Chapter 11

"Speak up, when did you cultivate inner breath and manage to defeat a disciple at the sixth level of the Condensing Breath Realm from the East Courtyard?"

A few days later, He Kongming, who had returned from Ancient Cang Mountain, casually sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, sipping tea.

Beside him, Chen Songtai scanned over with a smug look, making Li Chen appear uneasy, his heart full of malice.

Thinking that Li Chen was merely a slave by birth, after a trip to Ancient Cang Mountain, he not only obtained two top-tier human-grade martial techniques but also received treasures several times more valuable than his own. More importantly, he was favored by two disciples with limitless potential, which ignited a burning jealousy in his heart.

"R-r-reply, Senior Brother, i-it's..."

Li Chen shrank his neck, as if terrified.

"Don't be afraid, just tell me what happened, and I'll speak to the senior brothers in charge of recruiting named disciples to help you out!"

He Kongming frowned slightly.

"Senior Brother, this lowly slave has concealed his cultivation, harboring ill intentions. If he enters the sect, he will surely be a disaster. Perhaps he has some treasure that allowed him to reach the sixth level of the Condensing Breath Realm in such a short time. If Senior Brother obtains this treasure, you might even break through to the True Forging Realm and become an elite disciple!"

Chen Songtai was startled and immediately began to incite him without hesitation.

Hearing this, He Kongming's eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave him a cold look, making Chen Songtai shudder.

"Senior Brother, I am wronged! Over a month ago, after taking one of the pills from the batch of Dissolving Qi Pills that Senior Brother refined, I discovered that I could condense inner breath. Now, I am only at the second level of the Condensing Breath Realm.

You know, I am strong, and that Lu Senior Brother from the East Courtyard was just overconfident, which allowed me to exploit a weakness. If you don't believe me, you can ask Pang Senior Brother and Chu Senior Sister; they can vouch for me!

By the way, these are the two top-tier human-grade martial techniques I copied from Chu Senior Sister, which I want to offer to Senior Brother as a token of gratitude for your care these past few days!

It was actually Senior Brother Chen who asked me to hand over the martial techniques to him, saying that if I didn't, he would tell Senior Brother He, and I would get nothing."

Li Chen seemed startled, his stuttering gone, and he raised his head to cry out in injustice, babbling on. Finally, he slapped his forehead, pulled out two small booklets from his chest, and placed them in front of He Kongming.

In his heart, he hated Chen Songtai to the extreme. If it weren't for the matters of that night involving others, he would have spilled everything.

As for those Dissolving Qi Pills, he knew very well that they were toxic substances that could dissolve inner breath.

"Nonsense, you dog slave, you're lying..."

Chen Songtai jumped up and down, and if He Kongming hadn't been right there, he might have attacked Li Chen.

"Humph!"

He Kongming, being one of the inner gate geniuses, was not a fool. He knew Chen Songtai's skill in stirring up trouble, but his suspicion of Li Chen had not been dispelled. "Come over here!"

Li Chen was slightly stunned and stepped forward a few paces, only to feel his wrist tighten as He Kongming grabbed his pulse point.

Thump, thump, thump!

Li Chen felt his heart leap to his throat. Although he was confident that He Kongming's cultivation level was not enough to determine his true cultivation, he was worried that He Kongming's deep knowledge of medicine and the human body might reveal something.

"Indeed, you are at the second level of the Condensing Breath Realm. I wronged you!"

He Kongming channeled his inner breath to his fingertips, lightly touched the pulse point, felt the muscles twitch a few times, and then released his hand.

"Senior Brother He, your insight is remarkable, I am truly impressed!"

Li Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but he was also puzzled. How did he believe my fabricated cultivation level?

"Senior Brother He, he..."

Chen Songtai was immediately alarmed. If Li Chen hadn't lied, wouldn't it confirm his accusation? In a panic, he was about to reveal the truth.

But thinking of the treasures obtained that night, he glanced at He Kongming with a guilty look. He knew that if the truth came out, not only would Li Chen's treasures be confiscated by He Kongming, but his own would also have to be handed over.

In that case, the events of that night would be exposed, and the others would see him as a thorn in their side, making his life in Xuan Yun Sect unbearable.

"Leave. Don't mention this again. Li Chen, once you officially enter the sect, come to me. I will need you to test medicines, and you will benefit from it. With my alchemy skills, I can ensure your rapid progress!"

He Kongming waved his hand indifferently.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, I am willing to serve you with my life!"

Li Chen's face showed surprise, and he spouted flattering words without hesitation.

Chen Songtai dared not say more, gave him a fierce glare, and left the courtyard with him.

"Humph, I underestimated this lowly slave. He actually recognized the Dissolving Qi Pills. This matter must not be revealed. It seems... I cannot let the two of you live!"

He Kongming's face darkened as he scanned the empty courtyard, his gaze finally landing on the two small booklets on the stone table, a glint of joy in his eyes. "Top-tier human-grade martial techniques, not inferior to ordinary yellow-grade martial techniques. If I master them, the success rate of this matter will increase by thirty percent!"

...

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Li!"

On the mountain waist of Xuan Yun Sect, a group of young men and women in blue robes surrounded Li Chen, congratulating him nonstop. They were the same group who had gone to Ancient Cang Mountain, though a few were missing.

"Congratulations for what? This kid is just bullying children!"

Pang Wenshan, dressed in blue, had already entered the inner gate, and he patted Li Chen's shoulder roughly.

"Hehe!"

Li Chen grinned, scratching his head. Thinking of the competition where a child around eleven or twelve years old cried because he couldn't hit him, he couldn't help but smile.

"Junior Brother Li, you are almost fifteen. You must enter the outer gate soon, or you will be permanently listed as a named disciple!"

Chu Ziyun, who had regained her cold demeanor, advised him.

"I know, that day won't be far off!"

Li Chen clenched his fist. The reason he concealed his true cultivation was to avoid drawing attention. Anyone would know that reaching the sixth level of the Condensing Breath Realm in just over a month was astonishing.

At that time, there would be no end to the trouble.

Even to those who treated him well, he only said that as a medicine slave, his physical body had been tempered by various pills, and he had only reached the second level of inner breath.

It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but everyone has secrets, and once revealed, the trouble they bring is unbearable.

"Not bad, not bad. You, a mere medicine slave, have made me look at you differently!"

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out, causing everyone to glare, but their faces quickly turned pale, and they shrank back.

Li Yuerong and a tall woman in white slowly approached.

"Guardian Disciple!"

Pang Wenshan whispered.

In Xuan Yun Sect, besides named, outer gate, inner gate, and elite disciples, those who exceeded the age limit often joined the law enforcement or guardian disciples.

Law enforcement disciples wore black, while guardian disciples wore white without fail.

Seeing the golden thread on the woman's collar, it was clear she was a True Forging Realm guardian disciple.

The group of young men and women felt the pressure intensify in her presence.

"Miss!"

Li Chen's pupils constricted, and he involuntarily bent down.

The newcomer was none other than Li Yueqing, the eldest daughter of the Li family's head.

At that moment, the joy of entering the sect vanished without a trace.