Dusk had fallen, and everyone returned to their respective rooms.
Han Su said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Xu—no, I should call you Senior Brother Xu from now on."
"Too courteous." Xu Changqing smiled and waved his hand.
Han Su said earnestly, "Senior Brother Xu, you must look after me more in the future."
"Of course, of course." Xu Changqing's response was somewhat perfunctory.
Seeing this, Han Su's eyes rolled wildly.
He turned it over and over in his mind, until his expression finally hardened.
He suddenly pulled out the talisman contract the two of them had signed from his sleeve.
Without the slightest hesitation, he tore it apart before Xu Changqing's eyes.
Rip!
The talisman contract split cleanly in two.
The glow that surfaced from it instantly dimmed.
This also meant that the contract between them had completely become invalid.
"You're doing this?" Xu Changqing was startled.
Han Su said with a pained expression, "If not for you, Senior Brother Xu, I couldn't possibly have promoted myself before so many people today. Since that's the case, what does a talisman contract for a mere hundred catties of Spirit Rice Grain amount to?"
"This?!" Xu Changqing did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Senior Brother Xu, considering how sincere I've been, will I be able to buy Spirit Rice Grain from you in the future?" Han Su blinked.
Lin An had asked him and another female disciple with a Water Spirit Root to help.
After working bitterly for three months,
the result had only been eleven hundred catties.
Yet Xu Changqing before him
had likewise failed twice before succeeding on the third attempt.
He had heard that Xu Changqing had not sought anyone to cast the Minor Cloud-Rain Art.
He had even loosened the soil himself.
What did that mean?
It meant Xu Changqing's success on his third attempt had relied on himself.
It also showed that his talent for cultivation was greater than Lin An's.
From the perspective of potential, he was worth investing in.
"Fine." Seeing the sincerity in his attitude, Xu Changqing did not refuse.
"Then I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell." Only then did Han Su breathe a sigh of relief before turning and leaving.
Xu Changqing followed him out.
After Han Su had gone completely out of sight,
Xu Changqing did not return to his room, instead heading in another direction.
Before long, he arrived outside Li Sancai's door again.
—Knock, knock, knock!
A knock sounded at the door.
"Who is it?" Li Sancai's voice came from inside.
Xu Changqing chuckled. "Senior Brother Li, it's me!"
"Why are you here?" When the door opened, Li Sancai was somewhat surprised to see him.
"I came specifically to thank you, Senior Brother. This time, I owe you for your help." Xu Changqing had come expressly to thank him.
"Don't misunderstand. I just couldn't stand that guy." Li Sancai curled his lip.
"No matter what, you helped me twice. If you ever have use for this junior brother in the future, I will never shirk it." Xu Changqing spoke with complete sincerity.
The first time, Li Sancai had told him there was a problem with the Spirit Fields.
It was precisely because of that that he had partnered with Han Su.
The second time, if not for Li Sancai's open and veiled assistance,
Zhang Er would likely have refused to let the matter rest.
"Junior brother?" Li Sancai gave him a meaningful reminder. "You are now also a Formal Disciple. Call me Fellow Daoist."
"No, no, no. You became a Formal Disciple before I did, so naturally I must call you Senior Brother." Xu Changqing hurriedly waved his hands.
"Since you insist on calling me Senior Brother, then let me give you a warning." Seeing this, Li Sancai narrowed his eyes.
"Please speak." Xu Changqing pricked up his ears.
Li Sancai lowered his voice. "Do not pursue the matter."
"Huh?" Xu Changqing froze.
Li Sancai continued, "Formal Disciples exploiting outer sect disciples is conduct tacitly accepted by the Immortal Sect. Even if you are dissatisfied with someone, all you can do is endure it, swallow it, and guard against it."
"I understand." Xu Changqing understood at once.
"It's good that you do. You'll be heading elsewhere tomorrow, so rest early." After saying that, Li Sancai shut the door.
"You should rest early too, Senior Brother." Xu Changqing stared at the closed wooden door, his expression thoughtful.
Li Sancai's words were clearly meant as a warning.
Zhang Er had dared to exploit others.
That meant other Formal Disciples also dared to do so.
Since everyone dared, it was obvious the higher-ups were deliberately indulging it.
That also meant Zhang Er, or anyone else, must have someone backing them.
If he retaliated against Zhang Er, he would be offending a whole string of people.
It might even include those lofty "Immortal Masters."
With his current strength, that was no different from courting death.
Though Li Sancai meant well, he could never have imagined
that Xu Changqing had nothing else, but his lifespan was longer than anyone's.
Others could not afford to wait, but he could.
Late at night arrived.
In the dim room, Xu Changqing sat cross-legged on the wooden bed.
Thinking that he would become a Formal Disciple tomorrow,
he could not help grinning.
But he quickly calmed down.
Then he focused his attention on the attribute panel.
[Remaining Lifespan: 16814 days] [Evergreen Formula (Third Layer) ↑] (Effect One: Cultivation Speed +30%) (Effect Two: Yield Increase +20%) (Effect Three: Can predict and diagnose growth problems in spirit plants) [Consume 4602 days of lifespan to raise the Evergreen Formula from the Third Layer to the Fourth Layer?]
"Yes."
A vast amount of experience and techniques concerning the [Evergreen Formula] immediately surged forth.
[Successfully consumed 4602 days of lifespan to raise the Evergreen Formula to the Fourth Layer] [Remaining Lifespan: 12212 days] [Evergreen Formula (Fourth Layer) ↑] (Effect One: Cultivation Speed +40%) (Effect Two: Yield Increase +30%) (Effect Three: Can sense the detailed condition of spirit plants within ten zhang)
"It can still be raised?" Xu Changqing was astonished.
[Consume 7072 days of lifespan to raise the Evergreen Formula from the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer?]
"Yes."
In an instant, countless experiences and techniques concerning the [Evergreen Formula] surged forth.
[Successfully consumed 7072 days of lifespan to raise the Evergreen Formula to the Fifth Layer] [Remaining Lifespan: 5140 days] [Evergreen Formula (Fifth Layer)] (Effect One: Cultivation Speed +50%) (Effect Two: Yield Increase +40%) (Effect Three: Can sense the detailed condition of spirit plants within ten zhang) (Effect Four: Can foresee the best time to harvest spirit plants)
"The Fifth Layer of the Evergreen Formula is terrifying indeed." Xu Changqing drew a deep breath.
A mere low-grade cultivation method could bring such effects.
Then what about High Grade ones?
Earth Grade and Heaven Grade?
Even the legendary Immortal Grade!
The next day.
Before dawn, Xu Changqing had already prepared breakfast.
It was still ordinary rice porridge and pickled vegetables.
"This is the last time I'll drink you. I'll miss you." Xu Changqing traced the rim of the bowl, sipping mouthful by mouthful with obvious enjoyment.
"Xu Changqing!" Before long, someone called from outside.
Xu Changqing hurriedly put everything away, then jogged outside.
At a glance, he saw Lin An, Zhao Ying, and Zhao Ziyao, who had passed the assessment.
Even Luo Bucheng and Li Sancai had arrived.
Li Sancai said coolly, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I'll leave everyone to you."
"Mm." Luo Bucheng nodded lightly.
Li Sancai cast Xu Changqing a warning glance, then turned and left.
At that moment, Luo Bucheng took several Small Storage Bags from his sleeve and said, "You should all be familiar with these, right?"
"Of course." Xu Changqing and the others all nodded.
They came into contact with these Small Storage Bags every time they collected spirit seedlings.
They were incredibly convenient, and they had wanted one more than they could say.
"They're yours from now on." Luo Bucheng tossed them over one by one.
Xu Changqing caught his, opened it, and probed it with spiritual power.
To his surprise,
there was not only a brand-new set of Formal Disciple robes inside,
but also one hundred catties of First-Grade Spirit Rice.
The Small Storage Bag itself had an internal space of five cubic meters.
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