17: Qin Yang wants people

Lin Feng turned and asked, "How is your cultivation going? How is your accumulation of Spiritual Qi?"

At the mention of this, Ye Yuner's eyes dimmed slightly, and she lowered her head, whispering:

"It's the same as always. The growth of Spiritual Qi is very slow, and I feel like I'm still so far from a Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Third Layer..."

Without hesitation, he took several bottles of qi condensing pill from his Storage Pouch and stuffed them into Ye Yuner's hands.

"Take these. Cultivate well and strive to reach the Qi Refining Third Layer soon; once you have the power to protect yourself, I can rest a bit easier."

He looked at Ye Yuner's surprised and moved expression: "As for the matter of the Breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining... don't worry, I will find a way."

After urging her a few more times to Cultivate carefully and not to be overly eager for quick success, Lin Feng turned and left.

Spirit Pill Pavilion Side Hall.

Steward Han paced back and forth in the courtyard, making dull "thump, thump" sounds that made people's hearts race with anxiety.

A small Menial Servant was trembling as he carried a basket of newly arrived medicinal herbs, and his footsteps slowed slightly, blocking his path.

"Get lost! You blind thing." He kicked out fiercely, smashing into the herb basket.

The basket overturned, and the dried medicinal herbs scattered all over the ground.

The little Menial Servant was scared pale, scrambling and crawling to the side, not daring to let out a breath.

Everyone kept their heads buried, wishing they could shrink themselves into the ground.

Lin Feng silently sifted the medicinal powder, his knuckles turning white from the force.

After Steward Han left, he heard two veteran Disciples whispering beside him, their voices kept extremely low:

"Have you heard? Steward Han went to the Shang Gong Hall and was rebuffed..."

"Heh, so what if he's at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer? Without roots or a backer, why would the higher-ups let him shed this Steward skin and become a carefree Outer Sect Disciple?"

"So many people are eyeing this position with envy. If he leaves, who will skim the profits?"

"It's said he spent plenty of Spirit Stone, but it was completely useless..."

Lin Feng's heart sank; he feared his days ahead would not be easy.

Steward Han returned, his gaze sweeping around the circle before finally fixing firmly on Lin Feng.

"Lin Feng, come with me."

Arriving at the quiet room.

"That Pill Formula. Are you f***ing going to take it to your grave? My patience is limited."

Lin Feng lowered his eyelids, speechless internally: 'There is no peiyuan pill Pill Formula at all! What I had was the Pill Intent and Alchemy techniques I copied from Senior Sister Su.'

But he couldn't say that, so he could only remain silent.

Steward Han watched as Lin Feng continued to play dumb:

"I see you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Don't think I don't know the little schemes you're hiding."

"Let me tell you, even if I can't become an Outer Sect Disciple, killing you would be no different than crushing a stink bug!"

After speaking, he glared fiercely at Lin Feng, kicked the door open, and slammed it shut with a bang.

'The peiyuan pill... only the peiyuan pill might temporarily satisfy his appetite and help me with my Breakthrough...'

This thought popped up wildly, only to be suppressed by cold memories. He clearly remembered Senior Sister Su saying: "Do not take it unless you are at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining or above; if the weak take it, their Meridians will be shattered..."

That day, while delivering medicinal herbs to the main hall, he happened to run into Sun Hao on the way back.

"Senior Brother Sun Hao." Lin Feng managed to steady his mind and salute.

Sun Hao nodded, his gaze pausing on his face: "Your aura is stagnant; are you stuck at the Peak?"

"Yes." Lin Feng's throat felt dry. After hesitating repeatedly, he held onto a last shred of hope and asked, "Senior Brother Sun Hao, may I ask... how you achieved the Breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining back then? This Disciple truly cannot find the way."

Sun Hao looked at him silently for a moment, then sighed softly: "The Middle Stage of Qi Refining is a hurdle; relying solely on grinding effort is difficult."

He lowered his voice, "Back then, I exhausted everything I had and begged for favors before I could privately trade for a peiyuan pill from a Senior Brother Alchemist."

The peiyuan pill!

Lin Feng's pupils constricted, his heart pounding wildly.

Senior Brother Sun Hao... when he had his Breakthrough, he must have also been at the Qi Refining Third Layer. He could take it? Then what about Senior Sister Su...

Sun Hao seemed unaware of his shock and continued calmly:

"However, even if you reach the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, it doesn't mean everything will go smoothly."

"When a Menial Servant reaches the fourth level, they must pass an assessment, and they also need an Elder or an Inner Sect Disciple willing to vouch for them before they can be entered into the Outer Sect roster."

"Otherwise, while the treatment might be slightly better, the status remains hard to change. Unless..."

He raised his eyes, looking toward the misty main Peak: "Unless you have exceptional talent and can break through all the way to Foundation Establishment, attracting the attention of an Elder to be taken under their wing and receive personal guidance."

"Otherwise, most of the time, you can only listen to public lectures at the Dharma Hall along with everyone else."

'So, even if I break through, I still need to grease palms, need connections, need a benefactor to promote me... And that Senior Sister Su...' Lin Feng's mind flashed with her beautiful yet cold face, 'She lied to me!'

Dazed, he bid farewell to Sun Hao. Lin Feng walked alone on the stone steps back to the side hall, feeling cold all over, his hands and feet numb.

The next day, just as Lin Feng was about to take a risk and consume the peiyuan pill to force a Breakthrough, an unexpected person appeared at the Spirit Pill Pavilion Side Hall.

It was Qin Yang, dressed in a white robe with cloud patterns.

Steward Han clearly hadn't expected Qin Yang to grace him with his presence. He hurried out, his face full of sycophantic smiles: "Senior Brother Qin. What wind blew you here? Please, come in, come in."

Qin Yang stood in the courtyard, his gaze sweeping calmly around, finally falling seemingly inadvertently on Lin Feng, who was sorting medicinal herbs.

"Steward Han," Qin Yang said, his voice steady yet carrying an inherent pressure, "By the order of my master, Elder Xuan Yue, I have come to ask you for someone."

The smile on Steward Han's face stiffened, his heart sank, and he had a bad premonition: "Senior Brother Qin, please say, who do you want? As long as I have them here, there will be no objections."

"Him." Qin Yang raised his hand, pointing his finger at Lin Feng.

In an instant, the entire side hall was silent.

All the Menial Servants stopped their work, looking at Lin Feng in astonishment.

Steward Han's complexion turned extremely ugly in an instant, and his smile completely vanished. He almost blurted out: "Him? Senior Brother Qin, this... this kid is just a clumsy Menial Servant, he..."

His words came to an abrupt halt.

Because Qin Yang's gaze finally moved away from Lin Feng and landed on his face. The gaze was not sharp, nor did it have any emotion; it just looked at him calmly.

But Steward Han felt an invisible, cold pressure instantly descend, causing all his subsequent words to be stuck firmly in his throat, and fine beads of cold sweat even seeped out on his forehead.

He realized whose decision he was questioning. Did Elder Xuan Yue need to explain to him if he wanted to take away a Menial Servant?

The muscles on his face twitched a few times, he tried hard to squeeze out a submissive smile, but it looked exceptionally twisted and ugly.

Lin Feng's heart also rose, his brain racing.

'Qin Yang? Why does he want me?'

He didn't dare to hesitate in the slightest, immediately stepping forward and bowing deeply to Qin Yang: "Disciple Lin Feng, I await your instructions, Senior Brother."

Qin Yang glanced at him indifferently, then said to Steward Han: "You will fill his vacancy yourself."

After saying this, he turned and walked out, without even looking at Lin Feng a second time.