13: Black Abyss Forest

As soon as these words were spoken, the various stewards nodded one after another.

This kind of mission was indeed suitable for Menial Servants to participate in; it was tedious, but the safety factor was relatively high, making it a good opportunity to earn Contribution Points.

He turned his head and whispered to Lin Feng, "You go too. Follow along to gain some experience and broaden your horizons. Perhaps you can even snag some Contribution Points."

Lin Feng lowered his head and complied, "Yes."

On the way back to the side hall of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, Steward Han paced as he asked:

"Lin Feng, although this mission mainly involves chores, the wilderness is not like the Sect after all. Your cultivation is still shallow, so you need to be extra careful.

By the way, that ancient Pill Formula from before... if you have time one day, why don't you write it down from memory so we can study it together?

Perhaps it can be further perfected, which would also be of great benefit to your future Alchemy."

Lin Feng sneered inwardly, but his face showed fear and shame:

"Since the Steward is asking, this Disciple should not hide anything.

It's just... that Pill Formula was passed down via Divine Thought by that Senior before he passed away. Many parts are blurry and incomplete. I was just guessing and happened to succeed once by luck.

There are many key points that I still haven't been able to grasp. I'm afraid that writing it down would result in numerous errors, which might mislead the Steward instead.

Once I have studied it more deeply in the future, I will definitely consult the Steward at the first opportunity."

Steward Han's smile remained unchanged: "No matter, no matter. Both cultivation and Alchemy require gradual progress. You can take your time to figure it out."

'Pill Formula... Pill Formula...' Late at night, Lin Feng was alone in his quarters, recalling the process of refining the peiyuan pill and the qi condensing pill.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

'Why am I obsessed with Pill Formulas? A formula is static, but the Alchemy process is dynamic.

When those Inner Sect Disciples or even Elders perform Alchemy, their control over the heat, their grasp of the timing for the Fusion of medicinal properties, that unique Pill Intent...'

He suddenly saw the light. He didn't need a complete Pill Formula at all.

He only needed an opportunity for close-range observation. With the heaven-stealing vine, he could completely copy that Pill Intent and technique during the other party's Alchemy process.

'But... the Elders have profound cultivation and sharp Divine Sense. If I spy on them, it would be extremely easy to be discovered. The risk is too great.

On the other hand, those Inner Sect Disciples with exquisite Alchemy skills... Most of their cultivation is at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. Although their Divine Sense is strong, if I am careful, it might be feasible.

Moreover, dealing with them is much easier than approaching an Elder.

However, it seems Inner Sect Disciples are also quite difficult to get close to.'

In the Black Abyss Forest, ancient trees reached for the sky, their leaves so dense that they almost blocked out all light.

Lin Feng walked in the middle of the Menial Servant group, his footsteps sinking into the soft, slimy decaying leaves with a faint squelching sound.

The group moved forward in silence, broken only by the crackling sound of the Outer Sect Disciples in front swinging their swords to cut through the vines blocking the path.

"This damn place..." Third Brother Wang beside him panted heavily and grumbled in a low voice. Sweat dripped from his brow, mixing with the dampness of the forest, making him look particularly miserable.

"I feel like my spiritual power is draining with every breath. It's really not as pleasant as being in the herb garden... Steward Wang is really..."

A young voice rang out from ahead: "Just bear with it. I heard this mission gives a lot of Contribution Points. Once I've saved enough, I can exchange them for a better Cultivation Technique."

The speaker was Xiao Li, only sixteen years old, with a face still full of childishness. "Maybe... maybe I can even break through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining and have a chance to become an Outer Sect Disciple."

Another sturdy figure, Big Ox, chimed in: "Same here. I'm saving Contribution Points to exchange for a Body Refining Cultivation Technique. I'm strong, so I can definitely do it." He patted his solid chest.

Lin Feng listened without responding, only alertly observing the overly quiet forest around them.

Senior Brother Zhao Qian, who was responsible for protection, turned his head with a cold expression and scolded, "Quiet. Speed up. No one will wait for you if you fall behind."

Another relatively mild-tempered Senior Brother Sun Hao would occasionally remind them: "The miasma here seems thicker; try to avoid it."

The group stopped at a relatively open clearing by a stream.

After a careful investigation, Senior Brother Sun Hao nodded: "We will set up camp here."

Once the order was given, the Utility Disciples immediately began to get busy.

Felling trees, clearing the ground, driving in the foundation stakes for the defensive Formation... However, the environment was sweltering and humid; from time to time, someone would vomit after being bitten by poisonous insects or inhaling miasma.

Xiao Li and Big Ox worked the hardest, their clothes soon soaked with sweat. Third Brother Wang sighed and groaned, yet he didn't dare to slack off.

Lin Feng silently did his share of the work, conserving every bit of strength, his gaze occasionally sweeping toward the depths of the dark woodland.

As the camp gradually took shape, the sense of unease in his heart did not lessen but instead grew heavier.

Zhao Qian and Sun Hao had the highest cultivation among the leaders this time, one at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and the other at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

The two of them directed several other Outer Sect Disciples at the fourth and fifth levels of Qi Refining to begin surveying the terrain outward from the camp, drawing simple maps and marking potential resource points and dangerous areas.

Three days passed quickly.

The camp had begun to take shape, and the defensive Formation was basically complete.

The roads were mostly explored, and the survey maps were about seventy to eighty percent finished.

In the evening, everyone sat around the campfire gnawing on dry rations. The atmosphere had relaxed slightly.

"In two more days, once the Sect's main force arrives on a Spirit Boat to take over, our mission will be considered complete." The speaker was an Outer Sect Disciple named Zhang Zhi, who was slightly older.

Xiao Li, sitting next to him, immediately looked up: "Senior Brother Zhang, how many Contribution Points do you think we'll all get this time? I've calculated it carefully; according to the standards of previous times, I'll be able to exchange for a basic sword technique when I get back."

He counted on his fingers, his eyes sparkling. "When I become as powerful as you all, maybe I'll be able to break through the fourth layer and become an Outer Sect Disciple."

As he spoke, he also secretly touched the corner of a hard booklet in his robe; that was likely the catalog of Cultivation Techniques he had been longing for.

Hearing this, Big Ox, who was gnawing on dried meat opposite him, put down what he was holding and chuckled, "Same here. I'll exchange for a Body Refining method then. Heh, maybe I can be as impressive as Senior Brother Zhao and Senior Brother Sun."

He wiped the grease from his mouth and patted his sturdy chest hard, making a thumping sound.

"Look at how little ambition you have!" Another Menial Servant nearby, Liu Er, curled his lip. "Is it really that easy to become an Outer Sect Disciple? It's better to save more and exchange for some Medicinal Pills; that's more practical."

"Humph, it'll be good enough just to make it back alive." Third Brother Wang rubbed his hands by the fire. "When I get back, I'm going to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant down the mountain for a good drink."

"Third Brother Wang, all you think about is drinking. If you can't Cultivate to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, you'd better go back home and find a wife; that's the proper way." A familiar Menial Servant teased him with a laugh.

"Go away. I'm going to drink my fill first." Third Brother Wang pretended to be angry.

Lin Feng sat in the corner, slowly chewing his dry rations, but his gaze involuntarily turned once more toward that deathly silent forest.

It was too quiet.

Even the usual chirping of insects and occasional roars of beasts had vanished.

Just then, Senior Brother Sun Hao suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically.

"Something's wrong! On guard—!"