Chapter 227

Outside the courtyard wall, Wen Yuelao was tiptoeing behind an old pine tree, her beautiful oval face filled with a complex mix of shock and confusion.

She had been unable to sleep and went out for a stroll, happening to catch Xu Qinghuan sneaking into Old Master Jiang's courtyard, and followed out of curiosity.

Now, separated by a courtyard wall, she dared not get any closer.

She had practiced secret arts for restraining qi in the Tianqing Sect, but Old Master Jiang's strength was unfathomable; even the Thick Earth Liu Fengzhu couldn't last a few moves against him, so her qi-restraining method might not be able to deceive him.

Moreover, she felt that her current behavior...

How did it feel like some kind of unspeakable sneakiness.

Her heart was thumping wildly.

However, she was also truly curious about why Xu Qinghuan would sneak into Old Master Jiang's courtyard alone in the middle of the night.

What exactly was she going to do.

Although she was not very old, she had some experience in the martial arts world and was not some ignorant young girl who knew nothing.

A bold thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

The girl's beautiful oval face turned bright red instantly.

Immediately after, she shook her head abruptly and murmured softly:

"No... it shouldn't be..."

"Old Master Jiang is such an upright person..."

"How could he be at his age and still..."

Although she muttered this, her feet were rooted to the spot as if they had grown roots.

Regardless, she had to see when Xu Qinghuan would come out of Old Master Jiang's courtyard tonight.

This wait lasted for two hours.

The night breeze in the mountains brushed past Wen Yuelao's ears.

Blowing the stray hair on her forehead, she was completely unaware, only occasionally peeking toward the courtyard gate and then quickly shrinking back.

It wasn't until the second half of the night, with the moonlight shifting to the west.

That Wen Yuelao finally saw Xu Qinghuan's graceful figure limping out of the courtyard gate.

Wen Yuelao's spirits lifted, and she looked closely.

How could she be fine when she went in, but limping and with trembling legs when she came out...

Wen Yuelao's heart shook violently, and her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

After all, she was an Embracing the Pill Realm martial artist; even in the night, she could clearly capture that Xu Qinghuan's fair and delicate face was full of unusual redness.

The corners of her eyes and brows were hung with a lazy and satisfied charm, and her whole person seemed soft and limp as if her bones had been removed, each step feeling like she was stepping on cotton.

Especially the way she was limping, which made people's imaginations run wild.

"No way... did they really..."

Wen Yuelao's rapid breathing suddenly stopped, and a certain scene flashed uncontrollably in her mind.

The girl suddenly felt her whole body starting to heat up, and it was hot, burning from her cheeks to her earlobes, and even her neck was flushed with crimson.

She didn't dare to look any further, hurriedly restrained her aura, and used her movement technique to sneak back to her own courtyard without a sound.

This night.

Wen Yuelao lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

As long as she closed her eyes, the image of Xu Qinghuan's flushed face and limping gait would appear in her mind.

The girl, who had always slept well, tasted the bitterness of insomnia for the first time.

The following days, Jiang Ye lived quite peacefully.

He sat cross-legged on the open ground beside the Green Flame Grass field, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him flowing slowly like a tide, and the earth-yellow Earth-attribute true qi in his dantian was refined and compressed bit by bit, moving steadily toward the direction of true qi.

He threw all the miscellaneous affairs within the peak to Liu Qingyu to handle.

That Liu Fengzhu Liu was efficient and had the legitimate status of an elder, making her perfectly suited to handle these chores.

Around his courtyard, several people close to him were also busy with their own things.

After arriving at the Upper Sect, Chen Lili practiced martial arts even more diligently than at the Tianqing Sect, getting up before dawn every day to polish her strength, her aura becoming increasingly rounded day by day.

She was only one layer of window paper away from the peak of Transformation of Force; once she broke through, she could begin to practice the qi-nourishing method to embrace qi and form a pill.

As for Xu Qinghuan, ever since that night of "breaking the fever," she had to be honest for at least a few days.

Even if she wanted to "have a fever" again, her body couldn't take it.

Lü Ming spent half his mind on martial arts and half on inquiring about news within the Upper Sect.

This was originally his specialty; having been here for only a few days, he had already figured out quite a few ways.

This day, he trotted into Jiang Ye's courtyard and reported respectfully:

"Elder Jiang, I have already inquired."

"The three peerless martial arts that anchor the sect are each divided into four levels, and each level requires ten thousand contribution points to exchange."

Jiang Ye sat cross-legged in place, his aged eyes narrowing slightly: "A peerless martial art divided into four levels... ten thousand contribution points for each level..."

Although he had long known that these sect-anchoring peerless arts would not be cheap, hearing the number with his own ears was still somewhat shocking.

In other words, to fully exchange for one peerless martial art, it would take a full forty thousand contribution points.

With his current status as a deacon, he only got five hundred contribution points a month; relying solely on his salary, he didn't know how long it would take to save up.

Go to the Tian Shu Hall to take missions to earn contribution points?

He shook his head inwardly; this would undoubtedly disrupt the progress of refining his true qi.

Time and energy were both limited; every bit spent was a bit less.

Although he was quite confident in his own means, the several opponents competing for Primordial Qi were, after all, Primordial martial artists.

Not to be underestimated.

Every bit of increase in strength was crucial.

Lü Ming seemed to see his concerns and added cautiously:

"Elder Jiang, I also heard—submitting herbs can be exchanged for contribution points at the Tian Shu Hall."

Jiang Ye raised his eyebrows and then shook his head slightly: "Besides submitting herbs, what else can be used to obtain a large number of contribution points?"

Although those herbs were left by the Chiyan Sect, they were ultimately the common property of the Tianqing Sect, and he didn't feel right taking them all to exchange for contribution points by himself.

Lü Ming lowered his voice solemnly: "I heard that submitting Primordial Qi can earn twenty thousand contribution points for a single wisp."

"Oh?!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ye's eyes lit up instantly.

A wisp of Primordial Qi was equivalent to twenty thousand contribution points.

This was indeed a good path.

It just depended on how much Primordial Qi could be born on this Tianyun Peak.

After Lü Ming exited the courtyard, he closed his eyes again, and the earth-yellow true qi flowed slowly around his body.

Didn't Cheng Yuan of the Chiyan Sect say that he would never let him get a single wisp of Primordial Qi, otherwise he would write his name backward...

He was truly looking forward to what expression would be on that old man's face then.

Three days later, Lü Ming's excited voice broke the tranquility of the nearby small courtyard.

"Elder Jiang, a major event has happened in the Upper Sect!!!"

Zheng Feng and Wen Yuelao had been immersed in the rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth on Tianyun Peak for the past few days, practicing hard; the two had even made a special trip to the Tian Shu Hall, spending fifty contribution points each to exchange for two cauldrons to assist in their cultivation.

Today, having just settled the cauldrons, they heard Lü Ming's irrepressible excited voice and immediately became interested, quickly gathering in Jiang Ye's courtyard.

"Junior Brother Lü, I don't know what major event has happened in the Upper Sect that could make you so uncomposed?"

Zheng Feng stepped into the courtyard gate first and asked with a smile, while respectfully bowing to Jiang Ye, who was sitting cross-legged beside the herb field.

Wen Yuelao followed closely behind, but the moment she saw Jiang Ye, not knowing what she thought of, a flush suddenly surged onto her beautiful oval face, a hidden shyness flashing in her beautiful eyes, and even her greeting was somewhat stuttering.

Seeing this scene, a flash of hidden surprise crossed Jiang Ye's eyes.

This little girl Wen Yuelao had always been a straightforward person, and to have such a bashful moment was truly a strange thing.

However, he didn't ask much, only slowly rising from beside the herb field, leading the three to sit at the stone table in the courtyard, and unhurriedly brewing a pot of tea.

"Tell me, what major event has happened."

Jiang Ye pushed the tea cup to Lü Ming, and the gazes of Zheng Feng and Wen Yuelao also fell on him simultaneously.

Lü Ming gulped down a large mouthful of tea and spoke impatiently:

"Elder Jiang, according to the news I inquired about."

"The Upper Sect's True Transmission List is about to undergo changes!!!"

Hearing this, a strange look flashed across everyone's faces.

Each of the ten True Transmission disciples of the Upper Sect held a pivotal position.

Their changes could indeed be considered a major event within the sect.

Lü Ming continued:

"It is said that the Ling She Peak inner disciple, Jiang Chuxue, challenged the gatekeeper of the True Transmission List, Lu Tianhao, with the strength of the mid-stage Divine Qi Realm, defeating the strong with the weak and successfully taking his place!"

Hearing the three words "Jiang Chuxue," Zheng Feng's body shook violently, the color on his handsome face fading bit by bit, and bloodshot eyes appeared in his eyes, his breathing becoming short and oppressive without him realizing it.

Jiang Ye keenly captured his abnormality.

He could even see the muscles on Zheng Feng's cheeks trembling slightly; that was a spasm that only appeared when the teeth were clenched too tightly.

"Could it be that this Jiang Chuxue has a relationship with True Transmission Zheng..."

Jiang Ye pondered inwardly.

He suddenly remembered that Zheng Feng had been very hesitant about whether to come to the Linzhou Upper Sect at the time; could it be related to this person?

However, he didn't expose it, only holding his tea cup and drinking quietly, saying nothing more.

Wen Yuelao, who was on the side, lit up and said: "Is this Jiang Xu Shijie actually so powerful!"

Lü Ming nodded repeatedly, pouring out all the news he had inquired about:

"This Jiang Xu Shijie is not simple; I heard that she possesses the extremely rare Gold Spirit Body, naturally able to produce a subtle resonance with the metals of the world."

"Not only is the progress of nourishing Gold-attribute true qi far beyond ordinary martial artists, but even the Gold-attribute true qi she displays is more than a notch stronger than others!"

"Xu Xu Shijie Brother Lu Tianhao's true qi was already close to perfection, and he had guarded the True Transmission List for two full years, but in front of Jiang Xu Shijie's Gold Spirit Body, his sword moves were restricted everywhere, and he was eventually knocked off his horse."

Wen Yuelao suddenly realized, a look of envy appearing on her beautiful oval face: "So it's a special physique..."

Those who possessed special traits indeed had too many advantages over ordinary martial artists.

A look of deep thought flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes: "Gold Spirit Body..."

Zheng Feng suddenly put down his tea cup, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible: "Elder Jiang, I am feeling somewhat unwell... I will return first."

After speaking, he didn't wait for everyone's response and got up to walk out of the courtyard.

His footsteps were hurried and chaotic, a far cry from his usual composure.

When he reached the corner of the wall, he accidentally bumped into the corner of the courtyard wall, his shoulder hitting the rough blue stone heavily, and he staggered, but he didn't even stop and continued to walk out, his back soon disappearing into the depths of the pine forest.