Youthful Enlightenment

Three days later, the other six bamboo houses on Miao Peak had taken shape. The bamboo houses were designed and constructed by Ning Lang, with their positions carefully arranged. Excluding the kitchen, the seven bamboo houses formed a circular pattern, with Ning Lang's own bamboo house situated behind them.

As the evening approached, after a busy day, Chen Cheng, under the urging of several other outer disciples, called for Jiang Chen, who was diligently practicing in his room.

"What's the matter?" Jiang Chen asked.

Chen Cheng found it difficult to speak, but with the other outer disciples signaling to him, he mustered the courage to say, "In two more days, these bamboo houses will be ready, and the spiritual stones that the Seventh Elder promised us..."

Although he didn't finish his sentence, Jiang Chen already understood what Chen Cheng meant. Jiang Chen furrowed his brows and asked, "Didn't my master say he would give them to you after the houses were ready?"

Chen Cheng immediately replied, "I believe in the Seventh Elder, but they..."

"I understand. They still don't believe my master can produce so many spiritual stones, and they don't dare to approach my master directly. So, they sent you to talk to me, right?" Jiang Chen said.

Chen Cheng nodded with a troubled expression.

Jiang Chen sighed and looked at his former friend's worried face. After a moment of thought, he said, "Don't worry, I won't let you be embarrassed. I'll go ask my master."

However, at this moment:

[Mission activated. Would you like to view it now?]

Ning Lang's mind stirred, and several lines of small characters appeared before him:

[Mission Requirements: Help the bond character Jiang Chen break through to the Qi Refining Realm.]

[Mission Time Limit: One month.]

[Mission Rewards: Storage Ring (Rare), Cloud Soaring Art (Body Technique).]

Ning Lang furrowed his brow.

This mission seemed a bit challenging.

Jiang Chen's current realm was at the Mortal Realm High Grade, just one step away from the Mortal Realm Peak. However, breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm within a month was still too difficult.

The path of cultivation was fraught with challenges, and each threshold became increasingly higher. Although Jiang Chen's cultivation method was somewhat unique, judging by his current progress, it would be challenging to break through to the Qi Refining Realm Lower Grade within a month.

Ning Lang thought for a while and sighed, "It seems I'll have to rely on external forces. Well, those five spiritual crystals were obtained because of them anyway. Moreover, Jiang Chen is still my disciple, so I don't mind giving him a crystal for cultivation."

Just as he was thinking this, there was a knock on the door.

Ning Lang glanced at Gan Tang lying on the bed, noticed that her dress didn't cover her completely, and quickly used his own robe to cover her before saying, "Come in."

Jiang Chen pushed open the door and recounted the situation to Ning Lang.

After hearing this, Ning Lang stood up and walked outside, smiling lightly, "They really underestimate me. Are they afraid I can't produce ten spiritual stones?"

Jiang Chen hurriedly said, "Master, don't blame them. They just..."

"No need to explain. I know what image I hold in their hearts. But now, they have seen what I can do." Ning Lang said with a hearty laugh, taking out a dazzling, transparent crystal from his sleeve and handing it to Jiang Chen, "Here, this spiritual crystal is for you. In the next month, focus on practicing and strive to reach a higher level."

"Spirit... spiritual crystal!" Someone gasped in shock.

Although they hadn't eaten pork, they had seen pigs run.

What was a spiritual crystal, and how valuable was it? Each of them was well aware. The spiritual energy contained in one spiritual crystal could be compared to a hundred spiritual stones, and one could indeed be exchanged for a hundred spiritual stones!

The ten outer disciples stared wide-eyed at the spiritual crystal in Ning Lang's hand. They couldn't believe that he had effortlessly given Jiang Chen a hundred spiritual stones.

Jiang Chen was also somewhat shocked. He had never seen something so valuable before. In fact, he hadn't even dared to think that he would ever possess a spiritual crystal. Yet now, his master had casually given one to him.

[Bond character Jiang Chen, loyalty refreshed]

[Current loyalty: 95]

"Master, is this spiritual crystal really... for me?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Just use it to cultivate for me," Ning Lang replied.

Jiang Chen knelt to the ground with a thud, his forehead heavily knocking against the scattered stones on the ground. He choked up, "Thank you, Master!"

Ning Lang helped Jiang Chen up, placed the spiritual crystal in his palm, and revealed a smiling face, "I've told you countless times, there's no need for such formalities. Go and cultivate."

"Yes."

Jiang Chen tightly grasped the spiritual crystal and headed to his small bamboo house.

Ning Lang turned around, looking at the group of outer disciples with identical expressions, and chuckled, "Do you still think I can't produce ten spiritual stones?"

"Disciples dare not!"

"Disciples dare not!"

The group of disciples nodded their heads vigorously.

Ning Lang waved his hand, "Go back. The promised spiritual stones will be given to you."

"Thank you, Seventh Elder." The ten people quickly left Miao Peak with various tools for building houses.

Ning Lang looked at the sky, where the setting sun had dyed the entire firmament red.

Inside the room, Gan Tang gazed at Ning Lang with affection in her eyes.

...

At night.

Ning Lang called Jiang Chen to the edge of the cliff. He sat on a perennial green tree on the edge of the cliff, while Jiang Chen stood straight below, showing great humility and meticulousness.

"Jiang Chen, do you know why I gave you the spiritual crystal?" Ning Lang asked.

"Disciple doesn't know."

Ning Lang said, "I want you to break through to the Qi Refining Realm within a month."

Before Jiang Chen had become Ning Lang's disciple, he wouldn't have dared to dream of breaking through to the Qi Refining. But now, everything was different.

He didn't ask why; he just replied resolutely, "Disciple will do his best."

"If you feel you can't persevere, think about your life as an outer disciple. At that time, your world was only as big as Wuqiong Peak, but now, your world has become as vast as Taihua Mountain. As long as you persist, the world you see will become larger and larger. Someday, you won't need to act according to other people's rules because, by then, you will be the one setting the rules. I hope that one day, I will see that happen," Ning Lang explained.

Jiang Chen trembled all over, and the blood and energy in his body surged wildly. After hearing Ning Lang's words, he felt like he was being ignited.

To become the one who sets the rules!

Could he really...?

Jiang Chen couldn't help but raise his head, looking at Ning Lang with hopeful eyes. Although he didn't dare to think about the goals Ning Lang had set for him, he didn't want to disappoint Ning Lang. So, he once again bowed respectfully and said, "Disciple will strive toward that day with all his might."

"For your master and for yourself. Go back and cultivate," Ning Lang said.

"Yes."

Under the moonlight, Jiang Chen returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and recited the verses of the 'Wu Wei Heart Sutra' in his mind.

On this night, the youth experienced enlightenment.

Early the next morning,

He finally broke through to the Qi Refinement Realm Peak!

...