“Hahahaha, you rascal, I knew from the start you had potential… As for these ten jin of spirit rice, how about I give you ten spirit pills for them?”
Once Steward Li saw that Gu Changsheng had made up his mind, she finally reacted. Laughing heartily, she handed him the spirit pills, then took back the spirit rice.
Gu Changsheng happily accepted the spirit pills and thanked her repeatedly. “Thank you, Steward Li.”
Steward Li gave Gu Changsheng a regretful look, then turned toward a handsome servant disciple eating in the canteen. “Come keep me company tonight. You won’t have to work next month, and I’ll double your spirit rice. How does that sound?”
The handsome servant disciple’s expression stiffened, but he could only agree through gritted teeth.
Steward Li thrust out her ample chest and shot Gu Changsheng a meaningful glance. Then she left with the handsome servant disciple in her arms.
After Steward Li left, a freckle-faced servant disciple sighed and walked over to Gu Changsheng.
“Sigh, how could you agree to that? She was already skimming your spirit rice, and those spirit pills… Well, you know how it is. Sigh.”
Hearing the freckle-faced young man’s well-meant warning, Gu Changsheng smiled. “Thanks for the warning, Senior Brother. I can’t eat all my spirit rice… And I get more every month. If I trade it for spirit pills, maybe I’ll be able to cultivate.”
The freckle-faced servant disciple hesitated, then said, “But if you want to trade for spirit pills in the future, you can come to me. I can give you twenty pills for ten jin of spirit rice…”
At that, Gu Changsheng froze for a moment, then quickly understood the young man’s intentions. So he was after spirit rice. And here he’d thought the guy was concerned about him…
Tsk, tsk.
Gu Changsheng sneered inwardly, but smiled as he said:
“All right. I don’t have any spirit rice with me today, though. Come find me at dinner tomorrow night, and I’ll bring some to trade.”
The other servant disciples were speechless when they heard that Gu Changsheng had actually agreed to the freckle-faced servant disciple’s offer.
“What an idiot. Steward Li swindled him, and now he’s letting this Liu Hu swindle him too!”
Hearing everyone’s discussion, Liu Hu snorted. An aura at the Third Level of Qi Refining spread from him. “Whoever runs their mouth again can answer to me!”
“...”
Gu Changsheng paid them no mind. After finishing his meal, he carried his plate back to his quarters.
But as soon as he reached the depths of the Spirit Field, he heard wave after wave of panting. Glancing over instinctively, Gu Changsheng saw Steward Li lifting her skirt and passionately…
As the two engaged, the servant disciple’s Vital Blood was visibly being drained away by her…
The two were doing such a thing out in the open. The shocking sight made Gu Changsheng blush, and he could only tread softly as he prepared to leave.
Just then, the handsome servant disciple abruptly went still, and all his Vital Blood was sucked away in a frenzy. Steward Li stood up, her complexion rosy…
The servant disciple, meanwhile, had gone from handsome to withered and emaciated…
Every fantasy Gu Changsheng had vanished in that instant, leaving only deep horror!
Taking advantage of Steward Li not having noticed him, Gu Changsheng hurried away.
Only after closing and locking the door did Gu Changsheng begin gasping for breath.
“Did I come to the wrong place? Why does this Backing Mountain Sect seem like a Demon Sect?”
Before he had even gone up the mountain, he’d seen a Fairy flying through the sky casually kill a servant disciple.
On his first day, Steward Li had skimmed his spirit rice, given him fake pills, and even hinted that he should sleep with her. She was just like a female cultivator from the Hehuan Sect…
That night, she had even killed the emaciated servant disciple, Luo Qing.
And tonight, she had drained someone until he was skin and bones.
Was this what a Righteous Path sect was supposed to be like?
After calming himself for a long while, Gu Changsheng thought of what he needed to do.
“I should test the gourd’s effects first…”
He eagerly took out fifteen spirit pills and put them into the gourd again.
A flash of violet light appeared. The fifteen translucent spirit pills were quickly transformed by the light, and in the end, fifteen Nine-Pattern spirit pills identical to the five he had eaten that morning appeared inside.
This time, Gu Changsheng watched the entire process.
Once he confirmed that all fifteen spirit pills had become Supreme-Grade, Gu Changsheng jumped up in excitement.
“Just as I thought! It really can upgrade them to Supreme-Grade! And it works on waste pills too…”
Gu Changsheng eagerly took out the five spirit pills, then began swallowing the fifteen Nine-Pattern Pills one by one.
Another night of cultivation.
“...”
The next day, feeling that he had reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, Gu Changsheng was in high spirits!
Five pills for one layer. Fifteen pills had raised him three layers!
He had reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining!
“In theory, once you set foot on the path of cultivation, you have a chance to take the Outer Sect Disciple examination and become an Outer Sect Disciple. Many servant disciples have become cultivators, but they’re still here because it isn’t time for the examination yet.”
“Take Steward Li, for example. She’s already at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining… But servant disciples are only tested once every three years, and the next examination is still a month away. So, thanks to her powerful cultivation level, she’s gradually become the local tyrant among the servant disciples.”
“My cultivation level has already reached the Fourth Level of Qi Refining. If I get a few more spirit pills, my strength will surpass hers by a lot. Then I won’t have to worry about her causing trouble for me.”
He thought of the sight of Steward Li straddling that servant disciple, rocking wildly as she drained him little by little…
For the first time, Gu Changsheng felt the security his own strength gave him. He hurriedly washed the grime off himself, then hoisted a bucket to go fetch water.
Just then, an angry curse rang out.
“You little punk, what did you do? Why are the spirit medicines in the Spirit Herb Field practically wilting?”
Steward Li, who had been all sweet smiles and flirtatious seduction toward him just yesterday, was now charging this way with a crowd behind her.
Behind Steward Li, a female cultivator in a gorgeous, flowing Immortal Dress approached with a grim expression.
Hearing the accusation, Gu Changsheng’s heart gave a thump.
“What is Steward Li talking about? I don’t really understand.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Steward Li’s pretty face turned icy. She kicked him, and caught completely off guard, Gu Changsheng was sent flying.
“You don’t understand? The entire Spirit Field is wilting, and you don’t know why? You were the only one watering the Spirit Field yesterday. If it wasn’t you, who was it?”
Before Gu Changsheng could explain, Steward Li slapped him again, sending him flying once more. His handsome face swelled up in an instant.
“You good-for-nothing! Get on your knees and apologize to Senior Sister Ye!”
Steward Li cursed as she continued beating Gu Changsheng. His face was pale, and blood covered his body, but he didn’t dare fight back!
Because he was no match for Steward Li.
Thinking of how this woman changed her attitude faster than flipping a page, Gu Changsheng burned with rage!
Bitch!
Yesterday she’d seduced me, and today she was mercilessly beating me. What a vicious woman. Just let me get the chance! Gu Changsheng clenched his fists and stayed silent.
Hearing Steward Li’s accusations, the female cultivator also looked over at Gu Changsheng.
“So you’re the servant disciple who ruined my Spirit Field by watering it carelessly.”
The female cultivator drew her sword and pointed it straight at Gu Changsheng!
A murderous aura surged toward him.
Combined with the woman’s icy aura and Foundation Establishment cultivation level, Gu Changsheng felt as if a mountain were bearing down on him.
The overwhelming pressure made Gu Changsheng lose his footing. He fell to his knees with a thud. “Please, spare me, ma’am! I only joined yesterday and came to the Servant Quarters. I watered the field for just one day. How could I have ruined the Spirit Field?”
At that moment, Gu Changsheng truly felt the divide between mortals and immortals!
The terror of the Foundation Establishment Stage exceeded anything he had imagined.
“Still making excuses? Since you won’t admit it, I’ll take you there and make you open your dog eyes and see for yourself whether I’m accusing you unjustly!” the female cultivator shouted, then grabbed Gu Changsheng and flew toward the Spirit Field.
Held in the female cultivator’s hand, Gu Changsheng felt a bone-chilling cold sweep over him. How could this female cultivator be so cold in the middle of summer…
There was only one possibility: a Mutated Ice Spirit Root!
Among Spiritual Roots, the Five-Element Spiritual Root was useless, the Four-Element Spiritual Root was mediocre, the Three-Element Spiritual Root was passable, the Two-Element Spiritual Root was a genius, and the Single Spiritual Root was a prodigy. The fewer elements a Spiritual Root had, the faster one could cultivate. A single-element Spiritual Root was called a Heavenly Spiritual Root and was the rarest of all.
There was another kind of Spiritual Root: the Mutated Spiritual Root, which was just as rare.
And this woman before him had a Mutated Ice Spirit Root. One could imagine how high her status was in the Backing Mountain Sect.
Held by the female cultivator, Gu Changsheng could now see the entire Spirit Field.
More than half of the Spirit Field had withered. The female cultivator hadn’t made a baseless accusation; there really was something wrong with the field.
“Before you arrived, this Spirit Field was the best place to grow spirit medicines. It didn’t matter whether it was windy or rainy, or how much water it received—this never happened. So why did the spirit medicines end up like this after you watered them just once?”
“Speak! Who told you to do this?”
The female cultivator kicked Gu Changsheng in the chest, sending him flying.
Gu Changsheng felt as if he’d been hit by a mountain. The impact made his internal organs ache, and the bones in his chest had already broken.
If he hadn’t secretly reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, that kick might have killed him outright!
Gu Changsheng could only endure the pain and kneel again.
“Please spare my life, ma’am! I really don’t know what happened. Even if you beat me to death, I still wouldn’t be able to give you an explanation.”
Seeing this, Steward Li slapped Gu Changsheng across the face again. “You still dare make excuses? Would a Fairy like Senior Sister Ye accuse a mere servant disciple unjustly?”
After striking him, Steward Li turned to the white-clad female cultivator and smiled obsequiously. “Senior Sister Ye, please calm down. This servant disciple doesn’t know what’s good for him. You may beat or kill him as you see fit. We in the Servant Quarters won’t object!”
The white-clad female cultivator glanced at Steward Li’s revealing clothes, and a trace of disgust flashed in her beautiful eyes. She snorted. “If he refuses to talk, then kill him!”
The white-clad female cultivator raised her delicate hand, and a flying sword shot toward Gu Changsheng!
“No!”
Gu Changsheng was horrified, his face filled with despair.
Just as Gu Changsheng thought he was about to die, a cry rang out.
“Junior Sister Ningshuang, stop!”
A sharp clang of swords rang out.
The flying sword slashing toward Gu Changsheng was intercepted by another flying sword…
Gu Changsheng looked up in surprise and delight. A gentle woman in a purple Daoist robe was standing in front of him.
“Senior Sister, move aside.”
The female cultivator called Junior Sister Ningshuang shouted angrily, “The spirit medicines worth tens of thousands of spirit stones were ruined by him for nothing! I have to avenge this today!”
Seeing that Ye Ningshuang was about to attack again, the female cultivator called Luo Qingge grabbed her.
“Calm down, Junior Sister. The spirit medicines didn’t wither because of the watering. It was because the spiritual power in this soil rapidly dissipated. Besides, he’s only been here for a day. How could watering the field once ruin an entire Spirit Field?”
After Luo Qingge said this, Ye Ningshuang’s expression eased a little. “But this Spirit Field has grown century-old spirit medicines for a hundred years, and nothing like this has ever happened. If it wasn’t him, who else could it be?”
“Whatever happened, we can find out by investigating. Why don’t you take a look first, Junior Sister?” Luo Qingge continued.
“Hmph. I’ll take a look, then. If he did it, I won’t let him off!”
With that, Ye Ningshuang shot Gu Changsheng a cold glance and began inspecting the spiritual soil in the Spirit Field.
After a while, she returned with a dark expression. “This spiritual soil turned into ordinary dirt overnight. Damn it, who did this?”
“There’s definitely something suspicious about this. I’ll report it to the sect at once.”
With that, Ye Ningshuang flew away on her sword.
After Ye Ningshuang left, Luo Qingge sighed and took two bottles of pills from her robes, handing them to Gu Changsheng!
“My Junior Sister is just like that. Don’t take it to heart. One bottle contains spirit essence pills that can heal your injuries. The other contains Essence-Nourishing Pills, which can strengthen your physical foundation. With some effort, you might be able to set foot on the path of cultivation. Consider them compensation.”
Gu Changsheng struggled to his feet. After taking the two bottles of pills, he stared blankly at the gentle, breathtakingly beautiful woman before him, then bowed deeply.
“Gu Changsheng thanks the Fairy for saving my life!”
Luo Qingge waved her hand and said calmly, “There’s no need to thank me. Go back and tend to your injuries.”
Only after the two women had left did Steward Li approach, looking awkward.
“Changsheng… are you all right?”
“I’m fine!” Gu Changsheng struggled to his feet and shook his head.
Looking at Steward Li’s face now, Gu Changsheng didn’t want to give her even the slightest courtesy. He turned to leave.
“Wait. I only said that because things were urgent. Don’t take it to heart.”
Gu Changsheng had only taken a few steps when Steward Li awkwardly blocked his way. Her expression softened with concern as she came up to him with a gentle look…
“Besides, if I hadn’t hit you to buy time, how could you have held out until Senior Sister Luo arrived? I was helping you!”
Gu Changsheng dodged her, refusing to let her come near, because he found her revolting…
“Then I thank Steward Li for that slap and kick.”
“Now that everything’s fine, I should go water the field…”
Seeing Gu Changsheng’s attitude, Steward Li was displeased, but she swallowed her anger and continued sweetly:
“I knew it… Now that you’ve escaped danger and received pills from Senior Sister Luo, you naturally won’t care that I laid hands on you for your own good. You’ll only think about how I hit you…”
“Sigh, I’m so hurt… It seems I was just being sentimental when I tried to reduce your servant duties.”
Steward Li looked as if she were on the verge of tears.
She seemed to be crying, but what she was really talking about was his servant duties.
She was threatening him!
Gu Changsheng furrowed his brows. “Then what do you think I should do to make you satisfied, Steward Li?”
“It’s simple. Give me half of those Essence-Nourishing Pills, and we’ll call it even.”
Steward Li dropped the act, walked up to Gu Changsheng with a serious expression, and took the pill bottle from his hand.
She tipped two Essence-Nourishing Pills out of the bottle, took one, and returned the bottle to Gu Changsheng.
“Don’t begrudge me the pills. I’m not the sort of person who takes something and then refuses to help. From now on, don’t worry about the Spirit Field. Just focus on collecting medicine dregs from the Disciples and Elders.”
Steward Li took the pill and left, as if afraid Gu Changsheng might change his mind.
After Steward Li left, Gu Changsheng clenched his fists, his eyes full of fury. “Soon…”
“I just have to last another month. Once the Outer Sect Disciple examination begins, I won’t have to walk on eggshells anymore!”
“Then I’ll make that bitch pay!”
Gu Changsheng took a deep breath and suppressed his thoughts.
Then he took the pills and headed for his little thatched hut.
Back in the hut, Gu Changsheng eagerly put the pills into the gourd!
Gu Changsheng had thought the Essence-Nourishing Pills would automatically become Supreme-Grade Essence-Nourishing Pills in the gourd, just like they had the day before. But that wasn’t what happened at all. As soon as the pills entered the gourd, a wisp of black energy was separated from them!
That black energy contained intensified poison…
Although the Essence-Nourishing Pills, now rid of the black energy, still became Supreme-Grade pills, Gu Changsheng was startled.
“How could these pills be poisonous?”
Luo Qingge had seemed so kind earlier. She shouldn’t be trying to harm him.
But why would she give him a bottle of poisoned pills??
“What do I do now?”
Gu Changsheng felt that one wrong step could doom him forever!
And the Backing Mountain Sect seemed just like a Demon Sect. These people were terrifying.
There was no doubt about it: since Luo Qingge had pretended to be kind while giving him poison pills, she must have had some other purpose. And she should be coming back soon. If he didn’t handle things right, he’d be dead.
“Right, Steward Li took one of the poison pills. If she dies, and Luo Qingge comes looking for me, I can tell her I gave that pill to Steward Li. Maybe I’ll be able to bluff my way through…”
He made up his mind.
Gu Changsheng swallowed the Essence-Nourishing Pill that had been separated from the others.
Then his cultivation level continued to rise…
Qi Refining, Fifth Layer; mid-stage; late-stage… Qi Refining, Sixth Layer!
By nightfall, Gu Changsheng’s cultivation level had stopped at the sixth-layer Qi Refining peak,
unable to advance any further.
One Essence-Nourishing Pill had raised him two levels!
“It’s not much, but I’m still a whole realm above Steward Li… I have to see whether Steward Li is dead. Only if she’s dead can I survive!”
Gu Changsheng took a deep breath and hurried toward Steward Li’s residence.
He had to see whether Steward Li was dead. If she wasn’t, he’d help her along… He’d settle his old and new grudges all at once!
“...”