Shen Lang had already learned about my entry into the inner sect and congratulated me, saying that we should have dinner together sometime, and he would treat me.

Yu Man sent two messages, both asking if he had eaten and what he was doing. The last message said that Li Qinghe was looking for him and that he had already told her about the Hidden Spirit Technique.

Li Qinghe's message first said that the inner disciple token had been processed, and then urged him to go refine pills.

Later, he warned himself not to cultivate the Hidden Spirit Technique.

Just as I was looking at it, another message popped up.

"Come to the Azure Snow Palace!"

It seems that if I don't get out soon, she's going to come and tear down my cave.

Ye Feng tidied himself up a bit; he couldn't stand the sight of someone who hadn't washed or groomed themselves for two days.

Once everything was ready, they rushed up the mountain.

Qingxue Hall

Sect Master Mu Xue Zhenren, Zhu Jian, and Li Qinghe sat upright in their respective positions.

"They should be coming out soon. With your disciple as leverage this time, we should be able to secure some materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

A hint of hesitation appeared on Li Qinghe's face.

He hadn't taught Ye Feng anything yet, but now he was using him as a bargaining chip to create opportunities for himself...

When she heard Yu Man say that Ye Feng was practicing the Concealing Spirit Technique, she was absolutely furious.

Bai Jingming's Hidden Spirit Technique was quite famous; its most crucial achievement was ruining four or five disciples with excellent aptitude.

He already had a useless spiritual root, yet he still went and cultivated the Concealing Spirit Technique, which suppressed his cultivation level.

If Ye Feng originally had a sliver of hope in achieving Foundation Establishment, now he has completely given up on the path to immortality.

His only purpose now is to be a medicine boy for life, breaking down medicinal herbs for the rest of his life...

But when Li Qinghe heard Yu Man relay Ye Feng's words, her heart couldn't help but tremble.

Yes, he already had a useless spiritual root, and he also had a master who didn't like him. How could he possibly have any hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage?

Wouldn't it be better to have more ways to save your life?

Thinking of the various criticisms Ye Feng received in the pharmacy, yet he never refuted them,

Even when people point fingers and laugh at him, he remains true to himself.

Even after being accepted as a disciple and entering the inner sect, he remained steadfast in doing his own thing.

He didn't intend to show off to anyone, nor did he think he could advance to the Foundation Establishment stage solely because of his master.

Thinking of this, Li Qinghe pursed her lips.

This guy... doesn't he trust me at all? Does he even consider me his mentor?

But then I remembered how I had left him hanging in mid-air and thrown him off the mountain, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

He was just a newly promoted Qi Refining Stage 4 cultivator from a menial laborer, with no experience in flying whatsoever. He simply bumped into me by accident...

“Uncle-Master, we won’t be taking Ye Feng with us this time. He was planning to go home when he was promoted to the outer sect. I’m going to let him go home for a while, and I’ll teach him properly when he comes back.”

Master Muxue and Zhujian exchanged a glance, then looked at Li Qinghe with surprise.

Refining Foundation Establishment Pills was something Li Qinghe had been asking for a long time, but the sect had a limited supply of Foundation Establishment Fruits and had never agreed to let her practice.

Now that we have Ye Feng as a bargaining chip—a technique comparable to that of the Green Grass Peak Master—who could go and assist us, perhaps we can get the sect leader and the others to agree.

Although the Green Grass Peak Master can decompose medicinal herbs himself, saving some mana when refining Foundation Establishment Pills might increase the success rate.

But now Li Qinghe is actually giving up such a good opportunity?

"Ye Feng's secret realm token had already been stolen, and now he's being forced to watch someone else emerge from the secret realm with his token... As his master, I don't want to see this happen..."

That's true. Upon hearing this, Master Muxue had no choice but to give up trying to persuade her.

"Since that's the case, it's about time, let's go!"

Li Qinghe nodded and then said,

"Ye Feng just received the message and should be here now. Let me give him the things first."

Just then, Ye Feng ran in from outside, covered in sweat.

"Greetings, Peak Master, Senior Uncle Bamboo Sword"

"Greetings, Master!"

After saying that, he wiped the "sweat" from his forehead; it had taken him quite a bit of effort to do so.

"Master, please give me your instructions. I was so engrossed in my cultivation these past two days that I didn't notice the messages..."

I blame myself for not upgrading my spiritual root aptitude first, and for wasting too much time comprehending the cultivation techniques.

When the question was asked of Yu Man, the fact that he had been practicing the Hidden Spirit Technique was revealed.

"How's your cultivation of the Concealing Spirit Technique going?"

"No! I haven't cultivated the Concealing Spirit Technique..."

Upon hearing Li Qinghe's unfriendly tone, Ye Feng immediately denied it.

The original intention was to conceal the cultivation technique, but by making it known to everyone, he became the first transmigrator to do so...

"Really not?"

Li Qinghe's voice became more surprised, and she then released her spiritual sense to check Ye Feng's cultivation level.

They were relieved to see that he was still only at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

"That... the technique was too difficult to master, so I gave up..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Mu Xue Zhenren beside him out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that Mu Xue Zhenren's expression was unchanged, he finally felt relieved.

Being able to conceal two major realms is no exaggeration.

"Then what have you been doing in your cave for so long?"

"He's practicing fire control techniques..."

Li Qinghe felt much better after hearing that Ye Feng hadn't cultivated the Concealing Spirit Technique.

There was no time right now, and she showed no intention of checking the fire control technique.

He walked up to Ye Feng and cast a cleansing spell.

Ye Feng suddenly felt as if he had been splashed with cold water all over his body.

My whole body felt icy cold.

This is... my master is giving me a bath right in front of me?

This is so exciting!

Once the cleaning technique is activated, it works like a robot vacuum, rolling from top to bottom to suck up dirt and sweat.

It wasn't as sordid as Ye Feng had imagined.

The water droplets that absorbed the filth floated in mid-air and evaporated instantly, leaving only a small amount of sludge the size of a little finger, which Li Qinghe then ignited and burned away.

Li Qinghe stepped forward again to help straighten the clothes.

Ye Feng remained stiff, allowing himself to be manipulated.

As the saying goes, "Offering unsolicited favors is either for something or something else entirely..."

Will they ask me to do something illegal?

"This is your inner sect robe and token."

It's finally here.

A robe that can ward off dust and provide defense; an inner sect token that can be used for voice and video recording...

"After you became my disciple, I didn't give you any gifts. I'm giving you this defensive talisman. It can withstand three attacks in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. Don't practice miscellaneous spells indiscriminately anymore. You still have a chance to reach Foundation Establishment."

Ye Feng accepted it, flattered and surprised.

"Master... what are you doing? Why are you suddenly being so polite?"

Seeing Ye Feng's expression, Li Qinghe felt even more that she had neglected him.

He used to take his previous disciples with him wherever he went, even though it was somewhat inconvenient for Ye Feng, being a man.

But seeing him so panicked after receiving a defensive talisman, I couldn't help but blame myself.

I initially took this apprentice only to use his decomposition technique for help.

However, after Yu Man relayed Ye Feng's words, she seriously reflected on herself.

This is my disciple, a disciple more important than even the closest of family members in the cultivation world.

I really haven't cared about him enough.

"Aren't you going home? I'll feel more at ease if you take the token. Although your home is within the Qingyun Sect's sphere of influence, you still need to be careful. In the cultivation world, one wrong step can lead to utter ruin. You had a senior sister before..."

Li Qinghe didn't continue speaking, but instead waved to Ye Feng.

"Go ahead, you're an inner disciple now, you have a ten-day holiday... Oh, and see if there are any missions back home, you can travel a few more days."

Hearing Li Qinghe say that, Ye Feng almost burst into tears.

"Master, you're suddenly being so kind to me, I'm a little scared. Just tell me what you want to do, and what do you need me for?"

Upon hearing this, even Master Muxue couldn't help but chuckle, while Zhujian laughed so hard he was shaking with laughter.

Li Qinghe's forehead creased with veins.

"Get out of here!!"

Before he could even utter the word "get lost," Ye Feng had already fled like the wind.

Li Qinghe's voice came from behind.

"Practice your fire control and cleansing techniques well, and I'll check them when you get back!"