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Chapter 102 Climbing the Peak and Paying Homage to the Mountain Gate

The disciple nodded, his expression softening considerably: "Alright! My name is Wang Feng. Since you have this ability, I will inform the elder brother on your behalf. Please wait here and do not wander around. I will go and inform the senior brother on duty."

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Wang," Chen Yue said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Wang Feng said no more, his figure flashed, and he rushed towards the mountain gate, his figure quickly disappearing at the corner of the mountain path.

Seeing Wang Feng leave, Chen Yue turned to Shen Dujiang beside him and asked with concern, "Boss Shen, is your wrist alright?"

Shen Dujiang moved his wrist, which was still a little sore and numb, and shook his head with a wry smile: "It's nothing serious. Wang Feng didn't really use much force. It was just a punishment. My bones are fine. I'll be fine after a day or two of rest."

The disciples of the Rock Stone Sect are indeed very disciplined; there are no other disciples here.

Chen Yue nodded, his gaze fixed on the ancient and imposing mountain gate, and said in a low voice, "It's a good thing that the sect has a good reputation. If the Rock Sect is truly as rumored, with a clean and upright internal structure and a willingness to recruit alchemists, it would be a good opportunity for us."

At that time, not only can I establish myself here, but if the situation within the sect is favorable, I might also be able to introduce Master Lin. He is not skilled in martial arts and needs protection even more.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Dujiang nodded: "Brother Chen's concerns are very valid. If you and Master Lin can both gain a foothold within the Rock Stone Sect, even if it's just as outer disciples, Old Hu and I will have more confidence when we act outside. It's always good to have a big tree to lean on."

The two said no more and stood quietly in front of the mountain gate, waiting for Wang Feng's reply.

About fifteen minutes later, at the end of the mountain path, Wang Feng's imposing figure reappeared, accompanied by another disciple.

Wang Feng approached Chen Yue and nodded to him: "Chen Yue, come with me. The steward wants to see you."

He glanced at Shen Dujiang beside him and said, "Friend, please wait outside the mountain gate and do not wander around."

Chen Yue gave Shen Dujiang a look, and Shen Dujiang understood, cupped his hands and stepped back to sit on a large rock by the roadside to wait.

Chen Yue silently followed behind Wang Feng and stepped into the Panshimen Mountain Gate.

The scenery inside the gate is different from the mountain road outside. A main road, about ten feet wide and paved with bluestone slabs, winds its way up to the depths of the mountains.

Ancient trees line the roadside, with flying eaves and corner brackets occasionally peeking out from the gaps in the trees. In addition to the fragrance of grass and trees, the air is also faintly mixed with the clanging sound of metal and stone striking each other.

Wang Feng was clearly a decisive person. As soon as he entered the mountain gate, his pace quickened, and he sped up along the main path.

Although his movement technique was not as exquisite as Chen Yue's Cloud-Soaring Steps, it was still steady and swift, with each step covering more than ten feet, demonstrating a solid foundation.

Chen Yue remained silent, his footwork flowing naturally. Though his steps seemed small, he always trailed Wang Feng three or five steps behind him at a steady pace, his breathing calm and his expression relaxed, as if he were strolling leisurely.

Although the mountain path had a slope, it was as flat as walking on flat ground for him.

Wang Feng, who was ahead, was full of surprise. Although he did not turn around, how sharp was the sense of a martial artist's aura?

He could clearly feel Chen Yue following him like a shadow, showing no sign of being left behind.

Wang Feng considered himself a disciple of the Rock Stone Sect, with a Bone Forging Realm cultivation. Although his movement techniques were not the best in the sect, they had been thoroughly honed and were far superior to those of ordinary rogue cultivators.

This Chen Yue is just a rogue cultivator, with the same Bone Forging Realm cultivation, yet his movement technique can keep up with me so easily?

"That's interesting."

A competitive glint flashed in Wang Feng's eyes. He secretly exerted force with his feet, subtly increasing his speed by 30%, making him even faster and creating a slight gust of wind.

Chen Yue sensed the change in speed ahead, his gaze shifted slightly, and he instantly understood Wang Feng's thoughts.

He hesitated for a moment, then decided not to continue following easily. His steps became slightly unsteady, and the distance between him and Wang Feng widened imperceptibly, making it seem as if he was struggling to keep up.

As Wang Feng sensed Chen Yue being pulled further away, a smug smile crept onto his lips.

As expected, I hadn't used my full strength just now.

He didn't accelerate any further, maintaining a speed that Chen Yue could barely keep up with, and sped towards a certain spot on the mountainside.

A moment later, the two arrived at a wide-open mountain platform.

The platform is built against the mountain, with several palaces and pavilions with gray walls and black tiles scattered around.

The air here suddenly became filled with the aroma of herbs, mixed with a faint smell of smoke and the unique scents of various medicinal plants.

The disciples coming and going mostly wore slightly different clothes from Wang Feng, and their auras were relatively peaceful, lacking the fierceness of the disciples practicing outside.

Wang Feng stopped in front of a grand hall with a plaque bearing the name "Hundred Herbs Pavilion" hanging above the entrance and introduced it to Chen Yue: "This is the Dan Peak of the sect, which is in charge of all matters related to the sect's pill refining and medicinal herb cultivation. Disciples with talent or skill in pill refining usually cultivate and serve here."

If you pass the assessment, you'll most likely stay here in the future.

Chen Yue looked around and saw disciples sorting and drying medicinal herbs in the square in front of the hall. The firelight of the alchemy furnace could be faintly seen in the side hall. People came and went, and although it was not noisy, there was a busy but orderly atmosphere.

He nodded, then asked a crucial question: "Senior Brother Wang, if I enter Pill Peak and become a disciple, will I still be able to practice the sect's martial arts techniques?"

Wang Feng glanced at Chen Yue, seemingly unsurprised by his question, and replied, "Of course. Danfeng disciples are also disciples of my Panshi Sect, and the sect rules do not prohibit Danfeng disciples from practicing martial arts."

However, the primary responsibility of Danfeng disciples is to refine pills to supply the sect. While there may be some emphasis on cultivation techniques and time, they can still apply to learn basic introductory techniques and even more advanced martial arts, as long as they contribute enough.

Wang Feng paused, then added, "Moreover, Danfeng disciples have their advantages. Disciples from other peaks, if their cultivation cannot break through to a designated realm within a certain period of time, or if they reach the required age, may be sent to industries in various places, far away from the core of the sect."

However, the disciples of Danfeng are different. As long as their alchemy skills remain uninterrupted and they can continuously provide pills for the sect, even if their cultivation progresses slowly, they will not be easily sent out and can remain in the sect for a long time.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue nodded. This arrangement was reasonable, as it ensured a stable output for alchemists while also providing them with a way to improve themselves.

For him, being able to cultivate peacefully, acquire resources, and access sect martial arts was the ideal way.

"I understand, thank you for clearing up my doubts, Senior Brother Wang," Chen Yue said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Wang Feng said no more and led Chen Yue into the main hall of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

The hall was spacious and brightly lit, with rows of tall medicine cabinets standing against the walls, filled with a rich aroma of herbs.

In the center were several large tables, on which various medicinal herbs were displayed, and several disciples were busy behind the tables.

Wang Feng walked straight to a table on the left and sat in front of a middle-aged man of about forty years old. He respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Uncle Zhao, I've brought the person. He's the one who claims he can refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Weiyuan, the middle-aged deacon addressed as Uncle Zhao, put down the scroll of pill formulas he was reading, raised his head, and calmly looked at Chen Yue, who was following behind Wang Feng.

"Um."

Zhao Weiyuan nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Chen Yue for a moment before he asked, "How many years have you been studying alchemy?"

Chen Yue stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Uncle Zhao, I have been studying alchemy for two or three years now."

"Two or three years—"

Zhao Weiyuan repeated the sentence noncommittally: This period of time is neither long nor short. Those with ordinary talent may just be getting started, while those with exceptional talent can already attempt to refine many high-level pills.

He didn't ask any more questions and pointed directly to a corner of the main hall, where a standard bronze alchemy furnace, about half a person's height, had already been prepared. On a small table next to the furnace, all the medicinal materials needed to refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill were neatly arranged.

"In that case, you may refine a batch of Marrow Cleansing Pills right here and now. The medicinal materials are ready, and you may use the furnace as you see fit." Zhao Weiyuan's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Yes."

Chen Yue responded without any hesitation. He walked to the alchemy furnace and carefully checked all the medicinal materials on the small table to confirm that the types, quantities, and quality were correct.

Then, Chen Yue calmed himself down, lit the fire, warmed the furnace, and added the medicine.

Chen Yue's movements were skillful, steady, and fluid; his control over the heat was precise and rhythmic, and he controlled the order in which the medicinal herbs were added.

The timing was perfect.

Although his technique was not flashy, it subtly revealed a calm and experienced demeanor, clearly indicating that he had a thorough understanding of how to refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Zhao Weiyuan was initially watching casually, but his gaze gradually became serious and focused as he followed Chen Yue's movements.

He is a steward of Danfeng, and is himself an alchemist with a sharp eye.

After watching for only a short while, he could tell from Chen Yue's steady fire control that the young man in front of him was not just talking nonsense, but had a solid foundation in alchemy.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the quality of this batch of Marrow Cleansing Pills will be excellent.

Although Wang Feng, who was standing to the side, did not know how to refine pills, he had been in the Pan Shi Sect for many years and had seen many of his senior and junior brothers refine pills.

Seeing Chen Yue's smooth and effortless movements, so different from those of ordinary disciples who were just learning alchemy, the last trace of doubt in my heart vanished.

Half an hour passed quietly in the silent and focused refining process.

"laugh--"

With a soft sound, Chen Yue used a gentle force to shake open the lid of the alchemy furnace.

With a flick of his hand, the residual heat inside the furnace caused two smooth pills, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance, to fall into the jade plate he had prepared beforehand.

Chen Yue deliberately controlled the quantity and quality of the pills produced. With his current mastery of the Marrow Cleansing Pill, it was not difficult for him to produce four pills of excellent quality in one batch if he exerted his full effort.

However, being new to the area, he didn't want to be too conspicuous, so he only refined two, keeping the quality at a medium-to-high level, demonstrating his ability without being too astonishing.

Zhao Weiyuan got up, walked to the jade plate, picked up a Marrow Cleansing Pill, smelled it lightly, examined its color carefully against the light, and even scraped off a little powder to taste.

A moment later, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face as he placed the pill back on the jade plate: "Not bad, solid fundamentals, stable pill formation, and acceptable quality. Wang Feng, take him to register his name. From today onwards, he will be an outer disciple of my Pill Peak."

Zhao Weiyuan paused, looked at Chen Yue, and asked, "By the way, what's your name?"

Suppressing the slight turmoil in his heart, Chen Yue cupped his hands again and said, "Disciple Chen Yue."

"Chen Yue, good!"

Zhao Weiyuan noted down the name, waved his hand, and said, "Go ahead, complete the formalities, and someone will arrange your accommodation and follow-up matters."

"Having entered the Rock Stone Sect, one must abide by the sect rules, diligently cultivate alchemy and martial arts, and must not slack off."

"Yes, I will follow Uncle Zhao's teachings." Chen Yue replied respectfully.

Wang Feng smiled and said to Chen Yue, "Junior Brother Chen, congratulations! Come with me."

Outside the mountain gate, Shen Dujiang was still waiting for news.

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