Chapter 32: Qi Refining Fifth Layer

Returned to the sect.

"You had a backup plan... why didn't you say so sooner?"

Xin Tong pursed her lips, her eyes filled with a look of grievance.

She had known nothing beforehand and had even prepared herself to defect from the sect.

Chen Zhao gave a sheepish laugh.

If he had informed them in advance, and they hadn't fought the enemy with all their might, it would have been inevitable for Su Muxuan to notice something amiss.

Fortunately.

After this incident, because Fang Zijing had failed to report the situation properly and had misused an Evil Cultivator, he was sentenced to one year of wall-facing at Si Guo Ya and could not dispatch any personnel.

The Spirit Qi at Si Guo Ya is thin, almost no different from the mortal world; cultivators cannot practice there, and there are people specifically assigned to guard it.

But if the truth were reported, Fang Zijing would certainly be put to death.

Elder Zhang did not want to be locked in a life-or-death struggle with Elder Fang, so naturally, he downplayed the matter and did not hand over the image-recording stone.

Chen Zhao was not at all surprised by this.

His goal had already been achieved: to make Elder Zhang step down, appear in person, and stand on their side.

Although both sides were an alliance of interests, Fang and Su would still have their reservations.

In this way, they were safe for the time being.

And considering everyone's emotions.

Chen Zhao took out the Storage Bag to divide the spoils.

He had not contributed much, but everyone, mindful of his successful planning, still let him choose first.

Chen Zhao searched inside the bag, and before long, he found a glistening white stone.

As soon as he got close to this object, the Evil Qi on his body immediately dissipated.

It must be the Muchen Stone.

Chen Zhao tried to infuse it with spiritual power to make it fuse with the Qingming Naling Sword, but despite exhausting his spiritual power, he saw no effect.

Seeing this, Su Xin and the other smiled, while Liu Chen laughed heartily.

According to him.

Fusing a spiritual object into a Dharma Treasure is more difficult than forging one anew; if it fails, both are lost, so it is generally handled by a Refining Master.

Chen Zhao curled his lip.

He thought of Chen Qingmeng.

However, although Fang Zijing had lost power, his remaining prestige still existed, and since Chen Qingmeng was under Su Muqing's command, he dared not agree.

Chen Zhao had no choice but to go to Juxian Pavilion to try his luck.

And when Liu Chen heard about this, he promised to help him find an excellent Refining Master.

The condition was for him to perform Alchemy at Juxian Pavilion for four months.

During this period.

Chen Zhao discovered that Su Muqing was also at Wan Bao Lou.

She sought out Chen Qingmeng, hoping to have a special Dharma Treasure crafted that could cause her slight pain to relax her muscles and activate her blood circulation.

For half a year.

She had been troubled by the curse from time to time.

At first, she found it unbearably annoying.

But cultivation is a major matter; what could she not endure?

As time passed, a different kind of feeling began to sprout.

Having not seen her for a long time, this person had become increasingly charming, the exact opposite of her younger sister.

Chen Zhao could not help but be surprised, but he could only make other plans.

"I have already reached the perfection of Qi Refining Fourth Layer; once I reach the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and increase the intensity of the curse, I will certainly be able to make her unable to cultivate."

Half a month later.

Ren Zi Dong Fu.

The gray-robed youth sat with his eyes closed in meditation, a stream of gray-green spiritual power ebbing and flowing like the tide with his breathing.

As soon as he opened his eyes, the spiritual power within his body surged, full of endless vitality.

More than a year since entering the sect, Qi Refining Fifth Layer!

He clenched his fist, feeling the fluctuations of his spiritual power.

"The Health Preservation Art is about to reach its bottleneck."

This cultivation technique has a limit of only the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, and the further one goes, the harder it is to break through.

Fortunately, he still had the Huanglong Pill.

For the coming year, the matter of Fang Zijing could be set aside, and he would have much more time for cultivation than before.

Promotion should not be a problem.

Chen Zhao brushed his sleeves and examined the Qingming Naling Sword on his lap.

"Once you fuse with the Muchen Stone, you might have a miraculous effect against Evil Qi, and perhaps you can even advance in rank."

Chen Zhao pointed his fingers to stroke the sword, revealing a look of expectation.

If it were truly as he thought, this sword would have special effects against both Dharma Treasures and Evil Cultivators, making it absolutely a sharp weapon for Dharma Battles.

He put the sword into his Storage Bag and stood up to look around the Cave Abode.

It was empty.

Only two letters remained.

One letter was left by Liu Chen.

It said that Elder Zhang had officially stepped in to help Juxian Pavilion apply for a venue, with a monthly rent of three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, and ten percent of the profits to be handed over to the sect.

Juxian Pavilion, in turn, would hire the Outer Sect Disciples under his command to patrol and maintain order.

He also hired Su Wanyao to be in charge of the accounts and selected a few Registered Disciples from the Su Family to assist with daily services.

"It seems the business is running quite well; he rarely even returns to his Cave Abode."

Given his personality, the Spirit Qi concentration at the new site would not be low, so he must be cultivating there.

Chen Zhao stroked his chin.

He could imagine that Liu Chen was quite smug at this moment, his brushstrokes bold and unrestrained, his sharp edge fully exposed.

At the end of the letter.

It was written that a Refining Master had already been found, waiting only for Chen Zhao to keep the appointment.

It was said that this person had old ties with Chen Qingmeng and possessed extraordinary refining techniques, so he should rest assured.

The other letter was from Li Zhiwei, which he had already read.

It spoke of her seclusion, telling Chen Zhao not to knock on her door for no reason and to think of his own solutions if something came up.

Seclusion?

When they last met, she had not yet reached the Great Perfection, so it should not be a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

"Does she think I'm a troublemaker?"

Unjust!

Truly unjust!

Every single time, he was forced into it!

Furthermore, aside from being set up by Fang Zijing, when had he ever failed to escape unscathed?

Chen Zhao curled his lips.

Even in this incident, he had left the spotlight to Elder Zhang and hidden himself behind the scenes.

He put down the letter.

Chen Zhao walked out of his Cave Abode, only to see Xin Tong already waiting there.

Her little finger was hooked in his sleeve, though her gaze had been fixed on the evening glow in the sky for who knows how long.

"It's... it's time to go."

Xin Tong said softly.

She had also agreed to help Juxian Pavilion carve an Array, and the two had arranged to go together.

After Juxian Pavilion was built.

It became famous among the lower-ranking disciples, and guests arrived in an endless stream.

For a time.

The services in the pavilion were in short supply, which was why they were invited.

"I heard... they also invited other Alchemists; you are the Chief, so the pressure must be quite high from now on."

Xin Tong smiled faintly and puffed out her small chest:

"But I am the only Formation Master here, so Junior Brother Liu will just have to let me name my price, hmph hmph."

Fortunately, Senior Sister Xin was still the same Senior Sister Xin.

Chen Zhao couldn't help but smile.

It was said that those two Alchemists both came from the Dan Tang; their skills might not be better than his, but in terms of seniority, he still had to address them as Senior Brothers.

Now he had turned the tables and was ranked above them both.

If he wanted to secure his position as Chief in the future, he would have to display his power and make a name for himself.

"Liu Chen's intention is to have me show off a bit, but I don't have that kind of personality; it's not like I absolutely must be this Chief."

As Chief Alchemist, he received fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones per month and could also take a commission on sales, so the compensation was certainly good.

But Chen Zhao had a one-percent "dividend" from Juxian Pavilion.

It seemed like little, but it amounted to four Low-grade Spirit Stones every day, which was much higher than the Chief's monthly stipend.

Xin Tong was somewhat puzzled.

"In terms of talent and intellect, you are not inferior to any Outer Sect Disciple; why are you content to stay behind others?"

She knew Chen Zhao's temperament.

However.

It was true that Fang Zijing had lost power, but Su Muqing was still there.

If he didn't make a great name for himself, how could he make her fear him?

Chen Zhao smiled and shook his head.

"A tall tree catches the wind, especially a tree like Ju Xian Lou; it has grown too fast."

Unless he had overwhelming strength, he would never easily step into the spotlight.

First, make oneself invincible, then wait for the enemy to be vulnerable.

He had always been this way.

Before long.

The two stood on the lawn behind the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

They saw a four-story building rising straight into the clouds.

Liu Chen walked with a swagger, his bitter face beaming with joy, and welcomed them both inside.