Time Flow, Body Tempering Ninth Layer

The two arrived at the Mission Hall one after the other and walked to the window together.

Just as Fang Rongxuan submitted his task, Lu Nan stepped forward. "Senior Brother, I want to take the duty assignment at the Book Collection Pavilion!"

"Identity Token." The person behind the window glanced up at him and spoke indifferently.

Lu Nan hurriedly handed over his Identity Token. "You've already been registered. The term is three months."

"Just report to the steward of the Book Collection Pavilion!"

"A steward?" Lu Nan took back his Identity Token, somewhat surprised.

Fang Rongxuan, standing to the side, smiled. "You didn't think the Book Collection Pavilion only had duty disciples, did you?"

Lu Nan scratched his head. That was exactly what he had thought.

"Isn't the Book Collection Pavilion staffed by only you, Senior Brother?"

"How could that be? Although the Book Collection Pavilion cannot compare to the Scripture Repository—

the things inside are still extremely important. Having a steward is perfectly normal!"

After softly explaining, Fang Rongxuan added, "I have nothing to do right now, so I'll take you to report to Steward Mo first!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Lu Nan said gratefully.

"Let's go!"

The two headed toward the Book Collection Pavilion.

"Senior Brother, what kind of temperament does Steward Mo have?" Lu Nan asked quietly along the way.

Fang Rongxuan looked back at him. "Don't worry! Steward Mo is a very good person. He usually cultivates in his own cave abode.

He only comes to inspect the place every so often.

So most of the time, the Book Collection Pavilion will only have Junior Brother here."

Hearing this, Lu Nan asked doubtfully, "Then what if someone causes trouble in the Book Collection Pavilion?"

"The Book Collection Pavilion has its own Protective Formation, capable of resisting attacks from the Golden Core stage.

It will also send a message to Steward Mo. Besides, who would dare?"

"Do you have enemies, Junior Brother?" After explaining, Fang Rongxuan tilted his head toward him.

Lu Nan did not hide anything and recounted Ye Bei's matter in full.

After a while, Fang Rongxuan frowned. "Ye Bei? He truly is a genius among the new disciples.

He broke through to the eighth layer of Body Tempering in just three months. He will certainly have a place among the Outer Disciples.

His second brother is called Ye Nan, an Inner Disciple of Medicine Peak."

After hearing this, Lu Nan also frowned.

An Inner Disciple? That meant this Ye Nan possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation. He just did not know what layer?

But even if it was only the first layer of Foundation Establishment, facing him would mean certain death.

At that thought, Lu Nan's expression became extremely ugly. Seeing the look on his face,

Fang Rongxuan continued, "I heard Ye Nan's strength was at the first layer of Foundation Establishment.

But that was news from three months ago. By now, he is likely at the second layer of Foundation Establishment."

After a pause, he looked at Lu Nan again. "Junior Brother chose duty at the Book Collection Pavilion to avoid harassment from Ye Bei and the others, right?"

Lu Nan nodded. "The Book Collection Pavilion is a quiet job, and few people come and go."

"That is indeed a good idea, but it is only a temporary measure.

To resolve this completely, you still need great strength.

I see that Junior Brother is already at the seventh layer of Body Tempering. This is a bottle of Body Tempering Pills.

I hope it can help you, Junior Brother!"

Looking at the medicine bottle held out before him, Lu Nan looked at Fang Rongxuan in confusion.

"Senior Brother, this...?"

"Aren't you afraid Ye Nan will find out and retaliate against you?"

"Not to mention that he will not know—even if he does, I have my own means of dealing with it!" Fang Rongxuan smiled faintly.

Hearing this, Lu Nan did not take it. Instead, he continued asking, "Why are you doing this, Senior Brother?"

"Consider it an investment in you, Junior Brother. How about that?"

Fang Rongxuan looked at him and continued, "I see that Junior Brother is at the seventh layer of Body Tempering, yet there is not the slightest sign of instability.

Instead, your foundation is exceptionally solid. You are clearly a genius.

A genius is naturally worth my investment. And I also feel an affinity with Junior Brother.

Do you think that is reason enough?"

Lu Nan fell silent for a moment before solemnly accepting the Body Tempering Pills. "Thank you, Senior Brother!!!"

Fang Rongxuan said nothing. He patted Lu Nan on the shoulder. "Steward Mo's cave abode is not far ahead. I will not accompany you any further!"

He turned and left. Watching Fang Rongxuan gradually disappear into the distance,

then looking at the medicine bottle in his hand, Lu Nan pursed his lips.

After putting away the medicine bottle, he hurried toward Steward Mo's cave abode.

"Book Collection Pavilion duty disciple Lu Nan reports for duty!"

As his voice rang out, an aged voice sounded from within the cave abode.

"This old man already knows. Go to the Book Collection Pavilion and stand watch at once!"

Then a streak of light shot out from the cave abode.

It landed on the Identity Token at Lu Nan's waist. "If anyone causes trouble, you may activate the Book Collection Pavilion's defensive formation."

"Yes!!" Joy surged through Lu Nan's heart as he hurriedly answered respectfully.

He then quickly headed toward the Book Collection Pavilion.

Before long, he arrived at the Book Collection Pavilion. The moment he entered, he eagerly picked up his Identity Token.

Only after a moment did he let out a long breath, saying with some regret, "I can only activate formation power at the Qi Refining level, and it is only defensive in nature."

But that was enough for him. After all, Ye Bei, who was currently at odds with him, was only in the Body Tempering realm.

After briefly inspecting the Book Collection Pavilion and cleaning it,

he sat in the place where Fang Rongxuan had once sat. After waiting for a while and seeing no one come,

Lu Nan got up and found some books to enrich his knowledge.

As for cultivation, he planned to wait until night.

The Book Collection Pavilion had a place to rest.

Thus, Lu Nan did not need to return to the disciples' dormitory, sparing him quite a bit of trouble.

In the blink of an eye, night quietly descended.

Lu Nan emerged from the sea of books and looked around at the silent Scripture Pavilion.

He stood and stretched, quickly cleaned the place,

then closed the doors of the Book Collection Pavilion and hurried to Fang Rongxuan's former quarters.

After carefully checking the place and finding nothing unusual, he finally sat cross-legged on the wooden bed with peace of mind.

He took out two porcelain bottles, both filled with Body Tempering Pills.

One had been given by Fang Rongxuan, while the other had been issued by the sect.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Nan did not use the bottle Fang Rongxuan had given him. Instead, he picked up the sect-issued one, poured out a pill, and swallowed it.

He began cultivating...

"Phew..." After a long while, Lu Nan's body trembled, and he opened his eyes.

Feeling the strength growing within his body, the corners of his mouth rose. "Eighth layer of Body Tempering!! Not bad!!!"

He then rose to move about, checked his surroundings once more,

and only then returned to the room and entered the Mysterious Space.

The moment he entered the Mysterious Space, a rich fragrance of spiritual herbs rushed toward him.

Lu Nan was overjoyed and hurried toward the Spiritual Herb Field.

Looking at the flourishing spiritual herbs, he was delighted beyond measure. Squatting down to inspect them carefully, he discovered that the spiritual herbs planted two days ago

had already reached two years of medicinal age. Joy welled up in his heart.

He had finally figured out the function of the Mysterious Space. Time within it flowed at a ratio of one to three hundred and sixty-five.

One day outside was one year inside.

"With this, I will no longer have to worry about resources.

These spirit herbs are excellent whether I consume them myself or sell them outside.

But without a source for the medicinal ingredients, I will need to think it over carefully."

After inspecting them once more, Lu Nan reluctantly walked beneath the peach tree.

He picked four peaches and wolfed them down.

After eating, he swiftly sat cross-legged again and refined the spiritual qi within his body.

Very soon, his body shuddered, and Lu Nan successfully broke through to the Body Tempering Ninth Layer.