Chapter 17: Using Arts in Place of Labor!
“Junior Brother Lu, I didn’t see it before, but you actually have this kind of courage.”
Zhang Luanfeng put away his warm expression and began to look at Lu Qingyang squarely.
An aura from the late-stage Qi Refining realm also radiated from his body, directly shrouding Lu Qingyang.
Lu Qingyang only felt a suffocating sensation all over his body, and even breathing became difficult.
“What, is Senior Brother Zhang planning to kill me inside the Chaotian Sect?”
Lu Qingyang endured a violent cough, staring coldly at Zhang Luanfeng.
His cheeks were flushed red from coughing, making him look somewhat bedraggled, but the unyielding firmness in his eyes was striking.
Seeing this, Zhang Luanfeng’s eyes flickered.
“Good, very good. It seems you not only have courage… but also a bit of boldness.”
“But don’t forget, in another year, the Peak Selection Gathering begins.”
“A year from now, I hope you can still stand before me and talk like this!”
With that, Zhang Luanfeng withdrew his aura and turned to leave.
He knew that insulting and oppressing fellow sect members within the Chaotian Sect was a serious crime.
If he injured Lu Qingyang even slightly today, the Law Enforcement Bureau would not let him off!
At that point, forget the Peak Selection Gathering — even whether he could remain in the Chaotian Sect would be uncertain.
So, no matter how furious he was, Zhang Luanfeng could only endure for now.
Lu Qingyang watched Zhang Luanfeng’s departing figure, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
“I’ll return those words to you.”
“I hope… a year from now, you can still stand before me and say these things!”
“I’ll be waiting!”
Zhang Luanfeng left.
And at this moment, Lu Qingyang fell into silence.
He knew that ever since he entered the Chaotian Sect, the first great enemy he had made had appeared!
Zhang Luanfeng, at late-stage Qi Refining!
And he had at most one year to close the gap between himself and Zhang Luanfeng!
Otherwise, after a year, if Zhang Luanfeng truly entered the Three Peaks and obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Even if Lu Qingyang had greater abilities, the danger would be extreme.
Even with sect laws in place, if a Foundation Establishment True Person wanted to make things difficult for an Outer Gate disciple.
Even finding a few reasons to kill him was not impossible!
No, I have to go to the Peak Selection Gathering a year from now too!
Lu Qingyang clenched his fist, secretly resolving himself!
He planned to break through his cultivation to late-stage Qi Refining within this year!
Only then could he participate in the Peak Selection a year later!
With that, he could seize the Foundation Establishment Pill and deal with Zhang Luanfeng!
At this thought, he no longer cultivated the Object-Commanding Art. He simply put away the Nightshade Shuttle and took out the Stainless Pill.
Just like that, he sat directly in the main hall and began cultivating…
Time flew by, and soon it was the next day.
Old Huang had not returned all night. Only at dawn did he noisily lead several disciples toward the Medicine Hall!
“Deacon! Deacon Lu! I’ve brought the people!”
Lu Qingyang, sitting cross-legged in the loft of the Deacon’s courtyard, heard Old Huang’s shout.
He slowly opened his eyes and walked out from the loft.
He saw several white-robed cultivators standing at an angle, staring at Lu Qingyang with doubtful looks, their eyes full of disdain and contempt.
“Old Huang, you dare mess with us!”
“We’ve long heard that the Medicine Hall got a new deacon who just entered the Outer Gate, but don’t tell me it’s him who knows a first-rank high-grade spell?”
“Exactly, Old Huang! We’ve also heard your deacon knows a high-grade Minor Rain-Cloud Art, but how can a hundred arts spell compare to a killing spell!”
“Old Huang, you have to give us an explanation today!”
“…”
After sensing Lu Qingyang’s aura, the several late-stage Qi Refining disciples became even more unrestrained in their mockery.
They were all around the seventh layer of Qi Refining, considerably higher than Old Huang.
So they did not put Lu Qingyang, this newly entered deacon, in their eyes at all.
Facing the doubt, Lu Qingyang’s expression did not change. He merely raised his right hand slightly and formed a seal.
Instantly, a thundercloud about a zhang long condensed from his hand!
At the same time, streaks of soaring radiance shot out in all directions from the thundercloud, forming wild thunder dragons that roared ceaselessly around him!
“Do you still want an explanation?”
Lu Qingyang’s expression was calm, but his voice contained a chilling coldness that inspired fear.
Seeing this, the few immediately fell silent, their faces filled with shock.
The Wind-Thunder Art was not some rare spell; it could be exchanged within the Spell Art Bureau.
But there were not many who could summon a thundercloud and instantly cast a spell.
At the same time, this also showed that Lu Qingyang had truly cultivated the Wind-Thunder Art to high grade!
No, perhaps not just high grade!
After all, spells had four levels, and the mark of the fourth and highest level was the ability to instantly cast spells.
Although Lu Qingyang could not be considered fully instant — he still needed to form hand seals — this speed was clearly not far from the top level!
How could this not shock everyone!
And Old Huang, watching the few with their foolish expressions, felt secretly pleased.
So he crossed his arms and spoke lazily.
“What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and come greet our Deacon.”
Hearing this, everyone immediately snapped to their senses and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Deacon Lu.”
“Greetings, Deacon Lu.”
“Greetings…”
The change in everyone’s attitude was considerable.
This was not their fault — who told Lu Qingyang to have no prior reputation.
Even if some knew he was skilled at farming, he was ultimately only mid-stage Qi Refining.
But now it was different.
Having cultivated a first-rank killing spell to high grade, Lu Qingyang now had the qualification to speak with them as equals.
After all, the power of a first-rank high-grade spell was no joke.
In terms of combat strength alone, Lu Qingyang was worth their respect. He could not be treated as an ordinary mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Moreover, this was only Lu Qingyang’s starting point. Given time, Lu Qingyang would surely surpass them!
In such a situation, how could they not be respectful to Lu Qingyang?
As for Lu Qingyang, his expression was indifferent, and he merely gave a slight nod.
He naturally understood that his display had reached the standard of recognition.
“I imagine you all understand from Old Huang.”
“My Medicine Hall needs manpower. Whether it is watering the medicinal fields or removing insects and pulling weeds, all require hands to watch over.”
“But… my Medicine Hall currently has no salary. We can only pay with spells.”
“Starting today, anyone who works at my Medicine Hall can observe the Wind-Thunder Art once a month.”
“And…”
At this point, Lu Qingyang deliberately paused.
Everyone immediately held their breath, eyes fixed intently on Lu Qingyang.
They did not mind whether the Medicine Hall had contribution points to give.
After all, the value of a first-rank high-grade spell was simply too great!
On ordinary days, with their monthly earnings, how could they possibly persuade those prodigies at the Spell Art Bureau to let them observe?
So being able to work at the Medicine Hall was simply a huge gain!
“And… the one who performs best can personally receive my spell instruction once a month!”
“Hiss!!!”
Lu Qingyang’s words were like a heavy bomb exploding in everyone’s ears.
The shock left them unable to recover for a long time!
Personal instruction!
This was personal instruction!
At the Spell Art Bureau, requesting a single personal instruction cost at least a hundred contribution points to start!
This… this was simply a heaven-sent opportunity!
“I’m willing to work at the Medicine Hall!”
“I’m willing too!”
“I’m willing too!”
“…”
After a brief silence, a clamor of discussion suddenly rose in the hall.
Lu Qingyang couldn’t help but smile.
“Since you’re all willing, then go find Old Huang to register. All of you start work today!”