Cultivating immortality through titles, without bottlenecks.

Once again receiving personal instruction from Lin Qingyuan, Wei Zhong's past confusions were easily resolved, and his swordsmanship improved at an extremely terrifying speed.

Although it is still only at the stage of refining swords into silk, it is completely different from the previous few months.

His control over sword energy greatly increased, and the number of sword threads increased from one hundred to nearly two hundred.

Corresponding to his level of swordsmanship, he also gained a deeper understanding of the first six forms of the Qingfeng Sword Technique.

Seeing Wei Zhong's progress in swordsmanship, even Lin Qingyuan, with his profound cultivation, was amazed.

Lin Qingyuan watched Wei Zhong practice swordsmanship, hesitated to speak, and remained silent for a long time.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and to the long-awaited anticipation of the Qingya Sect disciples, Sect Master Yang Jingting and Senior Brother Wu Ang finally returned.

Along with him was an old Taoist priest with a cow-nose nose.

The other party's aura was profound and unlike that of an ordinary person.

"Many thanks to Elder Niu for this trip!"

Wei Zhong was taken aback; it turned out this person really did have the surname Niu.

"Brother Yang, what are you saying? My Biluo Sect has always been closely connected with many Qi Refining Sects. Protecting you on this trip is our duty. There is no need for thanks."

"I hope Brother Yang will give that matter careful consideration..."

After exchanging a few words, the Taoist priest took his leave.

"Father!"

Yang Chupei stepped forward, and Wu Ang suddenly groaned, his face turning pale.

Yang Jingting quickly helped him up:

"Enter the inner palace, quickly!"

The disciples were greatly alarmed upon seeing this and quickly helped Wu Ang inside.

A moment later, Yang Jingting looked at the dilapidated mountain gate and was filled with uncontrollable rage:

"You three dare to deceive me!"

Yang Jingting already knew about the three attacks on the mountain, and he also knew that his own top-grade spiritual spring had almost been destroyed.

"The Iron Sword Sect, what a vicious heart..."

After cursing for a while, he suddenly looked up at Wei Zhong:

"Zhong'er, you did a good job this time!"

"Tell that fellow Daoist that our Qingya Sect has been given a second chance at life and will repay that kindness tenfold."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhong nodded emphatically, and then inquired about the minor competition.

The disciples also turned their gazes, only to see Yang Jingting let out a soft sigh:

"Sigh, this competition was only half successful."

"Thanks to Wu Ang, he secured thirty strands of True Qi for my Qingya Sect. From now on, we can also receive a certain quota from the Biluo Sect every year..."

"Zhenqi?"

Seeing Wei Zhong's confusion, Liu Changqing explained in a low voice:

"Junior brother, you are new to this field and may not know this, but this small competition is a contest for resources among our Qi Refining sects."

"One of the most important aspects is true qi."

"This concerns the recruitment of disciples..."

Yang Jingting also spoke up to explain:

"True Qi is indeed rare in the eyes of outsiders, but it is nothing to the Biluo Sect."

"The second-tier spiritual spring in their sect is enough to produce countless amounts of true qi, which is much stronger than the spiritual spring in my sect."

"In addition, its sphere of influence is so vast that it encompasses many small spiritual springs."

"Therefore, in order to appease and win over our Qi Refining Sect, they hold a small competition every few years to distribute resources."

"So that's how it is..."

"So, this high price for True Qi is entirely a facade created by the Biluo Sect."

When Wei Zhong recalled that each sect charged three hundred low-grade spirit stones for each true qi they accepted as a disciple, his heart skipped a beat.

"Doesn't this mean that our Qingya Sect has made a huge profit in this competition?"

Upon hearing Wei Zhong's words, Yang Jingting immediately shook his head:

"We did make money, but it wasn't without its costs..."

His voice suddenly lowered, and then he fell silent.

Until Yang Chupei couldn't help but speak out:

"Father, what's wrong with Senior Brother Wu?"

"I was ambushed by the three sects and had no choice but to use the 'Withering and Flourishing Technique' to save my life..."

"What?" The relatives were shocked.

Recalling what happened that day, Yang Jingting still couldn't suppress his anger:

"Those scoundrels really went all out this time to target my Qingya Sect, purchasing precious swords and secret techniques from outside Cangwu, and almost killed Wu Ang on the spot."

"If I hadn't taught him life-saving techniques, he probably wouldn't have even been able to survive the Withering and Flourishing Technique..."

"Unfortunately, despite my two years of scheming, I ultimately missed out on those two elixirs..."

A deep sense of guilt appeared on Yang Jingting's face:

"Our sect's decline is irreversible; you all... should try your best!"

Immediately, Yang Jingting left dejectedly and fled to the back hall.

Only a few close associates remained standing there, at a loss.

"It's a pity that I didn't get my hands on the Breakthrough Pill and Jade Flower Pill that Master longed for..."

After listening attentively to Yang Chupei's explanation, Wei Zhongjing realized that the True Qi in this small competition was only the foundation, and there were also many cultivation substances that were difficult to see in the outside world.

For example, this Breakthrough Pill is a high-grade first-level pill. If Wu Ang obtains it, he may break through to the late stage of Qi Refining in one fell swoop, adding another high-end combatant to the Qingya Sect.

As for the Jade Flower Pill, it is known as a near-second-tier spiritual pill.

Produced by a master alchemist of the Biluo Sect, one pill is equivalent to hundreds of high-grade Qi-Nourishing Pills, and it has very little toxicity.

If Yang Jingting takes it, it will be enough for him to climb to the ninth level of Qi Refining within a few years.

Unfortunately, all of the opponent's plans failed under the three "encirclement and suppression" tactics.

In this small competition, they only obtained some true qi and cultivation resources that Yang Jingting didn't value.

The real treasure is the one that was never found.

Unfortunately, the eldest disciple, Wu Ang, was severely injured as a result. Using the Withering and Flourishing Technique would have far-reaching consequences, reducing his Qi Refining level to seven... I'm afraid...

With a heavy heart, Wei Zhong strode away.

……

In the mountains and forests, Wei Zhong couldn't help but speak up halfway through his sword practice:

"Senior, is the world outside Cangwu like this too?"

Lin Qingyuan put down the wine pot in his hand and pondered for a moment:

"If you're referring to the Biluo Sect's dissemination of resources, that's indeed the case in the outside world as well."

"It has almost become a tradition for the upper sects to win over, or rather, to give alms to the lower sects."

Wei Zhong was puzzled:

"Why? Are these sects all benevolent people? But the Biluo Sect doesn't seem like a good person either."

Lin Qingyuan shook his head and smiled:

Who knows?

"The Foundation Establishment Sect distributes resources, and the Core Formation Medicine King Valley also occasionally spreads its improved pill formulas..."

After the other party explained, Wei Zhong learned that most of the elixirs in the Cangwu cultivation world were derived from the formulas of Medicine King Valley.

"Perhaps there really is a rule in this world that doing good deeds brings blessings."

Wei Zhong lowered his head, his expression thoughtful:

"In your foresight, senior, what fate awaits our Qingya Sect in the future?"

Lin Qingyuan shook the wine pot:

"Surrounded by wolves, fraught with danger, with an uncertain fate and no clear direction."

Instead of worrying about these things, you should focus on your spiritual practice.

Wei Zhong stared at the longsword in his hand, his expression complex:

"There's nothing wrong with my spiritual practice, but I always feel that time is running out."

"In this small competition, our Qingya Sect failed to achieve any results, and the days ahead will likely be even more difficult."

Lin Qingyuan, being an outsider, had no good solutions and could only offer a few words of comfort to Wei Zhong before leaving.

Half a month later, the reward that Qingya Sect had promised Lin Qingyuan was finally ready.

Wei Zhong handed it to the other party, who examined the contents of the storage bag and nodded in approval:

"This Master Yang is a man who knows what's important and what's not."

"Top-grade elixirs, ten thousand spirit stones... Green Wood Rejuvenation Talisman..."

Upon learning that the storage bag he had just been holding contained such value, Wei Zhong couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Please thank Master Yang for me. I'll accept the reward."

"As for inviting me to join the sect, let's not talk about it anymore."

He flicked a letter into Wei Zhong's hand and then vanished with the wind.