32: Zhang Yizhi was secretly enjoying a life of luxury behind my back.

"Four distinguished guests, the Wind Private Room!"

"Junior Brother, Senior Sister, please."

"Of course, of course."

Inside the private room, the four of them sat down. Before long, many dishes and wines were served, each one incredibly fresh and aromatic.

They were not yet able to fully practice Inedia and needed to consume Spiritual Grain to replenish their True Essence.

Aside from delaying cultivation slightly, when one's cultivation is weak, it can actually bring improvements to a Cultivator's Physique.

Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, one can use True Essence for long-term Inedia so as not to affect cultivation speed, though occasional meals are still necessary.

As for those at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul levels beyond Foundation Establishment, they no longer need mundane spiritual items; they can achieve true Inedia simply by absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Although Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan had already reached Foundation Establishment, they couldn't go without food for too long—at most half a month before needing a regular meal. Moreover, Qin Dong consumed a massive amount of energy every night, so he especially needed to nourish himself.

Coming to Tianjian City today was naturally to satisfy their appetites in addition to sightseeing.

Now that someone was treating them, why not indulge in some heavy spending?

"To go into seclusion for so many years, Junior Brother Qin is truly a remarkable person. Come, Senior Brother toasts you."

"Not at all, not at all. I'll finish mine, you all drink as you please."

"Senior Sister Zixuan has extraordinary beauty; you and Junior Brother Qin are truly a match made in heaven."

"I still don't know the names of you two?"

"Oh, it was presumptuous of us siblings. We are..."

Amidst rounds of toasting, both parties seemed to be chatting casually, but in reality, they were probing each other for more information.

Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan, although among the Core Disciples, were not very famous for some reason.

This was because they were far too fond of seclusion and didn't come out to socialize with other Disciples.

Information about them was incredibly scarce.

If not for their connection to the Saint and his widespread reputation, the siblings likely wouldn't have even known the Sect had these two Core Disciples.

If Ji Lingshuang hadn't pleaded with her Revered Master and received guidance only after making many promises,

she would have found it difficult to locate where the two lived among the countless spiritual peaks of the Cloud Heaven Sect.

And as a Disciple who had also just joined three years ago, Qin Zixuan had actually already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

She was among the very top tier even within the Core Disciples.

Ji Lingshuang and Ji Lingyu.

These two were also Core Disciples of the Cloud Heaven Sect, both having entered the Sect during the recruitment assembly three years ago.

Their Family was located in the western part of Donglin Prefecture, not a very long journey from the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Coupled with their outstanding talent, they had joined the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Although the two behaved quite appropriately, both had significant ulterior motives.

Qin Dong maneuvered with them for fifteen minutes and failed to extract much useful information.

After a while, Qin Dong grew tired of the chatter and directly asked them to state their purpose.

Ji Lingshuang nodded slightly and spoke softly.

"Junior Brother Qin, please forgive us; this matter is of great importance."

"I hope Senior Sister and Junior Brother can face us with your true appearances before we proceed."

"That is naturally no problem."

Qin Dong nodded. This request was nothing at all. He circulated his Cultivation Technique and casually rubbed his face a few times.

When he lowered his hands, Ji Lingshuang and Ji Lingyu across the table both stared in a daze.

"Ahem, you two."

Qin Dong gave a light cough, which made the two realize their lapse in composure, and they then looked toward Qin Zixuan.

She had also restored her original appearance. Her vermilion lips were like peach blossoms, and her eyes were clear and bright, as dazzling as stars.

Her ethereal face was delicate and exquisite, appearing as if her skin might break at a mere touch.

Seeing this, Ji Lingshuang's own eyes couldn't help but dim a bit, not daring to harbor any thoughts of competition.

"The situation is like this."

"I must trouble Junior Brother Qin and Senior Sister Qin to simply convey a message to Holy Son Zhang on our behalf."

As she spoke, Ji Lingshuang took a box of Spirit Stones from her spatial ring—eighty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent in value to eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The Spiritual Qi within Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was pure; they were items used by Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators for cultivation.

Core Disciples only received a mere thirty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones a month, which converted to only three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones—usually just enough to maintain daily cultivation.

"This is the fee for conveying the message. Once the matter is resolved, we siblings will also offer a heavy gift."

Qin Dong's vision blurred. Actually, whether the gift was 'heavy' or not wasn't important; it was primarily the spirit of helping others that was driving him.

But Qin Dong didn't agree immediately, choosing instead to first hear what exactly was going on.

"The situation is like this."

"Everyone in my Ji Family admires the Saint's deeds immensely. We are willing to offer our Family's ancestral Cultivation Technique to become acquainted with the Saint."

"We humbly request that Holy Son Zhang take some time from his busy schedule to visit our Ji Family."

Ji Lingshuang finished speaking slowly, as if she were merely recounting a trivial matter.

Zhang Yizhi... Qin Dong fell silent. To be honest, he hadn't seen Zhang Yizhi for nearly three years and didn't know how he was doing.

Since that guy upgraded his Physique, his treatment in the Cloud Heaven Sect had skyrocketed. He might very well be eating and drinking well somewhere right now.

How hateful!

Qin Dong tapped the table, getting angrier the more he thought about it.

He doesn't even bring his big brother along for the good stuff; this fellow Zhang Yizhi is truly too wicked!

...Cloud Heaven Sect, deep within the back mountain Forbidden Ground.

A young man with a bare chest covered in blood and filth collapsed heavily. The longsword in his hand fell, revealing thick calluses on his palms.

"Cough, cough, cough."

He was drenched in sweat, blood spat from his mouth, his aura was weak and erratic, and his injuries were incredibly severe.

"Too pathetic, too pathetic."

"How can you be falling over after only eleven hours of training today?"

Opposite him was an old Taoist, also bare-chested, with a white beard. The old Taoist's upper body muscles bulged high, arranged in a powerful, orderly fashion like a humanoid beast.

The old Taoist swept his sharp sword, once again slashing toward Zhang Yizhi without mercy.

"You are the worst Saint the Cloud Heaven Sect has ever had!"

"In the battle for the Honored Position, how will you compete!"

"How will you... compete!"

A suffocating sword light slashed down, striking toward Zhang Yizhi without restraint.

Zhang Yizhi's mind shook. Under this feeling of impending death, his strength recovered by a fraction. He struck the ground hard, using the counterforce to dodge the sword light.

"Train again!"

The muscular Taoist shouted angrily. With a flick of his hand, Zhang Yizhi flew toward him uncontrollably.

Boom!

A punch was thrown, the entirety of its power striking Zhang Yizhi's body, missing by only a hair's breadth from pushing his body past its limit.

Zhang Yizhi was in agony; in an instant, an intense sensation of pain flooded his mind.

Pfft... "If you don't want to die, keep training! Keep training, don't stop!"

"Your current performance doesn't match the big talk you had back then."

He flew back with heavy injuries, his aura becoming even more withered.

Sweat slid from his forehead, blurring his vision.

However, just as Zhang Yizhi was about to collapse powerlessly, a tall figure emerged in his mind.

It was him!

It was him!

The good big brother who once saved him from the hands of evil Cultivators and was severely injured for it!

His beloved big brother!

That's right, with this tiny bit of weak strength, how could he hope to shake Black Blood Mountain City? How could he repay that kindness?

Perhaps to oppose Black Blood Mountain City, Brother Qin and Sister Zixuan were also undergoing hellish, demonic training right now.

They were enduring hardships a thousand, ten thousand times more grueling than his own!!!

At this moment, their sweat was surely not less than his!

If he slacked off, how could he keep up with their footsteps in the future?

"No!! I want more power!"

Zhang Yizhi grit his teeth, a burst of unprecedented determination and resolve erupting from the depths of his heart.

His body seemed to be supported by this will as he stood up once again.

"Because of my matters, Brother Qin and Sister Zixuan also offended Black Blood Mountain City."

"I cannot fall!"

"Don't stop, keep training! I can still fight!"

Though his voice was weak, every word was filled with unyielding strength.

Looking at Zhang Yizhi standing straight again, a flash of surprise crossed the muscular Taoist's eyes, which then turned into praise.

He knew that Zhang Yizhi was working hard to break through his limits, attempting to advance toward a higher Realm—the Ultimate Foundation Establishment Realm!

"Good! Then continue!"

"Remember, for every bit of progress you make, the day Black Blood Mountain City is annihilated draws one bit closer!"

The muscular Taoist's stern words carried a hint of encouragement.

Zhang Yizhi took a deep breath, feeling a surge of new life within him. He knew this was his battle.

"Illusory Star Cloud Heaven Art!!!"

Zhang Yizhi gripped his longsword, ignoring the intense pain from his palms. As if possessed by a god of war, he proactively charged at the muscular Taoist.

The longsword danced in his hand, silver light flashing like the morning star at dawn... "So fragrant!"

"Eating this has me sweating all over."

Qin Dong scooped a piece of meat from the pot and ate it, his mouth filled with lingering fragrance.

"The flesh of an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Yao Beast is indeed very nourishing; the blood and Qi in my body are throbbing incessantly."

"Hehe, Junior Brother Qin has probably never enjoyed such high-grade delicacies before."

"It's just a pity Senior Sister's Spirit Stones are limited; otherwise, I would definitely order a portion of Golden Core Great Yao meat for Junior Brother Qin!"

After another round of eating, Qin Dong felt a bit bloated.

"Junior Brother, Senior Sister, what about the matter we discussed just now?"

After the meal, Ji Lingshuang asked Qin Dong.

To this, Qin Dong didn't plan to hide anything and simply explained that he hadn't encountered Zhang Yizhi once in these past three years.

Qin Zixuan was the same; she had always been by Qin Dong's side and had never left.

Hearing this, the expressions of the two Ji siblings froze for an instant, but they returned to normal in the next breath as if nothing had happened.

"I see."

The change in their expressions was very fast, but Qin Dong, being at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, naturally couldn't miss it.

Having eaten their food and accepted their gifts, he felt a bit indebted.

Considering the so-called 'heavy gift' from the Ji Family...

Ah, no—it was Qin Dong's helpful nature.

"Although we can't provide help on that specific matter, if your Ji Family is facing some problem, you might as well tell us a bit about it."

"Who knows, there might still be a turn of events?"

Ji Lingshuang and Ji Lingyu exchanged a glance. After a moment of silence, they chose to reveal everything.

"To be honest, within my Ji Family, there is an elder who is a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator."

"In recent years, his health has been failing. The Family has invited many Alchemists, but none could cure the ailment."

"Originally, we wanted to plead with the Saint to help, but now it seems that might not be possible."

"Failing health?"

Qin Dong raised an eyebrow. Those at the Great Cultivator level were already immune to mundane diseases; there weren't many things that could affect such a Cultivator.

And a Family like the Ji Family, which possessed multiple Great Cultivators, surely had many connections with other powers.

Not to mention the two Ji siblings right in front of him.

With a Golden Core Revered Master backing them, shouldn't this matter have been easily resolved?

If even a Golden Core Realm expert was helpless, there was likely something fishy going on.

At this thought, Qin Dong already felt like retreating, not wanting to meddle in trouble.

"I'm afraid I can't help."

"Little Sister, what do we do now?"

Ji Lingyu was getting a bit restless. In fact, he had always been an impatient person.

The refined manner he had shown earlier was a forced act under Ji Lingshuang's repeated instructions.

Seeing that the matter was failing, he could no longer remain calm.

Right in front of Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan, he blurted out a lot of information.

"The Family has been scrimping and saving, finally managing to scrape together fifty thousand Spirit Stones to treat the elder's illness."

"Now that we can't find the Saint, what are we supposed to do!"

To think that even fifty thousand Spirit Stones wouldn't work.

Ji Lingyu sighed.

"Wait!"

"Say that again, how much?"