Raise a sword!

Just as Jiang Peng had predicted, at the mutual aid society's gathering, they were able to hear a lot of news that they couldn't hear in the market.

At this gathering, Liu Qinghe, as a true disciple of the Cangshan Sect, took the initiative to reveal many inside stories.

"The black market affair was entirely the work of that sword cultivator Li Xiangui, who acted unilaterally without the permission of the Jade Pavilion Sword Pavilion... This man has been running rampant in the Northern Foothills region for years, relying on his fighting skills, and now he even dares to disregard the Cangshan Sect."

Speaking of this matter, Liu Qinghe was quite indignant.

"How does the sect plan to deal with this?" someone asked.

As a result, Liu Qinghe's expression visibly darkened further.

"Hmph, Sword Pavilion is still Sword Pavilion. They say this matter has nothing to do with them. If Cangshan Sect wants revenge, they should seek retribution. They should go and cause trouble for Li Xiangui... Heh, who doesn't know that after he razed the black market that day, he immediately returned to Sword Pavilion to hide from the disaster?"

These words immediately stirred up a great deal of excitement among the people at the gathering.

"So, Jiange is going to protect Li Xiangui?"

"How can a Foundation Establishment cultivator be so shameless?"

"The Sword Pavilion is indeed full of lunatics."

In the corner, Jiang Peng and Liu Quan did not vent their emotions along with Liu Qinghe.

Now that she has been a member of the mutual aid society for so long, Jiang Peng has gradually come to understand some of the deeper meanings of the society.

At first glance, this mutual aid association seems to be just a group of independent cultivators helping each other under Liu Qinghe's leadership.

But look at the members of the mutual aid society. They are all outstanding individuals among independent cultivators. Who among them doesn't have a group of relatives and friends around them?

Clearly, this mutual aid association may be a means for Liu Qinghe or someone behind him to contact and control independent cultivators.

Thinking about it that way.

At this moment, Liu Qinghe's incitement of emotions is clearly motivated by ulterior motives.

"Brother Liu, what exactly is the Upper Sect's attitude? The Upper Sect also has a stake in the black market. Surely they wouldn't remain completely silent about something this big?" Jiang Peng inquired in a low voice.

Liu Quan crossed his arms and gently raised his chin towards Liu Qinghe on the other side.

"This is the sect's attitude."

Jiang Peng was taken aback, and subconsciously glanced at Liu Qinghe again.

Upon seeing this, he had a second thought and his eyes widened immediately.

"Is Brother Liu spreading this news at this time to incite hostility among independent cultivators towards Sword Pavilion? Is the sect going to war with Sword Pavilion?"

Liu Quan glanced at Jiang Peng in surprise.

"You're quite quick-witted." After a slight pause, Liu Quan said in a complicated tone, "There is indeed a desire to fight. The sect plans to retaliate against the black market incident first, and then deal with whatever the Sword Pavilion does."

After saying that, seeing that Jiang Peng seemed a little worried, Liu Quan smiled and said, "Brother, you don't need to worry about anything. The sect's true masters have already gone deep into the mountains to end this beast tide."

"Without the pressure of the beast tide, the sect will naturally have the resources to deal with the Sword Pavilion. And to put it bluntly... the Sword Pavilion and the sect have had countless minor and major clashes, and now it will probably be the same old story."

"in the past?"

"All bark and no bite; both sides suffered casualties among their Qi Refining cultivators, and the matter was eventually considered closed."

The conflict between the two major forces is naturally irrelevant to Jiang Peng.

He inquired about the news simply to get an assessment of his cultivation environment, because it wouldn't be good if something major had already happened and he was still buried in his cultivation, completely unaware of it.

However, knowing that the sect had already made preparations and that similar things had happened many times before, Jiang Peng naturally felt at ease.

...

Before we knew it, it was already mid-month.

Qin House.

As usual, under Elder Qin's guidance, Jiang Peng refined both her own and the sect's Purple Jade Nourishing Pills.

However, after this alchemy session, Elder Qin did not discuss alchemy with Jiang Peng again, but instead brought up another matter.

"You've refined this Purple Jade Nourishing Essence Pill to perfection. If we're just talking about this pill alone, your skill is already on par with mine," Qin Yuan said with a smile.

"You flatter me, sir." Jiang Peng took it as a casual compliment from an elder and didn't take it seriously.

However, Qin Yuan immediately followed up by saying, "Boy, you've been taking this Purple Jade Qi-Nourishing Pill for a while now. Have you felt any benefits from it?"

Jiang Peng nodded.

Since taking this pill, he can practice Qi cultivation to his heart's content without worrying about progressing too quickly and causing instability in his foundation.

If we were to discuss the specific effects of this elixir...

Jiang Peng didn't feel any subtle improvement in his spiritual root, or rather, even if there was some effect, he couldn't quite say whether the improvement in his aptitude was due to the Bi Xue Guo or the pills after consuming it.

However, just the matter of strengthening the foundation and cultivating the vital energy alone can improve Jiang Peng's cultivation efficiency by more than 20%.

By saving time in condensing spiritual energy to solidify the foundation, efficiency is naturally improved.

Seeing Jiang Peng nod, Qin Yuan continued calmly, "I obtained this pill by chance, along with the pill formula and a seed of a spiritual material."

"Purple Jade Ginseng?" Jiang Peng chimed in.

"Indeed, it is the Purple Jade Ginseng." A hint of reminiscence appeared on Qin Yuan's face. "I obtained the seeds of the Purple Jade Ginseng by chance back then, and it took me more than ten years and many spiritual plant experts to help me finally grow it."

"After that, it took several more years of hard work before the Purple Jade Ginseng could grow to a considerable size and become a medicinal field on my little mountain peak."

At this point, Qin Yuan looked at Jiang Peng with a half-smile.

"Young man, I've been lingering in the market for too long. Now that the sect has summoned me, it's time for me to return."

"You're leaving already?" Jiang Peng wasn't surprised.

Although Jiang Peng had gotten used to the old man always living in the market, she hadn't forgotten that Qin Yuan was actually an elder of the Cangshan Sect.

The only elder at the Qi Refining Realm.

"Now that I'm back at the sect, I'll need to oversee things in the Pill Hall, but that means my little peak will be left unattended... Kid, you don't want to lose the Purple Jade Ginseng and never be able to eat the Purple Jade Qi-Nourishing Pill again, do you?"

These words made Jiang Peng's expression turn extremely strange.

This is unbelievable! That damned sentence structure has somehow found its way into this world.

"So, what you mean is?"

"I'm in dire need of someone to look after the ginseng field on my Azure Mist Peak."

Jiang Peng's lips twitched.

"Please ask, elder, and the sect has plenty of spiritual plant masters to serve you."

"I am used to a leisurely life and do not like outsiders coming and going on my mountain."

Looking at Qin Yuan's nonchalant demeanor, Jiang Peng knew that the old man had her cornered.

Having been together for so long, they each know their own personalities.

The old man knew that Jiang Peng would never say that he was also an outsider.

"After I went to the Cangshan Sect, my many alchemy businesses in the market..." Jiang Peng still tried to struggle.

"Tsk, Cangshan Sect isn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair. If someone is looking for you, just go to the sect."

Jiang Peng hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded helplessly.

"In that case, let's go and visit the upper sect."