Sixty years of blacksmithing, a single hammer blow forging a celestial being.

"What policy?"

"The sect has announced a policy that all menial disciples over sixty years of age must participate in the arena selection and assessment. Only those who pass the arena assessment can remain in the sect; otherwise, they will all be expelled!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this news, all the disciples of the abandoned hall were taken aback.

In the abandoned hall, besides Li Ping'an and Steward He, there were several other people who were over sixty years old.

Upon hearing this news, their eyes were filled with confusion.

"What is the sect doing? Are they abandoning us?"

"Is the sect going to abandon all of us old, menial disciples?"

Anyone with eyes can see that this policy is aimed at servants over sixty years old.

Why make these old men over sixty years old fight in some kind of arena, where only the winners can stay? Isn't that a joke?

At sixty years old, still working as a menial disciple, that's enough to show that he has no talent or cultivation.

For a moment, the old servants hesitated, unsure whether to remain in the sect, clinging to their hopeless path to immortality.

Or should we take this opportunity to go down the mountain and return to the mortal world to enjoy happiness?

Manager He paused for a few seconds upon hearing the news, then gave a wry smile.

"See? I didn't even have to resign myself; the sect has already started taking action."

Upon hearing this news, all the disciples were taken aback.

"Old steward, aren't you planning to go and fight in the arena?"

"Hey, what are you fighting for?"

Manager He sighed and said,

"I'm getting old, I can't take any more hardship."

"But, Steward, you're clearly only at the second level of Qi Refining. Who among these menial servants could possibly be your match? If you wish, you could easily stay here!"

"Never mind, never mind."

Manager He shook his head and sighed.

"There's no need for that. I never intended to work here anyway. Let's leave the opportunity to those who need it."

As he spoke, Steward He seemed to glance at Li Ping'an intentionally or unintentionally.

Li Ping'an also noticed a hint of meaning in Steward He's eyes, and he himself began to ponder.

How could such a cruel and ruthless policy be suddenly promulgated?

It should be noted that all the menial servants in the sect who are over sixty years old have been disciples who have worked in the sect for more than twenty, thirty, or even forty years.

All that hardship they endure in the sect is for the day they can break through to the Qi Refining stage and successfully cultivate immortality, isn't it?

And now they've actually set up some kind of arena for a brutal selection process. Isn't this pushing these people to their deaths?

"Uncle Li! How are you? Will you participate in the ring?"

At this moment, a young handyman disciple came over and asked Li Ping'an a question.

Li Ping'an was slightly taken aback. This disciple was named Long Yun, and he was the youngest handyman disciple in the abandoned hall.

He's only been on the mountain for less than two years, but his aptitude isn't actually low; he's already at the fourth level of Body Tempering.

He's usually a chatterbox and is the one who livens up the atmosphere in the abandoned hall.

Li Ping'an pretended to be deep in thought and said,

"I'll see how strong the people who want to participate in the arena are, and then I'll make a decision."

"Hey, you're really going all out for your age!"

Long Yun couldn't help but give Li Ping'an a thumbs up.

"At your age, you still want to take a chance and fight for something. I really admire you!"

Li Pingan said with a wry smile,

"There's no other way. If we don't give it our all now, there'll really be no hope left."

Li Ping pretended to be helpless, but in reality, he had already made a plan in his mind: he was determined to participate in this arena.

He is now at the first level of Qi Refining, and ordinary servant disciples are no match for him. It is not difficult for him to stay in this sect.

More importantly, he could sense that this policy was not as simple as it seemed!

If I fail to stay and leave the sect, I will likely face the wrath of Senior Brother Zhang immediately.

Thinking of this, Li Ping'an gave up the idea of ​​going down the mountain to find Nanzhi.

These past few days have been eventful, so it's best to stay home and avoid going out too much.

The robbery I was robbed last time is a case in point.

Although I was a weakling last time, I might run into someone with a level seven or eight Qi Refining skill this time, and then I'm doomed.

The policy caused quite a stir throughout the sect, especially among the menial disciples, who were all wailing in despair.

But despite the lamentations, the things that need to be done still need to be done.

Now that the abandoned hall has finally been repaired and everything is back on track, Li Ping'an can finally absorb the waste gas as he wished.

That day, he was frantically absorbing exhaust gas with the Sky Hammer at his work station when he suddenly heard another crisp sound coming from outside the door.

"Little brother, I'm here again!"

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'an was overjoyed. His beloved Senior Sister Qingyue had finally come back!

The God of Wealth who provided him with waste gas and residual pills has returned!

He turned his head with delight, but suddenly froze.

It turned out that the person who came was not alone; there was also a female cultivator in a red robe next to Qingyue.

She was a head taller than Qingyue, with sword-like eyebrows and phoenix eyes. She appeared more mature than Qingyue, but she was still incredibly beautiful.

If Qingyue is pure and charming, then this red-clad female cultivator is full of alluring charm.

She looked Li Ping'an up and down, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She then turned to Qingyue beside her and said...

"Is this the old handyman you mentioned who helped you successfully refine the pill?"

Qingyue frowned and said,

"Senior sister, what did you say? He's my little brother, not some old handyman. He always helps me control the fire when I refine pills, and as long as he helps me control the fire, my success rate is very high."

"Oh, is that so?"

The red-clad female cultivator, whom Qingyue called "Senior Sister," glanced at Li Ping'an with amusement and asked...

"Are you really good at controlling fire?"

She raised her chin high, her tone full of scrutiny.

Li Ping'an cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Replying to Senior Sister, I don't know how to control fire; I only know how to add some firewood to the furnace."

"Then why does my junior sister say you're very skilled, and why does she always come to you for alchemy?"

Li Pingan paused and then said...

"Maybe...maybe it's because my senior sister was completely focused when she was refining pills with me, which is why the success rate was higher."

"Is that so?"

The female cultivator in red raised an eyebrow and said...

"Then I've come to you today to refine pills, to see if you can help me succeed, to see if it's really that miraculous."

What?

This female cultivator also wants me to refine pills for her?

Li Ping'an was startled; he could sense that this female cultivator was not as simple as she seemed.

That scrutinizing gaze seemed to want to see right through him.

Moreover, this female cultivator's cultivation level was much stronger than Qingyue's. When she stood in front of Li Ping'an, she gave him a feeling of unfathomable depth, and he could not see the extent of her cultivation.

They must be cultivators at least at the Foundation Establishment stage!

Under her watchful eye, I probably can no longer secretly use the Heaven-Forging Hammer to make pills.

However, on the surface, Li Ping'an remained calm and composed as he spoke.

"Senior sister, you flatter me. It was just good luck. But if you need me to help you control the fire, that's no problem."

"Okay, let's do it then."