Rise in Status

"Sorry, but I've already condensed Blood Qi. I also need Sect Contribution to exchange for various pills for cultivation, so I can't lend it to Steward Liu."

Qin Dongcheng refused bluntly, and Liu Yuan's expression immediately darkened.

"Even if you've condensed Blood Qi, it's still impossible for you to reach Body Phase Perfection within three years. Why not support my son? Perhaps he might get the chance to help you become an Official Disciple." Liu Yuan was still unwilling to give up.

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Qin Dongcheng shook his head. "That remains to be seen. I still want to give it a try. Please exchange it for Sect Contribution, Steward Liu."

Seeing Qin Dongcheng refuse time and again, Liu Yuan could no longer hold it in. With a cold snort, he handed over the Sect Contribution to Qin Dongcheng.

He was merely a Herb Field steward. Above him were the Chore Elder, the Outer Sect Steward, the Outer Sect Elder... He did not dare go too far. Otherwise, if Qin Dongcheng complained to those above, he would not come out of it well either.

Moreover, his son was currently at the critical point of striving to become an Inner Sect Disciple. If he could avoid trouble, it was better to avoid it.

But once his son stepped into the Skin Phase Realm, even if he could not become an Inner Sect Disciple, his status and standing would soar. Then he would dare to properly deal with Qin Dongcheng.

For now, he would let him gloat a little. Sooner or later, he would deal with him.

Even so, Liu Yuan had still shorted him a few points of Sect Contribution. Qin Dongcheng could hardly go argue with those above over just a few points.

This time, he had offended the Liu Yuan and Liu Xiao father-son pair. They would certainly make things difficult for him in the future. It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to reveal something, lest those two keep causing him trouble.

There was no danger to his life, but it was still thoroughly disgusting.

As for killing them, it had not come to that yet. Liu Yuan and Liu Xiao would not possibly make a move against him over such a small amount of Sect Contribution. That would be far too vicious.

The Five Elements Sect was a righteous and renowned sect, not some demonic cult.

Watching Liu Yuan's departing figure, Qin Dongcheng remained calm and showed no concern.

With his current strength, even if Liu Yuan and Liu Xiao attacked together, he could flee if he could not defeat them.

Liu Yuan was only at the Late Body Phase. He had cultivated for decades just to reach this point, which showed that his talent and aptitude were nothing special.

Although Liu Xiao's talent and aptitude met the Five Elements Sect's standards for an Official Disciple, he was not much better than Liu Yuan. If Liu Yuan had not scoured everywhere for resources and treasures for him, how could Liu Xiao possibly have advanced this far?

Though he had been docked a few points of Sect Contribution, he still possessed more than a hundred points, enough to exchange for a Skin Refining Technique.

Qin Dongcheng did not delay. He immediately headed to the Five Elements Library and exchanged for a Skin Refining Technique.

Diamond Skin Refining Fist!

It was likewise among the finest Skin Refining Techniques in Luo Cloud Prefecture. Even across the vast Central Origin Continent, it ranked among the foremost Skin Refining Techniques.

Had he not joined the Five Elements Sect and become a Chore Disciple, a technique of this level would have been entirely beyond his reach, even if it was only a technique for the First Three Martial Realms.

However, as a Chore Disciple, he could at most exchange for techniques covering the first three realms of the Five Elements Sect. Beyond that, he would need the status of an Official Disciple, or even an Inner Sect Disciple or True Inheritance Disciple.

Once he had sufficient strength later on, Qin Dongcheng would gradually reveal his talent and obtain higher-level techniques and combat skills.

"You browsed the Diamond Skin Refining Fist. Congratulations, you triggered a Double Critical Hit and gained double the comprehension!"

"You browsed the Diamond Skin Refining Fist. Congratulations, you triggered a Triple Critical Hit and gained triple the comprehension!"

...

The so-called Diamond Skin Refining Fist likewise combined cultivation methods and combat techniques. It included both methods of training and methods of fighting, allowing a Martial Artist's strength to be effectively brought out.

It was said that, when cultivated to the extreme, it could multiply a Martial Artist's attack power severalfold.

When practiced, it was as though a vajra were hammering the skin and membranes, hence the name Diamond Skin Refining Fist.

However, Qin Dongcheng could not cultivate it yet. For now, he could only study it. He would be able to practice it after reaching Body Phase Perfection and charging into the Skin Phase Realm.

For the moment, he was preparing for a rainy day, making preparations for his later breakthrough.

The next day, Qin Dongcheng took several Blood-Replenishing Pills to the Bamboo Forest Black Market. He neither disguised himself nor covered his face with a cloak.

He went directly to Resurrection Pill Shop, one of the most reputable pill shops in the Bamboo Forest Black Market, explained his purpose, and prepared to sell several Blood-Replenishing Pills.

Resurrection Pill Shop stood directly opposite Bamboo Forest Bookstore. The shop assistant at the entrance happened to see Qin Dongcheng and was utterly stunned to discover that he was carrying pills into Resurrection Pill Shop.

It had not been long at all. Could it be that this man had already refined pills and come to sell them?

The pharmacy assistant still remembered the only person in the past month or so who had bought the Basic Alchemy Canon. After all, many people had mocked Qin Dongcheng at the time, and he himself had chimed in with a few remarks.

Yet it turned out that they had seemingly all become clowns. Qin Dongcheng had actually succeeded in refining a kind of pill in just one or two short months.

He successfully sold several Blood-Replenishing Pills for slightly below market price, gaining a few more taels of silver.

Most importantly, he had spread word that he had fortunately advanced to become an Alchemy Apprentice. Liu Yuan and Liu Xiao should receive the news soon enough. If they wanted to trouble him afterward, they would have to weigh matters carefully.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Qin Dongcheng would also dare to spend more silver on purchasing herbs and other resources, while raising his standing in Bamboo Forest Valley and preparing to advance to Official Disciple.

As an Alchemy Apprentice, as long as one could pass the relevant assessment, one could become an Official Disciple.

However, the assessment was said to be somewhat difficult. Generally, one needed to be able to proficiently refine two kinds of low-grade pills before there would be no surprises.

Qin Dongcheng still needed to cultivate for a while longer. If he could become an Official Alchemist, he would not even need to take the assessment and could directly become an Official Disciple.

What Qin Dongcheng had not expected was that he had only revealed his identity as an Alchemy Apprentice that morning, yet before afternoon arrived, Steward Liu Yuan hurried over to apologize and doubled the Sect Contribution he had previously withheld.

Qin Dongcheng had still underestimated the status of an Alchemy Apprentice. Even if he could only refine one kind of low-grade pill, his identity and standing were completely different from before, and he was now not even much inferior to Liu Yuan.

As several stewards came to visit one after another, and even Official Disciples came to befriend him, they delayed quite a bit of Qin Dongcheng's cultivation time, making him wary as well.

This time, he had still acted somewhat rashly. He had underestimated the influence of an Alchemy Apprentice, especially one who had advanced so quickly.

It seemed he should reveal more of his abilities later in the future, lest he draw the suspicions of others.

To prevent the impact from growing ever larger, Qin Dongcheng had no choice but to release word that, before joining the Five Elements Sect, he had already concocted many ordinary medicinal pellets and had not only just begun studying Alchemy. Only then did the matter gradually cease fermenting.