I became the Open Source Saint Ancestor in the Cultivation World

"Senior Brother Xue, Ma Ke is back."

Upon seeing Ma Ke return to the outer sect, Lü Xiu excitedly went to the inner sect to report to Xue Wenzhou.

Little did he know that Xue Wenzhou had also just returned, and with Ma Ke at that, and was furious.

Enraged, he shouted, "Get out!"

Lü Xiu was startled and looked puzzled. "Didn't you tell him yourself? Did Ma Ke report to you immediately after he returned?"

He naturally dared not ask any more questions, apologized, and returned to the outer gate.

Not long after, orders came from above that Ma Ke should not be assigned any tasks in the future, and that no oppressive behavior should be tolerated.

"It seems that Ma Ke has managed to latch onto a powerful patron during his trip out."

Lu Xiu instinctively thought that Ma Ke had befriended Xue Wenzhou, but then she realized that didn't make sense, because if that were the case, Xue Wenzhou wouldn't have gotten so angry when she reported earlier.

Although he didn't know who Ma Ke had allied himself with, he was very clear that Ma Ke was no longer someone that he, a mere outer sect steward, could afford to offend.

So he put on a smiling face and, under the pretext of congratulating Ma Ke on successfully completing the mission ahead of schedule, personally went to welcome Ma Ke back.

Ma Ke knew this guy was a smiling tiger. Sun Tai was openly bad, but this guy was secretly using underhanded tricks.

Although I have suffered losses at his hands, they were all due to the exploitation of my labor and spirit stones. There is no need to put him on the kill list for the time being, so as not to cause any unforeseen complications.

From his eagerness and his desire to inquire about Ma Ke's friendship with others, Ma Ke knew that Uncle Su must have sent someone to inform the outer sect to give him some assistance.

Sure enough, it's good to take shelter under a big tree; it will be much quieter for me in the outer gate from now on.

After engaging in some feigned politeness with Lü Xiu, Ma Ke dismissed him.

Next, he continued to cultivate diligently, relying neither on the medicinal power of the Spirit Condensation Pill nor on spirit stones, but solely on the Open Source Limitless Technique.

According to Su Wanhe's calculations, it would take Ma Ke two to three years to consume all the medicinal power of this Spirit Condensation Pill. If the medicine suddenly ran out, and Su Wanhe happened to have investigated it, it would be difficult to explain.

As for the spirit stones, they were all in his storage bag. Since he had come back with Su Wanhe, he didn't have a chance to retrieve them.

Now that he's back in the sect, Su Wanhe specifically reminded him that things aren't peaceful outside, so he shouldn't go out and should just stay in the sect to cultivate. He naturally heeded this advice.

Even so, a month later, he "timely" broke through to the third level of Qi Refining, but in fact his fire attribute cultivation had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, and his earth attribute cultivation had also reached the seventh level of Qi Refining.

However, he dislikes being ostentatious, and people who know each other rarely take the initiative to investigate each other's cultivation level, as it is considered impolite.

As for probing the cultivation level of someone you don't know, it's clearly an unfriendly act, even hostile, unless the other person's cultivation level is significantly higher.

So, for a time, no one knew that he had made a breakthrough.

Four days after Ma Ke "broke through" to the third level of Qi Refining, in a cave on Yunmiao Peak, Xue Wenzhou slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them: "Finally, I have achieved the perfection of Qi Refining."

He quickly left the pass and steered the spirit boat straight to a secondary peak in the southwest.

This place is the headquarters of the Crimson Flame Alliance, founded by Cui Yizhen, one of the eight direct disciples of the Cloud Mist Peak Master and a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Xue Wenzhou is one of its members.

There are many organizations like the Crimson Flame Alliance in the Purple Sun Sect. Most of them are established by the personal disciples of the peak masters. Although the sect has not publicly supported them, it has never opposed them either, which can be considered a tacit approval.

Because the path of cultivation inherently involves competition, the existence of these small groups within the sect also facilitates competition, thereby encouraging the sect to produce more outstanding disciples.

"Hey? Isn't this Junior Brother Xue? I heard you were in seclusion, preparing to break through to the Qi Refining Perfection stage before entering the Chanyuan Secret Realm. Could it be...?"

As soon as Xue Wenzhou landed, someone asked in surprise.

Xue Wenzhou laughed triumphantly, "So it's Senior Brother Chen. I'm not very talented, but I've already broken through to the peak of Qi Refining today."

Senior Brother Chen was slightly startled and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Then congratulations, Junior Brother Xue. You must have come here to see Senior Brother Cui."

Xue Wenzhou nodded, because Cui Yizhen had already said that any Crimson Flame Alliance disciple who broke through to the Qi Refining Perfection stage could receive two thousand contribution points from him to exchange for various resources they needed.

At the same time, the alliance will also provide various forms of assistance.

This move was naturally intended to help disciples entering the Chanyuan Secret Realm improve their combat power so that they could obtain the various gains they desired.

Senior Brother Cui needs the Sun Essence Stone from the secret realm, and other senior brothers also have various spiritual materials they need, but they have already broken through the Qi Refining stage and are not qualified to enter the secret realm, so they can only rely on these disciples who are able to enter.

Those who have reached the pinnacle of Qi cultivation will naturally receive more favor.

This time, Xue Wenzhou was able to meet Senior Brother Cui, whom he rarely saw before, without any obstacles. He also successfully received two thousand contribution points and a crimson token, which allowed him to exercise certain privileges within the alliance.

After getting what he wanted, Xue Wenzhou immediately sent someone to summon Lü Xiu from the outer gate.

Lu Xiu was filled with trepidation because last time she had taken the initiative to report, she was scolded and sent away with a "get lost" order. She wondered how Senior Brother Xue would treat her this time.

"I have met Senior Brother Xue," Lü Xiu said meekly, bowing respectfully.

"I have something for you to do. If you do it well, I will reward you with a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills to help you enter the inner sect as soon as possible," Xue Wenzhou said solemnly.

Lü Xiu was overjoyed and quickly said, "Senior Brother Xue, please give your orders, and I will do my utmost."

Xue Wenzhou nodded and said, "Go and keep an eye on Ma Ke for me. That kid could break through to the third level of Qi Refining at any time. After he breaks through, don't make a fuss, and report to me immediately."

Lu Xiu was startled and quickly explained, "Brother Xue, you don't know this, but Ma Ke seems to have found a powerful backer. After he came back last time, the higher-ups instructed that he should be taken good care of."

Xue Wen waved his hand and said, "What backer? Just a Qi Refining disciple from Emerald Bamboo Peak."

As he spoke, he took out the crimson token and said, "I am now at the peak of Qi Refining. This trip to the secret realm is to do something for Senior Brother Cui Yizhen. Whoever can provide assistance is a friend of my Crimson Flame Alliance. Anyone who obstructs me, you know what will happen."

"Yes, yes, I understand, I understand." Lü Xiu nodded hurriedly.

After returning, he sent someone to secretly keep an eye on Ma Ke. When Ma Ke finished his cultivation and came out of his room, he pretended to come over and said with emotion, "Junior Brother Ma has been focused on his cultivation. It's really not easy to see you now. Since we've run into each other, you should come to my place for a good drink."

As he spoke, he checked Ma Ke's cultivation level and was immediately surprised: "Oh my, I was wondering why Junior Brother Ma's temperament was a bit different. It turns out he has broken through."

"Junior Brother Ma is truly a man of few words, but when he speaks, he amazes everyone. He has been lying low for ten years, yet he has made consecutive breakthroughs in just one year. If he can advance one more step, he will become an inner disciple."

"When the time comes, I'll have to address you as Senior Brother Ma. Oh no, I wish Senior Brother Ma all the best in entering the inner sect."

Ma Ke had no interest in drinking with this kind of person, so he made up an excuse and politely declined.

Knowing that Ma Ke had broken through to the third level of Qi Refining, Lü Xiu didn't dwell on it. She gave a perfunctory reply and left, then quickly entered the inner sect to report to Xue Wenzhou.

"You've done a good job. Since he enjoys cultivation, let him cultivate. Don't let anyone disturb him. Also, don't announce to anyone that he's broken through to the third level of Qi Refining."

Although Lü Xiu did not know Xue Wenzhou's intentions, she still readily agreed.

Xue Wenzhou then asked, "Do you have a man named Ma Ge working for you?"

In case he didn't know which two characters they were, Xue Wenzhou even wrote them out.

Lü Xiu shook her head repeatedly: "No."

"That's a good idea," Xue Wenzhou said decisively.

He then explained his arrangements, leaving Lü Xiu speechless.