"It seems you've truly grown up..."
The Ji Chen before him appeared so unfamiliar to Ji Xiaotian. Could it be that this experience truly awakened his son, prompting him to turn over a new leaf?
"Your cultivation... has broken through?"
In his relief, Ji Xiaotian finally noticed the aura surrounding Ji Chen, clearly indicating he had reached the Ninth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm.
"A lucky breakthrough," Ji Chen nodded.
"Good, good, good!"
Ji Xiaotian was overjoyed. At this moment, he truly seemed to witness a transformation in Ji Chen.
For so many years, he had worried endlessly about his son. Coupled with the decline of Lingyun Sect, he had grown numerous gray hairs.
"Regarding the gamble with the Purple Cloud Sect... in ten years, our Lingyun Sect is destined to disperse, but before that, as your father, I will provide you with all the resources you need for cultivation. Go back and cultivate well. I hope that even without the sect's protection in the future, you can peacefully live out your life. That would be the greatest comfort for me."
...
Ultimately, Ji Chen left the main hall.
Before he left, Ji Xiaotian gave him many spirit stones, numbering over a hundred.
One must know, ordinary disciples of Lingyun Sect could only receive two spirit stones a month from the sect, illustrating what a vast amount a hundred represented.
This amount could last a cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm, or even the Vein Condensation Realm, for a month or two.
Ji Chen did not immediately return to his residence but instead walked towards the back mountain of Lingyun Sect.
Along the way, many disciples pointed and whispered about him.
Evidently, the incident in the main hall had already spread among them.
Ji Chen had wagered the future of Lingyun Sect on a gamble with Purple Cloud Sect that seemed bound to fail.
In the eyes of all the disciples, this was an unacceptable act.
Ultimately, Lingyun Sect was going to be destroyed by this profligate Young Sect Leader!
"Ji Chen!"
On a quiet path, Ji Chen walked alone when suddenly a figure appeared ahead.
It was a young man in purple, looking furious and marching towards Ji Chen.
Song Chengyuan!
Like Fang Qingyao, he was also a direct disciple of Ji Xiaotian.
He had joined Lingyun Sect since childhood and grew up with Ji Chen.
However, the two had always had conflicts since they were young, often resulting in fights.
"What do you want?" Ji Chen looked at him and spoke calmly.
Song Chengyuan was used to this attitude from Ji Chen. He snorted coldly and said, "You actually gambled the future of Lingyun Sect, Ji Chen, do you know what you're doing?!"
"Of course I know exactly what I'm doing. Unlike some people who appear to be thinking of the sect, but behind the scenes, have secretly colluded with the Celestial Profound Sect," Ji Chen said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Song Chengyuan's expression changed immediately, "What do you mean by that?"
Ji Chen sneered, "Don't think I don't know. A few days ago, when I was attacked in Yang City by people from the Celestial Profound Sect, they were the ones you brought in, weren't they?"
"Originally, considering my profligate nature, the position of the next Sect Leader was unlikely to fall to me. If nothing unexpected happened, you and Senior Sister Fang were the most formidable contenders. But to prevent any surprises, you remained uneasy, so you colluded with people from the Celestial Profound Sect to attack me in Yang City."
"Did I say anything wrong?"
"In order to inherit the so-called position of Sect Leader, you have already started targeting me. I fear it won't be long before Senior Sister Fang suffers from your schemes as well. Song Chengyuan, do you really think you're so clever that you can deceive everyone?"
"You... you're talking nonsense!"
Hearing Ji Chen's words, Song Chengyuan became flustered.
He never anticipated that this matter would be exposed.
How did this profligate discover it?
In fact, the former Ji Chen would never have guessed these things.
But now, he was no longer the profligate he once was.
Song Chengyuan, after all, was just a young man. Even if he had some skills, his actions were full of flaws.
Ji Chen only needed to recall the incidents around his attack in Yang City to deduce that it had something to do with Song Chengyuan.
Back then, it was Song Chengyuan who invited him to drink in Yang City.
But later, he did not show up and sent a note saying he had other urgent matters.
"Rest assured, I won't rush to tell my father. However, as the Young Sect Leader, eliminating traitors is within my responsibilities. Song Chengyuan, from today onwards, you should be more careful."
Ji Chen patted his shoulder and left a remark before leaving with big strides.
"Just you, this profligate?"
Watching his departing figure, Song Chengyuan couldn't help but sneer.
Moreover, he wasn't afraid of Ji Chen reporting him because without solid evidence, Song Chengyuan was confident that Ji Xiaotian wouldn't believe this profligate's unilateral claims.
...
The back mountain of Lingyun Sect.
Ji Chen arrived here.
As far as the eye could see, there was a not-too-large courtyard.
Inside and outside the courtyard were numerous flowers and herbs, all of which were used for alchemy.
This was the 'Pill Pavilion', the residence of Elder Li.
His full name was Li Huayuan, a Second Grade Alchemist and also an Honored Guest Elder of Lingyun Sect.
An Honored Guest Elder is someone not bound by sect rules.
Simply put, Lingyun Sect had spent a great deal to invite the person to perform alchemy.
The relationship between the two parties was more of a transaction, hence the title of Honored Guest Elder.
Ji Chen arrived at the courtyard entrance, the faint scent of medicine wafting in the air.
"Young Sect Leader?"
Inside the courtyard, a disciple noticed Ji Chen's arrival. He opened the gate and pretended to politely salute Ji Chen, although in his heart he held great contempt for this profligate.
His name was Wang Ping, just an ordinary disciple of Lingyun Sect, assigned to the Pill Pavilion to tend to the spirit grasses inside and outside the courtyard for Elder Li, serving as a Medicine Boy.
Do not underestimate his position as a Medicine Boy, for in Lingyun Sect, this identity was envied by many disciples.
After all, being able to stay by Elder Li's side, a Second Grade Alchemist, was a position many aspired to.
"Is Elder Li here?" Ji Chen asked before casually strolling into the courtyard.
Wang Ping did not stop him. As the Young Sect Leader, Ji Chen had the right to freely enter and exit the Pill Pavilion.
"Elder Li went to Yang City early this morning and probably won't return until tomorrow morning. What business does the Young Sect Leader have at the Pill Pavilion?"
"Nothing much, just visiting to ask Elder Li for help in refining some elixirs," Ji Chen said.
Initially, he considered asking Elder Li to refine a Body Tempering Pill for him, but then he decided to do it himself.
On one hand, his current level of spiritual power was sufficient to refine a Body Tempering Pill.
On the other hand, with his past life's expertise in the Alchemy Dao, Ji Chen was confident that the Body Tempering Pill he would refine himself would far surpass an ordinary one in terms of effectiveness and other aspects.