Chapter 30

"Must I go even further?" Wang Lin, in order to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, was prepared to go all out. He wanted to see just how far these Senior Apprentices would go!

Privately, in the hearts of the named disciples, Wang Lin was no longer just a "waste" and "shameless." He had gained a new nickname: "Blackheart Wang"!

Compared to the nickname "Weasel" given to the young man surnamed Liu, this was a significant step up in terms of status.

After a year of cultivation in the dream, the spiritual energy in Wang Lin’s body had nearly reached several times its previous level. The first layer of the Qi Condensation stage had reached its limit. No matter how much he practiced breathing techniques, the spiritual energy would not increase any further. So one night, he began to try the incantation to open the second layer.

After several consecutive failures, his efforts finally paid off. He successfully broke through the first layer of the Qi Condensation stage and entered the second layer.

A large amount of black grease appeared in the pores of his body again. After washing it off, Wang Lin looked at his reflection in the water. His eyes were as bright as lightning, and he seemed different from before.

He touched his chin and thought to himself, "I only have the incantation for the third layer of the Qi Condensation stage. If I go to Sun Dazhu to ask for the next one, and he finds out I’ve reached the second layer, he will definitely ask why. If I can’t explain it, it might bring me trouble."

After thinking for a long time, he couldn’t come up with a good idea, and Wang Lin couldn’t help but frown.

Sighing, he practiced the Gravity Technique for a while. In the past year in the dream, he had managed to succeed eight or nine times out of ten. Given this, Wang Lin decided to increase his training intensity. He found a large stone in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and used the Gravity Technique to control it.

Time passed quickly, and another month went by. Wang Lin’s antics in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had caused the named disciples to grumble, but with winter approaching, the sect began to prepare for the year-end competition among the inner disciples.

Additionally, this year was the once-a-decade competition for named disciples to advance, with the top three gaining the qualification to become inner disciples. All the named disciples were eagerly preparing, each with their own plans.

Thus, the matters in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall were put on hold, with no one paying attention.

Wang Lin was quite disappointed. He had no intention of participating in the inner disciples’ competition. It would be more practical to enter the dream for cultivation.

One day, the entire Hengyue Sect was blanketed in heavy snow. Large, fluffy snowflakes fell from the sky, turning the landscape into a silver world, a thousand miles of ice and ten thousand miles of snow.

Wang Lin did not cultivate but stood quietly in the courtyard. The Gravity Technique followed his will, as if an invisible hand was causing ripples around him. The snowflakes scattered around his body, not a single one landing on him.

Looking in the direction of his hometown, at this time of year, his parents would usually have a warm stove burning at home.

He would sit by the stove reading, his father would be making wooden carvings with his tools, and his mother would be busy storing pickled vegetables.

Sometimes, when he was tired of reading, he would sit next to his father and watch him make wooden carvings. When he was in a good mood, he would even help, and the father-son bond was warm and harmonious.

Besides that, Wang Lin remembered that under his bed, there were some wooden tops that he would sometimes take out to play with his neighbors on the ice.

Thinking of these things, Wang Lin couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Cultivators must sever their ties to the mundane world. These things were attachments that hindered cultivation. Wang Lin closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear. Although he couldn’t be completely detached, he deeply buried these memories in his heart.

Just as he was lost in thought, his expression changed slightly. Now at the second layer of the Qi Condensation stage, he had developed a divine sense, a natural ability of cultivators, which was described in detail in the third chapter of the Qi Condensation.

Using his divine sense, he detected Wang Hao approaching. Soon, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Wang Hao, wearing a fur hat and a fur coat, looked at Wang Lin in surprise and said, "Brother Tiezhu, aren’t you cold? You’re standing outside with so little clothing."

"I calculated with my fingers that you would come, so I endured the cold to come out and meet you," Wang Lin said with a light laugh. He indeed didn’t feel cold. Since reaching the second layer of the Qi Condensation stage, he could clearly feel that his body was much stronger than before.

Wang Hao laughed and walked in, taking off his hat and carefully examining Wang Lin. Suddenly, he said, "Brother Tiezhu, you seem different from a few months ago?"

Wang Lin joked, "Of course, I’ve reached the second layer of the Qi Condensation stage, making me a cultivator!"

Wang Hao pouted and walked into the room, saying, "Don’t brag. Our talents are about the same. I have the Spirit Seizing Pill to help me, and I still haven’t reached the first layer of the Qi Condensation stage. You? Don’t make me laugh!"

Wang Lin didn’t argue. He knew that sometimes telling the truth wouldn’t be believed, and lying might even raise suspicion. After all, he wasn’t very close to Wang Hao, so he naturally kept his guard up.

He couldn’t pretend to be close friends at first sight.

"Wang Hao, why are you here today? Isn’t the Alchemy Hall busy?" Wang Lin returned to the room and poured a cup of hot water for him, asking.

Wang Hao took it, blew on it a few times, and took a small sip, smiling. "You haven’t been to the Alchemy Hall to collect your share for a few months. I’ve kept it for you and brought it today." Saying this, he took out a small package from his chest and placed it on the table.

Wang Lin’s face showed a half-smile, not even glancing at the package as he waited for Wang Hao to continue. He didn’t believe Wang Hao would come just to deliver something.

Wang Hao’s face turned slightly red under his gaze and suddenly said, "Brother Tiezhu, I heard you’ve been quite comfortable in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall these past few months?"

"Wang Hao, speak your mind. If I can help, I will!" Wang Lin poured himself a cup of water, took a small sip, and remained noncommittal.

Wang Hao’s face showed a moment of embarrassment, and he leaned in, speaking in a mysterious whisper, "Brother Tiezhu, I’ve always known you’re a smart person. Let’s be honest. I know you have a lot of spirit talismans for named disciples to visit their families. Can you lend me some?"