When Lu Ping Believed He Had Survived the Previous Plot Point
Qi Cangshu listened to everyone's words expressionlessly, then began to flip through the account books.
[In the side hall, no one spoke; only the sound of pages turning could be heard.]
[Sweat beaded on Zhao Li's forehead.]
[You effortlessly dismantled the scheme he had meticulously planned.]
Even the most important "witness" turned against them on the spot.
[Your success rate in completing pills may not seem high, but it's sufficient to cover the total value you submit.]
Qi Cangshu finished turning the last page, closed the ledger, and casually pushed it to the corner of the table.
He looked up at the kneeling disciples.
"Framing a fellow disciple and falsely accusing Deacon —take him away and deal with him according to the hall rules."
Several disciples instantly collapsed to the ground.
Qi Cangshu then turned to Zhao Li, his voice tinged with coldness.
"As for Zhao Li... he was lax in auditing, easily swayed by slander, and couldn't even detect when his subordinates were falsifying accounts."
"You can suspend your duties in the Internal Affairs Office and go back to reflect on your actions."
[In the side hall, everyone lowered their heads.]
[Zhao Li stood there, as if he hadn't heard clearly.]
[The next moment, a disciple from the Internal Affairs Office stepped forward and took the Steward Token from his hand.]
[As the token left his hand, Zhao Li's fingers stiffened for a moment, then he turned to look at you.]
[You ignored him, and instead picked up Xu Qingshi's record of the cooking temperature, making a change in one place.]
[Xu Qingshi looked at you with eyes full of admiration.]
Qian Dafu was visibly shaken, feeling a surge of pride.
[The troubles surrounding Zhao Li are not worth your attention. You only care about your own cultivation.]
[Your cultivation has progressed steadily over the past five years.]
[Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, breakthrough successful.]
[Your aura has been maintained at the Qi Refining Perfection for a long time.]
[You used the Artisan Spirit to elevate an ordinary Breath-Concealing Technique to the level of a mid-grade Cultivation Method.]
[Now, using only the Breath-Concealing Technique, cultivators of the same level cannot detect your true cultivation level.]
[The Hundred-Forged Medicine Body Formula has five levels; you have mastered the second level.]
[The last three levels require the Golden Core stage to cultivate.]
[You doubt that with your current physical strength, you can withstand a blow from Golden Core cultivator.]
[Of course, this is just a suspicion.]
[A normal person wouldn't go looking for Golden Core cultivator to get beaten up just to verify this.]
[After Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, you can take two Qi-Gathering Pills daily without any problems.]
[It's not that the physical body can't handle it now, it's that the absorption efficiency has reached its limit.]
[Alas, what a pitiful Low-Grade Spirit Root.]
[You've also been continuously feeding the Fire Crow Technique.]
[Earthfire, elixir fire, and remnants of fire vein energy—all were poured into the Fire Crow Seed.]
[Some Fire Crow Seeds will eat it, some won't; you should just go with the flow.]
It's good if they survive, but it doesn't matter if they die.
That Black-Feather Fire Crow already possesses the strength of the Qi Refining Perfection.
[It can scout a path thirty miles away from your body, and it can also shield you from a sneak attack at a crucial moment.]
[Your rating for Fire Crow Technique has been raised again.]
[Shopkeeper Zhou has finally brought you some long-awaited news.]
[In the backyard of Green Grain Shop, a small Flying Boat is parked under a tarpaulin.]
The Flying Boat is three zhang long and can carry three people.
[The speed isn't fast, but it saves on Spirit Stones.]
[Price: 1800 Low-Grade Spirit Stones ]
[Shopkeeper Zhou rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining as he looked at you.]
"Deacon Lu, this is some good stuff."
"The previous buyer died unexpectedly, and the deposit wasn't refunded."
"You're perfect for this."
[The Flying Boat's Array Patterns are complete.]
There are two patches on the bottom of the boat, which have been repaired fairly cleanly.
[You weren't too picky; after some haggling, you readily paid the Spirit Stones.]
Shopkeeper Zhou grinned so hard his teeth were showing.
[You feel that in the process of getting to Shopkeeper Zhou, he has figured out your true nature first, and you are no longer as ruthless as you were when you first met.]
[Sigh, the seller is always more shrewd than the buyer. Besides, Flying Boats are extremely rare here.]
That night, you did not go to the Alchemy Hall.
[This was the evening after the Alchemist exams ended.]
[And you plan to wait until the ten-year requirement is met before taking the Level 2 exam.]
[You sit in Cave Abode No. 7, Earth and pour yourself a cup of tea.]
[You survived the year you were killed by Han Changqing in the second simulation.]
[The cave abode's Restriction are operating silently.]
Fire Crow perched on the beam.
[You picked up your teacup, gently tapped it against the stone table, and quietly toasted yourself.]
"We've passed this hurdle."
[As soon as you finished speaking, the Fire Crow suddenly lowered its head.]
[A message came from the Communication Talisman in your arms.]
"Lu Ping, come to the Main Hall immediately."
[The message in the Communication Talisman ended with only one sentence before the light extinguished itself.]
[You put down your teacup; the bottom of the cup touched the stone table with a soft sound.]
[The Black-Feather Fire Crow on the beam looks down at you.]
[You did not get up immediately.]
[First, activate the enhanced version of the Concealing Breath-Concealing Technique to stabilize your Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation at the Qi Refining Perfection.]
[If Foundation Establishment Perfection were to forcefully investigate, they might be able to detect something amiss.]
[But if Han Changqing really dares to search your Dantian in public in the Main Hall, then this meeting is pointless.]
[Then, you took out a packet of Spirit-Eroding Powder and applied a thin layer to the inside of your sleeve.]
[You change into the robes of Deacon from the Alchemy Hall.]
[Workwear Thugs, in effect.]
[You put away the Fire Crow, letting it transform into a wisp of fire and return to your Dantian.]
[You open the cave abode's Restriction and exit Cave Abode No. 7, Earth).]
[Qian Dafu is waiting for you outside.]
[He was carrying a stack of prescriptions for medicinal herbs. Seeing you come out, he immediately stuffed the prescriptions into his sleeve.]
"Senior Brother Lu, they've also summoned me to the Main Hall to observe the proceedings."
"All the managers and disciples of the Alchemy Hall must go."
"The roll call was made for the Internal Affairs Office, the Alchemy Chamber, and the Storehouse."
You nodded, but didn't say anything.
At this moment, Xu Qingshi also hurried over from the direction of the Alchemy Chamber.
[His sleeves were stained with soot from the stove, and his waist badge wasn't properly hung up.]
"Senior Brother Lu."
You glanced at his waist tag.
"Hang up your waist tag properly."
Xu Qingshi immediately lowered his head to tidy up.
Qian Dafu glanced at him and coughed lightly.
"The Main Hall isn't the Alchemy Chamber; don't let anyone find fault with minor things."
Xu Qingshi kept quiet and followed behind you.
When you arrived at the Main Hall, it was already full.
[Han Changqing sat at the head of the table, with the elders and Deacons of each hall present.]
[This scene is just like the last time you were promoted to Deacon of the Alchemy Hall.]
[Elder Qi Cangshu of the Alchemy Hall sat on the left, with a sealed jade box in front of him.]
[Han Changqing tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, the sound so soft it silenced all conversation in the hall.]
[A middle-aged cultivator in a green robe stood in the center of the hall.]
[This person had the Main Hall's token hanging from his waist, and was followed by two Main Hall disciples.]
His cultivation level is at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
As soon as you entered the hall, almost everyone inside turned to face you.