Yue Ting scratched the back of his head, the guileless grin on his face growing wider.
"Brother Qing, did you know? I broke through to the Qi Refining second layer a year ago!"
He looked immensely proud, as though showing off some treasure. "What about you? How has your cultivation gone these past few years?
When a few of us get together now and then to discuss the Dao, we often mention you. By the way, why do you look so pale? Is something wrong with your cultivation?"
Why wouldn't this fellow stop talking? Qing Chen replied helplessly:
"I'm about the same as you. I also broke through to the Qi Refining second layer a year ago. As for looking a little pale, perhaps it's because I haven't been out in the sun for a long time."
That was half true and half false.
He had indeed broken through a year ago, but not to the second layer-to the third layer of Qi Refining.
The Brahma Demon-Refining Art was indeed formidable. As long as he had demon beast corpses to feed it, his cultivation grew considerably faster.
Half a year after obtaining the art, he had advanced to the Qi Refining second layer.
A little over another half year later, with the help of the soul tempered by the Demon Seed Golden Lotus, he had broken straight through to the third layer of Qi Refining in one sustained push.
The range of his spiritual sense had expanded from nearly ten zhang to fifteen zhang, and his soul had long since reached the strength of a cultivator at the middle Qi Refining stage.
Qing Chen unconsciously touched the storage pouch inside his robe. There weren't many spirit stones left at the bottom.
He had long since finished refining the Ironspine Wolf corpse he had bought last time. These past few days, he had needed to economize even in cultivation, and he didn't dare use the Brahma Aperture Blood-Refining Secret Art too often.
That secret art consumed blood essence. Without demon beast blood to replenish it, he would have to burn his own qi and blood, and he had no desire to shorten his lifespan.
"Damn it, without spirit stones to buy demon beast corpses, this Demon-Refining Art will run out of food."
Qing Chen grumbled inwardly, then recalled Yue Ting's earlier words about "taking his time meditating." That would be worse than killing him.
He had grown accustomed to cultivating at a fast pace. He certainly couldn't accept going back to practicing a Yellow Grade art step by step.
Perhaps he really would have to find a chance to "snag a bargain";
-for instance, if he encountered rogue cultivators out there who didn't know who they were dealing with, he could seize their storage pouches, gaining both spirit stones and blood essence-two birds with one stone.
Or casually killing a few fellow disciples and taking their resources would also be a good choice.
As he was thinking, Yue Ting spoke again, his tone full of envy:
"Brother Qing, you're not slow either! But Xue Yubing is even more impressive. She broke through to the third layer a little under half a year ago. A high-grade wind spiritual root really is different!
I heard even the elders have noticed her. If she goes a little faster, they might make an exception and promote her to the inner sect!"
Something stirred in Qing Chen's mind. He remembered Xue Yubing. She had a fair, clean complexion, and during the spiritual root test, the deacon had even praised her: "A high-grade wind spiritual root-a promising seedling."
He smiled self-deprecatingly. "Those with high-grade spiritual roots have good aptitude. We can't compare. The sect has no heaven spiritual roots and few earth spiritual roots, so high-grade spiritual roots are the cream of the crop. It's only right that they get attention.
As for us, we should just focus on our own cultivation and stop thinking about all that."
Those words were meant for Yue Ting, but also for himself.
He knew that his mid-grade five spiritual root fell short of the best but surpassed the worst. His current progress was entirely thanks to the Brahma Demon-Refining Art and the Demon Seed Golden Lotus.
Especially the Demon Seed Golden Lotus.
If those two arts were exposed, never mind promotion to the inner sect-it was hard to say whether he would even survive.
"It's Ding Buxing who's unlucky."
Yue Ting sighed and lowered his voice a little. "Back then, in the Scripture Repository, he only chose a Mid-Tier Yellow Grade art. He's only just broken through to the Qi Refining second layer.
Luckily, my master Xie Yu reminded me to choose a Peak-Tier Yellow Grade art from the back row. Otherwise, I'd have been held up too."
As he spoke, he even patted his chest, looking relieved.
Qing Chen nodded without replying. He remembered Ding Buxing, a tall, thin fellow. He hadn't expected him to have chosen a poor art.
On the path of cultivation, one wrong step led to another. Choosing the wrong art was more fatal than lacking spirit stones.
Just then, the middle-aged cultivator standing on the steps suddenly cleared his throat, his voice deeper than before:
"Quiet, all of you! We'll now assign the sect duties that come once every five years. Once you finish, you can rest for five years!"
He picked up a stack of wooden plaques from the small table, each engraved with a name and an assignment. "Ding Buxing, the Hundred Arts Hall. Study under a spiritual talisman master for five years."
A low murmur rose from the disciples below.
Qing Chen caught sight of Ding Buxing standing in a corner, his face flushed bright red.
He would study spiritual talismans at the Hundred Arts Hall, but with no progress in his Mid-Tier Yellow Grade art, he would still be treading water five years later.
"Xue Yubing, the Technique Transmission Hall. Study under a technique transmission deacon for five years."
At those words, the murmuring below grew louder, and many disciples turned to look at Xue Yubing.
The Technique Transmission Hall was where high-level arts were taught. Studying under a deacon was as good as gaining a backer, making future promotion to the inner sect a sure thing.
Qing Chen also glanced over. Xue Yubing stood at the front of the crowd, looking very proud.
"Yue Ting, the Hundred Herbs Hall. Study under an alchemist for five years."
Yue Ting immediately smiled and cupped his hands toward the disciples around him, murmuring, "Good luck, good luck."
Alchemists were the sect's prized favorites. Learning at their heels was far better than going to refine talismans, and there were pills to boost one's cultivation too.
"Xie Yu, the Artifact Refining Hall. Study under an artifact refiner for five years."
Xie Yu nodded slightly, his expression calm. He had already made all the arrangements, so going to the Artifact Refining Hall came as no surprise.
The middle-aged cultivator picked up the next wooden plaque, which was engraved with the name "Qing Chen."
Just as he was about to speak, a gray-robed cultivator suddenly ran out from the back of the hall and tugged at his sleeve:
"Junior Brother Wu, Deacon Mo wants you. He said to hurry to the back!"
The cultivator surnamed Wu paused in surprise, then quickly set down the wooden plaque and cupped his hands toward the other cultivator:
"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother Yu. Please handle the assignments for me. I'll be right back."
With that, he hurried toward the rear hall, even forgetting to put away the wooden plaques on the small table.
The cultivator surnamed Yu picked up the wooden plaque engraved with "Qing Chen" and glanced at Qing Chen.
There was no warmth in that glance, as though he were looking at some insignificant object. Then he spoke unhurriedly:
"Qing Chen, Yellow Bamboo Island. Garrison duty for five years."