Yunmeng Immortal Clan

Inside the Great Hall of Good Deeds of the Zhuxi Sect.

Upon hearing Song Linyu's words, Lin Zhu, the steward of the Hall of Merit, refused, saying, "Making a copy requires merit points; it's not something that can be done casually. The sect will also check regularly. If something is discovered to be wrong, not only will I be unable to continue as steward, but the worst consequence would be expulsion from the sect and the abolition of my cultivation!"

Lin Zhu's words were extremely firm, and his eyes were even more resolute.

Seeing Lin Zhu's expression, Song Linyu smiled, but thought to himself, "It seems that the process of copying pill formulas is indeed a very strict matter within the entire Zhuxi Sect!"

"I only need a pill formula. With Senior Brother Lin's status in the Hall of Merit, even if someone from the sect investigates, it shouldn't be too difficult for him to cover it up!" Song Linyu tentatively continued to inquire.

"Sigh! Junior brother, please don't make things difficult for me. These pill formulas must be exchanged for merit points, otherwise I, Lin Zhu, will simply break the rules!"

"Senior Brother Lin, may I speak to you in private? There are just too many people here!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu and Song Linyu arrived at a secluded spot inside the Hall of Merit, and then suddenly, with a flick of his sleeve, he shoved a heavy bag of items into Lin's hands.

"The so-called rules are just rules made by people. I only need a pill formula, and I only need to make a copy. If Senior Brother Lin helps me with this, he will be my brother from now on. As a true disciple of the Golden Core stage, although you are only at the Qi Refining stage now, you will soar to great heights sooner or later. When that time comes, I will definitely help Fellow Daoist Lin!"

"This bag contains only some fruit; it's just a small token of my appreciation!"

Lin Zhu squeezed the bag, a greedy look on his face. After thinking for a moment, he threw the bag into his storage bag.

However, at that moment, a figure walked past a pillar inside the hall.

This person was none other than Lin Zhu's cousin. Only two people from their clan had become cultivators with spiritual roots: Lin Zhu and Lin Ye.

As for how close these two people are, they are not as close as Lin Zhu. They are just distant relatives. However, they are both cultivators and cultivate in the same Bamboo Creek Sect. They have no other relatives or friends in the sect, so they have become closer and talk more and more.

Seeing Song Linyu and Lin Zhu whispering to each other, Lin Ye walked over, his face full of suspicion.

"What are you two doing here sneakily? Lin Zhu, we're such good buddies, are you trying to get something for yourself and not let me profit? Don't try to freeload, brother!"

"Brother Lin Ye! You're overthinking it. You're my only friend and family in this sect. I can't hide it from you. This young man exchanged for a cultivation technique in my Merit Hall. With my recommendation, he successfully cultivated it and is giving me a bag of spiritual fruits as a token of his gratitude!" Lin Zhu said, patting Lin Ye on the shoulder.

Upon hearing Lin Zhu's words, Lin Ye finally showed a thoughtful expression and slowly walked away from the place.

After Lin Ye left, Lin Zhu didn't take him seriously. After all, sect stewards like them held some power within the entire Zhuxi Sect.

With power, one can easily make some extra money in such a cultivation sect. This is something that is tacitly accepted throughout the Zhuxi Sect, and all the elders and Core Formation cultivators are well aware of it.

"Three days from now, at noon, it will be my turn to keep watch. Junior brother, you can come to the Hall of Merit to retrieve what you need. That will make things easier then..." Lin Zhu transmitted his voice to Song Linyu, appearing unusually cautious.

"However, junior brother, please remember that this pill formula is unique to our Hall of Merit and is also a secret of our entire Bamboo Creek Sect. It can only be studied by one person and must not be passed on to others. Otherwise, if the sect finds out, neither of us will have a good end!"

Hearing this, Song Linyu nodded. Clans have their rules and laws, but Uncle Daoxuan is the only first-level alchemist in the family. He must want this pill formula for the sake of the family.

Since it's for the sake of the family, he won't hesitate to pay any price for this pill formula.

Song Linyu then returned directly to Zizhu Peak, waiting to arrive at the agreed time three days later.

After leaving the Hall of Merit, Lin Ye revealed a greedy glint in his eyes: "That Lin Zhu! He never includes this fellow clansman when there's something to gain. Does he think he can bully me, a mere Qi Refining Stage 4 cultivator? The bag of spirit stones in that bag is clearly quite substantial. I didn't expect that the young man who traded with Lin Zhu, who looks like he's only at the Qi Refining Stage 3, to be so wealthy. He's truly extraordinary. I'll observe him secretly!"

After returning to his cultivation cave, Song Linyu once again used a transmission talisman to report everything that had happened that day to Song Daoxuan.

On the shores of Qingfeng Lake, Song Daoxuan, who was reading the contents of the transmission talisman, frowned slightly:

"It seems this kid has indeed made a name for himself within the sect. However, Lin Ye is probably a bit problematic. I'll have someone send Song Linyu some high-grade first-tier talismans and one second-tier talisman to secretly make a copy of the Foundation Establishment Pill formula. Since this formula is kept secret, these hidden dangers must be eliminated. Lin Ye is someone we must get rid of."

After weighing the options, Song Daoxuan immediately sent a second-tier talisman and a number of first-tier talismans to Song Linyu.

The next day, Song Linyu obtained these talismans.

Song Linyu held the talismans in his hands, his expression thoughtful, and said, "This uncle has really made a fortune from alchemy. Now he can easily produce even second-tier talismans. Even though I am a Golden Core disciple in the Bamboo Creek Sect, I can't produce second-tier talismans. My master is a Core Formation cultivator, so he can definitely produce them easily, but how could I possibly ask for them directly..."

"Killing Lin Ye would indeed be safer, but the timing must be right. After all, this is within the Zhuxi Sect. If the killing of a fellow disciple is not handled cleanly, it will backfire and cause endless harm!"

Finally, the third day arrived. In front of the Hall of Good Deeds, the moonlight was hazy, and the shadows of the trees swayed.

Suddenly, two figures appeared. These two figures were Song Linyu and Lin Zhu, who had agreed to make rubbings of the elixir formula in front of the Hall of Good Deeds.

The two looked at each other.

"Junior Brother Song! There's no time to lose, let's go to the Hall of Merit, I'll quickly make a copy of the Foundation Establishment Pill formula for you..."

Song Linyu and Lin Zhu quickly entered the Hall of Merit and then completed the printing of the Foundation Establishment Pill formula as quickly as possible.

Then they quickly left the Hall of Merit.

Behind a huge rock outside the Hall of Merit, a figure appeared there at some unknown time.

Song Linyu put a scroll into his storage bag.

This scroll is none other than the formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill, a renowned second-tier low-grade elixir in the cultivation world.

It not only records the formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill, but also the corresponding refining method, in great detail. One of the ingredients is the Xuanbing Flower, which Song Daoxuan had heard was the main medicinal material for Foundation Establishment.

In the previous transaction, Song Linyu had only given this person one hundred low-grade spirit stones.

However, Song Daoxuan also gave Song Linyu two hundred low-grade spirit stones. He said in his transmission talisman that one hundred spirit stones was too little, and for a Qi Refining stage cultivator, it might be considered the greatest wealth.

However, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator who lives to be two hundred years old, it is only a small amount of money.

"Two hundred low-grade spirit stones. In the entire Song family of Qinglian Island, only the Foundation Establishment elders could easily come up with that many. My uncle, however, had someone send them to me directly. I'm afraid my uncle's current wealth is already among the top in the entire Qi Refining cultivators in the family!"

Following Song Daoxuan's instructions, in order to further solidify his bond with Lin Zhu, Song Linyu took out another bag of spirit stones from his storage bag and secretly slipped it into Lin Zhu's sleeve in the darkness of night.

"One hundred low-grade spirit stones? How can Fellow Daoist Song accept that? You already gave one hundred low-grade spirit stones in the previous transaction. This is just a pill recipe; it's completely useless to ordinary cultivators unless you're an alchemist! Could it be that Fellow Daoist Song is an alchemist?"

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please don't refuse. And please don't worry, I, Song, know absolutely nothing about alchemy. Consider these one hundred spirit stones as a token of my gratitude for making this acquaintance with you!"

Upon hearing Song Linyu's words, Lin Zhu was overjoyed and immediately put the spirit stone bag into his storage bag. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the early stage, he was extremely poor. He was overjoyed to earn more than two hundred spirit stones in just a short time of making rubbings. After all, what cultivator would complain about having too few spirit stones in his storage bag?

Lin Ye, who was hiding among the rocks not far away, knew everything that happened and what they were saying.

"What a Lin Zhu! He's quietly making a fortune. A mere pill recipe earned him two hundred low-grade spirit stones. I've already recorded this scene in my so-called image-recording bead. Two hundred low-grade spirit stones are something I, a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining, wouldn't even dare to dream of!"

"I'll divide the contents of this recording bead in two. I'll use one part to threaten Lin Zhu. If he's willing to hand over half of the spirit stones he's earned in this place, I'll destroy the recording bead. As for the other part, I'll use it to threaten this Qi Refining Level 3 brat and swindle some spirit stones from him. If Lin Zhu and this Song kid don't know what's good for them, I don't mind reporting the contents of the recording bead to a cultivation sect. I'll get a considerable benefit from that!"

Just as Lin Ye was lost in his daydreams about the bright future, he was completely unaware that Song Linyu had already walked to within a few feet of the rock where he was hiding.

Lin Ye immediately panicked. Oh no, this person has actually come over. He must not let this person discover that he is here.

He immediately mustered all his magical power and quickly fled in a certain direction. However, he was not paying attention and stumbled, tripping over something. He then slowly got up from the ground, looking disheveled.

However, it was precisely this carelessness that made Song Linyu realize the abnormality of the place. He activated a escape technique he had comprehended, and his magical power surged throughout his body.

Just as Lin Ye stood on the ground, Song Linyu appeared in front of him.

"Is this Fellow Daoist Lin Ye? It's been a few days since we last met. What are you doing so suspiciously? Could it be that you're secretly eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat, but he calmly replied, "Fellow Daoist Song is joking. How could I possibly have heard anything? I just happened to be passing by. Oh, right, my cousin Lin Zhu is a steward here. I'm here to see him..."

"Does Fellow Daoist think I'm so easily fooled? I don't know this Fellow Daoist Lin before. How did you learn my surname?" Song Linyu wasn't sure at first that Lin Ye had spied on his entire transaction with Lin Zhu. However, after this test, Song Linyu was certain that Lin Ye knew the whole story of how Lin Zhu and he traded pill formulas.

"I learned that from talking with Lin Zhu!"

"Fellow Daoist, now that we've met, leave your head behind!" As soon as he finished speaking, a jade-colored longsword flew out of Song Linyu's storage bag, transforming into an arc of blades that slashed straight at Lin Ye. Even though Song Linyu was only at the third level of Qi Refining, this slash was brimming with killing intent.

Song Linyu was only at the third level of Qi Refining, and his spiritual sense was not strong enough to comprehend the Guiding Technique. Therefore, he could not barely control the magic weapon. However, this jade treasure sword was not ordinary. It was a gift from Liu Hanjun, a Golden Core True Person. Although it was a casual gift, it was already a top-quality magic weapon.

The entire piece is forged from special gold and jade minerals. Although it has the texture of unpolished jade, it is hard and has been forged to be incomparably sharp.

Then, combined with the boy's exquisite swordsmanship, a single arc of his blade split into multiple lines, each brimming with killing intent.

Lin Ye patted his storage bag and, without anyone knowing when, took out a long halberd from it and hurriedly poured his Qi Refining Level 4 mana into it.

As the halberd glowed.

The two beams of light collided instantly, and Lin Ye couldn't help but take a step back.

"Bamboo Creek Sword Technique, top-tier magic weapon, what exactly is your identity?" Lin Ye quickly recognized the boy's sword technique.

"This person is no ordinary individual. Even if he were a minor realm lower than me, I'm afraid I wouldn't be his match. I have to run. Fortunately, the forest here is dense, and the Wood-based Escape Technique I've comprehended can come in handy. Even if I'm no match for him, with the Wood-based Escape Technique, escaping and surviving shouldn't be a problem. Not far from this Hall of Merit is the Earth Lung Palace, where many alchemists refine pills using the Earth Lung Fire. In this noisy place, I doubt this brat would dare to attack me rashly!"