡ª Absurdity had come home! Standing not far away, Jiang Tang calmly watched the group of disciples beating each other up. Then, quite unkindly, he added a thrust. For instance, to the butterfly bone, or the abdomen, or perhaps¡­ Three inches below the abdomen, an extremely important little brother. When all the disciples lay on the ground, several clutching their groins and weeping, Cang Hansheng was already stupefied. ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s your turn now,¡± Jiang Tang said as he propelled himself forward with Wind-racing Step to someone¡¯s front, holding the longsword and raising an eyebrow. ¡°You¡­ you, despicable and shameless!¡± Regaining his senses and looking at the suddenly appearing Jiang Tang before him, Cang Hansheng pointed at his nose, his face red and stuttering with anger. ¡°Despicable and shameless? One fights a dozen, so who is despicable and who is shameless?¡± Jiang Tang grinned without humor. At this moment, several disciples struggled to get up, attempting to sneak in a stab. Without even looking back, Jiang Tang thrust his sword behind him, instantly serving a few disciples their last meals. Cang Hansheng¡¯s expression turned as sour as could be. Damn it, I really hit a snag this time. ¡°You brat, die!¡± he roared, summoning a large knife and staring down Jiang Tang. It was still uncertain whose prey will fall. Jiang Tang¡¯s gaze turned cold as he lifted his longsword to meet the challenge head-on. Sword and knife collided, sparking a flash like lightning! Cang Hansheng abruptly retreated, his gaze dark and piercing as he stared at the person before him. He had already reached the Foundation Establishment First Layer, he refused to believe that he couldn¡¯t kill this mere Body Refinement Seventh Layer brat! With a loud shout, Cang Hansheng raised his long knife, suddenly gathering spiritual power. A light emerged at the tip of the knife, transforming into a fierce and robust lion, which roared loudly. Following the movements of its master, it charged toward Jiang Tang. ¡°Perfect timing! Burning Lotus!¡± Jiang Tang leaped into the air, retreating more than a dozen steps. He thrust his sword forward. In the void, Xuanming Spiritual Fire instantly converged into form. Gravel from all sides stirred violently, and the friction could be clearly heard. A fiery blaze formed with the rising sword qi, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a brilliantly dazzling lotus. ¡°Go!¡± Jiang Tang shouted again, striking with another sword thrust. The lotus instantly flew out, colliding with the lion. This was a clash of blade qi against sword qi! The lion was locked in a stalemate with the fiery lotus in mid-air for the duration of ten breaths before it vanished along with Cang Hansheng¡¯s suddenly pale face. The lotus charged forward, hitting Cang Hansheng¡¯s long knife directly and igniting it fiercely. Cang Hansheng hastily threw away his long knife, staring at the dark red flames, his gaze trembling fiercely. ¡°Is this¡­ Exotic Flame?!¡± Cang Hansheng looked at the man approaching him step by step, screaming hysterically, ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible! How could Exotic Flame be used in combat?! It¡¯s clearly only for refining pills!¡± ¡°Who says it¡¯s impossible? It¡¯s just that you always stick to the old ways, never breaking through to explore new realms.¡± Jiang Tang pointed his sword at Cang Hansheng, his gaze indifferent, ¡°Hand over your wealth, and I will only cripple your cultivation, sparing you a path to live.¡± Cang Hansheng: ¡°??¡± That line was supposed to be his. Damn it, he had been outplayed by this kid today. With a resigned smile, Cang Hansheng painfully took out his entire fortune, handing it all over to Jiang Tang. As Jiang Tang turned to leave, Cang Hansheng secretly pulled out a dagger and viciously stabbed forward. ¡°Brat, give me your life!¡± Cang Hansheng sneered, but his face suddenly stiffened. He slowly looked down to see a long sword directly impaled in his abdomen. This¡­ Jiang Tang slowly let go and turned to look at Cang Hansheng with a cold smile, ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t give up so easily.¡± Little did he know, Jiang Tang was already breaking out in cold sweat on his back. He had been careless. Had it not been for the Dragon Cub keeping a close watch on his every move and noticing Cang Hansheng¡¯s sinister expression, he might have been done for by now. Well done. After pushing Cang Hansheng to the ground and staring into his unyielding dead eyes, Jiang Tang activated the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, burning him to ashes. Out of sight, out of mind. He collected all the Qiankun Bags of the group of disciples into his arms, then casually left. What was this called? This was turning someone¡¯s own methods against them. Somewhere in a hidden mountain forest, an extraordinary Sect stood alone. Inside one of the halls, a wall was adorned with thousands of crystal beads. Suddenly, more than a dozen crystal beads burst at the same time, startling the white-haired elder meditating in the central area. ¡°Hm?¡± The elder slowly opened his eyes and caught sight of the shattered beads, his expression instantly changing. He stretched out his withered hand and began calculating with his fingers. When he realized that Cang Hansheng and his group had been killed by a mere Body Refinement Seventh Layer youth, the elder was enraged. ¡°Absurd! Absurd!¡± This elder was indeed the Protection Elder of the Canglang Sect, tasked with guarding the Soul Pavilion¡ªeach crystal bead here contained a sliver of a Sect disciple¡¯s soul. The bursting of a bead signified the fall of that disciple. He hadn¡¯t wanted to bother with the affairs of the Outer Sect disciples, especially since the Sect was already inundated with troubles. Chapter 44 - 44 44 A Thousand-Mile Pursuit Eryao Enters the Battle! ?44: Chapter 44: A Thousand-Mile Pursuit, Eryao Enters the Battle! 44: Chapter 44: A Thousand-Mile Pursuit, Eryao Enters the Battle! However, this Cang Hansheng, the treasures he¡¯s now offering are one of the main sources of income for the Canglang Sect. Moreover, that damn kid not only killed so many of their disciples, but he also ran off with all of those disciples¡¯ possessions. Those items¡­ were enough to secure the support of a third-rate sect. The Protection Elder¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, and with a step, he suddenly left the Canglang Sect. This time, he decided to take matters into his own hands and kill Jiang Tang. And, incidentally, to take back those things that rightfully belonged to their Canglang Sect. One day, just as Jiang Tang had finished tilling the Spirit Field and hadn¡¯t yet managed to move the items out, Eryao¡¯s expression suddenly changed drastically, ¡°Father, be careful!¡± Jiang Tang felt something amiss and quickly retracted his Divine Sense, looking up to meet a white-haired old man in a black cloak, his eyes full of sinister coldness. ¡°Uh, elder, who are you looking for?¡± Jiang Tang stood up, touched his nose, and gave a sheepish smile. That old man looked terrifying. ¡°Father, you must be careful, he¡¯s giving you a dangerous look,¡± Eryao warned in the space, staring at the old man¡¯s icy eyes. Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang¡¯s heart sank. This old man bore ill intent. ¡°Is it you who killed the disciples of my Canglang Sect?¡± the old man slowly narrowed his eyes. He came for revenge?! Jiang Tang was startled. This old man already had reached the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment, and with her current strength, fighting head-on would only lead to death. If I can¡¯t fight, then can¡¯t I still hide? Jiang Tang concocted a plan and suddenly acted terrified, pointing behind the old man, ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± The old man instinctively looked back, but when he turned around again, Jiang Tang was nowhere to be seen. Cloaked old man: ¡°??!¡± Are you polite? ¡°You think you can escape my trap, you little brat?¡± the old man narrowed his eyes and sneered, ¡°Where do you think you can run to?¡± He stepped out unhurriedly, his figure instantly disappearing from the spot. Jiang Tang sensed the old man¡¯s Qi and felt a chill in his heart. Damn, he¡¯s so fast? He took out a handful of Talismans, activated them, and threw them behind him, then mustered all his strength to activate his Wind-racing Step and fled forward. The old man, caught off guard by the Talismans smacking him in the face, paused for a moment, and by that time, Jiang Tang had already gained considerable distance. ¡°You little scoundrel, don¡¯t think you can escape the palm of my hand!¡± the old man, furious, mobilized all his Spiritual Power to chase after him, catching up with Jiang Tang in no time. Seeing Jiang Tang within reach, the old man did not hesitate any longer and sent a backhanded palm strike his way. Jiang Tang¡¯s figure was sent flying forward, and when he landed, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Damn your ancestors! ¡°Keep running, you little scoundrel,¡± the old man, with a palm on Jiang Tang¡¯s chest and panting slightly, sneered. Damn, the chase nearly broke my old bones. Jiang Tang looked at the foot that was trampling and humiliating his chest with unrestrained rage in his eyes. In no era had he ever been bullied like this. A gentleman may be killed but not humiliated, I¡¯ll fight to the death! Jiang Tang promptly activated his Qianji Fire, suddenly setting the old man¡¯s ankle ablaze. The old man screamed in pain, quickly retracted his foot, and attempted to extinguish the flames with hand signs. That flame was strangely unyielding, resisting all his attempts to extinguish it. Out of desperation, the old man grimly resolved himself, took out a large knife, and directly cut off the half of his leg that was engulfed in flames. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, that¡¯s hardcore! Even more ruthless than the most ruthless! The old man sacrificed a talisman and used a spirit art to temporarily create a leg, bearing the severe pain as he lifted his head to look towards Jiang Tang, his eyes filled with the ultimate killing intent. ¡°You little bastard, die!¡± He swung his palm backward in a strike. Jiang Tang wasn¡¯t stupid enough to just stand there and take the hit. As the palm strike came, Jiang Tang immediately activated the Wind-racing Step to move behind the old man and, turning around, he slashed with his longsword. The old man must have cultivated some strange cultivation technique. When Jiang Tang¡¯s sword came down, not even the old man¡¯s clothes suffered the slightest damage, but rather, Jiang Tang¡¯s longsword produced a crisp cracking sound, and then¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It split gloriously. Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± My precious baby!! Jiang Tang threw away the longsword, gritting his teeth, and from the Qiankun Bag he summoned another top-quality yellow-tier longsword to strike at the old man again. The old man had already turned around. When Jiang Tang¡¯s slash came, he cackled with laughter and reached out to directly catch the sword in his hand. Jiang Tang: ¡°??!¡± What the hell? Catching a blade with bare hands?! That¡¯s just too damn outrageous. He quickly withdrew his hand and retreated. The old man didn¡¯t wait for Jiang Tang to get away, and swung another palm out. This palm struck squarely on Jiang Tang¡¯s shoulder, sending him flying three feet backward and once again crashing to the ground in an awkward heap. The old man, holding the longsword, walked step by step towards Jiang Tang and thrust the blade into his collarbone. Jiang Tang grimaced in agony, and in a fit of rage and desperation, he vomited another mouthful of blood. ¡°Hand over the Canglang Sect¡¯s treasure, and I will leave you a whole corpse,¡± the old man said slowly, his expression chilling to the extreme. Jiang Tang¡¯s lips were tightly pressed together, and he remained silent. They had attempted to rob him first, so why shouldn¡¯t he fight back? In this era, it was survival of the fittest! Any tolerance was met only with further humiliation. ¡°Daddy, daddy, let Eryao out! Hurry up, daddy!¡± Seeing Jiang Tang in this state, Eryao didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and immediately contacted Jiang Tang through a mental message. It had thought that Jiang Tang could outrun the man, but in the end, it was still too careless. Daddy¡¯s current strength simply couldn¡¯t beat this old geezer. Jiang Tang¡¯s consciousness was already blurring. With the last of his divine sense, he summoned Eryao, then his eyes rolled back as he completely passed out. The old man was about to finish off Jiang Tang, but at this critical moment, a beam of spirit light suddenly emerged from Jiang Tang¡¯s jade pendant. Caught off guard, the old man was knocked back staggeringly by the spirit light, nearly falling to the ground. Barely steadying himself, the old man immediately focused his gaze. He saw a dumpling-like spirit beast with a pair of small, delicate antlers on its head, causing the corner of the old man¡¯s mouth to twitch. Where did this spirit beast cub come from? ¡°Get lost!¡± The old man couldn¡¯t bother to kill it and, wielding a large knife, he strode directly towards Jiang Tang. Eryao glared at the old man who was steadily approaching, and then with a sudden forceful step, an array appeared beneath it. At that moment, the sky rolled with dark clouds, gathering with the speed of lightning right above Eryao. ¡°Boom!¡± A bolt of heavenly thunder struck down suddenly, heading straight for the old man. The old man, already alarmed by the changes in the clouds, saw the thunderbolt coming and lifted his long knife to block it. Eryao took the opportunity to pounce, biting hard onto the old man¡¯s shoulder. The old man, in pain, flung Eryao off and dispelled the heavenly thunder. ¡°Damned beast, I¡¯ll slaughter you!¡± The old man¡¯s eyes were brimming with rage, and he swung his blade, intent on killing Eryao. Eryao fluttered its bone wings and flew into the air, with a flash of gold in its eyes. ¡°Ao¡ª¡ª¡± A naive and extended howl echoed throughout the skies, causing the old man to halt his movement involuntarily. Chapter 45 - 45 45 Trials Liusha Sea Area 1 ?45: Chapter 45 Trials, Liusha Sea Area (1) 45: Chapter 45 Trials, Liusha Sea Area (1) After its dragon roar subsided, the lightning in the sky intensified even more. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡ª¡ª¡± Three bolts of Heavenly Thunder struck down in unison, flying straight toward the elder. ¡°This is¡­ the pure force of thunder!¡± The elder was greatly shocked and turned pale, no longer concerned about Jiang Tang, he quickly activated his mana and ran to the side, attempting to throw off the Heavenly Thunder. Seeing this, Eryao sneered, and a glow exploded from its dragon horns, instantly absorbing the strength of the thunderbolts. It manipulated the thunder to chase the elder, just as the elder had pursued Jiang Tang earlier, causing the elder to sweat profusely and look tensely tight-lipped¡ªyet he dared not stop for even half a step. Finally, a bolt of Heavenly Thunder caught up to the elder after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. ¡°Boom!¡± The thunder roared explosively, suddenly bursting on the elder¡¯s back. ¡°Ah!¡± The elder screamed miserably, falling to the ground instantly. He spat out a mouthful of blood violently, his face deathly pale as he stared at the two following bolts of Heavenly Thunder. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Be extinguished!¡± He brought out a long knife, exerting all his strength to fend them off. ¡°Insects daring to resist the overwhelming Heavenly Thunder!¡± Eryao sneered coldly, once again stimulating its mana. If Jiang Tang were conscious at this moment, he would surely see that Eryao¡¯s eyes, previously a shallow gold, had now turned the color of the sun itself, golden. When those golden eyes reached their peak, the golden light slowly condensed into scorching lava, floating out from Eryao¡¯s eye sockets, encircling it, yet never harming Eryao in the slightest. ¡°Boom, boom, boom!¡± The Heavenly Dao rumbled all at once, smashing down with full force upon the elder. Another scream of utter agony tore through the sky. The elder¡¯s legs were blasted into ash, and the meridians throughout his body were shattered by the thunder¡ªhis bones were ground into dust, leaving only a shell desperately clinging to life. The elder lay on the ground in an extremely grotesque pose, looking terribly frightening. Eryao spread its Bone Wings, flew before the elder, and looked down with cold, golden eyes, as if a furious king was staring with a gaze full of oppressive might¡ªthe elder was so terrified by this look that he lost control of his bowels. After spitting out another mouthful of blood, the elder shakily opened his lips, ¡°Who¡­ who in the heavens are you?¡± ¡°I am a descendant of the Ancient Snow Dragon, despicable vermin, those who bully my master, shall be mercilessly slain by me,¡± Eryao exhaled a breath of Dragon Breath through its nostrils, which instantly turned into flames, entwining the elder¡¯s body. Within but a moment, the elder was completely incinerated. Before his death, the fear and panic in his eyes did not dissipate. Fearful of Eryao¡¯s terrifying power, panicking for the future of the Canglang Sect. The elder seemed to be a Protection Elder, uninvolved in the affairs of the Sect, but in truth, he was the mainstay of the Sect¡ªif he died, relying solely on that double-faced, weak-willed Sect Leader, who could uphold such an extensive Sect? Although the Canglang Sect was a minor Sect, it was the elder who had built it up from scratch¡ªregarding the Sect as his own child, he nurtured it carefully. Even as the Sect declined, he remained steadfast. But after today, he feared he would no longer be able to see his Sect grow strong again. With such a Sect Leader, the Canglang Sect¡¯s demise was just a matter of time. As the heavens and earth unfolded, Eryao flew back to Jiang Tang¡¯s side. Seeing Jiang Tang covered in blood, it felt a pang of heartache, yet in its eyes there was also a look of contentment. It had foreseen Jiang Tang¡¯s past¡ªhe was the stereotypical honest and naive individual who suffered bullying and yet chose to suffer in silence. But now, Jiang Tang had grown much tougher compared to when he had first arrived, although he was still quite dogged. But this was already quite good. ¡°Daddy, you must become even stronger in the future, not allowing anyone to bully you at will.¡± After casting a spell to heal Jiang Tang¡¯s wounds, Eryao let out a sigh, then wobbled and collapsed to the ground. Its form shrank, and astoundingly, it reverted back to the appearance of a newborn cub. When Jiang Tang woke up and saw Eryao¡¯s state, he was utterly bewildered. ¡°Eryao, how come you¡¯ve turned back again?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Daddy. Yaoyao is just exhausted and can¡¯t maintain the body after evolution. Once Yaoyao¡¯s spiritual power returns, I can naturally revert to my current appearance,¡± Eryao explained, then rolled its eyes and fainted. Jiang Tang was startled and immediately realized that it must have been his own Dragon Cub that had lent a hand in killing that terrible old man, leading to its exhaustion. He felt so ashamed, always having a group of cubs helping himself. Jiang Tang touched his nose, feeling moved, yet also somewhat inferior. He was frustrated by how low his cultivation was. He took Eryao into the Spirit Field Space, leaving some Spirit Grass that could quickly restore spiritual power by its side, and then departed. Next, he had to rush to complete the following task. The sooner he completed the task, the sooner he could return to the sect¡ªthe more time he would have for cultivation. He must pass next year¡¯s Outer Sect assessment! Jiang Tang stood up hurriedly, packed his things, and with a determined look, he activated Wind-racing Step and headed west. This place was a desert area known as the Liusha Sea Area, which was under the jurisdiction of Immortal Sect as a training ground¡ªthe Liusha Sea Area was vast, to paraphrase Jiang Tang, even dozens of Saharas may not compare to this Liusha Sea Area. This showed the vastness of the Northern Region. Upon seeing his fellow sect disciples, Jiang Tang felt a surge of kinship¡ªas if meeting a fellow countryman, he was eager to chat. The two disciples guarding this place were from the Inner Sect. After seeing Jiang Tang¡¯s token, they smiled distantly yet amicably, also advising him of some precautions. Once Jiang Tang had left, one of the Immortal Sect disciples couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°Since when can a Servant Disciple come here for training?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him just now? His name is Jiang Tang,¡± another disciple remarked as he watched Jiang Tang¡¯s departing figure, his gaze growing deeper. ¡°Jiang Tang? Could it be¡ªthat,¡± ¡°Yes. The one who ranked first in the farming competition, opened a Holy Pavilion, and concocted pills to save people among the Servant Disciples, the famous Jiang Tang,¡± the disciple nodded. The other disciple sucked in a breath of cold air. According to reliable information, Jiang Tang had been personally summoned by the Acting Sect Leader, Elder Liuyue, who personally assigned him the task of training abroad and also promised him a spot among the Outer Sect Disciples in the future. So it was him. ¡°He could have taken shortcuts; why participate in the assessment? Among so many disciples, it is extremely rare for even one in ten to have his kind of aptitude¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate him. A little brother of mine among the Servant Disciples told me that three years ago, he was only at the first level of Body Refinement¡ªhe¡¯s made rapid progress to the seventh level of Body Refinement now. What do you think, with his aptitude, can¡¯t he qualify for the Outer Sect?¡± the disciple raised an eyebrow. The other disciple sucked in another cold breath. Chapter 46 - 46 46 Trials Liusha Sea Area 2 ?46: Chapter 46 Trials, Liusha Sea Area (2) 46: Chapter 46 Trials, Liusha Sea Area (2) Based solely on talent, this guy is certainly qualified to be admitted into the Outer Sect. ¡°Although the Liusha Sea Area is under the jurisdiction of our Immortal Sect, most of the disciples who go in for training and can survive to come out belong to Aristocratic Clan Sects. I just hope that Jiang Tang can make it out alive,¡± the disciple sighed, a look of concern emerging in his eyes. Another disciple also showed a look of concern. If he could survive and come out, there would definitely be a place for Jiang Tang among the Outer Sect disciples. However, the Jiang Tang being talked about behind the scenes had no time to pay attention to these matters. Because he was currently troubled by this mission. ¡°Find the oasis soil in the Liusha Sea Area, select the most fertile land rich in spiritual energy, and bring back ten stones to the sect for cultivation.¡± Although the Liusha Sea Area is full of sand, finding an oasis with the aid of his wood spiritual power wasn¡¯t difficult. However¡­ to distinguish the best soil, he had to examine each area individually, and considering the vastness of the Liusha Sea Area, he wondered how much time it would take. Jiang Tang felt a bit of a headache. But thinking of Elder Liuyue¡¯s eyes, filled with great expectations, he sighed and silently urged his wood spiritual power, activating the Wind-racing Step as he sprinted towards the nearest oasis. During this time, Jiang Tang suddenly realized that his Wind-racing Step had advanced a level. It had progressed from the Entry Realm to the Intermediate Realm! Jiang Tang stopped, took a Rejuvenation Pill, mustered all his strength, and used the Wind-racing Step to rush towards the oasis ahead. With this effort, he went from taking twenty steps in a single breath to fifty. Wow, this speed was unmatched! Although to those top experts who could traverse realms in the blink of an eye, this speed might be as slow as a snail, Jiang Tang was content. It was still much better than his ordinary human constitution when he first arrived. If that old man came after him again, Jiang Tang, by exerting all his strength and throwing a few talismans, might just manage to escape by a narrow margin. Thinking of talismans, Jiang Tang abruptly stopped, scattered poison powder around him, then sat cross-legged in meditation, channeling his divine sense into the Spirit Field Space to take a look. The Spirit Field where the talismans were planted had fully matured, and this time there were even several second-grade talismans. Wow! Jiang Tang was elated as he collected the talismans and, noticing that the first mu of Spirit Grass had been sown with seedlings by Eryao, he gave a thumbs up in that direction. ¡°Father, there is demonic energy approaching from all sides; be careful, Father,¡± Eryao set down the hoe and suddenly spoke. Demonic energy? Jiang Tang was stunned and quickly exited the space, only to discover that at some unknown time, more than a dozen large scorpions had surrounded him, poised to attack with their stingers raised. Next to those scorpions, several Clan Descendants looked utterly terrified. ¡°Senior Brother, isn¡¯t it too unkind of you to lead them right to this gentleman?¡± A red-clothed girl who arrived a bit late glared in fury at the leading young master when she saw Jiang Tang surrounded by scorpions. ¡°He has poison powder with him; the scorpions won¡¯t get to him. Don¡¯t worry, Junior Sister,¡± the leading young master waved his hand carelessly with a laugh, then lifted his chin and looked down on Jiang Tang contemptuously, ¡°Brat, scatter more of your poison powder, and the scorpions won¡¯t attack you.¡± Jiang Tang: ¡°¡­¡± Goodness, using him like a tool, are they? It¡¯s clear that those scorpions actually like the poison powder; didn¡¯t you see how they¡¯re gobbling it down? They want to sacrifice him to the heavens and then take advantage of the situation to kill the scorpions while they are preoccupied with the poison powder, it seems. Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow and suddenly slapped his palm against the ground. Upon this palm strike, a red flame burst forth, instantly burning the scorpions to ashes. The group stared, dumbfounded, especially the leader among them. Especially when they saw the flame released by Jiang Tang¡¯s hand, he blurted out in disbelief, ¡°Is that an exotic flame?!¡± ¡°Exotic flame?!¡± ¡°Yes, an exotic flame, so what?¡± Jiang Tang got up and looked over indifferently. ¡°Aren¡¯t exotic flames only used for refining pills?¡± someone couldn¡¯t help but mutter. ¡°Who said that? You¡¯ve never used it to fight people or demons,¡± Jiang Tang laughed, turning to leave. ¡°Hey, kid, what¡¯s your name?¡± The leader with the changed face suddenly asked with a smile. ¡°I am Jiang Tang,¡± Jiang Tang turned his head. ¡°I am Huang Chen. It was rude of me just now; I hope Jiang doesn¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Huang Chen bowed with cupped hands, grinning, ¡°May I ask where Jiang is headed?¡± ¡°To the oasis up ahead.¡± Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. What was he scheming? He wouldn¡¯t be thinking of using him as a tool again, right? As it happened, that was exactly what Huang Chen intended. ¡°What a coincidence, I and several junior brothers and sisters are also headed to the oasis up ahead to make some adjustments. Would Jiang be willing to travel with us?¡± The smile on Huang Chen¡¯s face grew even more radiant. Only the young girl noticed the fleeting strangeness in Huang Chen¡¯s eyes. She shook her head subtly at Jiang Tang, signifying that he should not agree to Huang Chen¡¯s proposal. Of course, Jiang Tang wouldn¡¯t be foolish. He promptly refused and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, a longsword suddenly tore through the air, aggressively blocking Jiang Tang¡¯s way. Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes turned cold as he quickly turned around to meet the mocking gaze of a man. ¡°What are you pretending for? Our senior brother invites you to join us, that is a sign of respect. Hurry up and come with us,¡± the man said arrogantly, as if he was bestowing a favor upon Jiang Tang. Remaining calm, Jiang Tang brandished his longsword and swung it fiercely to the side. In an instant, a sword mark accompanied by the flames of the Xuanming Spiritual Fire took shape. The blistering flames turned the man¡¯s face pale as he instinctively shrank back towards Huang Chen. ¡°Thank you very much,¡± Jiang Tang said with a slight smile, before activating his Wind-racing Step to swiftly exit the scene. Huang Chen¡¯s expression darkened, cooling down gradually. Jiang Tang, your Exotic Flame will be mine. At this moment, Jiang Tang was completely unaware that showing his Exotic Flame had put him in Huang Chen¡¯s crosshairs. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the oasis to get some proper rest,¡± Huang Chen said nonchalantly, concealing his emotions and heading in the direction Jiang Tang had left. ¡°Senior brother, weren¡¯t we going to hunt Demonic Beasts?¡± The girl in red frowned immediately. ¡°No rush, let¡¯s rest for a moment first.¡± The girl in red frowned again. Why had their master appointed this man as their senior brother, to lead them on this experience? With such character, what virtues and abilities did he have to shoulder this responsibility? After running for about an hour, Jiang Tang finally saw the tall green trees ahead. Finally there! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Tang came to a halt, catching his breath before taking out a gourd and drinking deeply from it. Of course, he hadn¡¯t forgotten the purpose of his journey. Putting away the gourd, Jiang Tang began to search for fertile soil. After a short while, he stopped beside a pond. The quality of the soil here was more than a notch better than before. This would do. Jiang Tang formed a hand seal, activating a spell he had learned from an ancient text, and packed ten stones¡¯ worth of soil into the Qiankun Bag before stowing it in the Storage Ring. Just as he finished, a carefree voice suddenly came through ¡ª ¡°Hey, we meet again, Jiang.¡± Chapter 47 - 47 47 Trials Liusha Sea Area 3 ?47: Chapter 47 Trials, Liusha Sea Area (3) 47: Chapter 47 Trials, Liusha Sea Area (3) Liusha Sea City Oasis. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Jiang Tang heard the voice from behind, never expecting that Huang Chen was like a sticking plaster, a proper stealthy jackal! Accompanied by a red-robed female disciple, along with his crowd of disciples, he stood sneering behind him. Even a fool could understand, Huang Chen harbored ill intentions towards him. ¡°Jiang Tang, run fast.¡± The red-robed girl knew the malicious intent of Huang Chen and his group, wanting to eliminate Jiang Tang to obtain the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, that exotic flame. Realizing she couldn¡¯t stop Huang Chen and his disciples¡¯ malicious intent by herself, she felt obliged to warn Jiang Tang, not wanting to let nightmares haunt his future cultivation. ¡°Junior Sister, you¡­¡± Huang Chen¡¯s eyes also held viciousness towards the sect¡¯s disciple; he flattered their master, having received many spirit stones from the family to coach him. That opportunity allowed him to become an elder brother, taking this beautiful junior sister and a bunch of brothers out for experience. He had long desired to be the junior sister¡¯s dao companion, yet never expected her to be so proud and aloof, always ignoring him. During this excursion, he and his brothers had dug many pits. So often, they were almost sabotaged by the junior sister. This time, she was aiding Jiang Tang, whom she had just met, filling Huang Chen with a desire to get rid of her first. This woman was always going against the grain. As the red-robed girl warned him, Jiang Tang¡¯s awareness sharpened as he surveyed these people, preparing to invoke his magical treasure and activate Wind-racing Step. With a single glance from Huang Chen, his disciples understood and surrounded Jiang Tang; when they had arrived, they had already planned to track and eliminate him, to take his magical treasure. ¡°Thinking of escaping? No chance, even if you had wings, you couldn¡¯t fly.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡± Huang Chen laughed heartily, and his disciples joined in the laughter, while only the red-robed girl stamped her feet anxiously. ¡°Despicable villain.¡± Jiang Tang¡¯s eyes flashed fiercely, no wonder Eryao always said he was too honest, too easy to bully. If I do not offend others, they won¡¯t offend me. Such a thought is only for gentlemen, fools. In the Otherworld Continent, Jiang Tang, a university student from a law-abiding society, never thought that in this space-time, even if you do not offend others, they will still offend you. Only the strong could survive, and at this moment, the only option was to fight¡­ Jiang Tang was not afraid of death, but he was tired of being constantly trapped by others. Even the Buddha would be enraged! In Jiang Tang¡¯s space, Eryao, who was asleep, seemed to sense Jiang Tang¡¯s anger, his ears twitching, but he was too tired to open his eyes. ¡°Dad, someone is trying to bully you again! Sigh¡­ ¡± Eryao wanted to wake up and help, but was simply too tired, powerless without spiritual power. ¡­ ¡°Moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox got up from lying down, jumping up. ¡­ ¡°Say whatever you want, but I must obtain Xuanming Spiritual Fire today.¡± Huang Chen¡¯s eyes not only held ambition, but he looked at Jiang Tang like he was a dead man. Just thinking about the Xuanming Spiritual Fire, essential for alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman crafting, intensified his desire. Huang Chen wanted to become the most powerful cultivator, the leader of the strongest continent. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You want to get your hands on Xuanming Spiritual Fire? First, let you taste this kind of flame.¡± With a cold smirk on his face, Jiang Tang swiped his hand to harness the Qianji Fire. In an instant, flames surrounded Huang Chen and a few disciples, leaving only the red-robed girl outside the fiery circle. The oasis turned into a sea of red flames. ¡°What is this? Aaahhh!¡± Huang Chen and his disciples, engulfed by Qianji Fire, felt unbearable heat, their bones scorched by the flames. They attempted to resist with their magical treasures but found they couldn¡¯t use their spiritual power; the Spiritual Fire immobilized them like fish boiling in a pot, unable to jump out. The red-robed girl was stunned by the sudden events, never anticipating the fire to be so fierce. She loathed her fellow disciples, yet she didn¡¯t want them to suffocate to death within the sect. ¡°Young Master Jiang Tang, what are you doing¡­?¡± Terror flickered in the eyes of the girl in red. ¡°Jiang Tang, if you kill us, the sect will hold you accountable.¡± Huang Chen, burning in agony, clenched his teeth so hard they could shatter. He was accustomed to being overbearing and couldn¡¯t submit even now, his words still carried a threat. ¡°We¡¯re not afraid; didn¡¯t we come here prepared to face death? Our North City Immortal Sect isn¡¯t a cowardly lot.¡± Jiang Tang figured that as a servant disciple, he was still a disciple of the North City Immortal Sect, wasn¡¯t he? Coming here was a mission from the sect; surely they wouldn¡¯t neglect him? ¡°You¡­ let us go, please.¡± ¡°I¡¯m begging you¡­ it hurts.¡± The brothers really couldn¡¯t bear the pain and started to plead for mercy. ¡°You want me to spare you, huh, when just moments ago you wished me dead? Come on, bring it on.¡± Jiang Tang laughed arrogantly, realizing that bullying others was indeed enjoyable; little wonder he had been bullied by others time and again. Could bullying be addictive? He could feel the excitement of the Qianji Fire, as the scent of flesh charring added a strange fragrance to the air. Huang Chen cast a scornful glance at his spineless fellow brothers. Fearing death himself, he then thought of his only lifeline. ¡°Little sister, I beg you, speak on our behalf!¡± The girl in red saw her fellow brothers¡¯ faces redden from the roasting flames, their exposed skin all reddened. She feared they would turn to cooked meat. After all, they were from the same sect, and her kind heart prevailed once more. ¡°Young Master Jiang Tang, Xiangxiang begs you, please release my fellow brothers.¡± The pleading in Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s eyes made her naturally polite demeanor ripple with a tender expression, underscoring her youthful beauty. Jiang Tang was fond of Cai Xiangxiang; the earlier warning and her defiance of her delinquent brothers proved this woman¡¯s kindness. In the cutthroat world of cultivation, such women were a rare breed. He felt a touch of sympathy. He slightly diminished the Qianji Fire that encircled the group. Huang Chen and his brothers felt the relief, their bodies not quite as tormented by pain. They believed appealing to their junior sister had been the right move. ¡°Little sister, it hurts¡­¡± The group, once proud and bullying brothers, now wailed and pleaded, their cries stirring Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s compassion to the point of tears. ¡°Young Master Jiang Tang, please let them go. I assure you they won¡¯t offend you in the future.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Jiang Tang was torn between releasing them and satisfying his reluctance to seem like someone who could be trifled with, struggling to get even for the abuse. To not let them go would be to appear uncompassionate, but after all, he was a college student who had lived in a law-abiding society for so many years, with a foundation of honesty and decency still intact. ¡°Great hero, we beg you for mercy.¡± ¡°Great hero, please spare us.¡± Huang Chen watched his brothers plead, biting his lip, his arrogance preventing him from letting go of his pride. He vowed in his heart to avenge this humiliation. ¡°Jiang Tang the Great, I¡¯m begging you.¡± The girl in red¡¯s tearful cry made Jiang Tang relent, silently softening for a moment. ¡°Jiang Tang the Great.¡± Cai Xiangxiang knelt on the ground, knowing she would be held accountable if her brothers died. ¡°Quick, get up.¡± Jiang Tang moved to help Cai Xiangxiang. ¡°Young Master,¡± ¡°I¡¯ve agreed to release them.¡± Jiang Tang helped Cai Xiangxiang to her feet. Upon hearing Jiang Tang¡¯s words, Huang Chen and his fellow brothers felt a surge of joy in their hearts. Jiang Tang silently sighed, and with a wave of his hand, he withdrew the Qianji Fire. Chapter 48 - 48 48 Crisis ?48: Chapter 48 Crisis 48: Chapter 48 Crisis Huang Chen felt as if he¡¯d just come back to life when the Qianji Fire disappeared; the sensation of being on the brink of death was incredibly unpleasant. His hair felt stiff after being burnt, and he could smell a hint of singed hair from both himself and his junior brother. This was undoubtedly one of the greatest shames of his life. Huang Chen lowered his head to look at the ground, with a look of fierce resentment in his eyes. ¡°Thank you, hero.¡± Cai Xiangxiang looked at Jiang Tang with a joyful smile, her laugh becoming even more beautiful in that moment. The girl¡¯s gaze held admiration as she looked at Jiang Tang. Jiang Tang felt somewhat embarrassed by the young girl¡¯s adoring eyes; in his past life as a college student, he had been too shy and never had a girlfriend. In this time and space, he still hadn¡¯t found a cultivation partner. Faced with the adoring gaze of a beautiful woman, he felt shy and blushed as he said in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re welcome, lady.¡± Huang Chen and his junior brothers performed the same action, casting a Dust Cleansing Spell and then an Ice Mantra. In an instant, they felt much cooler and no longer like meat roasting on a grill. They restored their appearance to that of suave Daoist Immortal young gentlemen. They had only surrounded Jiang Tang earlier and didn¡¯t expect him to be so formidable. At that moment, Huang Chen and his junior brothers exchanged a look. They couldn¡¯t let this matter rest; the two Exotic Flames were a must-have for them. So, they quietly prepared their magical treasures, clutching all the talismans in their hands. They set up the Big Dipper Formation and surrounded Jiang Tang in a tight circle. ¡°Thank you, young hero. To repay you, prepare to die!¡± ¡°Everyone, attack!¡± ¡°Take him down!¡± Huang Chen wasted no further words; they needed to take the initiative by seizing the moment when Jiang Tang was unguarded, aiming for his life. ¡°Senior brother¡­¡± Cai Xiangxiang, distraught, tried to stop them but was frozen in place by a spell from Huang Chen. ¡°You all¡­¡± Jiang Tang had not expected these individuals to resemble a story from his elementary school days, ¡®The Man and the Wolf;¡¯ you spare him, and he bites you in return. He didn¡¯t have time to think further and conjured both Exotic Flames, wielding them in each hand. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Haha, you little rascal think you can sneak another trick? Brothers, get him!¡± Huang Chen and the others deployed all their magical treasures and talismans at once, hurling them towards Jiang Tang. ¡°Senior brother, don¡¯t¡­¡± Cai Xiangxiang could only attempt to intervene verbally, her beautiful face streaming with tears; she felt guilty, having caused the harm of a young hero, all because of her. ¡°Stupid wench, always taking sides against us! After we deal with this boy, we¡¯ll take care of you.¡± Huang Chen harshly spat those words at Cai Xiangxiang. Jiang Tang felt the pressure mounting; he cast all the magical treasures he had on him but was still trapped within the Formation. The talismans that had come from his space ring had been lost during previous chases. A rookie in the Cultivation World, yet to master Formation spells, couldn¡¯t break out of the Formation. While others could attack him, he couldn¡¯t fend off their assaults. Is fate determined to destroy me? Just a few years into his rebirth, he had yet to fulfill major life goals. The reluctance, the unwillingness was unbearable. In the space, Eryao, who slept deeply, tried to open his eyes with all his might, but his Spiritual Power hadn¡¯t recovered yet. He remained small and was unable to cast spells. ¡°Daddy, sob sob¡± Eryao could only cry inside the space. The pitiful cries of Eryao caused the Little Blue Ox, who was busy plowing the field, to disregard its work and run around in the space, mooing anxiously. The Little Blue Ox seemed to sense its master¡¯s peril but could do nothing, consumed by urgency. Jiang Tang couldn¡¯t afford to respond to Eryao in the space as he, despite his Body Refinement at the seventh level, couldn¡¯t resist the barrage of magical treasures and talismans. Every one of them had a higher cultivation level than him, and the good luck he had before seemed to have run out today. Despite desperately thinking of ways and means, he couldn¡¯t break through the enemy¡¯s Formation. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± Talismans smashed down, exploding one after another, creating pits all over the ground. Jiang Tang was hopping around, and the dust and dirt on him had completely changed the look of his clothes. His face was no longer discernible, covered in mud, feeling intense pain all over his body. His hair had burned in places, and his body was marked with countless wounds. His flesh was torn by magic treasures, and burns from the Spirit Fire Talisman scarred his skin. In his struggle to survive, there was no choice but to endure the pain racking his body. In the oasis forest, fireworks shot into the sky, and those who were undergoing trials outside, upon seeing the commotion here, realized there was a battle going on. Some hoped to profit from the fisherman¡¯s benefit; many people rushed over from all directions. With a wave of his hand, Huang Chen and his younger fellows changed the Big Dipper Formation slightly, trapping Jiang Tang in a death position. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haha, boy, strut all you want now! Weren¡¯t you quite impressive just a moment ago?¡± Huang Chen sneered, relishing his revenge, repaying the humiliation he¡¯d just experienced. ¡°He can¡¯t act haughty if he wanted to. Just look at him, doesn¡¯t understand formations, yet dares to mix in the Cultivation World. Truly embarrassing.¡± ¡°Roar, and he claims to be a Disciple of the North City Immortal Sect? He must be the trash of the Immortal Sect, right?¡± ¡°A piece of dog shit.¡± As Huang Chen and his brothers lashed Jiang Tang with their Spiritual Power whips, they also hurled crude insults at him. Once more, Jiang Tang realized the harsh reality of survival of the fittest in the Cultivation World. Being too kind and too honest always leads to being bullied by others. He really had forgotten the pain once the wounds were healed! Eryao had reminded him repeatedly but failed to make him learn, and now it seemed the heavens wanted to annihilate him. What goes around comes around? Does that even hold true in this Cultivation World? Isn¡¯t there any law enforcement and governance here? Does indiscriminate killing equate to the mighty? Believing that he couldn¡¯t escape, and with reluctance in his heart, Jiang Tang shouted into the sky, ¡°Ah, Heaven wants to destroy me. How utterly unjust.¡± ¡°Haha, this kid knows he¡¯s going to die,¡± one of Huang Chen¡¯s Disciples laughed maniacally, feeling extremely gratified to be avenging a previous insult. ¡°He¡¯s quite self-aware, isn¡¯t he? Trash with a seventh level of Body Refinement. He used to strut in front of me, not realizing that I¡¯ve already reached Great Perfection in Body Refinement.¡± Huang Chen said sarcastically. ¡°Senior Brother, please, let him go!¡± Cai Xiangxiang cried, her heart aching terribly as she watched Jiang Tang beaten and covered in wounds, and couldn¡¯t bear to see her fellow Disciples kill him. ¡°Shut up, haven¡¯t I dealt with you yet?¡± Huang Chen grew even angrier; it was one thing for his Junior Sister not to plead, but now that she was pleading for an outsider, jealousy surged in his heart. ¡°Senior Brother¡­¡± Cai Xiangxiang struggled to no avail against the barrier her Senior Brother had set around her, as her cultivation level was not as high as his. ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s finish him!¡± Huang Chen felt the night might bring more complications, fearing onlookers or someone coming to save Jiang Tang. He was determined to have the treasures Jiang Tang possessed. Various Talismans rained down on Jiang Tang without any sympathy. They believed the two Exotic Flames were much more valuable than any magical treasures on him; they had to get the Spiritual Fire. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡± Jiang Tang¡¯s Spiritual Power had been drained, his Exotic Flame dimmed, and gradually floated back to him. Defenseless, Jiang Tang was bombarded by the enemy¡¯s magical treasures and Talismans, landing deep inside the pit. Overwhelmed by the pain, Jiang Tang fainted, and as he fell into the pit, his body tumbled down. Eryao, too, was affected from within its space. As the covenant beast whose master had sustained severe injuries, it coughed up blood. With all its might, it transformed into a beam of Spiritual Power, trying its best to support the falling body of its master. Chapter 49 - 49 49 Chain Reaction ?49: Chapter 49 Chain Reaction 49: Chapter 49 Chain Reaction ¡°Moo moo moo¡± Little Blue Ox cried out weakly as the space was being affected, with the Spirit Grass and the earth inside it starting to roll and tumble. The space became a chaotic mess; Little Blue Ox¡¯s mooing revealed not only its concern for its owner but also the pain it felt for the freshly cultivated herbs that had been destroyed. As the space tumbled and vibrated, Little Blue Ox¡¯s phantom body was affected, causing it to feel dizzy and lie down on the ground, disoriented. It was still a calf, cultivating in the space to reach the Gathering Spirit stage, having not yet achieved Insight. It could only watch helplessly and anxiously, unable to offer any assistance. Jiang Tang, who was falling, was taken into the Primordial Treasure Lingtian Space. If someone could have seen it, they would have only noticed a flash of green light, as the jade pendant, with the force of the explosion, kept falling down, through the heart of the earth and its layers. It disappeared into the depths underground. ¡°Where is the person? Where did they die¡­?¡± Huang Chen and his fellow disciples saw Jiang Tang fall into the pit and initially feared it was a ruse. They cautiously walked over to check. ¡°Wuu wuu¡± Cai Xiangxiang had been crying all along; she was extremely worried, yet unable to inspect or help, her little heart ached terribly. ¡°Why is there no person to be seen?¡± Huang Chen and his fellow disciples looked into the biggest pit together, but they didn¡¯t find anyone. Using the Thick Soil Spell, Huang Chen turned over all the soil in the pit. ¡°Senior Brother, this¡­¡± The fellow disciples felt something sinister; the boy seemed to have vanished into thin air. Could someone have rescued him? ¡°That trash¡¯s cultivation is so poor, he was probably blasted to bits by us!¡± Huang Chen thought they had been too brutal just now; Jiang Tang¡¯s poor cultivation skills had already shown his lack of Spiritual Power. ¡°Where is the Exotic Flame?¡± Another disciple recited a spell, digging three feet into the ground. ¡°How strange, if that boy died, the Exotic Flame should still be here.¡± Every cultivator wants to obtain treasures and claim them as their own. Today, having seen two Exotic Flames, everyone wanted a share. Cai Xiangxiang could only stand in her spot crying, feeling that it was her request that had harmed Jiang Tang. The feeling in her heart was very sad. Huang Chen and his fellow disciples exhausted all methods. Jiang Tang and the Exotic Flame disappeared as if they had been merely illusions, leaving behind only the pockmarked ground as evidence that what transpired was not a dream. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Did we waste our effort in vain?¡± A disciple thought about the many Magical Treasures he had used; he had not minded losing them at first, but now he felt absolutely devastated. ¡°Could that boy be capable of soaring into the sky or burrowing into the earth? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Now Huang Chen regretted that they had exerted too much force. With just Jiang Tang¡¯s poor cultivation level, just the formation they used earlier should have been enough to subdue him. Ah, the regret! Both Xuanming Spiritual Fire and Qianji Fire had turned into mere bubbles. ¡°Not good, lots of people are coming.¡± Huang Chen, being slightly ahead of his fellow disciples in height, sensitively felt people from all directions flying towards them. At this point, forget about treasure hunting; if others learned they had killed someone and failed to obtain the treasure, they definitely wouldn¡¯t believe them. So many people were coming their way; they were outnumbered and had to escape quickly. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, they might end up dead right there. Having reminded them, Huang Chen¡¯s fellow disciples also sensed something amiss. They too had come to realize the problem. ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly.¡± As Huang Chen left, he didn¡¯t forget to pick up Cai Xiangxiang; this Junior Sister couldn¡¯t be left for others¡ªshe was his. ¡°Jiang Tang¡­ Senior Brother, put me down!¡± ¡°You damn woman, I¡¯ll deal with you later. That Jiang Tang is dead for sure, tsk tsk.¡± Huang Chen slapped Cai Xiangxiang on the buttocks angrily, telling her to keep quiet. ¡°Wuu wuu, you bad Senior Brother, I¡¯ll tell the Master.¡± ¡°Hmph, I haven¡¯t even started on you yet. Always turning your elbow outwards.¡± Huang Chen muttered under his breath, swiftly taking to the sky with his magical treasure. Not long after their departure, people who had hurried over after hearing noises arrived at the scene. They were also here for training, and upon reaching the locale, they discovered the once undulated oasis¡¯s earth, now burned bare, devoid of any greenery. One could imagine just how intense the struggle had been. All that remained were the pockmarked terrains, but not a person in sight. The newcomers surveyed the area and found truly nothing of interest, only the fragments of used-up talismans. It appeared that the parties involved in the fierce struggle were quite wealthy. With different thoughts, the crowd dispersed after inspecting the area. ****** Yan Weiwei was practicing her cultivation in the Inner Sect disciples¡¯ courtyard, having just succeeded in the Foundation Establishment. She was about to consolidate her cultivation when her heart suddenly felt as if it were being pricked, its rhythm abnormally erratic. ¡°Ah!¡± Yan Weiwei was caught off guard, nearly falling into deviation. She hadn¡¯t fully consolidated her cultivation yet; such an incident could ruin her cultivation progress. She clutched at her chest, her mind racing with thoughts that this feeling of distress could be due to a relative being injured or worse. The emotions of cultivators are naturally fainter than those of ordinary people, and having a family of cultivators, it was unlikely for her to be suddenly so distressed. ¡°Jiang Tang?¡± Yan Weiwei thought of her junior brother whom she had been quietly watching and helping for some time. She didn¡¯t know when it started, but she favored him over the other brothers and sisters. Could Jiang Tang be in danger? Yan Weiwei had always known that Jiang Tang seemed to be dogged by bad luck, always being framed and envied by others. Before she went into seclusion, she heard that Jiang Tang had gone on a mission. Could something have happened during his mission? The thought of Jiang Tang being in danger made Yan Weiwei disregard her need to consolidate her cultivation. With a wave of her hand, she dispelled the room¡¯s protective barrier and flew out the door. Within the Sect, the use of magical treasures for flying was forbidden, but Yan Weiwei didn¡¯t dare break the rules. Now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she could fly using her spiritual power. Yan Weiwei first went to inquire among the Servant Disciples and learned that Jiang Tang had gone to the Mission Hall and had not returned for some time. Growing anxious, she hurried to the Mission Hall. An Elder there told her, ¡°I seem to remember that a few days ago, Jiang Tang went to a place called the oasis in Liusha Sea City for his training.¡± ¡°Liusha Sea City? Has Jiang Tang returned from his mission?¡± Yan Weiwei asked nervously. She knew of that place, where many disciples went to train with a slim chance of survival. It wasn¡¯t the danger of the place itself but the people who went there for training. For magical treasures and spiritual medicines, killings and robbery were common. What worried Yan Weiwei was Jiang Tang¡¯s low cultivation. The Elder shook his head. Although he hoped for the disciples to complete their missions, that particular disciple¡¯s cultivation was too weak, and his spiritual root too poor, rendering the odds more often fatal than not. Yan Weiwei left the Mission Hall in a daze, not reacting to familiar faces greeting her. The Holy Pavilion, right, that shop where Jiang Tang was waiting. Yan Weiwei hurriedly left the Sect; if Jiang Tang hadn¡¯t returned, he might be at the shop. ¡°Lady, what would you like to purchase?¡± The attendant standing guard at the Holy Pavilion was the person Jiang Tang had tasked with overseeing the shop. ¡°Is Jiang Tang here?¡± ¡°Our boss, he¡¯s gone out,¡± the attendant shook his head. ¡°Do you know where he went? Why hasn¡¯t he come back until now?¡± ¡°Boss, I really don¡¯t know where he went. The affairs of the immortals, how could we dare to ask? I wonder, why are you looking for our boss so urgently?¡± The attendant was puzzled by the urgency of this female hero. Could such a beautiful lady be the boss¡¯s intimate confidante? Chapter 50 - 50 50 Searching ?50: Chapter 50 Searching 50: Chapter 50 Searching ¡°Jiang Tang¡­, I encountered him in a certain secret realm, and Jiang Tang seemed to have a mission as well. What has happened? Why is Lady Yan in such panic¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an still maintained his gentle and jade-like demeanor, with no overwhelming expression on his face. Due to some ailment that afflicted his body, he could not partake in strenuous activities, and even his speech was tender in tone. ¡°What? Why hasn¡¯t he returned to the sect yet? What should we do? Jiang Tang might be in danger¡­ Sob, sob!¡± By this time, Yan Weiwei had confirmed the reason for the abnormal pounding in her heart. She silently prayed in her mind for Jiang Tang¡¯s safety. ¡°Lady Yan, why do you say so? He was fine when I saw him,¡± Su Chang¡¯an didn¡¯t understand why Yan Weiwei looked so distressed. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The time he had seen Jiang Tang, though a bit disheveled, the man hadn¡¯t sustained a single injury. At this moment, Su Chang¡¯an was still dressed in his customary dark purple robe. Upon hearing the troubling news, even he, usually lethargic, now wore a look of concern. Facing the handsome and unrestrained Su Chang¡¯an, Yan Weiwei felt no other emotion but the recognition that he was Jiang Tang¡¯s friend, and she told him the truth without reservation. ¡°I was cultivating in the sect when I suddenly sensed that my junior brother was in danger. What should we do?¡± ¡°Lady Yan, on what basis do you feel that Jiang Tang is in danger?¡± Seeing how concerned Yan Weiwei was, Su Chang¡¯an felt it was quite fortunate for Jiang Tang to have such a close female confidante. It was indeed nice for a servant disciple to have the care of an inner sect disciple within the sect. To be cared for was the most joyful thing in this world for a rootless duckweed. ¡°I tied one of my hairs to the leg of a little bird. If the bird meets with a mishap, I get a premonition. This little bird has a contract with Jiang Tang. If the bird is in danger, then Jiang Tang must be in danger too.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­ That does complicate things,¡± Su Chang¡¯an understood about things that could link people spiritually, such as hair, blood, Gu from the witch tribes, and life-bound jade pendants. ¡°Mr. Su, I will go to Liusha Sea City to take a look. I must find Jiang Tang.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you. It might be dangerous for a young lady to go there alone.¡± ¡°Mr. Su, please wait¡­¡± The waiter, who had been conducting business nearby, had been listening to their conversation. Now, he was somewhat anxious. The supplier was not around, and a stakeholder had fled. If the store¡¯s goods were sold out, they would have no source of supply. ¡°Waiter, is something the matter?¡± Su Chang¡¯an knew that Jiang Tang had a shop here. He had come by today intending to check out the shop for interesting items, thinking to increase his own collection and benefit his brothers. He had not expected to encounter such a situation. ¡°Mr. Su, I overheard the lady and you talking. If the boss is in danger, well, the goods in our shop were all supplied by the boss. Once sold out, I have no means to resupply the shop¡¯s goods,¡± the waiter said. The waiter had no idea how the boss sourced his merchandise. The goods that came in were top-notch, which made for very good business. They sold items at higher prices than other shops. Many nearby shops selling cultivation products were jealous and were inquiring about the source of their goods. How would a mere waiter know? All he knew was that the goods were easy to sell, and he got a commission. Who else could know? Jiang Tang¡¯s Primordial Treasure Lingtian Space could produce secret manuals, talismans, spirit rice, herbs, and spiritual artifacts. It was essentially a business with no expenses, and naturally, he made profits. Such a secret, of course, wasn¡¯t something Jiang Tang would foolishly reveal to others, not even to his good friend Su Chang¡¯an. Murder for treasure, the human heart is unpredictable; even friends may change for gain. After listening to the waiter¡¯s words, Su Chang¡¯an fell silent for a moment, then took out a jade token from his clothes. ¡°Keep this jade token, if the shop runs into trouble and I¡¯m not around, you can take this jade pendant to any of the Sword Sect Su Clan¡¯s shops and ask for a deferment.¡± The waiter joyfully took the jade token and placed it in his chest, relieved. With this token, he, a mere shop attendant, wasn¡¯t afraid of others causing trouble¡ªthe Su Clan was his backer! ¡°Thank you, young master¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, this shop is actually Jiang Tang¡¯s brother¡¯s, and since I find Jiang Tang agreeable, I can extend some help. After all, right now we don¡¯t know where he is,¡± Su Chang¡¯an said with an indifferent smile. ¡°Mr. Su, I¡¯m leaving first!¡± ¡°Wait, Lady Yan, why don¡¯t we go together?¡± ¡°Oh, alright,¡± Yan Weiwei nodded obediently. She didn¡¯t know if she would encounter any other dangers during this trip, and having Su Chang¡¯an, whose cultivation was higher, could provide an extra layer of protection. The reason she was so forthright was simply because Su Chang¡¯an was friends with Jiang Tang, and in Yan Weiwei¡¯s heart, friends should come to each other¡¯s aid. Having never ventured far from the sect, Yan Weiwei had limited contact with others and retained a kindhearted spirit. Yan Weiwei was about to summon her Flying Treasure, the Purple Jade Hairpin. ¡°Lady Yan, please take a seat on my Magical Treasure!¡± Su Chang¡¯an produced a flying ship, initially the size of a fist. Under his influence of spiritual energy, the fist-sized ship expanded into a huge vessel. Yan Weiwei glanced at her relatively weak Purple Jade Hairpin and wisely chose to board Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s flying ship. As the ship soared into the sky, Yan Weiwei discovered that the cabin was very spacious with various compartments for cultivation and rest, and could seat several hundred people. Indeed, the Young Master of the Sword Sect noble clan had extraordinary strength; the items he used were far more powerful than those of an Inner Sect Disciple like her. ¡°Lady Yan, you should rest inside for now. It¡¯s still two hours to Liusha Sea City,¡± Su Chang¡¯an suggested as he sat cross-legged in the main cabin to control the ship, which required his spiritual power. Though he was ailing, his cultivation was more than sufficient to control such a ship. ¡°Mhm¡± Yan Weiwei felt agitated, having recently advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, she needed to consolidate her cultivation, or she might regress in rank or even face various dangers when confronting others. She couldn¡¯t afford to become a burden to others. Su Chang¡¯an meditated with furrowed brows. He had set out to seek a divine physician and healing herbs, as well as to explore secret realms to toughen himself. He knew the ailment in his body was not an illness, but a poison, the nature of which was still unknown to him. Why was there such a poison in his body? As a youth, during his training, he had already felt that something was amiss in his body. Others saw him as having reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Stage. Having achieved such a level of cultivation at a young age was the subject of much praise and envy. They did not know the bitterness in his heart, and how hard it had been to reach his current level of cultivation. Relying on the secret manuals of his family and his own talent, yet the journey was still so difficult. If the poison in his body couldn¡¯t be treated, it might affect his progress in cultivation, or he might even die. The poison was too domineering; he had forced it into the area around his right hand to prevent it from spreading to his heart. Su Chang¡¯an had felt comfortable in the presence of Jiang Tang. When Jiang Tang was in danger, Su Chang¡¯an happened to pass by and rescued him, intuiting that Jiang Tang might possess something he needed. But he didn¡¯t know what the poison was, and knowing Jiang Tang¡¯s lower level of cultivation, he thought it might just be his own illusion. Now, he somewhat regretted not having asked before, hoping to find Jiang Tang and see if, once Jiang Tang¡¯s cultivation level increased, there might be a way to detoxify him. While meditating, Su Chang¡¯an exercised his spiritual power and once again managed to control the poison in his right hand. This was a daily necessity for him: aside from practicing cultivation, he would repeatedly attempt to detoxify himself, but to no avail. Inside the cabin, Yan Weiwei anxiously wondered about Jiang Tang¡¯s safety but forced herself to calm down and cultivate properly. Her anxiety made her constantly gaze out of the ship¡¯s window. Even the beautiful immortal landscapes could not bring her joy; at this moment, she was not in the mood to appreciate the scenery. Being near Su Chang¡¯an made her feel a tad safer, but she realized that her own cultivation was still too weak and feared that by insisting on going out, she might cause trouble for others. Chapter 51 - 51 51 Awareness ?51: Chapter 51 Awareness 51: Chapter 51 Awareness Su Chang¡¯an sat in meditation to cultivate. An hour later, he opened his eyes and felt that they had already arrived at the entrance of Liusha Sea City. His gaze drifted downward, noting the presence of North City Immortal Sect disciples guarding the entrance. Of course, there would also be disciples from the Ten Great Clans stationed here. He slowly lowered the flying ship, while secretly communicating to Yan Weiwei, who was cultivating inside: ¡°Miss Yan, we have arrived at the entrance of Liusha Sea City. Let¡¯s go down.¡± Upon hearing Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s secret message, Yan Weiwei opened her eyes, ceased her cultivation technique, and stepped out of the cabin. Seeing that it was indeed Liusha Sea City, where she had once trained, she looked down from the sky to see people entering at the entrance, but very few coming out. This was one of the more perilous locations among the training grounds. Most importantly, disciples from all sects and clans could enter to train. Some were there to kill for treasure, others to seize the opportunity for vengeance within. Although it was merely sparring between disciples for training, casualties could not always be avoided. However, neither the major sects nor the noble clans paid special attention to these incidents. After all, casualties were an expected part of training¡ªa process of elimination. Perhaps their own disciples had also taken lives. Those who emerged from training here were the elite. As the flying ship neared the ground, Su Chang¡¯an shrank the ship and stowed it away, while he and Yan Weiwei descended at high speed. The disciples guarding the gate were startled to see a handsome man and beautiful woman descending swiftly in front of them, but recognizing one of them, they regained their composure. It was Su Chang¡¯an, the young master of the Sword Sect Su Clan. The other was their very own senior sister Yan Weiwei from the inner sect of the North City Immortal Sect. ¡°Senior Sister Wei, Master Su!¡± ¡°Master Su, Senior Sister Wei, what brings you here?¡± The gatekeeping disciples understood that those who had once trained here did not need to do so again. This place was for sect disciples to undertake tasks, and not for inconsequential tasks at that; ordinary disciples would not accept them. Their own cultivation was not clear to them, such an esteemed figure would not come here for a task. So what matter brought them here? Yan Weiwei¡¯s cultivation was also enigmatic to them. Perhaps the gap was too wide, or their own level too low. On the Cultivation Continent, strength was revered. Regardless of how long you had been with the sect, if your cultivation was weaker and someone else¡¯s stronger, you would need to address them with respect. Unless you were appointed as an elder of the sect, or held a position of authority within the sect, then the formal titles of such positions would be used. ¡°Disciple, may I inquire whether Jiang Tang has entered Liusha Sea City?¡± ¡°Jiang Tang¡­ oh yes, there was such a person; he did enter,¡± one of the sect¡¯s disciples recalled. ¡°Has Jiang Tang emerged yet?¡± Yan Weiwei continued. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen him come out. Perhaps he hasn¡¯t completed his task yet!¡± The disciples spoke uncertainly. When they had seen Jiang Tang¡¯s low level of cultivation before entering such a perilous place for training, it seemed to them a reckless act, a path likely to be one-way. It had been quite some time since he had not emerged, but many disciples had also not returned. Either they had perished within, or they were yet to complete their tasks and were still inside working on them. Su Chang¡¯an approached disciples from his Sword Tao Sect. ¡°Master,¡± The disciples of the Sword Sect recognized Su Chang¡¯an and greeted him with respect. ¡°Have you seen Jiang Tang?¡± Su Chang¡¯an nodded and asked. ¡°Master Su, we do not know of Jiang Tang. Is he an important figure? We haven¡¯t heard of any significant person by that name,¡± they replied. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that, then. If any of you have seen him, please inform me.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Sword Sect disciples replied deferentially. ¡°Master Su, are we entering?¡± Seeing that Su Chang¡¯an had also failed to obtain any information, Yan Weiwei was anxious to go inside and take a look, feeling there must be something to be gained. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in and take a look. Let¡¯s ask some of the other adventurers. I also have a feeling that he is still inside,¡± Su Chang¡¯an said nonchalantly, ready to turn around, when he noticed some people emerging from within. ¡°Should we ask those coming out? Maybe they¡¯ll know something,¡± he suggested. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask,¡± Yan Weiwei agreed. She saw a group of young male and female disciples who seemed to be from the same sect, with distressed expressions on their faces, likely due to a lack of gains inside, resulting in their withered demeanor. Yan Weiwei could not determine their sect, as they wore clothes typical of a noble clan¡¯s descendants. As fellow cultivators, they would address each other with respect, using the terms ¡®Senior Brother¡¯ or ¡®Fellow Daoist.¡¯ ¡°Greetings, fellow daoists,¡± she said. The group of men and women who had just come out saw someone asking questions. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They all looked over and saw a pair of male and female seniors with higher cultivation levels than themselves. ¡°We pay our respects, Senior Brother, Senior Sister. May I ask what you need from us?¡± When Huang Chen saw the beautiful woman with higher cultivation than his, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that she and the sister beside her each had their own unique charm. Regardless of aura, they were both beauties. ¡°Excuse me, fellow Daoist, have you seen Jiang Tang, the Servant Disciple of North City Immortal Sect?¡± ¡°May I ask why you are looking for him? Jiang Tang? We haven¡¯t seen him.¡± Huang Chen¡¯s eyes flickered with fear at the prospect of encountering someone with higher cultivation, possibly a friend of Jiang Tang or a senior brother or sister from the sect. If the person before him found out that they had killed Jiang Tang, their lives might also be in danger, so it was crucial not to reveal anything. His fellow juniors were also taken aback, watching Yan Weiwei and Su Chang¡¯an warily. ¡°I am Jiang Tang¡¯s Senior Sister, looking for him for a matter.¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm-hmm¡± Cai Xiangxiang was under Huang Chen¡¯s control and could only make indistinct noises. She desperately wanted to tell Yan Weiwei and Su Chang¡¯an that their junior brother had been killed. ¡°Fellow Senior Sister, we truly haven¡¯t seen Jiang Tang. Our brothers have other matters to attend to, we must be leaving first.¡± Huang Chen pretended to be calm, thinking to himself how fortunate it was that he had controlled this wretched woman. Otherwise, she could have spoiled everything. To them, killing a common disciple and taking their belongings was a regular affair. However, if questions were asked or vendettas sought by those with higher cultivation, that would spell disaster. Having said that, Huang Chen took Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s hand and flew away on his sword. His brothers also quickly summoned their flying swords and fled. Yan Weiwei watched these people leave with puzzlement, feeling that something was off, as if they were hiding something. Su Chang¡¯an had been silent all the while, but he was suspicious that these people had definitely seen Jiang Tang. Nevertheless, without acknowledgment from others and with no evidence of Jiang Tang having been mistreated by them, Su Chang¡¯an, with his higher cultivation, didn¡¯t want to rashly kill the innocent. Not easily making enemies was in his gentle nature. ¡°Master Su, they¡­ why do they seem to be problematic? Could it be that they¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s first go and check, look through all the places and then discuss!¡± ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡± Yan Weiwei knew the task that Jiang Tang was assigned. After entering Liusha Sea City, he was to search for a place with an oasis. They arrived at the nearest oasis and after entering, they noticed many people coming and going but spotted an area with uneven pits different from the rest of the lawn, indicating a site of battle. Yan Weiwei suddenly sensed faint traces of Jiang Tang¡¯s Qi and began to search the area with shock. ¡°Master Su, I sense Jiang Tang¡¯s Qi here, it truly is his.¡± ¡°Yes, I perceive it as well, not good¡­.¡± Su Chang¡¯an sensed something was terribly wrong because he smelled a blood scent that came from Jiang Tang. Having saved Jiang Tang before and spending a long time with him, he could recognize his Qi and the scent of his blood. It was clear from the size of the pits that a fierce battle had taken place, with many Magical Treasures and Talismans likely used. The only question was whether Jiang Tang had escaped wounded or had truly fallen. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, Junior Brother¡­¡± Yan Weiwei inspected and cried, finally understanding her sensitive intuition. Jiang Tang had met with misfortune. Indeed, he had met a tragic fate at this location. They searched for a long time but found no trace of Jiang Tang. The highly cultivated Su Chang¡¯an, from the vestiges in the pitted ground, seemed to sense the Qi of that same group of people from earlier. Their Qi was still lingering in the air, not yet dissipated. He had already suspected that group might be involved with Jiang Tang, and it appeared he was right. ¡°Let¡¯s ask others, but I suspect that Jiang Tang¡¯s misfortune is related to the group that just left the gate.¡± Chapter 52 - 52 52 The Murderer ?52: Chapter 52 The Murderer 52: Chapter 52 The Murderer ¡°It¡¯s them¡­ indeed, it¡¯s them. I had my suspicions about them just now. Those people acted so guilty; no wonder they ran off so quickly¡­¡± Yan Weiwei, who had felt puzzled earlier, now could more or less confirm her guess. The group from before had indeed been the ones who bullied Jiang Tang. She couldn¡¯t believe that Jiang Tang had fallen, especially since she had just seen him alive and well not long ago. ¡°Should we ask some more people? Maybe this is all a misunderstanding. Maybe Brother Tang just ran away or found a place to hide. Maybe others have seen him. It¡¯s not certain that he met his end here. Ah, compared with how Brother Tang was that day, it¡¯s as if there¡¯s a chasm between humans and immortals now.¡± Su Chang¡¯an felt that they needed to get to the bottom of the truth. Those people had such low cultivation levels that he could catch up with them later, and it wouldn¡¯t be too late to confront them then. If it really was them, they might no longer have a place to stay in the cultivation world. ¡°Look for someone to ask¡­ then let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Weiwei agreed with a nod of her head. They looked around and saw no one in the pockmarked terrain. They used their cultivation techniques and headed to the outer areas where they saw disciples dressed in the uniform of the North City Immortal Sect, busy digging up fertile soil. They were probably also tasked with a mission to collect the soil in their storage bags. Yan Weiwei noticed two male disciples whose cultivation levels were lower than hers. ¡°Greetings, junior brothers¡­¡± The two disciples, busy collecting soil, looked up at the sound and, upon recognizing the respected Sister Yan, stood up involuntarily with respect. ¡°Sister Yan¡­¡± ¡°It really is Sister Yan¡­¡± ¡°I think I saw Su Chang¡¯an from the Sword Sect.¡± ¡°It really is¡­¡± The two disciples¡¯ faces lit up with joy. They, being from the Outer Sect, could only catch a glimpse of Sister Yan from a distance and had no chance to approach and learn from her. They never expected to encounter Sister Yan in such a place while carrying out a mission. And to meet Su Chang¡¯an, an elite of the cultivation world with such high cultivation here, felt like it was worth the journey. Seeing the smiles on the disciples¡¯ faces, Yan Weiwei had no time to get on friendly terms with them. ¡°Junior brothers, have either of you seen Jiang Tang here?¡± ¡°Jiang Tang? It seems he had a mission, but we haven¡¯t seen him anywhere!¡± A tall and skinny disciple said. ¡°Jiang Tang? I saw him when we were coming into Liusha Sea City. He sped ahead of us like a gust of wind.¡± Said a burly and sturdy disciple, indicating they were both in the Body Refinement realm. ¡°So you¡¯ve seen Jiang Tang. Do you know where he is now?¡± Yan Weiwei felt slightly relieved. Maybe he was just hiding, safe and sound. ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Right, we don¡¯t know!¡± Hearing the answers from the two disciples, Yan Weiwei¡¯s heart sank again. Could it be that he had still been harmed? ¡°Do either of you know who was fighting in the pockmarked area we passed earlier?¡± The two disciples didn¡¯t know why Yan Weiwei cared so much about Jiang Tang, but they answered truthfully. ¡°When we arrived, we saw a lot of people heading in that direction. We heard that there had been an intense fight, but unfortunately, with our low cultivation, by the time we got there, the fighting had stopped. We just saw the battleground marred with the traces of combat.¡± ¡°Yes, we asked some others too, and they all said by the time they arrived, there was no one left. We just assumed it was a dispute over some treasure and didn¡¯t look into it further,¡± As the disciples answered, they thought to themselves how fortunate they were to be traveling together. If one was alone, they could be killed and robbed without anyone to stand up for them, especially since they were just ordinary disciples. They also wondered, could Jiang Tang¡­ have been killed? But his cultivation wasn¡¯t high, so how could he be involved in such a fierce scene? To engage in such intense combat, it surely couldn¡¯t have been him. But Sister Yan¡¯s questions seemed to indicate she felt it was Jiang Tang who had fought, leaving behind those signs of battle. But if it really involved him, he must be the one who perished. Although Jiang Tang was generally nice to people, his status was low. He was even lower than them¡ªOuter Sect disciples¡ªand few paid him much attention. However, he had recently gained some fame¡ªfirst in farming? First in missions? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And he had even received a reward, which made others envious for a moment. Yan Weiwei heard the disciples¡¯ words and her mood plummeted to rock bottom. Could her premonition be correct? Had Jiang Tang perished? No, it couldn¡¯t be¡­ he wouldn¡¯t have fallen so easily. ¡°Let¡¯s ask some more people¡­¡± At that moment, Su Chang¡¯an was also in a poor mood, his growing suspicion that Jiang Tang might have been victimized was deeply saddening. This was the first friend he had made outside, and to think he was gone just like that was troubling. He had even hoped to have Brother Tang examine his body later to determine what exactly was wrong with him, and what kind of poison had caused it. ¡°Yes, we need to ask a few more people. We have to find Jiang Tang.¡± Yan Weiwei could only nod in agreement, and together they cast their spells, asking people around them. But the answer they got was that upon arriving here, they only saw a pit-riddled ground. Many people wanted a share of the spoils, thinking someone was snatching a Magical Treasure, only to find nothing upon arrival. Yan Weiwei was stunned when she heard this. ¡°Lady Yan, we might as well pursue that group of people¡­¡± At this moment, Su Chang¡¯an was extremely anxious. The fluctuation of his emotions caused the poison in his body to feel like spreading restlessly. He quickly pressed a point on his right hand to control the poison from spreading. ¡°Chase them quickly¡­ don¡¯t let them get away, damn them¡­ they deserve to die!¡± Yan Weiwei, frantic, conjured her Purple King Hairpin, not waiting for Su Chang¡¯an to summon his flying ship, and swiftly flew away. Su Chang¡¯an summoned his flying ship, caught up to Yan Weiwei, and motioned her onto his flying ship. Su Chang¡¯an steered the flying ship, descending a bit from the high altitude, and flew out of Liusha Sea City¡¯s Secret Realm entrance. The Outer Sect disciples of the North City Immortal Sect saw the people on the flying ship. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Master Su?¡± ¡°And there¡¯s Yan, too. Haven¡¯t they found Jiang Tang?¡± ¡°Seems like his chances are slim. With such low Cultivation, Jiang Tang was really overestimating himself!¡± ¡°Alas, it¡¯s common for our sect to have many disciples, and each year many enter the Secret Realm for tasks, but few come out. It¡¯s a common sight.¡± ¡°What can we do? We¡¯re just ordinary disciples. With our low Cultivation, we have to fight harder to rise through the ranks!¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The disciples of the Sword Sect saw their Young Master depart and bowed their heads in respect. ¡°Young Master, what happened inside? Why did you come out so quickly?¡± ¡°If you ask me, who should I ask? We¡¯ve all been guarding here; how could we know what the Young Master was doing inside? But seeing how urgent he looks, could it be that he really was searching for someone?¡± ¡°I honestly replied that I really didn¡¯t know Jiang Tang. Perhaps he¡¯s just an insignificant figure.¡± ¡°Young Master, why be so anxious about an insignificant person? Could it be that you¡¯ve taken a fancy to him (or her)? Listening to the name, is it male or female? It sounds a bit like a man¡¯s, yet somewhat like a woman¡¯s. It feels like there¡¯s some complicated relationship between the Young Master and him (or her).¡± The disciples of the Sword Sect gossiped quietly among themselves¡ªcertainly not loud enough for the Young Master to hear. At this moment, Su Chang¡¯an had no time to listen to other people¡¯s gossip. Usually, if such words reached his ears, the people who spoke them would not have an easy time in the days to come. Without resources, they would be stuck at their current stage for life. But the world is a strange place, clearly knowing that something should not be done, yet still doing it¡ªan absence not of courage, but of wisdom. Therefore, smart people are always careful with their words and actions, afraid of giving others something to use against them, thereby leading to troubles. Yan Weiwei was very anxious on the flying ship and glanced at Su Chang¡¯an, wondering how long it would take to catch up with that group of people at this speed. ¡°Master Su, can we go any faster?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do my best to increase its speed,¡± Su Chang¡¯an waved his hand, channeled a stream of Spiritual Power into the flying ship, and it began to fly even faster. Su Chang¡¯an took two Spirit Replenishing Pills for himself. At his level of Cultivation, such pills were of little use aside from replenishing his strength. Controlling the poison in his body and the journey so far had indeed drained his strength, so he took the Spirit Replenishing Pills for a boost. Even with the Great Perfection of his Nascent Soul, he was still unable to break the spatial barrier. With the flying ship speeding at its utmost, Su Chang¡¯an followed the direction Huang Chen and his group had taken, and by following their Qi, it took only half an hour to spot some black dots ahead¡ªpresumably that group of people. Su Chang¡¯an accelerated even more. ¡°They¡¯re ahead¡­ those are the ones¡ªstop them, don¡¯t let them get away.¡± Seeing the black dots in the distance frantically flying, Yan Weiwei urged Su Chang¡¯an to increase the speed even more. These people were using flying swords, and with their Cultivation levels, no matter how desperately they flew, they wouldn¡¯t be as fast as Su Chang¡¯an and Yan Weiwei and would inevitably be caught up to. ¡°I¡¯ll control them later, and Lady Yan can question them. We must find out what exactly they did to harm Jiang.¡± ¡°Right, I must know if they were the ones who killed Jiang Tang.¡± Yan Weiwei glared fiercely at the people ahead. It was these evildoers who had caused Jiang Tang¡¯s death. She would never let them off the hook, vowing to dismember their bodies to avenge Jiang Tang¡¯s murder. Otherwise, she would feel great imbalance in her heart. Just moments before, Jiang Tang was alive and well, and now he was gone. Those ahead seemed to sense the danger from behind and turned around. Noticing the grand flying ship with Su Chang¡¯an and Yan Weiwei standing on it, their robes billowing in the wind, they became wary, sensing that these two were out for revenge. ¡°Oh no, run for it!¡± ¡°Split up and run¡±¡­ They had started together as a group, but in the face of danger, they immediately scattered to escape. Huang Chen had no time to worry about Cai Xiangxiang with his life on the line. At that moment, acting as if she was excess baggage, he threw her off his flying sword, leaving the acupoint-sealed Cai Xiangxiang to fall helplessly from the sky. Su Chang¡¯an gestured with his hand, and a stream of Spiritual Power caught Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s body, bringing her onto the flying ship. As she was thrown out by her senior brother, Cai Xiangxiang thought she was going to die. However, she felt indifferent about it. She had played a role in Jiang Tang¡¯s demise that day, and it was partly her fault. Had she not pleaded on his behalf, Jiang Tang wouldn¡¯t have died¡ªit was her, her mistake¡­ Cai Xiangxiang, consumed by guilt, closed her beautiful eyes, shedding tears, as she awaited her death from the fall¡­ Chapter 53 - 53 53 Results ?53: Chapter 53 Results 53: Chapter 53 Results Cai Xiangxiang thought she would be smashed to death, flung away ruthlessly by her senior brother. Better to die than to follow these heartless and wicked senior brothers. A bunch of ingrates, biting the hand that feeds them. She hadn¡¯t returned to visit her aging parents, and from then on, she would be separated from them by the realm of the living and the dead. Her parents¡¯ hopes for her had been realized, she only wished they would never learn of her death, the news would be too heartbreaking¡­ A poor peasant village. A couple tilling the land seemed to feel something, a distant connection to the bustling areas of the Cultivation World. Worry suddenly marred their peaceful faces. Their daughter, taken by an Immortal of the Immortal Mountain to become a Disciple, had been missing for several years without a single message, leaving them uncertain if she was dead or alive. Ah, but she was with an Immortal! Surely, their daughter must have accumulated lifetimes of good fortune to have such an opportunity. At her age, their daughter should be marrying, but as an Immortal Disciple, they didn¡¯t know if she would ever come back to see them. Daughter! Your parents miss you, please find time to visit us! Despite this remote and humble place, it is where you were born and raised. No matter the achievements you gain out there, you should come back to visit, come back to the place of your childhood, come see your elderly parents! This ordinary village was poor and backward. Lacking oxen for farming, they relied solely on human labor, significantly reducing their efficiency. What took others a single day could take them five or even a whole week. ¡­ Meeting Jiang Tang on the Road to Hell might be a good thing, to apologize to him. I caused his downfall, I was too soft on our fellow Disciples. I didn¡¯t know they harbored such wolfish and dog-like hearts, a disgrace to the cultivation Sects. She felt a force supporting her body and placing her somewhere safe. Am I rescued? But why do I still feel a trace of loss? Perhaps it¡¯s the guilt I have towards Jiang Tang. I¡¯m truly sorry Jiang Tang, I¡¯m the one who led you to your doom. You could have retreated safely with treasure in hand, and completed your mission, yet I caused you to be buried in the oasis. Cai Xiangxiang opened her eyes and found herself standing on the flying ship of Su Chang¡¯an, the Young Master of the Sword Sect. The scattered people were being controlled by a burst of Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s Spiritual Power. They tried to flee but couldn¡¯t, helplessly suspended in the air, ¡°Ah ah ah¡­,¡± their plight was both comic and deserving. Huang Chen too was restrained, his gaze fixed fiercely on the flying ship. Seeing his junior sister saved, he stared intently at her, hoping she wouldn¡¯t confess and lead to their exposure. Facing such a formidable enemy, they could collapse and likely meet their end today. Today, their killing and plundering had failed, turned around by another¡¯s sword. Even their own Master from the Sect wouldn¡¯t seek vengeance for them. After all, he was from a minor Sect like the Mount Tai Sect, how would he dare to seek revenge against such a major Sect as the Sword Sect? That would be like an egg smashing against a rock. Huang Chen felt incredibly unlucky. Coming out to gain experience and treasures had yielded nothing, and now he faced a mortal danger. Controlled by the dashing Su Chang¡¯an, Huang Chen had no time for admiration. The enemy was after his life, how could he marvel at someone else¡¯s superior Dao Arts? ¡°Scared, are you? Tsk tsk, fearing now seems a bit late, doesn¡¯t it? Weren¡¯t you running quite fast earlier? Run, go on¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an coldly looked at Huang Chen as if he were looking at a mere ant. ¡°Master Su, spare my life. In what way have I offended you? Please enlighten me, Master.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you, and you¡¯d better answer truthfully, or you know what the consequences will be. You might just die here today, understand? Have you seen Jiang Tang? Tell the truth,¡± ¡°Master, I¡¯ve reported before to you, we don¡¯t know and have never met that person.¡± ¡°Still being stubborn, huh? Let¡¯s see if you can withstand the might of this Young Master, huh.¡± After saying this, Su Chang¡¯an waved his hand, and a bolt of Spiritual Power struck Huang Chen¡¯s chest like lightning. ¡°Ah ah ah¡­ painful, painful¡­¡± Huang Chen felt his lungs and all his internal organs in agony, experiencing a pain that contorted his face. He wanted to clasp the painful spot with his hands, but sadly, he was immobilized and could only endure the pain. He was merely at the Pinnacle of the Physical Cultivation Stage; how could he withstand the strike of one at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection Stage? Su Chang¡¯an had even held back, otherwise, that strike would have reduced Huang Chen to ashes. ¡°Senior brother¡­¡± The junior brothers watched Su Chang¡¯an with fear, seeing Huang Chen in such pain and knowing they couldn¡¯t help. They also realized they couldn¡¯t save themselves now; this calamity was inescapable for them. They felt Huang Chen¡¯s agony as if it were their own, afraid of the pain¡­ ¡°Are you going to tell the truth or not¡­ if you don¡¯t, you¡¯re going to end up dead.¡± Su Chang¡¯an continued to look coldly at Huang Chen. The once gentle Su Chang¡¯an had become a tyrant in defending his friend, now seen as a devil in the eyes of Huang Chen and his brothers. ¡°Master¡­ I really don¡¯t know, please spare me, it¡¯s a misunderstanding!¡± Until this moment, Huang Chen knew speaking or not, both meant death. If he kept quiet, he might be spared, but speaking out would certainly lead to his demise. ¡°Hmm, still defiant,¡± Su Chang¡¯an said and, losing interest in the scoundrel, turned to address another group. ¡°Speak¡­ now, you tell me.¡± These people of the Mount Tai Sect, accustomed to bullying and plundering solitary travelers with their numbers, had done plenty of evil deeds. They hadn¡¯t expected that preying on a weaker one today would backfire so spectacularly. ¡°Young hero, we don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Senior brother, if he says he doesn¡¯t know, then we don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Who is Jiang Tang? I don¡¯t know¡­¡± The disciples of the Mount Tai Sect had already understood that if their senior brother denied it, they should also deny it. Admitting guilt would add a level to their crime, while denial might only mean death, but admission could result in becoming ashes. There is a difference between the two. For cultivators like them, who can no longer be reincarnated, even in death, they cannot reincarnate. Reduced to ashes, one can only become air in the world, but if only dead, the soul can still become a ghost cultivator and continue to cultivate on the path of becoming a cultivator of the Ghost Dao. There might still be a chance for revenge. ¡°Mmmmmm¡± Under a spell, Cai Xiangxiang couldn¡¯t speak. Hearing her fellow disciples¡¯ denials, she wanted to speak but could not form words, becoming anxious. Master Su, please help me undo this quickly. I know everything. If the fellow disciples had admitted it, she would have pleaded for mercy with them; but if they refused to speak, then the only option was for her to reveal the truth. If the truth meant her death, then she would turn into a ghost to seek out Jiang Tang. Su Chang¡¯an glanced at Cai Xiangxiang, then coldly eyed the others. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re not talking, is that it? Then I¡¯ll find someone who can.¡± Hearing this, Huang Chen and the other junior disciples looked even more terrified, their pleading gazes falling on Cai Xiangxiang, hoping she wouldn¡¯t confess and implicate them. Previously, this approach worked well, the junior sister¡¯s soft heart begged for Jiang Tang¡¯s release and spared them. Now, employing the same trick, surely the junior sister would help them again¡ªthey are all from the same sect. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The junior sister wouldn¡¯t be so foolish as to confess and implicate them, would she? That would mean she too couldn¡¯t escape being involved. Seeing the pleading expressions of her fellow disciples, Cai Xiangxiang could only shake her head vigorously. She couldn¡¯t keep making mistakes. ¡°Junior sister¡­¡± Huang Chen began to speak but didn¡¯t dare to continue, only his eyes conveying the message. ¡°Senior sister¡­¡± The voices of five or six disciples rose, all they could do was to plead with Cai Xiangxiang, their eyes begging for salvation. Cai Xiangxiang shook her head frantically, her mouth emitting: ¡°Mmmmmm¡± Su Chang¡¯an watched their performance¡ªa performance so clear that even a fool could see they were guilty! Their guilty behavior meant these people absolutely could not be forgiven¡­ With a wave of his hand, Su Chang¡¯an turned a stream of spiritual power into a beam of light and cast it upon Cai Xiangxiang. Cai Xiangxiang felt her body could move and she could speak again, but after being controlled for so long, her body was somewhat numb. She needed spiritual power to flow through her meridians. Being controlled by the spell made her throat numb, ¡°Cough cough¡± ¡°You, speak¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s one pointing finger indicated Cai Xiangxiang. Cai Xiangxiang glanced at her fellow disciples and then at Su Chang¡¯an, considering how to speak. ¡°Heroine, don¡¯t be afraid. If you look like you couldn¡¯t harm Jiang Tang, as long as you didn¡¯t harm him, we won¡¯t hold you responsible,¡± someone said. ¡°Junior sister¡± ¡°Senior sister¡± Hearing the pleading of her fellow disciples, Cai Xiangxiang still shook her head. She couldn¡¯t keep erring. It was time for them to meet their ghostly ends, time to avenge Jiang Tang. Perhaps after seeking revenge, her Qi would flow freely, and her cultivation might reach a new level. Otherwise, if she kept suppressing that anger, she would certainly miss out on advancements. Whether for her sake or for Jiang Tang, who sacrificed himself for her in the oasis, she had to speak the truth. Seeing her shaking her head, Huang Chen and her fellow disciples¡¯ faces grew uglier, their pleading eyes turning glaring. Indeed, these people had no affection for her; they were just using her to achieve their goals, without any sibling-like sentiment of the sect. Cai Xiangxiang saw the change in her siblings¡¯ expressions too, but having put life and death aside, how could she care about their glare? Now she was indifferent, wanting only to denounce them and see them receive the punishment they deserved. If you do wrong, you should be punished. After all, they had committed many wrongs. Throughout their journey, Huang Chen had committed many evils, leading the juniors into misdeeds. Now they were about to face retribution; perhaps this was heaven¡¯s design. Today was their day of death; they must not be allowed to harm others any longer. Such behavior could harm many innocent and kind people. Although the Cultivation World operates on the principle of the survival of the fittest, resorting to ruthless means is indeed contemptible, the very reason why great demons are universally despised. Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s red lips moved gently: ¡°Master Su, Taoist Yan, Jiang Tang¡­uuuu, was killed by them.¡± ¡°What? Jiang Tang¡­ is dead! How can that be?¡± Yan Weiwei had only sensed that Jiang Tang was in danger, but not that he had completely disappeared. She always felt he was somewhere, waiting for her to rescue him. Upon hearing the bad news, Yan Weiwei¡¯s body shook, trembling uncontrollably, as if she had just suffered a devastating blow. Chapter 54 - 54 54 The Curtain Falls ?54: Chapter 54: The Curtain Falls 54: Chapter 54: The Curtain Falls The words spoken by Cai Xiangxiang made those who cared for Jiang Tang unwilling to believe that he could be dead. How could he be dead? He was so¡­ ¡°Impossible¡­ Jiang Tang can¡¯t be dead¡­ He¡¯s my good friend, he can¡¯t be¡­ Definitely not, definitely not, aah, why, aah aah¡± Su Chang¡¯an took a step back on the flying ship, unable to accept the devastating news. He had made a friend with whom he felt a connection, only to find that friend could die so easily. He couldn¡¯t believe that Jiang Tang¡¯s life could be so short-lived. I thought Jiang didn¡¯t seem like the type to die young, that day, seeing Jiang¡¯s extraordinary poise, one could tell he was destined for great fortune. How could he have met such a fate? He just couldn¡¯t believe it. Yan Weiwei cried sadly, straightening up. Her tears wet her clothes as she wept with a beautiful but sorrowful face, unable to comprehend why Jiang Tang could have just vanished; it made no sense. Alas, disciples who had not entered the Outer Sect did not have the ability to sense the Soul Lamp that could reveal the life and death of others. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be. Jiang Tang has a Magical Treasure on him; with his abilities, he wouldn¡¯t die so easily.¡± Yan Weiwei found it very strange, ¡°If Jiang Tang is dead, what about Eryao?¡± Surely not Eryao as well? That¡¯s impossible. After all, Eryao had increased its level of Spiritual Power through cultivation. There¡¯s no way it could be killed by those riffraffs. ¡°You must be joking, Jiang Tang is fine, right? Are you lying to me? He got away, didn¡¯t he? Tell me, he must have escaped, right?¡± Su Chang¡¯an followed with his own questions. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. They had me under control, then used many Magical Treasures and Talismans to beat Jiang Tang to death¡­ wo wo wo¡­ I watched him disappear, unable to be found, not even a trace left, completely vanishing from the Mortal Realm like evaporation. His brothers found nothing of him.¡± Cai Xiangxiang, seeing that Yan Weiwei and Su Chang¡¯an didn¡¯t believe what she said, explained while crying, her own expression filled with sorrow. ¡°You, you, junior sister, don¡¯t talk nonsense. When did I kill him? You better not frame us; we really haven¡¯t seen any Jiang Tang.¡± Huang Chen had not expected Cai Xiangxiang to actually rat them out. This was tantamount to a death sentence. Unable to move freely and only able to talk his way out, he felt incredibly anxious, as if the next moment could be his last, feeling like they wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook. ¡°Senior sister, how could you do this?¡± ¡°Senior sister¡­ I beg you¡­¡± The disciples from Mount Tai Sect began to mournfully cry to Cai Xiangxiang. The men¡¯s crying faces made them seem as if they were about to die, that their time had come. This was far from their usual arrogant bullying, utterly cowardly when confronted with strength, and now fearing for their lives. ¡°Junior brothers, I¡¯m sorry. You shouldn¡¯t have sought revenge on Jiang Tang when he had already spared you, trying to kill him. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a state. Right now, you could have been carefree without these troubles. This is the punishment you deserve. You¡¯ve harmed so many cultivators, it¡¯s time for you to die.¡± Cai Xiangxiang, no longer caring about the accusatory looks and the cursing words of her fellow disciples, believed that if she was going to die, they would all die together. How could people in the Cultivation World be so afraid of death? In this world of the survival of the fittest, cultivators perish every day. This was the cycle of karma and retribution. You killed, so isn¡¯t it natural to pay with your life? Yan Weiwei, furious, released her aura, pointing her flying sword at them and said: ¡°You¡­ Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. are just despicable. Jiang Tang was so kind and let you go, but you ganged up against him and even tried to kill for loot. You are the embodiment of shamelessness. Now, this is the retribution you deserve. You all deserve to die. Today we will enforce justice on behalf of heaven and avenge Jiang Tang. The Cultivation World should be rid of people like you. Die!¡± ¡°Lady Yan, don¡¯t let them dirty your hands. Allow me to punish them¡­¡± After Su Chang¡¯an finished speaking, with a sweep of his hand, an aura like lightning burst forth, enveloping Huang Chen and his fellow disciples, not killing them instantly but surrounding them with electricity, electrocuting them to death. ¡°Spare our lives¡­ Great hero, please, don¡¯t kill me. We are innocent¡­¡± ¡°Spare us¡­ ah¡­ spare our lives, senior sister, save me¡­¡± Huang Chen and his fellow disciples felt as if they were being electrocuted, their bones aching and their flesh burning, their souls punished as well. It was a punishment more cruel than simply killing them, a brutal end reduced to ashes. Cai Xiangxiang heard they would be punished too, and closed her eyes, accepting her role in Jiang Tang¡¯s death. She didn¡¯t plead for her life, as tears fell on her tragically beautiful face. A moment passed, during which Cai Xiangxiang waited for death. She heard the agonizing screams of her fellow disciples but felt no pain herself. When she opened her eyes, she saw her fellow disciples turning to ash right before her, their remaining Magical Treasures exploding. As the ashes dispersed, she saw only the soul of her Junior Brothers ascending to the heavens. As their souls drifted upwards, Su Chang¡¯an moved to erase their souls to ensure they would disappear from this world forever, ending the existence of these cultivators. ¡°Master Su, please¡­ They are already dead, having received their punishment.¡± Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s compassionate heart surfaced again as she began to plead for mercy. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t you know you¡¯re also at fault? How can you still have the nerve to¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an paused for a moment, watching those souls fly away with wide eyes. He sighed deeply. If those people could still harm the Mortal Realm by cultivating with their souls, then today he had indeed allowed a devil to escape. ¡°Wuwu¡­ I know my mistake, Master Su, please just kill me. Jiang Tang died because of me, I don¡¯t want to live anymore, wuwu¡­¡± Cai Xiangxiang sobbed pitifully, her eyes closed and tears streaming down her face. Her appearance made it truly difficult for others to punish her and stirred up feelings of pity, a desire to protect her. ¡°Young Master, let it be, okay? She¡¯s innocent too, don¡¯t make it hard for her anymore?¡± Yan Weiwei, though resentful towards evildoers, didn¡¯t want to kill indiscriminately, as the real murderer of Jiang had been dealt with. This was the compassion that she had always cultivated. ¡°All right then? Since Lady Yan has pleaded on your behalf, you may go.¡± Su Chang¡¯an didn¡¯t want to kill the woman in red; he didn¡¯t particularly like this weeping woman. Such a person could truly be a calamity. Perhaps Jiang would not have died so soon if it weren¡¯t for her? This was also one of the reasons he was so highly cultivated yet still without a companion. It wasn¡¯t just because of the poison in his body. The path of cultivation is long and arduous. If someone were to hold him back, how could he protect others when he couldn¡¯t even protect himself? ¡°Wuwu¡­ Where in this vast world can I find a place to stay? All the fellow disciples who came out with me have died. If I go back, my master will surely blame me, and Huang Chen¡¯s family will take revenge against me. I might as well not return; what should I do in the future?¡± Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s eyes were lost. Their sect was a minor one, and Huang Chen was the scion of a powerful family, having contributed many Spirit Stones to the master. She thought that maybe not only her master would blame her upon her return, but Huang Chen¡¯s family might also seek revenge. Thinking this way, she didn¡¯t know where to go in the future. She might end up homeless on the streets, a place fraught with dangers in the Cultivation World, possibly leading to an even more miserable fate. ¡°You¡­ is that truly the case?¡± Yan Weiwei, with a kind heart, felt a softening at Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s tearful words and the beginnings of a desire to help her. ¡°Yes, I was just a girl from an ordinary family, but upon discovering I had a Spiritual Root, I joined the Mount Tai Sect and became a disciple of my master. Huang Chen was a scion of a great family. Now that he¡¯s dead, and I¡¯m the only one alive, they will surely suspect and interrogate me. Someone will certainly seek revenge against me; I can¡¯t go back to the sect anymore.¡± Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s face was strained with sorrow as she continued to cry and respond, eliciting even more sympathy. ¡°In that case¡­ what will you do in the future?¡± Yan Weiwei once again felt her sympathetic and kind-hearted nature stir. Su Chang¡¯an, however, remained silent the whole time. He could spare the woman¡¯s life, but he wouldn¡¯t help her. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked kindness, but rather that he had no good feelings towards this woman. Why must the weak always be pitied and helped? They would forever live under the protection of others, never having a chance to grow¡­ he believed no one was inherently weak; they simply lacked the will to become stronger. Therefore, he seldom showed pity for the weak; not killing them was already a mercy. ¡°Wow¡­ I can only wander the streets now.¡± Cai Xiangxiang crouched on the flying ship, hugging her knees and weeping. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ would you want to follow me to North City Immortal Sect? It might be a bit beneath you, though. I¡¯m an Inner Sect Disciple and can take in Servant Disciples to attend to my daily needs. However, you can¡¯t live with me; instead, you will have to stay at the residence for Servant Disciples of the Sect.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cai Xiangxiang lifted her head, her face still wet with tears that had not yet fallen, her eyes brimming with surprise. Yan Weiwei nodded to Cai Xiangxiang. ¡°Thank you, Lady Yan¡­ I will definitely repay you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks, it¡¯s the least I can do. However, you mustn¡¯t reveal that you have switched from another sect to mine while under my roof. You cannot afford to make any mistakes, or else I will expel you and deny knowing you, claiming you deceived me.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you, Lady Yan! I¡¯ll be careful, and nobody will find out. Don¡¯t worry, my life is at stake, so I won¡¯t be careless.¡± Cai Xiangxiang gave a formal bow with her hands clasped together. ¡°Lady Yan¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an was unable to prevent it, as it was their affair. To stop it would mean cutting off Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s future prospects, perhaps even costing her life. ¡°Young Master, I understand. Let¡¯s assume it¡¯s accumulating good deeds. Sigh, it was because of her that we discovered the truth and avenged Jiang Tang.¡± Yan Weiwei¡¯s beautiful face was still furrowed with worry. Jiang¡¯s death had dealt her a heavy blow, but in the deepest part of her heart, she still harbored a fantasy. What if Jiang had a special Magical Treasure? Otherwise, how could they explain that after killing Jiang, not even a trace was left behind? There must be something fishy about it. Chapter 55 - 55 55 Soul ?55: Chapter 55 Soul 55: Chapter 55 Soul ¡°Now that we have avenged Brother Jiang Tang, it¡¯s time for us to leave. If we stay too long, I fear stronger people will come to investigate. It¡¯s better to be careful. Do you have any other matters to take care of? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If so, finish them as soon as possible,¡± Su Chang¡¯an felt that this place was not safe to linger in. Such is the world of cultivation. Whenever a battle takes place, there will inevitably be those who come to pick up the spoils, investigate to sell information, or even to kill and seize treasures. Battles generally arise over treasures, but acts of revenge cannot be ruled out. However, once the battle is over and the battlefield cleaned, it¡¯s best to leave quickly, unless you¡¯re confident enough to kill any who pursue you. Having killed that group of people just now, he didn¡¯t know if they had stronger backers, but less trouble is always better than more. Although confident that even if there were stronger opponents, they wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke him rashly since he was the Young Master of the Sword Sect. Anyone daring to do so would have to consider whether they could withstand the wrath of the Sword Sect. ¡°Master Su, I have nothing else to attend to¡­¡± Yan Weiwei said with a sad tilt of her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything else either¡­¡± Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s head drooped even lower as she cried. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡± With a flick of his hand, Su Chang¡¯an struck the flying ship with spiritual power, and it swiftly took off. Many birds flew across the sky, all veering away from the ship. A battle had taken place here, and because it was distant and high in the sky, people from afar only saw flashes of light and assumed it was some powerful being fighting or crossing a tribulation. The weak dared not approach, left only to speculate what could cause powerful beings to fight here? ¡°Let¡¯s go inside the cabin¡­¡± It was Yan Weiwei speaking to Cai Xiangxiang. ¡°Okay, thank you, Lady Yan.¡± Cai Xiangxiang followed obediently. Su Chang¡¯an watched the two women enter the cabin, hoping that this person wouldn¡¯t cause him trouble in the future. ¡­ An Elder at the Core Formation Realm of the Mount Tai Sect was meditating when suddenly one of his magical treasures, a spirit bell, began to ring incessantly. He had all his disciples drop blood on it when they started their discipleship. If a disciple died, the spirit bell would sound. The Elder¡¯s face changed color. The six or seven disciples he had sent out, though not the highest in cultivation among all his disciples, included a Clan Descendant who had always provided him with spirit stones for cultivation. ¡°Damn it, which blind fool did this? Who killed all my disciples? Watch me take care of you!¡± The Elder had assumed that his disciples, who were out on a training mission, might be killed by someone below Foundation Establishment, out of greed for their treasures. He was well aware that Huang Chen and his fellow disciples were carrying many magical treasures and talismans ¨C how could they be so easily killed? It must have been the work of a large group, seeking to kill and rob his disciples. So, he took out a Soul Calling Mirror and summoned the souls of his slain disciples. Inside the Soul Calling Mirror, the souls of six dead disciples appeared, including Huang Chen, but the soul of one female disciple was missing. He cast spiritual power into the mirror, allowing the souls within to speak as if they were standing there as real people. ¡°Master, I have finally seen you again¡­¡± ¡°Master, help us take revenge¡­¡± ¡°Master, we must take revenge and capture the traitor Cai Xiangxiang.¡± Hearing the overlapping voices of his disciples, the Core Formation Elder was confused and couldn¡¯t make out the reason for their deaths. ¡°Speak one at a time, and make it clear. Who are the bastards that killed you? Don¡¯t all talk at once, answer one by one,¡± he commanded. Huang Chen, full of resentment, said to his master, ¡°We were killed by Su Chang¡¯an. Cai Xiangxiang betrayed us, that wench. When she returns, Master, you must help us take revenge.¡± ¡°Su Chang¡¯an? Master Su of the Su Clan? How did you offend him? With a Great Perfection of Nascent Soul cultivation, what was he doing in Liusha Sea City for training?¡± ¡°He said he had a friend Jiang Tang who was killed by us. He thought he could seize the treasures, but little did he know he couldn¡¯t, and we denied killing Jiang Tang. We never expected that Cai Xiangxiang, that wench, would betray us.¡± ¡°What? Su Chang¡¯an killed you, and it was your junior sister who turned you in. No wonder she didn¡¯t die¡­¡± The Core Formation Realm Elder was in a dilemma, how could he with his cultivation assist his disciple in seeking revenge? Even if his cultivation was a bit higher, they were up against the Young Master of the Sword Sect, and his own insignificant Mount Tai Sect was nowhere near a match for them¡ªit was like an egg crashing against a rock! It felt like he was bound to suffer in silence! But there was nothing to be done. Cai Xiangxiang was quite clever, sacrificing her fellow disciples to save herself from death. If she were safe, she would certainly not come back, knowing that if she did, I would definitely not let her off the hook. After all, she betrayed her own sect brothers and sisters, and regardless of her reasons, she could not be allowed to live. What a pity for such a clever woman. I had originally planned to wait until her cultivation was higher to make her my cauldron, boosting my own cultivation, but I missed the chance. If the Young Master of the Sword Sect took her away, then there¡¯s certainly no opportunity left. If it wasn¡¯t him? Then there might still be a chance. What a pity for a woman with pure Yin energy. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s still a way, sigh, finding another and cultivating her, who knows how long that will take, maybe there won¡¯t even be time. The desire in the Core Formation Realm Elder¡¯s eyes was evident to Huang Chen. He had always suspected his master, but now his suspicions were confirmed¡ªhis master had ill intentions, but that despicable woman was no better. ¡°Master, if you don¡¯t seek revenge for me, then tell the family to cut off the spirit stone supply to your sect.¡± ¡°Disciple, a gentleman can wait ten years for revenge. You also see that my cultivation is not high, and our Mount Tai Sect cannot compete with the Sword Sect. Forget about seeking revenge, we would be extinguished in minutes, just like stepping on an ant.¡± ¡°Hmph, you speak so nicely, yet you still don¡¯t want to seek revenge for us¡­¡± Huang Chen looked at his master in despair, hoping that the members of his family would know of the danger and help him take revenge. But how could anyone in his family dare to clash head on with the Sword Sect? Even if they dared, the entire family would be annihilated, making the loss even greater. The look of despair on Huang Chen¡¯s face caused his junior disciples to also fall into despair. If he could not persuade Master to avenge them, they were even less capable, and now they could only await death. ¡°Disciple, don¡¯t lose heart. Master, I have a magical treasure that can take you to a place where, if you successfully cultivate there, you can follow the Path of Cultivation to become an Immortal and then seek revenge however you wish¡­¡± Huang Chen was dubious upon hearing his master¡¯s words, yet he clung to a sliver of hope. His hatred compelled him to grow stronger, so if there was another method of cultivation, it just might be worth a try¡­ ¡°Master, are you talking about becoming a Ghost Cultivator in order to cultivate to Immortality and achieve revenge¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, there are many different types of cultivation in this world, including that of Ghost Cultivators. Once a Ghost Cultivator reaches the Mahayana Realm, they too can ascend to Immortality.¡± ¡°Master, why haven¡¯t I heard about this before? Is this method of cultivation quick? Is it faster than regular cultivation? Anyway, I¡¯m already a ghost of sorts, it can¡¯t be worse than it is now. I¡¯ll start cultivating. If I don¡¯t cultivate, there will be no more chances. I must take revenge, I absolutely must. I am so angry, I must kill Su Chang¡¯an, aaaaagh!¡± The howling of Huang Chen¡¯s ghostly soul at that time was especially harrowing. The Core Formation Realm Elder started at the outburst, chastised him, and after collecting himself, slowly said: ¡°Because that is a legend that no one dares to try. However, today, for the disciples, Master used a magical treasure found on an ancient battlefield, one that still possesses a trace of spiritual energy. This magical treasure is called Hell Palace and will summon you all to cultivate within. Whether or not you can ascend depends on your efforts. As for its speed, I am not quite certain; I can only find out after you have cultivated. I have never heard about this treasure before.¡± ¡°Master, you wouldn¡¯t deceive us, would you? We are all in this state; Master, you must help us.¡± Huang Chen¡¯s words prompted nods from his junior Bbrothers they too had never heard their master speak of this before. If Master wasn¡¯t deceiving them, then he must have been hiding many magical treasures. They felt regretful, wondering why they hadn¡¯t demanded treasures from their master before. If they had more treasures on them, they wouldn¡¯t have been killed so easily today, and they might have had a chance to turn things around. ¡°Why would I deceive you? Huang Chen, in light of your continued respect for Master, I will perform a ritual for 49 days and then send you all to that place.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master¡­¡± Huang Chen and his junior disciples¡¯ souls knelt before the soul-summoning mirror, and when they raised their heads again, the hatred in their eyes twisted their souls even more. ¡­ The Huang Family was a well-known clan in Immortal Lord City. Their greatest resource was their spirit stone mine, and the clan also had elders skilled in Talisman Making and Artifact Refining, capable of creating magical treasures; they only lacked in Alchemy. The clan¡¯s young elite, Lai Jianlin, was encouraged to join various sects as disciples, in hopes that the cultivation techniques they learned in each sect could later be brought back and imparted to the clan. ¡°Family Head, terrible news! The jade token of Young Master Huang Chen has shattered¡­¡± A disciple guarding the ancestral hall rushed into the courtyard of the Family Head, shouting loudly. Besides dealing with affairs, the Family Head would also cultivate in a room in the courtyard. He had a partner, and his age was around fifty or sixty, with a cultivation at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. ¡°What? Speak clearly¡­¡± The Family Head was cultivating when he heard someone break in to report; Huang Chen was one of their elite, and also his own grandson. ¡°Family Head, the jade token of Huang Chen has shattered.¡± The disciple watching the ancestral hall knelt down and repeated. ¡°Nonsense, my grandson is well at the Mount Tai Sect, how could his jade token be shattered¡­ Damn it¡­¡± The Family Head quickly headed towards the ancestral hall. Chapter 56 - 56 56 Huang Family ?56: Chapter 56 Huang Family 56: Chapter 56 Huang Family Family Head Huang deployed his footwork and leaped swiftly towards the ancestral hall. The disciples, unaware of what had transpired, saw their clan leader rushing urgently in one direction. Some of them said, ¡°The Family Head is rushing to a place so anxiously, there must be some emergency. Could it be¡­¡± Another disciple suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go over and have a look, too. By going there, we¡¯ll find out what¡¯s going on. Only a few things could make the Family Head so frantic. Could it be that his grandson has caused trouble again?¡± The disciples also ran quickly behind him to check out the commotion. ¡°Damn it, who killed my grandson¡­ Sound the warning bell¡­ Mirage Realm, we must find the person who harmed my grandson.¡± Family Head Huang cursed fiercely as he brought out a magical treasure¡ªit was a small mirror. He applied spiritual power to the Mirage Mirror and the previously undisturbed surface. With the spiritual power that Family Head Huang exerted, the mirror suddenly showed specks of snowflakes and the blurred shadow of a wind-blown figure. Seeing that the Mirage Mirror couldn¡¯t reveal the shadow of the enemy, Family Head Huang cast another bolt of spiritual power, but the Mirage Mirror still couldn¡¯t display the face of the foe. ¡­ If Jiang Tang were here, he would certainly exclaim with surprise, ¡°This is a mirror that looks as high-tech as a TV with poor reception. This Cultivation World doesn¡¯t need power to transmit TV shows!¡± ¡­ ¡°Damn it, why can¡¯t it be clearer? Mumble jumble.¡± Family Head Huang tried hard to apply spiritual power, but unfortunately, he could only see a blurry shadow of the enemy, and he couldn¡¯t make out the face on the image. The sounding of the warning bell brought both the family disciples and the elders to gather in the square. Family Head Huang, unable to see the enemy¡¯s face clearly, had no choice but to use his footwork and leap to the cultivation square. Family Head Huang arrived on the platform in the square, standing there with a face full of hatred and anger. His son stood among the elders, together with his partner. The partner of Family Head Huang was also among the crowd. This gathering brought together everyone¡ªaside from those who could not attend because of seclusion or were too young. The disciples were dressed in uniform attire, with different ranks signified by varying colors. ¡°What¡¯s happened, Father?¡± The son of Family Head Huang spoke up. ¡°Yes, Family Head, why sound the warning bell?¡± ¡°Nothing major happened within the family, didn¡¯t hear of any big incidents either, so why sound the warning bell?¡± ¡°Sounding the warning bell casually is not a good omen! And we haven¡¯t seen anyone dead here.¡± These were the comments of the three elders to the Family Head. The disciples stood in the crowd, looking at each other, trying to see who was missing. Usually, the warning bell is rung when someone has died. ¡°My son, the elders, the disciples, we must avenge my grandson Huang Chen!¡± Family Head Huang spoke with grief. He had only two beloved grandsons, and the one with better talents, Huang Chen, had unfortunately perished. Fortunately, the other grandson wasn¡¯t at the Mount Tai Sect, or else he would have lost all his grandsons. ¡°What? How could my son Huang Chen die? Who killed him? Father, have you found the enemy?¡± The son of Family Head Huang was both sorrowful and furious. His son was the elite of the clan, his pride. Being so young, he was already close to matching his own cultivation. With better resources, he could potentially become the strongest in the family. This was also the hope of their clan, and they never anticipated that the youngest, Huang Chen, would be slain. The other elders were also stunned. Previously, believing that Huang Chen had better talents than their grandchildren, Family Head Huang had privately allocated the best resources to him. Though they had some complaints, they still hoped that the younger generation could succeed and lead their family to become stronger. Nobody expected Huang Chen to be killed so easily. With the grief of the Family Head and his family, their faces also turned grim. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though Huang Chen wasn¡¯t our own flesh and blood, we watched him grow up. To be bullied and killed like this¡ªit¡¯s a humiliation. The disciples standing below only now realized that Huang Chen, who was able to become a disciple at the Mount Tai Sect, had been murdered. Who could have committed the act? They had always been contributing to the clan, never imagining the malice in the outside world. They knew that among the three big families in Immortal Lord City, there was strife. The name Immortal Lord City came from tales that, during the Desolate Ancient era, an Immortal Lord had ascended from this place. It has been over ten thousand years since such a figure appeared, leaving nothing for their descendants in Immortal Lord City but some magical treasures, artifact refining secret manuals, and talisman crafting secret manuals. Indeed, there were some flaws in cultivation, but even more so in alchemy. The magical treasures and talismans produced by their family were, in part, used to exchange for pills. It was also because of their possession of magical treasures and talismans that they could compete so aggressively for spirit stone mine resources among the three great families. However, apart from the Huang Family in Immortal Lord City, the Jiang Family¡¯s covetous gaze, and the Luo Family, famous for their pill concocting, posed potential threats. It was said that the Luo Family¡¯s ancestors were once disciples of the Medicine Saint Sect. At any moment, they could kick the Huang Family out of the three major families, enabling the second-rate Lai Family to take their place. ¡°My child¡­ how could you have been killed?¡± Huang Chen¡¯s mother cried. ¡°My grandson, weren¡¯t you cultivating in the sect? How could you have died?¡± Huang Chen¡¯s grandmother wailed in misery. ¡°A member of our family has been murdered. What do you say we do?¡± Family Head Huang looked at his spouse and watched his son and daughter-in-law cry. His heart ached. He spoke seriously to the elders and disciples below. Although his words were phrased as a question, he had already decided to seek revenge. ¡°Father, please give the order! We must take revenge, avenge my son¡­ We must find vengeance, only by carving the enemy into a thousand pieces will our hatred dissipate.¡± Family Head Huang¡¯s son cried out in grief and rage. Family Head Huang gestured to his son to be at ease and then turned his gaze toward the disciples and the three elders. The cultivation of the elders was at the Mid Foundation Establishment level, none as high as that of Family Head Huang. Within their family was an old ancestor, the father of Family Head Huang, whose cultivation was at the Mid Nascent Soul level, currently in seclusion within the family, providing a stabilizing presence. ¡°Family Head, please give the order!¡± the Great Elder said. ¡°Yes, Family Head, please give the order!¡± Elder San said. ¡°Family Head, we all agree on taking revenge, but we also need to ascertain the strength of the enemy. We shouldn¡¯t bring disaster to the entire family for the sake of one individual,¡± Elder Er spoke with a bit more consideration. Family Head Huang¡¯s gaze fixed on Elder Er, trying to discern from his eyes whether he was unwilling to avenge his grandson. As the family head, he knew well that personal vendettas should not endanger the family. The opponent was very, very strong. If revenge was sought carelessly, it could truly lead to the family¡¯s annihilation. When disciples encountered robbery and murder during their outside training, many who couldn¡¯t get revenge had no choice but to let go of their grudge. But if the family sought revenge and stumbled against an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, their entire lineage could face extermination. ¡°Very well, the three elders shall accompany the head of the family to the Mount Tai Sect to inquire about that Elder in the Core Formation Realm, hoping to learn from him who our enemy is. Then we shall decide.¡± Family Head Huang¡¯s decision hinted at his suspicion that the opponent¡¯s cultivation was higher than his own since he had used his power on the Mirage Mirror to no avail, unable to reveal the enemy¡¯s appearance. An enemy with higher cultivation than his own rendered his magical treasures useless against them. Reflecting on this, Family Head Huang realized that this trip to the Mount Tai Sect might cost some spirit stones and magical treasures. But for his grandson¡¯s sake, he could not let his death be in vain; he hoped his master had other ways to bring him back to life. Family Head Huang prepared to depart with the three elders. ¡°Father, I will go too¡­ I must kill the enemy myself, to avenge my son¡­¡± Family Head Huang¡¯s son also wished to seek revenge. ¡°You stay here and act as the family head in our absence. We cannot leave the family without a leader if we are all at the Mount Tai Sect.¡± ¡°But, Father¡­ I want to go as well.¡± ¡°There are no ¡®buts.¡¯ With the family and elders gone, do not let word spread. Once we leave, lock the main gate to prevent any opportunistic looting.¡± Family Head Huang said this also to guard against any moves from the other two families while they were away. He could not, for the sake of one individual, disregard the entire family; otherwise, he would become the sinner of the family. Chapter 57 - 57 57 Rainbow ?57: Chapter 57 Rainbow 57: Chapter 57 Rainbow ¡°Yes, Father¡­ you must find the assassin and avenge my son¡­¡± The Huang Family Head¡¯s son had no choice but to obey the command, though he had wanted to take revenge for his son personally. ¡°This, I will surely do, remember to be on guard against anyone who might cause trouble for our family clan.¡± What worried the Family Head Huang the most was the possibility of outsiders taking advantage of the situation to plunder. ¡°Father, your son will be vigilant¡­ Please rest assured, once you are outside, you must be careful about your safety.¡± The Acting Head of the Huang Family promised. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Family Head Huang secretly led three elders out. They used a secret tunnel. On this day, the Huang Family suddenly shut their gates tightly, with disciples neither entering nor leaving. In truth, if they really needed to go out and take care of something, they would exit through the secret tunnel; this was also one of the family¡¯s secrets. For thousands of years, the family had remained strong without declining, and this was part of their foundation. Outsiders were merely curious about what had caused the Huang Family to close their gate so tightly. What, exactly, had happened? ¡­ Su Chang¡¯an piloted the flying ship, which had two women cultivating inside the cabin. He sat cross-legged in the flying ship¡¯s hall, cultivating, when he suddenly sensed someone spying. He cast a spiritual power barrier around the ship. He also obscured his image so that the spy could not see him clearly, nor the people on the ship. Su Chang¡¯an suspected that the person spying might be related to Huang Chen, and since his own cultivation was quite high, he could fend off some dangers. However, the two women in the cabin had much lower cultivations and could easily be seen by others. Although he did not possess the heart of a hero saving beauties, as a man, he did not wish for those around him to encounter danger by his side. Su Chang¡¯an felt again and discovered that the person spying with a magical treasure did not have as high a cultivation as him, which reassured him to continue his cultivation. Those who practice cultivation, although they gain many years of longevity with each advancement, could end up unable to advance further if they stayed at one realm for too long. Once they reached a certain age, the possibility of advancement diminished, leaving them only to wait for old age and to fade away into dust. Su Chang¡¯an knew he needed to nurture his illness, so he took several Spirit Supplement Pills. These pills were of no use for his actions, but they were still beneficial for nurturing his body. He also took a Peaceful Infant Pill, necessary for those in the Nascent Soul Stage to consolidate their cultivation. He longed to advance to the Ocean Wheel realm, but his cultivation had been stagnant at the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul for quite a while due to the poison within his body. This trip was to find an antidote, as well as to look for resources, specifically the Ocean Benefit Pills needed for advancing to the Ocean Wheel realm. These pills rarely appeared on the market, as very few had been able to reach that stage over the years. It was possible to find them in the black market auctions, and Su Chang¡¯an wanted to go there to see what he could find. Purchasing the pills early was part of his preparation, unwilling to remain stuck at his current realm. ¡°How presumptuous¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an sensed someone spying again, so he waved his hand, turning his spiritual power into a gust of wind that obscured his face and figure from the spy. He could tell that this time, the spy¡¯s cultivation was even lower than the one before, thinking that using a magical treasure would be enough to observe him. They were truly dreaming¡­ The flying ship ascended above the clouds, where reaching out a hand would not touch the cloud layer. Suddenly, black clouds gathered in the sky where sunlight had been, obscuring the sun. ¡°Boom, thunder roars¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an stopped cultivating on the ship, unfazed by the thunderous lightning. His flying ship was a magical treasure, and even if struck by lightning, it wouldn¡¯t explode. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it going to rain?¡± Cai Xiangxiang was in the cabin when she heard the rumble of thunder and looked outside through the window. The weather, which had started as sunny, had turned stormy with thunder and lightning. Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s mood was restless; she entered a compartment alone and sat on the bed trying to cultivate, but she couldn¡¯t focus for long. Her thoughts were too chaotic, unable to calm down and cultivate. The death of Jiang Tang filled her with guilt. Another reason for her unease was the murder of her fellow disciples, and she wouldn¡¯t avenge them. But she also feared that the Huang Chen family might target her parents, or Su Chang¡¯an, and more likely, Yan Weiwei and herself. Cai Xiangxiang cried ceaselessly for both others and herself. Her abilities were too poor, her cultivation too low. Not that she didn¡¯t try hard. Perhaps it was the cultivation method¡¯s fault, the one her master gave her¡ªit was different from the ones others practiced. Although she could advance her cultivation level like her junior fellow disciples, her combat effectiveness was not up to par, which made it so easy for her to be controlled. Cai Xiangxiang had doubted her master, but she came from an ordinary family that didn¡¯t have anyone to teach her better cultivation techniques. Her master had come to her family to take her as a disciple, making all her family members extremely happy. They believed a member of their family could become an immortal, but after joining the Mount Tai Sect for cultivation, she slowly learned about the complexities of the cultivation world and how hard it was to become an immortal. This time, with Yan Weiwei entering the North City Immortal Sect, she was determined to find another cultivation method. Yan Weiwei, with her higher cultivation level, might be able to help her fulfill this wish. She thought that from then on, she would have to do menial chores, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. Being hidden in a major sect, she wouldn¡¯t fear the Huang Family¡¯s revenge. Small rain began to fall from the sky, gradually intensifying to moderate, then heavy rain, eventually turning into a thunderstorm¡­. ¡°Boom¡± Yan Weiwei was in the adjacent compartment, cultivating. She had recently consolidated her Foundation Establishment. Now sitting on the bed meditating, she could not find peace in her heart either. Thinking about the kind-hearted Jiang Tang, who had perished just like that, filled her with pain. ¡°Junior brother, your sister has avenged you. I hope that in another world, you can live a better life, no longer bullied by others.¡± ¡°Wuuwuu¡± Yan Weiwei¡¯s mood, much like the rainy day, wasn¡¯t good. Contemplating this made her cry. At this moment, she still didn¡¯t understand why she cared so much about Jiang Tang; she just knew she cared. Over the years, Yan Weiwei had devoted herself solely to cultivation, and her efforts had paid off. From among the many disciples, she was able to join the Inner Sect. Born in a small cultivator family, she started practicing cultivation techniques and had Spirit Energy Infusion at the age of 15. When the Immortal Sect recruited Disciples, she was fortunate to be accepted as an Outer Sect Disciple. After years of cultivation, she moved from being an Outer Sect Disciple to an Inner Sect one, living in a yard with two or three others, with her own room for cultivation, and better cultivation methods. Outer Sect Disciples still needed to complete tasks and work, but as an Inner Sect Disciple, all three meals were cooked for them, including meals with Spirit Rice and beast meat filled with Spiritual Energy that allowed them to replenish their Spiritual Power. This time when she went out, she also found a maid; she had been lacking a Servant Disciple to serve her since she ascended to the Inner Sect. This time, Jiang Tang¡¯s misfortune led her to take in Cai Xiangxiang. She wasn¡¯t sure how reliable this person was. Yan Weiwei felt somewhat indifferent, her cultivation was higher than that of the other person, and so far, she hadn¡¯t sensed any ill-will in her. ¡°Jiang Tang, I hope you can live better in another world and not be bullied by others.¡± After a while, the rain slowly stopped, and the previously grey sky started to brighten up a bit, soon followed by the appearance of a rainbow. Yan Weiwei quickly sat down to meditate and absorb the Spiritual Energy from the rainbow into her body. Cai Xiangxiang, previously restless, also hastily began to cultivate upon seeing the rainbow that contained a kind of Spiritual Energy. What cultivators like them really wanted to absorb was Immortal Qi. Su Chang¡¯an sensed the rainbow and, with a wave of his hand, drew the rainbow¡¯s Spiritual Energy into his body. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He suddenly discovered that the Spiritual Power of the rainbow seemed to be dissolving some of his body¡¯s toxins. With this realization, Su Chang¡¯an wildly absorbed the rainbow¡¯s Spiritual Power. The rainbow was brief, and then a cauldron haze drifted across the sky. Within this haze, Su Chang¡¯an could again feel the Spiritual Power and continued to absorb it fervently. Su Chang¡¯an could feel the toxins in his body gradually disappear. His initially pale complexion slowly gained a rosy tint. Chapter 58 - 58 58 Disinfection ?58: Chapter 58 Disinfection 58: Chapter 58 Disinfection Su Chang¡¯an anchored the flying vessel in the sky and, with his eyes closed, absorbed the spiritual energy, feeling the toxins in his body slowly fade away. He was pleasantly surprised by this discovery; indeed, venturing out for experience had its rewards. He exhaled deeply, once again, Su Chang¡¯an could continue advancing on the path of cultivation. He thought the poison would never be removed, yet unexpected to him, he managed to eliminate the poison today. Cai Xiangxiang, who was cultivating inside, could sense that the flying vessel had stopped in mid-air and was not flying, but at the moment she was too focused on growing stronger. Yan Weiwei, having a slightly higher cultivation, could absorb more spiritual energy and noticed a force competing with her for spiritual energy, absorbing it even more strongly than her. Yan Weiwei understood that it was Su Chang¡¯an. Such a powerful person was still competing with someone as weak as her for spiritual energy¡­ Su Chang¡¯an cultivated at the location of the evening glow for half an hour, watching the twilight fade away. He circulated spiritual energy through the acupoints in his body, and after a full circulation, he finally felt the toxins being forced out of his body. ¡°Hahahaha, I, Su Chang¡¯an, can once again meet the martial world.¡± Su Chang¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but shout with joy, and in the high sky, his voice spread far and wide. The flying birds paused for a moment in the air because of his laughter, then circled around and flew away. But Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s mood had never been so ecstatic, not even when he was promoted to Nascent Soul and others congratulated him, he only felt pride, thinking that Nascent Soul was not so difficult¡­ Since learning of the poisoning, and remaining at the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul for a very long time, only then did he realize how hard it was to transcend this realm. ¡°Master Su?¡± After hearing the laughter, Yan Weiwei walked out of the cabin and saw that Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s complexion was different from before; the previously pale and sickly face now looked so ruddy. ¡°Master Su¡­¡± Cai Xiangxiang couldn¡¯t help but walk out too. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I was poisoned before, but just now I managed to rid myself of the poison, truly the heavens aid me.¡± Su Chang¡¯an didn¡¯t hide this from them. ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Su¡­¡± ¡°Congratulations, Mr. Su¡­¡± Yan Weiwei and Cai Xiangxiang were both happy for Su Chang¡¯an having rid himself of the poison. ¡°Thank you, you two should return to the cabin! I¡¯ll take you back to the sect first.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Yan Weiwei and Cai Xiangxiang went back into the cabin. After the recent cultivation, they could feel as if they were filled with spiritual energy and might be able to advance given time. Su Chang¡¯an waved a stream of spiritual power at the flying vessel, feeling that this time the effort was so effortless, as if when poisoned, every use of spiritual power encountered some resistance. Half an hour later, Su Chang¡¯an opened his eyes and looked down from high above; he was above the archway of the North City Immortal Sect. He brought the flying vessel down and then said to the people in the cabin: ¡°The two heroines can come out now, North City Immortal Sect has arrived.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Su, for taking care of us along the way, thank you¡± Two women walked out from the cabin. As the flying vessel was almost to the ground, Su Chang¡¯an put the vessel away. Yan Weiwei and Cai Xiangxiang stood on the ground. Yan Weiwei was dressed in the disciple¡¯s clothes of the North City Immortal Sect, which were different from those worn by the disciples guarding the archway, as the Inner Sect Disciple¡¯s clothes were of different colors. Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s eyes beheld the Immortal Mountain in front of her; truly, a major sect was different¡ªhow could it be compared with Mount Tai Sect? Inside, mountains were shrouded in an immortal mist; the spiritual energy here was abundant, and even standing at the mountain gate one could feel it. Cultivating here would yield more spiritual essence. If it had been before, with her qualifications, she might not even have been eligible to be a Servant Disciple in a great sect! ¡°Let¡¯s part here, until we meet again¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an didn¡¯t bother with much talk, and took his leave of them. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Su, for your assistance, until we meet again.¡± Yan Weiwei gave a salute with her fists. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Su, for sparing my life.¡± Cai Xiangxiang bowed slightly. Su Chang¡¯an waved back at them and then brought out the flying vessel again. The vessel enlarged as he imbued it with spiritual power and he jumped onto it, his figure drifting elegantly, adding to his Immortal-like demeanour. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Yan Weiwei watched as Su Chang¡¯an¡¯s flying vessel disappeared into the distance, then said to Cai Xiangxiang, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Cai Xiangxiang nodded obediently. Yan Weiwei took out a jade token and waved it in front of the Servant Disciples as she entered the mountain gate. ¡°Sister Yan¡­¡± The disciples guarding the gate recognized Yan Weiwei. ¡°Sister Yan, she is¡­?¡± The disciples noticed Cai Xiangxiang, seeing that she was unfamiliar and that she had not taken out a token. ¡°She is a Servant Disciple I have recently taken under my wing¡­ In a moment, I, as the older sister, will go to the Council Hall to get the jade token made.¡± ¡°Oh, congratulations then, Sister Yan¡­¡± Knowing the rules, once one entered the inner hall, they could keep a female servant. If someone became a Direct Disciple of a Mountain Peak Master or an Elder, they could also take disciples. ¡°Hmm¡± Yan Weiwei employed her footwork and headed toward the Council Hall; within the sect, one could not fly with a Magic Artifact. This was due to the protective formation laid out by the ancestors to defend against external enemies. ****** Immortal Lord City¡¯s Luo Family. A disciple who had been sent to gather information rushed into the Family Head¡¯s main hall to report to the Family Head. ¡°Reporting to the Family Head, the disciple has gathered information that the Huang Family has rung the warning bell, and their main gate is shut tight.¡± Family Head Luo Sheng¡¯s cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. His Spiritual Root was Wood, one of the Earth Dual Spiritual Roots. In his family, except for the Golden Core cultivation of the patriarch, his cultivation was second only to him. The Magical Treasure he wielded was the Flying Dragon Saber. ¡°A warning bell¡­ that sounds more like a death knell¡­ The Huang Family must be in trouble.¡± ¡°Family Head, should we take advantage of their unpreparedness and attack them?¡± An Elder, who was sitting in the main hall, sensed an opportunity. Family Head Luo Sheng glanced at this Elder and didn¡¯t like the combative idea he had suggested. Endless battles¡ªwould they then have time for cultivation? ¡°That¡¯s not appropriate, let¡¯s watch and wait,¡± he said. ¡°But Family Head¡­¡± the Elder said, unwilling to let go. Family Head Luo Sheng¡¯s hand gesture stopped the Elder from continuing. At this moment, another disciple came in to report. ¡°Reporting to the Family Head, Family Head Lai has come to visit.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± A jovial man entered, greeting them with a clasped fist bow. ¡°Family Head Luo, Elders of the Luo Family¡­¡± ¡°Family Head Lai, what brings you to visit us today?¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s all thanks to Family Head Luo that my Lai Family could enter the ranks of the second-tier families.¡± ¡°That was all due to your own abilities,¡± Luo Sheng did not take credit, observing that Family Head Lai must have an agenda for his visit. ¡°Family Head Luo, whether the Lai Family can become a first-tier family or not relies on you now.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Family Head Luo Sheng did not agree immediately, as they were only allies. He wouldn¡¯t help them fight. If their own family members weren¡¯t strong, then it was like trying to support a tottering wall with mud. ¡°Has Family Head Luo heard? The Huang Family rang their bell; someone inside must have died, and it¡¯s said that Family Head Huang is not in the city.¡± ¡°Oh, where has he gone?¡± ¡°I heard his grandson encountered trouble at the Mount Tai Sect.¡± ¡°The Mount Tai Sect? Did it happen outside or inside?¡± ¡°That, I do not know, but I think this is an opportunity,¡± the Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Lai Family with Fire Spirit Root, who liked using a Trident as his Magical Treasure, remarked. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± When Family Head Luo Sheng heard about the grandson of the Huang Family being in trouble, he thought of his own son Luo Yaxuan, whom he had not seen for a year since he was in the Immortal Sect pursuing cultivation. The last time he saw his son, the young man was in the Foundation Establishment Stage, a standout disciple among the younger generation in their family. However, this was still far from being powerful. He heard that Su Chang¡¯an of the Sword Sect, of the same age, already had a cultivation of Nascent Soul Great Perfection. It was a level beyond what their generation could hope to surpass, and he wished the younger generation could reach such a level of cultivation. ¡°What are you looking at? If you keep watching, you¡¯ll miss the opportunity,¡± urged Family Head Lai, discontent with the lack of response, having come for assistance. ¡°Isn¡¯t your son cultivating at the Immortal Sect, nothing wrong with him, right?¡± ¡°My son is fine,¡± replied Family Head Luo Sheng, not understanding why Family Head Lai mentioned his son Lai Jianlin. ¡°Fine is good then!¡± Family Head Luo Sheng sighed, uncertain for whom the sigh was meant. Nangong Immortal Sect. A few years ago, when Luo Yaxuan heard that the Nangong Immortal Sect was accepting disciples, as were the North City Immortal Sect and the West Gate Immortal Sect, he set his sights on the Nangong Immortal Sect. Although slightly less prestigious than the premier sects, the environment there was quite good, and he hoped to be valued more highly within it. Luo Yaxuan, upon entering the Nangong Immortal Sect for cultivation, went from being an Inner Sect Disciple to becoming a Direct Disciple of a Golden Core Elder. He possessed Twin Spiritual Roots¡ªWind and Thunder¡ªand was young when he advanced to the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage. He had his own cave dwelling for cultivation, and Servant Disciples were available to serve him as a Direct Disciple. When Luo Yaxuan advanced to the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage, his master felt very proud, which led to more Spirit Pills being given to him for focused cultivation. ¡°Since you have advanced in cultivation, Master will reward you with a Magic Artifact. Conventionally, those of us on the Path of Cultivation should eliminate the seven emotions and six desires, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s right. Everyone is born of parents and has a family. Seeing that you have progressed so much after a few years here, Master will reward you with this Magic Artifact. Use it when you¡¯re free to send a message to your family. We can¡¯t always be engrossed in monotonous cultivation.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master¡­¡± Luo Yaxuan held his master in high esteem. His master had indeed treated him well, and his rapid progression might be related to the Cultivation Techniques and Spirit Pills given by his master. ¡°Catch¡­¡± Luo Yaxuan received a metal Magic Artifact and, not knowing how to use it, had to consult his master. ¡°Master, how do I use this Magic Artifact?¡± ¡°Infuse it with your Spiritual Power and then silently convey your blessings and thoughts for your family onto it. Whatever words you recite will reach the family member you are thinking about. This type of Magic Artifact is known as the ¡®Flying Message,¡¯ similar to the Sound Transmission Talisman.¡± Really? Let the disciple try. Just as his master instructed, Luo Yaxuan waved his hand, channeling Spiritual Power into the metal Magic Artifact and silently reciting in his heart. ¡°Father, are you well? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How are mother and the family, and how is the patriarch? In the Council Hall, where many were gathered, they suddenly heard a familiar voice, even the Lai Family Clan was familiar with it. Family Head Luo Sheng, upon hearing his son¡¯s voice in the room, instinctively entered into conversation as if face to face with his son. ¡°Son, father is very well, mother is good too, and our family is in good condition. How are you finding things at the Nangong Immortal Sect?¡± Chapter 59 - 59 59 Immortal Sect ?59: Chapter 59 Immortal Sect 59: Chapter 59 Immortal Sect Luo Yaxuan was in his master¡¯s abode within the Nangong Immortal Sect, quietly reciting the curse his master had told him, and to his surprise, he could hear his father¡¯s response. He was extremely happy about this; although he couldn¡¯t see his father¡¯s face, being able to hear his voice was a joyous occasion for him. He had missed his home dearly over the years, but as a cultivator, he must fulfill his mission. Only with a strong cultivation could he protect his family. During the monotonous days of training at his master¡¯s, a belief sustained him: to become strong, strong enough to protect his family, his father, and his loved ones. ¡°Father, I am well. I have advanced again, to the Mid Foundation Establishment stage.¡± Family Head Luo Sheng, sitting in the Council Hall, laughed heartily upon hearing his son¡¯s words. The elders seated around him also laughed with joy. ¡°Hahaha, my son has done well, to think he has advanced in less than a year! With such great resources at Nangong Immortal Sect, you must focus on your cultivation, to make yourself stronger.¡± ¡°Son understands. Today, Master gave me a Magical Treasure. Whenever I have free time, I can speak with Father and the family.¡± ¡°Very well, don¡¯t worry about the family here, everyone¡¯s fine. You must concentrate on your cultivation so that your cultivation can rise to another level. Then you can help the family when facing any crises and save our clan from dire straits.¡± Family Head Luo Sheng really wished his son would send him messages every day, but as a cultivator, he had to restrain this longing and not hold his son back. Their family¡¯s strongest was only the Golden Core ancestor. He very much hoped for a brighter future for the clan, with someone reaching the Nascent Soul stage or above, and thereby ascending to the Top Ten Clans. The first-rate families didn¡¯t have many strong resources, just like Family Head Lai; if they could promote their clan to a higher level, they could access better resources. However, he was quite rational. Family Head Luo Sheng believed that without the personal ability, any honor wrestled away would be fleeting, as others would surely surpass them. Luo Yaxuan talked with his father for a while, then under his master¡¯s gaze, he put away his Spiritual Power. ¡°Master, your disciple will return to his cave dwelling to cultivate.¡± ¡°Good, you make your master proud, and your master is happy about that. You must concentrate on your cultivation. If there is anything you don¡¯t understand, you can seek your master¡¯s guidance.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I must tell you. The annual competition has begun. When you have time, come and watch!¡± ¡°The annual disciple competition? Okay, your disciple will go and watch.¡± Luo Yaxuan remembered that the major competition of all Sects would take place in three years, and he, as a direct disciple, might be sent to participate. Even his master might be sent, as it was an opportunity for the Sect to snatch resources. The Sect Master would surely send strong contenders. Luo Yaxuan wanted to participate because, of course, he wanted to learn and witness more experience. If cultivators only trained passively, without strong combat abilities, they would not succeed. It was possible that one day the Sect would send them on missions, and those lacking combat prowess might die. After bidding farewell to his master, Luo Yaxuan returned to his cave dwelling to cultivate. This time, his cultivation was not only about refining Spiritual Energy, but also about studying the Secret Manuals, Magical Treasure¡¯s application, and stronger Spells, given by his master. Luo Yaxuan recorded the Secret Manuals given by his master in his mind while in his cave dwelling. Then, he leaped out and went to an uninhabited peak within the Central Sect, where he intended to practice the Wind Stabbing Spell. He practiced the Wind Stabbing Spell with the ability to create gusts, allowing him to strip the mountain peak¡¯s trees and vegetation with his wind. ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡± The stabbing could create a hole through the middle of a tree. These were just ordinary trees without souls; they would not ward off the attack. He kept practicing until he had destroyed all the trees at the top of the mountain. When he arrived, the mountaintop was green with grass and trees, full of Spiritual Energy. But just in one or two hours, the place turned into a barren land. Luo Yaxuan sat down on the ground to restore his Spiritual Energy for a moment, then took a Spirit Supplement Pill and began practicing the Thunderstrike Spell. The place where he stood, despite being bare, had good earth, while the area in front of him was pitted and wasted. The fresh greenery that had been hit by lightning turned black, then turned to ash. Luo Yaxuan practiced the Thunderstrike Spell here, and the sky seemed to real thunder, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring, ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡± This uninhabited mountain peak, now a site of cultivation, was ignored by the Sect, as the mountain was not as famous as others and lacked a Spirit Vein, which is why no one had established a cave dwelling here. It made it convenient for special disciples like Luo Yaxuan, who cultivated both wind and thunder, to practice on an uninhabited peak. The rules set by the Sect state that disciples without sufficient qualifications cannot cultivate on such peaks. In a Cultivator Sect, every plant and blade of grass belonged to the Sect. If one desired to become stronger, it was up to one¡¯s own understanding and abilities. However, there were still observers. Suddenly witnessing such powerful lightning, Sect members wondered, which mighty cultivator was training here? Luo Yaxuan cultivated here for half a day and only then returned to his cave dwelling, having gained some achievements. He felt that the Spells he performed today, indeed the ones learned from Secret Manuals, were different. It could also relate to his level of cultivation; when he was at the Initial Foundation Establishment stage and used wind and thunder Spells, they weren¡¯t as powerful as they were today. Luo Yaxuan returned to his cave dwelling, where a Servant Disciple brought him his meal. ¡°Brother Luo, the Outer Sect disciples have returned from their tasks and brought back a lot of Demonic Beast meat for the Sect. Just as I was getting meat, I saw some fresh cuts and got some for Brother Luo to try.¡± ¡°Oh, what Demonic Beast¡¯s meat is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s from a first-order Demonic Beast cow.¡± ¡°Hmm, it tastes good.¡± Luo Yaxuan took a bite and savored the delicious beef, which contained Spiritual Energy and replenished the energy he had exhausted that afternoon. ¡­ Family Head Lai looked enviously at Family Head Luo Sheng; why wouldn¡¯t his own son send him a message? How is his son doing now? The father works so hard in the family just to get more resources to support his son¡¯s cultivation, yet he is just a little short; what lacks is the family members¡¯ cultivation level, preventing them from reaching the next level. Family Head Lai, who had just thought about making a push, has now calmed his emotions. ¡­ The West Gate Immortal Sect. Next in prestige to the North City Immortal Sect, it sits on equal footing with the Nangong Immortal Sect. Every three years there is a grand competition, and disciples from the three sects participate. The reason the North City Immortal Sect is the number one sect under the heavens is that they always come out on top in the triennial competitions against disciples from other sects. Disciples from the West Gate Immortal Sect are not weak either, as they consistently hold second place, unwavering alongside the Nangong Immortal Sect. West Gate Immortal Sect, Inner Sect Disciple Courtyard. A few years ago, when Lai Jianlin came to participate in the entrance examination for the Immortal Sect disciples, the West Gate Immortal Sect took him in as a disciple; he initially started as an Outer Sect disciple. After several years of effort, he had entered the Inner Sect and became an Inner Sect Disciple, gaining access to better resources and cultivation manuals. Triple Spirit Root: Gold, Wood, and Earth. And he had advanced from the Qi Cultivation Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Suddenly, a horn resounded through the Immortal Sect, ¡°All disciples, take note. All disciples, take note. There will be a grand competition for Immortal Sect disciples in ten days. Servant Disciples who win the top three spots can enter the Outer Sect, while the last three must leave the Sect. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Outer Sect disciples who place in the top three can enter Inner Sect cultivation. The last three will be demoted to Servant Disciples, and the top three Inner Sect disciples may have a chance to become Direct Disciples, with even more rewards on offer.¡± All disciples from every corner of the Immortal Sect were preparing for the grand competition happening in ten days. This was the annual grand competition of the Immortal Sect. Last year, during the Immortal Sect¡¯s grand competition, Lai Jianlin entered the Inner Sect and became an Inner Sect Disciple. This year, amidst his hard work, he aspired to display more remarkable talents and become the Direct Disciple of an Elder. He had this ambition, and he also had another purpose: to obtain more secret manuals and have the qualifications to access even more manuals, so he could pass these skills back to his family, allowing his clan members to cultivate with better resources. As a second-tier family, it wasn¡¯t just his father who was not content; he, too, was not satisfied. Upon entering the Immortal Sect, many of the disciples were from the Ten Great Clans or top-tier noble clans. His background, as someone from a second-tier clan, was no different from commoners when entering the Immortal Sect. Lai Jianlin felt that he needed to prepare. With only ten days¡¯ time, cultivating in the courtyard wouldn¡¯t yield much progress; he needed to head to the Scripture Pavilion to learn more secret manuals from the Foundation Establishment Stage. With the aptitude of Triple Spirit Roots: Gold, Wood, and Earth, he needed to learn more spells to compensate for the inadequacies of the Triple Spirit Roots. ¡°Brother Lai, heading to the Scripture Pavilion again?¡± As Lai Jianlin employed his footwork, leaping towards the Treasure Pavilion, he didn¡¯t just get the chance to look at secret manuals, but also observe some magical treasures that were beyond his comprehension. However, these magical treasures were just for viewing. Those who weren¡¯t qualified couldn¡¯t even see them; only Inner Sect Disciples and Direct Disciples had access. At each grand competition, the winning disciples had the opportunity to receive one of the magical treasures on display. ¡°Sister Ding, you¡¯re also going to the Treasure Pavilion, huh?¡± ¡°Yes, Brother, do you feel confident about winning in the grand competition?¡± Ding Ling was a disciple of the West Gate Immortal Sect, with Foundation Establishment cultivation, and an Inner Sect Disciple. Coming from a lower stratum, she worked tirelessly. Although it¡¯s common for women to enter the Inner Sect, Ding Ling was very diligent. Single Spirit Root: Ice Spirit Root. Technically speaking, such a spirit root should have enabled her to join the ranks of Direct Disciples. Unfortunately, as someone from the lower class without the backing of a family, she slowly persevered and eventually became an Inner Sect Disciple. Ding Ling would visit the Scripture Pavilion periodically to learn more secret manuals. Without a master to teach her, and since her family wasn¡¯t made up of cultivators, she often went to the Teaching Hall to listen to the experiences shared by other senior disciples, gleaning some knowledge from them. And from that, she gleaned insights on cultivation methods. ¡°Brother Lai, may I ask you a question? When ice turns into snow, can it form flake by flake?¡± ¡°Sister Ding Ling, if you go to the Treasure Pavilion, you might find a spell manual. Sister, I haven¡¯t come into contact with these things; I don¡¯t quite understand,¡± replied Lai Jianlin. Every moment for Lai Jianlin was so precious; he could only look at the secret manuals relevant to his three spirit roots. He truly had no time to look at other people¡¯s spell manuals, although he still glanced at some defensive technique manuals. Blindly cultivating without the ability to defend against an enemy¡¯s attack is a fool¡¯s errand. Just like them, striving hard in their cultivation to come out on top in the grand competition, they needed to learn more techniques for combat. ¡°Brother, did you hear that this year¡¯s winners of the grand competition will be eligible to participate in the triennial grand competition of all the Immortal Sects?¡± ¡°Hmm, so we need to work even harder,¡± said Lai Jianlin. He didn¡¯t dislike Ding Ling for her lower-class origins and felt a woman who managed to become an Inner Sect Disciple through her hard work was impressive. He, a man from a second-tier family, felt somewhat ashamed. He must become a Direct Disciple, and he must also secure a spot in the all-Immortal Sects grand competition. If he could secure such a spot, he would have a chance to come out on top in the grand competition of all the Immortal Sects and bring honor to both his family and his sect. The two arrived at the Treasure Pavilion. Usually, there weren¡¯t many who came here to look at secret manuals, but today it was particularly crowded, perhaps due to the news released by the sect, which made everyone a bit more anxious. Lai Jianlin reached the Scripture Pavilion and showed his jade token to the senior brother at the front desk. ¡°Go ahead, but you may only record five secret manuals, and you must leave the Scripture Pavilion within an hour,¡± he said. ¡°Brother, isn¡¯t it usually permitted to stay for the whole day?¡± ¡°That¡¯s on a regular day, but today there are too many people. The higher-ups have decreed that everyone must leave within an hour, or else it gets too crowded inside.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lai Jianlin didn¡¯t wait for Ding Ling and took back his jade token to enter and search for secret manuals. An hour might seem like a lot, but there were so many secret manuals inside that it was hard to find time for each one, especially if another person was holding it; you had to wait for them to put it back before you could take a look or make a record. Ah, being a Direct Disciple really was better. Chapter 60 - 60 60 Rumors ?60: Chapter 60 Rumors 60: Chapter 60 Rumors Lai Jianlin had heard that the cultivation of the ancestor of the West Gate Immortal Sect was at the early stage of Mahayana. It was said that the Nangong Immortal Sect also had an ancestor who was at the early stage of Mahayana. Only the North City Immortal Sect had an ancestor at the middle stage of Mahayana. Lai Jianlin had also heard that no one had ascended for ten thousand years. He saw a Wood Spell, with a disciple holding it in his hand, but he just watched without recording it. ¡°Excuse me, senior brother, would it be possible for this junior brother to record the jade slip?¡± The disciple hummed without raising his head and said, ¡°First come, first served, don¡¯t you know the rules? I like to read slowly, what can you do about it?¡± ¡°Ah, well, then take your time senior brother, I¡¯ll look for other magic manuals first.¡± This time, Lai Jianlin went to look for the Golden Magic Manual, and he saw someone about to reach for that manual. He quickly grabbed the jade slip and, without a second word, pressed it against his forehead, immediately imprinting the spell in his mind. ¡°You really are¡­¡± A Qi Cultivation Stage disciple was about to scold him when he realized it was a senior brother whose cultivation was definitely higher than his, although he couldn¡¯t make out exactly how high. ¡°Here, take it junior brother.¡± Lai Jianlin had already recorded the contents in his mind and suavely placed the jade slip in the junior brother¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you, senior brother.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Lai Jianlin then went on to look for an Earth Spell, and this time he was lucky to find an Excavation Technique Manual. Lai Jianlin didn¡¯t care about the slightly odd name of this Earth Digging Spell Manual, as long as it was related to earth, he recorded it first to decide later. After looking around, Lai Jianlin didn¡¯t find any other Wood Spells that caught his eye, so he returned to the disciple who was still head down, looking at the jade slip. ¡°What do you want?¡± It seemed as if the senior brother sensed why Lai Jianlin had approached him. ¡°Senior brother, could you let me have it now?¡± Lai Jianlin put on a smiling face, knowing the Scripture Pavilion had rules ¡ª no fighting or brawling inside, as it would disturb others reading and might damage the Pavilion. If someone fought here, the formation would activate and trap the disruptor. Lai Jianlin would not do something so foolish. He had many more important things to do and did not want such a blemish on his reputation in the Sect over a jade slip. There were other ways to get what he wanted in the Cultivation World, like spirit stones, magical treasures, or inviting someone to a meal. ¡°Then why are you standing in front of me?¡± The senior brother looked up, his gaze fixed on Lai Jianlin. Lai Jianlin got a good look at the man¡¯s face. Their cultivations were similar, but he wondered if their combat abilities were the same? Another matter was the man¡¯s age; he seemed to be middle-aged, didn¡¯t he? Addressing him as senior brother was not inappropriate. ¡°Senior brother, I would like to invite you to a meal.¡± The man¡¯s expression changed from a glare to a smile upon hearing about a meal. He said, ¡°How could I imposet, junior brother? We haven¡¯t even met. But since junior brother is inviting senior brother to a meal, I accept. Let¡¯s go eat.¡± Lai Jianlin did not expect that simply inviting someone to a meal would be so effective. Could it be that the Sect¡¯s meals weren¡¯t tasty? That wasn¡¯t right either; the food outside was made from similar ingredients, perhaps it was just about the better taste when eating out. Their cultivator¡¯s appetite for food shouldn¡¯t matter that much. ¡°Senior brother, wait a moment, let me record the spell from the jade slip in your hand first.¡± ¡°Sure, here you go¡­¡± The senior brother had not expected that the junior brother¡¯s invitation for a meal was just to record a spell. But he had already looked at the jade slip. Wasn¡¯t it just an ordinary Wood Spell? Soaring Trees? How could one ascend to the skies when none of the cultivators had been able to ascend? As he looked at it, he was just curious to know how tall these Soaring Trees actually were. Lai Jianlin took the jade slip unhesitatingly and recorded it in his mind. ¡°Senior brother, wait for me, I need to find a couple more manuals.¡± ¡°Junior brother, don¡¯t deceive me. Don¡¯t cross the river and demolish the bridge!¡± The senior brother was skeptical. Lai Jianlin watched time pass by and knew he had to find the manuals before time ran out and they were forced to leave. ¡°It¡¯s true, you can follow me if you don¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow. If you don¡¯t treat me to a meal today, I¡¯ll go to your residence and make sure to have it.¡± ¡°Fine, fine, fine.¡± In the end, Lai Jianlin found two more manuals suitable for his Triple Spirit Root cultivation and recorded them into his mind. ¡°You have recorded five manuals, that¡¯s enough¡­ Get out.¡± Suddenly, a voice echoed in Lai Jianlin¡¯s mind, a voice he found somewhat familiar¡ªit was the voice of the brother guarding the entrance. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Oh, oh, oh¡± Lai Jianlin and his brother left the Scripture Pavilion one after the other, then together they employed their footwork, exited the Sect, and headed to the marketplace to dine at a restaurant. ****** In Immortal Lord City, the Jiang Family received a report that the Huang Family had sounded the alarm. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Huang family, who are usually so arrogant, are having a bad day. But we won¡¯t take advantage of others¡¯ misfortune. If others don¡¯t offend me, I won¡¯t offend them. Send someone to keep an eye on the Huang Family.¡± The Jiang Family Head was aware that his family¡¯s strength was not enough to annihilate the Huang Family. In the past few years, some of their branch villages had suffered famine, and people had died from eating poisoned rats. These past years, they had been consolidating their strength, and unless the Huang Family instigated a provocation, they would not engage in armed conflict. If their family were to clash with the royal family, it would only benefit the opportunists. Perhaps both sides being injured would allow those fishermen to rise from second-rate families during this time and opportunity. Maintaining strength was what they should be doing now, and even more so, they needed to cultivate the younger generation. The disciples of the Jiang Family could only follow the orders of the Jiang Family Head, to watch over the Xia Family side. They also provided more resources for the younger generation to cultivate stronger Cultivation. Although they harbored ambitions, they dared not make any moves for the time being. Fighting would come at a cost. The three families also held a disciple competition every year. However, the elite disciples of the families were all practicing in the Immortal Sect, leaving the remaining disciples to compete just for participation and lacking strong combat capabilities. The competition rules forbade the killing of opponents, resulting in a rather lackluster affair where full strength could not be exerted, which was not much fun. But those were the rules ¡ª to stop when a point was made. It was just a friendly competition among the three top families, and the prizes awarded came from all three families. Having competed so frequently, they were well aware of the daily Cultivation Techniques and spells of each other¡¯s disciples. There was no overwhelming sense of dominance, and fighting was unsatisfying. ¡­ Family Head Huang, accompanied by several Elders, went to the Mount Tai Sect and directly sought out his grandson¡¯s Master, a Golden Core Elder. The Golden Core Elder, facing Family Head Huang, had been expecting them for a few days. He had been consecrating a Magical Treasure and was watching out for the arrival of strangers. He had met Family Head Huang before, but not the other Elders. Their aggressive arrival and the reproachful look on their faces somewhat irritated the Golden Core Elder. However, not wanting to disrespect the face of Buddhahood, he remembered that the Huang Family had indeed provided him with abundant resources and Spirit Stones for Cultivation over the years. ¡°Family Head Huang, I had already anticipated your arrival, but bringing so many people with you¡­¡± ¡°Esteemed Elder of the Immortal Sect, what happened to my grandson?¡± Family Head Huang, facing someone with higher Cultivation, also did not dare to act recklessly. A single move from the Golden Core Elder would be enough to defeat all of them, especially since they were on someone else¡¯s territory. Absolute assertiveness was out of the question. ¡°A few days ago, they went out for a training excursion and brought many treasures with them at night. Somehow they were killed. It is said that someone wanted to rob them of their treasures and killed them. Then, someone related to the victims sought revenge. That person¡¯s Cultivation is beyond both of us, so we have no means of seeking revenge.¡± The Golden Core Elder, seeing the suppressed anger on Family Head Huang¡¯s face, revealed the truth to them. ¡°What? Who is that person? How can they be so powerful?¡± Family Head Huang knew his grandson all too well; always haughty and arrogant. But it was common for cultivators to kill for treasures during outdoor training. He himself had done many such things in his youth. Otherwise, how could his family have remained unshakable as the First Family all these years? The word ¡®ruthless¡¯ was key. ¡°Su Chang¡¯an of the Sword Sect. You must be aware of his Cultivation, Great Perfection of Nascent Soul. If we sought revenge, we would be slaughtered like ants by him.¡± ¡°The Young Master of the Sword Sect? How could it be him?¡± Family Head Huang initially harbored thoughts of revenge, but now, facing such a powerful enemy, he truly had nowhere to start. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s him. I saw it through the Mirage Mirror, there¡¯s no mistake.¡± Upon hearing the words of the Golden Core Elder, Family Head Huang stood dumbfounded in the Elder¡¯s parlor, having not even taken a seat upon his arrival. The other three Elders exchanged glances after looking at Family Head Huang. If they could not seek revenge, they could only return to their own family. Yet, Family Head Huang was not willing to let things rest so easily. Although he couldn¡¯t retaliate openly, could he perhaps be more underhanded? With their family producing an abundance of Magical Treasures, Family Head Huang, contemplating this idea, decided to investigate Su Chang¡¯an after meeting with the Golden Core Elder. ¡°Esteemed Taoist, where is my grandson¡¯s soul? Our family¡¯s Jade Token has shattered, but even if he is dead, his soul should still exist, right? We couldn¡¯t summon his spirit back even in the Soul Summoning Forest.¡± One of the reasons Family Head Huang was determined to visit the Mount Tai Sect was to summon back his grandson¡¯s soul to the family. He thought about refining a Magical Treasure to provide his grandson with a dignified resting place, or even better, allow him to continue practicing Cultivation inside it, even if he couldn¡¯t become a Human Cultivator. He could also look for a Ghost Cultivator¡¯s Secret Manual, making the Ascension on the Path of Cultivation possible. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve come to the right place. What I want to tell you is that my disciple is cultivating inside a Magical Treasure. Family Head Huang, rest assured, my treasure is quite powerful. I plan to consecrate it for forty-nine days, then send my disciple to a place where he might grow stronger.¡± ¡°Really? Are you not deceiving us?¡± Family Head Huang and the Elders were skeptical. Could this old Taoist just be putting them off, sending them away and then acting as if nothing had happened? ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll let you see Huang Chen.¡± The Golden Core Elder calmly took out a Magical Treasure from his person, the Soul Summoning Bell, channeled Spiritual Power into it, and the souls within the Bell took on physical forms. Six disciples stood inside, and Huang Chen looked at the outside with surprise and joy. Chapter 61 - 61 61 Huang Chen ?61: Chapter 61 Huang Chen 61: Chapter 61 Huang Chen ¡°Grandfather, grandfather, you¡¯ve come, you¡¯ve really come, that¡¯s wonderful¡ªGrandfather must seek vengeance for me! Wuu wuu¡­¡± Huang Chen always called the Family Head Huang ¡®Grandfather¡¯ affectionately instead of ¡®Family Head¡¯ as usual. Family Head Huang also liked his grandson to call him that way, but seeing Huang Chen in the Soul Summoning Bell, he couldn¡¯t hold back his tears. ¡°My grandson, how could you be so careless? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To be killed by someone, what are we, your family, supposed to do? Your parents and grandmother were heartbroken upon hearing of your passing.¡± ¡°Grandfather, the person we killed, he had an Exotic Flame on him, and not just one. I thought if we could take such an Exotic Flame back, to give one to the master and bring another back to the clan¡ªaren¡¯t we lacking in Alchemy? I heard that kind of flame makes Alchemy much easier.¡± What Huang Chen initially wanted to talk about was bringing everything back to the clan or to claim for himself, but his master and the elders of the clan were present. Since he hadn¡¯t succeeded in seizing the treasure this time, it was merely talk, so it was better to find a good reason in the hope that his master would keep his promise and allow them to train in that place to become stronger. ¡°Alas, fate is cruel; it¡¯s Grandfather¡¯s incompetence! The person who killed you, his clan is extremely powerful, one of the Top Ten Clans, and we can¡¯t compare. Grandfather is powerless, I¡¯m unable to avenge you.¡± Huang Chen¡¯s soul seemed like it could really shed tears, and tears dropped from his eyes. ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s alright. Master said he can send us to a place where we can continue to cultivate. Once I become powerful, I will surely come back for revenge and make our clan stronger.¡± ¡°Really, your master didn¡¯t lie to me? The Golden Core Elder just said the same thing, but is there really such a place?¡± Family Head Huang was still dubious, as he had never heard of such a Magical Treasure. If there really was such a method of cultivation, then there was hope for his grandson. ¡°Family Head Huang, rest assured, many years ago, when I was also a young man, I had the fortune of finding a Magical Treasure in an ancient ruin while undergoing trials. At the time, I thought it was just a useless trinket. I placed it beside my incense stand, and every time I conducted rituals or chanted spells, I would offer sustenance to the Magical Treasure. I never expected that after many years the treasure would regain its vitality and even developed its own spirit. This artifact has now become a space of its own.¡± When the Golden Core Elder spoke, he did not bring out the Magical Treasure, as the world was full of those who killed for treasure, and that treasure still had great use for him. He was now an Elder of the Mount Tai Sect, yet he yearned to advance further in his Cultivation and to secure a place in the Path of Cultivation. He planned to use these treasures as his tools for dominating the Path of Cultivation in the future. What about the Ten Great Clans? He would no longer need to fear them; vengeance seemed so easy. The Great Immortal, he believed, would one day bow before his feet, confident that one day he would dominate the Cultivation World. Family Head Huang was unaware of the Elder¡¯s grand ambitions, but from the Elder¡¯s convincing words, he was sure there was some truth to them. From his robe, he produced a Storage Bag and said to the Elder, ¡°A small token, please do not see it as disrespectful. Elder, please ensure you send my grandson to the place you mentioned for cultivation.¡± ¡°Of course, this Taoist never breaks his word. However, this Magical Treasure requires a constant supply of Spiritual Energy. It may take some time before Huang Chen can cultivate into an Immortal, so make sure not to falter in the supply.¡± The Golden Core Elder took the Storage Bag and checked its contents using his spiritual power. ¡°Of course, for my grandson to transform into human form and continue on the Path of Cultivation, we will visit this place annually to provide support and to see Huang Chen.¡± The words of Family Head Huang were met with disagreement from the three Elders at his side, but they exchanged only glances, not daring to speak out in the presence of the Taoist. ¡°In that case¡­, you may leave now!¡± ¡°Elder, may I come to see him seven times seven, forty-nine days before Huang Chen leaves for that place?¡± ¡°That can be arranged¡­, go back now!¡± The Golden Core Elder waved his hand, dismissing them. Family Head Huang had no choice but to leave with the Elders from the Mount Tai Sect. After they left, the Golden Core Elder hummed lightly and stowed away the Magical Treasure, planning to study it further and use the souls of these disciples to create Puppets. In the future, even if they managed to transform into human form, they would still serve his purposes, unable to resist his commands. The Golden Core Elder liked this idea, thinking it would be useful when he dominated the Cultivation World, for he would need followers to support him. Thus, the disciples trapped in the Soul Summoning Bell would become his first batch of experimental subjects. Huang Chen in the bell had no clue that his master would do such a thing, that after his transformation into human form and gaining some Cultivation, he would feel a force within him that he couldn¡¯t control. Often, whatever his master commanded, he and his junior disciples had no power to resist. By that time, Huang Chen¡¯s nature had become frenzied; unable to resist his master, he could only vent on others. The world had gained another Ghost Demon, no, a whole group of them, but that, of course, is a story for another time. Having left the gate of the Mount Tai Sect, Family Head Huang set out for the black market auction to seek some unique Artifact Refining resources. Now that his grandson had become a soul, he also needed to forge some Magic Artifacts that Ghost Cultivators could use. ¡°Family Head, aren¡¯t we going back to the clan?¡± The three elders did not understand why the Family Head, having finished his business, was heading towards a different direction instead of back to the clan. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the black market.¡± ¡°Family Head, don¡¯t we have a specific place for our supplies? Why go to the black market? Shouldn¡¯t we hurry back to the family, in case something happens?¡± ¡°In that case, you all go back first. I still have things to take care of, and you don¡¯t need to follow me anymore.¡± Family Head Huang did not want the elders to know about the secret matters he was handling. Having just witnessed the resentful looks in the elders¡¯ eyes, he understood that within a clan, it was inevitable that there would be grievances over unequal distribution. Everyone harbored their own selfish desires, and since he had reserved the best resources for his grandson, now that Huang Chen had become a ghost spirit, he felt pain but could not reconcile himself with the thought of his grandson¡¯s soul vanishing from the world. If there was a possibility to continue cultivating, then he ought to worry about his grandson¡¯s future prospects, shouldn¡¯t he? Besides, others would not understand, would they? ¡°All right, we¡¯ll go back first.¡± The three elders did not say much more. They each had wives, children, and grandchildren of their own, and if something happened at home because they were out running around with Family Head Huang, their families could be in danger. Not everyone could cultivate, and many people within the family lacked a Spiritual Root, just ordinary mortals within the clan who could not pursue cultivation and thus could only manage domestic affairs and the family¡¯s external properties under the circumstances. They provided resources for the disciples who cultivated. After the elders left, Family Head Huang took out a Magical Treasure, a Flying Rod, which was a Magic Artifact he had refined himself, capable of defending against attacks from cultivators below the Golden Core level. Currently, the Magical Treasure was only an advanced grade and not a powerful offensive weapon; it could not launch attacks on enemies proactively. However, if the owner used it, it could deliver a fatal blow to enemies below the Foundation Establishment level. Family Head Huang stood on the Flying Rod, which was only the size of a finger when he took it out. When he infused it with his spiritual power, it expanded and turned into a huge staff that allowed him to fly through the skies. The flying birds in the high altitudes, upon seeing such a large rod, scattered, especially the eagles and geese which thought themselves large enough, moved aside when they encountered the enormous rod. From high above, Family Head Huang searched for the enemy¡¯s Qi signature using his spirit. He could not let go of his desire for revenge. He had to find some trace of the enemy and launch a stealth attack from the shadows. With a cultivation level that was not high, he could only operate in secret. Soon, he found a hidden nocturnal market. He had stumbled upon this place by chance in the past and knew that many treasures and oddities, which people brought from their adventures in secret realms, were sold here. Family Head Huang alighted in an ordinary-looking village, with houses that appeared rather old. To ordinary people, this just seemed like a normal village. If thieves entered looking to steal, they would leave upon seeing such a poor village. Indeed, ordinary people lived above in the village, but this was also a fa?ade; these mortals were hired to work here. After entering the village, Family Head Huang approached a house and knocked on the door using a secret signal. After a while, an old man came to open the door. The old man did not say a word, let him inside, then shut the door. He then led Family Head Huang through a tunnel. After entering the narrow passageway, which eventually opened into a wider space, they walked for a while. People began to move about in this tunnel, and some entered through various hidden doors. The old man returned to his initial position to guard that entrance. Family Head Huang understood the rules here: if you wanted to buy something, you could go look, but you were not to speak. Once inside, you became mute and everything had to be done through signals. Moreover, once inside an auction room, everyone¡¯s face and physique were altered, so nobody could recognize you once you left. Family Head Huang was still unsure where to find what he was looking for, but he proceeded to search for a hidden door to find his target. He entered through one such door into a chamber with traps. Once inside, he found many people in the room. The chamber was large and had many people squatting inside, where an auction for various items was taking place. Family Head Huang noticed that medicinal herbs and some Pills were being auctioned off. His interest piqued, he found an empty spot to squat down and watched as others called out bids and raised their hands holding signs. He glanced beside him where a holder with bidding signs was placed. ¡°Next, we have the auction for Sea Spirit Grass, used in the preparation of Sea Spirit Pills. The starting bid is one thousand Spirit Stones.¡± When Family Head Huang heard of such Spiritual Medicine, he knew that currently no one in their clan had the required cultivation level to use it. However, having such a rare Spirit Grass could prove valuable if someone in their family eventually acquired such a cultivation level, making the Spirit Grass useful then. With this thought in mind, Family Head Huang, along with others who had the same idea and deep pockets, picked up a sign and began competing for it. There was a Cultivator in the crowd, sitting silently and calmly. As the bidding fervor rose, he remained quiet, just casting a glance over those present in the room. Chapter 62 - 62 62 Auction ?62: Chapter 62 Auction 62: Chapter 62 Auction The price kept climbing higher and higher, and the Sea Spirit Herb had already soared to 10,000 Spirit Stones. Family Head Huang silently sighed to himself, realizing that the cultivators around here were all quite wealthy. ¡°As a family, and as a clan leader, I don¡¯t feel as well-off as they are,¡± he thought. It made sense¡ªthey didn¡¯t have the burden of a family to support and could spend as much as they earned. Using his spiritual power to scan the area, he found that every cultivator present was of a higher cultivation than him. If he bought the Spirit Grass and spent a fortune, he might be killed for his treasure as soon as he left the auction. This trip would have been better off not taken. Just as Family Head Huang was about to give up, he discreetly observed the people around him. However, the rules of this place made it impossible to clearly see the faces of the people inside because of illusions. He could only watch as a spectator, something he wouldn¡¯t normally do in his free time. But today, for some reason, he felt that this place was particularly strange, as if something or someone was attracting him. Family Head Huang didn¡¯t understand this feeling, but he followed his heart. He stayed seated, watching as the bidding for the Sea Spirit Herb reached 17,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones. Just then, a man in the venue who had been still the whole time, raised his sign. ¡°Twenty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± Many people gasped at the bid. Twenty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones to buy a single Immortal Herb that hadn¡¯t even been used in Alchemy was equivalent to 1,000 medium-grade treats or 100 high-grade Spirit Stones¡ªtruly an exorbitant price. Some felt it was unnecessary and decided they would wait until they reached the required cultivation level to buy it. Consequently, many gave up, leaving only one or two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators still competing with the man. Eventually, as the price hit 25,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones and everyone else folded, the Sea Spirit Herb went to that man. ¡°Next up for auction is a type of Magnetic Trinket. Its specialty lies in its ability to refine a Ghost Cultivator¡¯s Treasure. If you haven¡¯t reached the Spirit Movement Stage or are already in the Spirit Movement Stage, Spirit Awakening Stage, and haven¡¯t cultivated a Spirit Pill as a Ghost Cultivator, you can supplement your energy with the treasure refined from this Magnetic Trinket while resting, avoiding exposure to sunlight. It can also be used to fight at night. Moreover, with this Magnetic Trinket-refined treasure, even low-level Ghost Cultivators can travel during the day.¡± With the auctioneer¡¯s introduction, Family Head Huang¡¯s spirits were lifted. Wasn¡¯t he precisely in need of some special materials to make unique magical treasures for his grandson to avoid dangers in the days to come? ¡°The starting bid for this Magnetic Trinket is 1,000 lower-grade Spirit Stones.¡± After the auctioneer¡¯s announcement, those interested in Artifact Refining or desiring to possess a Magical Treasure began to stir. This time, Family Head Huang wanted to outbid them all. It was a contest of Spirit Stones, was it? He was determined to secure this treasure. After all, he was the head of a first-rate family, possessing many top-grade Spirit Stones, not to mention a considerable amount of medium and lower-grade ones. Although many had been supplied to his grandson and sent to his master over the years. The Spirit Stone Mines owned by his family continuously produced high-quality Spirit Stones, so they truly didn¡¯t lack in financial resources. He hadn¡¯t competed with others before because he felt that even if he won the auction, he wouldn¡¯t have the means to protect the Spirit Grass. But the Magnetic Trinket was different. It was something that could give his family a new lease on life, and he was willing to risk everything to buy it. There was someone in the venue who had bought the Sea Spirit Herb and hadn¡¯t left. He just frowned and observed quietly as others fought over the treasure. After observing for a bit, he noticed there were no Ghost Cultivators in the auction hall. Why were so many fighting over this Magnetic Trinket? Could it be that these people were secretly refining soul artifacts, a kind of Spiritual Artifact that greatly damages one¡¯s virtue? Some even kill others to make magical treasures, using their victims¡¯ souls as Artifact Spirits. The man merely suspected and didn¡¯t compete with the others. ¡°Ten thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones¡± ¡°Twenty thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones¡± Seeing the bid reach twenty thousand, with others still vying for the item, Family Head Huang took note of the people. Their cultivation was higher than his, but he sensed a gloomy aura around them. He suspected that these people might be cultivating some sort of demonic magic. He didn¡¯t give up; such items were hard to find. The auction presented items that weren¡¯t typically accessible to ordinary people. In the end, Family Head Huang purchased the Magnetic Trinket for thirty thousand Spirit Stones. After making the purchase, he followed protocol and went to a concealed room to collect the item and make the payment. Family Head Huang went into the dark room and took a box. Upon opening it, he verified the contents¡ªa rare Magnetic Trinket that resembled a metal but wasn¡¯t one; it looked more like a type of meteorite. He placed the box in his Storage Bag and left the place quietly. He had initially thought about staying a while longer, but since he had completed his purchase, it was no longer necessary. Family Head Huang thought he had left quietly without being followed, but out of caution, he took secret passages and left the small commoner village. He summoned his flying staff and headed towards his home. Suddenly, he sensed danger behind him. So he changed direction, for danger was approaching and he must not lead it to his family. Indeed¡­ ¡°The one ahead, you can¡¯t escape. With your level of cultivation and all that money you¡¯ve got, you¡¯re just asking to be robbed¡­¡± Family Head Huang looked back upon hearing the voice and realized that not just one, but several groups of people of higher cultivation than him were trailing him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Damn it, is it all just for buying a Magnetic Trinket?¡± Indeed, it wasn¡¯t safe to flaunt wealth. Having walked the Martial World for over a hundred years, today might be the day he¡¯d meet his end. Family Head Huang slightly regretted not bringing the Golden Core Immortal Elder along. If he had, he could have given them the item to carry away safely. Then he thought, if he should die, his son could take over the family business, but if the three Immortal Elders died as well, their position as a first-rate family wouldn¡¯t be secured. What should I do? There are two or three groups of people whose cultivation is even higher than mine. What should I do? I¡¯ll have to spend money to avoid disaster! Family Head Huang secretly placed the purchased Magnetic Trinket in another box and put the original trinket box out with another piece of artifact refining material roughly the same shape as the Magnetic Trinket. ¡°Immortal Elder, do you want money or the Magnetic Trinket I just sold?¡± ¡°Of course I want the money, and that kind of Magnetic Trinket material.¡± ¡°Immortal Elder, my cultivation isn¡¯t as high as yours, I¡¯ll give you the Magnetic Trinket and everything I have on me, please spare me, Immortal Elder.¡± ¡°Throw all your things over here, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± ¡°Immortal Elder, you must keep your promise.¡± Family Head Huang threw his Storage Bag to that Immortal Elder. ¡°Hmm, not bad.¡± The person checked the contents of the bag with spiritual power and saw that it indeed contained many Spirit Stones and the auction house¡¯s box. Upon opening the box, it was indeed artifact refining material. While the Immortal Elder was examining the Storage Bag, Family Head Huang summoned the Reducing Tower and with a surge of spiritual energy thrust into it, the tower rapidly descended towards the ground. Then he summoned another Magical Treasure, the Earth Drilling Dragon, and together with the treasure, he burrowed into the ground. ¡°You¡­¡± The treasure-snatching Immortal Elder did not expect the man with lower cultivation than his to have so many magical treasures; in just a breath¡¯s time, he vanished without a trace. Although he had the ability to catch up with this man, there were attacks from both sides hounding him. ¡°Hand over what you have.¡± This man noticed that the attackers from the left and right were wearing the same clothes. They might be together, and they each had a chilling, sinister aura. ¡°No way, I¡¯ve just seized these items. If you want them, you¡¯ll have to taste my power.¡± The two groups began fighting. The Immortal Elder, receiving attacks from both sides, had his own treasures too: a Buddha Dust in his right hand and a ruler in his left hand. During their battle, within 500 miles in the sky, nearby birds and raptors dared not fly through. Wherever the magical treasures¡¯ qi reached, fierce winds blew and the white clouds in the sky scattered outward while dark clouds covered the sun. ¡°This is bad, you¡¯re Ghost Cultivators?¡± The Immortal Elder didn¡¯t expect that the two he was fighting were not humans but had cultivated to the same Nascent Soul Stage as him, in the Heart Refinement Stage. ¡°Hahaha, you just realizing it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit too late for him now.¡± While the two Ghost Cultivators spoke, they launched even fiercer attacks. Previously, their eyes had looked almost normal. At this moment, high up in the gloomy clouds, their eyes were red. ¡°You¡­ thinking of killing me won¡¯t be so easy, hahaha!¡± The Immortal Elder took out a Jade Flute. He channeled it towards the sky, and the dense clouds that filled the sky suddenly scattered, revealing the sunlight. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± The Ghost Cultivators didn¡¯t expect this man to possess such a treasure. Caught off guard, the sun¡¯s rays nearly blinded them. They summoned Ghost Flames, intending to burn the Taoist to death. ¡°Hmph, taste my Bright Sun Fire.¡± The Immortal Elder summoned a flame, and the two fires collided ¨C one a grey fire tinged with smoke, the other a fire accompanied by sunlight. The two types of fire struggled against each other. Both parties leaped away from the fires. The Ghost Cultivators¡¯ fire gave the Immortal Elder a sensation of his soul being pulled from his body. The Taoist¡¯s fire made the Ghost Cultivators feel as though their cultivated physical forms might be extinguished. In the sky, the ¡°sizzling¡± collision of the fires sounded as if something were being burned, and there was a thick smell of smoke. In the end, both parties were left badly injured from the fight; the Ghost Cultivators didn¡¯t get the items. The Immortal Elder, gravely injured, returned to his cave dwelling. Enduring his wounded body, he poured out everything from the Storage Bag; it contained many Spirit Stones of high quality, useful for cultivation or as currency for transactions outside. When he opened the box with the so-called Magnetic Trinket, he found that there was something odd about it; he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the peculiarity, and he urgently needed to heal his serious injuries. Once he had recovered, he took the strange Magnetic Trinket to the artifact refining place, seeking help in refining it. ¡°You say this should be a Magnetic Trinket? It¡¯s not, it¡¯s material for refining Magical Treasures that can be used to make a flying ship.¡± ¡°What? Impossible! The auction house people definitely wouldn¡¯t deceive us, could it be?¡± The Immortal Elder recalled how the man had given him the items and then fled. He had glanced at the contents of the box, which seemed similar in shape, and assumed it was the Magnetic Trinket. ¡°Damn it, the next time I see that guy, I¡¯ll tear him to shreds.¡± ¡°Well, using this item to refine a flying ship is pretty good too!¡± The artifact refiner didn¡¯t know that the Immortal Elder had fought at the risk of his life for these items. ¡°I¡¯ll give you Spirit Stones, just make sure the flying ship is well-crafted.¡± After contemplating, the Immortal Elder thought that despite risking his life, he still acquired money and magical treasures, so he hadn¡¯t suffered a great loss. However, he had made enemies of the Ghost Cultivators! In the future, they might meet again, alas¡­ Chapter 63 - 63 63 Family Head Huang ?63: Chapter 63 Family Head Huang 63: Chapter 63 Family Head Huang ¡°Quack quack quack gagaga¡± After the two ghost cultivators were seriously injured, the more they thought about it, the more unwilling they became. This treasure hunt was supposed to be easy¡ªkill anyone weaker than them¡ªbut they didn¡¯t expect to hit such a hard iron plate. The one they were tracking at the beginning had such low cultivation; they simply thought they could benefit from two sides fighting. But the one who seized the treasure was foolish enough to let the other escape. They thought that two against one would surely win, right? Both had the same level of cultivation, and they were even working together. But they hadn¡¯t anticipated that one after another, magical treasures would be summoned¡ªthe very bane of ghost cultivators. The two of them injured their opponent, but they didn¡¯t come out on top either. Moreover, if they didn¡¯t find the corresponding Pills to heal their wounds, it was very probable that scars would remain, leaving hidden afflictions. Such maladies might prevent them from ever advancing a stage again. Today, they wanted to obtain that Magnetic Trinket to create a magical treasure. With it, they could attract the souls of the dead to use for themselves. They could also draw Demonic Beasts into the Magical Treasure to become its Artifact Spirit. Sadly, their attempt at seizing the treasure today ended in them being covered in wounds. However, they remembered the Qi of that Immortal Elder, and if they ever got the chance, they were determined to take back the Magnetic Trinket. ¡­ Family Head Huang had previously summoned the Reducing Tower while that Immortal Elder was inspecting the Storage Bag. He directed a stream of Spiritual Energy into it, causing the Reducing Tower to descend rapidly toward the ground. Then, he summoned another Magical Treasure, the Earth Drilling Dragon, and together with the Magical Treasure, burrowed into the ground. Luckily, he escaped swiftly. After running a good distance underground, he stealthily looked skyward and saw that the battle of Great Power Holders above had changed the colors of the sky, covering the sun with dark clouds and then dispersing them to reveal the sun once more. It turned out that at that level, powerful magical treasures could change the appearance of the sun and moon. Family Head Huang dared not linger in the vicinity for too long, fearing they would notice him after finishing their fight, which could lead to another pursuit. He rapidly burrowed through the ground. After two or three hours, when he needed to replenish his Spiritual Power, he returned to his clan¡¯s underground tunnel. Family Head Huang entered the clan¡¯s tunnel, covered in dirt, and went straight to his room without regard for the mud on his body. The clan¡¯s tunnel network would lead to his residence, designed so he could escape quickly in case of emergencies¡ªtunnels with mechanisms leading away from each courtyard. Their family¡¯s designers made sure that every courtyard in their clan had an exit to the underground tunnel. This was so the clan could evacuate swiftly in times of disaster. As long as the clan¡¯s people survived, there would always come a day for renewal, as the saying goes: ¡°When the green hills are kept, there is no fear of no firewood.¡± Family Head Huang emerged from the tunnel and arrived at his Cultivation Cave Abode. He used a Purification Magic, cleansing himself of all the dirt and odor. Only then did he take out the box containing the Magnetic Trinket to have a look. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Today¡¯s harrowing experiences were all for it. Initially, when Family Head Huang purchased it, he had considered bringing the Magnetic Trinket back to the clan and asking the best Artifact Refiner to create a Magical Treasure for him. After the struggle and pursuit from others, a new idea dawned on him. He was an Artifact Refiner himself; why entrust such significant matters to someone else? His thoughts were not to be shared, so he decided to design a higher-grade Magical Treasure in secrecy¡ªunknown to others. However, Refining Artifacts would take time. He needed to give his family an explanation to ease their worry and concern. Thinking this, Family Head Huang placed the Magical Treasure box inside his Necklace Storage Pendant. He opened the door of his Cultivation Cave Abode and entered the outer room, where his Dao partner was sitting on the bed, cultivating. Sensing his Dao partner¡¯s Qi, Madame Huang opened her eyes, still holding a look of sorrow. ¡°Family Head, did you find our grandson¡¯s master? Did the master agree to avenge him? Could they summon our grandson¡¯s soul back?¡± ¡°There has been some progress. Have the three Elders returned yet? Did they tell you anything?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t gone out so I wouldn¡¯t know. I¡¯ve only been waiting for the Family Head to return.¡± ¡°First, go get your son and daughter-in-law, and we¡¯ll discuss everything properly,¡± Family Head Huang said, not wanting to go out himself, thinking that if the clan¡¯s people saw him, they would bother him endlessly, preventing him from refining the Magical Treasure at ease in the Cave Abode. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t taken the three Elders with him to buy Magical Treasure materials; they undoubtedly would¡¯ve advised against such expenditures if they saw how he spent money. Should something happen to the Elders during a stream escape, it would be a significant loss for the clan. If the people he took with him didn¡¯t return, he would face the complaints and hatred of the clan. ¡°Alright,¡± Old Madam Huang went out. She moved to the Council Hall outside, where her son and daughter-in-law sat, together with the three Elders and some clan members. Her son was questioning the Elders. ¡°Where has my father gone? Did you find the Mount Tai Sect¡¯s Golden Core Elder this time to help take revenge? Why hasn¡¯t my son¡¯s soul been brought back?¡± ¡°Wuu wuu¡­¡± Madame Huang wept. ¡°The Family Head went off to handle some matters by himself. As for the Elder of the Mount Tai Sect, he wasn¡¯t able to assist in taking revenge, but your son¡¯s soul is with him,¡± an Elder said. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± the Acting Head of the Huang Family asked, his brows furrowed with sorrow. ¡°Son, daughter-in-law, I have something to discuss with you. Elders and clan members, please return first,¡± Madame Huang said, unable to listen any further. Even the Golden Core Elders were not clear in their explanations, and it seemed like her partner indeed had something important to say to them. ¡°Acting Family Head, we¡¯ll take our leave first.¡± Upon hearing Madame Huang¡¯s words, the Elders and clan members knew there must be family matters to discuss. With a death in the family and no funerary arrangements made yet, there surely had to be other matters to talk about. ¡°Mother, what did you want to see us about?¡± The Acting Head of the Huang Family looked at his mother with a questioning gaze, while his wife looked at her mother-in-law with tear-filled eyes. ¡°Follow me, your father has returned, and he has something to tell us.¡± ¡°Father has returned?¡± The couple followed their mother to her room, where they indeed found their father. The Elder had said their father was still away on business¡ªhad he returned in secret? ¡°Father, the Elder said you were away handling matters and hadn¡¯t returned yet?¡± ¡°Yes, I did take care of some things. Although our grandson has been killed, that Golden Core Elder said that with the help of a Magical Treasure, our grandson¡¯s soul can cultivate and become a Ghost Cultivator. One can also ascend through the path of ghost cultivation.¡± ¡°Ghost Cultivator? How easy could that be? Cultivation for human cultivators is already so difficult.¡± Upon hearing their father¡¯s words, the Huang Family Head¡¯s son found it difficult to believe what the Golden Core Elder said. His family nodded along too, since what the Elder described seemed far-fetched. ¡°I believe that Elder is right, which is why I thought of a plan to go to the black market auction to look for a device capable of being refined into a Magical Treasure to protect our still-developing grandson,¡± the Family Head laughed. ¡°In the end, I managed to buy one.¡± ¡°Father, what did you buy?¡± ¡°According to the messenger¡¯s description, this is a kind of Magnetic Trinket for refining Magical Treasures. This Magical Treasure can attack and can also serve as a spirit-nurturing treasure for those in the Spirit Movement Stage and Spirit Awakening Stage.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a device?¡± ¡°There is,¡± the Family Head said as he took out a box from his chest, opened it, and let his family look inside. The women of the household did not understand Artifact Refining, but they still believed in their men. They now felt a glimmer of hope, and their faces, once stricken with grief, showed a hint of a smile. The Huang Family Head¡¯s son was an Artifact Refiner, albeit not a high-level one¡ªhis skills could not compare with his father¡¯s, but he recognized that this Magnetic Trinket was indeed material for refining a Magical Treasure. ¡°Father, it¡¯s really so, then my child is saved, haha!¡± ¡°Mm-hm. I called you here to tell you the truth of the matter. Put aside thoughts of a reward for now¡ªwe¡¯ve offended Su Chang¡¯an of the Sword Sect, one of the Top Ten Clans, whose cultivation is higher than ours.¡± ¡°Su Chang¡¯an? How did my son offend him? How did he come to be killed by him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said to be a case of murder for treasure. Our son killed his friend, so he took his revenge. We cannot seek vengeance against him; instead, we must find a way to restore Huang Chen to human form so he can cultivate. Once his cultivation is sufficient, naturally there will be an opportunity for revenge.¡± ¡°But how many years will that take?¡± ¡°For those who cultivate immortality, the journey is long. We must patiently wait. I¡¯ve called you here to tell you not to inform the clan that I have returned. Son, continue holding the position of Acting Family Head. I am focused on refining a Magical Treasure.¡± ¡°Alright, Father, rest assured, everything at home is in order. We await only the completion of the Magical Treasure you are refining.¡± ¡°Hmm, I need to hurry with the refining of this Magical Treasure because there is a reason. The Taoist said that after forty-nine days, he will send my grandson¡¯s soul to a place to cultivate. Once I have finished refining this Magical Treasure, it will serve to protect my grandson.¡± ¡°A place? What place?¡± ¡°Have you heard of the Desolate Ancient era? Back then, human cultivators, Demonic Beasts, Blood Clan, Ghost Cultivators, Demon Cultivators, Buddha Cultivators, Confucianism Tao, and Ancient Martial Arts practitioners fought for territory, each aspiring to become the supreme ruler, leading to a variety of battlefields. In the end, amidst fierce fighting, all suffered heavy losses and damaged space, tearing apart one realm after another, leading to the present Mortal Realm.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve heard of that legend.¡± ¡°In one fierce battle after another, many Immortals fell, and their treasures were left scattered across the battlefields. This Magical Treasure picked up by the Golden Core Elder hails from an artifact of the Desolate Ancient era, the Hell Palace, which is suitable for Ghost Cultivators to train with.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful; our child can be saved.¡± Madame Huang also chimed in, her previously tearful eyes now dried. ¡°As long as his soul can cultivate, he will surely, like us, lift our clan to great heights.¡± ¡°Father, I do not expect Huang Chen to bring glory to our family, I just hope that he can continue to cultivate, that his presence remains in this world.¡± ¡°What kind of man doesn¡¯t have ambition? Moreover, it¡¯s the Sword Sect of the Top Ten Clans we¡¯re dealing with. We need a higher cultivation level and the ability to surpass them to have any hope of revenge,¡± the Family Head said, and his family nodded in agreement, believing that as long as there was hope, they would one day be reunited with their lost family member. Chapter 64 - 64 64 ?64: Chapter 64 64: Chapter 64 Family Head Huang had started his closed-door artifact crafting that day, leaving his son to act on his behalf. The people in the family simply thought he was outside and hadn¡¯t returned yet. ¡­ At the black market auction, a cultivator who had already acquired the Sea Spirit Grass didn¡¯t leave immediately but continued to watch the proceedings. Family Head Huang had seen this person before but didn¡¯t recognize him as his enemy, Su Chang¡¯an. Even if he had recognized him, he would have been powerless to seek revenge, just as he had said in front of his family members¡ªhow could their cultivation be enough to take revenge? Su Chang¡¯an planned to continue watching to see if there were any other Spirit Grasses or Pills to purchase for his collection. In this place of illusions, others couldn¡¯t make out the color of his clothes, nor his face. After watching for some time, he decided to visit other auction locations. After purchasing some items here and there, he prepared to leave the black market. Su Chang¡¯an summoned his flying ship and had just soared into the sky for a moment when he alertly sensed that someone was tracking him. From the Qi of the tracker, he deduced the person¡¯s cultivation was not weak and about the same as his own. He could detect the other¡¯s Qi because he had a sensitive nose that picked up the scent of living beings in the air. Standing inside the cabin of the ship, Su Chang¡¯an stabilized the flying ship and with a surge of Spiritual Power, he summoned a Magical Treasure flying sword. His flying sword invisibly shot in all directions, its sword light unleashing what seemed like millions of blades darting towards enemies on all sides. He knew only that there were enemies nearby by their scent, but he had no idea how many there were. If they were friends, they wouldn¡¯t be using invisibility¡ªand such an invisibility technique was very rare. ¡°Ah¡­ grr, how can this damn kid be so tricky to handle? It hurts like hell!¡± The flying sword released by Su Chang¡¯an revealed the hidden figures of his pursuers, cutting them fiercely and leaving many wounds, with the scent of blood permeating the air. Hearing the voice of his opponent, Su Chang¡¯an became even more certain of their location and directed the sword, which had been shooting in all directions, to focus its frenzy of strikes on one spot. ¡°Eight months lo.¡± The language spoken by the opponent was not that of the Cultivation World, which was divided into many countries. It was the language of someone from a foreign country who had come here and dared to set an ambush. Su Chang¡¯an frowned, wondering if the Cultivation World had become so chaotic? Had all sorts of demons and deities started to mobilize? Daring to lay an ambush for him, he would see how he¡¯d deal with these people. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Who comes here? Sneaking around, come out and state your name, or this Young Master will deal with you¡­¡± ¡°Ahaha, it won¡¯t be so easy to deal with us, watch this¡­¡± Suddenly, there was a smell of gunpowder in the air¡ªa scent that did not come from the gunpowder used in the spells of their Cultivation World, nor from a Fire Spirit Talisman. Instinctively, Su Chang¡¯an deployed a defensive cultivation technique, and a spectrum of light enveloped him. ¡°Bang bang bang¡± Whatever it was the opponents shot with, it seemed to be made of metal. Although the projectiles were highly destructive, they couldn¡¯t penetrate the protective light circle that Su Chang¡¯an had erected. ¡°The Chinese person is too strong, are swords and guns not enough?¡± The opponent uttered a muddled language, tinged with fear, losing the earlier arrogance. ¡°Not showing your true form yet? Then don¡¯t blame me for being impolite¡­¡± Su Chang¡¯an summoned another Magical Treasure, the Golden Star Orb, and with a surge of Spiritual Power, sent it flying towards the assailants. It shone brilliantly with Golden Light, illuminating the attackers. The previously invisible assailants were exposed¡ªtwo individuals clad in black. Their garments were oversized, and the backs boasted some skull prints. Such attire did not belong to the people of Ancient Xia Country from their Cultivation World. It resembled that of another country, Manyi Country. Su Chang¡¯an understood their malicious intent towards him, so why would he be polite in dealing with them? The Golden Star Orb ceaselessly shot Golden Light at the attackers. As the outer light suddenly shone on them, they felt searing pain on their bodies while their previously intact clothes began to tear and fray. ¡°Eight months lo, let¡¯s get out of here¡­¡± The two figures vanished into the air in an instant. Su Chang¡¯an chose not to pursue them, sensing that their Cultivation World might soon experience a bloody storm. He had seen through the ambitions of these people. Why had they come to their Ancient Xia Country? ¡­ If Jiang Tang were there, he would definitely say this was an attempt at domination, with the ambition to conquer the place and plunder its resources. Unfortunately, Jiang Tang was in a state similar to that of a comatose person from before the transmigration: unable to move, eat, think, or wake from sleep¡ªa vegetative state. Jiang Tang had been knocked into a deep pit by the Magical Treasures of Huang Chen and his group. If not for the full force exerted by his Spiritual Pet, Eryao, to bring him into the space, he might have been more than just vegetatively still¡ªhe could have turned into dust and his soul may have departed. The Jade Pendant Space continued to fall downwards, uncontrolled and slightly damaged. It plunged into the deep recesses below the earth¡¯s surface. Eventually falling into another space. Eryao, the descendant of the Ancient Snow Dragon, had used too much power to save its master and was now dozing heavily in the space, occasionally breathing out Dragon Breath through its nostrils. Only when Little Blue Ox detected those breaths, could it be sure it was still alive. ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox was born in the space, and these days, it had been cultivating, eating the Spirit Grass from the space had elevated it to the first level of Gathering Spirit in terms of cultivation. Such cultivation was only sufficient to plant more crops in the space but not enough to help its master fight opponents. Moreover, it didn¡¯t have any other defensive spells, and as the space kept tumbling, the crops were destroyed. Little Blue Ox was also affected, the continuously spinning space caused it to feel dizzy and have a headache, and through its blurry eyes, it vaguely saw its master and Eryao lying unconscious in the space. All it could do was let out weak ¡°moo moo moo¡± calls. As time passed and a day went by, just when Little Blue Ox thought it was going to die, the space suddenly came to a halt. The stillness of the space gave Little Blue Ox some peace, and it fell into a heavy sleep as drowsiness overcame it. ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Not knowing how much time had passed, Little Blue Ox woke up feeling hungry and opened its eyes to find itself still in the space, with its master and Eryao still asleep. Little Blue Ox felt extremely hungry. It searched the space with its eyes and found that although the crops had been destroyed, some were still edible. ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox, upon seeing some food, happily ran over and ate some of the consumable Spirit Grass. After eating its fill, Little Blue Ox glanced once more at Eryao and its master, then it plowed a piece of land, replanting the crops and Spirit Grass that could still be sown. Having cultivated that patch of land, Little Blue Ox felt tired. It lay down on the ground to rest and fell asleep. After some time, Little Blue Ox awoke again and discovered that the Spirit Grass it had planted earlier had revived, growing lush and green, which motivated Little Blue Ox to plow another patch of land and sow the seeds of Spirit Valley that its master had stored in the space. Once Little Blue Ox had finished these tasks, it felt hungry again and began to search the space for something to eat. The space wasn¡¯t tumbling anymore, and some of the destroyed crops had come back to life. Little Blue Ox went to eat those revived crops and then drank some water. Little Blue Ox carried a bucket in its mouth and poured some water into Eryao¡¯s mouth. Eryao, still asleep, felt thirsty and instinctively opened its mouth to drink. It had a sliver of consciousness and knew that Little Blue Ox was feeding it water. Little Blue Ox then went to pour water into Jiang Tang¡¯s mouth. However, Jiang Tang didn¡¯t open his mouth to drink, so Little Blue Ox, in a panic, circled around, mooing ¡°moo moo moo moo¡­¡± expressing its concern. Little Blue Ox instinctively felt that it must make its master drink water, and with its hoof, it pried open its master¡¯s mouth. From the bucket, it poured some water into its master¡¯s mouth. Little Blue Ox noticed that although a lot of water spilled onto its master¡¯s body, some still went into his mouth. This discovery led Little Blue Ox to believe that its master was still alive. Knowing its master was still alive, Little Blue Ox jumped happily and continued to work diligently. Inside the space, Little Blue Ox repeated its daily routine: working, eating Spirit Grass, and feeding water to Jiang Tang and Eryao. Through Little Blue Ox¡¯s persistent efforts, the crops that had been damaged in the space flourished once again under its constant tending and watering. Some crops were even ready to be harvested. Such harvestable crops included the Spirit Valley. Little Blue Ox only knew how to till the land and not how to harvest. With its level of Gathering Spirit cultivation, it wasn¡¯t capable of performing spells just yet. Little Blue Ox was very anxious; it wanted to eat the grass of the Spirit Valley, which was as rich in Spiritual Energy as the Spirit Valley itself. Little Blue Ox ran and licked Jiang Tang¡¯s hand with its tongue, finding that the master had no reaction. It then licked his face, but still, there was no response from him. Out of options, Little Blue Ox could only turn to lick the restored Eryao, who, despite being tired and reverting to its original form, was smaller than Little Blue Ox. However, as a descendant of the Ancient Snow Dragon, its cultivation level was certainly not something Little Blue Ox could compete with. ¡°Achoo¡­¡± Eryao, in its sleep, felt a tickle in its nose and sneezed, and after sneezing, its eyes opened groggily. ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Upon seeing Little Blue Ox in front of it, jumping happily and making joyful noises, it spoke. ¡°I¡¯m in such a state, yet you¡¯re still so happy. You¡¯re heartless and good for nothing. ¡± Eryao, seeing the cheerful demeanor of Little Blue Ox, felt a bit angry, thinking it was a foolish creature. It was in pain all over, so why should this fool be happy? ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox, still with the same happy expression, listened as Eryao woke up and scolded him. For the past few days, it had been working on its own, and how boring it had been. Now that Eryao was here, it had a companion. ¡°So stupid, Daddy, how could you have taken in such a fool. What a waste of food. ¡± Eryao expressed its disdain for Little Blue Ox¡¯s inability to speak. After scolding Little Blue Ox, Eryao sensed that something was amiss. It had woken up, but had the master? Only then did Eryao take a good look around the space and realized that it looked just as it had before, which was quite different from the messy state it remembered just before passing out. Eryao then cast an admiring glance at Little Blue Ox and praised, ¡°You¡¯ve been quite diligent. Keep it up!¡± ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Upon hearing Eryao¡¯s praise, Little Blue Ox started joyfully jumping once again. Only then did Eryao notice Jiang Tang lying not far away, with a pale face and still unconscious. Chapter 65 - 65 65 ?65: Chapter 65 65: Chapter 65 ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Jiang Tang¡­ no response. Eryao rushed over, hugged him, and tears started to drop, falling on Jiang Tang¡¯s face. Unfortunately, Jiang Tang completely lacked any sense of it, his face still ashen, but already devoid of the initial gold and purple hue. ¡°Moo moo moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox, from its previous cheerful and happy expression, started to cry with Eryao, teardrops falling from its cow eyes amidst the sadness¡­ Eryao tried to shake Jiang Tang, but received no response, and cried out in sadness, ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s wrong with you? Respond to me, what should we do now? You¡¯re not really dead, are you? Woo¡­¡± Although Eryao cried and called out like this, due to its contract with Jiang Tang, it could feel that Jiang Tang was not dead, just severely injured and slowly recovering. Maybe he was unaware of the outside world, or perhaps he was aware but unable to respond. After crying for a while and growing tired, Eryao looked around the space with a vacant gaze, then noticed the crops, the Spirit Valley Seeds that had ripened. ¡°Daddy, I will cook for you¡­¡± Eryao found a pot, harvested some of the matured rice with a spell into the pot, added water, and then sprayed its Spiritual Fire. In just a moment, fragrant rice was ready. ¡°Daddy, time to eat¡­¡± Jiang Tang still gave no response. Eryao fed him a little, but saw that he didn¡¯t chew the rice in his mouth. Helpless, it remembered it was also hungry and began gobbling down the food. In no time at all, only a few mouthfuls of rice were left in the pot. Eryao then thought of Jiang Tang, opened his mouth, and found that the rice which hadn¡¯t been chewed earlier had disappeared. ¡°Hehe, Daddy, can you eat rice now?¡± Jiang Tang again didn¡¯t respond. At this moment, Eryao realized something; it fed the remaining few mouthfuls to Jiang Tang. Though Jiang Tang didn¡¯t respond and his mouth didn¡¯t move, the rice in his mouth automatically got chewed, disintegrated, and made its way into his stomach. Eryao also fed water to Daddy, and he could drink it down. With this discovery, Eryao wasn¡¯t as sad as before and sat down to think. ¡°Moo moo moo moo moo¡­¡± The Green Ox had been concerned about the crops all this while. Seeing that Eryao had woken up, it thought that maybe it could help with the farm work now? ¡°You want me to harvest the crops? What a waste of talent! You useless thing, after cultivating for so long, you can¡¯t even do these things for yourself. You still need to bother Eryao, a mere dumb ox.¡± Eryao rambled on for a bit, making the Little Blue Ox lower its head. Though it was a beast, it didn¡¯t have that kind of legacy! It hadn¡¯t awakened any Secret Manuals or anything like that. Its entire cultivation was just working in the space, eating Spirit Grass to increase its Cultivation; reaching the Gathering Spirit Phase was already quite good. In front of Eryao, the Little Blue Ox felt a bit inferior, and regarding its scolding, it could only lower its head and meekly endure. ¡°Ahh, forget it. In light of your diligent labor, I¡¯ll reluctantly do it! First, let me be clear, I¡¯m not helping you. I¡¯m just doing work, work.¡± Eryao gave the Little Blue Ox a glance, cast a spell, and all the matured rice in the space went into a jute sack that Jiang Tang had stored there. The Green Ox, happy to see those rice seedlings, scurried over to eat. After filling its belly, it went aside to drink water. Leaving some rice seedlings uneaten, it lay down to sleep. ¡°Hey, you lazy bug! I¡¯ve finished harvesting the rice. Aren¡¯t you supposed to plow the field? Why are you sleeping instead?¡± ¡°Moo moo moo moo moo moo moo¡± Now, Eryao also understood, grasping what Little Blue Ox meant, and gave it praise, ¡°Not too dumb, you can level up.¡± Little Blue Ox nodded, ¡°Moo moo moo moo moo¡± ¡°Go on then, hurry up! Otherwise, leaving such a big empty space in the space is a waste. You need to level up and come back to plow.¡± ¡°Moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox closed its eyes and started its leveling up. After enduring a scolding from Eryao, it felt quite happy knowing it could level up. It had gained praise from Eryao, and it thought that once its master woke up and saw it had leveled up, he would be pleased! Eryao felt quite bored, as Little Blue Ox was leveling up and there was no one to play with. It looked at Jiang Tang and remembered that every time master farmed, there would be Pills, Secret Manuals, Magical Treasures and such popping out in the space. But when it just harvested the rice, it did not see any! Looking at the space filled with abundant Spirit Grass, Eryao thought of helping its master, who might need Pills given his current condition. Eryao cast a spell, sowed new seeds on the recently harvested land, and planted rice again. Then it watered the seeds, of course with its Water Spray Spell. Having done all this and feeling tired, it lay down beside its master to sleep. Time passed unknowingly. Eryao awoke beside its master and found the Little Blue Ox was still leveling up. It shook its little head; too weak, it had not yet finished after such a long time. Suddenly, Eryao saw an item in the middle of the space¡¯s rice field that it did not remember seeing when scattering the seeds. Among the green shoots of the rice, it found a box. Eryao used the suction spell to draw the box over, opened it, and to its delight, found Pills inside. ¡°Spirit Supplement Pill, hahaha, Master is saved!¡± One of the reasons Eryao was so happy was because when she tried to wake Jiang Tang, she discovered his storage bag was missing. This meant that all the pills, secret manuals, and the like were all gone. The magical treasures were gone, and the two Exotic Flames that Master had subdued had also disappeared. Eryao had always found it strange but couldn¡¯t ask Master about it. Now, seeing the pills, she placed one in Master¡¯s mouth, hoping that after he consumed the pill, he would recover quickly. Eryao felt that one pill was not enough, so she put two more into Master¡¯s mouth. Then she ate two herself, and the box was empty. Eryao noticed that after eating the pills, Master¡¯s complexion seemed a bit rosier. With this observation, Eryao¡¯s spirits were lifted. Having just eaten the pills, she didn¡¯t pause to cultivate and recover her strength. Instead, she used a spell to mature the Spirit Grass grown by Little Blue Ox in the space. Then she diligently continued to sow and water, tending to the space¡¯s crops more lushly than even Little Blue Ox had done. Only then did Eryao feel tired, and she lay down beside Master to rest, closing her eyes to recover her spiritual power. Some more time passed. ¡°Moo, moo, moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox improved its level and felt more agile, frolicking and bellowing joyfully. ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss about? It¡¯s just a common upgrade. How high can your cultivation really be?¡± Eryao, awakened by the noise and still groggy, scolded Little Blue Ox fiercely. ¡°Moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox didn¡¯t care about Eryao¡¯s scolding and ran over to hug Eryao. Eryao transformed back to her original form, a tiny bird, and Little Blue Ox hugged her so tightly that it was suffocating. ¡°You big oaf, you want to flatten me to death, don¡¯t you know your own weight? All brawn and no brains.¡± Eryao had noticed that Little Blue Ox had grown a bit larger, of course weighing quite a bit more, and that it had now reached the Insight cultivation level after its upgrade. Little Blue Ox let go of Eryao and happily jumped around the space. ¡°Take it easy! Don¡¯t eat the crops haphazardly, and don¡¯t trample them.¡± Little Blue Ox nodded to Eryao and feeling hungry, went to eat some leftover hay. Eryao observed the crops again, noting the newly planted Spirit Grass looking green and lush. She saw a box rising within the space. Eryao wanted to shout with joy, drawing the box closer and opening it to find Recovery Pills. This type of pill could quickly heal people with severe injuries or various cultivation levels, beasts, demons, ghost cultivators¡ªanyone who suffered severe injuries could soon recover after consuming these pills. ¡°Hahaha, Master is saved!¡± Little Blue Ox, sensing Eryao¡¯s joy, also jumped around happily: ¡°Moo, moo¡­¡± Eryao knew she was also injured and needed such a pill, but since she could slowly recover after waking up, she didn¡¯t necessarily require the pills. She could just eat some Spirit Grass in the space. But Master was different; he was unconscious and needed to receive nutrition and pills to help him recover as quickly as possible. Eryao placed a pill in Jiang Tang¡¯s mouth, allowing it to dissolve and be swallowed naturally. Then she too consumed a pill and, still not reassured, gave another one to Master. After taking the pill, Eryao began to close her eyes and cultivate to heal her body. While Eryao was healing, Little Blue Ox lay quietly aside, guarding over Master and Jiang Tang. Noticing some crops had matured, and knowing it could not harvest them, Little Blue Ox could only sit anxiously on the side. When hungry, it would eat grass; when thirsty, it would drink water. When tired, it would sleep, cyclically repeating this process. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each time, it found more ripe crops, and Little Blue Ox, ignorant in harvesting, grew increasingly vexed. So, it shook Eryao a bit. ¡°You big oaf, I was sleeping so nicely, dreaming of eating meat, and here you come, stealing my dream meal.¡± Eryao had always longed for meat. Having recognized Jiang Tang as her master shortly after birth and entering this space, she had always eaten only vegetation, like grass and Spirit Valley. She craved meat desperately, dreaming of it. After waking, Eryao found that her cultivation had recovered and her body had grown larger. ¡°Humph, you big oaf, your cultivation isn¡¯t as high as mine, is it?¡± ¡°Moo, moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox bowed its head, initially happy with its size increase after leveling up, but now it felt inferior seeing that Eryao was still larger and had higher cultivation, hanging its head in shame. ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t hold it against you considering your hard work¡­¡± Before Eryao could finish speaking, she saw so many mature crops in the space that hadn¡¯t been harvested. She began to grumble: ¡°You big oaf, all you know is eating. So many crops are ripe, and you can¡¯t even harvest them. What a waste of land.¡± At Eryao¡¯s rebuke, Little Blue Ox crouched even lower: ¡°Moo¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not dealing with a dunce who can¡¯t speak human language.¡± After saying this, Eryao harvested all the ripe crops, bustling about, seemingly even more industrious than an actual ox. After gathering the crops, she diligently continued to sow and water them¡­. Chapter 66 - 66 66 ?66: Chapter 66 66: Chapter 66 Little Blue Ox saw how quickly Eryao was working, much more deftly than itself and with more spells at its disposal, and it felt so ashamed that it lowered its head, ¡°Moo¡­¡± ¡°Your envy is useless. Without any inheritance or a clan, and simply lucky to have been born in your master¡¯s space, you should be grateful for the cultivation you¡¯ve achieved. But you should also work hard and help out more with the chores,¡± Eryao grumbled while it worked, noticing how idly Little Blue Ox stood by, which somewhat soured its mood. ¡°Moo¡­¡± What else could Little Blue Ox do? It had to help with the chores! When they were tired from working, they returned to their master¡¯s side to rest. Eryao cooked another pot of rice, gave their master some water to drink, and then fed him some of the rice. Watching the food automatically slide down their master¡¯s throat, which meant he was absorbing it, was proof that he was in the process of healing. After feeding their master, Eryao ate as well. It was just plain rice, how bland! How wonderful it would have been to have some vegetable seeds! Eryao could barely tolerate vegetables, but Spirit Grass and flowers were more to its liking. Little Blue Ox silently munched on straw, the leftover straw sprouts from the harvest were its food. Having filled its stomach with sprouts and drunk some water, Little Blue Ox lay down on the ground to sleep. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After filling its belly, Eryao walked around the space, looking for any treasure it might have missed. Then it realized something troubling; it remembered falling into a deep pit underground earlier. Where could they be now? Eryao employed its spells to sneak out of the space quietly. But no sooner had it left than it felt a surge of danger. There was a sucking force trying to pull it away. It was like a ghost¡¯s claws, tearing it apart piece by piece. ¡°Ah!¡± Eryao quickly returned to the safety of the space, patting its chest with its little paws, ¡°That scared the life out of me!¡± ¡°Moo¡­¡± Seeing Eryao in such a frantic state puzzled Little Blue Ox; it had always seen Eryao as quite formidable, so what could scare it so? It was very curious about what Eryao had encountered. ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Even if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t understand; talking to you is pointless,¡± Eryao complained to Little Blue Ox, venting to ease its anxiety. ¡°Moo¡­¡± Little Blue Ox¡¯s innocent gaze seemed to ask, ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± It was just a cow, after all, one that couldn¡¯t speak the language of humans. ¡°Ah, never mind¡­¡± Eryao calmed itself down before peering outside the space again. The sky was a dull gray, the outside pitch-black as though it were night. Yet there was something off about that night. Even a dull gray sky on the surface wouldn¡¯t have such a powerful suction ¡ª a force Eryao couldn¡¯t resist with its current cultivation. Eryao tried using one of its spells to shoot out a burst of fire. The Thunder Fire shot outside. It illuminated a small area, and in that darkness, Eryao saw the pitch-black earth, lacking even weeds, much less trees or flowers. The sky was an overcast gray, not the natural color one would expect; it was more like the hue of a Spiritual Artifact. ¡°Ah¡­ ah¡± At first, there was no reaction to the fire that Eryao had sprayed out, but when the light spread further away, many ghosts began to let out miserable screams. It was as if Eryao¡¯s fire had injured them, eliciting their pitiful cries. Eryao didn¡¯t understand how there could be ghosts beneath a dull gray sky and pitch-black earth? Had they entered hell? No, that couldn¡¯t be. They were not dead; how could they have entered hell? Eryao didn¡¯t dare move; it just wanted to wait for their master to wake up before making any plans. It also wanted to check if there were other abnormalities. Inside the Primordial Treasure Lingtian Space was the safest place. Eryao had no intention of going out. There was food and water here, albeit a bit bland, but that had no impact on its cultivation. This injury had humbled Eryao, removing its previous arrogance. Its abilities were not yet enough to fend off the mana from others¡¯ Magical Treasures. If not for the Primordial Treasure Lingtian Space, they might have all perished. It knew it had to cultivate in silence, improving its cultivation, waiting for their master to awaken. But Eryao dared not venture out alone to explore; that sucking force had nearly taken it away. As Eryao continued to cultivate steadily, it and Little Blue Ox diligently worked the fields, harvesting more food and accumulating more Pills with each cycle, a reward that brought them substantial benefits. Among the Pills Eryao reaped, it always prioritized feeding any suitable ones to their master first. ¡­ The Nangong Immortal Sect Elder¡¯s Disciple¡¯s Cave Abode. Luo Yaxuan had been going out to the mountain peaks every day to practice his wind and thunder lightning techniques. In order not to damage more mountain peaks, he always went to the same one for training. Each time he finished cultivating, that mountain peak seemed to have become shorter. Originally, it was as tall as the others, but now it stood out, conspicuously lacking the lush green trees and grass. It even changed color, turning black ¨C the sort of black that comes from earth scorched by fire. Each day there too, fierce winds would blow, with astonishing thunder lightning, and the thick smoke that rose when lightning struck the earth would draw other disciples to secretly watch and learn from a distance. Many disciples stationed themselves atop nearby mountain peaks just to observe Luo Yaxuan¡¯s display of wind and thunder lightning technique, hoping to derive some understanding of cultivation from it. Not every disciple could be a Direct Disciple with access to high-level Secret Manuals. Servant Disciples relied on completing tasks and the reward manuals they received were not very advanced. They knew that in a few days the great competition would take place, and aside from their chores, they climbed mountains that no human cultivator had trained on before, hoping to find resources. But they chanced upon someone practicing such powerful spells ¨C an opportunity for them to learn from a senior brother. Outer Sect disciples also didn¡¯t have many resources, and the Secret Manuals and spells they obtained from the Scripture Pavilion were not as sophisticated as those given to Direct Disciples by their masters. Having encountered Luo Yaxuan¡¯s cultivation, many disciples learned and realized how to use spells more expertly. Disciples of similar levels all had roughly the same learning and spells; only the difference in their Spiritual Roots could lead to variations. Without a master to instruct them directly, they could only occasionally attend sermons given by senior brothers, who did not perform spells for their observation. Besides displaying his spells outside, Luo Yaxuan would also meditate and cultivate in his cave abode. Wishing to concentrate on his cultivation here, he did not resume contact with his family. One day, while practicing his wind and thunder lightning on a mountain peak, Luo Yaxuan discovered that the wind technique and thunder lightning he unleashed were more powerful than before, further reducing the height of the small mountain peak. Luo Yaxuan realized that his wind and thunder lightning had reached a level of mastery. This realization filled him with surprise; with the mastery of wind and thunder lightning, he now had the capability to compete with other Direct Disciples. Among Direct Disciples, the one who wins the competition would of course move on to compete against all other Sect disciples, and also secure an entry ticket to join a grand competition of various Sects. Many Sect disciples worked so hard for the chance to compete with disciples from other Sects, obtain more understanding of spells and Cultivation Manuals. They also hoped to win awards and achieve rankings, bringing honor to themselves, their Sect, and the noble clans they represented. In the remaining two days, Luo Yaxuan did not venture out; he focused on filling his entire body with cultivated energy in preparation for the Disciple Competition. Two days later, the Sect became exceptionally lively as the Servant Disciples¡¯ competition started. After a day¡¯s rest, it would be the turn of the Outer Sect disciples, and so on until the Sect contests came to an end ten days later. All disciples were required by the Sect to watch the Servant Disciples¡¯ competition, offering them encouragement. The Sect¡¯s Elders would also be seated on a high platform to observe. On this day, Luo Yaxuan also attended the competition among Servant Disciples. As a Direct Disciple, his seat was at the very front of the arena. The white robes of the Sect disciples differed among those in the arena, not apparent to outsiders. However, known by those within the Inner Sect, every disciple¡¯s robe bore a watermark symbolizing their position within the Sect. Luo Yaxuan, dashing, handsome, and with an elegant gait, took his seat among the onlookers as he entered the area and reached his assigned position. Many of the Servant and Outer Sect disciples noticed his entrance, and the disciples about to compete felt a surge of spirit upon seeing him. So this senior brother is a Direct Disciple. With his presence, I feel keen to show what I¡¯ve learned and realized these past few days, heh heh. The Servant Disciples began drawing lots, and they were assigned to compete in this arena. The stage was designed with a Formation, and combat within could be intense ¨C even if a Magical Treasure caused injury and one lost, at the moment a disciple was in deadly peril, the Formation would automatically whisk them away from the arena. This was also a measure to prevent disciples from killing each other during the competition. Not only were the arenas designated for Servant Disciples set up this way, but all disciples competed in this place, just on different days. The Servant Disciples finished drawing lots and took their places across the four arenas for the competition. There were senior brothers hosting, Elders judging, and Sect patrols present to prevent brawls after a loss. The patrols also prevented competitors from using external forces to win, like a Spiritual Power Talisman infused by their family members. Many of the Servant Disciples were at the Qi Cultivation Stage, and the Outer Sect disciples were of similar levels too. If the opponent used a talisman infused by their family with a Foundation Establishment Stage or a fraction of a Golden Core Elder¡¯s mana, with such a talisman, other competitors stood no chance and the contest would be pointless. Luo Yaxuan sat among the Direct Disciples, his neighbors too were Direct Disciples of other Golden Core Elders. That master only had one Direct Disciple by his side, which was him. There used to be another senior brother, who seemed to have left the Sect for experience. Since becoming the master¡¯s disciple, Luo Yaxuan had not yet met this senior brother. ¡°Luo Yaxuan?¡± the young male disciple sitting to his right side said. ¡°Greetings, senior brother,¡± Luo Yaxuan responded without letting the formality slip just because the other was also a Direct Disciple. The young man sitting on his right was indeed just a little older than him, and their cultivation levels seemed comparable, both were young men. However, he did not know the name of this man. Chapter 67 - 67 67 ?67: Chapter 67 67: Chapter 67 ¡°Luo Yaxuan, I know you; these days you¡¯ve become quite famous,¡± said the man to the right of Luo Yaxuan. ¡°Haha, it must be just a show he¡¯s putting on!¡± said a man to the left of Luo Yaxuan, his words dripping with mockery. When he said this, the other Direct Disciples present couldn¡¯t help but let out a laugh. Luo Yaxuan paid no mind to their teasing, his gaze fixed on the four martial platforms where disciples were competing. The Direct Disciples whispered among themselves. The Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples behind them thought these senior brothers were getting along harmoniously, happily chatting away. ¡°Luo Yaxuan, acting all high and mighty, how about we go and have a match?¡± taunted the person to his left again. ¡°Senior brother, we are here to watch the junior brothers compete. As for our own contest, there will be a chance in a few days; maybe then we¡¯ll have the opportunity to face each other,¡± Luo Yaxuan replied calmly. Luo Yaxuan didn¡¯t take the bait from others. Private fighting was punishable by the Sect, and he had no desire to face discipline from his master. He was not one to seek out fights eagerly. He could practice his spells in solitude but would not accept others¡¯ challenges. Jostling among fellow disciples at the Martial Platform was normal, but what mattered most now was the competition. There were more important things to be done after it ended. He had no desire to injure others or to be injured in return. ¡°Haha, thinking he¡¯s all that, turns out he¡¯s just a cowardly pushover,¡± said the man on the left once more. ¡°Senior brother, I can accept your challenge in a few days if we get paired up in the draw. We¡¯ll have our chance then. Let¡¯s leave these opportunities to others for now!¡± said Luo Yaxuan, unbothered by the ridicule. Taught by his father, he was not a weakling but had learned patience and to keep a low profile. An arrogant demeanor would only lead to a swift demise. There were too many capable people in the Cultivation World; no one could afford to be arrogant. Full of self-pride, one day they might not even know how they met their end. ¡°You¡­¡± The senior brother to his left wanted to say more but was held back by a companion. Luo Yaxuan quietly observed the matches on the four martial platforms, noting that when a disciple used Fire Spells, their gestures reminded him of his own when casting electric spells. Another disciple, using Ice Spells, had techniques that somehow resembled his own Wind Spellcasting. Luo Yaxuan watched with interest. It seemed these Servant Disciples were not fools¡ªperhaps what they lacked were just resources. Given time, any one of these individuals might stand at the pinnacle of the Path of Cultivation. Yet that depended on luck and perseverance. For cultivators, the road is long, and advancing even a single level would increase their lifespan. Among these disciples, many were just children of mortals. Once stepping onto the Path of Cultivation, they might distance themselves from their kin. Their lifespans outstretched their relatives¡¯, and as they grew old, they would witness their family¡¯s natural cycle of life and death, powerless to help their mortal parents or loved ones. ¡­ As Luo Yaxuan watched the Servant Disciples competing, there were breaks for rest, and many people who had brought dry food began eating. Some had cookies made from Spirit Valley, dried meats cured by Demonic Beasts, and others ate Spirit Supplement Pills to replenish their spiritual energy. Luo Yaxuan hadn¡¯t brought any dry food, but while sitting there, Servant Disciples brought him cookies and dried Demonic Beast meat. Seeing their enthusiasm, Luo Yaxuan politely accepted with a smile, offering words of encouragement and cheering them on. The Servant Disciples, encouraged by their senior brother, assured themselves they would strive hard to ensure his support wasn¡¯t in vain. The Direct Disciples seated to Luo Yaxuan¡¯s left and right, many of whom had brought their own dry food¡ªsome not even eating¡ªdidn¡¯t enjoy the same popularity. The two senior brothers sitting on either side of Luo Yaxuan felt slighted. Right there next to Luo Yaxuan, they saw the Servant Disciples ignoring them as if they were invisible, not even offering greetings or sharing food. No wonder they remained Servant Disciples; with such lack of discernment, could they even hope to enter the Outer Sect? Loading with cookies and meat, Luo Yaxuan didn¡¯t hoard it all for himself but offered it to the fellow senior brothers sitting nearby: ¡°Senior brothers, it¡¯s about time we ate something, right? Haha, the junior brothers are so enthusiastic that it¡¯s overwhelming me. Please, forgive their oversight, let¡¯s eat together!¡± ¡°Hmph, at least you have the courtesy.¡± ¡°Of course we¡¯ll eat¡­¡± Those seated near Luo Yaxuan grabbed the food unceremoniously, and luckily, Luo Yaxuan was quick enough to snag a bite for himself, or they wouldn¡¯t have left any for him. After consuming the fare from Luo Yaxuan¡¯s hands, the expressions on the Direct Disciples seated beside him eased; their look was no longer full of disdain. ¡°Luo Yaxuan, although you¡¯ve offered me this food, it¡¯s like offering Buddha the borrowed flowers. If we face each other on the Martial Platform in the future, I won¡¯t go easy on you,¡± said the Direct Disciple to Luo Yaxuan¡¯s right. ¡°Of course, during a contest, we should exert our true strength. We shouldn¡¯t hold back just because we¡¯re brothers; let¡¯s give it our all,¡± Luo Yaxuan said with a smile to the senior brother to his right. ¡°Let me introduce myself; I am Fan Dingding, a Direct Disciple of the Peak Master of Green Sea Peak.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Fan,¡± ¡°Luo Yaxuan, let me introduce you. To your left, this is Bi Renchuan, a Direct Disciple of the Elder at the Refining Artifacts Peak.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Bi,¡± ¡°Do you really need to meddle and introduce me? I can introduce myself.¡± Bi Renchuan glanced disdainfully at Fan Dingding, annoyed that he introduced himself to others. He didn¡¯t like others mentioning his name. Making it sound like ¡®compelling,¡¯ some people pronounced his name in that manner, which irritated him. But Fan Dingding ignored Bi Renchuan¡¯s response and continued to introduce Luo Yaxuan to the other Direct Disciples. ¡°Greetings, Senior Brothers! Before, I did not know you all, as I focused solely on cultivating in my cave dwelling. I¡¯m truly ashamed and hope for your guidance in the future.¡± However, Luo Yaxuan didn¡¯t see the fellow disciples of the Sect as necessarily being enemies. Although they competed in martial arts, outside, they needed to work together. If a companion wasn¡¯t friendly, how could they possibly face a formidable enemy together? It only took half a day for those who were initially unfriendly towards Luo Yaxuan, the Direct Disciples, to start seeing him in a new light. They watched the competition from behind, discussing spells together. A day passed, and the Servant Disciple competition concluded, with the Elder on the high platform presenting awards to the disciples. The spectators below felt a mix of envy and discontent¡­ Just as Luo Yaxuan and the Direct Disciples were about to depart, ¡°Senior Brother, wait¡­¡± The Servant Disciples who received awards on the platform had distinguished themselves as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and from then on, could be included in the ranks of the Outer Sect Disciples. Upon hearing the call, Luo Yaxuan and his group of Direct Disciples instinctively halted their steps and turned around. ¡°Senior Brother, thank you. With your cheering on, I finally overcame my fear and won first place in the contest,¡± the disciple said. Seeing that the disciple was speaking to him so passionately, Luo Yaxuan really didn¡¯t want to dampen his enthusiasm, so he encouraged him, saying: ¡°Keep it up, you can do it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother,¡± replied the disciple. Then another disciple also came to express his gratitude: ¡°Senior Brother, thank you for your encouragement and your guidance during the spellcasting, which led to my understanding of spell usage. Thank you. I achieved second place today, I¡¯m not arrogant, I¡¯m not intelligent, but I am deeply grateful, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re quite clever, but make sure you never use your intelligence for wrongful ways. Given time, we might even fight side by side.¡± Luo Yaxuan had different words for everyone. He had noticed this disciple while on the platform and saw that he was indeed clever, able to use his spells so well, clearly a talent. It was a pity that he himself was not yet qualified to take disciples. Otherwise, such a person could be taken under his wing. ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, I will work hard,¡± said the disciple. The disciple, upon receiving praise from Luo Yaxuan, felt overjoyed, as if they had ingested a Spirit Supplement Pill, their mood surging with excitement. ¡°Senior Brother, what about me?¡± asked the disciple who took third place. This disciple employed Wood Spells, different from the Fire Spells Luo Yaxuan used, but he also managed to gain insight from them. ¡°What is it you need?¡± Luo Yaxuan asked the disciple with a smile. ¡°Thank you for demonstrating the spells on the mountaintop for us to observe and learn from. Even though I use different spells, I was able to attain enlightenment from them.¡± ¡°Oh, congratulations, keep it up,¡± Luo Yaxuan replied. Luo Yaxuan felt that he, as a Direct Disciple, really wasn¡¯t the most outstanding, despite being nurtured by a prominent family. He needed to work even harder or soon he would be surpassed by these junior brothers, an embarrassing and regrettable situation. Just half a day ago, the Direct Disciples didn¡¯t show much fondness for Luo Yaxuan, partly because they were rivals. But after half a day, standing beside Luo Yaxuan, they began to admire him, sensing a kind of leadership quality about him. What kind of family or household could nurture such a character? There are some people who are born leaders, possessing a magnetic charm. They perform only what seems right, yet are respected and admired by others. With that, Luo Yaxuan left with the Direct Disciples, each returning to their respective cave dwellings. The next day was a rest day. Luo Yaxuan was cultivating in his cave dwelling after reaching Foundation Establishment. In truth, he didn¡¯t need to eat every day, but refraining from eating could affect the body¡¯s ability to absorb. His body had not yet attained the state of an Immortal. Three meals a day would be delivered to him, for cultivators ate Spirit Rice, vegetables imbued with spiritual energy, and meat. ¡°Senior Brother Luo, today¡¯s meal includes first-grade pheasant meat and Spirit Vegetable Heart for you.¡± ¡°Hmm, the cook has done well with the presentation, and it smells delicious,¡± said Luo Yaxuan as he noticed the tenderness of the pheasant meat, which truly whetted his appetite. ¡°Senior Brother Luo, I¡¯ve heard that the Servant Disciples outside admire you greatly. They also said that they learned a lot during your spellcasting demonstration. I¡¯m quite envious,¡± said the Servant Disciple who was in charge of delivering Luo Yaxuan¡¯s meals and attending to his daily dietary needs. Although his job was somewhat leisurely, he hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to go out and study spells. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 68 - 68 68 ?68: Chapter 68 68: Chapter 68 Luo Yaxuan held his chopsticks and took a bite of the chicken, silently chewing the meat in his mouth as he listened to the words of the servant disciple who hadn¡¯t left yet. His early days at the Immortal Sect had been tough, rising step by step from an Outer Sect disciple to a direct disciple. It wasn¡¯t just his own efforts; it was also the inheritance of his family and, of course, some luck. Some people work hard but lack resources, such as secret manuals, pills, and even magical treasures. Luo Yaxuan laid down his chopsticks and, with a smile in his handsome eyes, pulled out a small booklet from his storage bag and said, ¡°I¡¯m giving you this booklet, which I got as a mission reward when I joined the sect and became an Outer Sect disciple. Now I¡¯m giving it to you, in the hopes that you will study it well. Don¡¯t envy others, because you can also¡­¡± The encouraging words deeply moved the servant disciple, who looked joyfully and incredulously at the secret manual, wanting to receive it but not daring to. Then he knelt down, gave Luo Yaxuan a kowtow, and gratefully accepted the manual, carefully putting it into his storage bag. The size of the storage bags distributed by the sect depended on the missions you completed; the more contributions you made, the bigger the storage bag you could claim. ¡°Thank you, Brother Luo. I will definitely remember your teachings and work hard in my cultivation¡­¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Luo Yaxuan smiled again, then resumed eating. He felt very good about himself; helping others brought such a joyful feeling. The servant disciple stood aside, waiting for his senior brother to finish eating so he could clean up the place. ¡­ As Luo Yaxuan was immersed in his cultivation, a day swiftly passed by. Today was the competition day for the Outer Sect disciples, and as a senior brother, he still went to watch and encourage them. The competition venue was the same as the day before since there was only one designated area for them; it just hosted different competitors each day. The same elders were sitting on the high platform, and the disciples were in the same seats as before. Luo Yaxuan took his place early, and the seats around him were still empty. No sooner had he thought this than a bunch of people came running over, quickly filling up the seats around him. Luo Yaxuan glanced at the group; weren¡¯t they the same people who sat by him the day before? They arrived so punctually, they must have set it up, right? Only if it was prearranged would they come together like this, for they were direct disciples of elders or peak masters from different peaks. ¡°Good morning, Yaxuan,¡± Fan Dingding greeted Luo Yaxuan enthusiastically with a full smile. ¡°Good morning, Brother Fan.¡± ¡°What, just got here a step before us?¡± Bi Renchuan rolled his eyes. ¡°Good morning, Brother Bi, good morning to all the senior brothers.¡± Luo Yaxuan had grown accustomed to Bi Renchuan¡¯s tone of speech and let it float away like air. Why get angry so early in the morning? It could only harm your liver and lungs. The Outer Sect disciples hadn¡¯t started drawing lots yet, but some of them were getting excited because they saw their idol Luo Yaxuan. After the episode with the servant disciple the day before, and the encouragement they received from this senior brother, the Outer Sect disciples also craved a word of encouragement as they too needed it. ¡°Brother Luo, I have my competition today,¡± one of the Outer Sect disciples said, his eyes filled with hope and excitement. ¡°Go for it,¡± Luo Yaxuan faced a big group of Outer Sect disciples standing in front of him, coping with the enthusiastic atmosphere as best as he could, almost overwhelmed. ¡°Thank you, Brother Luo.¡± ¡°Brother Luo, I¡¯m a bit scared about my match today. What if I lose?¡± ¡°Junior brother, it¡¯s just a competition; don¡¯t be afraid. As long as you give your all, go for it. You can do it,¡± Luo Yaxuan encouraged one Outer Sect disciple after another. Soon after, the elders on the platform started ringing the bell for the Outer Sect disciples to draw lots and begin their matches. ¡°Luo Yaxuan, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so popular,¡± said Fan Dingding, and a group of direct disciples looked at Luo Yaxuan with envious eyes. Why wasn¡¯t anyone cheering for them? ¡°Hmph, just showing off,¡± Bi Renchuan felt dissatisfied inside. He didn¡¯t consider himself any less capable, so why didn¡¯t anyone ask him for encouragement? Luo Yaxuan¡­ what could he say? Fame brings trouble, just like fat pigs attract butchers. It invites envy, and he preferred to keep a low profile, but staying under the radar was proving impossible. The Inner Sect disciples sitting behind the direct disciples also started having their own thoughts. After a while, the Outer Sect disciples began their matches on four different stages. Luo Yaxuan watched the Outer Sect disciples¡¯ competition. Their matches were very exciting, and he remembered when he was one himself. Seeing them compete stirred feelings within him; everyone aims for higher places, everyone strives hard. The Outer Sect disciples had higher cultivation levels than the servant disciples, and they had earned more pills and secret manuals from their missions, which meant their spells and cultivation techniques weren¡¯t as monotonous, making their competitions much more complex and thrilling. Luo Yaxuan saw the competitors on the stage using a variety of magical treasures ¨C knives, swords, spears, iron fans, and even hammers. Their magical treasures were relatively low-level, making their attacks less lethal, and with the protection of formations, the fierce battles were safe from life-threatening injuries. Some used talismans and other external aids to bolster their strength, with wealthier disciples gaining an advantage and pushing their opponents back. At this time, the very poor Outer Sect disciples felt even more acutely the disadvantage of scarce resources. However, there were also those who fought tirelessly, regardless of the powerful Magical Treasures their opponents might possess. They refused to admit defeat. This style of fighting was frenzied and dangerous, but it also made the opponents see them as crazed, hesitating before their frenzy, and thus retreating a bit. It was just a moment, but it could give the opponent an excellent opportunity. Victory or defeat was often decided in an instant. By noon, Luo Yaxuan still hadn¡¯t returned. There was only one day for the competition, and with so many disciples competing, they didn¡¯t even have time for a lunch break or rest. However, they could still take care of their physiological needs. Like eating, for instance. Luo Yaxuan hadn¡¯t prepared any dry food yesterday, but today he had brought some, along with dried Demonic Beast meat. But before he could take it out, a group of Outer Sect disciples and Servant disciples brought him some food. Luo Yaxuan sat in his spot, surrounded by a variety of items, not having had a chance to thank anyone yet. The people who had brought the items had already run off. Then the pile of items around him was divided up by the Direct Disciples beside him. ¡°Hey, save some for me.¡± Luo Yaxuan grabbed a pack of beast jerky and started munching away. ¡°Mmm, this tastes good.¡± The Direct Disciples munched away, their mouths greasy, as a lot of the generous offerings from the disciples today were various kinds of meat. ¡°If there were competitions every day, just look, such delicious meat would be great.¡± Others also sighed, feeling that one pack was not enough, and even two packs wouldn¡¯t satisfy their cravings after being full. Luo Yaxuan was stunned, wondering if these people were refugees or something? Did they seem like Direct Disciples? With their lifestyle and treatment, would they lack food to eat? ¡°Haha, we¡¯re riding on Luo Yaxuan¡¯s coattails,¡± Fan Dingding said while eating and laughing. Having this person around, he hadn¡¯t brought any food today and was here to freeload. Luo Yaxuan shook his head helplessly. What was this all about? ¡°Hehe, ¡®Loose Screw,¡¯ what a poetic name. Now it¡¯s not just me who¡¯s been given a nickname.¡± Bi Renchuan thought of an interesting phrase. Luo Yaxuan¡­ Loose Screw¡­ Senior Brother Luo¡­ It couldn¡¯t be Junior Brother Luo¡­ the screw¡¯s¡­ The Outer Sect disciple competition concluded for the day, and the Elder presented awards to the Outer Sect disciples, just like the day before. Like yesterday, today¡¯s Outer Sect disciples were also enthusiastic. Those who received awards ran over to thank Luo Yaxuan, while the losers hung their heads near by, looking like children waiting for punishment. Luo Yaxuan faced the excited disciples and the ones hanging their heads and feeling gloomy, once again uttering words of encouragement. ¡°Junior Brothers, winning the competition is naturally a good thing. Continue to work hard. And those who lost should not lose heart. You¡¯ll face many competitions in life. Losing once doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll lose every time. Keep going, and as long as you make an effort, victory will come one day.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Upon hearing Luo Yaxuan¡¯s encouraging words, the joyful disciples put away their prideful expressions and thanked him earnestly. The Outer Sect disciples, who had been feeling down, regained their confidence after hearing their Senior Brother¡¯s encouragement. He was right; their lives were long, with many more competitions and victories or defeats yet to come. As long as they worked hard, victory would be theirs one day. Keep going. Luo Yaxuan waved to his junior brothers and left the competition area. ¡°Luo Yaxuan, you¡¯re really something! Every word you utter as ¡®Loose Screw¡¯ thrills people. How come you¡¯re so popular? Could you share some of that popularity with us less charismatic Senior Brothers?¡± Bi Renchuan kept talking as they walked. The others just laughed. Perhaps it was a personal issue. Some people just had a natural charisma; they shone without even trying, something many strive for but can¡¯t achieve. Perhaps this was Luo Yaxuan¡¯s strength, possessing a kind of leader¡¯s charm. Such people generally aren¡¯t weak, and it¡¯s good to make friends with them. Luo Yaxuan said goodbye to his fellow disciples with a smile and returned to his cave dwelling, waiting for the next day¡¯s Inner Sect disciple competition. As soon as Luo Yaxuan got back to his cave, he used Purification Magic, and not long after, someone who had brought him food entered. ¡°Senior Brother, today we have duck meat, Spirit Melon braised duck, and duck egg soup.¡± ¡°Oh, the duck isn¡¯t a rank one Demonic Beast, is it?¡± ¡°No, Senior Brother, that¡¯s not it. What¡¯s special about the duck is that it was raised on Spirit Water and fed on Spiritual Weeds. Although it doesn¡¯t have as high a concentration of Spiritual Energy as a Demonic Beast would, the duck meat is tender and fragrant, and it does contain some Spiritual Energy.¡± Luo Yaxuan nodded after the explanation and sat down on the stool. Then, picking up his chopsticks, he took a bite of duck meat from the meal and dishes placed in front of him on the table by his Junior Brother and praised: ¡°Mmm, not bad. It¡¯s tender and fragrant. The chef¡¯s culinary skills are admirable.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯m the one who cooked today¡¯s meal. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, all the meals you¡¯ve had before were made by me.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ your cooking skills are quite good. Have you studied culinary arts?¡± ¡°Yes, my family has a heritage of Imperial Chefs. By the time it was my generation, we discovered that I had a Spiritual Root, so I was trained in cultivation. But I still managed to learn a bit of the family¡¯s cooking skills.¡± The Junior Brother explained happily. Chapter 69 - 69 69 ?69: Chapter 69 69: Chapter 69 Luo Yaxuan heard this junior brother speaking of ancestral Imperial Chefs and realized that besides cultivators, they were essentially part of a nation that included a royal family. He never expected to find the descendant of an Imperial Chef right by his side, truly enriching his life with a plethora of delicious foods. No wonder he thought the gifts from the junior brothers seemed quite ordinary, yet the senior brothers ate them with such gusto¡ªit turns out that not every Sect disciple had a skillful chef at their side to prepare ordinary meals. ¡°Your skill is impressive, make sure you keep it up,¡± Luo Yaxuan said. ¡°Thank you, senior brother. Did you notice anything different about me today?¡± the junior brother asked. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve advanced a rank?¡± Luo Yaxuan recalled checking this junior brother¡¯s cultivation the day before when he handed him a notebook. From the sixth level of Qi Cultivation to the seventh in just one day¡¯s time. ¡°Yes¡­ thank you, senior brother. The notebook you gave me led me to a sudden insight, and then I advanced a rank,¡± the junior brother admitted. ¡°Congratulations!¡± ¡°Thank you, senior brother.¡± Only then did Luo Yaxuan slowly begin to eat the duck meat, savoring its increasing deliciousness as he chewed. He had to keep this talented individual by his side, so he could indulge in these culinary delights every day. As Luo Yaxuan ate without giving it another thought, he didn¡¯t notice the junior brother standing beside him watching him enjoy the food so much, feeling very happy. This was the greatest joy for a chef, seeing others relish the food he prepared. Quietly, the junior disciple encouraged himself to make even more delicious food for his senior brother. He was such a good senior brother that the junior was determined to practice cultivation diligently in order to stay by his side. ¡­ Lai Jianlin invited the senior brother to the main street outside the West Gate Immortal Sect and found a restaurant to treat him, marking the first time he had ever treated someone since joining the Sect, and to a senior brother that was still a stranger to him at that. The senior brother was unabashed; his wallet was empty, his spirit stones were reserved for cultivation, and as someone with a Wood Spirit Root, he needed wood-based spirit stones for cultivation which were very expensive. With no other ways to quickly increase his cultivation level, he had bought spirit stones with all his gold coins. The Sect also issued some spirit stones and Pills since he was already an Inner Sect Disciple, meaning he wasn¡¯t required to perform tasks to receive his monthly allowance. The issued Pills and spirit stones were never enough for his expenses. The more resources one had for cultivation the better, but coming from a commoner background, his family couldn¡¯t provide him with Secret Manuals or resources. It was only thanks to his Single Spirit Root that the West Gate Immortal Sect noticed him and took him in as an Outer Sect Disciple, a rookie with no knowledge of cultivation prior to joining the Sect. Thereafter, he relied entirely on doing tasks to increase his supplies and cultivation level. Managing to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage was indeed quite a feat; he was a few years older than his second junior brother at the same stage. Lai Jianlin called him senior brother mainly due to his older age. Upon entering the restaurant, they didn¡¯t seek a private room but chose a table by the window which offered a view of the street outside and was suitable for conversation. ¡°What would the guests like to order?¡± a waiter came to take their order. ¡°Senior brother, what would you like to eat?¡± As the host, Lai Jianlin naturally asked the other¡¯s preference. ¡°Junior brother, does that mean senior brother can order anything he wants?¡± the senior brother asked without mincing his words¡ªhe was craving for meat. ¡°You can¡­¡± Lai Jianlin wasn¡¯t concerned; he wasn¡¯t short on spirit stones or gold coins. His family owned a Spirit Stone Mine, though not a large operation, and he was, after all, the son of a second-tier Noble Clan¡¯s Family Head. When he left home to join the Sect, his father had provided him with a Storage Bag full of spirit stones, and he was given an abundant supply of Pills for cultivation. After entering the Sect, he wasn¡¯t lacking in resources. With the rich spiritual energy available in the Sect for cultivation, and occasionally taking on a few tasks, he didn¡¯t make friends or entertain guests, his wealth remained substantial. Even after several years without returning home, his family sent people every year to deliver spirit stones to him¡ªthis was his parents¡¯ love. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lai Jianlin smiled and nodded. The senior brother¡¯s eyes lit up at the possibility of ordering freely, then he told the waiter, ¡°Waiter, bring us a plate of first-grade beef, no, make it two pots, then a plate of chicken, a plate of duck, and two large bowls of Spirit Rice.¡± ¡°Right away, guests. It will be served to you shortly,¡± the waiter thought to himself that this guest being treated was rather impolite and could eat a lot as he went to pass the order to the kitchen and brought them a pot of spiritual tea. Lai Jianlin poured a cup of spiritual tea for the senior brother and said, ¡°Senior brother, it¡¯s fate that we¡¯ve met today. May I ask for your name?¡± ¡°Mo Wen.¡± ¡°Oh, Mo Wen, if senior brother doesn¡¯t wish for this junior to know, then I won¡¯t press. My surname is Lai, Lai Jianlin.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Lai, this senior¡¯s surname is Mo, and the name is Wen.¡± ¡°Ah, I see, Senior Brother Mo Wen. You¡¯re also an Inner Sect Disciple, but I don¡¯t recall having seen you around much.¡± ¡°Senior brother is just poor. I spend most of the year doing tasks, striving to gather more spirit stones for cultivation.¡± ¡°Senior brother, doesn¡¯t your family provide you with spirit stones and Pills?¡± ¡°Senior brother¡¯s family is quite poor, lacking such resources. Everyone at home is a mortal, devoid of cultivation resources.¡± ¡°Without a secret manual of inheritance, my whole time in the sect depends on completing tasks and the resources the sect gives. Here I am with my purse almost empty, yet I didn¡¯t hesitate to join you for a meal today, junior brother. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been craving meat.¡± As Mo Wen spoke, he began to feel a little embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s just a meal. I can still afford it, junior brother. Like you, I also take on tasks, but most of my resources come from my family.¡± Lai Jianlin fully understood that someone with nothing¡ªlike those loose cultivators¡ªwould only have a slightly better situation by joining a sect. It was like how members of their families, who aspire to be top-tier families, sought to break into the Ten Great Clans. The stronger the family, the more resources they had, which made it easier for their disciples to cultivate, whether within the family or outside it. ¡°Thanks a lot, junior brother. I¡¯ll find a chance to return the favor someday.¡± Mo Wen said with gratitude, though he knew there was no real opportunity to reciprocate. The words were just pleasantries. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, senior brother. It¡¯s just a meal. We¡¯re lucky to share this meal together, so let¡¯s talk about something else, shall we?¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t hold back then. Speaking of which, I¡¯ve seen a lot of strange things while out on missions. Just the other day, while I was in Liusha Sea City on a mission, I saw a fight that was so intense lots of people went to watch. I went over too and saw the ground all battered and uneven. I had no idea if there were any casualties or if it was a case of murder for treasure.¡± Later, I heard that Master Su of the Sword Sect and a senior sister from the North City Immortal Sect were asking if anyone had seen Jiang Tang. So everyone speculated it might be that Jiang Tang, the servant disciple from the North City Immortal Sect, who might have been killed for his treasure.¡± ¡°Jiang Tang, never met him. But for a servant disciple from the North City Immortal Sect to have treasures, despite his low cultivation, he¡¯s likely a target for murder and theft. Yet, he¡¯s not simple either. Managing to befriend Su Chang¡¯an from the Sword Sect and gaining the concern of a senior sister, if he doesn¡¯t die, his talent is not to be underrated. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite having lower cultivation than us, such a person will ascend with resources.¡± ¡°Yes, your analysis is spot on, junior brother. He¡¯s young and has been advancing step by step from a servant disciple. If he has been targeted for his treasure, he might indeed possess something valuable. It¡¯s a pity, though! The cultivation world is like this: if you have treasures, you must hide them well and never let anyone know. Same with being penniless; you can¡¯t let others know, or it will make you an easy target for thieves and murderers.¡± Mo Wen, who didn¡¯t have money, was just sighing. However, his words made Lai Jianlin extra cautious. Senior brother Mo Wen was right; even if you¡¯re wealthy, you shouldn¡¯t let others know. They were currently within the sect and possibly safer. But who knows, maybe one day while out on a mission, someone could trail them, intending to rob and kill them. ¡°Dear guests, your beef is ready!¡± The waiter delivered two plates of beef, each weighing roughly two pounds, which was more than enough for two people. Now they had two plates of beef, along with chicken and duck yet to come. ¡°Senior brother, let¡¯s eat!¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, I¡¯m really hungry, so I won¡¯t be polite, junior brother. It looks so delicious.¡± Mo Wen wasn¡¯t kidding when he said he wouldn¡¯t be polite. Grabbing his chopsticks, he began stuffing his mouth with meat. It wasn¡¯t long before he demolished more than half of the two pounds of beef. Lucky there were two plates; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough to fill the gaps between his teeth. ¡°Mm-hmm, so tasty; tender and flavorful.¡± Mo Wen mumbled with his mouth full, eating as though he hadn¡¯t had food in ages. ¡°Take it easy, senior brother. If it¡¯s not enough, we can always order more.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough, it¡¯s enough. There¡¯s still rice, and the chicken and duck haven¡¯t been served yet. You¡¯ve spent a lot, junior brother.¡± Having sated his craving for meat, Mo Wen then started to hungrily wolf down the white rice. This Spirit Rice, even without accompaniment, was aromatic and could provide spiritual power for cultivation with every bite. ¡°It¡¯s no problem, we don¡¯t dine out every day. After this meal, we need to go back and cultivate hard to prepare for the big competition in a few days.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, speaking of the big competition, what are your thoughts, junior brother?¡± ¡°Of course I want to win. I also aspire to become a direct disciple and then participate in the sect¡¯s grand competition, which happens every few years.¡± ¡°Mm, junior brother, you¡¯re ambitious. Senior brother also shares the same wish, but unfortunately, my magical treasures are of poor quality, and the only secret manual I can practice from is the one I can view in the Treasure Pavilion, which I¡¯m yet to find any powerful spells in.¡± ¡°Senior brother, I think that spell manual you picked up earlier was quite good, ¡®Soaring Trees.¡¯ It suits you well, especially since you¡¯re a cultivator with a Wood Spirit Root and Elixir Spirit Root. My Triple Spirit Root is a bit limited, so I must practice three kinds of spells.¡± ¡°Mm, junior brother, being unfocused in your cultivation might pose challenges, but with your good comprehension, if you can master three kinds of spells, that¡¯s beneficial. It could help defend against a wider variety of spells, which would be great. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t understand that Soaring Trees manual¡­ Ah¡­¡± ¡°Senior brother, could it be that you need to scatter seeds and then cast the spell, and the seeds will sprout, growing into towering trees? Their branches, roots, and leaves could defend against the opponent¡¯s spells and also attack.¡± Lai Jianlin earnestly shared his insights with his senior brother. ¡°Junior brother, you have great comprehension. I will give it a try. I¡¯ve collected some tree seeds while on missions. Today, I¡¯ll give junior brother a packet of them.¡± Mo Wen said, as he pulled out a packet of assorted tree seeds from his storage bag and placed it on the table. ¡°Great, thank you, senior brother. I was thinking of buying a packet of seeds from the store. With these seeds, I can use them for cultivation.¡± Lai Jianlin didn¡¯t hesitate to accept the gift. Having shared this meal, they were now friends. Chapter 70 - 70 70 ?70: Chapter 70 70: Chapter 70 ¡°Hehe, Junior Brother, as long as you don¡¯t mind, it¡¯s all good.¡± Mo Wen chuckled, feeling relieved that he need not feel indebted over a meal since he had given away the seeds. ¡°Why would I mind? Senior Brother, we shared this meal together, we¡¯re friends now. In the future, let¡¯s find time to research cultivation spells and techniques together.¡± Lai Jianlin had never looked down on anyone, not even an ant, as everything had its own survival skills. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll acknowledge you as the first friend I¡¯ve made in the Immortal Sect. To celebrate our friendship, shouldn¡¯t we order some wine?¡± Mo Wen spoke boisterously as he began eating meat with big bites, suddenly craving for wine again. He wasn¡¯t an alcoholic; usually, he didn¡¯t have the opportunity to indulge in meat and wine like this. ¡°Okay, waiter, bring us your best wine,¡± Lai Jianlin declared spiritedly. ¡°Right away!¡± The waiter brought them a pot of Spiritual Wine and two cups. Mo Wen poured himself a cup and filled another for Lai Jianlin. As he poured the wine, the fragrance made his mouth water; it was incredibly enticing. ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s toast.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s toast.¡± After toasting, he found the wine to be exceptionally good; it seemed to suffuse his body with Spiritual Energy that flowed through his meridians. No wonder the wealthy found cultivation so easy; their success was piled high with resources that strengthened their bodies. ¡°Junior Brother, these cups are too small. Where I come from, common folk don¡¯t drink Spiritual Wine, but when we do drink, we use big bowls¡ªthat¡¯s true spirit.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s not, shall we? We can¡¯t afford to get drunk. We don¡¯t have many days left before the competition; we need to go into seclusion or find somewhere to practice spells after this meal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But you said, let¡¯s find a mountain peak in the Sect where we can practice for a few days, and test our spells on each other. If there¡¯s anything we don¡¯t understand, we can discuss it together.¡± Mo Wen actually hoped to ask Lai Jianlin for advice since his Wood Spirit Root spells were weak. And perhaps Lai Jianlin¡¯s Cultivation Manuals were more numerous than his own. Even though their Spiritual Roots were different, with Lai Jianlin having Triple Spirit Roots including Wood Spirit Root. ¡°Senior Brother, it¡¯s okay to go outside for a spell contest, but when it comes to practicing, it¡¯s best to return to our own courtyards. After all, the Spiritual Energy there is richer than outside.¡± Lai Jianlin¡¯s claim was not without basis; the Sect¡¯s Spirit Veins were usually strongest in the Immortals¡¯ abodes who had higher-level cultivation. For instance, the dwellings of Inner Sect Disciples like him were naturally better than those of Outer Sect Disciples, and so on. Unoccupied mountain peaks, though imbued with Spiritual Energy, lacked Spirit Veins beneath them. That¡¯s why no one set up caves or established practice grounds on such peaks. ¡°Well then¡­ let¡¯s keep in touch with Voice Transmission Conches!¡± Mo Wen took a metallic rod out of his Storage Bag, about the length and thickness of a finger. This was his latest invention, learned from a Secret Manual of Artifact Refining in the Scripture Pavilion. During a mission, he found a type of metal which he used experimentally to craft two of these rods. ¡°What is this¡­ How does it work?¡± Lai Jianlin, a scion of a second-rate family, had never heard of such a thing. Weren¡¯t they using Sound Transmission Talismans? What was this new invention? Did the Voice Transmission Conch eliminate the need for paper? This would be very convenient for those who didn¡¯t know Talisman Making or lacked money. ¡°It¡¯s a Magical Treasure used by infusing it with Spiritual Energy. Just transmit a bit of Spiritual Energy into the conch and speak. Since I also have one, your words will be broadcast by my conch, just like a loudspeaker.¡± ¡°Can I use this conch to send messages to my family?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work; this conch has its limitations. You can¡¯t receive messages beyond ten thousand miles, nor can any be received inside Secret Realms, nor without a responding conch.¡± ¡°So the only person I can contact with this conch is you, Senior Brother?¡± ¡°Yes, since this invention is a new trial, I only made two, and no one else has used them outside. It¡¯s not like Sound Transmission Talismans which are widely used by everyone.¡± ¡°Alright, then, Senior Brother, you can research new inventions. Why not patent it and sell it if you make more?¡± ¡°I wish I could! Junior Brother, don¡¯t you know how poor your Senior Brother is? I can¡¯t afford the materials! Plus, I don¡¯t even know where to sell them. If I made them and no one bought them, I would lose big time.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, how about this? Write down your invention process for these materials, and I¡¯ll buy the invention from you. I¡¯ll get my family to make and sell them, and then the people in my family can also communicate with me.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re not kidding me, right? You¡¯d actually pay for it? How much are you willing to offer?¡± Mo Wen was excited about the prospect of making money from something he fiddled with, regretting he hadn¡¯t collected more of the metal when he first found it; he hadn¡¯t thought it would be useful. The metal was from a place littered with metal mines, yet it seemed like no one had tapped into them. As he pondered, he felt that Lai Jianlin was a decent person. Why not let him know so his family could exploit it? ¡°Junior Brother, if you give me 100 lower-grade Spirit Stones, I will not only give you this invention but also tell you of a metal mine where you can find this metal for the conches. It¡¯s a find from one of my missions, and you¡¯re the first person I¡¯m telling about it.¡± ¡°Really? Senior Brother, you¡¯re too kind to your Junior Brother. With this information, we¡¯ll have the metal for the conches. But you can¡¯t tell anyone else, alright?¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯re friends. If your family prospers, I¡¯ll be happy too.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother.¡± Lai Jianlin took a small cube-shaped Storage Bag from his own and placed it into Mo Wen¡¯s hand. ¡°Junior Brother, this is¡­¡± ¡°Senior Brother, take a look¡­ Let¡¯s just understand each other; no need to say more.¡± Mo Wen nodded and briefly inspected the storage bag with his spiritual power. This observation surprised him; there were boxes of 100 lower-grade spirit stones in the storage bag. He estimated there might be 1,000 pieces in total. His mouth fell open a bit, which gave him an even bigger surprise¡ªthere were also pills inside, including Spirit Supplement Pills and Healing Pills. Like them, having entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, they needed to consume Foundation Establishment Pills to advance their cultivation to the next level. Among the assortment of pills, he also spotted a Foundation Establishment Pill. Having this pill would be useful when he would seek to advance to the Mid Foundation Establishment stage. He had thought he¡¯d have to undertake missions or win competitions in the Sect¡¯s grand contests to gain such pills. He never expected to obtain them without having to win awards in all the Sects¡¯ grand contests. ¡°Junior Brother, thank you. Your great kindness will not be forgotten by your Senior Brother.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, we¡¯re friends,¡± Lai Jianlin put away the metal voice transmission conch. Mo Wen took out a jade token, inscribed some characters onto it with his spiritual power, and placed it in front of Lai Jianlin. ¡°Junior Brother, this jade token is imbued with your Senior Brother¡¯s knowledge of how to refine such a voice transmission conch.¡± ¡°Thank you very much, Senior Brother.¡± Lai Jianlin pocketed the jade token and then told his Senior Brother: ¡°Senior Brother, I have other matters to attend to. You¡¯ve had your fill, so head back to the Sect. Don¡¯t stay out too long.¡± ¡°Junior Brother, there¡¯s still wine and so much meat left uneaten.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, if we can¡¯t finish it, just pack it up and take it with you, haha.¡± ¡°All right, Junior Brother, take care. I¡¯ll pack it up for a late-night snack,¡± the Senior Brother said. Lai Jianlin settled the bill with the shopkeeper and then left the tavern, stepping onto the street. When he applied to join the Immortal Sect of the Ximen, his father supported him. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After he entered, they rented a shop outside the Ximen Immortal Sect, managed by family members. Whenever Lai Jianlin had important matters, he would secretly come here to convey messages to his family. If Lai Jianlin ever ran out of money here, he could also come to this shop for support and take the money directly from here. This was also the reason why Lai Jianlin hadn¡¯t returned home for several years, yet his family was well-informed about his circumstances. Every time he left the Immortal Sect, he would come here to pass on messages to his family. He would also come here to check if his family had sent any messages for him. The reason he had not been approached by the Ximen Immortal Sect was that he had concealed his background, having entered the Sect as a commoner. He had kept such a low profile over the years that no one realized he was the scion of a wealthy family. Because he did not squander or spend extravagantly outdoors, he never flaunted his wealth in front of his fellow disciples. Lai Jianlin arrived at the door of a shop, which naturally sold items common in the cultivation world¡ªmagical treasures, spirit talismans. Upon entering the shop, the attendant saw him and said, ¡°Immortal Young Gentleman, what would you like to purchase?¡± ¡°I would like to buy an Immortal Garment.¡± ¡°Young Gentleman, please come this way. The Shopkeeper will assist you.¡± Their words were codeword, of course. The attendant certainly recognized this family scion, and although his cultivation was quite low, he also bore the surname Lai. ¡°All right¡­¡± The attendant did not take Lai Jianlin inside; in that room was the Shopkeeper. Their shop had two attendants and one Shopkeeper. The other attendant, of course, had other tasks, such as cooking for them or acquiring goods from the family to sell in the shop. Lai Jianlin came to a closed door and knocked using a secret code. Choosing not to speak was, of course, to prevent snooping by those with high cultivation levels. In the cultivation world, hidden thieves can burrow through walls and ground, capable of stealing anything. The magical treasures and spirit talismans they displayed outside were the most common ones. When familiar faces came to shop, they would mention the valuable items they wanted to buy. The door opened, and a man in a gray robe greeted Lai Jianlin with a nod. Lai Jianlin walked in, and the door closed behind him. He went to a stool in the room and seated himself conscientiously. ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s not yet the appointed day. Why have you come early?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a grand competition in the Immortal Sect, and in this period, I won¡¯t be appearing here. If possible, I might even follow to other Sects¡¯ competitions,¡± Lai Jianlin explained to the Shopkeeper. Chapter 71 - 71 71 Recording the Jade Slip ?71: Chapter 71 Recording the Jade Slip 71: Chapter 71 Recording the Jade Slip ¡°With this, I wish you triumph in your endeavors, Young Master.¡± The shopkeeper respectfully spoke to the young master with a smile. ¡°I appreciate your kind words, thank you.¡± ¡°Young Master, the Family Head has sent a message inquiring whether you require any resources.¡± Seeing that the young master seldom visited and maintained such a low profile despite having their support, the shopkeeper was worried he might be bullied in the Immortal Sect. He found the young master¡¯s good-nature towards them remarkable, starkly different from the arrogance typical of scions from prominent families. ¡°For now, I don¡¯t need any spirit stones, but I do need some pills,¡± responded Lai Jianlin. He didn¡¯t want to rely solely on what his father could provide. If possible, he aimed to earn more resources by completing tasks, not to become a wastrel. ¡°Very well, I shall prepare them for the Young Master,¡± said the shopkeeper before he triggered a hidden mechanism and entered a concealed compartment¡ªperhaps a tunnel or a secret room within. Lai Jianlin had been inside before. Once the compartment was opened, an unfamiliar person might assume it was merely a room within a room, unaware that it led to a lever that opened the compartment below. Beneath was a tunnel leading to a cellar, storing everything the shop needed. There were mechanisms on the walls that safeguarded valuable items. For example, there were compartments hidden within the mechanisms, some containing spirit stones. Lai Jianlin nodded, took a teapot from the table, and began brewing tea for himself with practiced ease¡ªnot at all like a pampered young master unaccustomed to work. He poured himself a cup of tea and savored it alone. Even though the spiritual tea from the tea house he had just visited was good, it didn¡¯t compare to the quality here, which had much more spiritual energy. The shopkeeper emerged from the secret compartment, holding a box, which he placed on the table. Seeing Lai Jianlin drinking tea, he apologized: ¡°I¡¯ve been remiss, Young Master, for not serving you tea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, we¡¯re all members of the clan, and you¡¯re my elder. I should be the one serving you tea,¡± Lai Jianlin replied, and without further ado, he poured a cup for the shopkeeper and said, ¡°Please, have a taste of the tea I¡¯ve brewed.¡± ¡°I am truly honored to taste the tea personally made by the Young Master; I am overjoyed¡­¡± The shopkeeper beamed with happiness. Although they were fellow clan members, his own cultivation was low, and he was from a side branch¡ªnot nearly as prestigious as the Young Master¡¯s status. ¡°Shopkeeper, let¡¯s not be so formal. We have known each other for years here, and I have seen you more often than my own father. Why stand on ceremony with someone younger than you¡­?¡± Lai Jianlin¡¯s amiable smile made him seem far from a haughty young master and instead gave off a sense of warmth and approachability. ¡°Yes, thank you, Young Master. I am grateful to the Family Head for giving me this opportunity to serve here, to assist you, and to frequently see you. It makes me very happy.¡± ¡°Alas, Shopkeeper, you get to see me from time to time, but you have been here for many years without returning home for a visit, haven¡¯t you?¡± Lai Jianlin mused. ¡°Indeed! Ever since the Young Master came here, I, too, have been here, and it has been several years since I¡¯ve visited my family. Honestly, I miss them a lot,¡± the shopkeeper admitted, his gaze drifting outside as if looking in the direction of his home. Lai Jianlin empathized with the shopkeeper¡¯s feelings¡ªhe too longed for home. People on the path of cultivation faced a lengthy journey. They were supposed to abandon their emotions and desires, focusing solely on their practice. Yet, they were also mortals; until the day they reached the highest realm and became Immortals, they needed food and pills to enhance their cultivation. And all of this required money, so earning it was essential. Moreover, he was grateful for the elders who dedicated themselves to the clan. ¡°Shopkeeper, the opportunity for you to go home has arrived. I have a task for you, to ensure its completion. Don¡¯t worry about this place for now; leave it to two assistants to manage. If necessary, the clan will send someone to take over here,¡± Lai Jianlin said, indicating the gravity of the matter with his expression. The shopkeeper recognized the seriousness on the young master¡¯s face and knew that he was being entrusted with an important task. While he was eager to help, he still wished to stay by the young master¡¯s side. ¡°Young Master, please command me in any matter. But I would prefer that others take this opportunity; I wish to continue to follow you,¡± the shopkeeper insisted. Lai Jianlin nodded and said: ¡°First, see to the matter that I have entrusted to you, Shopkeeper. When the day comes that my cultivation is strong enough to look after the clan, then, at that time, you may stay by my side. But for now, you must help me with this task.¡± ¡°Young Master, whatever it is, just say the word. I would sacrifice my life to see it done for you,¡± the shopkeeper declared, anticipating that it might be an urgent and significant task like a fight or seeking assistance for a brawl¡ªassignments that the young master had never tasked him with before, leaving him unsure of what this job might entail. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing so grave; I¡¯ve simply found a way to make money, and I want you to take it back to the family to handle,¡± Lai Jianlin explained upon seeing the shopkeeper¡¯s grave expression, as if he were about to face a life-or-death struggle, which made him chuckle. ¡°Oh, I see¡­ I thought that¡­ just tell me what you wish me to do, Young Master,¡± responded the shopkeeper with some relief. The shopkeeper chuckled at his own overthinking. Lai Jianlin took out a Voice Transmission Conch from his Storage Bag and then pulled out a Jade Token. ¡°Shopkeeper, have you ever seen this thing before?¡± ¡°Young Master, what kind of Magical Treasure is this? This old servant has never seen it before.¡± ¡°This is a Communication Talisman that a senior brother gave me today, similar to a Sound Transmission Talisman, but if the other person doesn¡¯t have this item, they won¡¯t be able to receive the message at all. There are limitations though; if the distance exceeds ten thousand li, the sound won¡¯t carry, and if the person enters a Secret Realm, the transmission won¡¯t reach them either.¡± ¡°Oh, this could be marketable, much more useful than a one-time Sound Transmission Talisman. Buying this, one wouldn¡¯t need to craft or purchase talismans. Just, I wonder if this item can be produced in large quantities? And does the production of this item require materials?¡± ¡°Shopkeeper, take a look at the Jade Token first,¡± Lai Jianlin said with a smile as he glanced at the token. The shopkeeper nodded and picked up the Jade Token, examining it with his spiritual power. After seeing the token, his hands trembled slightly from excitement. ¡°Young Master, this senior brother of yours is truly a treasure! The Magical Treasure he crafted, with its inscribed metal ore locations, could bring in a hefty profit for our clan if those mines really do exist.¡± ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ve already given him some Spirit Stones and Pills to thank him, which is why I came here to ask for Pills.¡± Seeing the shopkeeper¡¯s grave excitement, Lai Jianlin knew his guess was correct¡ªthis item had potential. ¡°Young Master, focus on your cultivation, and leave this matter to me. However, in the future, if you come across something similar, you must inform the family so we can share it with the clan. It¡¯s a highly profitable Magical Treasure.¡± After all, the shopkeeper was a businessman, though also a cultivator. However, with his mixed Spiritual Root and low aptitude, and being only in the sixth stage of Qi Cultivation at his age, he thought there wasn¡¯t much advancement left for him, which is why he dedicated himself to the family business wholeheartedly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave this matter to you. I¡¯m going to focus on cultivation for the upcoming competition, so don¡¯t come looking for me unless it¡¯s important. I¡¯ll stop by here when I have time.¡± Lai Jianlin didn¡¯t want to rely on his clan; cultivation must be pursued on one¡¯s own. Therefore, he only visited once a month, and if he retreated for closed-door cultivation, it might be several months before he stopped by again. ¡°Young Master, rest assured, whatever you entrust to this old servant will be handled properly. Young Master, is there anything you want to say to the Family Head and your relatives?¡± Lai Jianlin fell silent for a while. There was so much he wanted to say to his kin that he genuinely didn¡¯t know where to begin, but it did remind him of something. ¡°Shopkeeper, when you see my father, please convey my words in private. Our clan may be second-rate, but there¡¯s no need to vie for a first-rate clan position while our cultivation is still not strong enough. When our generation becomes powerful, that¡¯s when we shall strive for it. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Please take care of things at home.¡± Hearing the young master¡¯s poised words, the shopkeeper looked at him deeply, recognizing that his young master had ambition yet kept a low profile. He sought out no competition with others but instead silently contended, demonstrating immense patience uncommon for his youth. Truly, he was the elite of their young generation, a leader. Such a person could one day become powerful and elevate the clan to first-rate status. ¡°Young Master, I will convey your message.¡± ¡°And also, Lai Jianlin, I have some Secret Manuals here. Please take out a Jade Slip, I have some manuals I need to inscribe for you to take back to the clan.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful! With the manuals you¡¯re inscribing, the young generation in our clan will have better resources for cultivation.¡± The shopkeeper joyfully took out some blank Jade Slips from a shelf. ¡°Shopkeeper, you¡¯re not too old. If there¡¯s something suitable for your cultivation, I advise you to follow along and practice. Perhaps in the future, everyone in the clan will see a rise in cultivation, and you should not fall behind.¡± Lai Jianlin took a blank Jade Slip and began inscribing the Secret Manuals he acquired from his missions and those he had recorded in recent days, including some he had seen in the Immortal Sect, such as manuals for Artifact Refining, Alchemy, and Talisman Crafting, all meticulously copied down. The shopkeeper thought there were only a few manuals, but there turned out to be many. After the young master finished inscribing one, he brought out more blank Jade Slips. In just a few breaths, all the blank pieces were turned into Secret Manuals. The more the shopkeeper watched, the more excited he became, and he felt his aspirations swell just like the young master had said¡ªhe should use his free time to diligently practice and not settle for his current level. If one day everyone in the clan became strong, he couldn¡¯t be left behind. He also considered that with his cultivation increasing, his life could extend, providing an opportunity to forever serve the young master. Being around such a capable and well-led young master was an honor. ¡°The inscriptions are done. You must be discreet on your secret return, carrying these items without letting anyone know what you have.¡± ¡°Your subordinate understands. I will change my appearance and quietly return to the clan, ensuring the items are handed to the Family Head. Without the clan¡¯s permission, they will not be divulged.¡± ¡°Mhm, our generation still holds hope! Don¡¯t be discouraged because of low cultivation. Maybe soon, if we improve and encounter an opportunity, we might travel farther on the Path of Cultivation. It¡¯s just uncertain when we might achieve Ascension.¡± Lai Jianlin was moved. It had been ten thousand years since anyone ascended, and those unable to ascend would eventually disappear with age. So why were they striving so hard on the Path of Cultivation? What was it all for? Chapter 72 - 72 72 Enlightenment Explosive Update First ?72: Chapter 72: Enlightenment (Explosive Update First) 72: Chapter 72: Enlightenment (Explosive Update First) Lai Jianlin had an epiphanic thought in a flash: ¡°As long as we have the heart to grow stronger, the thoughts to transcend our limits, and a heart inclined towards goodness¡­¡± A radiant glow emanated from his body, a golden light, bursting with vigorous spiritual energy, causing the spiritual energy around his body to surge upwards, expanding meridian after meridian, flowing into his dantian through the acupuncture points; the barrier at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage was lifted¡­ The shopkeeper suddenly felt that if he didn¡¯t grow stronger, if he didn¡¯t diligently practice cultivation, it would be like letting himself down, and also failing the encouragement he had received from the young master. With such thoughts, all of a sudden, he also sensed an enlightenment emanating from the young master. This enlightenment made him involuntarily comprehend as well, so he immediately sat upright on a stool and began meditating and cultivating. When Lai Jianlin woke from his enlightenment, he opened his eyes and found the shopkeeper guarding by his side. Glancing outside, it had taken him half a day since eating lunch to get here, and now the night had already fallen. However, he realized that his cultivation had successfully advanced from the initial stage of Foundation Establishment to the Middle Foundation Establishment stage without the use of any pills, a result that filled him with joy, as a satisfied smile spread across his face. ¡°Congratulations, young master, for successfully advancing,¡± the shopkeeper, with his lower cultivation, couldn¡¯t discern the young master¡¯s cultivation level. However, he had felt the young master¡¯s advancement. While the young master was in enlightenment, he too had benefited, advancing from the sixth level of Qi Cultivation to the seventh level. He had thought that he would remain at the sixth level for his entire life, having not advanced for ten years. Having abandoned hope, he never expected that today, by the young master¡¯s side, he could benefit from the spiritual energy of the young master¡¯s advancement. Without taking a single pill, he had advanced, thrilling him to the core¡­ It turned out he really could do it, and in a moment, his confidence in cultivation was renewed. ¡°Joy shared is joy doubled, the shopkeeper has advanced as well,¡± Lai Jianlin said. Lai Jianlin noticed that the shopkeeper¡¯s cultivation had improved by one level, a favorable beginning. ¡°All thanks to the young master, thank you,¡± the shopkeeper said. ¡°There is no need for thanks between us, just remember, there is no such thing as a permanent standstill, as long as you have tried hard, one day you will succeed,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s my foolishness. I will listen to the young master and, after I finish this task, I will return to your side,¡± the shopkeeper said. ¡°Very good, I should also be returning. Make your arrangements and come back soon!¡± Lai Jianlin urged. Lai Jianlin stowed the items that the shopkeeper had given him into his storage ring. ¡°As the young master commands,¡± responded the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper saw the young master out of the room and watched as he left the shop. ¡°Close up for the night,¡± he instructed. ¡°Alright, shopkeeper,¡± the clerk replied, puzzled as to why the shopkeeper would want to close up so early. After the young master¡¯s visit, they must have completed a task. Usually, they would still be open at this hour after having their meal, but closing early was not too bad, to avoid troublesome visitors during the night when they couldn¡¯t spare the time to eat. There were robberies in this street, some hoodlums looking to profit from it. However, their shop was under the protection of the Immortal Sect of the West Gate, and they paid an annual protection fee. The Immortal Sect of the West Gate would establish a protection patrol team on this street, consisting of sect disciples. Whenever their shop encountered trouble, sounding the alarm bell would bring the patrol team to help chase away the troublemakers. After closing the door, the shopkeeper called the clerks into the soundproof room. Both clerks from the shop were present, standing in front of the shopkeeper, awaiting his instructions. ¡°From tomorrow onwards, the shop will cease operations.¡± ¡°Why are we stopping business, shopkeeper? Our business is doing so well,¡± one clerk objected. ¡°Yes, shopkeeper¡­¡± the other started. The shopkeeper listened to his clerks and replied with a smile, ¡°Our young master has completed his task, and I must go to complete mine. With just the two of you, you won¡¯t be able to guard the shop. We don¡¯t lack that little income. During these days of closure, you should cultivate in the room. Whatever happens outside, don¡¯t concern yourselves with it.¡± ¡°What if someone comes to rob the place?¡± they asked. ¡°Then pull the alarm bell and hide. If there are bandits, let them rob the place; someone will ensure justice for us,¡± the shopkeeper said. The clerks nodded in agreement. The shopkeeper, having told them to get their meal, couldn¡¯t care less about eating. He took the jade slip given by the young master and returned to his room, entering a secret passage. He disguised himself as a shabby beggar, dirtied his face, and made his body reek. Leaving the secret tunnel, he took the roads leading out of town and secretly made his way back to his family. High above the outskirts, there were people flying on swords and piloting magic artifacts, as this place was near the West Mountain Immortal Sect and some disciples were returning from outside tasks. Noticing the presence of a stranger, they observed for a moment, saw a person of low cultivation, and upon smelling the stench, quickly distanced themselves from the area. The shopkeeper also noticed the people in the sky and worried they might come to rob him. Seeing them quickly depart, he realized he was overthinking ¨C he reeked so badly that he wanted to vomit himself; he had sealed the qi in his sensory organs to avoid the smell. ¡­ After returning to the Immortal Sect, Lai Jianlin didn¡¯t immediately go outside to practice spells; instead, he went back to his courtyard, entered his room, and activated a formation to prevent disturbances. He then consolidated his cultivation, entering into seated meditation. ¡­ Mo Wen, who hadn¡¯t finished his meal, packed it up and returned to the Immortal Sect, then cultivated into the night. When someone brought him food, he didn¡¯t eat; instead, he warmed up the leftover food from noon and had the wine he¡¯d brought back. He felt as blissful as an Immortal. Mo Wen hummed a song, and with a slap on his storage bag, from now on, he wouldn¡¯t have to undertake missions for a while. He would concentrate on cultivation. After the grand competition, he would need to visit his family clan if he had time. Although the people in his family were mortals, that was still his home. How many years had it been since he last visited home? His parents must have aged quite a bit, hadn¡¯t they? Ever since they learned he was pursuing cultivation, his family and relatives were overjoyed, convinced that having an immortal arise from their lineage would bring prosperity to the clan. When he had come to the Sect to partake in the entrance examination, discovering that he could join the Sect for cultivation, his parents had held his hands, reluctant to part with him, repeatedly admonishing him to cultivate diligently and not to worry about home. But could he really not worry? Did becoming an ancestor mean one could no longer have the seven emotions and six sensory pleasures? Besides, he was still half a mortal, not yet having attained the status of a Great Power Holder. With every mission he completed, he always thought about saving some gold coins to take back to his ordinary parents so that they wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard in the fields. However¡­ even that little bit of money wasn¡¯t enough for him to purchase cultivation resources. The desire to return home was just a thought he harbored, which made him feel ashamed. Having earned this sum of money today, along with pills for cultivation resources, he would finally be able to take a break from missions, cultivate with proper resources, and take some money back home. While Mo Wen was happy, he then activated the message conveying tube and released a stream of spiritual energy into it. ¡°Junior Brother, Senior Brother would like to invite you to the eastern peak tomorrow to practice spells.¡± There was no response from the tube, and Mo Wen guessed his Junior Brother must be engaged in cultivation. Could that cultivation fanatic have skipped meals? Feeling ashamed, Mo Wen emptied his cup of wine, finished his meat, and focused on meditating and cultivating. Lai Jianlin meditated and cultivated throughout the night, and upon opening his eyes in the morning, he heard that the magical treasure given to him by his Senior Brother contained a message. Glancing outside the window at the morning sky, it was already morning. He hadn¡¯t eaten dinner the previous night, as he had dedicated the night to cultivation. After all, his body was still flesh and needed food, not just relying on Bigu Pills. Lai Jianlin had someone bring breakfast and ate a bowl of Spirit Rice Meat Porridge. Leaving the courtyard, he used footwork to reach the northern peak where Senior Brother had arranged to meet. When he arrived at the top of the northern peak, he saw Mo Wen already standing there. The fresh morning air was full of spiritual energy, and a light breeze wafted his Senior Brother¡¯s robes. ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯ve arrived? Where did you go yesterday? You didn¡¯t respond to my message last night.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, I was a bit occupied yesterday, and when I returned to the courtyard last night, I focused on advancing my cultivation.¡± ¡°Junior Brother¡­ your cultivation level has improved! When did this happen?¡± Envy and jealousy crept into Mo Wen¡¯s feelings. Just overnight, the young Lai Jianlin had already made him feel embarrassed with the same cultivation level they shared. Now, seeing him advance in such a short span, how could he not feel envious? ¡°Mhm, I had an epiphany yesterday, then I advanced a level.¡± Lai Jianlin, seeing that look in his Senior Brother¡¯s eyes, carried a smile in his starry gaze, which pleased him. Praise from others is a joy, after all, for he too is human, complete with seven emotions and six desires. ¡°An epiphany¡­? How come I¡¯ve never had one? Junior Brother, can you share how you came to an epiphany?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, I can¡¯t really explain it. It was just something I thought about, and then¡­ the epiphany came.¡± ¡°Ah, why don¡¯t I think more? I mean, I¡¯ve also given it lots of thought¡­¡± Following his bout of envy, Mo Wen realized this Junior Brother was talented, and he had many questions to ask him. Hence, many questions that had been pressing on his mind were asked, one after another, waiting for Lai Jianlin¡¯s answers. Lai Jianlin¡­ wasn¡¯t he supposed to be here for mutual cultivation? Why did it seem like he was brought here to give a lecture? Lai Jianlin felt awkward not to answer Mo Wen¡¯s questions, as to him, those queries were actually quite simple. Having heard the previous day that his Senior Brother¡¯s family members were ordinary people, he understood that Mo Wen¡¯s level of cultivation was already his fortune. Moreover, this Senior Brother offered him a significant favor yesterday, so it was only right to help him out of the friendship. In the midst of Lai Jianlin¡¯s various explanations, Mo Wen understood some questions that had previously baffled him. He marveled to himself, truly, a Clan Descendant from a noble family was impressive at such a young age. Had he known him earlier, would he have saved time by avoiding so many detours? Yet, meeting Lai Jianlin before the grand competition was also his fate. If he could win and become a Direct Disciple, the opportunity for better resources would arise. Having a master was vastly different from not having one, and in the future, he would have someone to turn to with questions. Lai Jianlin spent the morning answering Mo Wen¡¯s questions until noon approached, making him feel both thirsty and hungry. ¡°Senior Brother, it¡¯s already noon. Should we go back for lunch before continuing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need, Junior Brother. Don¡¯t we have Bigu Pills? Let¡¯s take one and first practice our spells, maybe even spar. How does that sound?¡± Mo Wen, after receiving answers from his Junior Brother and seeing that the latter had ascended a rank, realized he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With his Junior Brother around to answer questions and having read a secret manual about Soaring Trees last night he hadn¡¯t yet grasped, he was eager to continue. (Today is my own birthday, but with my family members not around, I can only spend it here at school, sigh) Chapter 73 - 73 73 Junior Brother Youre Bullying Me Second Update Explosion ?73: Chapter 73 Junior Brother, You¡¯re Bullying Me (Second Update Explosion) 73: Chapter 73 Junior Brother, You¡¯re Bullying Me (Second Update Explosion) ¡°Fine!¡± What else could Lai Jianlin do? If his senior brother was working so hard, he couldn¡¯t fall behind either! Lai Jianlin consumed a Bigu Pill and practiced casting spells with his senior brother. Mo Wen unleashed his Wood Spell, always curious how the Soaring Trees worked? He took out a bag of seeds from his Storage Bag; these were mixed tree seeds, known for their hardness¡ªif an ordinary person were struck by such trees, they¡¯d be either severely injured or killed. However, since they were not ordinary people, it wasn¡¯t clear if they were useful. Mo Wen scattered a seed and activated his spell. The seed fell to the ground and began to grow, rising higher and higher as if the top couldn¡¯t be seen. ¡°Oh my, it really is a Soaring Tree! Could it be possible to climb to the sky with it?¡± ¡°Senior brother, this is just a spell used to confront enemies. If one could really climb to the sky, everyone would have ascended by now,¡± Lai Jianlin said with a smile. Mo Wen agreed with his junior brother and cast his spell again, roaring out loud. ¡°Rise¡­¡± This Soaring Tree flew towards Lai Jianlin, ready to sweep through a thousand troops. Lai Jianlin also used a Wood Spell, scattering one of the seeds his senior brother had given him on the ground and casting the same spell. However, the tree that grew from his seed was different from Mo Wen¡¯s; it had many thorns all over its branches, which could puncture and make one¡¯s body bleed profusely if not careful. Seeing the thorns on these trees, he had an idea. He made the branches of the tree spread out like human arms, and the branches, leaves, and tree roots entangled Mo Wen¡¯s incoming tree like ropes with eyes, firmly holding it in place, making it impossible to move. Mo Wen didn¡¯t believe this trick, exerting his Spiritual Power to free the tree, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. His face turned red with effort as he said to Lai Jianlin, ¡°Junior brother, no, I should call you senior brother now. Your cultivation is higher than mine, isn¡¯t this bullying me?¡± ¡°Senior brother, look at the Spiritual Power I used; it wasn¡¯t much. You¡¯re not applying it correctly. You only know how to attack but not to defend. Why can the tree only use the trunk to hit? Its roots and leaves can attack too.¡± ¡°Right, why didn¡¯t I think of that? I only focused on the Soaring Tree¡¯s power,¡± Mo Wen exclaimed. Mo Wen scattered another seed, turning it into a big tree. This time he was smarter; the roots and branches, like hundreds of hands and feet, flew towards Lai Jianlin, while the leaves attacked like sharp arrows. ¡°Go¡­¡± Lai Jianlin also scattered a seed, and the tree he summoned attacked in the same way as before. However, the spikes on the tree, sharp as needles, firmly caught the incoming leaves. The branches and roots of his tree fought back against the opponent¡¯s tree¡¯s branches and roots with punches and kicks, creating a cacophony of snapping sounds. Soon, the tree Mo Wen had used was reduced to fragments. Mo Wen was dumbfounded, realizing this was the mark of an expert wielding true skill. So the Wood Spell could be used like this, turning branches into blades¡ªwouldn¡¯t a human body be chopped into pieces? This spell was quite powerful and quite cruel. But there were many other methods, if the opponent were human, such as using gravity to knock them out and the like. ¡°Junior brother, your bag of seeds is better than mine.¡± ¡°Senior brother, flexibility in using spells is key; it¡¯s not just about the quality of seeds. For example, since this tree is so hard, you could treat it as a Magical Treasure and hammer your opponent as if they were tofu,¡± Lai Jianlin remarked. ¡°Not only can the tree attack, but the sap within the tree can also become a solid substance.¡± ¡°Hmm hmm, let us compare again,¡± Mo Wen said eagerly. This time, Mo Wen found seeds similar to Lai Jianlin¡¯s and scattered one on the ground. The seed grew sideways, and its branches launched an attack on Lai Jianlin. The arrows on the tree shot towards him while the roots, like claws, suddenly emerged from the ground, encircling and attacking Lai Jianlin from every direction. Lai Jianlin employed his Golden Magic this time, pointing at the tree flying towards him from Mo Wen. A flash of golden light passed, and the tree instantly turned into a glittering golden tree. The golden tree attempted to attack Lai Jianlin but was immediately immobilized, as if it truly transformed into a golden tree. Seeing this, Mo Wen scattered another seed and cast a spell to let this tree fly towards Lai Jianlin for a powerful assault. But how could Lai Jianlin allow himself to be hit so easily? He performed another spell, the Earth Digging Spell, which he had learned from a newly-read Secret Manual¡ªtime to show it off. He quietly used the Earth Digging Spell to burrow beneath the ground where Mo Wen was standing, catching him off guard. Suddenly, Mo Wen felt the ground beneath him collapse, like falling into a trap dug by people, which caught him off guard and he fell into it, promptly jumping out using his Cultivation Technique. From the pit, Lai Jianlin cast Gold Transforming Magic at Mo Wen. A streak of golden light flashed, and in an instant, Mo Wen turned into a golden statue. Aside from his clothes retaining their original color, even his hair turned golden, his entire body became golden, and his body parts were fixed in place, unable to move midair. ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯re bullying me. With so many spells at your disposal as a Triple Spirit Root, and even a higher cultivation level than mine, this is definitely bullying.¡± Mo Wen could only move his mouth and roll his eyes, his expression full of grievance. ¡°Senior Brother, the use of spells isn¡¯t just in one way. Just like when you use Wood Spells, besides attacking with trees, you could utilize something like weeds¡ªthey could be useful to you too. And you can¡¯t just focus on attacking, why don¡¯t you defend?¡± Lai Jianlin couldn¡¯t help but laugh. So this was bullying? What if it were an enemy? ¡°Junior Brother, let me go, and we¡¯ll practice again¡­¡± That day, they practiced from morning until evening, and then into the deep night. ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s call it a day for now! We¡¯ve used too much Spiritual Power in our team practice; we need to go back and cultivate to recover.¡± After a day of practice, Lai Jianlin had thoroughly bested his Senior Brother, who had become stronger with each defeat, though he was unwilling to concede defeat. ¡°Alright, Junior Brother, let¡¯s come back here tomorrow and practice again.¡± Although Mo Wen was feeling indignant at always losing, the sparring today had broadened his horizons. Previously, when he was out on missions encountering enemies, he¡¯d flee after exchanging a few blows, and no one had guided him on how to apply spells effectively. Trying to learn from books wasn¡¯t much help since, as a commoner, he wasn¡¯t very literate and couldn¡¯t understand them. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once again, he realized how much Lai Jianlin had helped him. If he kept practicing with his Junior Brother, he might become a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming clan competition. He used to fall short when applying spells, but today¡¯s practice made him feel that even a single spell could be developed from a basic level to a complete mastery. Such a skill could become an extension of his body, moving with his heart and becoming more powerful in the process. As long as his body sensed danger, the spell he had mastered would automatically act as a shield and launch an attack on the opponent. Lai Jianlin nodded to his Senior Brother and used Footwork to leap back to his own cave abode. Not only had his Senior Brother gained a lot from today¡¯s practice, but Lai Jianlin himself had been able to apply three different spells on his Senior Brother, achieving an intermediate level of mastery from a basic one. He aimed to fully master these three spells to confront opponents during the competition. After returning to his cave abode, Lai Jianlin sat in meditation to recover his Spiritual Energy, which circulated through his body before returning to his Dantian. Lai Jianlin opened his eyes and began practicing the Three Spiritual Roots Cultivation Method from the Secret Manual he had found in the Scripture Pavilion the day before. As his cultivation grew, the spells and Cultivation Techniques he had learned during Qi Cultivation were no longer suitable for use during the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Cultivation Technique he had acquired at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment wasn¡¯t appropriate for his current Mid Foundation Establishment; he was getting stronger step by step. ¡­ Shopkeeper Lai, having returned to his clan, did not immediately go to see his family but headed to the Clan Leader¡¯s residence instead, a location inhabited by elite disciples, Elders, and the Clan Leader¡¯s family. As someone of modest cultivation who merely managed a sideline of the family¡¯s business, Shopkeeper Lai¡¯s dwelling was built outside; the larger the power, the more grand the house. These homes were built by the clan specifically for the management team. Those without power or a position in management were left to become servants. Their families also lived nearby, though their houses were not as nice, and they had less access to resources. Shopkeeper Lai, with his tattered clothing, approached the clan house¡¯s grand entrance. The guards, seeing his dirty, smelly, and disheveled state, waved him away with disgust. ¡°Get out, get out. You old beggar, you stink so bad, how did you even get here? You¡¯re not allowed in, this is not a place for you. Leave now or we¡¯ll beat you to death.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with this guy? How can the clan let him come here? Why didn¡¯t the guards at the previous checkpoint stop him? Ah, it stinks to death!¡± Shopkeeper Lai was not upset by the guards¡¯ insults; after a day and a night of hurried travel, he had encountered many powerful figures. If not for his disguise, he might have been killed for his valuables. He cast Purification Magic on himself, and the foul smell that had enveloped his body vanished in an instant. Then he pulled out a set of clan clothes from his Storage Bag, and with a wave of his hand, the clothes draped over him as if by themselves. He also took out a badge from his Storage Bag and waved it in the face of the two guards. ¡°Shopkeeper, please forgive us¡­ it¡¯s just that with your appearance at the time, we thought¡­¡± The guards watched in astonishment as Shopkeeper Lai transformed and saw the management-level badge in his hand, signifying his status as someone in charge of managing a shop. This man was of a higher rank than they were. Considering they had just berated someone older and of higher cultivation, they feared he might punish or beat them for the offense. ¡°Open your eyes wider next time; this is just a disguise. If the previous checkpoint didn¡¯t stop me, an elder, of course, I have a badge.¡± Shopkeeper Lai waved the badge at the guards and didn¡¯t lower himself to their level. They were just minor characters, not worth his time to argue with. Shopkeeper Lai was in a good mood. If it had been before and someone had insulted him like this, whether it was an outsider or a clansman, he would have retaliated. If he didn¡¯t fight back, he wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily. However, if the other person had higher cultivation, he would have had to endure it. (Dear readers, there will be a triple release today, and another triple release tomorrow. I hope for your continued support, and please cast more recommendation and monthly votes. Recently, there have been no recommendations or exposure, and the performance has been mediocre. With your support, the results can only get better, and I will be more motivated to update. Thank you, dear readers.) Chapter 74 - 74 74 Lai Family Explosive Update Third ?74: Chapter 74: Lai Family (Explosive Update Third) 74: Chapter 74: Lai Family (Explosive Update Third) Shopkeeper Lai entered the house that belonged to the Clan Leader within the family. The Clan Leader and his family would all live there, and there would also be an ancestral hall and a Council Hall. Glancing at the Council Hall he hadn¡¯t returned to for many years and had never entered, his thoughts were quite complicated. Could he one day also sit inside as an Elder? Could he also sit there one day, idly chatting about all manner of big and small matters? Perhaps he would find it dull by then? At the moment, what he was more concerned about was how to become stronger, to grow stronger and stronger, to walk further on the path of cultivation, to become more powerful, to live a longer life. His shadow would be on the Path of Longevity, his reputation in the Martial World; he would no longer be just a shopkeeper, an obscure nobody. The shopkeeper reined in his thoughts. Dreaming of the distant future would only be possible if he became stronger, so for now, he decided to take care of the matters at hand first! Shopkeeper Lai went straight to the entrance of the Council Hall where a guardian stopped him: ¡°The Family Head and the Elders are discussing matters inside, and no one without an invitation can enter to disturb them¡­¡± ¡°Brother, would you please go in and report that the shopkeeper from the Immortal Sect¡¯s main street in the west has returned with important matters to see the Clan Leader?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Wait here¡­ Don¡¯t barge in while I report!¡± ¡°Yes, I understand the rules. Don¡¯t worry!¡± The guardian went in, and the Clan Leader and Elders, who were sitting and discussing, stopped talking as they saw him enter. ¡°What is it?¡± Family Head Lai looked at the guardian, annoyed for being interrupted while they were discussing matters. ¡°There is someone outside who claims to be the shopkeeper from the shop on the main street of the west Immortal Sect, saying he has important matters to discuss with the Family Head.¡± ¡°The shopkeeper from the main street of the west Immortal Sect? Hurry, hurry, invite him in.¡± Family Head Lai had been thinking of his son these past few days and had not expected that the shopkeeper who was looking after his son would come to see him. Entering the Council Hall, the shopkeeper saw the Family Head and Elders, bowed with folded hands: ¡°Family Head, Elders, I haven¡¯t seen you for many years; are you well?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the shopkeeper from the shop on the west Immortal Sect main street? Why have you returned? Shopkeepers outside shouldn¡¯t return without being sent for; if you came back on your own, there must be something important. If I can¡¯t explain it, there will be punishment.¡± An Elder with a beard and black hair, whose cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, asked. ¡°Reporting to the Elder, yes¡­ I understand that I have returned for a very important matter.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not working there, why return? An important matter? What¡¯s so important? Has something happened with the Nangong Immortal Sect? No, that can¡¯t be; there hasn¡¯t been any news of major incidents!¡± Another Elder at the Foundation Establishment Stage asked. In the family, only members who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage could be Elders. Though they only seemed middle-aged, having cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage, they once were elite individuals. But somehow, in the last ten years, these Elders had seen no progress in their cultivation, leading to a sense of disappointment and shifting their focus to nurturing family members instead. Training more elite disciples to strengthen their family, if more could participate in the Sect¡¯s cultivation, would increase the number of their people at the Foundation Establishment Stage. ¡°Don¡¯t all rush with questions; the Family Head hasn¡¯t asked yet. Shopkeeper, do you have some important affair that prompted your return?¡± The shopkeeper said with a face full of joy: ¡°Reporting to the Family Head, I have returned this time with Jade Slips recorded by Mr. Lai Jianlin for our family, and the young master has advanced from the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment to Mid Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Haha, my son is truly impressive. At such a young age, he already has our level of cultivation. Did you all hear that? The Family Head¡¯s son is truly commendable, not only advancing his own cultivation but also bringing back the Jade Slips he practiced with.¡± The other Elders also showed faces of joy. With the secret manuals from the Immortal Sect, not only could they cultivate, but family members could as well. ¡°Hurry, hurry, you shopkeeper, stop talking and quickly bring out the Jade Slips so that we can also witness the splendor of the secret manuals from the second Immortal Sect.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, shopkeeper, you have made a great contribution this time; quickly, quickly.¡± ¡°It must be a very good secret manual if it allowed the young master to improve his cultivation; we all should try cultivating it too.¡± The Elders all became enthusiastic. How many years had it been since they had felt such a surge of passion? Family Head Lai was filled with pride, feeling extremely honored. It wasn¡¯t just his son who had entered the Immortal Sect; his son was also the one who advanced the fastest and had the highest cultivation among the young disciples. Family Head Luo¡¯s son had advanced a few days ago, and he had envied him then; but now, there was no need to envy anyone else. When he had the time, he should show off a bit. Not only the best disciples from first-tier families could advance to Mid Foundation Establishment Stage¡ªperhaps the disciples from their second-tier family could be even more formidable. In the near future, perhaps they could surpass the members of first-tier families. That¡¯s what Family Head Lai was thinking, but his gaze stayed fixed on the shopkeeper, watching him take out many Jade Slips from his Storage Bag. ¡°Wow, so many Jade Slips! I¡¯ve never seen so many secret manuals that we¡¯ve never seen before. Hehe, we¡¯ll get to experience the secret manuals of the Immortal Sect; haha, in this lifetime, we might also cultivate spells of the Immortal Sect. Might my cultivation advance another level?¡± ¡°With all these secret manuals, we should make recordings and store them in the Scripture Pavilion; only the most dedicated elite members of the family should have the chance to read them. We can¡¯t let them be seen by non-contributing disciples¡ªthat might stir up their cultivation spirit.¡± Family Head Lai offered a suggestion to the Elders. ¡°Not bad, the proposal is good; our family must become stronger, not just remain a second-tier family.¡± Chapter 75 - 75 74 Lai Family Explosive Update Third_2 ?75: Chapter 74: Lai Family (Explosive Update Third)_2 75: Chapter 74: Lai Family (Explosive Update Third)_2 Everyone nodded, agreeing that the suggestion was a good one. Once their elders learned the secret manuals, they could also impart the knowledge to the clan members, especially to those disciples who were more diligent. ¡°What is this?¡± Family Head Lai noticed a jade slip that wasn¡¯t part of the secret manuals. The shopkeeper¡¯s face was always smiling. Seeing that the family head had finally found the jade slip, he took out a voice transmission conch from his storage bag. ¡°Family Head, Elders, look¡­ hehe, have you ever seen this object?¡± ¡°What is this magic artifact? We¡¯ve never seen it before!¡± ¡°What¡¯s this novelty? Is it for defense, or is it an offensive artifact?¡± The elders and Family Head Lai picked up the voice transmission conch to inspect it. They could not figure out its purpose for a while but were greatly interested in it because it was something Mr. Lai Jianlin had sent back; it must be valuable. The shopkeeper kept a mysterious air, his smile barely contained on his face. ¡°Family Head, if you look at that jade slip, you¡¯ll understand. This is a task Mr. Lai Jianlin gave me to bring back,¡± said the shopkeeper. ¡°A task my son gave you to bring back? Sit down and tell us about it,¡± said Family Head Lai, drawing a conclusion. ¡°Yes¡­.¡± The shopkeeper nodded vigorously, feeling fortunate to have a seat in the council hall. Family Head Lai grew more interested. He tapped the jade slip to his forehead, and the content of the slip flowed into his mind. ¡°Hahahaha, my son is indeed smart.¡± Not knowing why the family head was so happy, the elders also scrambled to pick up the jade slip and record it on their foreheads. ¡°With this, our clan could have a higher income,¡± said one elder. ¡°Right! Let¡¯s discuss how to deploy people to mine this metal ore.¡± ¡°But this metal ore, the territory it belongs to isn¡¯t our family¡¯s land; it seems to be the Sheng Family¡¯s¡­¡± The words of the elders made Family Head Lai¡¯s smile falter. He had thought he could take all the windfall for himself, but it turned out he had to share profits with others. The idea made him somewhat depressed. However, he still relied on the Sheng Family and had to notify them. Yet with today¡¯s gains, he could still afford to show off a bit. ¡°We¡¯ll handle the affair with this metal voice conch. Shopkeeper, you continue to the store on the Immortal Sect main street in the west city and wait for the young master,¡± instructed the family head. ¡°Yes, this was also my thought.¡± ¡°A few days won¡¯t make a difference. Go home and have a look; you haven¡¯t been home in years, have you?¡± ¡°Yes, I haven¡¯t been home in several years. But my young master also said something else; he hasn¡¯t finished explaining his situation.¡± ¡°Oh, shopkeeper, please continue¡­ How is my son doing now?¡± ¡°The young master is doing very well. He came to the store that day and told me he plans to participate in the sect¡¯s grand competition, aiming for a position as a direct disciple, and if possible, to participate in the grand competitions of all the sects.¡± ¡°My son certainly has aspirations. When you go back this time, take more spirit stones and pills, simply collect them from the accountants. My son has contributed to the family; he deserves praise,¡± said Family Head Lai, not in a domineering manner, gazing at the elders. The elders, hearing the family head¡¯s words, all nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes¡­.¡± ¡°Shopkeeper, any other details you haven¡¯t mentioned?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this, the day the young master came to the shop, he mentioned to me in passing, somehow he had an enlightenment, upgrading from the initial stage of Foundation Establishment to the Mid Foundation Establishment, and luckily, I also advanced a small stage.¡± ¡°Enlightenment, that¡¯s excellent! We old fellows haven¡¯t been around our son to enjoy such fortune; you¡¯re really lucky,¡± exclaimed Family Head Lai, admitting his envy. It had been several years since he had advanced. The elders looked at the shopkeeper with envious faces. Like the family head, it had been many years since they had advanced. If possible, they wished they could trade places with the shopkeeper, to serve near Mr. Lai Jianlin, hoping that one day they might also catch a bit of his luck. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m also grateful to the young master. This time, he gave me a task to complete, and he wanted me to stick with this task. I told the young master that I want to stay by his side to protect him at all times.¡± ¡°Your thinking is correct. Continue to stay by my son¡¯s side and listen to his commands at all times. You can also receive a reward from the accounts room, then go home for a few days and reunite with your family. However, you can¡¯t stay too long. I may finish the competition in a few days, and you must send news back.¡± ¡°Alright, I will follow the Family Head¡¯s orders.¡± Family Head Lai then instructed an Elder to arrange for the Sect¡¯s Artifact Refiners to start trial-manufacturing the Voice Transmission Conch. They were to be given to the Elders and senior personnel first so that each of their family¡¯s shopkeepers could have one, facilitating easy communication among them. The Shopkeeper walked out, then went to receive his reward and joyfully reunited with his family. When he received the Jade Slip, he was fortunate to have seen it and memorized all the cultivation techniques it contained. When he had the chance, he would practice them. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During these few days of reunion with his family, he passed the secrets from the Secret Manual to his son and other family members. His family members were also very happy; usually, the Secret Manuals they learned from within the family were quite ordinary. Only the elite disciples of the family had access to the better Jade Slips and Secret Manuals. The fact that the Shopkeeper could bring them such an advanced Secret Manual was incredible; after all, these were the secrets of the Immortal Sect! In the past, they always envied the elite disciples who could enter the Immortal Sect. Unfortunately, with their low aptitude, they were not accepted. A few days later, the Shopkeeper returned to the shop on the street of the Immortal Sect¡¯s Western Gate. Family Head Lai and the Elders spent two to three days continuously practicing the cultivation techniques of the Western Immortal Sect. With so many Jade Slips brought back, there was bound to be one suitable for their cultivation. ¡°Family Head, the Voice Transmission Conch you requested has been refined. Please take a look, do you think it¡¯s suitable? I tried it out, and it seems to work well.¡± A senior Artifact Refiner placed a Storage Bag into the Family Head¡¯s hand. Family Head Lai and the Elders tried it out, and indeed, it was much more convenient than the Sound Transmission Talisman, so they ordered a large batch to be produced by the Qi Cultivation practitioners. ¡°Not bad at all, much more useful than the Sound Transmission Talisman.¡± ¡°It can save quite a bit of Talisman Paper, which saves a lot of resources¡ªthat¡¯s money.¡± The Elders kept talking, saving on paper meant saving money indeed! It¡¯s not to say that cultivation individuals are greedy for money, but how can one cultivate without resources? ¡°Family Head, we¡¯re out of the metal required for the Artifact Refining. Can we purchase some more?¡± The Artifact Refiner relayed his requirements upon hearing the Family Head¡¯s orders. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll make a trip out. We can discuss the purchasing matter when I return.¡± The words of Family Head Lai were met with nods from the Elders, and the Artifact Refiner could only leave and wait for the materials to be bought back. ¡°Family Head, we should review the Jade Slips first before passing them on to the disciples, hehehe.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Seeing these normally lazy Elders being so eager was comforting to Family Head Lai, who felt that the Elders needed to improve their cultivation as well. What was the cultivation level of Elders from other families? If they wanted to become more than a first-rate family, not only did the elite disciples have to work hard, but how could one be a teacher without improving one¡¯s own cultivation? This was very good¡­ Family Head Lai activated his Spiritual Power and jumped onto his disc-shaped Flying Artifact, flying high in the sky and looking over the lands of the Lai Family, watching the activities of ordinary people. Others with cultivation were also flying high above. If they recognized each other, they nodded. If they were strangers, they remained on guard. Seeing various Flying Artifacts from other people, if he recognized them as originating from his family¡¯s Artifact Refining, he couldn¡¯t help but feel proud. Seeing unfamiliar Flying Artifacts, even a gourd that could fly, which did not come from his family, made him envious of why others had such Artifact Refining Skills. Their family¡¯s Artifact Refining Skills needed to improve! Ah¡­ a second-rate family still had much to work on. In a quarter of an hour, he arrived at the Sheng Family¡¯s territory and slowly descended, noting the Sheng Family¡¯s disciples were indeed extraordinary as a first-rate family, with cultivation levels higher than their own elite disciples. But in the future, they too could become stronger¡ªno need to envy others, hehe¡­ Family Head Lai arrived at the first-rate Sheng Family. After being announced by the servants, he entered the Sheng Family¡¯s Council Hall, where Sheng Family Head was waiting to receive him. As Family Head Lai entered, he saw Sheng Family Head sitting in the main seat, with only the Family Head present in the Council Hall. From his expression, it was impossible to tell his mood. Family Head Lai remembered how just a few days ago, this Family Head had boasted in front of him. Today, was it his turn to show off? He was eager to know whether this Family Head would feel envious after he revealed the news. ¡°Hahaha, Sheng Family Head, we meet again. I came without an invitation, so I hope you¡¯ll welcome me.¡± Chapter 76 - 76 75 Three Updates Explode 7000 Words Mega ?76: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter) 76: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter) Family Head Lai entered the Sheng Family with a face brimming with joy, his bright smile particularly dazzling as he walked briskly, appearing several years younger than his middle age. This is how one beams with joy when good things happen. ¡°Family Head Lai, it¡¯s been a few days since we last met, and you seem to be in good spirits. Have you encountered some happy event? Please, have a seat.¡± Luo Sheng still remembered how, just a few days ago, Family Head Lai had come to him with a downcast face, mentioning something about wanting to take down the Huang Family, then left with the same gloomy expression. Thankfully, he hadn¡¯t listened to Family Head Lai¡¯s advice, as the Huang Family was not so easily provoked. He had received a secret report that Family Head Huang was plotting something in the shadows. That arrogant fellow, surely he wasn¡¯t planning a counterattack against them! The Huang Family truly wasn¡¯t easy to bully; being the one to initiate trouble would mean facing criticism. Their clan had always been on guard against the other two top-tier clans, fearing a united assault against them. ¡°Hahaha, isn¡¯t that right? Just the other day I heard that Mr. Sheng had advanced to Mid Foundation Establishment. I didn¡¯t expect that a servant of my son would return and report that my son had also advanced to Mid Foundation Establishment. Hahahaha.¡± Family Head Lai¡¯s boastful tone revealed his pride as a father. He found a seat, settled down, and leisurely sipped tea while chatting. He found that the tea in the Sheng Household seemed to contain better spiritual energy than the tea in his own home. What kind of spiritual tea had it been made from? He would have to ask for some of the tea leaves to take home later. As he remembered the purpose of his visit, a smile involuntarily spread across his face; he had fathered a fine son, inheriting his strong genes! In the future, as his son progressed further and became even stronger, he would lift their clan to greater heights. This was a good omen, worth boasting about in public. It wasn¡¯t just the disciples from the top clans who were elites. His son was an elite among elites. ¡°Congratulations, I had no idea today¡¯s youth were so formidable¡­¡± Family Head Luo said, his congratulations tinged with a bit of dejection. Had reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage become so commonplace? Luo Sheng maintained a polite smile on his face and his tone remained congratulatory, even as he mentally grumbled about having just finished bragging about his own son¡¯s advancement when someone else was boasting about the same feat right to his face. It wasn¡¯t a good feeling. Seemingly any disciple who joined the Immortal Sect could now advance¡ªsuch are the abundant resources of the Immortal Sects! He felt that although his own family was first-rate, they had too few Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. The family only had one Golden Core elder and was unable to advance to the level of the Ten Great Clans. His family also needed to become stronger, and he had to figure out how not to be surpassed by others. Family Head Lai, noting Family Head Luo¡¯s expression, felt even more smug in his heart and couldn¡¯t help boasting again: ¡°I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret, Family Head Luo, but you must not tell anyone. My son sent someone yesterday to bring back copies of all the secret manuals he had studied in his Sect, excluding the cultivation techniques and spells. This fills the children of our Lai Family with confidence to become stronger.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ well, that¡¯s truly wonderful news. Your son is quite remarkable!¡± Luo Sheng grew more frustrated. His son was a direct disciple of an Elder in the second-rate Nangong Immortal Sect, yet he had never seen him copying cultivation techniques and spells to bring back to the clan to strengthen the family members. Family Head Lai sat up straight, puffing up with pride, wearing a look of sheer arrogance on behalf of his son. ¡°With such praise from Family Head Luo, I am honored. My son also sent a Jade Slip for refining magical treasures. This time, I¡¯ve come to partner with you, Family Head Luo.¡± ¡°Oh, to cooperate on what? sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could it be materials for Artifact Refining?¡± Luo Sheng guessed irritably, wondering if there was ever an end to this. Was he trying to mine their family¡¯s resources? ¡°Indeed, our families are so close. An elder brother of my son discovered a metal mine on Luo Family land and would like to request your permission to mine it. Whether your clan chooses to mine the metal itself, or to sell or lease the rights to our family for mining is up to you.¡± Family Head Lai spoke with the attitude of a businessman. Even if he depended on their family, he aimed to gain benefits for his own. Don¡¯t call him a crafty merchant¡ªhe was simply looking for financial opportunities for his clan. ¡°Well, we can cooperate on that front. Our family will do the mining, and we¡¯ll sell to you at a preferential price.¡± Luo Sheng looked at Family Head Lai, surprised that the old fox had managed to get the metal mine location information and hadn¡¯t started mining in secret. It seemed he was relatively honest, and they could continue to have a relationship. As a Family Head himself, he immediately sensed a business opportunity. A clan had to maintain the livelihoods of many people with gold coins and spirit stones, and provide resources for the cultivation of the clan¡¯s elite disciples¡ªall of which depended on the resources obtained through external operations. ¡°Great, with the promise from Family Head Luo, I¡¯ll share the mining location with you. Please begin mining immediately.¡± ¡°Certainly, we shall take care of this matter right away. I¡¯m just very curious as to what you¡¯ll be using the metals for? What kind of magical treasure are you planning to refine?¡± Luo Sheng¡¯s curiosity was piqued. What was the old fox up to now? Family Head Lai thought that since their products were not yet mass-produced, they should not leak the news too early. However, he also knew that once they began selling, others would surely follow suit. He trusted that Family Head Luo was not that unscrupulous. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he still took out the Voice Transmission Conch. ¡°What is this? A magical treasure?¡± Luo Sheng looked at the metallic device with curiosity, unable to discern what kind of magical treasure it was. ¡°Haha, looks like there¡¯s finally a magical treasure Family Head Luo doesn¡¯t recognize. This is a Voice Transmission Conch. As long as the other party has one as well, you can send a voice message to them. However, the conch has its limits; it doesn¡¯t receive messages beyond ten thousand li and doesn¡¯t work in a Secret Realm except for leaving messages.¡± ¡°Oh, I see now.¡± Chapter 77 - 77 75 Three Updates Explode 7000 Words Mega _2 ?77: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter)_2 77: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter)_2 Family Head Luo saw the microphone and felt that it was worth a bit of investment, at least more practical than Sound Transmission Talismans. This wasn¡¯t a disposable item. Considering the many family members who used Sound Transmission Talismans to communicate, the consumption was significant. ¡°Haha, Family Head Luo, you¡¯re busy, so I¡¯ll head back first. Amidst hectic official duties, I still have to find time to cultivate. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be surpassed by those elders or disciples in the family.¡± After saying this, Family Head Lai turned and walked out of the Council Hall. He was eager to return to his cultivation and couldn¡¯t allow those elders to surpass him. As he left, he stealthily took a canister of tea leaves Family Head Luo had placed on a side table for brewing tea. Family Head Luo Sheng watched Family Head Lai leave with mixed feelings. Did the man really lack tea leaves? To think a Family Head would help himself to tea without asking¡ªshameless. Black lines creased Luo Sheng¡¯s forehead. In theory, since they were dependent on his family, he should be glad they thought of him at all. His unhappiness wasn¡¯t due to Family Head Lai¡¯s power growing, but rather, the notion that his own talented son might one day be overshadowed by others, which was a bitter pill for him as a father to swallow. Suddenly, he remembered¡ªhadn¡¯t his son used a Sound Transmission Talisman to contact him from afar? What kind of Magical Treasure had his son used? Could it be mass-produced? No matter. He would have his son learn and replicate it, allowing the family¡¯s elite disciples to learn the Immortal Sect¡¯s Cultivation Techniques and Spells. They could then find suitable practices for themselves. Thinking this way, Family Head Luo Sheng felt somewhat less gloomy. He sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman, not directly to his son but to the shop his family rented on the main street outside the Nangong Immortal Sect. The shop sold various Spirit Grass and Pills. One reason for setting up the shop was to provide support should his son need assistance. However, from what he heard, his son rarely visited the shop, only about once a year, and when he did, it was to collect Spirit Stones and Pills, which were resources Luo Sheng prepared for his son¡¯s cultivation. Even outside, one would need money, and it wasn¡¯t as if expenses within the Immortal Sect didn¡¯t exist. Without embarking on missions, there would be no resources available, especially for those in the Outer Sect and Servant Disciples, whose resources came entirely from completing missions. In addition to personal cultivation needs, one also needed to make friends within the sect and purchase suitable Magical Treasures. As a father, he had thought of everything for his son. The Shopkeeper reported that his son rarely made an appearance, did not socialize or get into fights, and was entirely a low-key cultivator. Family Head Luo Sheng felt that while his son¡¯s behavior wasn¡¯t necessarily bad, it lacked the joy of youth. As a father, he let his son develop freely, but sometimes he worried that his son had no friends and that his son¡¯s single-minded cultivation and lack of social savvy could lead to danger outside. Which father doesn¡¯t overthink things? He wanted to pave the way for his son, to think of more strategies for his offspring, but their Cultivation was limited, lacking the ability to help their son. Fortunately, his son had always been trouble-free and had done well over the years outside. Knowing that his son was safe, the father¡¯s heart was at ease yet concerned. ¡­ Within the North City Immortal Sect. Yan Weiwei, accompanied by Cai Xiangxiang, obtained her Identity Jade. From then on, she had a Servant Disciple by her side. She recorded some Cultivation Techniques she had practiced in the past and made them generally known into Jade Slips, which she bestowed upon Cai Xiangxiang. Since Cai Xiangxiang was with her, she did not undertake other tasks, missed out on rewards, and couldn¡¯t enter the Scripture Pavilion to read about Artifact Refining or Spells. Yan Weiwei was puzzled. Why were the Cultivation Techniques and Spells practiced by Cai Xiangxiang, also of the Immortal Sect, somewhat odd? She had a bad hunch. Could it be her master harbored ill intentions? It was only after Yan Weiwei tested Cai Xiangxiang¡¯s Spiritual Root that she discovered she had a rare Pure Yin constitution. She was suddenly troubled. As a woman of Pure Yin at her side, her current Cultivation level was not enough to protect her. What should she do? Yan Weiwei thought of a senior brother in the Immortal Alliance specialized in Artifact Refining. Perhaps he had a solution. She instructed Cai Xiangxiang to stay within her residence and not wander off. She was to stay within the Immortal Sect and especially not venture outside. Cai Xiangxiang didn¡¯t understand why Yan Weiwei gave such instructions but obediently complied. She busied herself with cooking and various chores, and then it was time for her Cultivation. She practiced the Cultivation Technique given by Yan Weiwei, meditating and cycling Spiritual Energy through her meridians, feeling that today¡¯s practice allowed her Spiritual Energy to circulate more swiftly. It wasn¡¯t static as before, which expanded her meridians. Just one cycle was faster than her usual day¡¯s practice. She wondered if the rich Spiritual Energy of the Immortal Sect or the potency of the Cultivation Technique was responsible. Cai Xiangxiang was thrilled by this discovery and decided to abandon her previous practices. She could not always depend on others for protection; she had to become stronger. By becoming stronger, she could return to visit her parents, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in several years. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her mortal parents must have grown more white hair by now, right? She wondered if they were eating and living well. Thinking of her parents¡¯ hardships in farming without money or mana, Cai Xiangxiang imagined that buying them an ox would alleviate some of the burden, wouldn¡¯t it? She resolved to save money. Yan Weiwei was kind to her, providing good food and accommodation, and even paid her. She noticed that Yan Weiwei was quite frugal, perhaps not someone from a prominent family. Chapter 78 - 78 75 Three Updates Explode 7000 Words Mega _3 ?78: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter)_3 78: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter)_3 Cai Xiangxiang felt grateful towards Yan Weiwei, of course, as this senior sister loved and cared for her like an elder sister. Besides her parents, at this moment, the only one she could rely on was Yan Weiwei, who became the umbrella protecting her. Yan Weiwei went to find that Artifact Refining senior brother and arrived at Refining Artifacts Peak. Refining Artifacts Peak had an abundance of burly men, who shyly looked on when they saw the beautiful sister arriving. The men of Refining Artifacts Peak, many of whom practiced body cultivation, had robust physiques and appeared a bit rough around the edges. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, most of them did not have a Dao companion, and it was already well known within the sect that there was such a beautiful sister, Yan Weiwei. Aside from cultivating, these men also had a desire for beauty, after all, they still had to consume the five grains and had physical needs. On this path towards longevity, there are many pleasures in life besides cultivation, such as the joy they feel when they successfully create better magical treasures, and privately, they also refine artifacts to earn a bit of money for their cultivation resources. ¡°Excuse me, senior brothers, is Ye Tian here?¡± The Ye Tian senior brother mentioned by Yan Weiwei was an artifact refining genius whose magical treasures were quite famous; he himself had reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and was handsome and suave, a beautiful man within the Immortal Sect. He was very popular among the senior sisters and junior sisters, because whenever they asked him to refine artifacts, he would agree without hesitation and even offer a favorable price. Many people were speculating about Ye Tian¡¯s background. The brothers were envious of Ye Tian¡¯s popularity, but their various challenges had been unsuccessful. They could not defeat Ye Tian, either in cultivation or in artifact refining; this beautiful man was an anomaly among the burly men. Becoming one of their senior brothers, he watched numerous beauties from the Immortal Sect seek him out. All they could do was watch, green with envy and frustration. Although Yan Weiwei was dressed in the Immortal Sect¡¯s Daoist robe, her head was adorned with a defensive hairpin, and she had dressed very simply, her beautiful figure and face adding a great deal of attractiveness. Her delicate face with its melon-seed shape, a pair of expressive, large eyes that could mesmerize anyone who looked into them. A small yet perky nose, and cherry-red lips. Facing such a beautiful sister, every brother wanted to speak with her. ¡°Yan sister, our senior brother is in the Refining Cave Mansion refining artifacts; he has accepted many commissions and might not be able to help you, sister. Why don¡¯t you give the task to me instead?¡± One of the burly men volunteered himself. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, senior brother, I will still look for senior brother Ye.¡± Yan Weiwei shook her head; she needed to solve her troubles and couldn¡¯t discuss them with others, but for some reason, she trusted senior brother Ye a lot. ¡°Uh¡­¡± This senior brother¡¯s self-recommendation failed, and the others, you look at me, I look at you, felt too embarrassed to say more. Yan Weiwei ignored the disappointed expressions of the senior brothers and arrived at the Refining Cave Mansion she had visited before. This place had a Spirit Flame Cave that supplied Refining Artifacts Peak. The Ye Tian that Yan Weiwei was looking for was currently using spells to transform the material in his hands into a magical treasure. Unlike those brothers who used hammers to forge, he directly used spells to pound the materials, making them more refined and sturdy. The material absorbed his spiritual power, buzzing as if alive with spirit, glittering with flashes of spiritual light. Ye Tian felt someone enter and glanced outside, distracted; upon seeing that it was Yan Weiwei, he smiled. This Yan Weiwei sister, he had investigated and found out she came from an ordinary family; her success in cultivation today came partly from her hard work and partly from her Spiritual Root. She was a gentle and beautiful person with decent cultivation and could potentially become much stronger. ¡°Yan sister has come!¡± ¡°Senior brother, sorry to disturb you while you are busy.¡± Seeing the smile on her senior brother¡¯s face, Yan Weiwei couldn¡¯t help but smile back, feeling a bit of her troubles melt away. ¡°It¡¯s alright, is there anything sister needs help with?¡± Ye Tian always believed that those who came to him sought something, as nobody would visit without a reason. However, he was happy to assist, considering it a form of practice¡ªmaterial provided by others was a precious opportunity for him to learn. ¡°Senior brother, I want to ask if there is a magical treasure that can conceal the Spiritual Root and physique, as well as cultivation.¡± ¡°That¡­ well, there is such a thing, but the material is very expensive; it¡¯s Jade Marrow, said to come from jade mined from ice mountains. The high price derives, of course, from its ability to conceal one¡¯s cultivation level.¡± Ye Tian himself possessed such a piece of jade; he had already achieved Nascent Soul Great Perfection and concealed his cultivation level when he came to this Immortal Sect, obviously with his own intentions and matters to tend to. He also had the materials and had never been asked to refine such a magical treasure before, which was a protective jade token. ¡°Is that so! I wanted to refine it for a Servant Disciple by my side; her physique is quite special, and if it¡¯s too expensive¡­¡± ¡°Oh, what kind of physique is this person, sister? Could you please explain so that I can refine it for you.¡± ¡°Senior brother, have you heard of the Pure Yin physique?¡± Yan Weiwei, trusting this senior brother so much, found herself inadvertently revealing the truth under his gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it¡­ Sister, I understand. I¡¯ll finish refining this material and then I¡¯ll immediately start on yours.¡± ¡°Senior brother, I can¡¯t thank you enough, but the material is so expensive, I might not have enough money.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry about it, consider it as senior brother helping you out, and think of it as a loan; you¡¯ll have to pay it back slowly in the future.¡± As Ye Tian spoke, his hands did not cease their work; he was close to succeeding in his refinements, and stopping now would turn the piece into scrap metal. Chapter 79 - 79 75 Three Updates Explode 7000 Words Mega _4 ?79: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter)_4 79: Chapter 75: Three Updates Explode (7000 Words Mega Chapter)_4 ¡°Thank you, senior brother.¡± Yan Weiwei¡¯s gratitude was evident in her words and eyes. Indeed, seeking help from this senior brother was the right choice, as she gazed upon the handsome face of the man before her. Involuntarily, her thoughts drifted to Jiang Tang, who had died so young. It was such a waste. Ye Tian sensed his junior sister¡¯s emotional shift, seeing in her eyes that while she seemed to be looking at him, it also seemed like her gaze was directed elsewhere. Could it be that this junior sister had someone in her heart? ¡°Junior sister, is there anything else you need?¡± Ye Tian was not a lecherous man. He harbored greater ambitions and had not even considered taking a Dao companion. The path of cultivation was a long one, and choosing a partner too soon could greatly hinder his progress. Despite his calm appearance, his grand aspirations were not limited to just being a disciple refining artifacts. His cultivation was even higher than some of the elders¡¯, but he kept it concealed for his own reasons. ¡°Senior brother, when can I come to collect the magical treasure you refined?¡± Yan Weiwei, upon hearing her senior brother¡¯s words, pulled her thoughts back, her beautiful eyes shimmering slightly with tears as she remembered Jiang Tang and felt the urge to cry. ¡°Junior sister, I will send you a message when the refining is complete. However, make sure to remind that disciple not to wander off. With her constitution, there could be danger,¡± he warned kindly. Yan Weiwei listened to her senior brother¡¯s caring admonition and nodded, saying, ¡°Alright, senior brother, I have already warned her not to wander.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Ye Tian nodded and then focused on his artifact refining. Yan Weiwei glanced around the cave mansion; it was filled with tools for artifact refining and littered with remnants of the refining process. Here at Refining Artifacts Peak, they all carried storage bags for their materials, and the Immortal Sect provided them with equipment to practice with inside the cave. Not wanting to disturb her senior brother any further, Yan Weiwei silently walked out. The burly men who were practicing body refinement, previously shirtless, bashfully put on their robes upon seeing their junior sister. ¡°Junior sister, leaving so soon?¡± ¡°Junior sister, sit down and have some tea!¡± ¡°Junior sister, how about we chat a bit?¡± The men were all giving off a desperate, amorous vibe, their eyes gleaming with eager anticipation at the sight of a beautiful woman, which made Yan Weiwei quicken her pace. She used her footwork to run away, her graceful fleeing figure captivating the burly men watching her from behind. The brawny men sighed to themselves, wondering why the more they called out, the faster the beautiful woman fled. Sigh¡­ The burly men resumed undressing, continuing their body refinement training. Sometimes, they would practice under the flowing water to enhance their cultivation. It was all just to make an appearance before the sisters who came to Qi Refining Peak each day. They had to make sure that every sister who entered the Refining Cave Mansion would see them. Sadly, it seemed they never made any lasting impression, as the sisters didn¡¯t seem to remember them, let alone their names, despite seeing them countless times. All the sisters talked about were Ye Tian, senior brother Ye, junior brother Ye¡­ only remembering senior brother Ye Tian. Could their muscular physiques compare to senior brother¡¯s? Could senior brother even be compared? But Ye Tian was just a pretty face with higher cultivation¡­ Perhaps the sisters preferred pretty boys? Were the good-looking ones more charming? Sigh¡­ ¡­ Nangong Immortal Sect. Luo Yaxuan had been watching the disciple matches these past few days. Today, he was observing the inner sect disciple competition. As usual, he took his place to sit down. As soon as he sat down, a group of senior brothers arrived, and Luo Yaxuan greeted them as well. Ever since he discovered that the servant disciple beside him was skilled in cooking, he shamelessly asked the chef disciple, who was originally only tasked with preparing two meals for him, to also take care of breakfast. Breakfast, of course, was not about cooking rice, but making meat buns, jerkies, biscuits, pastries. He had packed a bag before coming, planning to eat here, knowing he¡¯d have to share if he did. So the breakfast, which weighed at least five or six pounds, was tucked away in his storage bag. ¡°Luo senior brother, I will definitely be stronger than you. I will win the match and then get the chance to compete with you¡­¡± Luo Yaxuan was about to take out his breakfast to eat when an inner sect disciple began to proclaim his challenge. What could he do but offer support to others, as always? ¡°Junior Brother, keep it up¡­¡± ¡°Luo, I must win and then defeat you.¡± ¡°Go for it, looking forward to it¡­¡± ¡°Luo, I¡¯ve watched your practice sessions. Such simple spells, I can do that too. You¡¯re not the strongest, I will defeat you¡­¡± ¡°Oh, looking forward to your performance¡­ Keep it up.¡± Luo Yaxuan, faced with such provocative words from a group of Inner Sect Disciples, had become so desensitized that he could only smile and offer encouragement. If it were someone with a shorter temper, they probably would have lost their cool, right? Talking about declarations was just a way of giving a voice to their own lack of confidence. When the real fight happened, there would be no room for so much nonsense, just fight¡­ Finally, when the Elder rang the bell for the Inner Sect Disciples to draw lots, Luo Yaxuan¡¯s surroundings started to quiet down as the disciples surged away. ¡°Haha, Luo Yaxuan, bet you didn¡¯t expect this today, huh? Even you have days like these!¡± Bi Renchuan initially thought these Inner Sect Disciples were just bringing food again, and he envied Luo Yaxuan¡¯s popularity. He didn¡¯t expect that they were coming to declare war, which gave him quite a thrill. It eased some of his frustration from the past few days. ¡°Haha, they¡¯re too adorable¡­¡± Luo Yaxuan could only force a laugh. ¡°Luo Yaxuan, if these guys come challenge you one by one, it¡¯s going to be like a death by a thousand cuts. If it doesn¡¯t kill you, it¡¯ll tire you out.¡± Fan Dingding shrugged, thinking these people were too crazy. When he was an Inner Sect Disciple, he never challenged a senior brother like this. Were these people so desperate to win? He also felt that Luo Yaxuan was too good-natured, no wonder he was so popular. It came from having a broad mind. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ indeed true.¡± Luo Yaxuan laughed helplessly, thinking to himself that he wasn¡¯t afraid of challenges; it was a good opportunity to get some practice in. His wind and thunder spells had not yet reached their peak. But first things first, breakfast. Luo Yaxuan took out a bag of breakfast items from his Storage Bag, stuffed some pastries in his mouth, and nodded in approval. They tasted good. Eating while watching the match gave him a really different mood; he relished being a spectator. In just a moment, as he squinted his eyes, he realized that his bag had lost quite a few breakfast items. As he expected, his senior brothers were waiting for him. As soon as they saw him eating, they swarmed over, and in a flash, the pastries were reduced by half. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, taking without asking is stealing. How can you just help yourselves like that?¡± Luo Yaxuan quickly grabbed some buns and a few strips of dried meat to secure in his hands, not trusting the situation; he even grabbed some biscuits, feeling that this much would at least fill him up halfway, before he could really enjoy his meal. ¡°Wow, this is just too delicious, even better than the pastries we get at the restaurants outside.¡± ¡°After eating this pastry, I feel like everything else I¡¯ve been eating is swill.¡± ¡°Luo Yaxuan, where did you buy these pastries and buns? Tell us quickly, I want to have such delicious breakfast every day.¡± Bi Renchuan didn¡¯t say anything and just focused on enjoying the tasty food, too embarrassed to speak. His usual sarcastic remarks were nowhere to be found in that moment, not a word could he utter. If he could have such delicious breakfast every day, would he still need to be so grouchy, sniping at others? Alas¡­ The senior brothers praised the food as they ate, fearing it would run out, greedily empting the breakfast bag quickly. Apart from this group of Direct Disciples, on a high platform in the distance, an Elder sniffed the air and smelled something delicious. They were already Golden Core cultivators or higher. They rarely ate grains and cereals, but this aroma tempted their appetites, making them swallow their saliva. Why didn¡¯t these disciples bring breakfast to them too? Who was eating during the competition? That was so unprofessional. Eating during the match and not showing respect by offering some to their elders. Looking around, those Elders noticed that only their Direct Disciples were having breakfast in the large spectator area. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One by one, these Elders realized that all their senior apprentices were eating breakfast below, cursing inwardly: ¡°You little rascals, can¡¯t even share some breakfast with your master.¡± (Please support me, cast your recommendation votes, and thank you. Going premium tomorrow, I hope that all my dear readers will subscribe.) Chapter 80 - 80 76 Delight in Praise Continued Spree ?80: Chapter 76: Delight in Praise (Continued Spree) 80: Chapter 76: Delight in Praise (Continued Spree) Luo Yaxuan¡¯s Golden Core master was naturally on the high platform, observing his disciple closely these days. He was secretly pleased with his well-liked pupil. Just now, with so many Inner Sect disciples provoking, he noticed his disciple didn¡¯t get angry¡ªhe either had an exceptionally good temperament or was too weak. However, he believed Luo Yaxuan was not weak but had cultivated his temperament to perfection. Glancing at Luo Yaxuan eating, a thought suddenly came to his mind. This disciple was the second apprentice he had taken in. His talents might not compare to his senior fellow apprentice, but he was relatively low-key. He had the advantage of a good temperament and popularity; such a person, if strengthened, could be a leader. The Golden Core Elder did not just think about mooching meals from this disciple in the future; he also focused on nurturing him. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He thought of the Secret Manuals he possessed, secrets he had not yet imparted to his disciples. Many masters, unless to their kin, would not pass on all their wisdom to their disciples. Some feared taking on a disciple with poor character could bring shame to the Immortal Sect and trouble for their master. There were many who disrespected their mentors, as on the path of cultivation, strength is revered above all, and choosing a disciple also depends on their moral character. The Golden Core Elder himself already had a partner and a young daughter only 12 years old. If it weren¡¯t for his daughter¡¯s young age, he would also be considering a son-in-law. His daughter practiced cultivation with his partner and didn¡¯t live with him; she stayed in another cave dwelling to avoid disrupting everyone¡¯s cultivation. The reason was that as a Golden Core Elder who needed to teach disciples and often attended various functions, people sought him out often, coming and going from the cave dwelling. The Golden Core Elder wasn¡¯t very old, appearing to be just over thirty, but he was actually fifty. It was because he had a higher level of cultivation that he looked so young; the higher the cultivation, the more youthful the appearance of a cultivator. The Golden Core Elder collected his thoughts and continued watching the disciples compete on the platform. ¡­ The disciples on the four Martial Platforms had finished drawing lots and began competing. The Inner Sect disciples¡¯ competition was more splendid and intense than any other, resembling a fierce battle. Luo Yaxuan watched while eating, not underestimating these people. To become an Inner Sect disciple, already at the Foundation Establishment Stage, meant hoping to win this competition or catch the eye of an Elder and be taken as a disciple. He looked at the first Martial Platform where two Inner Sect disciples were battling. Their cultivation levels were similar; one disciple looked handsome, wielding a Magical Treasure in his left hand while casting Fire Spells in the other, continuously blazing fire at his opponent, and using Talismans as if they cost nothing to pummel the enemy relentlessly. The other disciple looked frail, but he was agile, with a defensive cultivation technique. He conjured his Water Spirit Root cultivation technique into a circle of water that enveloped him, extinguishing the fiery assaults when they hit the water. When Talismans were thrown at him, he agilely leaped high, dodging those lethal strikes. While defending, he also counterattacked, turning his Water Spirit Root spells into ice, hurling ice spheres at his opponent to either severely injure or extinguish the fire. The handsome young man who spewed fire through his spells also had to dodge the ice. He became slightly flustered, almost getting hit on the forehead or the bridge of his nose, which could disfigure him. In combat, it was a test of patience; when one side lost their temper, they gave the other an opportunity to strike. Before long, the well-off young master was defeated by a thin lad, devoid of many Magical Treasures or Talismans, relying solely on his agile body and the might of his water and ice spells. ¡­ Luo Yaxuan, seeing one Martial Platform already had a winner, then turned towards the second platform. The second platform had just declared a victor, though he hadn¡¯t seen their match. Luo Yaxuan could only look at the third Martial Platform, where another pair was competing. This was an elimination round, followed by another against the winners, and so on, until the first, second, and third places were ultimately decided. On the third platform, one of the competitors had the same Wind and Thunder Spirit Roots as him. Of course, he used Wind and Thunder and Lightning Spells, reminiscent of his own techniques. Luo Yaxuan didn¡¯t know if other Sect disciples¡¯ cultivation spells were all the same, but he believed the spells his master gave him were unique. He speculated that perhaps someone had watched him cast spells and figured out how to wield the Wind and Lightning Spells from that. The other combatant used a shield as their Magical Treasure, an umbrella-like defense against the wind and lightning, then conjured an Earth-raising Spell. Suddenly, they showered the sky with mud, piling it over the opponent into a mountain. The one casting the Lightning Spell whipped up a furious wind to scatter the dirt away. Each platform was enclosed by a barrier dome; spells cast by those inside couldn¡¯t affect bystanders. The wind blew the dirt to one side, halted by the barrier before falling onto the Martial Platform. For the moment, they had not yet determined a victor. Luo Yaxuan then looked at the fourth Martial Platform where two disciples were competing. One disciple used a large Magical Treasure saber while the other employed a Wood Spell, growing a seed into a Vine Whip tree. The tree¡¯s branches, vines, and roots tried everything to tether the saber, aiming to also bind the opponent. The disciple with the saber furiously chopped, slicing the approaching vines and roots into pieces, preventing the other from having any chance to entangle him.