The doll-faced Zhuji Shushi glanced at his senior brother and said, "I've found that every time it's her who causes trouble."

  It's actually Mo Qingchen's bad luck that Qingmu Peak isn't just one mountain, but rather a collection of large and small peaks. Except for the main peak where the Yuan Ying period cultivators reside, which is off-limits to ordinary people, there are over ten side peaks. Some are inhabited by Jiedan period cultivators who are disciples of the Yuan Ying cultivators, while the entry-level disciples of the Jiedan cultivators live together on one peak. Others are empty, waiting for future Golden Dan cultivators to move in. The spiritual fields, medicine gardens, and fruit gardens there are all being tended to by miscellaneous disciples.

  Apart from this, there is another circle of peaks surrounding the main peak and side peaks, called the inner peak, where the inner disciples of the entire Qingmu Peak live, including the elite disciples without a master. On the outside, there is also a circle of peaks, where the largest number of outer disciples live.

  In other words, apart from miscellaneous disciples scattered all over Qingmu Peak, the residences of formal disciples are strictly divided.

  Mo Qingchen was assigned to a outer peak to manage the spiritual fields, and usually only saw miscellaneous disciples and outer sect disciples. Today, he ran into Chen Jiaoxian, an inner sect disciple, and it really seemed like his luck had run out.

  Seeing the unhappy face of the monk, another monk suddenly lost his smile: "Brother, have you heard a saying, 'A tall tree in the forest will be broken by the wind.' Generally, people who are often criticized and envied must have some outstanding qualities."

  The doll-faced cultivator rolled her eyes and said, "Her? A little girl with a four-spirit root, in our Yao Guang Sect, she's probably at the bottom."

  "I think that young girl, in terms of bravery, wisdom and martial arts skills, is quite impressive for her age. Even if she doesn't have the best innate talent, it's not necessarily impossible for her to make a name for herself someday." Another cultivator chuckled.

  "Shixiong can't help but look up to her. Not to mention anything else, just talking about guts. She clearly saw that the little girl's background wasn't simple, yet she didn't choose to yield and instead showed off her bravery for a moment, is this foolish courage?" The nun with the doll-like face seemed to look down on Mo Qingchen.

  Another fellow disciple shook his head: "Junior brother, we are currently in the foundation-building period, above that is the core-formation period, and even higher than that is the nascent soul period. No matter which step you reach, there will always be people who can defeat you with just one move. Honestly speaking, if you always yield and compromise, can you really last long on the path of cultivation?"

  The doll-faced monk hesitated for a moment.

  Another monk continued, "Moreover, that girl is not just a common brave. If she chose to lower her head today, the reputation of being a thief would be hers to bear. Rumors are terrifying, with this stain, whatever she does in the future will be difficult to achieve. On the other hand, having a fair and square fight with that young girl in public is actually the best choice. Looking at her fighting skills, those two dark green vines dancing in the air seem intimidating but are actually meant to divert attention, the real move is the one that defeats the opponent. It's still the usual method of entwining wood technique. And did you notice her casting time? Even for the simplest entwining wood technique, her casting time can be so short, she must have practiced thousands and thousands of times. In the end, she cleverly provoked words to make that young girl promise not to find help. Younger brother, if nothing unexpected happens, that girl will surely have a day where she shines brightly."

  "Tsk, tsk, Big Brother, what a pity that our Yao Guang Sect's foundation-building cultivators can't take in disciples. Otherwise, wouldn't you want to go and be someone else's master?" Wa Wa's face cultivator teased.

  "Hehe, maybe we'll be calling you Shixiong from now on." Another cultivator said with a faint smile.

  The doll-faced cultivator finally composed himself: "Do you think she can still enter the foundation-building stage? No matter how good her other aspects are, her innate talent is something she just has to accept!"

  "Junior brother, why don't we make a bet?"

  "Alright, if I win, brother, you'll have to give me a few of those precious chess pieces of yours."

  "Alright, but if you lose, I don't want that little bug either. Let's just give it to that girl to play with instead. Come on, let's get down to business." said another cultivator.

  The two of them finished speaking and flew away on their flying magical instruments.

  "Qingchen Shimei, Chen Jiaoxian seems to have a strong background. Today's matter may bring trouble." Duan Qingge said while walking and turning his head to Mo Qingchen.

  Mo Qingchen smiled helplessly: "That's also something that can't be helped. Even if I wanted to swallow my temper for the time being, I still couldn't hand over that thing, Huanxiang Jade, and Chen Jiaoxian wouldn't let it go either. Since that's the case, I might as well have a fight and vent some of the frustration in my heart."

  Duan Qingge also sighed: "That's true, sometimes you don't look for trouble, but trouble comes looking for you. After all, it's just that our cultivation is too low and we don't have any background..."

  Duan Qing Ge thought to herself, as a low-ranking and low-cultivation female cultivator who happened to be as beautiful as a flower, how difficult it must have been for her to get this far. If she were an elite disciple, would all these Zhangs and Lis dare to approach her?

  "Qing Song, if we really become outer sect disciples of the Mo School, how will you deal with Master Ma?" Mo Qingchen asked, seeing a hint of melancholy on Duan Qingge's face.

  Duan Qing smiled and said, "I've already heard about that person, he doesn't have any background, just an ordinary outer sect disciple. When the time comes, we can directly refuse him, after all, we are formal disciples now, does he dare to force us?"

  This is the difference between a formal disciple and an odd-job disciple. The status of an odd-job disciple is low, and although they are called "disciples", in reality they do menial tasks. In simple terms, there is no human rights to speak of. If a formal disciple wants to do something to an odd-job disciple, as long as it doesn't result in death, the authorities won't intervene.

  But formal disciples are the foundation of a sect, especially this orthodox sect, which attaches great importance to these things. Even if it is a high-ranking cultivator, if the formal disciple has not made a mistake, he cannot be punished at will.

  Although it is still inevitable that some private matters will be involved, if an ordinary disciple wants to force a female cultivator of the same status into marriage, it's not easy either.

  The benefits of becoming a formal disciple, the two women knew in their hearts. There was still a year before the small competition of the Li Men Pai, and among the miscellaneous disciples, their cultivation could be considered above average. Because those who participated in the small competition were not only this batch of miscellaneous disciples, but also the entire Yao Guang Pai. Fortunately, they were young, and when the time came, the sect should consider them carefully.

  The two returned to their residence, both worried about next year's small comparison, simply cleaned themselves up and devoted themselves to cultivation.

  After a week had passed, Mo Qingchen opened his eyes to see Duan Qingge still cultivating. He casually withdrew the Hiding Spirit Formation and scooped out a gourd of wine to take a sip.

  It's good that Ling Tian and Duan Qingge are cooperating tacitly, and the spiritual field is being managed properly. Originally, they had to go take care of it every day, but now they only need to go once every three or four days, which saves a lot of time for cultivation.

  However, the Lingdan on my body is almost gone, and there's next year's sect competition. I need to stock up on Dans like Buling Dan and Huichun Dan. Nowadays, it's not like before when I could refine Dan as I pleased. Every time I find an opportunity, I can only hastily refine one or two furnaces, so I need to start preparing from now on.

  It seems it's time to find another chance to practice alchemy again.

  "Qingchen Shimei, you're drinking again." Unbeknownst to her, Qing Ge had stopped her cultivation and saw Mo Qingchen leaning against the window, leisurely sipping his wine, and spoke out.

  Mo Qingchen raised his hand: "Qing Ge sister, want to try some?"

  "No way, I don't like drinking. Besides, it's easy to make mistakes when you're drunk. I'm not like you, who seems to be able to hold his liquor."

  Mo Qingchen pouted and sighed: "It's really hard to find someone who understands me!"

  Mentioning this suddenly reminded him of that man in grey clothes, his infatuation with wine seemed to be no less than his own, and he didn't know... if there would be another chance to meet again.

  They chatted for a couple of sentences when they heard some noise coming from outside the door.

  "Xiao Yan Shifu, is it true that Ye Shu Shu has really come back as some of the senior brothers said?" a soft and gentle voice came.

  Another clear voice said: "That's also fake, didn't Brother Zhao go to Liuhuo Peak on business and coincidentally saw it?"

  Mo Qingchen and Dusty exchanged a glance, and it was the other two people who lived in the same house who had returned.

  As expected, the door was opened, and the two speakers saw Mo Qingchen and others inside. At first, they were stunned, then one of them, a plump girl, said: "Wow, you're back so early?"

  Mo Qingchen and the other person both greeted each other.

  For over a year, the four of them lived in the same house. Mo Qingchen wasn't close to the other two, keeping a distance that was neither far nor near. However, with several women living together, there would be no lack of conversation.

  That plump girl was the one who disliked her clothes for being ugly that day, named Liu Xiaoyan. She had an ordinary appearance but loved beauty and spoke quickly. She was a person who couldn't hide anything, with all her thoughts on display.

  Another girl named Sun Ruolin, petite and slender, always makes Mo Qingchen think of the phrase "weak willow in the wind" when she walks, and with her personality that tears fall before words, it's actually the kind that Mo Qingchen respects but keeps at a distance, of course, on the surface, she wouldn't show it.

  "By the way, have you guys heard about something big today?" Liu Xiaoyan asked with a mysterious tone and a hint of gossip in her eyes.

  "What's wrong?" Duan Qingge asked in coordination.

  Liu Xiaoyan's expression was indeed so: "Ye Shifu is back!"

  Mo Qingchu and Dust didn't react, so he couldn't help but ask: "Aren't you curious about what Ye Shifu looks like?"

  The room fell silent for a moment.

  "What's wrong, Uncle Ye?" Mo Qingchen asked again.

  Liu Xiaoyan said incredulously, "You don't know who Ye Shishu is? Ye Shishu, who built his foundation at the age of 20 and has already entered the middle stage of building his foundation in his thirties. He's the most likely to surpass He Guang Shizu and become the earliest person in the Yao Guang Sect to enter the Dan stage!"

  Listening to Liu Xiaoyan's almost screaming voice, Mo Qingchen finally realized who this so-called Ye Shishu was.

  After entering the Yao Guang School, several names kept popping up, and it seemed that Buddha was everywhere. Among them, two were particularly famous.

  One of them was He Guang Zhen Ren, who built his foundation at the age of eighteen and formed his golden elixir at sixty-eight. His reputation for being a prodigy with unparalleled talent spread throughout the Fangzhoushan Mountains and he was renowned in all major powers on the Tianyuan Continent.

  Another is Ye Shishu in Liu Xiaoyan's words, who laid the foundation at 20 years old and entered the middle stage of foundation-building at 30 years old. Now his momentum is about to surpass that of He Guang Zhenren.

  There is another reason for this.