Raise a sword!

The newly recruited disciples on Danhuo Peak are all learning alchemy in the side hall of the Dan Hall.

I heard that there is a concentrated teaching session once a month, and the rest of the time the disciples are left to study on their own. Those with connections can find someone to guide them, and those without connections can figure it out on their own.

The person in charge of teaching alchemy was a steward at the ninth level of Qi Refining in the Pill Hall, named Wang Lu.

This person was originally a disciple of the Pill Hall. Later, it was said that after reporting to the sect, he worked hard outside for a period of time, but unfortunately, he accomplished nothing.

So he eventually returned to the sect and took on the job of a steward.

On the way to the side hall, Jiang Peng and Wang Lu chatted idly.

"There aren't any outstanding individuals among the new disciples who have arrived at Danhuo Peak this time. However, our sect has always been like this. Good talents are mainly focused on improving their cultivation, and we generally don't allow them to learn miscellaneous skills too early."

Jiang Peng smiled noncommittally and did not comment on the sect's decision.

From the perspective of the Pill Hall of Danhuo Peak, the sect has indeed neglected the training of alchemists.

However, for the Cangshan Sect as a whole, which is not good at alchemy, it would definitely be more beneficial to cultivate more Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Wang Lu brought up Zhao Shan'ao's matter again.

"This time, we are also grateful to Junior Brother Jiang. Otherwise, I alone would not have been able to take care of so many disciples... Sigh, Junior Brother Zhao is too reckless. Teaching disciples is related to the future of Danhuo Peak, and he just said he would quit."

Jiang Peng was quite interested in Zhao Shan'ao's affairs.

Firstly, this person had spoken rudely to him before. Although he later learned that this guy was just that kind of person who spoke without thinking, Jiang Peng still disliked him and wanted to see him suffer.

Secondly, the opportunity to go to the Southern Ming Sect is something that Jiang Peng and Zhao Shan'ao are vying for.

Jiang Peng naturally wanted to find out about his competitors.

"Junior Brother Zhao went to Cang Kingdom. Recently, a group of evil cultivators have appeared in Cang Kingdom and are causing trouble everywhere. Junior Brother Zhao led his people to deal with this matter."

Jiang Peng nodded slightly.

Don't assume that disciples of the Pill Hall don't need to go out and can simply refine pills at the sect's entrance.

In reality, the disciples of the Pill Hall are no different from the disciples of other peaks. They also have to take on sect missions every now and then and go out to maintain the peace of the sect's territory.

On the contrary, it is people like Jiang Peng who never leave the sect that are the oddities within the sect.

Because of this incident, some rumors circulated in the Pill Hall, saying that Jiang Peng enjoyed various privileges because she was Elder Qin's disciple.

Jiang Peng didn't pay any attention to these words; they were just passing by.

Instead, Elder Qin stepped forward to refute the rumors on his behalf.

When Jiang Peng joined the sect, his alchemy skills were already sufficient to qualify him for a position as a retainer in the Pill Hall.

In addition, news also spread that the sect leader had personally appointed Jiang Peng as his true disciple, but Jiang Peng ultimately refused, citing that he had not earned the honor.

Although this is somewhat inaccurate, it is actually that Jiang Peng and Qin Yuan looked down on the treatment given to true disciples.

But for ordinary disciples of the Pill Hall, they didn't even care about the status of a true disciple, so the matter of not going out to carry out sect missions didn't seem to be a big deal.

At least Jiang Peng is still supplying the sect with Purple Jade Nourishing Pills every month.

This single contribution is equivalent to the merit of an ordinary disciple going out countless times.

Upon arriving at the side hall, after Wang Lu introduced his identity, Jiang Peng immediately used the alchemy furnace in the side hall to refine a batch of Qi Condensation Pills and a batch of Rejuvenation Pills.

Then he spent another hour answering many of the new disciples' questions.

Having already taught disciples, and even because the two new disciples on Azure Mist Peak were far more troublesome than the group of new disciples before him, Jiang Peng found teaching alchemy this time to be quite easy.

When the day's teaching ended, Wang Lu brought up the matter of having Jiang Peng take over the position permanently.

After a slight hesitation, Jiang Peng agreed.

Anyway, it's only one day a month, so I'll just treat it as a vacation for myself.

...

In the evening, Lan Yingying came to visit.

This woman has become a regular visitor to Biwu Peak, to the point that both the disciples of the Pill Hall on the peak and Su Zhi and Mei Jinhe have become accustomed to the frequent appearances of this Senior Brother Jiang's lover.

"Senior Sister Lan, you're here to see Senior Brother Jiang again?" Mei Jinhe greeted her familiarly.

Su Zhi, standing beside her, bowed respectfully to Lan Yingying like a follower.

Lan Yingying greeted the two of them, then walked into Jiang Peng's house with ease and went to the kitchen.

At this moment, Jiang Peng was squatting in front of the stove.

He placed several flat stones at the fire pit where he was adding firewood, and put glowing red charcoal in the depression in the middle.

Jiang Peng held a pair of iron skewers, on which various ingredients were skewered, and was carefully grilling the ingredients on the charcoal.

Hearing the noise behind her, Jiang Peng turned around and asked, "Should I add some sauce?"

"Either is fine." Lan Yingying looked on with great interest.

She likes the way Jiang Peng cooks and prepares food.

Before meeting Jiang Peng, Lan Yingying's life consisted of nothing but cultivation and running around for cultivation resources.

But after meeting Jiang Peng, she discovered that the life of a cultivator didn't have to be as boring as it used to be.

Jiang Peng, who was squatting in front of the stove, was unaware of what the beautiful woman behind him was thinking. He was just focused on grilling skewers.

The skewers in my hand contain both meat and vegetables, and each requires different cooking times, so I need to handle them carefully.

Some dishes are best served with garlic chili sauce, others with honey for added flavor, some just with salt, and some with the usual three ingredients.

While grilling skewers, Jiang Peng casually shared strange knowledge with Lan Yingying that she had never heard of before.

"These kidneys have to be prepared with strong flavors, otherwise they'll be too pungent and no amount of treatment will help."

"Try this skewer of lotus root. It was stir-fried beforehand, so you can enjoy its refreshing original flavor."

"There are many things to consider when cooking mutton. Regardless of whether you brush it with sauce or prefer a strong or mild flavor, there's one crucial point: it must never be overcooked."

"There's a reason we're using this charcoal today; it's made from fruitwood."

While whispering amongst themselves, Jiang Peng and Lan Yingying finished off all the ingredients.

Just as Jiang Peng stood up, she happened to see the courtyard wall through the open kitchen door, and two heads peering longingly from the wall.

Jiang Peng snorted coldly, ignoring Mei Jinhe and the other woman, and asked Lan Yingying, "Are you staying overnight tonight?"

Lan Yingying rolled her eyes at Jiang Peng.

"I have important business... Sister Yinxi needs to go out on a sect mission and needs a few capable helpers. I don't know if I should recommend you."

"Oh?" Jiang Peng raised an eyebrow. "You know I've never liked going out, so is there anything different about Senior Sister Sun's mission this time?"

Lan Yingying followed Jiang Peng into the bedroom.

While taking off his outer clothes, he said, "I didn't reveal your fighting skills to her, but I think you don't want to miss this mission... Tsk, let's get down to business."

"Listen, you say your piece, I'll touch mine, it's fine."