71: Chapter 71 The Uninvited Guest in the Netherworld Grass Field

For the following period, Qi Yang resumed his routine as an old farmer.

During the day, he weeded and watered the grass field, and at night, he returned to his secret room, using the black gourd to ripen those cold poison grass seeds Su Qinghan had brought back.

Qi Refining Tenth Layer was merely the threshold for the inner Sect; to attempt Foundation Establishment, one had to push their cultivation to the Qi Condensation 12th Layer Great Perfection.

This was a long and immensely resource-draining process.

Fortunately, what Qi Yang lacked least right now was poisonous grass and time.

That evening, just as Qi Yang finished organizing a basket of mature nether grass, a familiar sword light descended from the sky once more.

Su Qinghan had come again.

However, this time she was not wearing the Personal Disciple attire of Jianzhi Peak, but a crisp black outfit, and the long sword on her back radiated an unsettling, chilling glint.

Her aura was deeper than before, clearly having completely stabilized her Realm, preparing to enter secluded life-and-death cultivation to break through to the Qi Condensation 11th Layer.

"Why is Fairy here again? Do you have any commands?"

Qi Yang quickly put down his work and hobbled forward with a hunched back to greet her.

Su Qinghan looked at Qi Yang, a trace of gentleness flashing across her cold eyes.

She drew a delicate Storage Pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Qi Yang.

"I am about to enter the Sword Tomb of Jianzhi Peak for secluded life-and-death cultivation, and I will absolutely not emerge until I break through to the Qi Condensation 11th Layer."

Su Qinghan's tone was calm, yet her words held an unyielding resolve.

"Inside this Storage Pouch is a batch of Rank 2 cold-attribute Spirit Medicine seeds I exchanged for using Sect contribution points, as well as a few bottles of life-extending Medicinal Pills. Your old bones are severely depleted of vital energy and blood; don't die of old age in this grass field before I even come out."

Qi Yang took the Storage Pouch, overjoyed in his heart.

Rank 2 cold-attribute Spirit Medicine seeds! This was precisely what he needed most right now!

They couldn't be bought in the markets outside at all; only inner Sect Personal Disciples were qualified to exchange contribution points for them.

This girl was practically his exclusive supply channel!

"Fairy's great kindness is unforgettable! Even if I strain these old bones of mine, I will surely live until the day Fairy emerges from seclusion!"

Qi Yang was so excited his hands trembled, bowing repeatedly.

Watching his humble demeanor, Su Qinghan sighed inwardly.

She actually didn't dislike Qi Yang; in fact, in this cold and unfeeling Sect, this law-abiding old man instead gave her a strange sense of security.

At least, Qi Yang would never scheme against her.

"Stay here at the Nether Grass Field. As long as you don't stir up trouble, the people from the Spirit Plant House won't dare to give you too much trouble out of respect for my Face. Take care of yourself."

Su Qinghan said no more, turning and transforming into a streak of sword light that resolutely shot toward Jianzhi Peak.

Watching Su Qinghan's receding back, Qi Yang weighed the Storage Pouch in his hand and let out a faint smile.

When night fell, Qi Yang slid into the underground secret room once again.

He planted all the seeds Su Qinghan gave him into the spiritual soil in the corner of the secret room, then dripped the green liquid from the black gourd onto them.

Sss, sss, sss!

In just a few breaths, several Rank 2 poisonous plants emanating extreme cold poison Qi burst through the soil, rapidly growing into hundred-year-old top-grade specimens!

"I wonder how powerful the liquid spiritual power of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer actually is."

Qi Yang was in no rush to swallow the poisonous plants; instead, with a flick of his wrist, he pulled out the remnant Rank 2 upper-grade Magical Artifact, the five elements ring, which he had bought at the Ghost Market.

This thing required five types of spiritual power injected simultaneously to activate; while useless to others, it was a treasure to him.

Qi Yang took a deep breath, mobilizing a drop of liquid Poison Wood Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea, and abruptly surged it through his Meridians into the five elements ring!

Buzz!

The originally dull five elements ring suddenly burst with dazzling, five-colored poisonous light!

A terrifying aura abruptly rippled through the secret room, causing even the surrounding Rank 2 defensive Formation to emit a straining groan!

"Good grief!"

Qi Yang quickly cut off the spiritual power supply and gasped.

Merely using a single drop of liquid spiritual power to activate a remnant artifact unleashed enough force to instantly kill an ordinary Qi Refining Tenth Layer Cultivator!

If he went all out, even an expert at the Qi Condensation 11th Layer would suffer a heavy loss if caught off guard!

"With this strength, I've truly gained a firm foothold in the inner Sect. Next is to lay low until I hit the Qi Condensation 12th Layer!"

...

Time passed like a white horse leaping across a gap, and three months flew by in the blink of an eye.

Days at the Nether Grass Field were dull and boring, but this was precisely the rhythm Qi Yang liked best.

Everyday he played the part of an old farmer as scheduled, while at night he wildly consumed pills in the secret room.

With the black gourd in hand, his Cultivation speed was even more terrifying than those Geniuses with Dual Spiritual Roots.

In just three months, not only had he completely stabilized his Qi Refining Tenth Layer Realm, but the liquid Poison Wood Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea had more than doubled, steadily advancing toward the Qi Condensation 11th Layer.

At noon that day, as Qi Yang was squatting in the field removing pests from the nether grass, a barrage of arrogant footsteps suddenly sounded outside the grass field.

Bang!

The already dilapidated wooden fence gate was kicked to splinters by someone.

Three young men wearing inner Sect robes strutted inside.

Leading them was an aquiline-nosed young man with a gloomy expression, his cultivation having reached the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

Behind him followed two lackeys at the Qi Condensation 8th Layer, their Faces filled with arrogance.

"Are you that old trash Qi Yang who grows nether grass?"

The aquiline-nosed youth looked down his nose at Qi Yang, his tone dripping with disdain.

Qi Yang slowly stood up, patted the dirt off his hands, and offered a subservient smile while hunched over: "This old man is indeed Qi Yang. May I ask what business you three Senior Brothers have in these remote hills?"

"Cut the damn nonsense!"

The aquiline-nosed youth waved his hand impatiently.

"I am Wei Bang from the Alchemy Pavilion! I am refining a batch of Rank 2 Medicinal Pills recently and urgently need a large amount of top-grade nether grass. I heard the goods in your grass field are decent, so hurry up and dig out five hundred stalks for me!"

Qi Yang sneered in his heart.

Five hundred stalks?

That was practically half a year's yield for the Nether Grass Field!

This bastard was blatantly robbing him!

"Senior Brother Wei, that won't do!"

Qi Yang feigned panic and fear, frantically waving his hands.

"This Nether Grass Field is officially registered with the Sect, and every month's quota must be submitted to the Spirit Plant House on time. If this old man digs up five hundred stalks for you on my own, and the Spirit Plant House blames me, these old bones of mine won't be able to bear the consequences!"

"Trying to pressure me with the Spirit Plant House?"

Wei Bang scoffed and stepped forward, unleashing the pressure of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer directly toward Qi Yang.

"Old thing, why don't you ask around? My cousin-uncle is an influential steward of the Alchemy Pavilion! Even the new manager of the Spirit Plant House has to be polite to him! Dig when I tell you to dig. If you dare chatter any more, I'll skin you alive today!"

The two lackeys also drew the Magical Artifacts from their waists, closing in with ferocious smiles.

Qi Yang pretended to be driven back several steps by the pressure, coughing violently as if he might pass out at any moment.

But he didn't kneel to beg for mercy; instead, with trembling hands, he pulled out a red sandalwood plaque from his breast.

"Senior Brother Wei! My life is cheap, and dying isn't a loss, but this plaque was personally bestowed by Grand Elder Li Changyuan of the outer Sect! This Nether Grass Field enjoys autonomous rights as a Special Grade Herb Garden; no one may enter or seize anything by force without a written order! If you act, you are flouting the Grand Elder's rules!"

Though Qi Yang's voice was raspy, it resounded with firm conviction.

Seeing that red sandalwood plaque, Wei Bang's Face changed slightly.

Li Changyuan was a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder; even with ten times the courage, Wei Bang wouldn't dare openly offend him.

But if he was scared off today by a Qi Condensation Third Layer trash holding a plaque, how could he hold his head up in the inner Sect in the future?

"Old dog, treating a chicken feather as an order badge!"

Wei Bang flew into a rage from embarrassment, a flash of malice passing through his eyes.

"I won't rob your grass today, but I find you eyesore enough that I'll teach a rule-ignorant handyman like you a lesson on behalf of the Sect!"

As soon as his words fell, Wei Bang abruptly raised his hand, striking a sharp Wood-attribute palm wind directly toward Qi Yang's chest!

Although he didn't use full force in this palm attack, hitting a "Qi Condensation Third Layer" old man would definitely shatter his internal organs!

A grim flash of killing intent flashed in the depths of Qi Yang's eyes.

Giving you Face, but you refuse it!