Ding Chengyu was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, Great Perfection, while Lu Xin was at the Early Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.
Both had joined the Jade Spring Sect in the previous intake and had cultivated for nearly ten years. To reach this realm from being mortals was already a mark of exceptional talent.
According to what Deacon Tian had said when Chen Shuangbai joined the sect, disciples accepted by the inner sect's six peaks had at least a fifty percent chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment and becoming experts at the level of great Foundation Establishment cultivators.
It was worth mentioning that Deacon Tian was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, but he had frittered away a long time after turning thirty before painstakingly grinding his way up to it. His potential had also run dry, so he had no chance of joining the inner sect and could only resign himself to working in the outer sect.
If Chen Shuangbai wanted to enter the inner sect and be taken as a disciple by one of the true Foundation Establishment cultivators on the six peaks, he had to follow the same rule-
He had to reach the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining before turning thirty.
Of course, Chen Shuangbai's reaching the Third Layer of Qi Refinement in a year did not mean he was a genius. It was because he had the advantage of the Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method, a Cultivation Method tailored to him.
On top of that, the [Dao Fruit] had given Chen Shuangbai comprehension far beyond that of other disciples his age.
As far as aptitude went, Chen Shuangbai could only be considered average.
After all, he was still scraping by in the outer sect.
Over the past year or so, Chen Shuangbai had also gotten to know quite a few senior brothers and sisters in the outer sect. Some were twenty-seven or twenty-eight, some were already well into their thirties, and he had even met several senior brothers and sisters whose hair had turned white.
According to these "seniors," anyone with passable aptitude could reach the Third Layer of Qi Refinement as naturally as water flowing into a channel.
But most outer sect disciples fell at the hurdle between the Third Layer of Qi Refinement and the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer, while those who crossed it fell at the hurdle between the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.
That alone showed how precious a place among the inner disciples was.
Ding Chengyu's sword was sharp, but unfortunately, the two Demon Beasts were simply too enormous.
He glanced at Chen Shuangbai, lingering particularly on the Cold Spring Sword, then said, "Junior Brother Chen, you have a sword too. Let's do this together. It'll be faster."
Chen Shuangbai agreed and joined in cutting up the Demon Beasts for materials.
In the end, Lu Xin could no longer afford to stand on ceremony either. She pulled a sharp dagger from her Storage Bag and began cutting as well.
After working for a good long while, they had cut away nearly all the materials they could carry from the two Demon Beast carcasses.
The three exchanged glances and promptly summoned water vapor, thoroughly ridding themselves of the bloody smell from head to toe. Then they prepared to leave.
Chen Shuangbai had just been about to use the Wind Control Technique when he stopped.
Ding Chengyu slapped his Storage Bag and released a green leaf. He formed a Method Formula and pointed at it with his Law Power. The leaf immediately grew into a broad, flat green boat.
Chen Shuangbai: ...
A flying Law Treasure... I'm a little envious.
Flight was a privilege reserved for higher-level cultivators.
That was not to say lower-level cultivators had no right to buy one. Rather, even if they had a flying Law Treasure, they lacked the Law Power to control it for long.
They could only rely on pills to replenish it.
Only cultivators in the Late Qi Refining Stage, like Ding Chengyu, had both the wealth to buy one and the strength to control it.
Ding Chengyu seemed to catch the flicker of envy in Chen Shuangbai's eyes and could not help snorting. Lu Xin also brought out a flying Law Treasure, though hers was not a flat green boat but a brocade handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms.
She nodded and set off first.
Ding Chengyu said to Chen Shuangbai, "The Wind Control Technique is too slow. Get aboard, Junior Brother Chen."
Chen Shuangbai did not put on airs. He jumped straight aboard.
"Hold on tight!"
Ding Chengyu smiled as he spoke. The boat beneath his feet then sped away, soaring straight into the clouds and heading directly in a certain direction.
It was Chen Shuangbai's first time riding a flying Law Treasure. Although his face was full of wonder, his eyes were already roving about of their own accord.
The wind was fierce!
He had to circulate his Spirit Power to stand steady on it and avoid being blown straight off by the strong wind.
As far as he could see, verdant green spread below, while a white sea of clouds lay before him. He could not help feeling refreshed, and his mood improved considerably.
Sure enough!
Flying really is the first little goal to achieve through cultivation!
Chen Shuangbai had to admit that, as a human, being able to fly freely was simply amazing!
Ding Chengyu turned to look at Chen Shuangbai and asked with a smile, "Junior Brother Chen, is this your first time riding a flying Law Treasure?"
Chen Shuangbai nodded.
Ding Chengyu smiled again. "When I first flew, I wasn't nearly as calm as you are today, Junior Brother. I was badly frightened. It took me a long time to adjust before I gradually learned to handle it with ease."
Chen Shuangbai nodded and praised him. "You're impressive, Senior Brother."
Ding Chengyu was taken aback. Clearly, he had not expected Chen Shuangbai to hear that and still flatter him without so much as blushing or missing a heartbeat.
His gaze grew even more intrigued as he looked at Chen Shuangbai.
Was this what he was like when he was young...?
Ding Chengyu chatted with Chen Shuangbai on and off, laying the groundwork for them to become friends in the future.
Before long,
the green boat descended onto a cliff. Lu Xin had already put away her brocade handkerchief and stood there at ease, watching the two land.
"Senior Brother Ding, you're too slow."
She muttered the words.
Ding Chengyu chuckled and offered no explanation.
Naturally, the three had landed here to divide the spoils.
"Take everything out of your Storage Bags."
Ding Chengyu cast a spell to open his Storage Bag and spread its contents on the level ground before them. Lu Xin and Chen Shuangbai did the same.
Most of what lay on the ground consisted of materials from the two Demon Beasts: the Rotting Venom Viper's fangs, scales and gallbladder, for example, as well as the Snow-Plumed Eagle's true feathers, beak and claws.
Of course, the most eye-catching items among them were the two Demon Beasts' Demon Cores.
The Rotting Venom Viper's Demon Core was black, with what seemed to be dark water faintly sloshing inside it. The Snow-Plumed Eagle's was the opposite: pure white, with what looked like snowflake patterns on its surface.
After those came the three snake eggs Chen Shuangbai had brought out.
Even though they were inner disciples in the Late Qi Refining Stage, Ding Chengyu and Lu Xin breathed a little faster at the sight of these materials.
If they took them to the Expenditure Hall, they could probably exchange them for a considerable sum of Spirit Stones or Merit Points!
Besides...
The materials from these two Demon Beasts were also first-rate materials for crafting treasures. If they asked the Hundred Crafts Hall to forge them, the result would surely be a high-grade Law Treasure!
Ding Chengyu and Lu Xin exchanged a glance and fell silent for a while.
Chen Shuangbai knew the two were discussing how to divide the spoils through voice transmission. He showed little expression, maintaining a calm smile and occasionally looking outside as he quietly waited for them to finish.
Chen Shuangbai knew he had played only a small part, so he had no say in the matter.
If they gave him a share, he would certainly thank them properly. If they gave him nothing... he would not bear the slightest resentment.
Because this was cultivation!