Huang Li swept her gaze over the others in the confinement chamber and said coldly, "After you get out, take a good look at Taichu's rules. Otherwise, next time it'll be you..."
The old hands all shrank their necks and nodded repeatedly. Imbecile Courtyard! Once sent there, they would never be able to turn their lives around. They would become drooling fools, laboring and plowing fields for Taichu until the day they died.
After walking out of Solitary Confinement Mountain and seeing daylight again, Qin Haoxuan let out a heavy breath of foul air. Over the past few days, he had absorbed quite a bit of medicinal power in the Lava Cellar. Though there was no geothermal heat now, the scorching heat within his body was no longer as unbearable as when he had first entered.
When he returned to Spirit Field Valley, he saw a bustling crowd and streams of people outside Zhang Kuang's dormitory. It was exceedingly lively.
To highlight the superiority of strong-seed disciples, the sect had assigned each of the three purple-seed disciples and two gray-seed disciples a private dormitory on the second day after Qin Haoxuan was locked in the Lava Cellar. They no longer had to sleep in communal bunks.
Zhang Kuang was beaming with joy. Faced with the endless flood of flattery in every form, he wore a smile, yet the arrogance on his face was impossible to miss.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang! You rooted in just seven days of cultivation, breaking Taichu Sect's record for the fastest Rooting. None before you, none to come after you!"
"Even True Lord Huang Long, the current sect leader, took twenty days to root successfully back then. Not only were you faster than True Lord Huang Long, you also left the other two purple seeds far behind. Truly extraordinary!"
After a round of flattery, one senior brother who had been unable to get a word in grew anxious. Not caring that the others were still enjoying themselves buttering Zhang Kuang up, he directly brought out a basket of gifts he had prepared long ago.
"Junior Brother Zhang, these are purple sweet potatoes I grew myself. They taste far better than the steamed buns you eat now, and the spiritual energy within them is much stronger than that of ordinary grains."
Zhang Kuang accepted the basket without ceremony, thanked him, and immediately set off a frenzy of gift-giving.
"A trifling gift, hardly worthy of respect. Please accept it, Junior Brother Zhang."
"This Thirty-year Ginseng can be sliced and steeped into tea. It nourishes and bolsters one's qi, perfect for Junior Brother Zhang to drink when you are tired from cultivation."
"Junior Brother has not been in the sect long, so you surely do not have an Alchemy Furnace that suits your wishes, right? This furnace is cast from bronze and has a little Mithril added to it. It can seal in medicinal power far better than an ordinary iron cauldron."
"Junior Brother Zhang, these are Spirit Gathering Pills refined by me. After consuming them, they can accelerate the recovery of spiritual power..."
Seeing the gifts others offered becoming increasingly precious, those whose presents were too ordinary became embarrassed to take them out. In order to curry favor with Zhang Kuang, the most promising purple-seed disciple, some even brought out their entire marriage savings. One man kept his hand in his robe for a long while before finally making up his mind. "Senior Brother has nothing else worthy of presenting. This spirit talisman is not particularly rare, but once spiritual power is infused into it and it is activated, it is equivalent to a strike from an Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf expert. With Junior Brother Zhang's heaven-gifted talent, you surely will not need it, but it is still a token of my regard!"
No one had expected that, just to curry favor with Zhang Kuang, someone would give away such a precious spirit talisman as a gift!
For Menial Disciples like them, whose strength was meager and whose futures were uncertain, a spirit talisman could even save their lives at a critical moment.
Facing the flattery and gifts from these senior brothers, Zhang Kuang accepted every last one, smiling as he did so. In his eyes, these Menial Disciples had gained his favor with a few cheap trinkets. Not only had they not lost out, they had struck it rich! If he had not only entered the sect a few days ago, how could such things possibly have entered his sight?
Watching this scene after returning from confinement, Qin Haoxuan silently warned himself that he had to seize every moment to cultivate. Zhang Kuang had rooted in seven days, while his own immortal seedling had only grown a very short layer of roots. From now on, he had to visit the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley more often and search for more heavenly treasures. It would be best to learn alchemy too, so that he would not ruin rare heavenly treasures by devouring them like an ox chewing grass.
Out of the corner of his eye, the smug Zhang Kuang also spotted Qin Haoxuan. A flash of wariness crossed his eyes. You still didn't die? Good! Very good! If it were the old me, I might have considered you worth noticing. But now, I have rooted! Once I sprout, then learn a few powerful immortal arts, I will definitely defeat him!
No matter what, I am a purple seed, while Qin Haoxuan is merely the worst kind of weak seed!
Though Qin Haoxuan knew when to advance and retreat and understood reason, he was still young at heart, with the temper a young man ought to have. Seeing Zhang Kuang's smug expression, he naturally had no intention of letting him enjoy his happy day too comfortably. If he could put a thorn in the other man's side, he would never let such an opportunity slip away.
"Say, Zhang Kuang..." Qin Haoxuan's words drew the attention of everyone around Zhang Kuang. "When I came out, the Enforcement Team had already passed judgment on Yuan Shanxiang. His cultivation was abolished, he was turned into an imbecile, and thrown into Imbecile Courtyard to become a laborer. You and the things around you should take note. Learning Taichu's sect rules properly would do you good."
What? The people gathered around Zhang Kuang, flattering him, all revealed frightened expressions. Yuan Shanxiang had been crippled? Even his purple seed had not saved him?
Zhang Kuang's face darkened. Someone from the Enforcement Hall had already come to speak with him, and he had done what he could regarding Yuan Shanxiang, but he truly could not save him. He had intended to find time later to soothe the Yuan family, yet Qin Haoxuan had unexpectedly come out at this moment to spoil the mood.
Everything happening around Zhang Kuang was also seen by Xu Yu, Li Jing, and the others nearby. Xu Yu laughed and clapped repeatedly. Now, anyone who wanted to help Zhang Kuang in order to draw closer to him would have to weigh things carefully before acting.
Li Jing looked calm and composed, but inwardly he was secretly anxious. Both were purple-seed disciples, yet Zhang Kuang had rooted in seven days and set Taichu Sect's record for the fastest Rooting, while he still had not rooted. Zhang Kuang had already widened the gap between them here. If that gap continued to grow, how would he ever seize the position of sect leader in the future?
I must root as soon as possible, then strive to be the first to sprout! While the gap is not yet great, I must catch up head-on and surpass him!
Xu Yu looked at Qin Haoxuan with complicated eyes. After spending several days in the Lava Cellar, his clothes were ragged and he had grown thinner still. For no reason she could name, her heart ached a little. Then, when she looked at Zhang Kuang, who was casting a provocative gaze toward Qin Haoxuan, worry rose within her again.
Zhang Kuang had not sprouted yet, so he only sent others to bully Qin Haoxuan. Once Zhang Kuang sprouted, it would no longer be as simple as sending people to bully him.
A purple-seed disciple would inevitably receive the sect's focused cultivation, while Qin Haoxuan, no matter what, was only a weak-seed disciple. No matter how hard Qin Haoxuan worked, his future accomplishments could not match Zhang Kuang's. Moreover, Zhang Kuang had rooted in seven days. Judging from his current state, his aptitude might even surpass her own and Li Jing's.
Once Zhang Kuang learned powerful spirit arts, not only Qin Haoxuan, but even she herself would not have an easy time.
Remembering that first night on Dayu Mountain, when she had only been able to sleep peacefully under Qin Haoxuan's protection, Xu Yu silently made up her mind. No matter what, she could not let Zhang Kuang bully Qin Haoxuan!
The people following Li Jing also harbored their own thoughts, each wondering whether they had chosen the right person to follow. If Li Jing had a hard time in the future, then little brothers like them would also find it difficult to rise above the crowd.
Upon seeing Qin Haoxuan, Xu Yu stepped forward, looked him up and down, and asked, "Are you all right?"
"I'm very well. In Solitary Confinement Mountain, I had food and drink, and no one bothered my quiet cultivation!"
Xu Yu smiled faintly, then turned her eyes toward Zhang Kuang again and sighed with a trace of worry. "I still haven't rooted."
"If you haven't rooted, then you haven't rooted. The days ahead are long!" Qin Haoxuan looked relaxed. After comforting Xu Yu a few more times, he said, "Don't waste time here. I'm fine. Go back and cultivate quickly."
Provoked by Zhang Kuang, Xu Yu nodded. In order not to be left too far behind, she returned to her room to cultivate. Over on the other side, Li Jing also came forward with a smile.
Seeing Qin Haoxuan's steady breathing, if not for the intelligence reports he had received saying that Qin Haoxuan had indeed been injured, Li Jing would never have believed that he had taken a palm strike from an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator. He could not believe that Qin Haoxuan, only somewhat sturdier than an ordinary man, had beaten a group of old hands at the Immortal Seedling Realm Second and Third Leaf into complete submission. Even less could he believe that Qin Haoxuan had broken both legs and one arm of an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator, then gone to torment him every day!
Qin Haoxuan, what secrets are you hiding? Countless questions flashed through Li Jing's mind, but his face was full of warm enthusiasm. Seeing that Qin Haoxuan's clothes were already somewhat tattered, he gave a meaningful look. One perceptive lackey immediately took off his own clothes and draped them over Qin Haoxuan. Had Qin Haoxuan not long seen through Li Jing, anyone unaware of the truth might have been moved to tears by such a display of humility toward talent.
"Today is a fine day for Junior Brother Qin to emerge from the Lava Cellar. This foolish elder brother and a number of brothers have waited here for a long time." Li Jing walked up with a beaming smile, grabbed Qin Haoxuan's hand, and put on an intimate manner. "We have all heard of your awe-inspiring deeds in the Lava Cellar. This senior brother admires you so much that I am utterly convinced! After hearing of it, these brothers of mine became immensely devoted to you as well. They all came voluntarily to welcome Junior Brother Qin and celebrate your safe return from the Lava Cellar!"
One did not strike a smiling face. Although he had no favorable impression of Li Jing, Li Jing had helped him after all. Refusing to give him face would make Qin Haoxuan seem too petty. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he pulled his hand free. Being held by another man like that made him uncomfortable!
Besides, Murong Chao, standing behind Li Jing, was glaring furiously, looking as though he wanted to swallow Qin Haoxuan alive. Where was there even the slightest hint of admiration?
"Senior Brother Li is too polite. I was bullied by villains in the Lava Cellar. If Senior Brother Li had not come to my aid out of righteousness, I could not say whether I would now be missing an arm or a leg."
Qin Haoxuan smiled faintly and responded to Li Jing neither humbly nor arrogantly.
The liveliness around Zhang Kuang gradually faded as well, and their attention shifted toward Li Jing and Qin Haoxuan. Thinking of how Zhang Kuang, Li Jing, and Qin Haoxuan all had grievances against one another, one lackey who wanted to flatter Zhang Kuang but had not found the right opening suddenly had a flash of inspiration and mocked, "What is there to say to a weak-seed piece of trash?"
"Exactly. They may both be purple seeds, but purple seeds differ from one another too."
At once, Zhang Kuang's lackeys refused to be outdone and began hurling cold mockery and hot sarcasm. Hearing them ridicule Li Jing and Qin Haoxuan, Zhang Kuang was happier than if they had been flattering him himself, and he burst into loud laughter.
Qin Haoxuan remained calm in the face of the mockery, but Li Jing's smiling face fell. His lackeys also glared with eyes wide open, and it looked as though a clash was about to erupt.
PS: Today's first update came a little late. If you like it, please recommend and bookmark it.
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