44

The moment the cultivator surnamed Yu finished speaking, the General Affairs Hall erupted in chaos.

A round-faced cultivator near the door quickly rubbed his hands together. "Sent out to guard a post? This new disciple's luck is terrible! Who doesn't spend their first five years doing odd jobs and gaining experience in the main hall?"

The cultivator next to him rubbed his forehead, his tone full of confusion: "Exactly! Huangzhu Island, I heard, is a low-grade first-level island, with spiritual energy less than half as scarce as the outer peaks. If he can't reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining within five years, his path to immortality will be cut short!"

"More than that!" An older cultivator with a goatee in the corner sighed. "Last year, I heard from inner disciples that hardly any cultivators are willing to guard there, and the cultivation resources are much scarcer than here in the sect. Junior brother, perhaps you've accidentally offended someone?"

Yue Ting quickly tugged at Qing Chen's sleeve, his憨笑 (simple and honest smile) gone, replaced by worry:

"Brother Qing, did you accidentally offend some steward? Should we go and plead for him?"

Qing Chen remained silent, also somewhat puzzled.

For three years, he had barely left his cave. Even when he went out to buy demon beast corpses, he wore a cloak and mask, concealing his presence with the *Demon Seed Golden Lotus*. How could he possibly offend anyone?

"If I had the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, I'd definitely refine the culprit into a demon!"

He cursed viciously in his heart, but his face remained calm, only etching the appearance of the Yu surname cultivator into his mind.

Even if he were reincarnated in his next life, Qing Chen would recognize him at a glance.

Of course, Qing Chen was actually quite reluctant to go to the various halls to do odd jobs.

Going to the halls to do odd jobs was a real trap. Not only were the contribution points low, but he would also be subject to others' control, making it difficult to even go out to find demon beasts.

Although Huangzhu Island had scarce spiritual energy, he relied on the *Brahma Refining Demon Technique*. As long as he killed enough demon beasts and accumulated enough essence blood, the effect of scarce spiritual energy was negligible.

Moreover, Huangzhu Island was only a few thousand miles from the main island. Foundation Establishment cultivators could arrive in a few hours. Large demon beasts dared not come, and experts looked down on it; it was perfectly safe.

But this 'good fortune' was predicated on him possessing the *Demon Seed Golden Lotus* and the *Brahma Demon Refining Technique*.

Without these two techniques, he'd probably be begging the steward to change his mission right now.

Thinking of this, his hatred for the Yu-surname cultivator intensified—this man was clearly trying to cut off his path.

When collecting his offerings from the General Affairs Hall, Qingchen expressionlessly accepted the storage bag.

According to the rules, those stationed on islands could receive a five-year offering at once, 180 low-grade spirit stones, and a bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pills (ten pills). Contribution points would be settled five years later.

He squeezed the storage bag, but felt no joy whatsoever.

In the past, he would have already taken the spirit stones to the market to buy demon beast corpses, but this mission was too strange; he couldn't sleep or eat until he figured out who was behind it.

Back in his cave, Qingchen tossed his storage bag onto the stone table and sat down on a futon, pondering:

Qingchen carefully reviewed his cultivation journey over the past three years. He had meticulously concealed his identity using disguise techniques, a mask, and the aura-concealing method from the *Demon Seed Golden Lotus*.

Those disciples in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining would have no chance of discovering his presence.

They wouldn't care about a disciple who only bought ordinary level-one demon beast corpses.

The only person he had any connection with was Qin Zigu of the Scripture Pavilion.

He had given Qin Zigu a Qi-Nourishing Pill back then, and the two had no enmity whatsoever. Why would Qin Zigu want to harm him?

After thinking for a long time without any clue, Qing Chen simply changed into a clean gray robe and headed towards the bamboo forest on the outer peak.

He had to ask Xie Yu; Xie Yu was adept at social maneuvering and had better access to information than he did.

Beside a pavilion in the bamboo forest, Xie Yu was sitting on a stone bench drinking tea.

"Three years have passed since we last met. Brother Xie's cultivation has become even more profound." In a pavilion in the bamboo forest of the outer peak, Qing Chen cupped his hands in greeting to Xie Yu.

Seeing Qingchen approach, Xie Yu quickly rose and cupped his hands in greeting, "Haha, Brother Qing, you've endured three years of solitude, meditating and cultivating without ever leaving your cave. It's truly shameful."

Qingchen gave a wry smile, "Haha, three years without leaving the house, and now I find myself on a five-year journey. What bad luck!"

"Speaking of which, Brother Qing, have you offended Senior Brother Yu or Senior Brother Mo?" Xie Yu asked, looking at Qingchen with some concern.

Qingchen shook his head, "No, this is the first time I've met Senior Brother Yu. As for Senior Brother Mo, I don't even know who he is."

"That's strange."

Xie Yu put down his teacup, lowering his voice, "I initially thought you had offended Senior Brother Mo, because ordinary disciples of the General Affairs Hall don't have the power to change sect missions. Only stewards in the General Affairs Hall have that power, and Senior Brother Yu is Steward Mo's trusted lieutenant."

Qingchen's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "What's the relationship between Steward Mo and Qin Zigu of the Scripture Pavilion?"

"Qin Zigu?"

Xie Yu paused, then smiled. "Oh, Senior Brother Mo, Senior Brother Yu, and Senior Brother Qin have always been very close. They're sworn brothers! Years ago, before Deacon Mo became an inner disciple, he, Senior Brother Yu, and Qin Zigu worked odd jobs in the outer sect.

Later, Deacon Mo donated a cultivation technique, advanced to the late Qi Refining stage, became an inner disciple, and even became a deacon. He arranged for Senior Brother Yu to go to the General Affairs Hall, and Qin Zigu to go to the Scripture Pavilion. It's quite a story in the sect."

So, Brother Qing, if you've offended any of them, it's best to resolve the conflict as soon as possible."

Qing Chen's fingers clenched tightly around his teacup.

I see!

Qin Zigu is Deacon Mo's man. He must have told Deacon Mo about his choice of the *Brahma Refining Demon Art* back then!

Qingchen said to Xie Yu, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Xie. I will definitely try to resolve the conflict between the three of them. But I wonder who this Senior Brother Mo is, and how to pay him a visit?"

Xie Yu explained, "Oh, Senior Brother Mo's name is Mo Qiuxian. Although he is a deacon in the General Affairs Hall, he still retains his status as an inner disciple, so his cave dwelling is still located on the inner peak."

"If you wish to visit him, you can go to the Inner Sect Peak to find him. Although Senior Brother Mo's spiritual root is only low-grade, he is a very prominent figure in the Inner Sect."

"By the way, there's a cultivation technique called 'Brahma Refining Demon Technique' in the Scripture Pavilion." Xie Yu, oblivious to Qing Chen's unusual expression, continued, "That technique was presented by Deacon Mo!

He found it in some ruins years ago, and after presenting it, he received a large sum of contribution points, which allowed him to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining and become an Inner Sect member. Deacon Mo's real name is Mo Qiuxian. Although he has a low-grade spiritual root, he wields considerable power in the General Affairs Hall."

Qing Chen felt a buzzing in his head. Mo Qiuxian!

He presented the *Brahma Demon-Refining Technique*!

"Thank you for informing me, Brother Xie."

Qingchen forced a smile, stood up, and said, "I need to go back and pack my things. I'll be leaving in three days, so I won't bother you any longer."

"Take care, Brother Qing!" Xie Yu cupped his hands in greeting.