Pills, medicinal herbs, silver... filled the courtyard, all gifts sent by Dong Hongyan and the Dong Family to thank Qin Dongcheng for saving her life.
If Qin Dongcheng had not rescued Dong Hongyan from the depths of the bamboo forest, perhaps other Demons and Ghosts would have set their sights on her. With no power to resist, Dong Hongyan would likely have been doomed.
Sure enough, when that bamboo forest was cleared afterward, there were other demons inside.
Because of this, the Dong Family felt even more fortunate and sent over a great many gifts, refusing to let Qin Dongcheng decline them.
Adding Dong Hongyan's earlier gifts, in just a few days Qin Dongcheng had received rewards worth over several thousand taels of silver from her and the Dong Family. The Dong Family truly was wealthy and overbearing.
He carefully stored the most valuable items in the Diligence Space. With so many resources and treasures, he could take things a little easier from now on and devote more time and effort to cultivation and improvement.
Especially the Blood-Solidifying Pill Dong Hongyan had given him earlier—it allowed Qin Dongcheng to consume Blood-Replenishing Pills without restraint, rapidly raising his cultivation realm and saving him a great deal of cultivation time.
This matter also became the talk of many people in Osmanthus Garden. They envied Qin Dongcheng for stepping in dog shit and getting lucky enough to save the Dong Family's Seventh Miss, earning so many rewards.
However, nobody thought of it in terms of romance, nor did anyone tease him about playing the hero and saving the beauty.
On one hand, although Qin Dongcheng was an Alchemy Apprentice and an Official Disciple, his status was still far beneath Dong Hongyan's. Nobody believed anything could come of the two of them.
On the other hand, Dong Hongyan was bold and forthright by nature, making it difficult for anyone to associate her with matters between men and women.
After causing a stir for a while, this episode soon settled down. Qin Dongcheng continued cultivating and improving himself in an orderly fashion, living each day to the fullest.
Only, Dong Hongyan would occasionally come to see him, ask about his cultivation and progress, and check whether he needed any help.
More than once, she tried to take Qin Dongcheng along on missions to temper his combat experience and fighting skills, increasing his ability to preserve his life.
Qin Dongcheng refused every time. After all, he possessed the Heaven Rewards Diligence System. His combat experience and fighting skills had long since risen to an astonishing level, and he had no need for Dong Hongyan to help train him.
Dong Hongyan could only leave helplessly, calling him a bookworm who always hid at home. If he encountered danger later on, that would be the end of him.
The previous incident had also made one thing clear: even near the Five Elements Sect headquarters, it was not truly safe. Demons and Ghosts could still infiltrate the area.
Even an alchemist should possess a certain degree of combat strength.
Spring was bright, and a hundred flowers bloomed.
Without realizing it, summer was already approaching. The flowers were in full bloom, and many medicinal herbs had reached harvest season.
Early one morning, Qin Dongcheng arrived at the Herb Field in Bamboo Forest Valley. Led by the newly appointed steward Zhang Jing, he went from field to field harvesting precious medicinal herbs.
Zhang Jing was the new steward who had taken over Liu Yuan's position. After his only son died, Liu Yuan sank into utter despair. After arranging his son's funeral, he spent every day lingering in taverns, with no will to strive any longer.
He had also resigned from his steward's position, and Zhang Jing had replaced him.
Compared to Liu Yuan, Zhang Jing was not quite so slick and polished in handling affairs, but he was fair and conscientious, far better than Liu Yuan had been.
At the very least, the Herb Field laborers in this area no longer had to worry about others borrowing their medicinal herbs.
The Herb Fields Liu Yuan had previously managed covered nearly a hundred mu. After Zhang Jing took over, the area under his care grew further, reaching around one hundred and fifty mu. Dozens of Herb Field laborers were responsible for the fields in this region.
There were dozens of similar stewards in Bamboo Forest Valley, showing just how many medicinal herbs were grown here.
When Zhang Jing learned that Qin Dongcheng had a peculiar fondness for harvesting medicinal herbs, he sent someone to ask him before Qin Dongcheng could even come looking. Did he have any interest in harvesting the precious herbs from these fields in the future?
Qin Dongcheng naturally welcomed such a good thing delivered right to his door.
Previously, he had only been able to harvest a few dozen mu of Herb Fields. Now the area had multiplied several times over. Who knew how many more precious medicinal herbs he would harvest in the future?
Naturally, the two became much closer. Qin Dongcheng would occasionally give Zhang Jing some low-grade pills as thanks.
Zhang Jing did not refuse, but he soon returned the gesture with medicinal herbs of roughly equal value to the pills.
This man was rather interesting. On the surface, he seemed strict and impartial, but he was not without a touch of worldly smoothness. No wonder he could oversee so many Herb Fields.
It was said that no Lineage stood behind him. Within the sizable Zhang Family, Zhang Jing held the highest position. There were also several dozen members of the family near Bamboo Forest Valley, making them a small-to-medium-sized family.
Zhang Jing's strength was also close to the Skin Phase Realm. Had he not suffered an injury in his youth, he likely would have entered the Skin Phase Realm long ago.
With over a hundred mu of Herb Fields, even if he only harvested precious medicinal herbs each day, it would take one or two hours. He could generally trigger a Critical Hit several times a day, making the returns quite good.
He did not ask for any more Herb Fields. These were enough for the time being.
In just half a month, Qin Dongcheng harvested more than a hundred precious medicinal herbs from them, worth several hundred taels of silver. This was nearly more profitable than refining pills and making medicine.
"You cultivated the Heaven Concealment Art. Congratulations, you triggered a Thousandfold Critical Hit and gained a thousandfold return!"
What no one had expected was that, while cultivating the Heaven Concealment Art that evening, he actually triggered a Thousandfold Critical Hit.
The Heaven Concealment Art, which he had only recently begun learning, started soaring at an astonishing speed. In just dozens of breaths, it had reached the Minor Achievement Realm.
It could basically conceal his essence, energy, and spirit perfectly, preventing others from detecting anything unusual.
Even the tough, firm skin membrane he had developed after entering the Skin Phase Realm could become loose again beneath the Heaven Concealment Art, as though he had only just entered the Body Phase Realm.
The Heaven Concealment Art at the Minor Achievement Realm was several times more powerful than before.
Even martial arts experts several realms above Qin Dongcheng would be unable to discover his true strength.
It was a pity the Diamond Skin Refining Fist had not received the Thousandfold Critical Hit. If it had, he might have broken through its shackles and directly entered the late Skin Phase.
Still, the Heaven Concealment Art was not bad either. It could be said to be the most difficult cultivation technique and secret art he possessed. Now that it had suddenly improved so much, it provided a great safeguard for his safety.
After consolidating and adapting to the soaring Heaven Concealment Art, Qin Dongcheng devoted more of his time and energy to the Phantom Movement Technique. The first level of the Phantom Movement Technique was still somewhat too weak, with limited effects for preserving his life and fleeing. At the very least, he needed to raise it to the third or fourth level. Only then could he dominate among those of the same rank; even Martial Artists at higher levels might not be able to catch him.
The more times he cultivated the Phantom Movement Technique, the greater his chance of triggering a Critical Hit. So long as he got a Critical Hit of several hundredfold or more just once, he would be satisfied.
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