Starting with the Corpse-Eating Worm, he worked his way up to become the Left-Winged Immortal Lord.

"I can't see through it..."

Gu Qing thought to himself.

All I could see was a fog.

Fortunately, no matter what, at least after the commotion last night, regardless of whether what Master Chen said was true or false, or a mixture of both, it's all resolved.

All of this was enough to make Deng Hui understand that the Fufeng Forest Cemetery was not a place he could come and go as he pleased, and his safety would be greatly improved.

Unfortunately, just as the corpse-eating worms need to feed on corpses, I also need to give back.

Otherwise, he could find a way to get Li Fu to help him get a different job, and then he could rest easy.

I put my thoughts aside.

Gu Qing immediately walked outside.

However, as soon as he stepped out of the small courtyard, he heard the Taoist disciples in other courtyards chatting enthusiastically about other things.

"Some of our group of Daoist disciples have entered the Qi Refining Realm again."

"We all entered Wufeng Temple in the same batch. We haven't even entered the basics yet, but others have already reached the Qi Refining Realm. It's really infuriating to compare ourselves to others."

"Who is it? They're so amazing."

"I heard he's a kitchen helper Daoist boy named Li Huosheng. Together with the two fellow Daoists from the servants' quarters, there are now three of us Daoist boys at the first level of Qi Refining."

"Are there two more people in the servants' quarters?"

"you do not know?"

"I'm so exhausted every day, how would I know anything about these things?"

……

As the group walked past him chatting, Gu Qing immediately recalled the details of the assessment that Li Fu had previously revealed.

"Could it be the three of them?"

He reached the first level of Qi Refining in just over a month, which clearly fits the characteristic of having cultivated for many years.

"Moreover, it seems that he has not only been practicing for many years, but also for many years as a beginner in the Wufeng Temple."

If I don't cheat.

We have absolutely no right to compete with them.

After muttering to himself, Gu Qing headed straight for the dining hall.

He hadn't gone far when a group of people who had been chatting and passing by him suddenly turned back and ran past him.

"Really?"

"Why did an assessment suddenly appear?"

Upon hearing the word "assessment," Gu Qing's eyebrows twitched.

When they arrived at the entrance of the dining hall, there were more and more Taoist boys crowding around. Fortunately, Gu Qing's eyesight had been greatly improved after being cleansed by Yin Qi, and he could see the notice posted on the bulletin board three zhang away at a glance.

[The Master's Command]

Starting this year, all novice monks entering Wufeng Temple will be tested annually. Those who rank in the top three will be allowed to leave their novice status early.

A simple sentence, yet it sent gasps of surprise through the group of young Taoist disciples.

The older Taoist disciples looked distressed and complained bitterly.

Because they didn't have that opportunity.

There will never be such an opportunity again.

"If I had known this would happen, I would have been born two years later."

"You're making it sound like you could get into the top three just because you joined Wufeng Temple later. Your father and my father are both tenant farmers, how could we possibly get into the top three?"

The young Taoist disciples, who had only been there for a month, were all extremely excited.

They had long since seen the hardships of being a Taoist novice.

Now that they have the opportunity to be free early, how can we not make them happy?

In their excitement, they even forgot that three of the other disciples from the same group had already reached the first level of Qi Refining.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Gu Qing's lips curled into a smirk. He thought to himself, "Does that Daoist Chen think Li Huosheng and the other two are guaranteed to be in the top three, and to demonstrate fairness and impartiality, he's released the news of the annual exam?"

Besides this reason.

Gu Qing couldn't think of any other reason.

"really.

It's the same everywhere.

Gu Qing didn't look any further, walked through the crowd into the canteen and silently got a bowl of rice.

After eating their fill, they left the temple and descended the mountain.

It's worth mentioning that the descent was exceptionally easy.

Gu Qing walked with swift, agile steps.

After entering Fufeng Forest, the yin energy and corpse energy in the graveyard swept over me and no longer brought me any uncomfortable coldness.

"I never expected that after tempering my Yin Body, it could help me resist the corpse energy... From now on, I won't have to worry about the corpse energy shortening my lifespan."

Gu Qing was delighted.

Not long after they walked, they saw Liu Zaiyan and the others digging up Yin Corpse Mushrooms while discussing the assessment.

It's still a case of being born at the wrong time.

After a brief greeting, Gu Qing went back to doing her own thing.

Controlling insects with this technique is now effortless and easy, and with the addition of Yin energy to his body, he can control an increasing number of insects.

If he wished, he could control insects to inspect multiple graves at once.

"If we could inspect more tombs at once, we would definitely get a higher evaluation in the daily assessment."

Gu Qing was delighted.

And it would also be a good opportunity to show off in front of Li Fu.

Not long after.

Li Fu's voice came from among the tombs.

"Didn't you eat? You're working so slowly!"

As soon as Li Fu arrived, he began to reprimand Liu Zaiyan and the others. After he finished reprimanding them, he started walking towards him, his words all the way being quite sarcastic.

Upon seeing Gu Qing, he became even more outspoken.

"See? Master Chen of our Wufeng Temple is truly fair and just. There are still nine months left, but he actually announced it ahead of time... He's really shameless. He pulls this stunt after seeing his own people enter the Qi Refining Stability Test and rank in the top three!"

Gu boy, tell me...

you……"

As Li Fu watched Gu Qing use Yin energy to perform magic and control insects to examine five tombs simultaneously, his displeasure gradually turned into delight.

When Gu Qing's body was probed again with his senses and he saw the rolling Yin energy, the surprise on his face turned into astonishment and doubt.

"When you first entered the Subduing and Controlling Insects Technique, didn't you sacrifice your own vital energy to forcibly improve it?"

Gu Qing bowed first, then nodded and said, "No."

"You rely solely on talent?"

Li Fu could hardly believe it.

But we have no choice but to believe it.

Because if one were to rely on sacrificing one's vital energy to cultivate the wondrous method of subduing evil and controlling insects, it would be impossible to achieve such terrifying results with the current Yin energy body refinement.

Although it's unknown what the Yin Qi should look like after the Nine Refinements of the Subduing Insect Technique, Gu Qing's total Yin Qi has already surpassed that of a Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator. If this achievement were to spread, it would surely attract the attention of those unorthodox cultivators within the temple.

"Young Daoist Gu, you have truly given me a wonderful surprise." At this moment, Li Fu's gaze towards Gu Qing completely changed.

I used to think Gu Qing was someone I could use, but now I see him as a kindred spirit.

The way they address each other has also quietly changed.

"I am fortunate to have received Master Li's guidance; without Master Li, I would not be where I am today." Gu Qing, having clearly seen through Li Fu's fabrication, still chose to flatter him. Because Li Fu could change his ways, but he could not, otherwise, there would be serious problems.

Upon hearing this, Li Fu laughed even more heartily and said, "Young Fellow Daoist Gu, what are you saying..."

Halfway through his sentence, Li Fu looked around and said, "With your talent, you shouldn't waste your time on this... I've been thinking, what kind of job could I give you that would give you more time to cultivate?"

"Master Li, no need, no need. I use insects to examine graves, which is also a form of cultivation, and this method suits my taste perfectly," Gu Qing quickly said.

"Then halve it. Fellow Daoist Gu can use the time after this afternoon as he pleases, as long as he doesn't leave Fufeng Forest."

"That's fine."

Gu Qing did not refuse again.

In this way, he could choose to use insects to examine corpses, or he could choose to do something else.

In conclusion, having choices is very important.

Gu Qing frowned and said, "Thank you, Master Li. However, I am actually a little worried that others might notice my yin energy. If that happens, I won't be able to serve you, Master Li."

Li Fu's expression immediately hardened.

How could he have forgotten that?

"I have a talisman that can conceal most of your aura. Although it cannot completely cover it, even Chen Ye would find it difficult to see the whole picture of your body." Li Fu took out his treasured talisman without hesitation.