Chapter 89: One Year

The Human World

Senior Brother Jiang said calmly, "Junior Brother Qin, for Junior Brother Meng's sake, I can make an exception this time. I will only deduct your monthly stipend. However, if you continue to fail in completing the task, I will have no choice but to report it to the sect as required, so they can punish you according to the rules."

Meng Ruhui also said, "Junior Brother Qin, you'd best take care of yourself."

As the two senior brothers departed, the look of shame on Qin Sang's face vanished instantly.

Finally, the appointed time arrived. Qin Sang sensed that the restrictions around Reiyang Valley had been triggered, so he opened them to welcome Zhao Yan inside.

"Junior Brother Qin, here's your Nine Spirit Sand..." Zhao Yan exclaimed, holding up a mustard seed bag. When he reached Qin Sang, he lowered his voice and said, "Let's talk inside."

Immediately after, Yu Hua appeared out of thin air and also flashed inside.

Yu Hua inquired about Qin Sang's cultivation level, and Qin Sang used the Qi Condensation Pill as an excuse.

After examining Qin Sang's demon eye, Yu Hua nodded with satisfaction. "Junior Nephew Qin has done his best, but it's still too slow. From now on, you must activate the demon eye at least three times a day and grasp the formation of Reiyang Valley as quickly as possible!"

Qin Sang stood there, seemingly wanting to speak but hesitating.

Yu Hua, seeing this, asked curiously, "What else is on your mind, Junior Nephew Qin?"

Qin Sang feigned hesitation for a moment, then embellished the scene from two days prior and recounted it to Yu Hua, complaining, "This disciple needs to operate the demon eye all night, so I can only cultivate during the day, leaving very little time to look after the herb garden. Could Senior Uncle Yu please speak well of me to Senior Brother Jiang? Otherwise, if I can't complete the task, I truly will be expelled from the Yuanzhao Sect."

Zhao Yan scoffed from the side, "What if you don't cultivate for a year or two? Do you really think you can..."

Yu Hua cleared his throat, interrupting Zhao Yan, and frowned. "This is indeed a difficult matter. It's not good for me to frequently intervene in matters of the Xingyun Valley..."

Qin Sang looked at Yu Hua with anticipation. Zhao Yan was clearly a hothead, while Yu Hua was an old hand, which was why Qin Sang had made his request only after seeing Yu Hua.

The Kuiyin Sect had gone to great lengths to send him into Reiyang Valley. They certainly wouldn't harm him, nor would they allow him to be expelled, before their objective was achieved.

Indeed, it was as Qin Sang had expected.

Yu Hua pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? I'll teach you a method for setting up a Spirit Gathering Array. Take these spirit stones and arrange them around the herb garden. This will increase the spiritual energy in the garden several times over, aiding the growth of spiritual herbs. Although its effect isn't as good as the Five Elements Cloud, it will certainly help you complete your task. However, Junior Nephew Qin, you must be careful not to expose it to others."

After the two left Reiyang Valley, Zhao Yan's expression was displeased, and he said scornfully, "Senior Uncle Yu, why do you let him threaten you? Just use the Heart-Eating Worm to show him what's what, and see if he dares to be dishonest!"

"Does Junior Nephew Zhao think I can't see through this child's little tricks? But there's no need to expose them."

Yu Hua smiled, unconcerned. "To get someone to do something, coercion alone isn't enough. There must also be sufficient temptation, and they must be willing. Only then can the task be done fastest and most perfectly. This includes Ruan Nanfeng and the others; find an opportunity to ask them what difficulties they've encountered. Compared to the great mission of the Sacred Gate, what are a few spirit stones? As long as the Sacred Gate's task is completed, how could the Sect Master treat us unfairly? If Junior Nephew Zhao feels vexed, after the matter is done, you can vent your anger however you wish. Can he possibly escape our clutches?"

Zhao Yan lowered his head and thought for a while, then cupped his hands and said, "Zhao Yan has learned a valuable lesson. The smooth progress of this plan is entirely thanks to Senior Uncle Yu's strategic planning. After the matter is complete, I will certainly speak well of you to Uncle Yi and request commendation for you."

Yu Hua's eyes lit up. "Then many thanks, Junior Nephew Zhao! Oh, I've secured a position in the Sect Master's Hall today, which allows me to legitimately enter Yuanzhao Peak. So, I'll need Junior Nephew Zhao to take care of things here."

Zhao Yan was overjoyed. "I wish Senior Uncle Yu a triumphant success!"

Qin Sang didn't know if the Soul-Bewildering Mirror counted as a formation. If not, this Spirit Gathering Array was the first formation he had learned.

This was actually the most rudimentary Spirit Gathering Array, requiring a batch of spirit stones to be consumed after a while. The spiritual herbs planted in the garden were very common in the cultivation world and not very valuable, so cultivating them with a Spirit Gathering Array would definitely be a net loss.

Since the spirit stones weren't his, Qin Sang didn't feel bad.

The only drawback was that if discovered, it would raise questions: how could an entry-level disciple have such abundant resources?

Fortunately, Qin Sang had no friends, and no one usually came to visit him. He only needed to put away the Spirit Gathering Array before Senior Brother Meng and Senior Brother Jiang came to collect herbs. Since Qin Sang could always barely meet the requirements, the two senior brothers never made things difficult for him, and things had been peaceful.

Time passed without notice in the mountains; more than a year went by like this.

Late that night, Qin Sang manipulated the demon eye for the third time to observe the grand formation of Reiyang Valley.

At this point, the demon eye's vision had shifted westward. Qin Sang estimated that his task would be completed in another three or four months.

For the past year, Qin Sang had been confined to Reiyang Valley, only seeing Yu Hua twice, with Zhao Yan being the one to contact him.

Zhao Yan's tone when urging him had become increasingly anxious, giving Qin Sang a premonition that the moment their task was complete would likely be when major changes occurred!

Feeling his spiritual energy nearly depleted, Qin Sang retracted the demon eye and returned to his cave dwelling.

His cultivation level was not high, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth at Yuanzhao Sect was more than sufficient, so he didn't need to rely on the Spirit Gathering Array.

Sitting cross-legged on a water-heart bamboo futon, Qin Sang introspected. Thanks to the lingering effects of the Hundred-Year Stone Milk, his cultivation had advanced rapidly over the year, and he was only a hair's breadth away from the eighth level.

Today, he finally sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough. Qin Sang quickly took out the Soul-Bewildering Mirror and arranged it at the entrance of his cave dwelling, then settled into meditation.

Ten days later, Qin Sang emerged from seclusion, looking refreshed and invigorated, almost wanting to let out a long shout to the sky. His long period of arduous cultivation had finally paid off; he had successfully broken through.

Today was the day for collecting herbs. Shortly after Qin Sang put away the Spirit Gathering Array, Meng Ruhui and Senior Brother Jiang arrived together. Upon discovering Qin Sang's breakthrough, they were naturally astonished and left dejectedly after collecting the herbs.

Qin Sang respectfully saw them off, showing no trace of complacency. Offending them would bring him no benefit whatsoever.

At the end of the month, Zhao Yan arrived again.

Zhao Yan waited at the valley entrance. Seeing Qin Sang flying out on his magical artifact, he was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help but exclaim, "You've broken through again?"

Qin Sang landed and bowed. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhao, on breaking through to the ninth level of the Qi Condensation Stage!"

A hint of triumph appeared on Zhao Yan's face, but he quickly reined it in, not concealing his envious gaze. "Can't compare to you, breaking through two levels in a year."

Qin Sang repeatedly said he wouldn't dare. "This disciple is also greatly indebted to the Sect Master's grace for bestowing the Qi Condensation Pill, which led to today's achievement. When Senior Brother Zhao accomplishes great deeds and returns to the sect, the Sect Master will certainly not be stingy with rewards. On the contrary, Junior Brother can only envy Senior Brother."

As expected, Zhao Yan laughed heartily with satisfaction. He felt Qin Sang looked more pleasing than before, and his eyes flickered, wondering what he was thinking.