One Should Not be Stingy

[Task Completed]

[Rewards Obtained: Five years of cultivation (bound), Qiansirao (cultivation technique), Ultimate Mountain-moving Seals (cultivation technique), and five Rising Spirit Pills.]

[System Prompt: Reward items have been placed in the storage ring. Please check them on your own.]

Ning Lang felt a warm stream passing through his body, and the sea of spiritual energy within him expanded bit by bit until it reached saturation.

Upon returning to Miao Peak, Ning Lang promptly entered his room, assumed a cross-legged position on the bed, and began the process of suppressing his cultivation.

Five years of cultivation.

Not an excessive amount, but substantial nonetheless.

Having already ascended to the peak of the Crystallization Realm, just a step away from the Golden Core Realm, Ning Lang knew that breaking through wouldn't be a challenge if he didn't suppress his cultivation. However, doing so would compromise the stability of his foundation!

As a transmigrator, Ning Lang understood the principle of steady progress and not covering a thousand miles without accumulating each step.

Carefully, he compressed the energy in his body, refining it to a purer state. This meticulous process took a full five hours, and eventually, a exhausted Ning Lang lay on the bed.

Meanwhile, on Jianye Peak.

"Master! It's disciple's fault! I've caused you..." Zhao Zixuan lay on the bed, pale, and said.

Zhao Jian interrupted him directly: "It has nothing to do with you. In the end... I underestimated him."

After speaking, Zhao Jian turned and walked away.

With Yu Hua's support, Zhao Zixuan struggled to sit up and asked, "Master! Where are you going?"

"Bitter Cultivation Cliff."

"Master!!!" Zhao Zixuan reached out tremblingly and shouted desperately.

Yu Hua's eyes turned red, watching his master's figure disappear. With Senior Brother heavily injured again, he couldn't hold back anymore and cried like a child.

Once Zhao Jian went to the Bitter Cultivation Cliff, the status of Jianye Peak, the Fifth Elder, and Zhao Zixuan and Yu Hua, the two direct disciples, would inevitably plummet.

Watching Zhao Jian's figure disappear, Zhao Zixuan's blood surged, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

...

The next morning.

The master and the three disciples sat at the door of the kitchen eating porridge. On the table were piles of peanuts, stir-fried vegetables, and pan-fried tofu, all ingredients found on the mountain.

After finishing his meal, Ning Lang took out two copied cultivation techniques from his arms and placed them in front of Jiang Chen and Gan Tang, saying, "There is still some time before the Immortal Sect Conference. Try to learn these two techniques during this period. Strive for a good ranking in the conference."

After that, he turned to Jiang Keran and said, "Keran, you don't need to envy them. When I think you're ready, I will give you a suitable cultivation technique."

"Yes, Master."

There must be a reason for master's actions.

My cultivation level hasn't caught up yet; I should focus on cultivating quietly for now.

Jiang Keran didn't envy Jiang Chen and Gan Tang. After being on the mountain for so long, his arrogance had long been worn away.

While chatting.

A white figure suddenly descended from the sky and landed next to the master and disciples.

It was Sect Master Mei Qinghe.

Ning Lang was about to get up to bow, but Mei Qinghe pressed down on his shoulder to stop him.

"Sit, no need for excessive courtesy," Mei Qinghe smiled and said, "I came here today just to inform you about some matters regarding the Immortal Sect Conference, so that you won't be ignorant of the rules."

Ning Lang sensed the meaning in his words and asked with a frown, "Is the Sect Master planning to let me lead the team this time?"

Mei Qinghe chuckled, "They are both your disciples. If you don't go, who will?"

Ning Lang had been on the mountain for a long time and had experienced two Immortal Sect Conferences. Both times, Elder Qiu Yunze led the team. He thought it would be the same this time, with himself accompanying as the master.

Unexpectedly...

Well, yesterday Xiao Ran was defeated by Jiang Chen. Considering Qiu Yunze's temperament, he would naturally be unwilling to lead someone else's disciples to the Immortal Sect Conference.

Ning Lang smiled and asked, "Which sect is hosting the Immortal Sect Conference this time?"

"Zhengyang Palace."

"Zhengyang Palace?"

Mei Qinghe nodded helplessly, "The top-ranked individuals in the previous two Immortal Sect Conferences were both from Zhengyang Palace, so naturally, this time it will be held there again."

Ning Lang was somewhat embarrassed and said, "But I rarely leave the mountain, and I don't even know where Zhengyang Palace is."

Mei Qinghe seemed to have anticipated this question. He smiled and said, "Gao Qianshou will go with you."

"The Fourth Elder?"

"Yes."

Ning Lang didn't ask more and waited quietly for the following explanation.

The three disciples also listened silently.

Mei Qinghe continued to speak, "A total of seven sects are qualified to participate in this Immortal Sect Conference: Zhengyang Palace, Haohui Sect, Qingyang Sect, Xishu Sword Sect, Lingyuan Sect, Chaoyin Sect, and Donghai Tower."

"Among them, Zhengyang Palace has 3 slots. Haohui Sect, Qingyang Sect, and Xishu Sword Sect have 2 slots each, and the remaining sects have 1 slot each."

"As for the rules of this Immortal Sect Conference, they are somewhat different from the past."

Seeing Mei Qinghe's expression change, Ning Lang hurriedly asked, "What's different about it?"

"This Immortal Sect Conference consists of only two rounds."

"The first round is the Demon-slaying Round."

Ning Lang's eyes narrowed in puzzlement. "Demon-slaying?"

"Exactly," Mei Qinghe explained, "For this Immortal Sect Conference, Zhengyang Palace has released hundreds of fourth-tier and below demonic beasts in the nearby secluded mountains. The first round is about who can hunt the most demonic beasts within the specified time."

Jiang Keran interjected, "Doesn't the sect with more slots have an advantage?"

"The rules of the first round allow alliances, and each disciple's location in the secluded mountains is different. In other words, they don't form groups right from the start."

Ning Lang sneered, "The disciples participating in the Immortal Sect Conference are all outstanding talents. Who would willingly lower their heads to form alliances? Moreover, even if they form an alliance, there's always the concern of betrayal among companions. In simple terms, Zhengyang Palace still has an advantage."

"Of course, that's natural. After all, Zhengyang Palace is the strongest among the seven major sects."

It seems that no matter where you are, whoever has the stronger fist has the say.

After listening, Gan Tang asked, "How many people advance in the first round?"

"Six."

"So, only twelve people participate in total, and half of them are eliminated in the first round?"

"Yes."

After contemplating for a moment, Ning Lang suddenly grinned at Mei Qinghe. "Jiang Chen and Gan Tang are representing Haohui Sect in the Immortal Sect Conference this time. Does the Sect Master have any treasures?"

Mei Qinghe narrowed his small eyes. "Didn't I let you take your disciples to the Treasure Pavilion once?"

"Isn't that just a ceremony for accepting disciples?"

"You..."

Mei Qinghe was speechless. After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled, took out a bottle of elixir from his pocket, and placed it on the table. "This is a fourth-grade elixir, Rising Spirit Pill. There are three pills. With their current strength, taking it will slightly increase their cultivation level."

Ning Lang didn't say much, reached into his storage ring, and took out an identical jade bottle. "I have Rising Spirit Pills too, and I have two more than you, Sect Master. You shouldn't be too stingy."

"Where did you get them?"

"Picked them up on the way."

Mei Qinghe was speechless. He certainly didn't believe they were picked up on the way, but people have their own opportunities. He didn't intend to inquire further, just sighed and took out a book from his pocket. "This is a cultivation technique called..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Lang interrupted, "Jiang Chen, Gan Tang, show the Sect Master the cultivation techniques Master just gave you."

Clap, clap.

Two cultivation techniques were placed on the table.

Ning Lang laughed, "Sect Master, do you plan to bring out something useful?"

Mei Qinghe put his hand back into his pocket, took out a pair of hollow iron objects, and said, "This is called Thunderbolt Seeds. Inside, there is a talisman personally drawn by a Daoist Immortal. By infusing spiritual energy and throwing it at an enemy, even a cultivator in the Foundation Realm can only temporarily evade."

"This is good."

Ning Lang took it.

Mei Qinghe wanted to take back the Rising Spirit Pills and the cultivation technique, but Ning Lang immediately stopped him. "Sect Master, what are you doing?"

"Aren't you not interested in these two things? I'll take them back."

Ning Lang laughed, "As the head of a sect, you can't take back things you've given away. That's not reasonable."

"You!"

Ning Lang handed the elixir and the cultivation technique to Jiang Chen. "Why aren't you thanking the Sect Master?"

Jiang Chen didn't react for a while.

It was Gan Tang and Jiang Keran who held back their smiles, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Sect Master."

"Ning Lang, oh Ning Lang, I really misunderstood you before." Mei Qinghe scolded and flew away, leaving Miao Peak. After leaving, a bright smile appeared on his face.

"This guy..."

"Haha."

...