Chapter 4

Qin Ming sat on a stone bench, studying the Life-Generating Decree all night. Not only did he not feel tired, but his energy and spirit were even more abundant. The Life-Generating Decree could absorb the life force from the universe, helping him recover from injuries and maintain a full spirit.

When Qin Ming studied the first part of the Life-Generating Decree, it took him three years, a long time. This was partly because he was very young and knew little, and partly because he had no understanding of the cultivation method of the Life-Generating Decree, so he had to explore it entirely on his own. This time, studying the second part was much smoother, and he gained some insights in just one night. Qin Ming was confident that he could thoroughly understand it within half a year or even less and integrate the first and second parts of the Life-Generating Decree.

The old man had returned to the warehouse to sleep at some point, leaving only Qin Ming and a lonely grave in the courtyard.

Qin Ming was in a good mood, having shaken off the gloom from being rejected by Elder Chu Hua. He prepared breakfast for the old man, stuffed a bun in his mouth, and went to the corner of the yard to do his daily exercises. He lifted a two-meter-high stone vat, held it steadily with his hands, and his muscles were taut, with a perfect outline.

This stone vat was used to store miscellaneous items.

His morning job was to deliver the necessary miscellaneous items to various places in the Qingyun Sect. At first, he used a wooden cart to make multiple trips. Later, he switched to a wooden bucket over a meter tall, carrying the items on his back. Two years ago, he started using the stone vat, putting all the items he needed to deliver into it and lifting it to deliver them.

The stone vat was covered with iron spikes, weighing about 300 pounds. If the items he needed to deliver were added, it would weigh at least 500 pounds, and sometimes up to 700 or 800 pounds.

Qin Ming, bare-chested, lifted the stone vat and walked briskly around the yard. His strong muscles, explosive power, and tenacious perseverance were the result of daily training.

Turning difficulties into training was something Qin Ming told himself every day.

"Qin Ming, are you there?" A sharp voice came from outside. A plump, white-faced man stood at the iron gate, looking arrogant and deliberately tilting his head.

His name was Zhang Dong, one of the managers of the Qingyun Sect, responsible for managing half of the servants and arranging their daily tasks.

Qin Ming ignored him and continued lifting the stone vat.

"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you..." Zhang Dong screamed.

Boom! The stone vat in Qin Ming's hands hit the ground heavily, causing the entire warehouse yard to tremble.

Zhang Dong shuddered, his voice choked, like a duck with its neck pinched. He stood at the iron gate, not daring to take a step inside.

Qin Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead. "What's up?"

Zhang Dong, intimidated by the several hundred-pound stone vat, still maintained a fierce expression. He waved the list in his hand. "This is today's delivery list."

"Every day you post it on the door. Why do you have the leisure to come in and see me today?"

"Heh! You little criminal, I'm coming in because I respect you..." Zhang Dong's heart raced under Qin Ming's gaze, and his voice turned into a mumble. He really didn't dare to be arrogant with Qin Ming, or he would get beaten. He had been beaten many times before, and this tough kid had no concept of status.

"Give it to me." Qin Ming walked over, took the list, and glanced at it. "So many places?"

Zhang Dong snorted. "Aren't you at the Spirit Warrior Realm now? You even dared to attack Elder Chu Hua. Is it too much to ask you to deliver more goods?"

"Some of these places shouldn't be my responsibility."

"Who decides what you should and shouldn't deliver? The capable should do more. Starting today, you will deliver to three times as many places as before."

Qin Ming gave him a cold look and shook the list in his hand.

"What are you doing? If you dare to hit me again, you'll have to deliver all the goods in the Qingyun Sect, and you'll be exhausted! Look... you... are still looking? Look again! Qin Ming, don't be impulsive. What's wrong with delivering a few more pounds of goods..."

Zhang Dong saw Qin Ming step forward and was scared, stumbling backward. When Qin Ming was ten, he chased him all over the mountain and beat him up. Since then, he had been beaten at least twice a year. The more he punished him, the harder he beat him. This kid was tough and didn't fear punishment. This year, Qin Ming hadn't beaten him yet, and Zhang Dong had a shadow in his heart.

"I'm picking something up, don't be afraid." Qin Ming picked up a stone from the ground and casually threw it into the stone vat.

Zhang Dong was embarrassed. "Hurry up and clean up and deliver the goods. I warn you, even if you reach the Black Tortoise Realm, you're still a servant and will have to deliver goods every day."

"Zhang Dong, don't be too arrogant. You'll always be a manager, but I might not always be a servant." Qin Ming picked up a bucket of well water, walked into the warehouse, cleaned himself, and changed into a clean, tidy outfit.

Although he was a servant, he was also a young master, the young lord of Thunder City.

Clothes don't have to be luxurious, just clean. Suffering doesn't have to be much, just smile.

No matter whether others respect you or not, you must respect yourself first.

This was an attitude toward life and also Qin Ming's attitude toward martial arts.

Zhang Dong rolled his eyes outside, pretending to be what? You'll be a servant for life.

Qin Ming, following the list, moved the items one by one into the stone vat. But when he saw Zhang Dong at the iron gate, tilting his head, he frowned, went back into the warehouse, and stuffed some other things into his waist before leaving.

The stone vat was filled with various items, weighing at least 800 pounds.

Qin Ming grabbed it, grunted, and the stone vat rose, steadily resting on his hands.

Zhang Dong sucked in his breath, cursing him as a freak. "Hurry up! Don't dawdle. If you're late, you'll have to walk and crawl back."

Qin Ming lifted the stone vat and left the warehouse. The 800-pound weight was a significant burden for Qin Ming, but he persisted, trying to keep his steps steady and his breathing smooth.

Zhang Dong was envious in his heart but mocked with his mouth. "Look at you, so strong. Just having brute strength won't get you anywhere. For a strong person, martial techniques and realms are key. Unfortunately, they will never be part of your life. You can only stay at the Spirit Warrior Realm, and don't even dream of higher realms."

Qin Ming's stone vat suddenly tilted, about to fall on Zhang Dong.

Zhang Dong screamed in terror, rolling and crawling away.

Qin Ming easily corrected the stone vat and walked past him.

"You... you bastard!" Zhang Dong was furious.

The Qingyun Sect was located deep in the Yunluo Forest, with a thousand-year-old tradition. The sect covered a vast area, spanning over thirty mountains, with eight thousand disciples and countless strong people. It was a renowned major sect, a holy place for martial artists within hundreds of kilometers.

The Qingyun Sect publicly recruited disciples every two years. When the time came, thousands of people would gather at the foot of the mountain, trying to get their children into the sect to practice martial arts and condense spiritual energy. If they could complete the Spirit Refinement Realm and enter the Spirit Warrior Realm, it would be enough to make their parents proud. If they could become elite disciples or even a personal disciple of an elder, it would be a sign of good fortune, even a gurgling sign.

Qin Ming lifted the stone vat and walked through the Qingyun Sect, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly. This scene was the most eye-catching in the early morning, even though many disciples were used to it, his appearance always drew attention.

He looked strong and powerful, standing at 1.8 meters tall, looking like he was seventeen or eighteen, but he was actually only fifteen. The eight years of torment in the Qingyun Sect had made him more mature, both mentally and physically.

"Qin Ming, congratulations on reaching the Spirit Warrior Realm."

Some disciples greeted him on the way, giving him a friendly smile, with admiration or sympathy in their eyes.

"Hello, Senior Brother." Qin Ming always greeted these friendly disciples.

"Let's spar someday." Some disciples called out from a distance.

"Sure, I'll remember that." Qin Ming responded with a smile.

Of course, some respected Qin Ming, while others didn't. Many disciples passed by, some sneering, some whispering, and more ignoring him.

Qin Ming, with the list and the stone vat, steadily walked up the steep stone steps, from the foot of the mountain to the top, delivering goods to the courtyards, kitchens, personal training grounds, and other places, and also collecting unused materials.

While doing his job, he also trained his strength.

He delivered to over ten places without any issues, but when he reached the top of the mountain at the training ground, he was scolded.

"I wanted an iron rod, a hundred-pound iron rod. Why did you give me two wooden rods?"

A strong disciple broke the thick wooden rod and threw it at Qin Ming.

The large training ground fell silent, and many disciples practicing in the morning looked over.

This large training ground was where Qingyun Sect disciples concentrated their training, with specially crafted training platforms and equipment. They could train, spar, and watch elite disciples' battles to learn techniques and experience. Each training ground could accommodate up to a thousand people and was an important training venue for the Qingyun Sect.

There were fifteen such large training grounds in the Qingyun Sect.

Qin Ming put down the stone vat and took out the list. "Training Ground Ten, two wooden rods."

"Bullshit, I told Zhang Dong clearly last night that I wanted a hundred-pound iron rod. You're Qin Ming, right? I heard you showed Spirit Warrior Realm strength in the test yesterday? Pfft, so what if you're at the Spirit Warrior Realm? You dare to switch the materials? Do you think I can't have you locked up for ten days?"

Laughter came from the side.

"It's no big deal, I'll go back and change it." Qin Ming lifted the stone vat and turned to