12: Chapter 12 Encountering Fellow Disciples, Chatting, and Hearing News from the Border

Just when Ye Qing thought his days would continue in this stable cycle of "sweeping, reading, farming, and picking up trash," a ripple quietly emerged.

That day, he was returning from the Herb Garden, passing by the "Pine Breeze Pavilion" where Outer Sect Disciples often gathered.

Several young men wearing cyan Outer Sect Disciple robes were gathered in the pavilion. Their expressions lacked their usual ease, replaced by a touch of gravity and discussion.

"Have you heard? Something happened again over at Black Wind Ravine! A team of Junior Brothers on mountain patrol was ambushed; two died, and several were injured!"

"Those damned Yao Beasts again? Did they not just clear them out?"

"Clear them out? How could they ever be cleaned out completely! There are countless Yao Beasts deep in the Cangyun Mountain Range; kill one batch, and another comes. I heard the scale of this raid is larger than usual. The leader is likely a Yao Beast close to the peak of the first rank!"

"Peak of the first rank? Does that not equal our Qi Refining Late Stage? No wonder..."

"The Sect has already increased the number of mountain patrols. It is said that several Junior Martial Uncles at the Foundation Establishment Stage might also need to step forward. This world is becoming less and less peaceful."

"Sigh, if one could just Cultivate peacefully, who would want to go out and fight for their lives? I heard those small Sects at the border had their mountain gates broken through by a swarm of Yao Beasts a while ago, suffering heavy casualties..."

"Watch your tongue! Do not discuss this further. Just do your duty and Cultivate diligently; if something really happens, you will have a bit more power to protect yourself."

The discussion lowered, turning into inquiries about Cultivation and information on resource exchanges.

Ye Qing slowed his pace, head bowed, like an ordinary, humble Utility Disciple passing by who dared not disturb the discussion of the Senior Brothers, and walked past slowly.

Yet, those words entered his ears without missing a single syllable.

Black Wind Ravine, a dangerous pass on the periphery of the Cangyun Mountain Range, was the edge of the sphere of the Qingyun Sect and an area where Yao Beasts often appeared.

Patrol Disciples ambushed, casualties, peak first-rank Yao Beast...

These terms combined to reveal a feeling of oppression, like a storm about to break.

"Has the friction at the border between humans and Yao Beasts already reached a small, isolated Sect like the Qingyun Sect?"

The heart of Ye Qing sank slightly.

Although he had decided to keep a low profile and not cause trouble, the prerequisite was a relatively stable environment.

When the nest is overturned, are there any intact eggs left?

If the Sect were truly attacked by a large-scale swarm of Yao Beasts, where could a small Utility Disciple at the Qi Refining Stage hide?

"Strength, my strength is still insufficient."

He clenched his fist in his sleeve, feeling the true Qi Refining Stage 3 Perfection cultivation within his body, firmly suppressed under the appearance of Qi Refining Stage 2, as well as the space that had expanded to over five zhang, continuously feeding back pure energy.

"I must be faster. At the very least, before a possible chaotic situation arrives, I need to have enough self-preservation power, or even... the ability to leave this place of right and wrong without anyone noticing."

Returning to the Servant Quarters, the atmosphere was also somewhat subtle.

A few Utility Disciples who were usually quite active were gathered in the corner of the courtyard, whispering with unease on their faces.

"Steward Wang was called to the External Affairs Hall this afternoon, and his expression was very ugly when he returned."

"Is it going to be an increase in corvée labor again? I heard the front mountain needs to reinforce the defensive Formation and requires a large number of people to transport Materials."

"I am afraid it is more than that... I heard the Sect might collect part of the tribute of next year in advance, or... impose a 'Yao-Slaying Levy'."

"Yao-Slaying Levy? Does that not mean we have to provide money and goods to support the front-line Yao-slaying?"

"What else? Sect resources are limited. Now that consumption has increased, if they do not squeeze it from below, where will it come from?"

Sighs and complaints sounded low.

Ye Qing walked silently back to his room. His roommates were also silent, lacking their usual tired snoring, and instead carried a bit more worry.

Sure enough, the next day, Steward Wang gathered all the Utility Disciples and announced several new regulations.

First, effective immediately, all Utility Disciple workloads would increase by 30% to support the various defenses and logistics of the Sect.

Second, the Spirit Stone quota of this month would be temporarily halved as a "Dao-Defending Levy," with the quota of next month to be decided based on the situation.

Third, all Disciples are strictly forbidden from leaving the mountain gate privately, especially from entering remote areas of the back mountain; violators will be severely punished.

After the announcement, the dark face of Steward Wang was full of irritability: "Did you all hear clearly? The situation is difficult, and the Sect is having a hard time. You should all work diligently and not cause any trouble! Disperse!"

The Utility Disciples looked at each other, daring to be angry but not daring to speak, and dispersed in low spirits.

Ye Qing followed the crowd, his expression calm, but his mind racing.

Increased workload meant less free time, increasing the risk of practicing Void Realm Talisman Drawing and absorbing "trash" in the remote areas of the back mountain.

Halving the Spirit Stones directly affected his plan to buy blank Jade Slips and attempt basic practice.

The prohibition on leaving the mountain gate further limited his future potential sources of "trash" and potential opportunities.

"Sure enough, trouble has arrived."

He did not complain; complaining was useless.

Adjusting the plan quickly was the right way.

He could not give up work at the Library Pavilion; this was a source of knowledge and his most stable cover for now.

He must keep the part-time job at the Herb Garden; this was a source of stable Spirit Stones and "special trash."

As for the increased workload... he could only improve efficiency and compress rest time.

Fortunately, with the help of the Dust Removal Technique and Light Body Technique, the actual physical exertion increase was limited.

He just needed to be more careful about controlling his spiritual energy fluctuations to avoid being noticed.

"It is perfect. Using this 'difficult situation' as an excuse to appear more tired and silent fits the image of an exploited bottom-tier Utility Disciple even better."

Ye Qing quickly adjusted his mindset, even feeling that this sudden tense atmosphere was not necessarily a bad thing for someone like him who needed to keep a low profile.

Everyone was overwhelmed; who would have the leisure to pay attention to the insignificant abnormalities of an inconspicuous Utility Disciple?

In the following days, Ye Qing acted even more "honest and dutiful."

Every day, he completed the doubled workload, his face carrying just the right amount of fatigue and numbness.

When collecting the meager, docked Spirit Stone quota, he, like the other Utility Disciples, had dim eyes and accepted it silently.

Only in the middle of the night when no one was watching, or during short gaps when he went for part-time work at the Herb Garden or occasionally had to "relieve himself," would he quietly circulate his Cultivation Technique, absorb the energy fed back by the space, or quickly practice Void Realm Talisman Drawing in a more hidden corner of the back mountain.

His cultivation was steadily and firmly advancing toward Qi Refining Level 4.

The space was absorbing the Herb Garden trash and the old, worn-out items with faint "implications" that he occasionally picked up from the "trash pile" of the Library Pavilion, expanding slowly and continuously.

His mastery of the Spirit Nurturing Technique also became much more proficient. Although the effect was still weak, the spellcasting speed was faster, and the consumption was less.

One day, he went to the Herb Garden as usual.

Uncle-Master Zhao Ming was rarely not in the wooden house, but was standing by the Herb Garden, looking at the mountains surrounded by clouds and mist outside the valley, his brows slightly locked.

"Uncle-Master Zhao." Ye Qing stepped forward to salute.

Zhao Ming came back to his senses, glanced at him, and nodded: "Mm, you are here. Just weed and water the plants today. Those moonlight flowers in the west corner have some pests; you take a look and treat them with ordinary insect repellent powder. The method is in the Jade Slip."

"Yes." Ye Qing acknowledged, took out his tools, and began to work.

He could feel that Uncle-Master Zhao Ming seemed to have something on his mind today, and there was a hint of Evil Qi that had not been fully restrained on his body, as well as an extremely faint smell of blood.

This Uncle-Master had likely experienced a battle not long ago, or had carried out a dangerous mission.

Ye Qing dared not ask more, burying himself in his work, his movements lighter and more careful than usual.

While dealing with the pests on the moonlight flowers in the west corner, he discovered that the soil at the root of one of them was somewhat loose, as if it had been dug up by some small beast.

He carefully brushed away the soil, and inside, besides some tiny insect eggs, a small fragment of a rusty, irregularly shaped iron piece was exposed.

The edges of the iron piece were sharp, but it was severely rusted, looking like a broken fragment of some weapon or Magical Artifact, with no spiritual light.

Ye Qing originally wanted to throw it away.

The moment his fingertips touched the iron piece, the space within his body transmitted a clear suction force again!

The target of this suction was not the iron piece itself, but a trace of extremely faint yet exceptionally pure and condensed "Metal Evil Qi" and "Bloody Battle Intent" attached to it!

This iron piece had seen blood, and very likely not long ago!

Ye Qing felt a chill in his heart, but his movements did not pause at all. He very naturally gathered the iron piece along with the insect eggs and weeds into the "trash" to be processed.

Uncle-Master Zhao Ming did not seem to notice this small episode, still looking into the distance, lost in thought.

Ye Qing quickly and steadily completed all the work, packed up the "trash," saluted, and took his leave.

Zhao Ming tossed him a Low-Grade Spirit Stone and waved his hand, signaling he could go.

Leaving Qingxi Valley, Ye Qing did not immediately return to the Servant Quarters.

He found an absolutely secluded rock crevice that he confirmed no one had visited recently, first disposed of the ordinary plant trash, and then took out the half-broken rusty iron piece.

Holding it in his palm, he communicated with the space.

The suction force came.

That trace of faint "Metal Evil Qi" and "Bloody Battle Intent" was slowly drawn away.

The rust on the iron piece seemed to dim even more.

The space absorbed this special energy and fed back a type of energy that was slightly sharp yet exceptionally solid, making his spiritual energy feel as if it had undergone a slight "tempering," becoming a bit more refined.

"Good stuff! Although the quantity is small, the quality is high, and it seems to be able to temper the quality of spiritual energy?"

Ye Qing looked at the rusty piece in his hand that had completely turned into ordinary iron and crumbled at a pinch, lost in thought.

"The Evil Qi and blood smell on Uncle-Master Zhao, the residual Battle Intent on this iron piece... It seems the situation at the front line is even more tense than what those Disciples at Pine Breeze Pavilion were discussing. Even Uncle-Master Zhao, who is in charge of supplies, might have participated in the battle against the Yao Beasts, or at least had close contact with the battlefield."

He buried the debris deep into the rock crevice, and the string in his heart tightened a little more.

"Must be faster."

"Qi Refining Level 4, must Breakthrough as soon as possible. By then, combined with the space's feedback and the accumulation over these days, my actual combat power should be able to steadily surpass an ordinary Middle Stage Qi Refining cultivator. Facing a Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator, relying on various means, perhaps I might even have a chance to fight?"

"Moreover, Qi Refining Level 4 is considered a small threshold of the Qi Refining Stage. The spiritual energy is more profound, which can support more complex Spell practice. Perhaps I can try practicing basic attack Spells..."

"Relying solely on Void Realm Talisman Drawing and the Spirit Nurturing Technique will not be enough to fight Yao Beasts, let alone protect myself."

Ye Qing took one last look at the Qingyun Sect's mountains, which appeared exceptionally quiet in the twilight, turned around, and walked firmly toward the Servant Quarters.

Steady development, but he cannot just wait passively.

Strength is the foundation for dealing with all changes.

The night swallowed his back.