Senior Brother

"How about it? Are you planning to renew the Spirit Moon Lake Mission this time, or switch to another one?" Steward Lin asked.

Su Bai had already made up his mind, so he answered without hesitation, "Please renew the Spirit Moon Lake Mission for me, Steward Lin. Another one-year term."

Advancing from Qi Refining Layer Five to Qi Refining Layer Six would take at least a year or more, even with Dual Spirit Root talent.

Thus, Su Bai decided to remain at Spirit Moon Lake for another year.

As for the year after that, he would decide when the time came.

"Alright." Steward Lin nodded, took Su Bai's jade talisman with great efficiency, renewed the mission, and handed over this year's Yellow Dragon Pills in advance.

Three bottles in total, thirty Yellow Dragon Pills.

After accepting the spirit pills and thanking Steward Lin, Su Bai immediately went to Steward Su next door.

"Steward Su, I'm here to collect the Yellow Dragon Pills that accumulated over the past year," Su Bai said the moment he entered the room.

During his year at Spirit Moon Lake, Su Bai had never returned.

Naturally, he had not collected his monthly benefits either.

Fortunately, the monthly spirit-pill benefits could be accumulated.

All of Su Bai's spirit pills from last year had been held here at the Outer Court, and he could collect them all at once today.

Steward Su naturally recognized Su Bai. "Hmm, it's you, kid. Qi Refining Stage Four, one Yellow Dragon Pill per month, making a total of..."

"Steward Su, you calculated wrong. Based on my current Qi Refining Layer Five cultivation, it should be two Yellow Dragon Pills per month, shouldn't it?" Su Bai spread his spiritual energy fluctuations as he spoke.

Pointing at Su Bai, Steward Su snapped, "You kid, are you addicted to fleecing the sheep? If we really want to nitpick, I refuse to believe you advanced to Qi Refining Layer Five the instant you left last year!"

Still, Three Spirit Root disciples who advanced as quickly as Su Bai were indeed rare in the outer sect.

Besides, if Su Bai's talent had not been so exceptional and his advancement so rapid, this awkward situation would never have arisen.

The Outer Court had subtle special treatment for highly talented disciples.

Thus, Steward Su ultimately updated Su Bai's records and gave him twenty-four Yellow Dragon Pills, calculated at the Qi Refining Layer Five quota of two pills per month.

"Steward Su is wise!"

Su Bai accepted the Yellow Dragon Pills and praised him with a solemn expression.

"Get lost already!" Steward Su did not buy it at all...

After leaving the Outer Sect Affairs Hall, Su Bai returned to the courtyard.

As expected.

None of his fellow disciples were in the courtyard.

Everyone was busy carrying out Outer Court Missions, earning spirit pills and raising their cultivation. Each was working harder than the next.

Su Bai came to his own room in the courtyard. There were several letters in the mailbox outside.

They had been sent by this body's mortal relatives.

After reading through them one by one, Su Bai found that they were merely simple greetings, with nothing important mentioned.

Thus, he had no plans to write back.

Su Bai stepped out of the courtyard, intending to leave.

A familiar face approached him head-on. It was Jiang Han!

"Jiang Han!"

"Hm? Senior Brother Su." After a year apart, Jiang Han seemed more talkative.

His decent Fire Attribute Spell Talent had given him some confidence. He no longer needed to throw himself single-mindedly into missions as before.

The two returned to the courtyard and chatted for a while. Jiang Han had just completed a one-month outer sect mission and planned to cultivate in the courtyard for a few days before heading out on another mission.

Jiang Han's cultivation was still stuck at Qi Refining Stage Three. The drawbacks of his Western Element Spirit Root had become painfully clear.

"I heard that an Inner Sect Elder is backing it. This year, the Outer Court will exceptionally hold an Outer Court Grand Competition."

"If you can place well, you'll have a chance to receive high-grade pills. Senior Brother Su, will you participate?"

Most of Jiang Han's missions were short-term, and some were carried out within the sect itself, so he was better informed about news from the Outer Court.

When he mentioned this Outer Court Grand Competition, Jiang Han's eyes shone brightly.

Clearly, he was determined to participate in this Outer Court Grand Competition.

Jiang Han wanted to rely on his outstanding Fire Attribute Talent to earn a good ranking in the competition and obtain reward spirit pills, thereby narrowing the cultivation gap between himself and other disciples caused by his inferior spirit root.

"Oh? An Outer Court Grand Competition?" Su Bai's heart stirred.

The Jade Mist Sect's Inner Sect Grand Competition was held every year, but an outer sect competition was indeed rare.

"There are still several months until the end of the year. We'll see when the time comes."

Now that he had copied Clear Heart Sword Intent and mastered Sword Qi, his combat power was quite decent. If the timing was right, he might as well return to take part, Su Bai thought.

After chatting a little longer about the current circumstances of the various fellow disciples in the courtyard,

Su Bai wished Jiang Han success in breaking through to the Mid Qi Refining Stage during this cultivation session, then left the courtyard.

"You've traveled far and worn yourself out. Here, have some roast fish and a cup of spirit tea to ease your fatigue!"

More than an hour later, Su Bai had already returned to Spirit Moon Lake and was eating the roast fish Wang Jue had handed him.

Cultivation Without Years.

In the blink of an eye, it was November.

At the end of autumn, the wind was biting, and mortals already needed to wear thicker coats.

Su Bai traveled through the lakebed using the Water Escape Technique. Even a cultivator's physique could feel traces of chill, and he had to circulate his spiritual power to dispel the cold.

Before long, Su Bai and Wang Jue completed their patrol for the day.

They returned to Lake Heart Isle and brewed spirit tea to warm themselves and ease their fatigue.

A figure arrived on a spirit artifact, breaking the tranquil sky above Spirit Moon Lake.

The man wore the black robes of a Jade Mist Sect Inner Disciple and appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

His spiritual power cultivation had already Reached Qi Refining Layer Eight.

Standing atop a fan-shaped spirit artifact, he landed on Lake Heart Isle.

Zhao Shanhe came out of the thatched hut to greet him. "You're here."

This Inner Disciple wore a faintly smiling expression as he nodded. "I've come to take over the mission."

It turned out Zhao Shanhe was busy returning to prepare for this year's Inner Sect Grand Competition, so he had ended his Inner Sect mission at Spirit Moon Lake.

This Inner Disciple had come to take over Zhao Shanhe's position.

Zhao Shanhe had mentioned before that Spirit Moon Lake would be getting a new person in charge.

Zhao Shanhe pointed to Su Bai and Wang Jue beside him.

"Su Bai and Wang Jue are both elite outer sect disciples at Qi Refining Layer Five, and both are trustworthy. They handle nearly all of Spirit Moon Lake's daily affairs."

"With them here, the number of times you'll need to act throughout the year can be counted on one hand. It'll save you quite a bit of effort," Zhao Shanhe said.

Hearing this, the Inner Disciple cupped his hands. "That could not be better."

Zhao Shanhe pointed at the Inner Disciple. "This is Inner Sect Senior Brother Bai Daoyuan, an elite Inner Disciple with Qi Refining Layer Eight cultivation. He is exceptionally skilled in Water Attribute Spells and possesses formidable combat power. I might not even be his match. You two should show Senior Brother Bai some proper respect."

Bai Daoyuan repeatedly waved his hands. "Senior Brother Zhao flatters me. Senior Brother Zhao's Sword Control Technique is the truly astonishing one."

Zhao Shanhe exchanged pleasantries with Bai Daoyuan for a while longer, solemnly bade Su Bai and Wang Jue farewell, then rose on his sword and hurried toward the Jade Mist Sect's mountain gate.

His mind was wholly fixed on the Inner Sect Grand Competition.

This year's Inner Sect Grand Competition was his to win.

After Zhao Shanhe departed, Bai Daoyuan walked to the stone table and poured himself a cup of spirit tea.

"So this is Spirit Moon Tea. Not bad, not bad."

"Um... Junior Brother Wang, was it? Bring a pot of tea to my room. Thanks."

Though he said thanks, Bai Daoyuan's tone allowed no refusal and carried a distinctly commanding air.

Wang Jue shot Su Bai a look. The meaning in his eyes was plain: It looked like an Inner Sect Senior Brother who would not be easy to get along with had arrived.