Zhao Heng and Yun Qingsnow, one chasing and the other running, quickly traversed four or five miles.

  Yun Qingsnow finally stopped in a mountainous medial field, where Zhao Heng caught up, panting and sweating profusely.

  In trast, Yun Qingsnow remained pristine and posed, though she did g Zhao Heng with some surprise.

  "You mao keep up? What kind of movement teique are you practig? It looks a bit unusual," she asked.

  Zhao Heng’s heart skipped a beat. In his haste, he had instinctively used the modified version of the Boing Steps teique.

  Fortunately, Zhao Heng’s version was a heavily altered one, signifitly different from the inal.

  "Senior Sister, it’s just a crude teique I practiced randomly. It’s not worth mentioning—please don’t ugh at me. By the way, is this your medial garden?" Zhao Heng quickly deflected the question and ged the topic.

  Yun Qingsnow didn’t press him further. She turo look ahead, where a series of terraced fields stretched across the mountains.

  These fields were scattered across the slopes, varying in size, and covered in dense mist that obscured the view within.

  Yun Qingsnow led Zhao Heng toward one of the medium-sized fields. She took out a small crimson fg, and a faint blue energy emanated from her fiips.

  Zhao Heng’s eyes narrowed as he immediately sensed a surge of profound energy and a chilling aura.

  "Releasing profound energy!"

  Zhao Heng recalled tales he had heard: martial artists in the an Refi Realm could store a portion of the world’s profound energy within their bodies. This must be Yun Qingsnow’s own stored profound energy.

  As Yun Qingsnow infused a strand of profound energy into the small fg, the fg emitted a fsh of white light. The mist ahead ed and parted, creating a clear path.

  The two of them ehrough the path, and the view ahead suddenly opened up. A rich medial aroma greeted them.

  In front of them y a lush spiritual field spanning several acres, filled with various types of spiritual herbs. In one er of the field stood a simple grass hut, o an a well.

  "This is my medial garden," Yun Qingsnow expined. "All official Outer Sect disciples in the sect are assigned a personal cave dwelling, but spiritual fields must be rented separately."

  "Since I also practice alchemy, I phese spiritual herbs myself and have been personally tending to them," she tinued. "Now, as I’m preparing to break through to the Innate Realm, I won’t have time to mahis pce. From now on, you’ll stay in the grass hut and take care of these herbs. With your abilities, you should have no trouble looking after them."

  Zhao Heng was overjoyed to hear this.

  This spiritual field was located half Qingxia Peak, where the pnted herbs naturally attracted an abundance of heaven ah energy. The enviro for cultivation here was leagues better than the ditions on the Servants’ Peak.

  Yun Qingsnow the on to expin some of the rules of Qingxia Peak.

  For example, servant disciples were not allowed to roam freely or trespass into others’ spiritual fields…

  After a series of instrus, she handed Zhao Heng the small fg that trolled the spiritual field’s formation aed.

  Watg Yun Qingsnow’s graceful figure disappear into the sea of mist, Zhao He a sense of emptiness, as though he had lost something very important.

  He thought it might be the feeling of having a "crush," but upon closer sideration, he realized what was actually b him.

  "Damn it! I fot to ask her how much my monthly wages will be!"

  In the end, Zhao Heled into the medial garden, making the grass hut his new home.

  With Liu Feng’s memories, Zhao Heng quickly became adept at tending to the spiritual field.

  The work was straightforward—watering, pruning, fertilizing, a trol—none of whiuch time.

  pared t in the mines, Zhao Heng now had an abundance of free time.

  He wasted none of it, dedig most of his time to practig his cultivation teiques and martial skills.

  He also spent time studying his Poison Manual and the Thirty-Six Strategies for Survival, learning more about poison refi and crafty teiques for dealing with enemies.

  As for cultivation resources, Zhao Heng had used up almost all his savings to pass the servant disciple assessment.

  Thankfully, after passing, he received a reward of 100 profound crystals and a Body Refining Pill, ensuring he didn’t have to worry about resources in the short term.

  For the half month, Zhao Heng stayed in the medial garden without distras, fully focused on cultivation.

  He could feel his cultivation steadily improving, and his Stone-Splitting Fist and Boing Steps became increasingly refined.

  Thanks to Liu Feng’s memories, Zhao Heng mao advance his Stone-Splitting Fist to the "Minor Aplishment" level within just half a month, signifitly enhang its power. He was delighted by the progress.

  However, despite his improvements, Zhao Heng’s sense of crisis remained undiminished.

  He knew Liu Hong wouldn’t let him off the hook.

  Liu Hong was simir to him in some ways—a person who would spare no effort to elimiential threats to his safety. He was likely waiting for an opportunity to strike.

  While Zhao Heng was temporarily safe on Qingxia Peak, he couldn’t shake the worry that Liu Hong might use other means—or even leverage special es—to deal with him.

  The more people that got involved, the harder it would be for Zhao Heng to find peace.

  "I must raise my cultivation quickly and deal with him as soon as possible!"

  Currently at the eighth level of the Body Refi realm, Zhao Heng po stabilize his cultivation before using the Body Refining Pill to break through to the ninth level.

  But before that, he o visit the sect’s Library Pavilion to cim his reward.

  The previous day, the Servants’ Peak overseer, Zhou g, had sent someoo inform Zhao Heng that the top three disciples from the servant disciple assessment could visit the Library Pavilion to collect their rewards at shi (between 7–9 a.m.).

  Zhao Heng arrived at the Library Pavilion before shi.

  The Library Pavilion, along with the on Refining Pavilio Hall, and Punishment Hall, was one of the sect’s key buildings. It was located in the tral area of the Nine Peaks, near a spacious square. Zhao Heng didn’t need a pass to reach the area.

  The Library Pavilion was a t, square structure with seven levels, majestid imposing. Outer Sect disciples stood guard around it.

  As Zhao Heng approached within 100 meters of the pavilion, a dozen sharp gazes locked onto him.

  "Who goes there? This is a restricted area—unauthorized individuals are not allowed!" one of the guards barked.

  The intimidating dispy made Zhao Heate slightly, but he quickly reported his identity, expining that he was there to cim his servant disciple assessment reward.

  One guard stepped forward to verify his identity token.

  After firming everything was in order, Zhao Heng was led to the side entrance of the Library Pavilion, where two ures were already waiting.

  One was a tall, imposing young man with a fident demeanor, and the other was a graceful girl with willow-like brows and almond-shaped eyes, radiating a beauty.

  Zhao Heng reized them immediately—they were the first and sed pce winners of the servant disciple assessment.

  The man was Ye Bufan, and the woman was Xiao er.

  These two were sidered the leaders among the servant disciples of the Yuhua Sect. Both were at the peak of the Body Refi realm and had one foot in the Bone Refi realm. Their strength surpassed that of Liu Feng.

  However, Zhao Heng, now at the eighth level of Body Refi, with his Minor Aplishment Stone-Splitting Fist and Boing Steps, might not necessarily lose to them in a fight.

  Still, Zhao Heng didn’t want to draw attention. He approached them and greeted them respectfully, "Senior Brother Ye, Senior Sister Xiao!"

  Ye Bufan and Xiao er exged gnces but didn’t return the courtesy.

  Ye Bufan sneered, "So you’re the kid who got third p the servant disciple assessment by sheer luck?"

  Xiao er added disdainfully, "Don’t think that just because you got lucky and mao pce third, or because you’re helping Senior Sister Yun with her medial garden, you’re on the same level as us."

  "Senior Brother Ye and I are already starting Bone Refiraining. Soon, we’ll step into the Bone Refi realm and bee official Outer Sect disciples!"

  Their unwarranted hostility left Zhao Heng momentarily stunned, but he quickly uood.

  These two clearly looked down on him and were jealous that Yun Qingsnow had chosen him to tend her garden. Their egos were bruised, and they were shing out to feel superior.

  Faced with this cssic "arrogant provocation" sario, Zhao Heng decided to any p.

  He smiled apologetically and said, "Senior Brother Ye, Senior Sister Xiao, I indeed got lucky. Otherwise, how could I possibly stand here with such extraordinary individuals as yourselves?"

  "As for helping Senior Sister Yun, it’s only because she took pity on me. Who knows—if she’s unhappy with me one day, she might kick me out. When that happens, I’ll have to rely on Senior Brother Ye and Senior Sister Xiao, the future Outer Sect elites, to look after me!"

  "What?"

  Zhao Heng’s response caught Ye Bufan and Xiao er off guard. They had expected him to front them or escate the situation into a physical altercation, giving them a ce to "teach him a lesson."

  Instead, Zhao Heng was so humble and self-effag that it felt like pung cotton.

  Still, they couldn’t help but feel fttered. His words, especially calling them "Outer Sect elites," were like hoo their ears, filling them with satisfa.

  They suddenly found Zhao Heng much more tolerable and even somewhat likable.

  Ye Bufan ughed heartily, "Haha! Junior Brother, don’t take it personally. I was just joking earlier. If you ever run into trouble, feel free to e to me for help!"

  Xiao er, too, softened her tone, saying, "Junior Brother, luck may have helped you, but you should still work hard to improve yourself and rise in rank."

  Zhao Heng nodded repeatedly, wearing an expression of utmost gratitude. He added a few more pliments, making both of them beam with pride and warmth.

  To Zhao Heng, their rea was unsurprising. Life wasn’t just about fighting—it was also about navigatiionships.

  Because of his physical ailment, Zhao Heng always sought to turn potential enemies into harmless acquaintances. As for those who couldn’t be turned, he made sure to elimihem as soon as possible.

  As they spoke, the Library Pavilion’s doors opened.

  An Outer Sect disciple appeared and called out to the trio, "The lower-tier manuals are avaible on the first and sed floors. You have one hour to make your seles. After that, you must leave!"

  The three immediately ehe Library Pavilion and began their search...

  [--------------------------------------------]

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