Evergreen Formula Reaches the Fifth Layer, Outer Sect Becomes Formal

At dusk, everyone returned to their rooms.

Han Su said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Xu—no, I should call you Senior Brother Xu from now on."

"Too kind." Xu Changqing smiled and waved his hand.

Han Su said seriously, "Senior Brother Xu, please take good care of me in the future."

"Of course, of course." Xu Changqing's attitude was somewhat perfunctory.

Han Su's eyes darted around at the sight.

After thinking it over and over, his expression finally hardened.

He suddenly pulled out the talisman contract the two had signed from his sleeve.

Without the slightest hesitation, he tore it apart right in front of Xu Changqing.

With a rip.

The talisman contract immediately split in two.

The light that emerged from it instantly dimmed.

This also meant that the contract between them had completely become invalid.

"What are you doing?" Xu Changqing was startled.

Han Su said with a pained expression, "Without you, Senior Brother Xu, I never could have promoted myself in front of so many people today. Since that's the case, what does a talisman contract for a mere hundred jin of spirit rice matter?"

"This?!" Xu Changqing did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Senior Brother Xu, seeing how sincere I am, can I buy spirit rice from you in the future?" Han Su blinked.

Lin An had asked him and another female disciple with a water spiritual root to help.

After working painstakingly for three months.

He had only produced eleven hundred jin in the end.

As for Xu Changqing before him.

Although he had also failed twice and only succeeded on the third attempt.

Xu Changqing had apparently not asked 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 the third try had depended on himself.

It also showed that he had greater talent for cultivation than Lin An.

From the standpoint of potential, he was worth investing in.

"Alright." Seeing how sincere he was, Xu Changqing did not refuse.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer. Goodbye." Han Su finally relaxed, then turned and left.

Xu Changqing followed him out.

After Han Su had completely gone far away.

He did not return to his room, instead heading in another direction.

Before long, he arrived at Li Sancai's door once more.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Li Sancai's voice came from inside.

Xu Changqing said with a light laugh, "Senior Brother Li, it's me!"

"Why are you here?" Li Sancai opened the door and looked somewhat surprised to see him.

"I came specifically to thank you for your help this time," Xu Changqing said.

"Don't misunderstand. I just can't stand that guy." Li Sancai curled his lip.

"No matter what, you helped me twice. If you ever need this junior brother in the future, I will never refuse." Xu Changqing spoke with complete sincerity.

The first time, Li Sancai had told him there was a problem with the spirit field.

Because of that, he had partnered with Han Su.

The second time, if Li Sancai had not helped him both openly and subtly.

Zhang Er would probably have kept pestering him endlessly.

"Junior brother?" Li Sancai gave him a meaningful reminder. "You're now a formal disciple as well. Call me Fellow Daoist instead."

"No, no. You became a formal disciple before I did, so naturally I should call you Senior Brother." Xu Changqing hurriedly waved his hands.

"Since you insist on calling me Senior Brother, let me give you a reminder." Li Sancai narrowed his eyes.

"Please speak." Xu Changqing listened attentively.

Li Sancai lowered his voice. "Don't pursue the matter."

"Huh?" Xu Changqing froze.

Li Sancai continued, "Formal disciples exploiting outer sect disciples is something the Immortal Sect tacitly permits. Even if you're dissatisfied with someone, you can only endure it, suppress it, and guard against them."

"I understand." Xu Changqing understood instantly.

"It's good that you understand. We'll be heading elsewhere tomorrow, so get some rest early." Li Sancai shut the door after speaking.

"You should rest early too, Senior Brother." Xu Changqing looked at the closed wooden door, his expression thoughtful.

Li Sancai's words were clearly a warning to him.

Zhang Er dared to exploit others.

That meant the other formal disciples dared to do the same.

Since everyone dared, it was obvious those above were deliberately indulging them.

This also meant Zhang Er, or others like him, definitely had backers behind them.

If he retaliated against Zhang Er, he would be offending a whole chain of people.

It might even include the lofty "immortal masters."

With his current strength, that was no different from courting death.

Although Li Sancai meant well, he could never have imagined it.

Xu Changqing had nothing else, but his lifespan was longer than anyone else's.

Others could not afford to wait, but he could.

Late at night.

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 but grin.

But he quickly calmed down.

Then he focused his attention on the status 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 problems in spirit plant growth)

[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 surged into his mind.

[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 said in surprise.

[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 into his mind.

[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." Xu Changqing drew a deep breath.

A mere low-grade cultivation technique could produce such effects.

What about high-grade ones?

Earth-grade and Heaven-grade ones?

Or even the legendary immortal-grade ones!

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 be having you. I'll miss you." Xu Changqing sipped slowly from the edge of the bowl, looking as though he was enjoying it greatly.

"Xu Changqing!" Before long, someone called out 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 flatly, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I'll leave them all to you."

"Mm." Luo Bucheng nodded lightly.

Li Sancai shot 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 nodded.

They came into contact with these small storage bags every time they collected spirit seedlings.

They were extremely convenient, and everyone wanted one badly.

"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.

It contained not only a brand-new set of formal disciple robes.

It also held a hundred jin of first-grade spirit rice.

The entire small storage bag had an internal space of five cubic meters.