"You... Hmph! Do you think Senior Sister Xiao Yue will believe you? So many people have no problem, yet you're the only one with a problem?" The menial disciple narrowed his eyes, his gaze growing increasingly hostile.
"You really think that if Senior Sister Xiao Yue questions them, the others will still say nothing?" Su Shi'er grinned, sweeping his gaze over the other disciples before turning and walking straight toward the door.
In the courtyard, the others' eyes lit up as well, and some of them were tempted.
Several Medicinal Pills had vanished for no reason at all. No one was happy about it.
It was just that they did not have Su Shi'er's courage. But if Su Shi'er took the lead, they would not mind saying a few words themselves.
Noticing the reactions of the others, the menial disciple's heart skipped a beat.
Xiao Yue was upright and kind, and she was the Peak Master's granddaughter. Her status on Luofu Peak was extraordinary. If Xiao Yue learned of this matter, his days ahead would not be easy.
"Enough. If there's something to discuss, discuss it properly! This bottle of Medicinal Pills is yours!" He shot Su Shi'er a hateful glare. After thinking it over, he still decided it was better to calm things down first. If this matter truly blew up, it would do him no good. Having made up his mind, he took out a bottle of Medicinal Pills and tossed it to Su Shi'er.
Su Shi'er frowned and opened the bottle for a look. Seeing that there were only ten Medicinal Pills inside, he snorted coldly. "Only ten?"
"Kid, these are ten high-grade Medicinal Pills. Forget thirty pills—these alone are worth fifty low-grade pills." The menial disciple spoke irritably, looking as though he had suffered a tremendous loss, though a vicious gleam flickered in his eyes.
Hmph, I'll let you hold onto them for now. Once you leave this Pill Pavilion, let's see how I deal with you.
"If I remember correctly, the sect rules state very clearly that every new disciple receives three bottles a year—thirty Foundation Cultivation Pills!" Su Shi'er snorted, staring at him without yielding.
He did not know what the other man was planning. He only instinctively felt that the man had agreed far too readily, and that could not be a good thing.
After weighing things silently, he sensed that the other man was not particularly strong, so he relaxed.
To him, with the mysterious Pill Furnace in hand, the quality of Medicinal Pills did not matter at all. Quantity was the key.
"Kid, don't push your luck!" The menial disciple glared at Su Shi'er, swept the table before him onto the ground, and flew into a rage.
Right now, he only wanted to send Su Shi'er away first and settle the score afterward. Unfortunately, he had long since secretly sold off the extra Medicinal Pills. Otherwise, he would not have had to use waste pills to make up the numbers.
"Overboard? I'm only asking for what I'm owed! Since you're unwilling to give it to me, then let Senior Sister Xiao Yue come talk to you!"
Su Shi'er curled his lips and spoke without the slightest courtesy. After saying that, he put away the waste pills and the bottle of high-grade Medicinal Pills, then walked straight outside.
But seeing this, how could the menial disciple let him leave? He glared at Su Shi'er, fury in his eyes as though he wanted to devour him alive.
"Kid, since you're seeking death yourself, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
"Today, I'll let you see what a cultivator's strength truly is."
The menial disciple spoke through gritted teeth. At the same time, he mobilized the meager True Yuan within him, his hands rapidly forming seals.
Then, a fist-sized fireball appeared before him.
"Go!"
The menial disciple let out a muffled grunt. Driven by True Yuan, the fireball trailed a long tail as it shot straight toward Su Shi'er's back.
An attack of this power would not be fatal, but it could still seriously injure someone.
The menial disciple narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting into a cold smile.
He was, after all, a first-level Qi Refining Stage Qi Refiner. Dealing with a few disciples who had joined less than half a year ago should have been as easy as taking something from his pocket.
"Is this the Fire Control Technique recorded in the books? It's simply unbelievable! That little beggar is dead for sure!"
"He deserves it. Martial Brother already gave him ten high-grade Medicinal Pills, yet he still wasn't satisfied!"
"Good thing we didn't provoke this Martial Brother earlier. Otherwise, we'd be finished now!"
Watching the fireball streak through the air, everyone's expressions changed dramatically. They had only just learned how to read and write; none of them had even begun cultivating in earnest.
To them, the menial disciple's methods were the methods of an Immortal.
The next moment, their gazes fell on Su Shi'er. Their eyes held pity, while their hearts secretly rejoiced that they had avoided disaster.
Though Su Shi'er had his back to the man, he had already been secretly on guard.
At the sound of movement, the True Yuan within him began to surge.
The instant he turned around and saw the fireball racing toward him, he decisively formed seals with both hands.
"Summon Wind! Go!"
Su Shi'er gave a low shout, unhurried and calm, and a fierce gale suddenly erupted.
The gale howled forward, rushing straight at the menial disciple. Then, it met the fireball head-on in midair.
Bang!
With a muffled explosion, the fireball was blown apart by the gale, bursting into sparks that filled the sky. The wind then swept them back toward the menial disciple.
"What?!"
Everyone in the courtyard sucked in a breath at the sight, utterly shocked.
Zhu Hanwei and the other three who had come with Su Shi'er were especially dumbfounded.
Half a year ago, they had all stood at the same starting line. Yet now, Su Shi'er had become this powerful?
"Impossible! You... you're actually a Qi Refiner?!"
The menial disciple's eyes bulged as his face drained of color.
Though he possessed first-level Qi Refining Stage cultivation, he had neglected practice in his daily life. His control over spells was nothing more than half a bucket of water.
Before he could react, the scattered sparks scorched blisters all over his face. Under the gale, his entire body was blown away, smashing viciously into a massive pillar behind him.
"Hmph. Didn't you want me to witness a cultivator's strength? Is that all?"
Su Shi'er snorted. His hands continued to form seals, and a fist-sized fireball floated into the air.
The fireball bounced lightly, radiating scorching heat. Compared to the fireball the other man had just summoned, it was clearly far more solid.
"Martial Brother, Brother Shi'er, spare my life! I know I was wrong! I'll definitely make up the Foundation Cultivation Pills I owe you!" At the sight, the menial disciple's face turned white with fright. Before Su Shi'er could make a move, he dropped to his knees with a thud and repeatedly begged for mercy.
In the Cultivation World, the accomplished were teachers, and the strong were revered.
Among cultivators, forms of address and seniority were not determined purely by age or the time one had entered the sect.
Those with stronger cultivation, even if young, often did not have low standing.
Su Shi'er was a prime example. He had originally been nothing more than a newcomer, and the other man had entered the sect earlier than him. But now that Su Shi'er was stronger and the man needed something from him, he naturally hurried to address him as Martial Brother.
This information was briefly explained in the sect rules, so Su Shi'er was not surprised.
"Where are the Medicinal Pills?" Su Shi'er had no real intention of killing him. He dispersed his spell and asked coldly.
"I truly don't have the Medicinal Pills right now!" The menial disciple said with a mournful face. Seeing Su Shi'er about to activate his spell again, he hurriedly shouted:
"Wait, Martial Brother, don't be rash. I only don't have them for the moment. Give me ten days. Ten days from now, I'll personally deliver them to the Waste Pill Room. I guarantee they'll all be high-grade Foundation Cultivation Pills, and I'll give Martial Brother an extra ten as compensation."
"You're that kind-hearted?" Su Shi'er narrowed his eyes, sizing him up with a face full of suspicion.
This man had changed his attitude far too quickly. Su Shi'er vaguely felt that something was wrong.
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