At the foot of the mountain, the three of them exchanged glances. Ye Tianyi's face was dark, and he didn't know what to say.

Lin Po shook his head helplessly and said, "Changsheng, your senior brother has been traveling with your master for ten years and has just returned. You should listen to his guidance more in the future!"

"Don't worry, Uncle Master!"

Lu Changsheng waved his small hand and responded seriously.

Ye Tianyi didn't know what to say for a moment.

Seeing this attitude, he thought there might still be hope, and his expression softened slightly.

After pondering for a moment, he prepared to have a good talk with him.

Before he could speak, a sound came from within the sect.

Dong...

The dull sound of a bell echoed in all directions, and Lu Changsheng's entire demeanor changed.

Without a word, he picked up a burlap sack and rushed down the mountain.

"Senior Brother, I have something to do. I'll welcome you later!"

With that, he disappeared without a trace.

Ye Tianyi frowned and asked, "Where is he going?"

Lin Po was at a loss for words and sighed, "The sect is distributing spiritual herbs to the Inner Disciples today..."

"I..."

For a moment, silence fell all around. Ye Tianyi recalled the man-high sack in his hand and fell into deep thought.

"Tianyi, I know you're anxious, but don't be too hasty!"

Lin Po didn't say much more, as he couldn't help with such matters.

However, before leaving, he remembered something and turned back.

"I forgot to tell you, never walk alone at night!"

"Why? Is there a ghost?" Ye Tianyi was puzzled.

"More than that, something scarier than ghosts!" Lin Po said, frowning tightly. "About eight or nine years ago, a nighttime fiend appeared in the sect. Every so often, it would show up and beat someone up. It started with Inner Disciples, then moved on to Direct Disciples, and in recent years, it has become increasingly insane. Just recently, it targeted the peak masters..."

The more Lin Po spoke, the more exaggerated it became. Realizing it was getting late, he quickly bid farewell and left.

Ye Tianyi didn't pay much attention, his focus remained on Lu Changsheng.

He composed himself, determined to properly guide his young junior brother.

However, he couldn't calm down after witnessing today's events.

What does a share of spirit stones mean? Protection fees? Or is he using his status as a Direct Disciple to oppress mortals?

***

Soon, Lu Changsheng returned, carrying a sack taller than himself, filled with spiritual herbs sensed through divine perception.

An Inner Disciple could only receive one or two plants a month, yet he brought back a whole sack...

Seeing this, Ye Tianyi's expression worsened. What kind of nonsense is this, bringing shame to Qingyun Peak!

Just as he was about to reprimand, a graceful figure flew in on a sword from behind Qingyun Peak, landing in front of them.

"Greetings, Senior Sister!"

Ye Tianyi immediately composed himself and saluted the woman.

Lu Changsheng smiled and said, "It's been half a month, and Senior Sister is even more beautiful and ethereal!"

"You and your sweet talk!"

The woman laughed, clearly fond of her little junior brother.

Her name was Liu Qingcheng, the senior sister of Liuyun Peak. True to her name, she was stunningly beautiful, captivating with every smile and frown.

"When did Junior Brother Ye return?" Liu Qingcheng also noticed Ye Tianyi.

Ye Tianyi replied, "I just returned today."

"Ten years of travel must have been hard!"

"Not hard!" Ye Tianyi was very respectful and said, "Did Senior Sister come here late at night to see Senior Brother for something?"

Liu Qingcheng said, "No, I came to see Junior Brother Changsheng. I need his help with something!"

"What can he help with?"

"There's a problem with the formation, and I want him to take a look!"

"A formation problem for him to see?"

Ye Tianyi looked at Lu Changsheng, who was carrying the sack, in a daze.

Liu Qingcheng raised her jade hand and directly took Lu Changsheng away.

This action left people in a trance.

***

After a while, Liu Qingcheng returned with a faint smile on her face.

"Senior Sister, is the formation problem solved?" Ye Tianyi asked tentatively.

"Yes, it's solved!"

"My junior brother solved it?"

"Yes!"

"But he..."

Ye Tianyi wanted to say something, but Liu Qingcheng interrupted, "It seems you've heard some rumors in the sect and misunderstood Junior Brother Changsheng. He's not what you think!"

"Does Senior Sister have a different opinion?"

"Get along with him, and you'll understand over time. Treat him well, and you won't regret it!" Liu Qingcheng didn't say much more.

Ye Tianyi was puzzled, "I'll go talk to him!"

Liu Qingcheng said, "Another day, he's gone to cultivate!"

Hearing this, Ye Tianyi's expression softened slightly. It seemed he wasn't entirely hopeless, at least he knew to cultivate.

Just as he turned around, he saw Lu Changsheng rushing out from behind the mountain in a hurry.

Without a word, he dashed to the old pine tree at the foot of the mountain.

"Is he done cultivating?" Ye Tianyi looked at his senior sister for confirmation.

Liu Qingcheng didn't respond to him but instead shouted to Lu Changsheng, "Junior Brother, slow down, don't fall!"

"???"

Ye Tianyi was stunned. From the moment his senior sister said he started cultivating until now, it was just a few words, and he was done?

This speed, even taking a dump takes longer.

Liu Qingcheng seemed accustomed to it, instead looking at Lu Changsheng with a smile in her eyes.

"Junior Brother Changsheng should be almost fully developed by now!"

"Hmm?"

Ye Tianyi was confused, what did that mean?

Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng reached the old pine tree, his brows furrowed, his face full of seriousness, his body trembling slightly, as if enduring immense pain.

His forehead was already covered in sweat, soaking his clothes.

A gentle breeze blew from afar, rustling the treetops, and the old pine tree scattered starlight, slightly easing his expression.

"Can I not have this Ten Thousand Tribulations Immortal Body? Every time I cultivate and break through, it feels like I'm dying. How can there be such a disgusting physique..."

Lu Changsheng was helpless. Before cultivating, he thought he had extraordinary bones and was destined to be a one-in-a-million cultivation genius.

The truth was as he thought, indeed a one-in-a-million Ten Thousand Tribulations Immortal Body.

Others cultivate by drawing spiritual energy from heaven and earth into their bodies, circulating it through their meridians, transforming it into their cultivation, and repeating the process.

But his cultivation felt like swallowing blades, crushing stones on his chest, and plunging his hands into boiling oil!

Every cultivation session was torture, and breakthroughs were life-threatening, his whole body enduring endless pain, just like his physique, as if truly experiencing ten thousand tribulations.

Moreover, the spiritual energy he needed for cultivation was several times, even ten times more than others, and as his cultivation level increased, he needed more and more.

However, his mana was also several times more than those of the same realm.

He had been cultivating for ten years now.

In the path of cultivation, Qi Refining is the beginning, Gathering Spirit is the foundation, followed by Condensing Essence, Golden Elixir, Elemental Infant, and so on.

He had reached the eighth level of Golden Elixir.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at a distant mountain peak, Cangyun Peak, where the sect master resided.

"I heard that after the sect master broke through the eighth level of Golden Elixir, his cultivation started to slacken. I wonder if I can beat him now!"

Lu Changsheng pondered, changed into black clothes, and stepped into the sky.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

A quick look at tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled.