Treasure Gathering Immortal Furnace

This steward's name is Ma Jiu'er, which is not a pleasant name, so no one in the inner or outer sect calls him by his name directly; they all address him as Steward Ma.

Moreover, Steward Ma had a long face and was usually stern and unsmiling, as if everyone owed him hundreds of spirit stones. When the outer disciples saw him, they were all terrified.

Especially the long whip magic weapon in his hand, when it hits the body, it not only hurts the flesh, but it also takes ten days to half a month to heal.

"Hmph! You unfilial disciple, instead of cultivating properly, you've repeatedly spied on female disciples bathing. I think you're just driven by lust, you deserve a beating!" Deacon Ma looked at the young man kneeling on the ground in front of him, raised his whip and lashed it down hard.

clap clap.

"Ah!"

After three lashes, the young cultivator's back was torn open, and he screamed in agony, rolling on the ground.

"Deacon Ma, I was wrong! I will never do it again, please forgive me!" The young cultivator was covered in sweat from the beating and knelt on the ground, trembling.

"I'll teach you a lesson today. If you do it again, it won't just be three lashes. Get out of here," Steward Ma said sternly.

The young cultivator hurriedly kowtowed to express his gratitude before scrambling away from the hall of affairs.

Lu Fan, who witnessed the whole thing, felt a dryness in his throat. The young cultivator who had just been beaten was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, yet he couldn't withstand three lashes.

Even if I were to cultivate my Qi to the tenth level, I reckon I wouldn't be able to withstand a few lashes.

But there's no way to hide forever; you can't escape it forever. You have no choice but to bite the bullet and move forward.

"Disciple Lu Fan greets Steward Ma," Lu Fan said as he approached Steward Ma, bowing and showing humility.

Steward Ma's piercing eyes immediately fixed on Lu Fan: "Lu Fan? Good lad, you've been missing for three years. I thought you were long gone, buried somewhere. I didn't expect you to still be alive?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan bowed again: "I am deeply grateful for your concern, Steward Ma. I am humbled."

Deacon Ma's face immediately darkened: "Who cares about a cripple like you? Let me ask you, three and a half years ago, I ordered you to collect the body of my deceased disciple. Did you steal the storage bag and hide it?"

"Deacon Ma, this disciple did not steal the storage bag. It was Senior Sister Yan who took the storage bag that should have been handed over and locked this disciple in the secluded cultivation cave."

"I have only survived for the past three years thanks to the insects, snakes, rats and ants in my cave."

Lu Fan looked humble and lowered his head as he spoke.

A faint blue light flashed in Deacon Ma's eyes. Only after realizing that Lu Fan was only at the third level of Qi Refining and had no storage bag did he slightly suppress his fierce expression.

"You've been locked up in your secluded cave for three and a half years, and you've only reached the third level of Qi Refining? You're utterly useless," Deacon Ma said. "However, I won't believe your words so easily. I'll bring my junior sister to confront you. If what you say is true, then so be it. But if you dare to spout nonsense, I will not forgive you!"

At this moment, Lu Fan seemed indifferent. In any case, he hadn't lied. Yan Ruyu had really come, so they would just confront each other.

But while Lu Fan was thinking this, the next moment, belatedly realizing what had happened, his heart was filled with even greater shock: "They've brought in their junior sister for a confrontation? What's going on! Deacon Ma is a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he calls Yan Ruyu 'Junior Sister'? Could it be that Yan Ruyu successfully established herself from the seventh level of Qi Refining in these three and a half years?"

It seems to be certain, after all, Yan Ruyu has dual spiritual roots of water and wood, so her cultivation speed is quite fast.

Before Lu Fan could say anything, Steward Ma had already taken out a communication talisman and tossed it out.

A moment later, a graceful woman in green, ethereal in appearance, landed steadily outside the Hall of Affairs on a flying sword. The newcomer was none other than Yan Ruyu.

Compared to three and a half years ago, Yan Ruyu is undoubtedly more elegant and refined now, especially her proud breasts, which have grown and are about to burst out.

"Senior Brother Ma, is there something you need from me?" Yan Ruyu didn't even look at Lu Fan at the moment. She walked up to Steward Ma and bowed slightly.

Deacon Ma returned the greeting and pointed to Lu Fan beside him: "Junior Sister, do you still remember this rebellious disciple?"

Yan Ruyu glanced at Lu Fan and frowned slightly: "Who is he?"

"Boy, take a few steps," Steward Ma stared at Lu Fan, his tone serious and leaving no room for argument.

At this moment, Lu Fan clenched his fists, his face showing a hint of gloom, but he quickly suppressed his dissatisfaction and took two steps with a limp.

Upon seeing this, Yan Ruyu seemed to instantly realize: "Oh, it's you, you cripple! You're still alive? You've actually reached the third level of Qi Refining! No wonder I didn't recognize you."

Hearing these extremely sarcastic words, Lu Fan could only suppress his displeasure.

After all, Yan Ruyu had successfully established her foundation and was already in the management of the outer sect. How could he, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, compare?

Even if you kill him now if you're dissatisfied, he'll have nowhere to complain.

"Uncle Yan," Lu Fan could only swallow his anger and bow.

"Senior Brother Ma, what brings you here?" Yan Ruyu clearly had no interest in Lu Fan. After all, given her status and talent, Lu Fan wasn't even worthy of carrying her shoes.

Then Steward Ma recounted to Yan Ruyu everything that Lu Fan had just said.

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruyu's elegant and noble face immediately fell, and she suddenly released her spiritual pressure, directly suppressing Lu Fan.

Feeling the spiritual pressure from the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lu Fan's body went limp, and he almost knelt on the ground.

"You cripple, would I, a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, steal the storage bag of a junior who has just passed away? You'd better explain yourself clearly, or I will not forgive you if you tarnish my reputation!" Yan Ruyu said in a cold tone.

At this moment, Lu Fan was speechless. Three and a half years ago, you were not a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but could you say that? Obviously, you absolutely could not.

Talking it out is a death sentence! Not talking it out might offer a glimmer of hope.

Lu Fan also bent over, gritting his teeth and bending his knees, and said, "Uncle-Master Yan! I was talking nonsense. This disciple took the storage bag of some deceased senior brother and found a Qi-stabilizing pill inside. I was tempted by the money, so I stole it and hid!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruyu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, but then immediately hardened again. She looked at Steward Ma and said, "Senior brother, a cripple who only knows how to steal storage bags dares to frame me. According to the sect rules, shouldn't he be executed?"

Upon hearing this, Steward Ma didn't want to cause problems with Yan Ruyu's relationship because of a useless cripple, so he slightly raised his hand: "According to the sect rules, this is the proper way."

Lu Fan was shocked, but immediately knelt before Deacon Ma: "Deacon Ma, I know my sins! I've been stuck at the second level of Qi Refining for many years, and I wanted to break through to contribute to the sect, but I had no resources available, so I had this evil thought. I beg Deacon Ma to have mercy!"

Lu Fan never mentioned in his words that Steward Ma had withheld his Qi-stabilizing pills, but every word implied that Steward Ma had taken his pills without permission.

As expected, when Lu Fan said this, Steward Ma seemed a little guilty. After all, since Lu Fan joined the sect, he had never given Lu Fan the Qi-stabilizing pills he received every six months.

Lu Fan had no choice but to take a Qi-stabilizing pill from his deceased senior brother, which wasn't exactly a heinous crime.

Moreover, a Qi Refining stage disciple who has passed away would have very little wealth in his storage bag.