Impossible, Absolutely Impossible

Zhang Qingyun walked out of the arena, his heart still pounding.

Lin Changkong had actually steamrolled Mo Yunfei. That meant he had still held back when they fought earlier. Otherwise, how could he possibly have broken through several minor levels in a single day?

"Damn it, Lin Changkong! Just how much strength have you been hiding?!"

Zhang Qingyun muttered to himself, his voice trembling.

"Brother Qingyun, something happened!"

Su Qingqing's panicked, weak voice came from ahead. Zhang Qingyun looked up and saw her walking toward him, her face filled with fury and fear.

Before he could speak, she hurriedly said, "Brother Qingyun, something happened! That bastard Lin Changkong was still hiding his strength. Li Yishan was beaten into a serious injury by him, and my shoulder was pierced by his sword.

"It looks like the only one who can take him down is Boss Mo. Go tell Boss Mo and ask whether he can tamper with the drawing for the advancement tournament, arrange for him to face Lin Changkong, and beat Lin Changkong to death!"

Zhang Qingyun looked at Su Qingqing. His cheek twitched violently, and he clenched his fists without saying a word, his expression extremely grim.

Su Qingqing looked utterly confused. "Brother Qingyun, why aren't you saying anything? The only chance we have to cripple Lin Changkong is Boss Mo. You have to tell Boss Mo about this. You..."

Before she could finish, several people hurried out through the arena gates, carrying a stretcher with someone lying on it.

His face was battered and swollen, utterly unrecognizable.

Su Qingqing took one look, and her expression changed instantly.

"Boss... Boss Mo?"

Though his face had been distorted beyond recognition, Su Qingqing still recognized at a glance from his build and clothing that the half-dead man lying on the stretcher was Mo Yunfei, the Boss Mo she had just mentioned.

Her eyes widened, her face filled with terror.

"Brother Qingyun, wh-what is going on? Isn't Boss Mo the number one person in the Servant Courtyard? Who could possibly have the ability to beat him into this state?!"

Zhang Qingyun's lips moved several times before he finally managed to say it.

"It was... Lin Changkong."

Su Qingqing's heart jolted violently. She stared at Zhang Qingyun with wide eyes, froze for several seconds, then nearly roared.

"What kind of joke are you making?!"

"Lin Changkong is at most at the Body Refining Eighth Level, while Mo Yunfei reached the Body Refining Ninth Level long ago. He may have even reached the Body Refining Peak by now. Lin Changkong beat him?

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Keep your voice down. Mo Yunfei was beaten into this state precisely because he spoke too loudly to Lin Changkong.

"And Mo Yunfei was utterly crushed by Lin Changkong from beginning to end. He was steamrolled so badly that he never even drew his saber. We all saw it.

"Now, Lin Changkong is the number one person in the Servant Courtyard.

"Oh, no, that's not right. He'll soon belong to the Outer Sect. As for you all, you'll never have another chance to catch up to him."

One of the disciples carrying the stretcher glanced at Su Qingqing as though she were an idiot, said those words, then quickly carried Mo Yunfei away.

Su Qingqing stood rooted to the spot, dumbstruck as a wooden chicken. Yet she still refused to believe that a backup she had cast aside could possibly be this strong.

If it were true, wouldn't that prove she had been blind before?

"I don't believe it. I'll wait for the final list to be announced. He's just trash—how could he defeat Mo Yunfei? How could he obtain a place as an Outer Sect Disciple?

"It's fake. This must be fake!"

Su Qingqing shook her head, denying it again and again, insisting on waiting at the entrance for the list to be announced.

Not long afterward, the competition ended. Zhang Shanhe emerged first, with two disciples behind him posting a list on the nearby wall—the final list for this advancement tournament.

Su Qingqing hurriedly looked over, only to see a conspicuous name written on the very first line—Lin Changkong!

Su Qingqing felt her heart sink, and she collapsed limply to the ground.

Not long after Lin Changkong returned to his dormitory, Zhang Shanhe came looking for him.

"Greetings, Elder Zhang."

Zhang Shanhe waved his hand and said with a smile, "No need to be so polite with me. Take this Qi Gathering Pill."

Zhang Shanhe took out a small jade bottle and placed it before Lin Changkong. Though the stopper had not been opened, a faint medicinal fragrance could already be smelled.

Lin Changkong was slightly surprised. A Qi Gathering Pill was absolutely a good thing for someone in the Body Tempering Realm.

A Qi Gathering Pill could increase the chance of breaking through into the Qi Gathering Realm, raising it by as much as thirty to fifty percent. For those with poor aptitude, a single Qi Gathering Pill could sometimes determine whether their future could advance another step.

Yet even for Outer Sect Disciples, such a thing was definitely scarce, let alone for servant disciples.

Becoming an Outer Sect Disciple did indeed come with some rewards, but there was absolutely nothing as precious as a Qi Gathering Pill.

"A Qi Gathering Pill? Elder Zhang, is this one of the advancement tournament's prizes?"

Zhang Shanhe said, "There's no Qi Gathering Pill among the advancement tournament prizes. This is from me personally. You don't need to be too surprised. To put it bluntly, this counts as an investment.

"I had no such intention yesterday, but I truly never expected you to master the Wind Breaking Saber in less than a day. If I'd known there was a genius like you in the Servant Courtyard, I would have dug you out long ago and sent you into the Outer Sect early.

"You really are something. Your talent is obviously so good, yet you hid it for so long. What era is this? You're still playing that act of pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger."

Lin Changkong looked calm and unruffled as he said, "Then I'll thank Elder Zhang. I'll accept this Qi Gathering Pill."

Lin Changkong had a favorable impression of Zhang Shanhe's straightforwardness.

With his own aptitude, breaking through into the Qi Gathering Realm would absolutely not be easy. Even after ten years, he might not necessarily succeed.

And if he wanted to gain a foothold in the Outer Sect, he had to become an expert of the Qi Gathering Realm.

Therefore, this Qi Gathering Pill was extremely important to him.

Zhang Shanhe nodded as well, greatly pleased by Lin Changkong's forthrightness.

Then his expression shifted slightly, and he changed the subject. "There is one more matter I need to remind you about. That Zhang Qingyun's background is not simple. Although he is no match for you now, as far as I know, he has a cousin in the Outer Sect named Zhang Qingfeng.

"This Zhang Qingfeng has decent talent and is currently ranked fifteenth among the Outer Sect Disciples. Given the conflict between you and Zhang Qingyun, I'm afraid Zhang Qingyun will not let the matter rest.

"However, I cannot interfere in Outer Sect affairs, so I can only give you a warning. After entering the Outer Sect, you should keep a somewhat low profile for now and develop quietly."

Lin Changkong clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Zhang. I will bear it firmly in mind. If I, Lin Changkong, achieve anything in the future, I will certainly not forget Elder Zhang's appreciation today."

Zhang Shanhe laughed heartily and waved his large hand. "Remember if you can; if you don't, it matters not. I've stayed in the Heavenly Fire Sect for thirty years, and all I hope for is that the sect produces a few more talents.

"Pack your things. You'll report to the Outer Sect first thing tomorrow morning. Competition there is far more intense than this. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can make of yourself in the Outer Sect."

Zhang Shanhe laughed heartily again and left in high spirits.

After seeing Zhang Shanhe off, Lin Changkong lowered his head and muttered, "Zhang Qingfeng, fifteenth in the Outer Sect... Slapping that face should make a pretty loud sound, shouldn't it?"