However, the rebellious Red Scorpion ultimately restrained himself. Ever since Shang Lin's breakthrough, the discomfort, or rather the oppression, he felt was too intense, leaving him no choice but to revolt.

At one point, Chi Xie felt as if Shang Lin had devoured him completely, leaving not even a trace, which was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

This feeling was even stronger when Shang Lin's eyes turned into crimson-gold, calm, beastly pupils. What need did such a sect leader have for their servants to protect him? They would rather run away from him in a heartbeat!

Because there were no evening classes for the midterm exams, Shang Lin used this time to regulate her breathing, finally calming down the spiritual energy in her body, and then she felt a little more relaxed.

Red Scorpion handed a red ginseng to Shang Lin, saying, "This is from Green Yao."

Shang Lin looked at the clean red ginseng in front of him and smiled, "Was it washed by Lü Yao too?"

Red Scorpion glanced at Shang Lin with a hint of impatience. "That little thing, it's already a favor that I gave you red ginseng, let alone clean it for you? I did it."

Shang Lin smiled as she refused Chi Xie's offer, saying, "You can have it. My spiritual energy has just stabilized, and I don't need to replenish it anymore."

Just as Red Scorpion was about to refuse, he heard Shang Lin's phone ring, so he could only silently withdraw his hand.

Shang Lin picked up his phone, and to his surprise, it was Mo Rong calling. He hurriedly asked, "Is it urgent, Director?"

"I'm at your school gate. Didn't you have evening classes today?"

Shang Lin immediately stood by the window and looked towards the school gate. Sure enough, he saw Mo Rong standing under the streetlight. He hurriedly said, "I don't have evening classes today. I'm at home."

Mo Rong seemed to sense Shang Lin's presence and immediately looked up. "The matter of Feixian Palace has been resolved. I think it would be better if we talked face to face."

So fast? Shang Lin was a little surprised. "If the director doesn't mind, please come to my house."

"good."

Mo Rong was still dressed entirely in black—his shirt, tie, suit, socks, and shoes—he blended perfectly into the night, except for his face.

Shang Lin had gotten used to it and even felt that if Mo Rong didn't dress like this, it wouldn't be him. The former director, Situ Pojun, dressed like this too; it must be their office uniform.

Upon seeing Shang Lin, Mo Rong's eyes flashed with surprise. "Sect Master Shang, you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage?! How long has it been since we last met? Did you encounter some fortuitous opportunity? And why have you lost so much weight?"

Could it be... that he used some forbidden technique to improve his cultivation? And is his current state a side effect of using that forbidden technique? Otherwise, how could he level up so quickly?

That's not right. Shang Lin's breakthrough should have involved a tribulation of lightning, which I absolutely couldn't have missed. If there was no tribulation of lightning, then how did he break through? But this Foundation Establishment isn't fake either; I clearly felt it.

Upon hearing Mo Rong's question, Shang Lin immediately smiled slightly, but said somewhat awkwardly, "If I said I didn't know, would you believe me?"

Mo Rong, “…”

Are you kidding me? He advanced three levels in just one month, and now he's directly reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Who would believe that? I certainly don't.

However, since he hadn't come to uncover Shang Lin's secrets, he said, "The Flying Immortal Palace's decision is out; they've compensated your Yuntai Sect with five million."

Shang Lin paused, then asked uncertainly, "That's it?"