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

"Ding Xian, Gu Qing... the seven of you will accompany the Dharma Protector Hall cultivators to the medicinal herb fields in Pingshui Town. The miscellaneous and unorthodox sect members who usually manage the Wufeng Temple have died. Although the Dharma Protector Hall people arrived in time, most of the spiritual herbs planted in the herb garden have still been plundered. Your task is to harvest the remaining spiritual herbs and minimize the losses as much as possible."

As soon as Cheng Xiu finished speaking, Ding Xian looked indignant.

"The medicinal herbs in Pingshui Town are picked by the Daoist disciples themselves, so Fellow Daoist Cheng doesn't need to worry about it."

He had already heard that Gu Qing had rejected Chen Ye's offer of employment, and now, by immediately sending Gu Qing away from Wufeng Temple to work, his intentions were quite clear. Gu Qing was only at the first level of Qi Refining, and hadn't even practiced any spells yet. If he encountered cultivators from the Heavenly Principle Sect outside, wouldn't he be doomed? Even if he could control alien insects to fight, how long could he last?

The Heavenly Principle Sect cultivators who pass by are not just a few at a time.

Cheng Xiu immediately spoke coldly in an unquestionable tone, "In the entire Wufeng Temple, no one has objected to the orders of my Dharma Protector Hall. Is your Medicine Hall preparing to defy Vice Abbot Lü? Or are you saying you don't take the Dharma Protector Hall seriously?"

"you……"

Ding Xian was suppressed by Cheng Xiu and Vice Abbot Lü, so he could only swallow his anger.

Ding Xian added, "My junior brother Gu Qing is new to cultivation and lacks experience in harvesting spiritual herbs. We need to find someone else."

"The entire Changping County is in chaos right now, and there's a severe shortage of manpower. Where would you find the manpower to keep rotating people around?"

That's all.

Cheng Xiu ignored Ding Xian and continued to arrange things for the rest of the pharmacy staff.

After making the arrangements, Ding Xian wanted to say more, but Cheng Xiu cut him off with another sentence, "The other halls have no objections to the arrangements made by the Dharma Protector Hall, so why is your Medicine Hall making such a fuss? If you don't want to collect the medicine, then go hunt down the Heavenly Principle Sect cultivators. It'll also give my Dharma Protector Hall cultivators a rest and reduce the number of casualties."

Upon hearing this, Ding Xian was completely speechless and could only accept the fact. However, he felt somewhat unwilling, because he knew that if he arranged for Junior Brother Gu to go out today, he would send them to their deaths tomorrow.

Moreover, Cheng Xiu's repeated mentions of other halls clearly indicated his intention to use this opportunity to coerce the cultivators of the Medicine Hall into taking sides.

Anyone who defies Chen Ye will become the next Gu Qing.

"Ugh."

After Cheng Xiu left, Ding Xian could only sigh silently in his heart.

At that moment, he seemed to see Gu Qing's future, and also the future of the pharmacy.

At that moment, Gu Qing walked into the pharmacy and asked Ding Xian as if nothing had happened.

"Senior Brother Ding, where is Master?"

Ding Xian paused for a moment, then hesitated, "Junior Brother Gu..."

"It's alright, senior brother, I heard everything." Gu Qing's expression remained unchanged, but his killing intent intensified.

"I'm sorry, senior brother is incompetent." Ding Xian subconsciously thought that Gu Qing should go to the master for help, so he helplessly said again, "Junior brother, the old master is in the inner courtyard. But even if you go to him, it will be of no use. Once the master speaks up and forcibly keeps you here, Chen Ye will definitely report the master to Vice Abbot Lü and convict him of disobedience."

Even now, Wufeng Temple can still act with gritted teeth and not take sides, but if it goes against the will of the deputy abbot, that would be the biggest mistake.

"Senior brother, I have other matters to discuss with Master." Gu Qing did not immediately mention the Ghost Cover Leaf, to avoid the possibility that Chen Ye's people were in the medicine hall.

"Then go ahead, Master is in the Dharma Hall in the inner courtyard," Ding Xian replied.

Gu Qing raised her hand and strode away.

However, as soon as he turned around, he saw pairs of uneasy, helpless, and worried eyes from the pharmacy staff.

……

soon.

Gu Qing arrived outside the Dharma Hall.

"Master, your disciple Gu Qing requests an audience."

Lu Xingzhi, who was browsing through books in the Library, suddenly focused his gaze, closed the book, and stepped out of the Library.

"Even I, your teacher, am powerless to help. At that time, you will only be able to stay by your senior brother's side without being able to move an inch..." Lu Xingzhi said helplessly.

In fact, Chen Ye was present when he was assigning the pharmacy staff. He had also objected to Gu Qing being chosen to go to Pingshui Town, but he was blocked by the other protectors and managers as soon as he opened his mouth, and he could not get any chance.

"This is not my concern, but rather the matter of the Ghostly Leaf," Gu Qing said.

Lu Xingzhi frowned. "All three seeds of the Ghost Leaf herb are dead?"

"No... Master, please speak to me in private." Gu Qing's gaze swept warily over the few cultivators guarding the library.

In that instant, Lu Xingzhi's expression became incredibly interesting. "You wouldn't happen to be..., kid."

Lu Xingzhi immediately took Gu Qing aside and erected a spiritual energy soundproof barrier to block the sound from spreading.

"How many portions were made out of the three?"

Lu Xingzhi asked expectantly.

Gu Qing humbly replied, "Fortunately, with Master's guidance, I succeeded on my first attempt at nurturing medicinal seeds."

"Success on the first try!"

Lu Xingzhi's face suddenly lit up with joy.

He had been worried about how to offer the Ghost-Covering Leaf to Xuanqing Temple.

His disciples were not unorthodox cultivators, and even the simple step of nurturing medicinal seeds was very difficult; their previous attempts had all ended in failure.

He did succeed, but as a manager, he can't just spend all his time watching over Gui Zheye and neglecting other matters.

But now that Gu Qing has succeeded on his first try, it is incredibly good news for him.

"How did you, a mere Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator, achieve this? Tell your master quickly," Lu Xingzhi hurriedly pressed.

Gu Qing pretended to remove the concealment talisman, but actually weakened the concealment effect, revealing himself as a Qi Refining Level 2 cultivator.

Before Lu Xingzhi could speak in surprise, Gu Qing interjected, "This disciple was fortunate enough to receive a piece of the Blessed Spirit Body from Daoist Li. After consuming it, I broke through to the second level of Qi Refining. As my cultivation increased, my Yin techniques also strengthened, and I successfully cultivated it in one go."

"That kid Li Fu is really generous." Lu Xingzhi didn't immediately marvel at Gu Qing's cultivation level.

obviously.

In his view, it was perfectly reasonable for a piece of blessed spirit body to allow Gu Qing to advance from the first level of Qi Refining to the second level of Qi Refining.

"I truly have no way to repay Master Li's kindness. It is not easy to have a mentor in life, and to have a benefactor help me so generously is truly a blessing!" Gu Qing said with deep emotion, though it was only half true and half false, intended to emphasize his character of repaying kindness, while also indirectly praising Lu Xingzhi.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xingzhi nodded in agreement, "What you said makes a lot of sense."

"Master, I'll go and rest now. Tomorrow I'll be heading to Pingshui Town with Senior Brother Ding and the others."

That's all.

Gu Qing raised his hand to take his leave.

The reason Gu Qing didn't directly state the purpose of this trip was that he was afraid Lu Xingzhi would have some suspicions. After all, from his perspective, leaving Wufeng Temple was at most a matter of unease, rather than a matter of wanting to stay in Wufeng Temple.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xingzhi retorted indignantly, "Why are you still going to Pingshui Town? Even if all the spiritual herbs in Pingshui Town are robbed, they are not as important as a single Ghost Cover Leaf! Come with me to see Vice Abbot Lü. From tomorrow onwards, your only task will be to cultivate Ghost Cover Leaves."

"I will obey my master's instructions."

Gu Qing raised her hand.

He acted as if he would obey his master in everything.

however.

Just as Gu Qing arrived at the residence of the deputy abbot in the deepest part of Wufeng Temple, he discovered that Chen Ye was also there.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, what brings you here?"

Chen Ye spoke coldly, but his gaze remained fixed on Gu Qing.