Yellow Court Daoist

Di Zhao, though a Third-rank Alchemist, was not as wealthy as Lu Qingfeng.

Among Alchemists, the disparity between the two levels is extremely profound.

Those who painstakingly research Alchemy Techniques, the Spirit Stones earned from Alchemy are all spent on purchasing various Spiritual Medicines, Elixir Recipes, and researching new Elixir Recipes. It is common to have more expenses than income.

On the other hand, those who are content with old knowledge and only focus on refining one or two kinds of Spirit Pills tend to be richer in possessions.

Di Zhao belonged to the former category.

Despite his own financial constraints, he was willing to lend fifty-two Spirit Stones to Qingyu, clearly out of respect for Lu Qingfeng's face.

Lu Qingfeng kept this kindness in mind.

In fact, Qingyu also had her own little cunning plan —

While stockpiling Alcohol Liquid, she borrowed Spirit Stones from everywhere.

Firstly, she genuinely did not have many Spirit Stones.

Secondly, she thought that as long as people were willing to lend her Spirit Stones, it meant her brother was fine. Conversely, if no one was willing to lend anymore, or if those who had lent her the stones came to demand their repayment with a bad attitude, it would indicate that her brother had encountered trouble.

It was precisely by occasionally borrowing Spirit Stones from others

that Qingyu was able to be somewhat at ease, stockpiling Alcohol Liquid in the Gathering Immortal Square, waiting for her brother's return.

This resulted in the newly returned Lu Qingfeng owing a large amount of debt and plenty of favors all over town.

"Owing favors is not a bad thing."

Lu Qingfeng smiled in his heart.

Favors given and received naturally foster relationships. For example, with Di Zhao, once Lu Qingfeng repaid the Spirit Stones, their relationship would certainly progress further and become more cordial.

In the future, at Xuanyuan Sect, when facing situations like finding no way to enter Xunluo Treasure Hall, he wouldn't have to rack his brain to find a suitable connection.

"Junior Brother is too polite."

Di Zhao looked up, giving Lu Qingfeng a slight nod.

Gu Bu Yan, sitting at the head, looked at Lu Qingfeng and said, "This time, you were implicated by the young girl from Jade Pillar Peak and suffered for three years in Xuan Yin Cave. Although as your teacher I couldn't exempt you from the punishment, I have acquired an opportunity for you from Jade Pillar Peak."

"Master overstates the matter."

"It was the disciple who acted recklessly."

"During these days in Xuan Yin Cave, my younger sister has also troubled Master, which is indeed my fault."

Lu Qingfeng continued.

Not only Di Zhao.

Qingyu even went to Gu Bu Yan and borrowed a total of two hundred Spirit Stones.

"This little girl Qingyu has a likeable temperament; she's not bothersome at all. If she finds Gathering Immortal Island dull, you can have her visit Cripuscular Island frequently or your Feiyun Island."

"However, you can't spoil her too much; it can lead to lax behavior."

This was clearly a case of "love me, love my dog."

As for the latter comment, it was obviously in reference to Qingyu, who was dubbed "the Xuanyuan Sect's number one wastrel"; since Lu Qingfeng was in Xuan Yin Cave, Gu Bu Yan couldn't discipline her himself and took the opportunity to remind Lu Qingfeng.

"Disciple has already admonished Qingyu."

Lu Qingfeng hurriedly responded.

Gu Bu Yan nodded and didn't mention it again. He changed the subject, asking, "Aren't you curious about what opportunity I got for you from the head of Jade Pillar Peak?"

"Since Master says it's an opportunity, it must be greatly beneficial to the disciple. The disciple is curious, but cannot guess it."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head, his eyes revealing a hint of curiosity.

Gu Bu Yan waved his hand and bestowed a Jade Talisman, speaking clearly, "Our Xuanyuan Sect has the Dharma Transmission Hall. The countless magic methods of the sect all come from this hall. With this Jade Talisman, you may enter the Dharma Transmission Hall to comprehend wonderful methods greatly beneficial to your cultivation."

...

"Big Senior Brother, is the quota for the Dharma Transmission Hall really that precious?"

Upon exiting the main hall, Lu Qingfeng, holding the translucent Jade Talisman, curiously asked Di Zhao who was standing beside him.

Di Zhao glanced at the Jade Talisman in Lu Qingfeng's hand and slowly replied, "The Dharma Transmission Hall controls the sect's First Secret Realm which contains a giant palm imprint. Among the thirteen secret techniques of our sect, nine were comprehended from this imprint. The secret technique 'Angry Wave Mountain' of Jade Pillar Peak, for example, is one of them."

"Besides the nine secret techniques, over the years, countless talented predecessors of our sect have comprehended numerous middle-level and low-level techniques from it. Our Xuanyuan Sect's reputation for techniques, suppressing the demons and two sects in Xuanyuan Realm, comes from it."

Lu Qingfeng listened and nodded lightly.

However.

It seemed to lack any attraction to him.

He had plenty of middle-level and low-level techniques at his disposal.

Even high-level techniques were not in scarce supply.

He even had quite a few super-level techniques and Divine Skills.

The Dharma Transmission Hall, which is a great opportunity for ordinary practitioners or even true inheritors of the Xuanyuan Sect, was less precious to Lu Qingfeng than opening up the Luo Zhen Hall.

Turning his hand, he put the Jade Talisman into his storage bag, no longer interested.

Planning to casually stroll through it whenever he had time, take a quick look around, and then leave, so as not to let his master's efforts go to waste.

Di Zhao looked at his junior brother, expecting Lu Qingfeng to continue asking so he could share more details. After all, for the true inheritors of each hall, entering the Dharma Transmission Hall was not an easy task. Once inside, there was always something to be gained, which could greatly enhance one's strength.

However, Lu Qingfeng, after asking, seemed indifferent.

This surprised Di Zhao a bit.

But then he saw Lu Qingfeng take out the fifty-two Spirit Stones from his storage bag and floated them in midair, saying to Di Zhao, "My younger sister has troubled you these past days; thank you, Big Senior Brother, for your care during this time."

As he spoke, he pushed the Spirit Stones over.

Di Zhao smiled faintly, waving his hand to collect the Spirit Stones, "Junior Brother is too polite."

He had wanted to mention the Spirit Stones to Lu Qingfeng ever since he came out from Xuan Yin Cave. But thinking that Lu Qingfeng had just come out and it wasn't quite appropriate, he held back. However, his finances were really tight, so now that Lu Qingfeng took the initiative to "repay the money," he felt relieved.

Lu Qingfeng didn't say much and kept it in mind.

After separating from Di Zhao, Lu Qingfeng was thinking about increasing their interactions in the future. He determined the direction and hurried towards Feiyun Island.

Although he was confined in Xuan Yin Cave for three years, Feiyun Island was still under Lu Qingfeng's control.

Feiyun Island.

"Greetings, senior brother."

Led by Zhang Qi and Liu Feng, seven entry-level Alchemists on Feiyun Island stood before Lu Qingfeng, respectfully saluting him.

At the side, there were also two Deacons, Qin Hai and Zhao Yunxing.

Qin Hai was in charge of materials allocation on Feiyun Island, including herbs, Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Stones, and distribution of Spirit Pills, and so on.

Zhao Yunxing was responsible for personnel, including the movement and promotion or demotion of mundane disciples.

"There's no need for formalities."

Lu Qingfeng raised his hand in a welcoming gesture, his face smiling.

Everyone rose.

Zhang Qi smiled at Lu Qingfeng and said, "Congratulations on leaving seclusion, senior brother. This time you have really saved face for our Combined Pill Hall. Even the Spirit Void True Inheritor from Jade Pillar Peak is no match for you; it's now well known within and beyond the sect."

Three years ago.

As a newly promoted True Inheritor of the Combined Pill Hall, with a Foundation Establishment cultivation, Lu Qingfeng fought against Zhou Su, the True Inheritor from Jade Pillar Peak on Gathering Immortal Island, and had the upper hand.

When the news spread.

Lu Qingfeng, who had originally become famous due to the competition between the Combined Pill Hall and the Artifact Making Hall, gained even more renown.

Many were aware that, apart from Alchemy and Artifact Refining, the array prowess of this newly promoted True Inheritor from the Combined Pill Hall was also formidable. With only a Foundation Establishment cultivation, he managed to fight against a Spirit Void Practitioner.

At this moment, Zhang Qi's compliment was intended to flatter and please.

Lu Qingfeng gave a modest smile, "That day was impulsive, not worth mentioning."

As he spoke, he waved his hand and scattered dozens of Spirit Stones, falling in front of everyone.

Zhang Qi received the most, followed by Qin Hai and Liu Feng, and the others were after them.

Seeing the Spirit Stones, everyone understood, yet no one was the first to take them.

Lu Qingfeng said with a smile, "In my absence, Feiyun Island has relied on all of you. My younger sister Qingyu is ignorant, and I apologize for causing trouble. These borrowed Spirit Stones are naturally to be returned, just take them."

Indeed.

Lu Qingyu had also come to Feiyun Island and had borrowed from everyone.

It was foreseeable.

That Lu Qingfeng, having just left Xuan Yin Cave, would continue encountering situations where he had to repay his debts for a while.

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, everyone accepted them.

Zhang Qi, who had lent the most, a total of twelve Spirit Stones, felt more affiliated with Lu Qingfeng and said with a smile, "Sister Qingyu is modest and polite; a few Spirit Stones are nothing."

Lu Qingfeng gave Zhang Qi a slight nod.

Zhang Qi was overjoyed and was about to compliment further, but then he saw Lu Qingfeng gesture with his hand and look towards everyone, asking, "How has Feiyun Island been in these three years of my absence?"

Hearing Lu Qingfeng's question, Zhang Qi and Qin Hai exchanged glances. Qin Hai stepped forward, "Reporting to senior brother Lu, the Alchemy Apprentices on Feiyun Island vary greatly in skill level. Over these three years, a portion of the Elixir Pills refined did not meet standards and were rejected by the hall. The remaining amount was insufficient to meet quotas, resulting in a continuous decrease in the resources allocated to Feiyun Island. Now many Alchemy Apprentices have no herbs for Alchemy and are idled."

Lu Qingfeng looked at Qin Hai.

Then at Zhang Qi.

Zhang Qi said with a wry smile, "Senior brother may not be aware that the Alchemy Apprentices on Feiyun Island mostly have mediocre talent and poor Alchemy skill. It is also my fault for not supervising properly, resulting in Feiyun Island not passing the assessments for the past three years."

Lu Qingfeng listened, his gaze passing over Liu Feng, Zhao Yunxing, and the rest. Liu Feng and the others were fine, but Zhao Yunxing's gaze met with Lu Qingfeng's, and he seemed to hesitate to speak.

Lu Qingfeng looked towards Qin Hai, "Are the detailed accounts of Feiyun Island's resource inflow and outflow, consumption of herbs and Spirit Stones for these three years available?"

Qin Hai nodded continuously, "They are available, I'll go get it right away."

Lu Qingfeng nodded slightly, and Qin Hai left.

Lu Qingfeng then said to Zhang Qi and the others, "My junior brothers and sisters, you should also go back later and prepare a detailed account."

"Do we need to as well?"

Zhang Qi looked puzzled and said to Lu Qingfeng, "Deacon Qin has all the detailed accounts for every major Alchemy Room, there shouldn't be a need for us to prepare it again, right?"

Lu Qingfeng shook his head, "Deacon Qin only has records of expenditures and income. Specific details about the consumption in each major Alchemy Room are still needed from all of you. It's not difficult; every major Alchemy Room should have disciples responsible for record-keeping. Once Deacon Qin returns, you can order someone to deliver them directly to the Feiyun Hall."

Even in decline, the profits from the Combined Pill Hall were staggering.

As for Feiyun Island, with seven entry-level Alchemists and two hundred Alchemy Apprentices, even if each person only skimmed a bit each day, after three years, it would amount to a considerable sum.

The accounts must be thoroughly audited.

Lu Qingfeng glanced at Zhang Qi with a light smile in his heart.

"As senior brother says."

Zhang Qi agreed and stopped talking.

Then there was a silent wait.

Lu Qingfeng stood in the middle and said nothing, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. Zhang Qi's head was lowered, his expression unclear.

Liu Feng and the others looked either bewildered, indifferent, or like Zhang Qi, heads bowed, lost in thought.

About half an hour later.

Qin Hai returned.

"I've kept senior brother Lu waiting. It's just that there are so many account books over these three years that sorting through them is very time-consuming."

Qin Hai took out hundreds of account books, almost as tall as a person, from his storage bag and explained to Lu Qingfeng.

"Hm."

Lu Qingfeng nodded slightly, and stepped forward, his hand running down over hundreds of account books, and said to Zhang Qi and the others, "You may go now."