Chapter 89

Jiang Shixiong said indifferently, "Junior Brother Qin, I can make an exception for Junior Brother Meng's sake this time and only deduct your monthly salary. However, if you fail to complete the task, I will have to report it truthfully and let the sect deal with you according to the rules."

Meng Ruhui also said, "Junior Brother Qin, you must do your best."

Watching the two senior brothers leave, the look of shame on Qin Sang's face immediately vanished without a trace.

Finally, it was the agreed time. Qin Sang sensed the restriction of Huizhao Valley being triggered and opened it to welcome Zhao Yan inside.

"Junior Brother Qin, here is your Nine Spirit Sand..."

Zhao Yan held up a mustard seed bag and shouted. When he landed in front of Qin Sang, he said in a low voice, "Let's go inside and talk."

Yu Hua then appeared out of nowhere and also flashed in.

Yu Hua asked about Qin Sang's cultivation, and Qin Sang used the Qi Gathering Pill to evade the question.

After checking Qin Sang's Demon Eye, Yu Hua nodded in satisfaction, "Junior Nephew Qin has done his best, but it's still too slow. From now on, you must activate the Demon Eye at least three times a day and must understand the array of Huizhao Valley as quickly as possible!"

Qin Sang stood there, wanting to speak but holding back.

Yu Hua, seeing this, asked curiously, "Junior Nephew Qin, is there anything else?"

Qin Sang pretended to hesitate for a moment and then exaggeratedly recounted the scene from the day before, complaining, "Disciple has to spend the whole night operating the Demon Eye and can only cultivate during the day, with very little time to take care of the medicinal garden. Could Senior Uncle Yu please put in a good word for me with Senior Brother Jiang? Otherwise, if I fail to complete the task, I will really be expelled from Yuanchao Sect."

Zhao Yan sneered from the side, "What if you don't cultivate for a year or two? Do you really think you can..."

Yu Hua lightly coughed, interrupting Zhao Yan, and frowned, "This is indeed a difficult problem. I can't frequently interfere with the affairs of Xingyun Valley..."

Qin Sang looked at Yu Hua with full expectation. Zhao Yan was clearly a hothead, while Yu Hua was a seasoned veteran. Therefore, Qin Sang only made his request after seeing Yu Hua.

The Guiyin Sect went to great lengths to send him to Huizhao Valley. Before their goal was achieved, they would not harm him or allow him to be expelled.

As Qin Sang had expected.

Yu Hua thought for a moment and said, "Here's what I'll do. I'll teach you the method to set up a Spirit Gathering Array. Take these spirit stones and set them up around the medicinal garden. They will make the spiritual energy in the garden several times more concentrated, aiding the growth of the spirit herbs. Although it's not as effective as the Five Elements Cloud, it will help you complete your task. However, Junior Nephew Qin must be smart and must not expose yourself to others."

After the two left Huizhao Valley, Zhao Yan looked dissatisfied and said disdainfully, "Senior Uncle Yu, why do you have to be blackmailed by him? Use the Heart-Eating Worm to show him the consequences, and see if he dares to be honest!"

"Do you think I can't see through this boy's little tricks? But there's no need to expose them."

Yu Hua smiled and said indifferently, "To make someone do something, using only force is not enough. There must also be sufficient temptation, and they must do it willingly. Only then can the task be done quickly and perfectly. I will also find an opportunity to ask Ruan Nanfeng and others about their difficulties. Compared to the great matters of the Holy Sect, a few spirit stones are nothing. As long as we complete the Holy Sect's task, will the Sect Master treat us poorly? If Junior Brother Zhao is unhappy, you can vent your anger after the task is completed. Can he escape from our palm?"

Zhao Yan thought for a moment, bowed, and said, "Zhao Yan has learned. The smooth progress of this plan is all thanks to Senior Uncle Yu's strategic planning. After the task is completed, I will certainly speak well of you to Uncle Yi and request rewards for you."

Yu Hua's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Junior Brother Zhao! By the way, I have already secured a position in the Sect Master's Hall today, which allows me to enter Yuanchao Peak officially. I will leave the matters here to you, Junior Brother Zhao."

Zhao Yan was delighted, "Wishing Senior Uncle Yu success!"

...

Qin Sang didn't know if the Enchanting Mirror counted as an array. If it didn't, this Spirit Gathering Array would be the first array he learned.

This was actually the most basic Spirit Gathering Array, which required a batch of spirit stones to be consumed after a period of time. The herbs planted in the medicinal garden were very ordinary in the cultivation world, with low value. Using the Spirit Gathering Array to cultivate them was definitely not cost-effective.

Since the spirit stones were not his, Qin Sang didn't need to feel bad.

The only drawback was that if someone discovered it, they would be suspicious. How could an entry-level disciple have such a wealthy background?

Fortunately, Qin Sang had no friends, and no one came to visit him on a regular basis. He only needed to dismantle the Spirit Gathering Array before Senior Brother Meng and Senior Brother Jiang came to collect the herbs. Qin Sang always managed to meet the requirements, and the two senior brothers didn't make things difficult for him, so everything went smoothly.

Time passed without notice, and more than a year had gone by.

One night, Qin Sang operated the Demon Eye for the third time to probe the great array of Huizhao Valley.

At this moment, the Demon Eye's view had turned westward. According to Qin Sang's estimation, it would take another three to four months to complete his task.

Over the past year, Qin Sang had been confined to Huizhao Valley and had only seen Yu Hua twice, with Zhao Yan contacting him.

Zhao Yan's urgency in urging him grew, giving Qin Sang a premonition that when their task was completed, a major change would come!

Feeling his internal spiritual energy about to be depleted, Qin Sang retracted the Demon Eye and returned to his cave.

His realm was not high, and the spiritual energy of Yuanchao Sect was more than sufficient; he didn't need the Spirit Gathering Array.

Sitting on the water heart bamboo cushion, Qin Sang introspected himself. Thanks to the residual effects of the hundred-year-old stone milk, his cultivation had rapidly improved over the past year, and he was just one step away from the eighth level.

Today, he finally sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough. Qin Sang quickly took out the Enchanting Mirror and set it up at the cave entrance, then entered a meditative state.

Ten days later, Qin Sang emerged from seclusion, looking refreshed and ready to let out a long, triumphant cry. All the hard cultivation over such a long time had not been in vain, and he had successfully broken through.

Today was the day for collecting herbs. Not long after Qin Sang dismantled the Spirit Gathering Array, Meng Ruhui and Senior Brother Jiang arrived together. Upon discovering that Qin Sang had broken through again, they were both extremely surprised and left in a bad mood after collecting the herbs.

Qin Sang respectfully saw them off, not showing any hint of pride. Offending them would bring him no benefit at all.

At the end of the month, Zhao Yan came again.

Zhao Yan waited at the valley entrance. Seeing Qin Sang fly out on a magical tool, he was taken aback and couldn't help but exclaim, "You've broken through again?"

Qin Sang landed and bowed, "Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhao, for breaking through to the ninth level of the Qi Gathering stage!"

A look of pride appeared on Zhao Yan's face, but he quickly reined it in, not hiding his jealous gaze, "You can't compare to me breaking through two levels in a year."

Qin Sang repeatedly said he was unworthy, "Disciple is only able to do this today thanks to the Sect Master's great kindness in granting the Qi Gathering Pill. When Senior Brother Zhao establishes great merit and returns to the sect, the Sect Master will certainly not be stingy with rewards. Junior Brother can only envy you."

Zhao Yan indeed laughed heartily, feeling that Qin Sang looked more pleasant than before. His eyes flickered, and it was unclear what he was thinking.