In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

"Disgusting! Who asked you to serve me food!"

Yu Nianqiu responded without holding back, and immediately stood up and sat down in the empty seat between Chen Changqing and Li Erniu.

From the moment she left home until now, Qian Jinbao has been relentlessly pestering her like a mangy dog.

However, she had absolutely no liking for him, only a constant stream of disgust.

If she had known beforehand that Qian Jinbao would also be attending, she most likely wouldn't have come to this gathering, which shows that she is a person who keeps her promises.

When they sat down, Yu Nianqiu intentionally or unintentionally leaned towards Chen Changqing.

"There aren't many people, so it's spacious and comfortable to sit in."

Chen Changqing naturally helped Yu Nianqiu adjust the chair to a normal position.

This action would make Yu Nianqiu feel good about him, but it would also prevent Qian Jinbao from having any unnecessary misunderstandings about him.

Although this person seems unreasonable and extremely arrogant, he wouldn't risk getting himself into a dangerous situation because of a girl's momentary actions.

Even if this girl is very pretty, it won't work.

Unless Qian Jinbao is ungrateful and does something outrageous again!

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

"I was presumptuous. I'll punish myself with a drink."

Qian Jinbao wasn't angry; he smiled and gave himself a way out. Then, he glanced past Chen Changqing and fixed his gaze on Li Erniu, whose cultivation level was no different from his own.

Of the five people present, Qian Jinbao had the highest cultivation level; Li Erniu and Yu Nianqiu were tied, both at the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Next came Chen Changqing and Wang Feng.

"Erniu, I never expected you to make such progress after joining a small Foundation Establishment family! Congratulations!"

"Just good luck. Isn't Brother Qian the same?"

In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. Although he disliked the other person's character, Li Erniu still addressed him politely, unwilling to offend him.

"That's right. Erniu, we hit it off immediately. From now on, you'll get a 10% discount on all pills you buy from me, how about that?"

Qian Jinbao smiled broadly, patted his chest, and showed his consideration for his fellow villagers, "And you two brothers, you'll also get a 10% discount..."

After taking his seat, Qian Jinbao began to speak eloquently, treating the gathering as his own "personal performance."

He's even more boastful than my nouveau riche classmate from my past life; no wonder people dislike him!

Nine-fold discount pills? They're probably just low-quality pills used for practice.

Chen Changqing subtly relayed a message to Li Erniu and Wang Feng, telling them not to buy it.

Not long after, feeling bored, Qian Jinbao suddenly slammed his hand on the table and said, "How about we have a friendly spar?"

"Great! Great! Great! I was just wondering if I'd had a chance to see my senior brother's talent!"

Yu Nianqiu stood up almost immediately.

"Junior sister... your cultivation is lower than mine, and you are a girl, I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

"It's alright. Senior brother, if you're scared, don't try to intimidate me next time!"

Yu Nianqiu's cultivation was achieved steadily and step by step. She knew that although Qian Jinbao's cultivation was slightly higher than hers, it was all due to the accumulation of pills, and he might not be her match.

Besides, she was holding in a lot of anger and had nowhere to vent it!

"this……"

Qian Jinbao looked around, hoping someone would come out and help him out of this predicament.

Originally, relying on his superior cultivation level, he proposed a duel, thinking that no one would dare to agree, so as to save face.

Unexpectedly, Yu Nianqiu refused to let him off the hook.

Chen Changqing and the others were eager to see the strength of the sect's disciples, so they didn't try to mediate the fight.

"Since you insist on fighting, then I'll accompany you to stretch your muscles. Don't worry, I'll hold back."

Qian Jinbao's feigned tenderness only made Yu Nianqiu's pretty face even more frosty.

Since the restaurant was not convenient for the exchange of skills, the young marquis arranged for the people to stay at a large estate he had purchased nearby.

"A friendly exchange, let's stop here. Begin!"

At Wang Feng's command, Yu Nianqiu on the training ground launched a swift attack. Her magic sword flashed like a rainbow, unleashing a continuous barrage of "Thirteen Forms of Flowing Clouds".

It was clear that his basic skills were incredibly solid; each sword strike precisely targeted the points where Qian Jinbao's spiritual energy flow was obstructed.

Qian Jinbao was flustered, his "Fire Fan" whirring loudly as he swung it, but he could only barely block Yu Nianqiu's attacks. After only seven or eight moves, he was already covered in sweat, his weak cultivation exposed in the face of solid swordsmanship.

"Damn it! How could this girl be so ruthless!"

Qian Jinbao saw a sword thrusting towards his face and awkwardly leaned back to dodge it, a strand of his hair being cut off. The three people watching secretly clapped and cheered.

Faced with this situation, Qian Jinbao, who valued his reputation, felt a mixture of shame and indignation. He suddenly pulled out a jade bottle from his pocket, poured out a bright red pill, and swallowed it.

This is the "Blazing Sun Pill" that he personally refined. It can instantly boost one's cultivation level, but the pill has flaws, and the side effects of taking it are likely to be significant.

The medicine's effects erupted, and Qian Jinbao's aura surged. He grinned maliciously and activated the Fire-Leaving Fan, which spewed out a stream of scorching fire, attempting to burn away Yu Nianqiu's outer garment.

"You're asking for it!"

When Yu Nianqiu saw Qian Jinbao use banned drugs, the last trace of "teaching him a lesson" vanished from her eyes. She held nothing back, and her spiritual power surged wildly into the longsword in her hand, instantly covering the blade with a layer of icy frost.

"Frost Sword Technique - Frostfall!"

Yu Nianqiu let out a sharp shout, her figure closing in like a ghost, and slashed down with her sword. Qian Jinbao's fiery stream was instantly frozen, and his Fire Fan was also blasted away by the sword energy.

Immediately afterwards, a cold light shot straight at Qian Jinbao's throat.

The sword strike was too fast and too ruthless; Yu Nianqiu's eyes were filled with killing intent, and she couldn't stop herself. Only when the blade was three inches from her opponent's neck did she suddenly realize—Qian Jinbao was from the same sect, and she couldn't kill him!

Moreover, alchemist Wu Feng is extremely protective of his own. Even if the best outcome is that he killed Wu Feng's disciple, he would still be expelled from the sect!

A chill instantly shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Yu Nianqiu tried to sheathe her sword, but found that her spiritual energy was overdrawn and the sword tip was trembling slightly, making it difficult to retract even a fraction of an inch.

With his life hanging by a thread, Qian Jinbao was so frightened that his face turned ashen and his body stiffened.

"Oh no, something terrible is about to happen!" Wang Feng trembled and spoke incoherently.

He invited the person here, and if they die on his territory, whether it's the other sect or his master coming after him, he will definitely suffer the consequences.

At the critical moment, Chen Changqing flicked his finger with spiritual energy—clang!

The steel ball struck the tip of the sword, just enough to shift the sword's edge and save Qian Jinbao's life.

Yu Nianqiu's thrust missed its mark, but the momentum continued unabated. She staggered a few times and almost fell, but she didn't feel embarrassed at all. Her face only showed relief at surviving a disaster.

"In the early stage of Qi Refining, he actually managed to deflect a full-force attack from a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator!"

Li Erniu was right!

As Wang Feng breathed a sigh of relief, he also felt a wave of fear, looking at the nonchalant Chen Changqing as if he were looking at a monster.

Li Erniu was unfazed and looked quite proud. Under Chen Changqing's prompting, he went to help Qian Jinbao, who had collapsed to the ground.

Chen Changqing approached Yu Nianqiu, who was still somewhat shaken, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Yu, are you alright?"

"Brother Chen, I'm fine. If it weren't for your help, I would have made a terrible mistake."

Immediately, she walked up to Qian Jinbao, her tone turning serious, "You, surnamed Qian, are surely aware of my strength. If you dare to pester me again, I'll chop you off at the root with one sword!"