Cultivating immortality through titles, without bottlenecks.

At Qingya Gate, Yang Jingting received the letter from Wei Zhong, his face showing regret.

"You refused?"

Wei Zhong nodded.

Yang Jingting sighed:

"In the end, there's no escaping it..."

Looking back at Yang Chupei:

"How's the situation inside the gate lately?"

"Half of the registered disciples have left, and now only five remain."

"The same goes for the inner disciples; some are afraid of death, while others are under pressure from their families. Currently, only Gu Xue and Chao Yun remain."

Several inner disciples, including Meng Qian and Luo Zhihong, withdrew.

The former is mostly due to family pressure, while the latter is mostly due to fear of trouble from the Qingya Sect and worry about their own safety.

As for the two who stayed behind

Chao Yun's family is a small clan that separated from the main Chao family, similar to Wei Zhong's family.

The enmity is there and cannot be resolved, so it is perfectly normal for the clan to remain.

Finally, there's Gu Xue. She seems to have truly committed to Qingya Sect and intends to go all the way down this path.

"The Qi Refining families that are on good terms with our sect are also in a state of ambiguity, and may break away at any time."

"The major families of Songlinfang are once again demanding a share division, showing no sign of giving up until they achieve their goal..."

At this moment, Qingya Sect is truly beset by internal and external troubles.

Yang Jingting covered his face as if weeping:

"With our sect in decline, I have failed our ancestors!"

The disciples shared in his grief, and Yang Chupei couldn't help but shed tears:

"Father, is there really no other way?"

Yang Jingting shook his head:

"Seven days from now, I will go to the Biluo Sect to refine pills for them for ten years in exchange for their protection for ten years to preserve my Qingya lineage."

The disciples were greatly shocked upon hearing this:

"Master, you mustn't!"

Liu Changqing tried to persuade him, but Yang Jingting remained adamant:

"At this point, there is no other way."

"This humble Taoist has no special skills; the only thing that still has some use is this alchemical technique."

"Brother Niu is a good friend of mine, and he obtained a spirit contract for me from the Biluo Sect..."

"With the deterrent power of the Foundation Establishment Sect, the three sects will probably not dare to do anything out of line again."

"Don't worry about those Qi-refining families who have sided with the three sects. You just need to guard this mountain gate. Don't worry about resources; I'll find a way."

"As for the market, my Qingya Sect will only retain 50% of the shares. Let's sell the rest and get a good price!"

"Let all the resources you acquire become provisions for your spiritual practice."

"Changqing, Chu Pei, and Ding Mo... I'm entrusting the sect to you from now on."

"Don't worry, Master!" Everyone bowed deeply.

Yang Jingtian nodded:

"Zhiyuan, you have the best talent in our sect. Now that I am not here, do not slack off in your cultivation."

"Disciple understands!"

"Wei Zhong is the same. The art of alchemy is profound and cannot be mastered in a day. With diligent study and practice, our Qingya Sect may still have a chance to turn things around at the Alchemy Conference."

"Don't worry, Master Yang!"

A few days later, Master Niu returned to Qingya Gate. Yang Jingting looked around at the disciples present, his face showing reluctance.

The Taoist priest beside him smiled upon seeing this:

"Brother Yang, why go to such lengths? This trip is merely to enter the sect to refine elixirs, not to imprison you. There will always be an opportunity for you to return to the sect to visit your family..."

Yang Jingting looked around at everyone without saying a word, surveying every blade of grass and tree on Qingya Mountain. He closed his eyes, seemingly reminiscing about the past, and finally opened his eyes and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Take care of yourself!"

After saying this, he turned around and followed the Taoist priest into the sky, disappearing into the sea of ​​clouds.

"Take care, Master!"

The voices of his disciples reached Yang Jingyan's ears, causing him to burst into tears.

……

When the sect leader left, Yang Chupei was elected to become the acting sect leader.

At the same time, he ordered the shrinking of the sect's sphere of influence, and even many businesses in the market were sold off, leaving only the most important spiritual pill industry.

As Yang Jingting had expected, Songlinfang shares were auctioned off, earning Qingya Sect a considerable amount of spirit stones.

Yang Chupei remained silent as she looked at the Qingya Sect members, who numbered only fourteen.

"From today onwards, all registered disciples of this sect will be transferred to the outer sect and will receive a monthly spirit stipend of one low-grade spirit stone."

"The inner disciple status is retained, and a monthly spirit stipend of three low-grade spirit stones is provided."

"...Personal disciples receive ten spirit stones per month."

"The spiritual stipends here may not be enough to meet your cultivation needs, so we have specially set up a breakthrough reward."

"Breakthrough from Qi Refining Level 1 to Qi Refining Level 2, reward: 10 spirit stones."

"...Level 3 of Qi Refining, reward: 20 spirit stones."

"If one breaks through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, then there will be forty pieces."

"Increases in increments, with no upper limit."

"There are also sect missions available, mostly within Songlin Village. These missions are safe, and the rewards range from a few to dozens of spirit stones..."

After announcing all the new policies, Yang Chupei immediately took out spirit stones and distributed them to everyone.

Wei Zhong received a reward of thirty spirit stones for each of his three levels of Qi Refining cultivation.

"That's worth ten low-grade Qi-Nourishing Pills! Senior Sister is really generous."

Such behavior does indeed help the disciples of the sect to focus more on cultivation, which can effectively promote the progress of the Qingya Sect's strength.

"But I'm afraid it's still a bit too late."

Wei Zhong looked around and realized that only fourteen people remained in the entire Qingya Sect.

The crippled are crippled, the small are small.

The only one who truly has a chance of reaching the late stage of Qi Refining in the short term is probably Seventh Junior Brother Ning Zhiyuan.

After the meeting ended, Wei Zhong walked into the forest and saw Ning Zhiyuan wielding his fists and feet, with rocks and spiritual trees constantly breaking and scattering under his attacks.

Wei Zhong looked into the distance, his face flushed, as if a sense of pent-up frustration was lingering in his heart.

"Junior Brother is still a child at heart!"

Yang Chupei stepped out from behind and looked at Ning Zhiyuan in the distance, and couldn't help but say something.

Wei Zhong turned around:

"What are you doing here, Senior Sister?"

"I'm feeling down, so I'm just trying to clear my head."

His gaze was focused ahead:

"Zhiyuan suffered hardship in his childhood and had no relatives or friends. It was his master and Qingya Sect that gave him hope and warmth."

"Now that I, Qingya, am in trouble, it's no wonder he looks so indignant."

Yang Chupei withdrew her gaze:

"Junior Brother Wei has known him for many years and is quite familiar with him. If there is an opportunity, he should offer him some guidance."

Wei Zhong shook his head upon hearing this:

"Senior sister overestimates me. Junior brother is not good at comforting others."

"If Junior Brother wants his cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, he will have to figure it out himself."

Wei Zhong knew what Yang Chupei was thinking.

The goal is simply to cultivate a true pillar of the Qingya Sect, to once again support the great mountain that is the Qingya Sect.

Unfortunately, Wei Zhong...

"Senior Brother Wei, Senior Sister Yang!"

Ning Zhiyuan landed in front of the two and bowed.

Upon seeing the injuries to his hands, Yang Chupei immediately stepped forward:

"Junior brother, how could you be so reckless in your cultivation?... Senior sister has a dose of medicinal powder here. Use it to treat your hand afterward, lest you leave any hidden injuries..."

After showing his concern, Yang Chupei took his leave, leaving the place to his two fellow disciples.

Gazing at Wei Zhong, Ning Zhiyuan voiced the question that had been troubling him:

"Senior brother, your family is in business and quite wealthy. Why didn't you leave the sect like Brother Meng?"

Wei Zhong frowned, pondered for a moment, and then replied:

"Perhaps it's because I'm loyal to my sect and can't bear to betray it?"

Ning Zhiyuan shook his head:

"No, Senior Brother isn't that kind of person."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhong almost burst out laughing:

"Oh, what kind of person do you think I am, junior brother?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but my senior brother isn't exactly a man of great principles, but he's certainly not a villain either. It's like... like what Master said, maturity?"

Is it mature enough?

Wei Zhong's soul transmigrated to this world, and he was much older and more experienced than Ning Zhiyuan.

It can certainly be said that he is mature, but is his sticking to his own principles really because of maturity?

No, Wei Zhong knew himself well. He was not only immature, but also had a strange childishness and stubbornness.

So, what's the reason?

He was momentarily lost in confusion and didn't even notice when Ning Zhiyuan left.

After a long while, he looked at the setting sun in the mountains and seemed to have a vague answer in his mind.

"adapt!"

"I've adapted to Qingya Mountain, to the life and practice there, and to my master and fellow practitioners..."

"I've adapted to everything about Qingya Mountain!"

"It is precisely because I have adapted that I am unwilling to leave."

"This adaptation to the surroundings has reached an almost obsessive level."

"I cannot bear to see changes in the sect, nor can I bear to see the sect suffer."

"I hate the cultivators of the three sects, and I resent their ruthlessness."

"Iron Sword Sect, Yellow Stone Sect, Black Wind Sect..."

Wei Zhong clenched his fist so tightly that his fingernails pierced his palm, drawing blood.

This thought transformed into boundless sword energy, which coiled heavily around Wei Zhong's palm.

His hand moved out like a sword slashing.

Sword energies clashed, and a blurry sword light emerged, its form illusory, yet emitting a piercing sound as it cut through the air.

Once they reached the mountains and forests, the trees were swept away and the rocks were cleared away...