On Lin Feng's end, his deliberate avoidance of Di Xuan and the others wasn't out of fear, but purely because he didn't want to get entangled. Explaining today's events would have been troublesome, and he had no desire to waste his breath.
He naturally understood the saying 'you can hide on the first day of the month, but not the fifteenth.' However, postponing the confrontation was preferable. It gave him the evening to devise a proper explanation.
After cultivating with the Thunder Crane for a while, Lin Feng returned to his dwelling that evening. He didn't practice cultivation but instead focused on preparing his state of mind for the next day's crucial first lesson in pill refining.
...
Early the next morning, Lin Feng arrived at the large hall within the South Hall specifically designated for 'lessons.' Besides him, the other twenty-plus new disciples were also present.
The group waited in the hall for a while when several more figures entered the doorway. The low murmurs among the new disciples ceased immediately, replaced by eager enthusiasm as they surged forward to greet them. Chorus of "Senior Brother Di!" filled the air.
It was indeed Di Xuan, the senior disciple of the South Hall, accompanied by a few other senior disciples. Xue Ziqi, as ever, shadowed Di Xuan like a faithful attendant.
"Lin Feng!! Senior Brother Di! That Lin Feng punk is over there!!"
Amidst the group of new disciples, Lin Feng was the only one who hadn't risen to 'welcome' them. Sitting alone, detached from the crowd, he stood out conspicuously. Xue Ziqi spotted him instantly, a cold smirk twisting her lips as she immediately reported to Di Xuan beside her.
A cold glint also flashed in Di Xuan's eyes. He immediately looked towards Lin Feng and started to turn in his direction.
"Elder Zhou is coming! Elder Zhou is here!"
Just then, a surprised exclamation rang out from the back of the crowd. Di Xuan halted mid-step, a slight frown creasing his brow. Abandoning his path towards Lin Feng, he turned back to see Zhou Xiantai entering. Not daring to show any disrespect, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet the elder.
Xue Ziqi sighed inwardly, shot Lin Feng a venomous glare, but followed Di Xuan towards Zhou Xiantai.
With Zhou Xiantai's arrival, Lin Feng couldn't very well ignore him either. He rose and walked towards the gathering, albeit positioning himself at the very back of the crowd, merely going through the motions. Unlike the others jostling to display their utmost reverence before the elder, he kept his distance.
"Brother Lin Feng!!"
Lin Feng wasn't paying much attention to the front when a clear, joyful voice suddenly called out. A cute little girl in a crimson miniature Daoist robe wriggled through the crowd. It was Xia Xin, whom he hadn't seen for two months.
"Xin'er? You're here too?" Lin Feng's face brightened with genuine pleasure as he smiled. "How have you been these past two months? Have you settled in okay?"
Xia Xin grinned and nodded vigorously. "Mm-hmm! It's great! Master is super nice to me! He's taught me loads of things! I'm already at Qi Refining Layer Three! Hehe, I guess I'm finally an immortal too!"
"You've already reached Qi Refining Layer Three?" Lin Feng was inwardly astonished. It had only been two months, and Xia Xin, starting from a mortal with no cultivation background, had already advanced to Qi Refining Layer Three. The reputation of her Peerless Grade Spiritual Root was clearly well-founded. He vividly remembered his own start; it had taken him a solid two or three months just to grasp the 'Qi sensation', and a whole year to reach Qi Refining Layer One… Of course, this also depended on the cultivation technique and resources. As Zhou Xiantai's personal disciple, Xia Xin undoubtedly enjoyed the best resources, something the Lin Feng of the past couldn't compare to. Yet, looking at the several other mortal disciples who had entered the sect alongside her two months prior, they had only just reached Qi Refining Layer One. This stark difference highlighted just how crucial Spiritual Root aptitude truly was.
"Brother Lin Feng, where are you stationed now? Why haven't you come to see me?" While Lin Feng was privately marveling, Xia Xin pouted, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and dissatisfaction.
Lin Feng offered a wry smile. "I've been assigned to work at the Spirit Beast Garden on the back mountain. I've been quite busy lately, so I didn't have the time to visit..." He didn't voice the other reason: Xia Xin, as the esteemed personal disciple of an Elder, resided within the Inner Sect quarters atop the mountain peak. He, a mere newly admitted Outer Sect disciple, likely couldn't just casually visit her there.
"Oh, I see..." Xia Xin nodded in understanding. "I've been super busy too! Master doesn't even let me go out much. When I get some free time later, I'll come find you on the back mountain!"
Lin Feng chuckled softly. "Haha, alright then. When you come, I'll take you to see the monstrous beasties..."
"Xin'er, come here."
At that moment, a calm voice cut in from the side. Zhou Xiantai had reached the front and was now looking back towards them.
"Your master is calling you, Xin'er. Go on." Lin Feng urged gently.
"Oh..." Xia Xin clearly longed to talk more with Lin Feng but dared not disobey her master's summons. Reluctantly, she obeyed and walked over to Zhou Xiantai.
With Zhou Xiantai present, Di Xuan and Xue Ziqi also couldn't trouble Lin Feng further. They respectfully followed behind the elder.
...
Zhou Xiantai walked to a meditation cushion positioned at the very end of the hall. He gestured casually towards the others. Everyone promptly settled onto the rows of cushions arranged below. Di Xuan and the other senior disciples took the front row, while Lin Feng, not competing for position, discreetly chose the very last cushion on the right-hand side.
Sweeping his gaze over the assembled disciples, Zhou Xiantai began in a clear, measured tone. "I am aware of your progress throughout these past two months. You have not disappointed me. Originally, today was to include the final assessment on the foundational theories of the Alchemy Path." He paused slightly. "I shall waive it. Instead, I will personally instruct you in your very first lesson on actual pill refining. After today, you may begin attempting to refine pills yourselves. In two months, there will be an assessment. Anyone unable to refine a complete pill by then will be expelled from the Lingyue Sect!"
The news of the waived theory assessment and Zhou Xiantai himself conducting the first practical lesson initially thrilled the new disciples. However, the subsequent threat of expulsion sent a jolt of fear through them. All conversation ceased instantly as nervous tension replaced excitement. Every disciple focused intently, ready to absorb every word.
Lin Feng, too, felt his spirits lift and concentrated fully on listening.
Without further preamble, Zhou Xiantai delved into the principles of the Alchemy Path. Although he started with the most fundamental concepts, his explanation felt vastly different from when Di Xuan had lectured. Zhou Xiantai's words were profoundly clearer and easier to grasp.
As the lecture progressed, Zhou Xiantai introduced increasingly complex and profound concepts. Finally, he reached the practical aspects of pill refining. To demonstrate, he instructed Di Xuan to publicly refine a batch of Grade 1 pills, allowing everyone present to observe the process firsthand.
......
...
Every single disciple listened with rapt attention, forgetting the passage of time entirely. From morning through noon and well into the afternoon, not a single mind wandered or lost focus.
It wasn't until mid-afternoon, around three or four o'clock, that Zhou Xiantai finally announced the conclusion of the day's lesson.
Following this, the senior disciples began distributing items. Each new disciple received a storage ring. Inside each ring was a basic pill furnace and a selection of common spirit herbs. From this day forward, these disciples could commence their practical attempts at pill refining. They would receive periodic allotments of basic herbs for practice. Acquiring additional or rarer herbs, however, would require their own initiative and resourcefulness.
As the session officially ended, the disciples gradually began to disperse. Excitement buzzed among many, eager to rush back and try applying their newly acquired knowledge.
Lin Feng had hoped to exchange a few more words with Xia Xin. Seeing her summoned before Zhou Xiantai for what seemed to be a private conversation, he waited for a few moments. When it became clear she wouldn't be free soon, he gave up and turned to leave the hall.
Spotting Lin Feng depart, Xue Ziqi immediately shot a look towards Di Xuan. Caught in the midst of receiving instructions from Zhou Xiantai, Di Xuan couldn't possibly leave. He gave Xue Ziqi a meaningful glance. Understanding immediately, Xue Ziqi broke away and hurried after Lin Feng.
"Lin Feng!!"
Exiting the hall, Lin Feng didn't linger with the others. He started walking alone towards the back mountain. However, he hadn't gotten far when a voice called out sharply.
Turning, Lin Feng saw Xue Ziqi striding towards him, her expression hostile. Frowning slightly, Lin Feng asked, "What do you want?"
"Humph! Lin Feng, don't play dumb with me!" Xue Ziqi snapped, her anger flaring at his indifferent tone. "I've no idea what trick you used to curry favour with that Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane, managing to hitch a ride on it. But don't get cocky!" Her voice hardened. "You took those Pi-Luo Vines yesterday from the mountain, didn't you?! Hand them over nicely, if you know what's good for you. Otherwise, if Senior Brother Di Xuan gets really displeased... you'll bitterly regret it!"
"Pi-Luo Vines?" Lin Feng chuckled lightly, feigning ignorance. "Apologies, I have no idea what you're talking about. Which eye of yours saw me take any vines?"
"You!!" Xue Ziqi's face flushed with anger. "Lin Feng! Don't be ungrateful! Do you truly dare disregard Senior Brother Di like this?"
"I respect him as my senior brother," Lin Feng stated coolly, "but that doesn't mean I'll grovel at his feet. Even if I did possess Pi-Luo Vines," he shrugged dismissively, "that would be my own business. What concern is it of yours?" He made to move past her. "I have matters to attend to. I won't keep you."
"Lin Feng! You..." Xue Ziqi spluttered.
"Xue Ziqi!" Lin Feng's eyes suddenly flashed with a dangerous cold light as he fixed his gaze on her. "My patience has limits. It's best you stop bothering me... Otherwise..." His voice dropped, low and threatening. "...be careful you end up needing to wear false teeth to eat!"
"You... you..." Xue Ziqi stammered, momentarily stunned by the overt threat.
"And don't think I'm unaware of your little schemes," Lin Feng continued, his voice icy. "These past two months, the amount of scrap pills you've delivered from the South Hall has consistently been the lowest. The reason why... we both know exactly why." He leaned in slightly. "Do you want me to report this matter upstairs? Let the higher-ups investigate?"
"You... I..." Xue Ziqi's voice faltered, choked by fear and surprise.
Lin Feng's accusation struck a nerve. While she knew reporting the scrap pill issue might not lead to definitive proof, her conscience, plagued by guilt, made her hesitate and shrink back. Frozen in place, she could only watch, utterly flustered, as Lin Feng turned and walked away without another word. She made no move to stop him.