Loyalty: 92

Ning Lang had finally thoroughly studied the entire content of the Great Yellow Court Scripture. Now, when he cultivated, the results were multiplied, and he no longer faced the situation of futile efforts like before.

In addition to the internal cultivation method, every night, Ning Lang would practice the Taiyi Clear Water Sword Technique behind the Miao Peak cliff. For three months, without exception, he practiced for at least three hours every night, and the sword technique progressed from a rudimentary understanding to a profound level.

According to the instructions in the sword technique, as long as he advanced a bit further, he would be able to unleash the tremendous power of "One Sword Splitting the River."

In this world, the cultivation levels were divided into ten realms: Mortal, Qi Refining, Foundation, Crystallization, Golden Core, Spirit Tempering, Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, Enlightenment, Ascension, and Immortal.

Each realm was further divided into four stages: Lower, Middle, Upper, and Peak.

Ning Lang was currently at the peak of the Foundation realm and could breakthrough to the Crystallization realm at any time!

The reason why he hadn't chosen to break through in these three months was to forcefully suppress his cultivation level and fortify his foundation.

In the past ten years, although Ning Lang's realm had not made any progress, when it came to the foundation, Ning Lang could confidently claim the second position in the Haohui Sect, with no one daring to claim the first position.

Compared to Ning Lang, Jiang Chen's cultivation was much easier.

For twelve hours a day, Jiang Chen spent more than half of his time in a meditative state. Each time he woke up, his cultivation level would increase a bit. Over these three months, he had already broken through to the Middle Qi Refining realm.

After three months of being together, Jiang Chen's loyalty had also increased to 90. According to the system's prompt, as long as loyalty was above 90, the chances of betrayal would be rare.

Early autumn, late at night.

Jiang Chen sat on the bed, slowly opening his bright eyes.

"Only a bit more, and I can break through to the Foundation realm. This 'Wu Wei Heart Sutra' is probably one of the top internal cultivation methods, even if it's placed in the sect's scripture repository. Such a good thing, Master actually gave it to me on the second day of accepting me as his disciple."

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen looked out of the window.

Under the moonlight, Ning Lang, with his upper body bare, was practicing a mysterious sword technique repeatedly. Although he only held a wooden sword made from a peach branch, every swing of the sword caused a white light to shine up and down the blade.

That was the so-called spiritual energy of heaven and earth!

Everyone who embarked on the path of cultivation in this world had to rely on this spiritual energy to advance step by step until they ascended to become immortals!

Having spent three months together with Ning Lang, if someone had told Jiang Chen that Ning Lang was a waste, he might have believed it. However, now he absolutely didn't.

If Master was really as unbearable as they said...

Then why could a random internal cultivation method he gave me make me advance from a Lower Mortal realm to the Middle Qi Refining realm in three months?

Why, in just three months, did a set of sword techniques he cultivated reach a profound level?

A tree standing out in the forest invites the wind. Jiang Chen inexplicably thought of this saying.

Yes! That's right!

Master must be hiding his true strength!

[Character: Jiang Chen]

[Loyalty Refreshed, Current Loyalty: 92]

...

Early morning.

After sleeping for only two hours but still in high spirits, Ning Lang got up and pushed open his wooden door.

When the old wooden door was pushed open, it made a squeaky sound.

Next door, Jiang Chen was just coming out.

"Greetings, Master!" Jiang Chen nodded slightly, folding his hands in a respectful manner.

Ning Lang smiled with satisfaction. "The water in the tank is running out. If you have nothing to do, go down the mountain and bring up two buckets of water."

"Yes!"

After Jiang Chen agreed, he found a shoulder pole and two wooden buckets, hoisted them on his shoulders, and headed down the mountain.

Early autumn's morning was still somewhat cool. In these three months, Jiang Chen had not gone anywhere other than fetching water, so he was particularly familiar with this path.

There were many places on Mount Taihua where water was hidden, but the nearest one to Miao Peak was the small stream outside the bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain. Jiang Chen arrived at the stream, filled the two buckets with water, and squatted down to follow the same path back up the mountain.

When he was halfway up, two youths of similar age happened to be coming down the mountain.

"Hey, Senior Brother Yu, look, isn't this the personal disciple Seventh Elder accepted a few months ago?" The robust youth saw Jiang Chen and immediately laughed.

The youth next to him, wearing clothes representing the identity of a personal disciple, glanced at Jiang Chen following his gaze and sneered, "What, becoming a personal disciple for a few months and you've forgotten how to address your Senior Brother?"

Jiang Chen quickly put down the shoulder pole and respectfully saluted, "Greetings to both Senior Brothers."

The youth named Yu took a few steps down, stood in front of Jiang Chen, and said coldly, "You've been a disciple for three months. Have you learned anything following your Master? If it weren't for your foolish brain, you wouldn't have learned much."

Jiang Chen didn't dare to neglect and hurriedly replied, "I have learned, but my mind is dull, so I haven't learned much."

While speaking, the phrase "A tree standing out in the forest invites the wind" kept echoing in Jiang Chen's mind. He didn't want trouble, not because he was afraid of being bullied but because he was afraid of causing trouble for his Master, who already had enough problems.

"Ha, you're quite self-aware. Unfortunately, with your waste of a Master, it won't be long before he's removed from the position of elder. By then, you'll obediently go back to where you came from and return to being what you were."

"Senior Brother, I won't meddle in your Master's affairs."

Hearing this, Yu's face changed immediately. He took two steps forward, stood in front of Jiang Chen, and said angrily, "What did you say?!"

"I said... I won't meddle in your Master's affairs."

Bang!

Before he could finish speaking, Yu kicked out, directly kicking the wooden bucket filled with water off the steps. It rolled down more than a dozen levels, shattered into pieces, and Jiang Chen's clothes were also splashed wet.

Zhao Jian, the Fifth Elder, had always looked down on Jiang Chen, and his two disciples naturally did the same. However, due to Ning Lang's current status, they could only talk behind closed doors. Now that Ning Lang had taken a disciple, even if they were peers, Yu would naturally not look at Jiang Chen.

"You speak up now!" Yu said angrily.

Jiang Chen tightened his fists, and the spiritual energy in his meridians surged up and down. Even his breathing quickened.

But Jiang Chen endured it!

He was thinking...

Yu's Master must be one of the other six elders. If this matter got big, Master was very likely to be implicated because of himself.

Jiang Chen, oh, Jiang Chen, you've only been a disciple for three months, and being bullied a bit isn't a big deal. After all, you've suffered bullying before. Just don't cause trouble for Master.

So, Jiang Chen remained silent.

"Why aren't you talking? Ah!"

"I'll tell you! In the entire Haohui Sect, no one would really consider you a personal disciple. After all, your trash Master will be removed from the position of elder soon. By then, you'll have to obediently go back to where you came from, just like that wooden bucket!"

"In the future, every time you see me, you'll bow to me. Otherwise, your fate will be the same as that wooden bucket!"

After speaking, Yu took a step forward, squeezed Jiang Chen to the side, and left arrogantly.

The young man who followed him showed a sneer at Jiang Chen and quickly followed.

Jiang Chen waited until the two of them were far away before taking a deep breath. After walking down the steps, he pieced the broken bucket together with iron hoops and carried the remaining one back to Miao Miao Peak.

At the same time.

Ning Lang's ears heard a familiar voice.

[Detected that the bonded character Jiang Chen is feeling low, suspected to be oppressed.]

[Task Refresh: Investigate the true reason for Jiang Chen's low mood. If oppressed, please carry out a counterattack.]

[Task Time Limit: One day]

[Task Rewards: Tai A Sword (Bound), Mountain Breaking Fist]

Ning Lang withdrew his attention and turned to look.

Jiang Chen, carrying a shoulder pole, was walking from a distance. His pants and clothes were soaked, and one of the buckets was patched up haphazardly. However, Jiang Chen had a simple and honest smile on his face.

Ning Lang sighed softly, muttering to himself, "This foolish guy."

...