46: Church of Saints

Gu Changan and the others were dumbfounded; such a situation actually existed!

Gu Changan thought of Qiankun Workshop again!

What if someone from Qiankun Workshop also came to collect protection fees, even if it was just a low-level lackey using Qiankun Workshop's name...

Would Gu Changan and the others pay or not?

After hearing Zhao Ye's words, Shen Yan slammed his hand on the table with a loud 'bang' in anger!

It gave Gu Changan a start; it seemed even an honest man could be pushed too far!

Ye Wei burst into tears, her tears falling continuously like pearls on a string.

Seeing this made Gu Changan's heart melt; she was only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, after all!

She had no father or mother, was an orphan, and was still being bullied like this!

But what could be done?

He couldn't escape this predicament himself!

Gu Changan spoke up, "Then what should we do?"

"We only have half of our distributed Sect resources left. How can they still collect from us?"

"At worst, we'll just give them everything!"

Gu Changan was answered by two sighs!

Although losing these resources wouldn't affect Gu Changan much...

...he was still somewhat indignant!

Should he find some time to hide away and Cultivate?

Or take an external mission and go hide for a while?

Just then, there was another knock on the courtyard gate. "Yo! Everyone's here!"

"I was just looking for you!"

"And look at that, everyone's together all at once!"

Gu Changan and the others turned to see several Cultivators dressed in Outer Sect Disciple robes strolling in as if they were entering their own courtyard.

They looked around everywhere after entering!

The leading Outer Sect Disciple said to those behind him, "I'm telling you! I used to live in this courtyard!"

"Coming back this time makes me feel a bit nostalgic!"

"Back then, we also made our way up step by step!"

The others chimed in, saying things like "I lived in that room" and "He lived in this one!"

It seemed they had all started from here!

Gu Changan and the others were a bit confused. Hadn't they already paid the protection fee to the Heavenly Being Institute?

Why were they here again?

The leading Cultivator bowed to Gu Changan, ignoring Zhao Ye and the others.

The Outer Sect Disciples behind him also glanced at Gu Changan before ignoring him.

They were neither arrogant nor subservient!

Gu Changan was a bit dazed by them. This Senior Brother was actually bowing to him?

Like a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken—he definitely didn't have good intentions!

Gu Changan complained wildly in his head.

But on the surface, he remained calm. "Senior Brothers, why have you come...?"

The leading Cultivator smiled slightly. "Forgive us, Junior Brother! We hurried as fast as we could, but we were still a step too late!"

"To think the people from the Heavenly Being Institute beat us to it!"

"Let me introduce ourselves. We are from the Hall of Saints!"

"We've come to collect protection fees this time. How about this?"

"The Heavenly Being Institute probably took half, so we'll take the other half!"

"Each person just needs to hand over 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones or 5 low-grade qi gathering pills!"

Gu Changan and the others hesitated. Should they pay or not?

Gu Changan felt he had put on a pained expression before pulling out 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones and handing them over.

Zhao Ye and the others followed suit!

After taking the Spirit Stones and tucking them into his Storage Pouch, the leading Cultivator bowed to Gu Changan.

"Junior Brother, until we meet again!"

Then they left without looking back.

On the way, a follower couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother, although we didn't deal with him according to the Saint's decree..."

"...and gave him enough Face already..."

"...why did you have to be so subservient and bow to him?"

The leading Cultivator crossed his arms and stroked his chin. "That's why you don't understand!"

"To be able to become the Saint's enemy, he is on the same level as the Saint!"

"Someone like this might just turn things around slightly, and we'd be crushed under him."

"Besides, his relationship with the Saintess is so good. Aren't you afraid of offending the Saintess?"

The followers behind him nodded repeatedly. "Oh! Senior Brother, you've thought of everything!"

"This way, we've completed the Saint's mission and obtained Cultivation resources!"

"We also don't have to fear offending this guy. Even if he turns things around later, he won't be able to cause us trouble!"

"Finally, we don't have to offend the Saintess!"

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

The other Cultivators all agreed, then they split the Spirit Stones they had obtained and went their separate ways.

Gu Changan didn't know that ever since he entered the Sect, he had been targeted.

Furthermore, he had offended the founder of the Hall of Saints, the Saint Ling Yunxiao!

He just felt those few people earlier were a bit strange.

Bowing to a newcomer like him during their first meeting!

The look in the leader's eyes didn't seem faked; he truly placed Gu Changan on the same level as himself and didn't look down on him!

Although the Outer Sect Disciples behind him didn't express dissatisfaction, they still carried some contempt.

After this wave of protection fees was collected, Gu Changan and the others were in no mood to chat.

They ended the gathering hastily and returned to their respective small courtyards.

Gu Changan returned to his room and did a summary.

In the eyes of outsiders, he only had 5 low-grade qi gathering pills, so Cultivating in his room for a month probably wouldn't arouse suspicion.

After that, he would have to find some missions to do. Otherwise, staying in his room every day without resources would definitely make people think something was wrong!

Gu Changan began planning his Cultivation schedule for the next month.

Every morning he would Cultivate the Purple Sun Soul Refining Art, followed by the Jade Cleansing Art, which would take about two hours.

Then, he would spend the rest of the day Cultivating the Five Elements Qi Refining Art.

In his spare time, he would practice the various Spells that came with the Five Elements Qi Refining Art.

Metal attribute: Golden Bell Shield, Sword Qi Technique.

Wood attribute: Spirit Healing Technique, Entanglement Technique.

Water attribute: Cloud and Rain Technique, Water Shield Technique.

Fire attribute: Fireball Technique, Fire Wall Technique.

Earth attribute: Earth Shield Technique, Earth Spike Technique.

Thus, two days passed quickly. While Cultivating the Purple Sun Soul Refining Art in the morning, he would also take a top-grade spirit nurturing pill.

He never ran out of top-grade qi gathering pills and continued to take them while Cultivating the Jade Cleansing Art.

All remaining time was spent meditating and circulating the Five Elements Qi Refining Art.

In just two days, Gu Changan felt a surge of Spiritual Qi throughout his body and reached Qi Refining Level Four.

Gu Changan marveled at how useful the top-grade qi gathering pills were, greatly shortening his Cultivation time.

After checking his own aura, he circulated the Qi Concealment Art to control his aura at Qi Refining Level Three.

Upon careful sensing, he found the Qi Concealment Art to be truly miraculous!

He couldn't feel his Qi Refining Level Four cultivation at all, though his Dharmic power would surge from his Dantian when he took action.

If he didn't use his full Dharmic power, he could still maintain the appearance of a Qi Refining Level Three cultivation.

If he used all his Dharmic power, his Qi Refining Level Four cultivation could no longer be hidden.

After twelve days of solid Cultivation like this, Gu Changan's body shook as he reached Qi Refining Level Five.