Liu Bohu's Embarrassment

Incense Hall.

Night had already fallen.

Despite the late hour, the outer disciples heading to the Incense Hall were no fewer, even more crowded than in Greenwood Market.

These disciples were all going to collect their stipends from the Incense Hall.

The majority of them were cultivators below Qi Refining Layer Three.

After all, for these cultivators, their monthly stipends were extremely important, determining whether they could survive in the Greenwood Sect and if they would have resources for cultivation.

Zhao Huaian squeezed through the crowd, taking a considerable amount of time before finding Lin Dongpeng, who was busy at work.

Lin Dongpeng was his only acquaintance at the Incense Hall.

This person also valued his talent and future highly. To continue collecting the stipends he had accumulated, Zhao Huaian could only start with Lin Dongpeng.

"Senior Brother Lin!"

Seeing Lin Dongpeng busy, Zhao Huaian called out with a friendly smile.

Hearing the voice, Lin Dongpeng looked up.

When he saw Zhao Huaian standing before him, a flicker of surprise crossed his expression.

"Junior Brother Zhao?"

Sizing up Zhao Huaian's cultivation, Lin Dongpeng asked curiously, "Junior Brother Zhao, where have you been all this time? Why haven't you come to collect your stipend for so long?"

"I was delayed by some matters, and then I was in seclusion for cultivation. Afterward, I took on several missions, so I didn't have time to come and collect resources," Zhao Huaian explained with a smile.

Hearing Zhao Huaian's explanation, Lin Dongpeng nodded, assessing his cultivation as he asked, "When did you break through to Qi Refining Layer Four, Junior Brother? You seem to have abundant spiritual energy, so it should have been some time, right?"

Although aided by the Concealment Talisman, Zhao Huaian had masked his cultivation at Qi Refining Layer Four, his spiritual energy still appeared quite abundant.

Therefore, Lin Dongpeng assumed Zhao Huaian had broken through to Qi Refining Layer Four a while ago.

"It has indeed been some time," Zhao Huaian replied with a smile, nodding. "I broke through about three months ago. After breaking through, I immediately carried out several missions and had many gains. Now, I'm not far from Qi Refining Layer Five."

"Hahaha, Junior Brother truly has good talent."

Hearing Zhao Huaian say this, Lin Dongpeng couldn't help but laugh heartily, his tone becoming much friendlier.

Back then, it had taken him nearly three years to break through to Qi Refining Layer Five. Now, in just over a year, Zhao Huaian was close to breaking through to Qi Refining Layer Five. With such talent, he was bound to have a chance at Foundation Establishment in the future.

With a hearty laugh, Lin Dongpeng didn't hesitate. After searching through the counter, he quickly retrieved thirty low-grade spirit stones.

Handing these thirty low-grade spirit stones to Zhao Huaian, Lin Dongpeng smiled, "Since Junior Brother broke through three months ago, I'll calculate it honestly for you. Including your previously accumulated stipend, you'll receive a total of thirty low-grade spirit stones."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Looking at the thirty low-grade spirit stones, a smile appeared on Zhao Huaian's face, and his good impression of Lin Dongpeng soared.

Although these extra spirit stones weren't much to him, at most a day or two's worth of consumption.

However, Lin Dongpeng's attitude made him very satisfied and comfortable.

"No need to thank me, this is rightfully yours," Lin Dongpeng said with a smile, waving his hand. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and asked Zhao Huaian, "Does Junior Brother have a magic item yet?"

"I bought a low-grade magic item, a flying sword, when I completed a mission earlier," Zhao Huaian replied truthfully, though he didn't know why Lin Dongpeng was asking.

"You've already bought one..."

Lin Dongpeng nodded, pondered for a moment, and then took out another twenty low-grade spirit stones from the counter.

Seeing Lin Dongpeng handing him another twenty low-grade spirit stones, Zhao Huaian asked doubtfully, "Senior Brother Lin, what is this..."

Lin Dongpeng smiled and explained, "Junior Brother, have you forgotten? There's a rule in the sect that once you reach the middle stage of Qi Refining, you can receive a low-grade magic item from the Incense Hall."

"So, Senior Brother means that since I've already purchased a magic item, you're giving me its equivalent in spirit stones?" Zhao Huaian suddenly understood.

At the same time, his good impression of Lin Dongpeng rose even further.

After all, generally speaking, the staff at the Incense Hall wouldn't care if you had already bought a magic item. Once your cultivation met the requirements, they would just hand you a random low-grade magic item.

Now, Lin Dongpeng was using his position to directly convert the magic item into spirit stones for him, and at the price of a good quality item at that.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Lin!"

Zhao Huaian took the spirit stones with a wide smile. He then took out five low-grade spirit stones and handed them to Lin Dongpeng. "Senior Brother Lin, these are the five low-grade spirit stones I borrowed from you earlier. Please check if the count is correct!"

"No need. Those spirit stones were my contribution to Junior Brother Zhao. You keep these for now and buy some more pills. Strive to break through to Qi Refining Layer Five as soon as possible."

Seeing the spirit stones Zhao Huaian was handing him, Lin Dongpeng shook his head and quickly refused.

He hadn't lent Zhao Huaian any spirit stones. Now that Zhao Huaian was suddenly offering five low-grade spirit stones to repay him, how could he not understand the intention?

It was nothing more than an attempt to bribe him with these five low-grade spirit stones.

But he didn't want to accept them; more accurately, he couldn't.

Because his actions today were intended to foster goodwill with Zhao Huaian and deepen their relationship, he had no other ulterior motives.

If he accepted these five low-grade spirit stones, the situation would change, turning it into a transaction between himself and Zhao Huaian.

This was not what he had anticipated.

He wouldn't waste such a good opportunity for goodwill over a mere five low-grade spirit stones.

"Alright, thank you, Senior Brother Lin. When I break through to a higher cultivation level in the future, I will surely repay you double."

Seeing Lin Dongpeng refuse and speak with a firm tone, Zhao Huaian couldn't say much more, only making a promise to Lin Dongpeng.

Promises vary from person to person.

To some, they are worth a thousand pieces of gold, while to others, they are worthless.

As for what kind of person Zhao Huaian was, that naturally depended on what kind of person Lin Dongpeng was.

To those who were good to him!

Zhao Huaian would naturally remember.

To those who were not good to him!

Zhao Huaian would also naturally remember.

Simply put, he distinguished clearly between kindness and enmity.

Residential Area.

Under the cover of night, Zhao Huaian returned to his room laden with spoils.

At this moment, he only had a few dozen spirit stones left.

As for the spirit stones that had disappeared, they had naturally been converted into a large amount of cultivation resources and high-grade demonic beast flesh and blood.

"With these cultivation resources and demonic beast flesh and blood, worth over five hundred low-grade spirit stones, my cultivation speed will undoubtedly increase significantly in the coming time."

Feeling the cultivation resources in his storage bag, Zhao Huaian's lips curled slightly, filled with confidence for his future cultivation.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Just as Zhao Huaian was feeling satisfied and self-content, a crisp knocking sound echoed.

"Who?"

Hearing the knock, Zhao Huaian frowned and asked coldly.

"It's me! Liu Bohu!"

The voice was Liu Bohu's, and his tone carried a hint of urgency.

Zhao Huaian naturally heard the urgency in Liu Bohu's voice and immediately opened the door without hesitation.

Outside, Liu Bohu appeared exhausted, his clothes stained with blood, looking quite disheveled.

"Brother Liu, what happened to you?"

Seeing the disheveled Liu Bohu, Zhao Huaian asked in surprise.