Chapter 18 - Can't You Try Something New?

Pang San's words were indeed a kind reminder, but Qi Ming's situation was different from everyone else. Moreover, finding a backer was not so simple.

In fact, the meaning behind Pang San's words was that he hoped that Qi Ming could display outstanding strength and talent in the upcoming Outer Sect Assessment and make the sect elders take a fancy to him and take him in as a disciple. In this way, he would have a backer in the sect.

However, Mu Qing was already dead. Qi Ming did not want to participate in the next Outer Sect Assessment. He only wanted to stay in the sect and be an ordinary outer sect disciple, quietly cultivating.

As for other things, he would avoid them if he could.

What could be more comfortable than AFK Farming?

Nothing!

At noon, Qi Ming returned to his residence.

"Charge 1,700 low-grade spirit stones and use them to cultivate the Green Cloud Qi Refinement Art."

Qi Ming said, "Enter the game dungeon Gloomy Swamp."

By evening, the Green Cloud Peak had already completely investigated the matter of 'Mu Qing' and 'Blood Lotus Demoness' and spread the exact details of this matter in the servant quarters.

First, the Blood Lotus Demoness was a demoness who cultivated the Demon Dao of Love, one of the Thirteen Demon Dao of the Myriad Demon Cave. Her cultivation level was profound and had already reached the late-stage Core Formation realm.

Moreover, Mu Qing died ten years ago. He died in the hands of the Blood Lotus Demoness. After his corpse was destroyed, his entire skin was peeled off and refined into a disguise.

The Blood Lotus Demoness had disguised herself as Mu Qing for a full ten years.

It could be said that if not for Qi Ming, the Blood Lotus Demoness could have continued hiding.

In the D-Class Servant Quarters, a fair-skinned child arrived. He stood outside Qi Ming's residence without any expression and said, "Master wants you to come with me."

"You are?" Qi Ming frowned.

The child replied, "My master is the new First Elder of the Green Cloud Peak. You'll know when you arrive. Don't waste time, follow me."

"Sure." Qi Ming pondered for a moment before nodding and leaving with this child. Ye Dun and the others watched, but they did not dare to say anything.

In the surroundings, many servant disciples looked over.

"Qi Ming has been taken away again."

"I heard that it's the new Servant Quarters' First Elder."

"They came so quickly."

"Of course, because tomorrow is the Outer Sect Assessment."

The servant disciples conversed softly.

Half an hour later, Qi Ming followed the child to their destination. It was Mu Qing's courtyard. There were a few servants tidying and cleaning it. Now, it had already become the courtyard of the new Servant Quarters' First Elder.

"Please come in." The child gestured.

Qi Ming nodded. After all, he had been here once, so he was quite familiar with it. When he arrived at the guest hall, he met the new Servant Quarters' First Elder.

However, in the guest hall, this new Servant Quarters' First Elder had his back facing Qi Ming. Qi Ming originally thought that it would be an elderly man, but he did not expect it to be a middle-aged man.

At this moment, this new Servant Quarters' First Elder was currently looking at a painting of the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Rain. He was very engrossed in it and seemed to not even notice Qi Ming's arrival.

Qi Ming stood on the spot and did not move much, nor did he say anything to disturb him.

Time passed.

Half an hour later.

"Not bad."

The new Servant Quarters' First Elder nodded, turned around, and looked at Qi Ming. His tone was slightly praising as he said, "Your disposition is not bad. You're able to keep your cool."

"Sit." The new elder raised his hand.

"Thank you, First Elder." Qi Ming returned the greeting and sat on the seat beside him.

"Call me Elder Feng." The new Servant Quarters' First Elder said.

"Yes, Elder Feng." Qi Ming answered.

Elder Feng sized Qi Ming up a few times and said, "I called you over this time mainly to ask you a few things. Don't be too nervous."

Qi Ming nodded. "Elder Feng, please ask. I will definitely not dare to hide anything."

Elder Feng smiled as he asked, "A few days ago, the Blood Lotus Demoness disguised as Mu Qing summoned you alone. What did she talk to you about? From the beginning to the end, tell me in detail."

Qi Ming replied, "I was summoned by the Demon Sect Demoness a few days ago because I discovered that there were Demon Sect spies in the Green Cloud Peak. When she found out that my cultivation had already reached the fifth level Qi Refinement realm, she hoped that I could participate in the outer sect disciples to restore the reputation of the Green Cloud Peak and make a name for it."

"However, I've always liked to keep a low profile and am only willing to cultivate in silence. I don't want to participate in any trivial matters. Because of that, the Demon Sect Demoness threatened to label me as a spy if I did not comply. In addition, she gave me a thousand low-grade spirit stones and a movement spell, Nine Spirit Illusion Steps."

"I have no choice but to participate in the Outer Sect Assessment."

"You're already at the fifth level Qi Refinement realm."

Elder Feng looked a little surprised.

"I don't dare to lie." Qi Ming said.

"How's the cultivation of the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps?" Elder Feng asked again.

"Not bad," Qi Ming said, "I've already reached the Outstanding realm."

Elder Feng was even more surprised. He carefully sized up Qi Ming a few times. "You've only obtained the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps for a few days, but you've already reached the level of Outstanding?"

Qi Ming nodded.

"Show me." Elder Feng said solemnly.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

As soon as they finished speaking, Qi Ming used the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps. His figure was agile like layers of illusions. After taking nine steps, he walked back and forth in the guest hall very smoothly.

"You are at the mastery level of Outstanding indeed."

Elder Feng was indeed surprised, "I didn't expect such a genius to be buried in the Green Cloud Peak's servant quarters. You were only discovered now. Moreover, the first person to be discovered was the demoness from the Demon Sect."

"That bunch of trash from the Heaven Enlightenment Assembly actually missed such a genius. They're really a bunch of useless trash."

Qi Ming lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

This Elder Feng's identity might not be simple.

Those who could preside over the Heaven Enlightenment Assembly were all sect elders, and Elder Feng was only the Servant Quarters' First Elder. Logically speaking, how could he dare to speak ill of those sect elders like this? If these sect elders accidentally heard this, they would definitely find trouble with Elder Feng.

This meant that Elder Feng was not afraid of those sect elders at all. His status and cultivation would only be higher and stronger than those sect elders.

He was naturally not simple.

"Cough cough."

Elder Feng coughed lightly and realized that he had let slip. He said, "Qi Ming, do you know the origins of the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps?"

"This disciple does not know, please enlighten me." Qi Ming humbly asked for guidance.

"Although the Nine Steps of Spirit Illusion is only a top-grade Qi Refinement realm spell, it is one of the foundational spells of the Holy Spirit Technique, which is one of the Thirteen Demon Dao, the Demon Dao of Life. Apart from the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps, there are also eight other top-grade Qi Refinement realm spells. After successfully cultivating all of them, one can condense the Holy Spirit Origin Seal and establish the Holy Spirit Dao Foundation to cultivate the Demon Dao of Life."

"This…"

Qi Ming was shocked. "First Elder, I don't know anything about this. I don't know that the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps is actually a Foundation Establishment cultivation method of the Demon Dao. If I knew, I would definitely not have learned it."

Elder Feng smiled, "Don't worry, I know this well. Therefore, I won't pursue the matter of you cultivating the Nine Spirit Illusion Steps. Not only that, I will also grant you another spell."

"Thank you, Elder Feng." Qi Ming bowed.

"However…" Elder Feng continued, "You must participate in the next Outer Sect Assessment and enter the Heavenly Chief Mystic Realm. Moreover, you must obtain an excellent result."

"Otherwise, I'll have to interrogate you properly."

Qi Ming was stunned for a moment before he reacted. He looked at the faint smile on Elder Feng's face and was speechless in his mind, 'Wait… isn't this… You old foxes, old thieves, can't you change a new trick? You're doing the same thing?!'

Could it be that he was also a spy from the Demon Sect?!