Outer Disciple Zhong Yue

Another twenty days slipped by in a blur.

For Han Yu, time felt scarce. Despite his urgency, his Qi Refining progress remained painfully slow. Even with his Three Spirit Roots, advancing from the third to the fourth layer of Qi Refining using the orthodox Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method would take a year or two at best.

Even cultivating to his limit and absorbing as much spiritual energy as he could every day, he would still need more than half a year.

Realizing this, he shifted his focus entirely to the Blood Refining Technique. His goal was immediate survival.

Finally, his efforts bore fruit. He reached the third layer of Blood Refining.

At the Shanzhong acupoint on his chest, three blood patterns had gathered on the blood talisman. He could now turn his essence blood into forty-five Blood Droplets.

As his cultivation deepened, the quality of his essence blood transformed. When condensed outside his body, the droplets shone like polished red agate, translucent and menacing. Their penetrating power had increased dramatically—earth, wood, metal, and stone offered little resistance. His control over them was fluid, precise, and effortless, far surpassing his previous capabilities.

His forty-five Blood Droplets had improved greatly in quality as well as number.

This was the single greatest achievement of his frantic cultivation.

Han Yu didn't know the true depth of the Demon Blood Sect's heritage, nor what a standard third-layer Blood Refining disciple should look like. He only knew that Wanchun Valley could fall at any moment. His life hung by a thread. If enemies came for him, they wouldn't politely match his cultivation level.

Strangely enough, just as he braced for the four-sect alliance to breach the valley and carve it up, the last twenty days had seen the sect return to an eerie calm. In fact, it seemed more "prosperous" than before.

The Exceptional Promotion Order had swelled the ranks. Inner Disciples increased by dozens, Outer Disciples by hundreds. Recruitment of rogue cultivators added another hundred or so Laborer Disciples.

The sect was a hive of activity: repairing the outer sect formation, building a formation on the main peak, and collecting more resources. Everyone was busy practicing spells or running missions. For a time, the valley really did seem bustling.

Han Yu didn't know what method the sect leadership had used to stabilize the situation, but the bustling atmosphere offered a sliver of hope.

Perhaps Wanchun Valley can actually hold? Maybe we won't be overrun?

Swish! Swish!

As Han Yu stepped out of his stone hut at dawn, the sharp hum of a sword cut through the air.

He wasn't surprised. Li Tonghai never parted with his sword. He practiced his swordsmanship every day.

This habit made the other Laborer Disciples wary. Such obsession with the sword reeked of the Spirit Sword Sect. However, Li Tonghai claimed to be a mere second-layer Qi Refiner practicing a mundane family technique. With over twenty Rogue Cultivators now in the Spirit Field Department and supervision lax, no one bothered to investigate him too closely.

Since the Promotion Order, everyone was focused on their own survival. Laborer Disciples scrambled to reach the third layer; Outer Disciples raced to improve their cultivation. As long as the rogue cultivators caused no trouble and handed over the required resources on time, no one investigated them one by one.

Li Tonghai finished his set, sheathed his longsword on his back, and gave Han Yu a curt nod before disappearing into his hut.

"Brother Qing... time to eat!"

From another hut, Hui Ling stood in the doorway, calling out to her husband, Tian Qing, who was standing by the fields.

"I know! Stop nagging!" Tian Qing snapped impatiently. He turned and nodded to Han Yu. "Fellow Daoist Han!"

"Fellow Daoist Tian."

Tian Qing turned to leave. Hui Ling, embarrassed by the public scolding, gave an awkward smile and started to retreat inside.

Just then, a huge plantain leaf flew over from the main peak.

Han Yu looked up as it descended, and Tian Qing and Hui Ling did the same.

A lively young girl in the green robes of an Outer Disciple stood on the leaf. A scarlet sash was tied around her waist. Behind her stood a boy of about ten.

"This is the Spirit Field Department!" the girl announced to the boy. Suddenly, she gasped. "Xiao Bai! Where are you going?"

A white Spirit Dog darted straight toward Han Yu, tongue lolling, tail wagging so furiously it kicked up a cloud of dust.

The girl’s cheeks flushed pink. She was an Outer Disciple Senior Sister now; she needed to maintain her dignity in front of the laborers. This dog was making a fool of her!

But when she saw Han Yu, her annoyance turned to surprise.

"Eh? Junior Brother? Didn't we meet at the Hundred Herb Pavilion in the market?"

Han Yu replied, "Senior Sister, we did meet. You gave me some Moon Gazing Herbs then."

He recognized her immediately. It was Zhong Yue, the girl who had sold Moon Gazing Herbs with her dog beside her. It seemed she had a true fondness for red; even with the mandatory green uniform, she insisted on keeping her crimson sash.

"Right, right! It is you!" Zhong Yue beamed. "How curious. Xiao Bai is so fond of you."

She started to chatter excitedly but caught herself. Remembering her new status, she tried to compose her face into a mask of stern authority. She puffed out her cheeks, which only made her look more like a pouting child than a strict senior.

Lowering her voice to a comically serious register, she said, "Greetings, Junior Brother."

Han Yu suppressed a smile and matched her tone. "Greetings, Senior Sister."

Just as they exchanged a knowing look, Tian Qing strode forward.

He bowed deeply, speaking with what sounded like heartfelt delight. "Esteemed Senior Sister of the Outer Sect! This humble one is Tian Qing, a Laborer Disciple. I pray for your eternal health and a smooth journey on the Immortal Path!"

He raised his head, making sure she got a good look at his rather handsome face.

Zhong Yue stared at him. Her brows knit together in immediate distaste.

"You. Your heart isn't good. If you speak to me again, I'll have Xiao Bai bite you."

"Ah?" Tian Qing stared at her in shock. He had not expected this response to his respectful greeting.

Hui Ling hurried over, looking nervous. "Brother Qing... what did you say to the Senior Sister?"

Tian Qing shot her a venomous glare, silencing her. He quickly bowed to Zhong Yue again. "Senior Sister's command is absolute. This junior withdraws."

He grabbed Hui Ling’s arm and pulled her away, scolding her under his breath.

"Who told you to come over and embarrass me?"

"But I... I was afraid you didn't know the rules..."

The couple spoke as they went back into their hut.

Zhong Yue withdrew her displeased gaze and remembered the boy waiting beside her.

"Wei Xiaoluo, you'll be living next to this Junior Brother. I'll explain the rules to you, but if you have questions later, ask the others."

She pointed to the vacant stone hut that had once belonged to Old Daoist Li.

Wei Xiaoluo, a boy with cunning, shifting eyes, nodded vigorously. No one knew what he was thinking.

Once the boy had gone into his stone hut, Zhong Yue turned her attention to the white Spirit Dog still beside Han Yu.

"Xiao Bai! Get back here! If you don't come now, no dinner for you!"

The white Spirit Dog ran back to her side.

"Bad dog. I'll deal with you later." She gave it a gentle kick and hopped back onto her Plantain Leaf.

Then she remembered something and turned back to Han Yu.

"Junior Brother, perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but while no one else is here, let me tell you something."

"Xiao Bai likes you too much. That means you likely have spirit herbs on you. If you use them for cultivation, you will progress quickly."

"The Exceptional Promotion Order is a rare chance. If you can reach the third layer of Qi Refining, prioritize that above all else. Become an Outer Disciple. The advantages of being an Outer Disciple far exceed those of a Laborer Disciple."

"Also... another Exceptional Promotion Order is coming soon. As a Laborer Disciple, you should prepare yourself for the Grand Competition."

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