Immortality and cultivation: Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable.

Four months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Shi practiced diligently every day without fail, never slacking off except for necessary meals and sleep.

They kept repeating the cycle of cutting down trees and cultivating.

Finally, on this day, he broke through.

[Proficiency +10]

[Wood Spirit Technique: Perfected (3000/3000)]

With the completion of the "Wood Spirit Technique," his cultivation naturally broke through to the second level of the Qi Refining stage.

"Finally, I've broken through!" Jiang Shi exclaimed with delight.

Once he breaks through to the second level of Qi Refining, he won't have to worry about the one-year deadline anymore.

However, he still needs to conceal his cultivation level and not reveal it.

Jiang Shi has just entered the path of cultivation. I wonder if it is normal for him to break through to the second level of the Qi Refining stage in these four months.

That steward, Lin, was ruthless and greedy by nature.

If he sets his sights on you, it's probably not going to be good.

Next, Jiang Shi continued to train hard in the hemlock forest.

Jiang Shi kept cutting down trees to cultivate.

During the process, one of the axes was broken.

Six months later.

In the common courtyard, Liu Jie from the C courtyard gathered the handymen disciples from the D courtyard together.

"The one-year period is up, it's time for you to pay up." Liu Jie's eyes were fierce as he scanned the crowd.

"Senior Brother Liu, I just paid the fee nine months ago."

"Senior Brother Liu, I also paid my fee seven months ago."

Since everyone's admission time is different, the payment period will naturally be different as well.

It's unreasonable for Liu Jie to call everyone together to pay the fee.

"What are you shouting for! This is Manager Lin's order. If you dare, go and shout at Manager Lin."

Liu Jie first kicked down the one who was shouting the loudest, and then shouted loudly at all the servant disciples.

Upon hearing Manager Lin's name, everyone fell silent.

Since the last time Manager Lin burned a servant disciple to death in Ding Courtyard, no one has dared to delay payment.

There was no other way; no matter how unreasonable the demand to collect money before the due date was, everyone had no choice but to grit their teeth and pay.

"Chen Tao." Just as Chen Tao finished paying his bills for the year and was about to leave, Liu Jie called out to him.

"Where's Jiang Shiren? Why isn't he here?" Liu Jie said with a gloomy face.

"Jiang Shi is in the hemlock forest. Since he has only been a disciple for ten months, I didn't call him," Chen Tao said cautiously, his head down.

"Hmph, Jiang Shi has never attended any of the gatherings, big or small, of the C and D courtyards since he joined. I think he doesn't take me seriously at all!" Liu Jie said fiercely.

"Lead the way. Everyone in the Ding family has to pay, and Jiang Shi is no exception."

Chen Tao dared not resist, so he had no choice but to take Liu Jie to find Jiang Shi.

Inside the hemlock forest, Jiang Shi kept chopping down trees.

There are thousands of hemlock trees all around.

"Jiang Shi, Senior Brother Liu is here." Chen Tao walked over first and called out to Jiang Shi.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shi stopped what he was doing.

He held the axe in one hand and looked at Liu Jie behind Chen Tao.

"Senior Brother Liu, what brings you here?" Jiang Shi asked in a flat tone, devoid of much emotion.

Now that his cultivation level is the same as Liu Jie's, there is naturally no need for him to be afraid of this person anymore.

Liu Jie was stunned by what he saw.

He knew all too well how difficult it was to cut down the hemlock tree, having served as a handyman disciple for three years.

Even cutting down a single tree is difficult on a normal day, and even after breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining, he still couldn't do it.

The sight of thousands of felled hemlock trees before him was unbelievable, leaving him speechless for a moment.

"Senior Brother Liu? Senior Brother Liu?" Jiang Shi called out in confusion.

Seeing that Liu Jie remained silent, he then looked at Chen Tao.

Chen Tao often came to this hemlock forest to transport firewood, so he was already used to seeing these felled hemlock trees.

"Today is the day to collect the annual fee, and I've already paid it. Senior Brother Liu is here to collect the annual fee," Chen Tao said helplessly.

Chen Tao couldn't make the decision about collecting annual fees, so he had to explain the situation to Jiang Shi truthfully.

"Yes! Annual fee! I'm here to collect the annual fee." Upon hearing the words "annual fee," Liu Jie finally came to his senses.

He stared fiercely at Jiang Shi, knowing that while a common man may be innocent, possessing a treasure can be a crime.

When Jiang Shi first joined the family, Liu Jie wanted to squeeze some money out of him.

They didn't get any benefits at the time, so they sent Jiang Shi to cut down trees in the hemlock forest.

Eating 2000 jin a month is a difficult task.

But I never expected Jiang Shi to cut down the trees so quickly; he must have some unspeakable secret!

"Annual fee? I've only been a member for ten months, and there are still two months left until the one-year period ends. How can it be time to charge an annual fee?" Jiang Shi asked in confusion.

"This is Manager Lin's order. If you have any objections, you can raise them with Manager Lin. Now you must pay the annual fee. Not a penny less!"

Liu Jie slowly approached Jiang Shi, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"In that case, I'll go find Manager Lin."

After saying that, Jiang Shi walked out of the hemlock forest. Liu Jie's eyes and movements were direct and undisguised, which made Jiang Shi feel very uncomfortable.

Jiang Shi walked along, gripping his axe tightly, wary of Liu Jie.

"I'm in charge of these two courts, C and D! You stay here, kid!"

Seeing that Jiang Shi was about to run away, Liu Jie activated the spiritual power of the second level of Qi Refining.

With a reach, he tossed a seed behind Jiang Shi.

As the seed approached, it suddenly burst forth with a blue light and quickly grew into a vine that attacked Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi had a premonition, and with the spiritual power of the second level of Qi Refining in his body circulating, he easily dodged the vines.

The vines struck the ground, twisting and whipping incessantly, sending dust flying everywhere.

"Qi Refining Stage Two! You actually broke through in just ten months!"

Liu Jie couldn't believe it!

Jiang Shi only has the aptitude of five spiritual roots, while he has the aptitude of four spiritual roots.

It took him two years to reach the second level of Qi Refining, and that was with the help of his senior handyman brother.

Jiang Shi definitely has a secret! If he gets his hands on this secret, wouldn't it be possible for him to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining and become an outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect in the future?

Breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining in ten months is simply unimaginable for a menial disciple.

Liu Jie's greed grew even stronger!

He pulled out three vine seeds and said fiercely:

"Jiang Shi, if you reveal the secret to your breakthrough, I might spare your life today."

"Secret? My breakthrough to the second level of Qi Refining is entirely due to my personal efforts and perseverance."

Jiang Shi spoke up, gripping the axe with both hands and looking warily at Liu Jie.

"Once I capture you, let's see if you'll talk or not!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jie threw the three seeds in his hand with all his might towards Jiang Shi.

Three vines blocked any direction Jiang Shi could escape from.

Jiang Shi now had nowhere to retreat.

However, Jiang Shi was prepared.

Jiang Shi's axe flashed like a crescent moon.

The vines overhead were immediately cut in half and scattered on the ground.

Even with a tree-felling skill at its peak level, cutting vines is still effective.

"How is this possible?"

Liu Jie was terrified!

These seeds were a treasure given to him by his older brother, a seasoned handyman. He used them to catch wild boars, and the boars couldn't break free.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Shi chopped it open with a single axe today.

"Now it's my turn, isn't it?" Jiang Shi walked towards Liu Jie, holding an axe.