Wi Feng returned to his cave dispiritedly. He finally escaped with a bruised face.
After this incident, he closed his cave's door to any visitor. He cultivated diligently for the next three months in the sealed cave.
Meanwhile, the rumor of what happened in the forest had spread in the Outer Hall. Many female disciples were angry, but it was the opposite for the male disciples.
Other than those that had reached puberty and given a task to get close to Song Shui Lan by their clan or sect, there are those that held admiration towards her.
These people were angry when they heard the rumors. But the majority of the boys gave four thumbs up to Wu Feng.
'Brother, you are too awesome! Teasing and defeating Song Shui Lian and the other female disciples alone. What gal!'
The elders of the Outer Hall also knew about the matter, but they did not dwell on the matter.
First, it was good for them to have healthy competition. As long as no one dies or sect rules are not breached, fighting against fellow disciples is good for their development.
Secondly, all Qi Condensation real cultivators are not much different from martial artists. The division between each level did not matter much as long as they were not too far apart. The elders did not have any interest in such a low level battle.
What difference is there between 100 kg punch with 300 kg punch if the punch did not connect? There are many ways to defeat stronger people as long as the gap is not too far apart.
Only starting at Foundation Establishment realm that fighting crossing realm starts to be more difficult. Foundation Establishment cultivators and above can use qi more freely, they can use their qi to protect their body. Without sufficient strength, it is difficult to harm their body.
Wu Feng cultivated the Art of Breathing Manual diligently. Every day from morning after late night he only stopped for daily necessities.
Apparently he felt the need to increase his strength after experiencing how difficult it was to face fifth level Qi Condensation realm cultivator. He might only be able to reach a draw against one of Song Shui Lian's guards if he fights tooth and nail.
After three months, with the help of the pills from Pilgrim Mountain Sect, he finally broke through to the fourth level Qi Condensation realm.
Wu Feng exhaled a breath of turbid air. He slowly opened his eyes and examined his body.
"Hahaha, finally the fourth level of Qi Condensation realm! The pills from the sect really are much better from the pills I get in the clan. No wonder father and mother wanted me to enter the South Pilgrim Sect."
He washed his body, put on clean clothes then went out for a breather. He seeks Wu Yong and Wu Leng Jing with a cheerful mood.
"Ah Yong, you there?" He knocked on Wu Yong's cave loudly.
Not long, the door we're opened slowly.
"Ah Feng, I thought you were too embarrassed to come out?"
Wu Yong appeared with a wide grin. He knew Wu Feng suffered a beating after teasing Song Shui Lian and the others.
"Hmph, just a small matter. What is there to be embarrassed? They gang up on me when I am not ready."
With a harumph, Wu Feng entered the cave.
Wu Yong only snickered. "Hehe... If you say so."
He then formally bowed, this time with sincerity and serious manner.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, young master."
Wu Feng stopped in his track. He turned around and replied the salute, but he didn't need to bow.
"Thank you, brother. It was just a stroke of luck that I can quickly- hmm...?"
He answered with a smug feeling even though he did not show it, but then his expression froze.
"You... What level are you now?"
Wu Yong answered sincerely, "fourth level."
"This brat!" Wu Feng cursed loudly. He slapped Wu Yong's forehead.
"I thought I am already ahead! Don't congratulate me then! How misleading!"
Wu Yong rubbed his head with a wronged expression on his face.
"Hey, people sincerely congratulate you but this is your response?! It seems that your body is itchy after cultivating for too long, young master!"
With that he pounced towards his young master without politeness at all.
They brawled for a while until they laid down exhaustedly on the floor.
"Oh, you are here too." Wu Leng Jing walked in, unfazed by their brawling habit.
Wu Feng raised his head up only to laid it down again. "Damn it. Fourth level too. It seems my spiritual roots are really slow. Even though my cultivation technique is peerless!"
Wu Yong scoffed in disdain, "what peerless cultivation technique? It is a miracle you could even cultivate it without falling asleep."
"Actually, if you want to increase it faster I know a way." Wu Leng Jing chimed in. He dragged a chair then sat on it. With a calm movement he poured a tea which he drank slowly.
Wu Feng became spirited when heard it. He swiftly rose up to take a sit then poured tea to Wu Leng Jing after he finished drinking his first cup.
"What way? Quick, brother. Tell me!"
Wu Leng Jing repeated his calm movement to sip the tea. His refined movement perfectly resembled a scholar. He drank his tea unhurriedly, as if nothing in the world can move him.
Wu Feng became irritated watching at him, but he smiled amiably, teapot ready in hand.
After savoring his tea, Wu Leng Jing glanced nonchalantly at Wi Feng. "My shoulder feels stiff, it is tiring holding books all day to read them."
Wu Feng rushed behind him immediately. With a smile, he placed his hands on Wu Leng Jing's shoulder.
"Brother Leng, you are really a role model among our sect disciples. You have to treasure your body more. Let brother give you a massage."
Wu Leng Jing nodded. "Mm... This is comfortable." He took another sip before taking out a book from his qiankun pouch.
Then he started reading.
Wu Feng massaged him for a while but Wu Leng Jing stayed silent, absorbed in his book. From time to time he sipped his tea.
Wu Yong who already took a sit only looked with an incredulous expression. What is this unreal scene? Is Wu Leng Jing the young master or Wu Feng the young master?
After quite a while Wu Feng felt his hands going sore. He carefully asked,
"Err... Brother Leng? What about the method?"
Wu Leng Jing was snapped out from his reading. "Oh, right."
Wu Feng swallowed his irritation and waited for him to speak.
Wu Leng Jing continued, "actually elder Wu Shuang wanted to personally tell you this, but you were in secluded cultivation, so he entrusted me this message instead."
Wu Feng put more strength into his hands. "Tell me sooner then! Why I have to massage you!"
Wu Leng Jing squirmed his shoulder away, "no one told you to massage me."
"Hahaha..." Wu Yong laughed.
"Alright, spill it out! What is his message?"
Wu Leng Jing cleared his throat before he answered, "elder Wu Shuang said that at Qi Condensation realm the cultivation speed one with True Five Element spiritual roots will only be slowed down a little, so you do not need to be anxious.
But if you wanted to cultivate faster you could try to refine five spiritual fruits from five different elements."
"I am sure you already know about this, so you could take them from the sect's medicinal garden. But you would need contribution points. Elder Wu Shuang can not use his contribution points to give you those spirit fruits. It was the sect's rule after all."
Wu Feng nodded. There was a rule that states an elder could not use their contribution points to exchange with resources for their clan members.
After all if it was allowed, those elders would try to monopolize the resources for their clan members. The sect would then reduced to become a resource farm for the powerful clans.
"It was alright. I will slowly accumulate contribution points then. It looks like I have to give Outer Mission Hall a visit."
Wu Leng Jing nodded. "Right, sooner or later we have to take a mission. Each Qi Condensation realm has to take at least one mission every year."
"Alright, let's go then!" Wu Yong slapped the table. His face was beamed with excitement.
"I wonder what kind of mission we would take? Hunting some demonic cultivators?"
Wu Leng Jing shook his head.
"We can not take any fighting mission yet. Our cultivation is still very low. At most, they would assign missions to assist in medicine garden, rearing spirit beasts, or other trivial tasks."
Wu Yong leaned back on his chair. The excitement on his face had faded away. "How boring."
Wu Leng Jing said again, "don't underestimate those missions. Even though they seemed simple, I heard from the elder those missions can be dangerous."
"Oh?" Wu Feng's interest we're piqued. Before he could ask Wu Leng Jing already stood up and walked to the door.
"Come on, no use pondering over it. We'll take a look at the missions first." He beckoned.