Senior Brother Jiang said calmly, "Junior Brother Qin, for Junior Brother Meng's sake, I can make an exception this once. This time, I will only dock your monthly stipend. However, if you consistently fail to fulfill your duties, I will have no choice but to report the truth and ask the sect to punish you according to the rules."
Meng Ruhui also said, "Junior Brother Qin, conduct yourself well."
Watching the two senior brothers depart, the look of shame on Qin Sang's face vanished without a trace in an instant.
Having finally waited until the appointed time, Qin Sang sensed the Huiyang Valley restriction being triggered and opened it to welcome Zhao Yan inside.
"Junior Brother Qin, here is your Nine Spirits Sand..."
Zhao Yan held up a mustard seed bag and shouted, but as soon as he landed in front of Qin Sang, his voice turned low and grave. "Let's talk inside."
Immediately afterward, Yu Hua appeared out of thin air and slipped inside alongside him.
When Yu Hua asked about Qin Sang's cultivation progress, Qin Sang used the Qi Gathering Pill as an excuse to brush it off.
After inspecting Qin Sang's demonic eye, Yu Hua nodded in satisfaction. "Nephew Qin, you have done well. But this is still too slow. From now on, you must activate the demonic eye at least three times a day. You have to figure out the Huiyang Valley formation as quickly as possible!"
Qin Sang stood there, hesitating as if he had something to say.
Seeing this, Yu Hua asked curiously, "Nephew Qin, is there something else?"
Qin Sang feigned hesitation for a moment, then gave Yu Hua an embellished account of what had happened two days before, complaining bitterly, "Disciple has to spend the whole night manipulating the demonic eye, leaving only the daytime to cultivate, so I have very little time to tend the herb garden. Could Martial Uncle Yu please put in a good word with Senior Brother Jiang? Otherwise, if disciple fails to complete the tasks, I really will be expelled from the Yuanzhao Sect."
Zhao Yan sneered from the side. "So what if you don't cultivate for a year or two? Do you really think you can..."
Yu Hua let out a soft cough, cutting Zhao Yan off, and furrowed his brows. "This is indeed a difficult issue. It is not convenient for me to intervene in Cloud-Moving Valley's affairs too often..."
Qin Sang looked at Yu Hua with an expectant expression. Zhao Yan was clearly a reckless hothead, whereas Yu Hua was a seasoned veteran of the world. That was why Qin Sang had waited until he saw Yu Hua before making his request.
The Kuiyin Sect had gone to great lengths to plant him in Huiyang Valley; before their objective was achieved, they certainly would not touch him, nor would they allow him to be expelled.
It was just as Qin Sang expected.
Yu Hua pondered for a moment and said, "How about this: I will teach you a method to set up a Spirit Gathering Array. Take these spirit stones and arrange them around the herb garden. It will multiply the spiritual power in the garden several times over and aid the herbs' growth. While it isn't as effective as the Five Elements Cloud, it will be more than enough to help you fulfill your tasks. However, Nephew Qin, you had better be sharp—on no account let anyone see it."
After the two left Huiyang Valley, Zhao Yan looked displeased and said disdainfully, "Martial Uncle Yu, why let yourself be threatened by him? Use the Heart-Devouring Insect to teach him a lesson and see if he dares to step out of line!"
"Nephew Zhao, do you think I can't see through that boy's petty schemes? But there is no need to expose him."
Yu Hua smiled, completely unbothered. "If you want people to work for you, intimidation alone is not enough. You must also offer sufficient temptation and make them willing. Only then will things be done with the utmost speed and perfection. That goes for Ruan Nanfeng and the others too—find an opportunity to ask them what difficulties they have encountered. Compared to the Sacred Sect's grand cause, what do a few spirit stones matter? As long as we accomplish the Sacred Sect's mission, how could the Sect Master mistreat the two of us? If you still feel aggrieved, Nephew Zhao, once the matter is settled, you can vent your anger however you please. Could he ever escape the palm of our hands?"
Zhao Yan lowered his head in thought for a moment, then cupped his hands. "Zhao Yan has been enlightened. The fact that this plan has gone so smoothly is entirely thanks to Martial Uncle Yu's strategic brilliance. Once the deed is done, I will certainly put in a good word before Uncle Yi and claim merit on your behalf."
Yu Hua's eyes lit up. "Then my thanks to Nephew Zhao! By the way, I have secured an errand in the Sect Master Hall today, which gives me legitimate reason to enter Yuanzhao Peak. I leave matters here in your capable hands, Nephew Zhao."
Zhao Yan was overjoyed. "I wish Martial Uncle Yu swift victory from the outset!"
...
Qin Sang did not know whether the Soul-Bewildering Mirror counted as an array formation; if it did not, this Spirit Gathering Array was the first array he had ever learned.
It was actually the crudest of Spirit Gathering Arrays, consuming a batch of spirit stones every so often. The spirit herbs planted in the garden were very ordinary in the cultivation world and of modest value; using a Spirit Gathering Array to nurture them was decidedly not worth the expense.
In any case, the spirit stones weren't his, so Qin Sang didn't feel any heartache.
The only drawback was that if anyone discovered it, questions would arise: how could a mere newly initiated disciple possess such wealth?
Fortunately, Qin Sang had no friends and no one ever visited him. All he needed to do was pack away the Spirit Gathering Array before Senior Brother Meng and Senior Brother Jiang came to harvest the herbs. Each time, Qin Sang barely met the quota, and the two senior brothers didn't make things difficult for him, so peace was maintained throughout.
Time passed unnoticed in the mountains, and more than a year slipped by like this.
Late one night, Qin Sang manipulated the demonic eye to spy on Huiyang Valley's grand array for the third time that day.
By now, the demonic eye's gaze had shifted westward. According to Qin Sang's estimates, in another three or four months, his mission would be complete.
Over the past year, Qin Sang had been confined to Huiyang Valley. He had only seen Yu Hua twice, with Zhao Yan acting as the contact every other time.
Zhao Yan's tone when urging him had grown increasingly anxious, giving Qin Sang a premonition: the moment their mission was completed would likely be when the great upheaval arrived!
Sensing the spiritual power in his body was about to run out, Qin Sang retracted the demonic eye and slipped back to his cave dwelling.
His realm was not high, and the worldly spiritual energy of the Yuanzhao Sect was more than sufficient, so he had no need for the Spirit Gathering Array.
Sitting cross-legged on the water-heart bamboo cushion, Qin Sang used inner vision to inspect himself. Thanks to the lingering effects of the century-old stalactite milk, his cultivation had advanced rapidly over the past year, leaving him just a hair's breadth from the eighth layer.
Today, he finally sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough. Qin Sang hurriedly retrieved the Soul-Bewildering Mirror to set up a mirror array at the cave entrance, then settled his mind into meditation.
Ten days later, Qin Sang emerged from seclusion feeling refreshed and invigorated, practically wanting to roar at the heavens. His long period of bitter cultivation had not been in vain—he had successfully broken through.
Today happened to be harvest day. Not long after Qin Sang put away the Spirit Gathering Array, Meng Ruhui and Senior Brother Jiang arrived side by side. When they discovered that Qin Sang had broken through once again, both were utterly astounded. After harvesting the herbs, they departed in dejection.
Qin Sang respectfully saw them off, displaying not the slightest hint of smugness. Offending them would bring him no benefit whatsoever.
Toward the end of the month, Zhao Yan came once more.
Waiting at the mouth of the valley, Zhao Yan was taken aback when he saw Qin Sang fly out atop a magic tool, and could not help exclaiming, "You broke through again?"
Qin Sang landed and bowed. "Congratulations to Senior Brother Zhao on breaking through to the ninth layer of the Qi Refinement stage!"
A look of pride surfaced on Zhao Yan's face, but he quickly reined it in, unable to hide the jealousy in his eyes. "It pales in comparison to you breaking through two layers in a single year."
Qin Sang repeatedly demurred. "I only have today thanks to the Sect Master's great benevolence in bestowing the Qi Gathering Pill. Once Senior Brother Zhao renders great meritorious service and returns to our sect, the Sect Master will certainly not be stingy with rewards. In the end, this junior brother can only envy you."
Zhao Yan burst into hearty laughter, indeed feeling pleased. He found Qin Sang somewhat more agreeable than before, his eyes darting as if contemplating something.
Chapter 89