Starting with the Corpse-Eating Worm, he worked his way up to become the Left-Winged Immortal Lord.

"Master, please take a look."

Gu Qing immediately took out the stinging insect urn and presented it to Lu Xingzhi.

Lu Xingzhi took it with one hand, rubbed his fingertips on the yin energy, and then immediately probed into it with his senses.

Seeing that the strange insect he had raised for so many years had suddenly reached the first-level advanced stage, a look of surprise appeared between his brows.

"You, a mere descendant of a miscellaneous, unorthodox sect who has just been promoted to Sword-Serving Daoist Child, where did you get the resources to cultivate him to the Upper First Rank?"

Gu Qing feigned ignorance and said, "Master, I didn't feed it anything... I just listened to you and borrowed two catties of Five Elements Divine Sand from Master Li, and bought this Yin Artifact from the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion. I tried to nurture it in the Yin Land... I nurtured it for two or three days, and it suddenly broke through yesterday. I originally wanted to go see you tonight, but I haven't seen you these past few days."

The words fell.

Lu Xingzhi frowned, not replying, but carefully looking at the strange insect in the jar, scanning it with his senses again and again.

The contents of the urn are abnormal; it remains highly agitated.

Sensing the unfamiliar presence, it immediately launched an attack, causing the urn in its hand to vibrate continuously.

He tightened his grip on her hand and asked again, "Then how did you manage to make him kill four people?"

"I was thinking of finding a place to hide, but suddenly I heard the sound of Master Li fighting. Seeing that Master Li was at a disadvantage and in imminent danger, I was anxious and forced myself to use the insect control technique."

At that moment, my head felt like it was about to be torn apart, and the consumption of my Yin energy was terrifying. In just over ten breaths, my Yin energy was almost completely exhausted... If I had been any slower in withdrawing it, this insect would have devoured me on the spot.

Gu Qing then feigned being still in shock.

Upon hearing this, Li Fu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and couldn't help but step forward and pat Gu Qing on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gu!"

Where can you find a cultivator who only imagines things for himself, yet is willing to risk his life to protect him when he is in danger?

If Gu Qing weren't just a novice Taoist, he would have loved to become sworn brothers with him on the spot.

Gu Qing said earnestly, "Many unorthodox sects send their children to Wufeng Temple, only to endure a lifetime of hardship before achieving any real cultivation. But Master Li, you have repeatedly helped me. I, Gu Qing, will never forget this kindness!"

These words were meant for Li Fu's ears.

It was also said to Lu Xingzhi.

of course.

This is not made up.

He is a person who knows how to repay kindness.

But sometimes, if you don't say certain things at crucial moments, how will others know what's on your mind?

If you only talk the talk but don't walk the walk, no one will believe you.

But if you actually did it, and then you said it, who would think it was all insincere?

Upon hearing this, Lu Xingzhi's coldness softened considerably. After further examining the anomaly, he showed a satisfied expression, stroked his beard, and smiled, a very happy and relaxed smile.

It was as if all the gloom of last night had been swept away.

"This strange insect indeed shows no signs of being controlled by the insect-taming technique, and there is no insect master mark in its body. You were able to forcibly control it, thanks to your talent and luck... This strange insect was able to break through to the first-tier upper realm, which can be considered as your good luck. It should be due to the accumulation of my years of feeding it!"

However, now that it has transformed into a first-tier upper realm, do not force yourself to control it. Otherwise, let alone lasting for a dozen breaths, even one breath will result in a backlash!

Lu Xingzhi gave Gu Qing a final reminder.

Gu Qing immediately bowed and thanked him, "Thank you for the reminder, Master."

"Alright, no need for formalities between us." Lu Xingzhi's face was devoid of any of the previous coldness and indifference. "Last night you single-handedly killed four Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivators, a great achievement. I've made my decision today: no matter how Chen Ye tries to stop you, from this day forward you are my personal disciple… I will report this matter to the Vice Abbot today, and will not give Chen Ye a chance to obstruct us!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Gu Qing was overjoyed.

Once he becomes Lu Xingzhi's personal disciple, although his identity will still be that of a Sword-Bearing Daoist Boy, his status will be completely different.

With a change in status, his personal safety would be greatly improved.

If Chen Ye wants to touch him again, he'll have to think twice.

At the same time, Gu Qing also caught a piece of information: the deputy abbot—could it be that a deputy abbot has already returned?

Who?

Li Fu's father?

Or is it the Taoist priest Lü Song who is rarely in the temple?

"This is my disciple's token. With it, you can enjoy the same treatment as the Taoist priests in the temple: a monthly salary of one hundred taels of silver, and a private courtyard. Without your permission, even a Dharma protector cannot trespass. Anyone who trespasses will be treated as a spy within the temple. No one will be exempt."

Lu Xingzhi deliberately emphasized the last few words, clearly intending to dispel any apprehension Lu Xingzhi might have about Chen Ye.

Gu Qing immediately clasped his hands in thanks and expressed his gratitude once again.

Lu Xingzhi said no more after that. He handed Gu Qing over to Li Fu and left in a hurry, but his steps were quite light as he left.

The frustration I felt this morning is completely gone.

……

Not long after.

Li Fu led Gu Qing to receive the rewards that belonged to the disciples in charge.

The house is located in the backyard, not far from Li Fu's residence. It also has a small courtyard and a two-story building.

It is worth mentioning that the courtyard is not only rich in spiritual energy, which can make people cultivate twice as effective with half the effort, but also has a protective array that shields perception and captures detection. In addition, there is a Daoist boy to serve Gu Qing at his beck and call.

The young Taoist priest, who was at the first level of Qi Refining and three to five years older than him, still had a lot of bloodstains on his clothes, arms, and face after the danger of the previous night.

obviously.

He didn't even have time to take a proper shower or change his clothes.

"Master Li, Master Gu."

The man bowed deeply to Li Fu and Gu Qing, and did not even dare to raise his head until Gu Qing nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Li, would you like me to change you into a female Daoist disciple?" Li Fu ignored the Daoist disciple and suddenly asked.

Gu Qing was taken aback. "There are female Taoist disciples too?"

"Of course there are. They usually serve mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and many mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators have bought houses in Changping County, so the female Daoist nuns are placed there." Li Fu then added, "Most of them are daughters of landlords and merchants in the county. They are well-educated and reasonable, and should suit your taste."

Gu Qing was taken aback.

So all those female Daoist nuns were kept as mistresses by mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

No wonder not a single female cultivator was seen.

He had previously wondered if women in this world didn't even have the right to cultivate?

While still in a daze, Li Fu asked again, and Gu Qing immediately shook her head, "Never mind, I don't need it."

He was only focused on consuming corpse energy.

He's not particularly interested in matters of the heart right now.

"Sure?"

Li Fu pressed for an answer.

Gu Qing nodded.

Li Fu shrugged and smiled, no longer insisting.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Fu left immediately.

Meanwhile, Gu Qing also sent the young Taoist away temporarily and slept soundly alone in her bedroom on the second floor.

Gu Qing had a dream during that sleep.

I dreamt that I became an immortal being.

Alone atop the clouds.

Watch the mountains and seas rise and fall.

Behold the rapid changes happening every day.

The blissful, solitary feeling of living a carefree life in the world is truly captivating.

I woke up in the evening.

Just then, the young Taoist servant who was attending to him hurriedly came and called out repeatedly from outside the courtyard.

"Master Gu, Master Gu... Vice Abbot Lü has returned. Steward Lu specially sent his disciple to invite you over!"

"The deputy abbot is back?"

Gu Qing was delighted.

That's great!

With the return of the deputy abbot, Wufeng Temple now has someone to oversee it.

Even if Deng Hui has begun to doubt himself, so what? Does he still dare to storm into Wufeng Temple?

But... why did his master want him to go there immediately?

To commend himself?

impossible.

In last night's turmoil, the few Qi Refining Level 3 cultivators he killed were at most a ripple in the waves.

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