East Sun Sect, Qi Refining Realm

The voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

Feng Qi rose at the sound and called toward the gate:

"Abbott Wu Yin has arrived! Quickly, please come in!"

Feng Ji immediately beckoned several disciples over and quietly instructed them to prepare tables, chairs, tea, and refreshments at once.

Meanwhile, Feng Zhan directed Lu Cheng and the other newly admitted disciples to rise, clear the central square, and stand separately on either side.

Then the three of them went out to greet their guests.

After a round of pleasantries, Feng Qi and the other two ushered three bald old monks in their fifties inside.

The leader wore a light-red kasaya and held a string of crimson prayer beads. He looked kindly and benevolent, with eyebrows and beard as white as frost.

The other two wore mud-colored monk's robes. One had a pale, beardless face, while the other had a dark face and round eyes.

Fatty looked on in surprise. "I never expected all three of them to come. Human Hero really has quite the pull."

Lu Cheng glanced at the old monk in the kasaya and asked curiously:

"People from Heavenly Spring Temple?"

Fatty nodded and whispered into Lu Cheng's ear:

"The one in the kasaya must be Abbott Wu Yin. The other two are probably Elders Wu Fan and Wu Qing!"

"Wu Yin and Wu Fan are both in the Mid-Stage Body Refining Realm."

"Wu Qing is at the Body Refining Realm Pinnacle. They say that if Heavenly Spring Temple's follow-up cultivation technique hadn't been stolen, he would have broken through to the Qi Refining Realm by now."

Qi Refining Realm!

Lu Cheng was deeply startled.

According to Fatty, those with ordinary aptitude were already exceedingly fortunate if they could even touch the threshold of the Body Refining Realm.

Those who could break through were rarer than phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

This old monk Wu Qing needed only one cultivation technique to break through into the Qi Refining Realm. At the very least, he possessed the aptitude of a "good seed."

Heavenly Spring Temple had once possessed such a technique, and it also had someone who could be called the greatest Heavenly Pride in an entire county. Its foundation likely far surpassed that of Emerald Cloud Abbey.

Unfortunately, not only had the technique been lost, but that "Heavenly Pride" had grown old as well.

With those thoughts in mind, Lu Cheng raised his eyes curiously toward the two old monks behind him.

By chance, he met the gaze of the dark-faced, round-eyed monk.

When he saw the old monk glare at the two of them, his heart immediately tightened.

Knowing their conversation had been overheard, he no longer dared to discuss it.

By then, six tables and chairs had already been arranged on each side of the original three grandmaster chairs.

The six men strode straight across the square and took their seats as host and guests.

Before the Long Wind Escort Agency disciples could serve tea and refreshments, the dark-faced, round-eyed monk impatiently spoke up:

"Ha ha ha! Escort Chief Feng, where is that Human Hero?"

"Bring her out quickly. I've lived this long, yet I've never encountered such a genius!"

Abbott Wu Yin, clad in his kasaya, turned his head and reproached him:

"Junior Brother Wu Qing, how can a monk be so impatient? Have some of Long Wind Escort Agency's tea and refreshments first. We can speak after the Daoist masters of Emerald Cloud Abbey arrive."

The dark-faced, round-eyed Wu Qing said unhappily:

"Hmph, what are we waiting for those scraggly-haired lot for? Could Emerald Cloud Abbey possibly compare to our Heavenly Spring Temple? Escort Chief Feng needn't have notified them at all."

Feng Qi found it difficult to respond, so he could only lift his tea and pretend to take a drink.

Wu Yin frowned and was about to speak when someone outside the courtyard had already retorted:

"Ha ha ha! How could Emerald Cloud Abbey compare to you great masters? Setting aside everything else, Heavenly Spring Temple's Eight Divisions Golden Body is a renowned high-grade human-rank cultivation technique. Across the entire world, who would not covet it?"

Hearing this, Lu Cheng found it half amusing and half curious.

The cultivation technique Fatty had said was stolen must have been this so-called Eight Divisions Golden Body.

No matter how good the technique was, they could not even guard it properly. Instead, it only highlighted the incompetence of Heavenly Spring Temple's disciples.

The newcomer's words were an utterly undisguised insult.

Even Wu Yin could no longer endure it. He slapped the table, rose to his feet, and looked toward the gate.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, the gatekeeper's announcement interrupted him.

"Daoist Xuan Ming, Daoist Xuan Yun, and Daoist Xuan Yuan of Emerald Cloud Abbey have arrived!"

"Senior Yunhuizi of East Sun Sect has arrived!"

When the first three names were announced, old monk Wu Yin showed no particular reaction.

But the moment the final title, "Yunhuizi of East Sun Sect," was spoken, his expression changed at once.

The other five also sprang to their feet with a swish.

Before the announcing disciple's voice had even fully faded, they hurried out like a gust of wind.

Before they reached the gate, they saw a middle-aged man in green robes entering with three old Daoists behind him.

All six bowed together in greeting.

"Greetings, Senior Yunhuizi."

The middle-aged man, Yunhuizi, nodded and gave a soft "Mm."

Then he walked straight over and dropped into Feng Qi's former seat of honor.

A disciple immediately cleared away all the tea and refreshments and replaced them with fresh ones.

Feng Qi and the other eight stood on either side, and not one of them took a seat.

Old monk Wu Yin exchanged glances with his two junior brothers, then shook his head with bitter smiles.

As soon as Yunhuizi sat down, without saying a word, Feng Qi immediately called a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl out from among the Escort Agency disciples.

Then Lu Cheng witnessed the process of Tendon Measurement and Bone Weighing for a Human Hero.

The mist from the first formation spread only a fraction faster than it had for him, but it lasted much longer, continuing past the fifth groove before stopping.

The stone sphere in the second test took just over one breath.

As for the third test, it was clearly different from Lu Cheng's.

The instant the girl laid her hand on the stone sphere, white mist surged out from within. In the blink of an eye, it nearly filled the sphere, leaving only less than a tenth of empty space at the very top.

Only then did Yunhuizi reveal a smile and ask the girl:

"What is your name? Would you be willing to take me as your master and follow me to East Sun Sect for cultivation?"

The girl was still young and did not react for a moment.

One of Emerald Cloud Abbey's old Daoists hurriedly said from the side:

"This is Elder Yunhuizi of East Sun Sect, a Martial Warrior expert in the Mid-Stage Qi Refining Realm. He is renowned throughout Dongyang Prefecture. Why are you not quickly kneeling to acknowledge him as your master?"

Yunhuizi waved his hand and gave the old Daoist a mildly displeased "Eh."

Then he turned back to the girl and said gently:

"There is no need to be nervous. East Sun Sect also has three other Qi Refining Realm Martial Warriors, and even our sect master is in the Qi Refining Late-Stage. You may return to the sect with me first and make your decision after meeting those three."

At these words, everyone present was filled with boundless envy.

This was a Qi Refining Realm expert, someone who could walk sideways through all of Dongyang Prefecture.

Ordinary people found it difficult even to meet one, yet four of them were now waiting for this girl to choose among them. Truly, comparing oneself to others could drive one to death!

Some also glanced at Lu Cheng. If nothing had gone wrong with his aptitude, perhaps he would have received the same treatment?

Yet the girl looked toward a slightly older young woman among the Escort Agency's new disciples.

Following her gaze, Lu Cheng finally noticed that the young woman bore some resemblance to the girl.

At that moment, the young woman nodded with wild joy on her face. She clearly understood the significance of "Yunhuizi of East Sun Sect" and "Mid-Stage Qi Refining Realm" better than the girl did.

In truth, there was not much difference in whom she took as master.

A Human Hero would be treasured by the entire sect.

Moreover, since Yunhuizi had already spoken, there was absolutely no possibility of her later taking someone else as master.

Seeing this, the girl finally knelt before Yunhuizi and acknowledged him as her master.

"This disciple is Du Ruo. Greetings, Master."

A Long Wind Escort Agency disciple immediately brought over a cup of apprenticeship tea.

The girl named Du Ruo accepted it with both hands and offered it to Yunhuizi.

Yunhuizi laughed heartily as he accepted the tea and took a light sip. Then he pulled a porcelain bottle from his robes.

"Your master left in a hurry and did not prepare any gift. I shall use this Qi Condensation Pill as a substitute for now. Once we return to the sect, I will make up the rest to you."

At the mention of the Qi Condensation Pill, Feng Qi and the other eight all widened their eyes at the porcelain bottle.

Especially the Emerald Cloud Abbey old Daoist who had spoken earlier—his expression instantly turned ugly.

After hesitating again and again, he ultimately could not hold back. He carefully said:

"Senior Yunhuizi, this Qi Condensation Pill..."

Yunhuizi looked at him with slight apology, pondered for a moment, and said:

"This Qi Condensation Pill was indeed originally meant for your Emerald Cloud Abbey."

"But with this child's talent, she has hope of breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm within three years. Let her have this pill first."

"However, I certainly will not let you suffer a loss."

"After I return, I will ask Senior Brother Sect Master to issue an order and search with all our strength for another pill for you."

"Furthermore, Emerald Cloud Abbey will be exempt from tribute for the next five years. You may also select three disciples to cultivate at East Sun Sect for one year. What do you think?"

What did they think?

The Qi Condensation Pill was a breakthrough pill for Body Refining Realm cultivators entering the Qi Refining Realm.

One pill could raise the chance of breaking through by a full ten percent.

Every Qi Condensation Pill was enough to make countless Body Refining Realm Martial Practitioners fight one another to the death.

Every one of them had already been promised to an owner.

Since the previous generation, Emerald Cloud Abbey's tribute to East Sun Sect had doubled.

It had taken a full thirty years to obtain one Qi Condensation Pill.

Yet now they could only look at it through the porcelain bottle. Who could possibly accept that willingly?

Yunhuizi said he would search with all his strength, but he would certainly not take someone else's pill and give it to Emerald Cloud Abbey.

If they had to wait in line again, how long would that take?

But what could unwillingness change?

Though the Body Refining Realm Pinnacle and the Qi Refining Realm were separated by only one level, that single level was a heavenly chasm.

Even a hundred Body Refining Realm Pinnacle cultivators could not contend against one Qi Refining Realm Martial Warrior.

The old Daoist's lips moved a few times before he finally lowered his head.

On the other side, the three from Heavenly Spring Temple were first startled, then relieved. A nearly imperceptible smile appeared on their faces.

They had never known that Emerald Cloud Abbey had secretly made such arrangements.

That was thirty years of resources. No wonder Emerald Cloud Abbey had been suppressed by Heavenly Spring Temple throughout this generation.

If Emerald Cloud Abbey truly produced a Qi Refining Realm Martial Warrior, Heavenly Spring Temple would be doomed to be suppressed in turn, never to rise again.

Fortunately, it had fallen through.

After speaking with the people of Emerald Cloud Abbey, Yunhuizi turned to Feng Qi.

"Long Wind Escort Agency, is it? Not bad, not bad."

"How about this? I'll give you three slots as well."

Feng Qi was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

He had originally only intended to do a favor along the way and invest an "introduction" favor in Du Ruo, yet he had not expected to gain three such opportunities in exchange.

The most important purpose of these three slots was to establish ties with East Sun Sect.

However, Feng Zhan suddenly asked Yunhuizi:

"Senior Yunhuizi, may this junior boldly ask a question?"

Everyone turned their eyes toward Feng Zhan. Yunhuizi said:

"What is it? Speak and let me hear it."

Lu Cheng felt something stir in his heart and looked toward Feng Zhan.

Sure enough, Feng Zhan pointed at him and said to Yunhuizi:

"Senior, there is another disciple here. His aptitude originally far surpassed that of a Human Hero, but his origin blood and qi are now somewhat depleted. Does Senior know of any way to make up for it?"