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However, the rewards of these nearly four years of life-or-death battles for Qingchen were astonishing.

Alone, confined to this resource-poor, isolated overseas island, he had killed at least fifteen mid-stage first-tier demonic beasts!

Each mid-stage first-tier demonic beast, its sinews, bones, hide, claws, teeth, flesh, and blood, was a valuable material for refining weapons and pills, rich in spiritual energy.

In the market, any one of them, if handled properly, could easily fetch dozens of low-grade spirit stones.

More importantly, for Qingchen, the abundant blood and flesh essence of these mid-stage first-tier demonic beasts, combined with the refinement of the *Brahma Demon Refining Technique*, was enough to sustain him in a three-month-long, single-minded seclusion for intensive cultivation!

These resources, gained at the cost of his life, became the most solid stepping stones on his path of cultivation.

…

The five-year period of his stay was drawing to a close.

On this day, a faint sound of something breaking through the air drifted across the sky.

A spirit boat belonging to the Ningxuan Sect pierced through the thin mist and hovered outside Huangzhu Island.

Two figures emerged from the boat and landed lightly on the island; they were disciples sent by the General Affairs Hall to make the handover.

Qing Chen had been waiting there for a long time, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Anyone who had stayed on this small island for five years would probably be eager to return home.

The two disciples from the General Affairs Hall looked around, their gazes finally settling on Qing Chen, who was waiting to the side.

One of them scrutinized Qing Chen carefully, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, he said to Qing Chen:

"Oh! Junior Brother Qing? I never expected this! You actually made it on Huangzhu Island and even broke through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining? Congratulations! Your future is limitless!"

Qing Chen's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He recognized this person; it was Yu Cheng, the Yu surnamed cultivator who had 'assigned' him this Huangzhu Island mission years ago.

"Thanks to Senior Brother Yu."

Qing Chen's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. "I'll undoubtedly need to get closer to Senior Brother Yu in the future. I hope you won't refuse visitors then."

Yu Cheng's smile froze. He snorted coldly and said nothing more.

The disciple in black robes beside him spoke up at this moment:

"You are Qing Chen? Having guarded this island for five years, your cultivation has already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, and your foundation is quite solid. Clearly, you are not a beginner."

His tone carried a hint of surprise, indicating that these two disciples from the General Affairs Hall were taking him as their leader.

Qing Chen looked calmly at his senior brother, smiled slightly, and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother, you flatter me. I've just been lucky and have gained some insights into cultivation."

In reality, his current cultivation level was far more than the superficial fourth level of Qi Refining.

The concealment technique inherent in the *Demon Seed Golden Lotus* is quite wondrous, not only masking the faint, eerie aura of the demon seed but also hiding a large portion of his true cultivation level.

As early as his first year on the island, thanks to the flesh and blood essence of those two rock-armored crabs and numerous low-grade demonic beasts, he had already broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

In the following two years, although he spent a great deal of time condensing the demon seed and hunting demonic beasts, thanks to the abundant nourishment from their flesh and blood, his cultivation advanced again, reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining!

Now, with his accumulated magical power, he is only one step away from the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Even more astonishing is the transformation of his divine soul.

As the nascent demonic seed solidified, the strength of his divine sense increased accordingly. Now, his divine sense could cover a radius of twenty-five zhang around him!

This level of divine sense already surpassed that of ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

Moreover, the progress in condensing the demonic seed was also very encouraging.

Although not yet perfect, it could already be activated for initial combat.

Once activated, cultivators with weaker divine senses than him would be struck, falling into a state of spiritual turmoil for several breaths, unable to extricate themselves;

Even cultivators with similar divine senses would inevitably experience a brief loss of focus if caught off guard.

In battle, life and death are decided in an instant.

This was the 'surprise' he prepared for certain people.

The disciple in black robes, Li Feiyu, shook his head upon hearing this:

“It has nothing to do with luck. For a newly initiated disciple to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining within five years in a place like Huangzhu Island, it's all about strength and character.

Junior Brother Qing, you don't need to be modest. Your rapid progress has truly impressed even your senior brother. My name is Li Feiyu; if you don't mind, you can call me Senior Brother Li.”

He paused slightly, glancing at Yu Cheng beside him, whose expression wasn't pleasant, before changing the subject: “However, Junior Brother Qing, did you offend anyone in the General Affairs Hall?

If so, you'd better keep a low profile when you return to the sect this time. The sect is a complex place; although your cultivation has improved, you still need to act cautiously to avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Upon hearing this, Qingchen frowned slightly, then relaxed, smiling faintly, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Li. I've been focused on cultivation and haven't intentionally offended anyone in the General Affairs Hall.

However, Senior Brother Li is absolutely right. After returning to the sect, I will certainly be more discreet, concentrate on cultivation, and avoid trouble."

Li Feiyu nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, "It's best that you think this way. The path of cultivation is long and arduous; maintaining humility and caution is the key to going further. Alright, time is of the essence, let's set off back to the sect now."

"Senior Brother Li, please wait," Qingchen interjected at the opportune moment, "I'd like to bring one more person with me on the boat back to the sect."

Yu Cheng immediately said, "Absolutely not! This is a sacred place for the sect; how can we allow anyone of unknown origin to board the ship at will?

Junior Brother Qing, perhaps you've become a bit too wild after spending five years on Huangzhu Island?"

Li Feiyu's gaze then fell upon Su Zixuan, who had been quietly standing not far behind Qing Chen. Seeing that she only possessed the second level of Qi Refining cultivation, he frowned slightly but did not immediately respond.

Qing Chen calmly explained, "You two have misunderstood. I don't intend to take her directly into the sect's mountain gate; I simply wish to settle her in a market town on the outskirts of Xuan Island so she can make a living."

Li Feiyu pondered for a moment, then finally nodded, "That's not impossible. If it's just settling her in the market town, then let's all come up together."

"Senior Brother Li, isn't that inappropriate? Senior Brother Mo often instructs me in the General Affairs Hall to investigate unidentified individuals," Yu Cheng tried to argue.

Li Feiyu's gaze swept over him indifferently; though he remained silent, an air of authority emanated from him.

Yu Cheng's words caught in his throat, his expression shifting several times before he finally shut up, somewhat resentfully.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Li." Qingchen bowed in thanks, then led Su Zixuan and followed behind Li Feiyu toward the spirit boat floating on the shore.

Yu Cheng glared hatefully at Li Feiyu, then cast a sinister glance at Qing Chen's retreating figure.

He said nothing more and followed.

In truth, under normal circumstances, the cultivators stationed on Huangzhu Island wouldn't dare ask the disciples of the General Affairs Hall to take one person back to the sect on a spirit boat.

Because the disciples of the General Affairs Hall usually wouldn't give these Huangzhu Island cultivators, whose path to immortality was hopeless and whose connections were weak, a friendly look.

In the cultivation world, strength and background ultimately speak.

The strong possess everything, while the weak swallow their pride.

If Qing Chen hadn't displayed his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation and solid foundation today, earning Li Feiyu's slight respect, this matter would never have gone so smoothly.

The spirit boat slowly rose into the air, breaking through the clouds, and sped towards Xuan Island, where the Ningxuan Sect was lo