A String of "Bad News"

Core disciple Wang Tieniu lived up to his reputation for being plagued by bad luck; nothing good ever came of his arrival.

Sure enough, bad news came along with Wang Tieniu to visit Chu Xinghe.

Since leaving Spirit City, Tieniu's cultivation of the Stone-Turning Technique has not just progressed by leaps and bounds, it has undergone earth-shattering changes.

The man who claims to be able to create stones with the Midas touch is no joke.

In a short period of time, Tieniu not only increased his stone-picking rate to 90%, but also took on a large number of fellow disciples.

These players have not disappointed at all. Three of them can now achieve a 70% success rate in getting stones, while the rest, who are less skilled, still manage around 40% to 50%.

Even so, these 40-50% of people still had to be mocked by Tieniu every day.

"With such poor talent, how can you face Senior Brother Xinghe!"

The disciples were moved to tears...

Teacher Tieniu... could you perhaps look into the disciples of the Shi Clan?

If 40-50% of their disciples are geniuses... We have it so hard.

While Tieniu was making rapid progress, he happened to be there during the Stone-Making Stone Appraisal Conference.

Originally, Tieniu wouldn't have bothered participating at all; after all, what was the point of the Stone Appraisal Conference?

What's so good about getting recognition there?

My lifelong goal is to receive praise from Senior Brother Xinghe Tieniu!

However, persuaded by the sect, Tieniu reluctantly went to participate, and the result was...

At the Stone Appraisal Conference, Tieniu successfully demonstrated what it means to slap anyone who dares to speak up.

Good heavens, Wang Tieniu is a true dark horse! He's completely outmatched by any of his peers who are considered geniuses. Let alone Tieniu his two incompetent disciples are utterly crushed.

In the final battle against the Shi Clan, Tieniu single-handedly annihilated the entire Shi Clan, leaving not a trace.

Disciples and elders are nothing but stepping stones in front of Tieniu.

Finally, one of the Shi Clan's long-hidden patriarchs was forced to take action. This patriarch even performed a legendary stone-turning technique at the Stone Appraisal Conference, achieving a 93% success rate, in an attempt to reverse the Shi Clan's decline.

But Tieniu once again showed everyone what it meant to be the invincible Wang Tieniu.

Wang Tieniu's breakthrough in the final battle, achieving a 95% success rate in producing stones, shocked the entire stone-making world.

The patriarch of the Shi Clan vomited two ounces of blood on the spot and had to be carried away.

The Stone Appraisal Conference is hosted by the Shi Clan and is known as their annual showcase.

But this time, the Shi Clan was completely outplayed by Tieniu.

If there hadn't been so many people, the Shi Clan would have almost canceled the Stone Appraisal Conference on the spot.

However, no one knows if there will be another Stone Appraisal Conference next time.

Tieniu is known as the man who single-handedly set the entire conference on fire.

That wasn't the most infuriating part. The most infuriating part was when the Shi Clan patriarch presented the award to Tieniu with a face as black as the bottom of a pot. Tieniu immediately said that this was nothing at all. He said that he was just given guidance by Senior Brother Xinghe. Without Senior Brother Xinghe, there would be no Wang Tieniu.

I have no desire to participate in this so-called Stone Appraisal Conference. I only want to follow in the footsteps of Senior Brother Xinghe. If I can learn even one ten-thousandth of what Senior Brother Xinghe has learned, I, Tieniu, will be happier than if I had won the Stone-Turning King Stone Appraisal Conference ten thousand times!

The head of the Shi Clan also vomited two ounces of blood and was carried away.

Wang Tieniu rose to fame in one battle, truly deserving the title of the world's number one master of stone-making.

After the news reached Vast Heaven Sect, the sect leader and elders sat together and discussed it for a long time.

Some elders felt that, given Tieniu's current situation, it wouldn't be unreasonable to give him an elder position and establish his own Dian Shi Palace.

But in the end, the sect leader slammed his fist on the table and vetoed it.

"I've already asked Tieniu, Tieniu said that Senior Brother Xinghe is the true disciple, and he would never dare to surpass Senior Brother Xinghe; at most, he'd be a core disciple!"

The group of elders were speechless.

However, the sect leader thought this was a good thing.

"Let's leave Tieniu's matter as it is. Whether he becomes an elder or not, let Xinghe handle that. Even if he is promoted to elder, let Xinghe He be the one to do it. We won't get involved."

All the elders nodded in agreement with the sect leader's words. Indeed, it would be excellent to give Xinghe the opportunity to promote Tieniu in the future.

And so, Tieniu went from being a miner's disciple to a core disciple, and all of his disciples have now become inner disciples.

After hearing Tieniu's story, Chu Xinghe remained silent for about a minute.

What the hell have I done...?

Tieniu, you're so fierce, you know you'll become my lifelong Senior Brother Xinghe on my path to advancement...?

After arranging for Tieniu to stay at the Spirit Crane Palace, Senior Brother Feng Fei thoughtfully arranged for Tieniu to have a room closest to Chu Xinghe.

There's no way around it; Wang Tieniu is no ordinary person in the sect now. Don't let his status as a core disciple fool you; everyone knows that his position as an elder is practically guaranteed, it's just a matter of time.

Even if you were just an ordinary disciple, you wouldn't dare to show the slightest disrespect to Wang Tieniu.

There are plenty of disciples who never become elders, but Tieniu is truly defying the heavens.

However, what is comforting is that in Tieniu's heart, Senior Brother Xinghe is a god-like existence. As long as Senior Brother Xinghe is still in the Vast Heaven Sect, Tieniu will be the strongest master of turning stones in the Vast Heaven Sect.

It took Chu Xinghe almost half a day to recover from the bad news brought by Tieniu.

Stay calm! What can one Tieniu change?

Isn't it just turning stones into gold?

Just order it, it's no big deal!

Therefore, Wang Tieniu alone is not enough to affect the overall situation.

As the New Year approaches, people from all sides of the sect are returning.

The first thing Fu Jiang Qin Xiangqian entering the sect was to pay his respects to the sect leader and the Grand Elder, and the second thing was to pay his respects to Senior Brother Xinghe.

However, this time the news brought by the lucky charm was absolutely terrible!

"Senior Brother Xinghe, the output of Tianyi Spirit Mine is not only stable, but also constantly increasing. At this rate, it may double next year. Moreover, the miners, following the methods you devised, have not only maintained production, but more than a dozen outstanding performers have been directly promoted to the outer sect."

"Moreover, countless people flock to the Vast Heaven Sect's spirit mine every day, wanting to become our Vast Heaven Sect's miner disciples!"

The bad news just keeps coming!

The matter with Wang Tieniu isn't over yet, and you, Lucky General Qin, have also betrayed us, haven't you?

Can you wait until after the New Year holiday to talk about it? Can't you just let me have a peaceful New Year?

Qin Xiangqian continued to report on the situation in Spirit City to Chu Xinghe.

In the past, spirit mines recruited miner disciples by trickery and deception.

But now, the spirit mines of the Vast Heaven Sect have become highly sought-after.

The treatment Chu Xinghe set was better than that of many inner disciples of small sects, and it was in no way inferior to that of outer disciples of large sects.

With such treatment, the Vast Heaven Sect's spirit mine exploded, and this time it was the miner disciples who got the windfall.

Every day, countless people come to request to become miner disciples of the Vast Heaven Sect.

At first, Qin Xiangqian was overjoyed and accepted all comers.

But Qin Xiangqian quickly realized the seriousness of the problem.

There are too many people... so many that the spirit mine is almost overflowing.

However, Qin Xiangqian did have some ideas, and he directly formulated a test for recruiting miners' apprentices.

Listen to this... is this something a human being would do?

There's an assessment required to become a miner's apprentice?

What's even more outrageous is that the difficulty of this assessment is almost no less than that of the inner disciple assessment of a typical small sect.

Qin Xiangqian originally intended to discourage the test takers, but after this news came out, not only did it not discourage them, but the test takers became even more frenzied.

Qin Xiangqian was dumbfounded when he looked at the data of the test disciples.

No... with your talent... you could become inner disciples in many sects... are you all crazy to come to our Vast Heaven Sect as miner disciples?

There's nothing we can do. These people passed the tests, but what good is it if they become inner disciples in other minor sects?

What future is there?

But the miner disciples of the Vast Heaven Sect are different. I heard that since Chu Xinghe set the rules, many miner disciples have been promoted to outer disciples of the Vast Heaven Sect.

Wang Tieniu even rose to become a core disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect's inner sect.

People are not afraid of hardship, but of having no hope.

Becoming an inner disciple in another minor sect is your upper limit, while becoming a miner disciple in the Vast Heaven Sect is your lower limit, and there's an infinite upper limit to your potential.

So as soon as this news came out, the spirit mine was like a testing ground for sect disciples every day.

Finally, Qin Xiangqian was forced into a corner and posted a notice changing the recruitment of miners' apprentices to once a year...

Upon hearing this, Bie Zongling burst into tears.

Does your Vast Heaven Sect have any shame left?

Recruiting disciples from the miners' sect only once a year? And look at those requirements... My goodness, even our sect doesn't dare to have such requirements when recruiting inner disciples.

Qin Xiangqian succeeded this time, but seeing those young people who failed to enter the Vast Heaven Sect's spirit mine shouting that they would definitely become miner disciples next year, Qin Xiangqian to tears.

The Vast Heaven Sect benefited, and Qin Xiangqian himself also gained tremendous benefits.

He used to be the branch president of the western region of Vast Heaven Chamber of Commerce.

Now, he is the vice president of Vast Heaven Chamber of Commerce.

Although he was still in charge of the same work as before, the removal of the words "West District" brought tears to Qin Xiangqian.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Xinghe, I will continue to dedicate myself to the sect in the Future year, and I also hope that Senior Brother Xinghe can continue to guide me on the path forward!"

Qin Xiangqian has truly risen to the top in one fell swoop.

From the president of the Western District branch to the vice president of the Vast Heaven Chamber of Commerce, Qin Xiangqian now looks down on everyone he meets.

Everyone who sees Qin Xiangqian must respectfully address him as President Qin.

Those who started out with him but became inner disciples because of their talent now have to bow and scrape Qin Xiangqian.

Although he is still an outer disciple, the vice president of the Vast Heaven Chamber of Commerce is not someone that a branch president can compare to!

But Qin Xiangqian dared not forget his roots. He knew that everything he had today was thanks to Senior Brother Xinghe's guidance. Without Senior Brother Xinghe, he would probably have spent his whole life in the West District.

Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Qin Xiangqian knew exactly how terrifying Senior Brother Xinghe was in the Vast Heaven Sect. He could easily destroy everything with a single word, and he could also rebuild Qin Xiangqian with just one word.

Therefore, Qin Xiangqian believed that as long as he followed in Senior Brother Xinghe's footsteps, he would definitely have a chance to get rid of the title of deputy in the Future!

Chu Xinghe remained silent...

Qin Xiangqian secretly admired him. As expected of Senior Brother Xinghe, many elders laughed heartily upon hearing this news, but Senior Brother Xinghe remained unmoved, presumably having already planned everything.

Chu Xinghe n't know what strategic planning meant, but he knew that these bastards really had no intention of letting him have a good New Year!

You guys keep giving me bad news, one after another. I'm not going to get through the New Year...