Time Flies

Time Flies

Lu Qingfeng listened quietly, looking toward Lu Qingshan.

These were all the beatings and abuse he had suffered in the Returning Truth Sect. Of all the names mentioned, Zhang Chong appeared most often.

"Who is Zhang Chong?"

Lu Qingfeng asked.

"He manages our batch of Servant Disciples. He likes using a whip to beat people most of all." Lu Qingshan pressed his lips together.

At the mention of that name, a trace of hatred unconsciously surfaced on his face.

"Zhang Chong!"

"Qian Han!"

"Every last one of them should be burned to death with fireballs!"

Lu Qingyu had initially been reading with great interest, but once she understood what it meant, her little face flushed crimson with anger. She flung the booklet to the ground and snarled viciously.

"If we're going to take revenge on them, we can't burn this booklet."

Lu Qingfeng picked up the booklet that had been thrown beside the fire and handed it to Lu Qingshan. "Keep it safe. In three to five years at most, the three of us siblings will return to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain together. Everyone who hit you or cursed you—we'll pay it all back!"

"Mm!"

Lu Qingshan nodded heavily!

Before today, even if his eldest brother had said that, Lu Qingshan might not have believed him. After all, he had spent more than five months in the Returning Truth Sect and knew just how terrifying it was.

There were over a hundred formal disciples!

Dozens of Inner Disciples!

And there were also Elite Disciples, the deacons of every hall, and hall masters!

Which one of them was not some lofty, untouchable "immortal"?

But today, he had witnessed his eldest brother's strength with his own eyes—

Two fireballs had burned the arrogant Inner Disciple Wu Yuan alive. The other five Servant Disciples had all been stronger than him, yet they had not lasted more than a few exchanges either.

Lu Qingshan guessed that his eldest brother's "fortuitous encounter" had to be even stronger than his jade pendant and zombie!

"Starting tomorrow, Qingshan, teach Qingyu to read, as well as the Meridians and Acupoints. I'll teach you a cultivation technique. The Returning Truth Technique is not the right path, so don't practice it anymore." Lu Qingfeng looked at Lu Qingshan.

"I'll listen to Eldest Brother."

Lu Qingshan nodded.

"Eldest Brother, then when can I cultivate?" Lu Qingyu asked expectantly.

"Once you've learned all the characters and can accurately locate the Meridians and Acupoints, you can begin cultivating." Lu Qingfeng smiled.

Cultivation should neither begin too early nor too late.

Generally speaking, twelve to sixteen was the most suitable age.

At that stage, the Meridians had taken shape and cultivation would not affect one's development. Their minds were also becoming steadier, reducing the chance of a Qi Deviation from circulating Inner Breath incorrectly.

However—

Lu Qingfeng looked at Qingshan and Qingyu, and a flash of spiritual light flickered in his eyes.

Name: Lu Qingshan

Cultivation: None

Level: Level 0

Root Bone: 2

Name: Lu Qingyu

Cultivation: None

Level: Level 0

Root Bone: 1

"Three good-for-nothing siblings?"

Lu Qingfeng used the Heavenly Eye Art to inspect Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingyu's Levels, Cultivation, and Root Bones.

An ordinary Heavenly Eye Art could only see Cultivation and Level, but Lu Qingfeng's Heavenly Eye Art had undergone two enhancements and could inspect Root Bone. If used to take disciples, it would be a peerless tool!

Of the two—

Although Lu Qingshan had cultivated in the Returning Truth Sect for several months, he had Not Yet Initiated. He was still Level 0, with no Cultivation whatsoever. His Root Bone was not much better than Lu Qingfeng's either, only 2 points—considered tall among the trash.

Lu Qingyu was even closer to her eldest brother in this regard. Like him, she possessed only 1 point of Root Bone, an unparalleled piece of trash!

Lu Qingfeng had observed the villagers in Blackwood Village. Their Root Bones generally ranged from 0 to 1, while those with 2 points were few and far between. They were probably fish that had slipped through the Returning Truth Sect's net.

The three siblings truly were born of the same mother—their talents were equally terrible!

"But with Primordial Wilderness in my hands, raising one piece of trash or three makes no difference." Lu Qingfeng thought to himself.

"Then let's hurry up and sleep so we can start learning early tomorrow morning!" Lu Qingyu could not wait any longer. Dragging her eldest and second brothers along, she prepared to crawl back into the wooden hut to sleep.

Lu Qingfeng scattered Sulfur Powder and Insect Repellent Powder around the hut, then pulled a circle of Vines around it as a warning barrier. Only then did he sleep in his clothes and log into Primordial Wilderness.

In reality, from the day Lu Qingfeng had gone to see Lu Qingshan, after three days of preparation and including today, four days had passed in total.

Thirteen months had already passed in the game!

Lu Qingfeng had also turned twenty.

"The Fasting Pills I refined in Blackwood Village are enough for Qingshan, Qingyu, and me to eat for three months."

"As for cultivation, I need to master the refinement of Yellow Dragon Pills to quickly raise my Cultivation in reality. I also need to begin practicing and master pills that restore Inner Breath, as well as pills that can quickly recover from or control injuries."

"Palm Techniques and Fist Techniques will ultimately never be as sharp as weapons, especially at the Fetal Respiration Realm. I have Wu Yuan's Nine Ring Saber, so I can specifically learn another saber technique for protection."

"Besides that, learning to draw talismans must also be put on the agenda. In the dense forest, wild beasts could attack at any time. Drawing a large number of talismans to carry with me is the first priority!"

"As for artifact refinement, it has the highest requirements for all kinds of basic facilities and materials, so it can be left for last."

Within the Blue Stone Talisman, Lu Qingfeng considered his plans for the future.

Having escaped Blackwood Village, the Hundredfold Time Difference could finally shine in full.

In reality, apart from the two hours necessary for cultivation, Lu Qingfeng spent all his other time in the game.

One day in reality equaled one hundred days in the game.

From that day onward—

Lu Qingfeng stayed within the Blue Stone Talisman every day, refining Fasting Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills. He also spent no small price to acquire the formulas for Recovery Breath Pills, Essence Nourishing Pills, and Entangling Fragrance Pellets.

This way, he had six pill formulas in his possession: Fasting Pills, Yellow Dragon Pills, Clear Spirit Powder, Recovery Breath Pills, Essence Nourishing Pills, and Entangling Fragrance Pellets.

There was no need to elaborate on the effects of Fasting Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills.

Clear Spirit Powder, meanwhile, was a formula that had appeared after the third enhancement of Medicine Refining Analysis. It was one of the rare sacred antidotes at the Fetal Respiration Realm.

Recovery Breath Pills were Low Grade Pills that restored Inner Breath.

Essence Nourishing Pills had miraculous effects on both internal and external injuries.

Finally, Entangling Fragrance Pellets were poison. Those poisoned could not recklessly circulate their Inner Breath, or the poison would erupt rapidly and become impossible to completely remove. Once the poison took effect, anyone below the Fetal Respiration Realm would suffer limp limbs and be left at the mercy of others!

Lu Qingfeng had prepared this for any Returning Truth Sect experts who might arrive.

Refining two Entangling Fragrance Pellets in reality and keeping them on hand might yield unexpected gains.

Thus—

Time flew by.

Pill refinement was by no means easy.

At first, Lu Qingfeng only knew how to refine Fasting Pills. He used the profits—three times that of Fasting Pills—to earn funds and support his practice of the other five kinds of medicine. It was quite strenuous.

This situation continued for five years.

Five years later, Lu Qingfeng finally became proficient at refining Yellow Dragon Pills, and things improved greatly.

The Yellow Dragon Pill Formula produced by the twice-enhanced Medicine Refining Analysis had effects above those of ordinary pills, just like Fasting Pills. Over those five years, Medicine Refining Analysis had been enhanced another two times by Lu Qingfeng.

Whether Fasting Pills or Yellow Dragon Pills, their efficacy and quality had improved again, leaving ordinary pills far behind in the dust!

With a second star product, Lu Qingfeng's income soared, greatly increasing the amount of practice he could devote to the remaining four medicines.

Unfortunately, good times did not last.

On the third day after mastering Yellow Dragon Pills—also the twenty-first day since the three of them had escaped Blackwood Village—

Their trail was finally discovered!

"Eldest Brother, wake up! Someone's coming!"

Lu Qingfeng had been pretending to sleep, his consciousness immersed in Primordial Wilderness as he worked to conquer the refinement of Entangling Fragrance Pellets.

Sensing movement in reality, he immediately logged out.

The instant he opened his eyes, he saw five burly men gripping Pudaos and rushing toward him. Lu Qingyu stood beside him, anxiously shaking his arm, while Lu Qingshan held a Pudao, his legs trembling as he shielded the two of them.

"Qingshan!"

"You protect Qingyu. Leave them to me!"

A flash of spiritual light flickered in Lu Qingfeng's eyes. Using the Heavenly Eye Art, he found that the strongest among the five was only at the Fetal Respiration Second Level. He casually picked up the Nine Ring Saber beside him, pushed off fiercely with his feet, and charged straight at the five men.

"Eldest Brother, be careful!"

Lu Qingshan slowly retreated, calling out a tense warning.

Lu Qingfeng did not respond, concentrating fully on the movements of the five men.

"Little brat, you saw us five brothers and still didn't think of running?!"

The rugged man at the front said in a booming voice, a vicious expression appearing on his face.

They had entered the deep mountains on orders to search for Lu Qingfeng and the other two. After more than half a month, they had long been sick to death of it. Yet today, they had actually run into them. If they could capture the three alive and bring them back, the Returning Truth Sect's reward would be substantial.

They were all formal disciples with no potential. If they could use this chance to advance further, that would naturally be excellent!

With that thought, they gripped their Pudaos tightly and likewise charged at Lu Qingfeng.

"Lifeless Saber Technique!"

The saber technique burst forth!

This was the most common saber technique in the Returning Truth Sect—broad and sweeping, its power boundless. Back when Wu Yuan had dealt with Lu Qingfeng's Fireball Art, he had used this very technique.

Saber light flashed!

Five men and five Pudaos slashed down at Lu Qingfeng from every angle.

"Keep him alive!"

The leading brute still remembered the Returning Truth Sect's orders and feared accidentally killing Lu Qingfeng.

"Keep me alive?"

A cold smile curled at Lu Qingfeng's lips. With a flicker beneath his feet, his body drifted like a ghost, erratic and elusive—it was the Nether Smoke Step!

Everyone felt their vision blur, and then Lu Qingfeng vanished.

Then—

A brilliant flash of saber light streaked forth, followed by a thunderous shout that split the clear sky—

"Cloak Saber Technique!"

Mighty! Heavy! Each wave rose higher than the last!

"What?!"

The leading brute's face changed drastically. Realizing the terrifying power of this strike, he hurriedly raised his saber to block. The Inner Breath of his Fetal Respiration Second Level cultivation surged rapidly, gathering in both hands as he tried to withstand the blow.

"Die!"

Lu Qingfeng's gaze sharpened as his footwork shifted!

His saber followed a bizarre angle and cleaved down fiercely—

Splat!

"No!"

The leading Fetal Respiration Second Level brute wore a look of terror, his eyes wide as the Nine Ring Saber struck him directly in the face. He fell dead.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The other four Pudaos came crashing down. Lu Qingfeng twisted his waist and back, casually swinging the Nine Ring Saber in his hand to block all four Pudaos.

He exerted force beneath his feet, and the Nine Ring Saber slashed repeatedly.

Three more men fell beneath his blade!

Wielding the Nine Ring Saber, Lu Qingfeng faced five alone with ease. Seeing that only one remained, he abruptly halted his assault and laid the Nine Ring Saber across the man's shoulder. In a low voice, he asked, "Who sent you? How many people entered the mountain in total?!"

The remaining man had a saber at his neck and was already scared half to death. Whatever Lu Qingfeng asked, he answered.

Before long—

He spilled everything like beans pouring from a bamboo tube, explaining the entire situation without concealing a thing.

"Spare my life, sir! This lowly one will absolutely never reveal the whereabouts of you three!"

After finishing his explanation, the man dropped to his knees with a thud and begged for mercy in frantic haste.

Lu Qingfeng's expression did not change. He drew the Nine Ring Saber across the man's neck, gathered up the five Pudaos, and only then turned back.