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

"Jiang Shi, what are you doing!" Liu Jie panicked when he saw Jiang Shi walking over with an axe in his hand.

"My brother is a seasoned handyman; he's at the third level of Qi Refining. You dare touch me?"

He feigned composure and threatened Jiang Shi.

"We've become enemies today, what good would it do me to let you go?" Jiang Shi asked, feigning confusion, but he didn't stop walking and slowly approached Liu Jie.

"Jiang Shi, our friendship began with a misunderstanding."

"You have already broken through to the second level of Qi Refining and can enter the C-level Academy. I will put in a good word for you with the senior servants and arrange a well-paid job for you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Liu Jie tried to persuade Jiang Shi with both reason and emotion, hoping to move him.

As Liu Jie spoke, he kept backing away.

He's just a cowardly bully who preys on the weak. He only dares to bully others when he's in power, and he'd never actually fight to the death.

His vine magic couldn't even trap Jiang Shi; Jiang Shi could probably kill him with a single axe stroke.

"Yes, you're right. It's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester." Jiang Shi slung the axe over his shoulder and smiled.

"Junior Brother Jiang, that's right. With your talent, you'll be admitted to the C-class Academy. We'll be divided into the C-class and D-class academies. At that time, I'll find you a well-paid job, and you'll be promoted to the outer sect in no time."

Seeing Jiang Shi stop, Liu Jie stopped and laughed.

Once Liu Jie relaxed, wicked thoughts began to arise in his mind again.

"Let's intimidate this Jiang kid first. Once we get back to the courtyard, I'll immediately notify my brother to capture Jiang Shi. I must find out the secret behind his incredibly fast cultivation speed!"

Liu Jie thought to himself.

Just then!

Jiang Shi suddenly sprang to his feet.

He held the axe in both hands and threw it forcefully.

"what……"

The axe spun and cleaved into Liu Jie's chest. Liu Jie screamed and fell to the ground.

"You..." A sharp pain shot through him, and Liu Jie looked at Jiang Shi in disbelief. He shakily got up from the ground and was about to speak, but before he could finish his sentence...

Jiang Shi rushed over and kicked the axe stuck in Liu Jie's chest, knocking Liu Jie and the axe to the ground.

At this point, there was no saving Liu Jie; he died on the spot.

Although this was Jiang Shi's first time killing someone, it was not his first time taking life.

In this life, he was a seeker of medicine, so going up the mountain to drive away and hunt wild animals was also necessary for him.

After Liu Jie's death, Jiang Shi felt a sense of relief, like drinking a glass of chilled wine on a hot summer day.

Jiang Shi was the only one left at the scene. Chen Tao had already run away when Liu Jie made his move.

Regardless of who wins or loses in their fight, Chen Tao fears being silenced.

He wouldn't help either of them; his strength was too weak, and preserving himself was the only viable option.

However, Chen Tao did not let the matter go unaddressed.

In his eyes, it was Liu Jie who bullied Jiang Shi, so he went to find Manager Lin as soon as he returned to the courtyard.

Manager Lin was greedy and didn't treat the servants and disciples like human beings.

However, he still had to intervene in these private fights. He was the only one in the courtyard who could kill people; for anyone else to do so would be a great disrespect to him.

Moreover, he still remembered Jiang Shi; a ten-year-old spiritual herb was not something just anyone could produce.

The entire annual fee for the servants' quarters and the entire labor quarters is not as valuable as that one spiritual herb.

"Good lad, what ruthless methods." Manager Lin appeared silently behind Jiang Shi.

"Steward." Jiang Shi was startled. He knew that this matter could not be kept secret, after all, there were too many people watching.

But he didn't expect Manager Lin to arrive so quickly; it seems it was because of Chen Tao.

Jiang Shi bowed respectfully to Manager Lin.

"First, use words to make the opponent underestimate you, then launch a surprise attack. Very good, you did a very good job."

Manager Lin's eyes were full of admiration.

"Moreover, with five spiritual roots, one can break through to the second level of Qi Refining in ten months..." Before he could finish speaking, Steward Lin looked at the thousands of ironwood trees around him.

"You obtained wood spirit energy by cutting down hemlock trees. It seems you have excellent comprehension and are also very lucky."

After he finished speaking, Manager Lin admired Jiang Shi even more.

"Thank you for your praise, sir," Jiang Shi said calmly, bowing with his hands clasped in thanks.

"You're a talented person," Steward Lin said to Jiang Shi, pointing to Liu Jie's corpse on the ground.

"But a dead genius is no longer a genius."

"I will remember Lord Lin's guidance." Jiang Shi lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Steward Lin.

Despite Steward Lin's current gentle demeanor, Jiang Shi still vividly remembers the scene of burning the servant disciple of the Ding courtyard to death.

"Please tidy up this place and come to see me at Jia Hospital tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Manager Lin." Jiang Shi didn't know what Manager Lin wanted to do, but he could only agree now.

Manager Lin nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this, then turned and quickly left.

Jiang Shi couldn't even see clearly how Manager Lin left.

The difference in cultivation level was too great, and in addition, the other party was backed by the Qingyun Sect, so he couldn't afford to offend them.

After Manager Lin left, Jiang Shi buried Liu Jie's body in a random place without even erecting a tombstone.

After he finished, he went to the tenement.

"Junior Brother Jiang, are you alright?" Chen Tao walked over quickly with a concerned expression.

After reporting to the forestry official, Chen Tao had not seen Jiang Shi and Liu Jie, and he was very worried.

On the one hand, Chen Tao and Jiang Shi had developed a good relationship after spending a year together.

Secondly, he and Jiang Shi worked together seamlessly, with one cutting down trees and chopping firewood, and the other carrying and delivering the firewood.

This gave him a lot of time to cultivate, and his cultivation level has increased significantly recently. He might be able to break through to the second level of Qi Refining soon.

If Jiang Shi were injured by Liu Jie, it wouldn't be a good thing for him either, which is why he risked offending Liu Jie by going to see Manager Lin.

Now that Jiang Shi was alright, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Shi smiled upon hearing this: "It's nothing, what could possibly be wrong with me?"

"That's good, that's good. By the way, what about Liu Jie?" Seeing that Jiang Shi was alright, Chen Tao remembered that Jiang Shi had a conflict with Liu Jie.

Jiang Shi is fine, so Liu Jie should be alright, right?

He never dreamed that Liu Jie had already been killed by Jiang Shi.

After all, Jiang Shi had only been a student for less than a year, while Liu Jie had been a student for three years.

However, he is a cultivator at the second level of Qi Refining.

He was just worried that if he offended Liu Jie now, Liu Jie might target him later.

"Why talk about that? Come on, let's go eat, I'm hungry." Jiang Shi changed the subject, unwilling to speak frankly.

He rubbed his stomach and walked towards the kitchen.

Upon hearing this, Chen Tao had no choice but to follow.

After getting the food ready in the kitchen, Jiang Shi prepared to take it to the woodshed to eat.

Just as I stepped out of the kitchen, several people walked towards me.

"Senior Brother Liu, this is Jiang Shi," one of the men said to the leader.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shi stopped and glanced at the leader.

Seeing that the newcomer bore a resemblance to Liu Jie, Jiang Shi guessed who it was.

"This is Senior Brother Liu, a senior handyman from the First Academy," Chen Tao quickly reminded him, fearing that Jiang Shi might be neglecting him.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Liu. May I ask what brings you here?" Jiang Shi greeted him with a respectful bow.