Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

Morning on the mountain top was refreshing and cool.

The pines on the mountain swayed gently with the wind, making a rustling sound.

After a short while, Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian came together.

Ye Yuntian saw Chen Qing, patted him on the shoulder, "Has Xiao Zhong been causing you any trouble lately?"

Chen Qing said, "We haven't been in contact for some time."

Ye Yuntian said, "That's good, if he tries anything, we'll make him taste his own medicine."

"By the way, Qingshuang has been confined at home by the Spirit Plant Elder and isn't allowed to go out, so take her out to relax whenever you can."

Chen Qing felt a bit awkward, "Alright."

Everyone laughed heartily at Chen Qing's embarrassed look.

After teasing Chen Qing, the twelve Hall Masters gathered in groups, discussing some matters.

Gongsun Xiu asked curiously, "Brother Chen, how much Spirit Ginseng can the Spirit Plant Garden produce this year?"

Chen Qing replied, "This is my first time planting, so I'm not sure yet. We'll have to wait and see."

Gongsun Xiu said, "From the mountain, it looks promising. With this Spiritual Ginseng Field, we can cultivate more disciples."

Of course, the one who needs Spiritual Ginseng the most is me. How are you going to brew any Alcohol Gu without it? Why do we even need so many Alcohol Gu cultivators?

Everyone chatted endlessly until the Great Elder, wearing a gray Daoist robe, arrived. Then they followed him into the council meeting hall.

Gongsun Xiu, worried that Chen Qing might not know where to sit since it was his first council meeting, pulled him to sit beside him.

The Refinement Hall's Deputy Hall Master Wu Yi had no complaints about this and sat on the other side of Chen Qing.

Li He, on the other hand, stood behind Chen Qing, like the other disciples of the halls.

The Great Elder, looking serious, took a sip of tea and sat at the main seat, "Talk among yourselves, don't mind me. I'm only here because the Mountain Master needed some extra hands."

Chen Qing thought Ye Yuntian would speak first, but surprisingly it was Feng Qi who said, "According to reliable information, there are a few wild Gu insects around Xiao Yue Lake near Lotus Cave."

Gongsun Xiu and Wu Yi seemed uninterested, and, considering himself akin to their production roles, Chen Qing didn't plan to speak.

Shen Ao said, "Lotus Cave has provoked us at Wuyou Mountain multiple times. We cannot let them get these wild Gu insects so easily this time!"

Feng Qi said with a somber expression, "Most of our mentors seeking breakthroughs are still away, so we can't provoke a large-scale war!"

Shen Ao said, "Can't we just send a few disciples from the War Affairs Hall disguised to get the Gu insects?"

Feng Qi and Shen Ao argued intensely, but Gongsun Xiu and Wu Yi sat still as if unmoved.

Gongsun Xiu even raised his cup of tea, gesturing slightly to Chen Qing, who also sipped his tea, just wetting his lips without actually drinking.

He wasn't used to eating or drinking in unfamiliar places.

Ultimately, Feng Qi subdued the issue, and Shen Ao, clearly unhappy, stormed off.

It seemed this meeting was in vain; nothing was resolved...

The Spirit Plant Hall's Chen Qing and the Refinement Hall were just here to watch the drama and sip tea...

Everyone left dissatisfied, and Chen Qing went about his regular duties.

At night, while Chen Qing was training, he heard a knock at the door. Opening it, he found Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian.

Ye Yuntian smiled, "Brother, we're here. Won't you invite us in to sit?"

Chen Qing quickly ushered them in and served tea.

Feng Qi carried a clay pot that seemed quite important.

Ye Yuntian tasted the tea, "Brother Feng, share your plan."

Feng Qi explained, "Here's the plan. We'll send five Qi Refinement Seventh Transformation disciples from the War Affairs Hall, led by Deputy Hall Master Feng Qiao from the Shadow Hall."

"When the Lotus Cave disciples capture those wild Gu insects, we'll ambush them on the road!"

"Then, I'll lead the Shadow Hall disciples for support."

Chen Qing was startled. He suddenly realized this might be his first brush with the real cultivation world.

These guys were quite cunning!

During the day, Feng Qi led the opposition, yet by night, he already had a plan in place!

Ye Yuntian handed Chen Qing a slip of paper, "Brother Chen, if you agree, circle on the paper. If not, cross it."

Then, he gestured to the clay pot in Feng Qi's hand.

No wonder Gongsun Xiu and Wu Yi acted indifferent; the real meeting took place at night.

Chen Qing took the paper and asked, "What are those Lotus Cave disciples' cultivation levels?"

Feng Qi showed an approving glance, "Four at Qi Refinement Fifth Transformation, one at Qi Refinement Sixth Transformation."

Chen Qing asked, "Isn't it a bit risky?"

Feng Qi said, "Feng Qiao is already at Qi Refinement Eighth Transformation. With her leading, it should be quite safe."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, went to the study, ground ink, and finally drew a circle.

After all, he wasn't the one going, and those bratty Lotus Cave disciples were asking for a beating.

Folding the slip, he slipped it into the clay pot.

As Ye Yuntian was leaving, he told Chen Qing, "Brother Chen, next time, it'll be your turn to take the clay pot, and I'll come get you then."

So, passing the clay pot was a rotating duty, quite interesting.

"Take care, brothers."

After they left under the night sky, Chen Qing thought that Shen Ao was likely the bait thrown by Feng Qi and Ye Yuntian, provoking Lotus Cave and targetting their assassination attempts.

That daytime meeting might have just been a trap to lure out spies.

This was indeed the cutthroat cultivation world, where keeping your thoughts hidden from your enemies was essential.

"Interesting!"

Though it really didn't concern him.

Laying aside those thoughts, Chen Qing wielded his sword, resuming his tireless training of his secret skill.

On June 9th, as Chen Qing arrived at the Spirit Plant Hall, he received a secret message from Ye Yuntian, which he read alone in the hall.

It instructed him to prepare healing medicine.

It seemed the plan had been approved.

He'd better spend all his money tonight before Lotus Cave found out, in case they retaliated, which would make it hard to go down the mountain later.

Glimpsing the words "incinerate after reading," Chen Qing left the hall, tossed the secret message into the burning hearth of the Spirit Plant Hall until it burned completely before leaving.

At night, Chen Qing went down the mountain, rented a private room near a dark alley at Bright Moon Tower next to Wanbao Pavilion, and asked everyone to leave, drinking alone.

After two cups of liquor, seeing the alley was empty, Chen Qing used Fog to fly out the window, landing already clad in dark robes.

Fog Gu truly was a treasure!

After circling to Wanbao Pavilion, enhancing the quality of many Gu insects, Chen Qing had a rough estimate of the quantity of materials needed for enhancement.

Chen Qing said, "Get me twenty Demon Wolf Teeth and thirty drops of Spiritual Dew!"

Spending four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, Chen Qing circled back to the dark alley. Listening to the noise from Bright Moon Tower, his room was silent.

Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, he leapt, using Fog to slip through the window, and was back in his seat, wearing the Spirit Plant Hall Master's robe.

Finishing his meal quickly, Chen Qing returned to the mountain.

With these materials, his Fog Gu could be enhanced to Fourth Transformation, and his sword Gu to Seventh Transformation.

The only regret was that he had no Spirit Stones left.

Well, that severed a desire, keeping him from wanting to go down the mountain to spend money for a while.