151: Chapter 151 Misty Forest

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Qin Changsheng's figure quietly appeared at the edge of the Misty Forest. He wore Outer Sect attire, and his cultivation was steadily suppressed at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, making him indistinguishable from an ordinary low-level Qi Refining Cultivator.

Over the past month, Qin Changsheng had never slacked off. While focusing on his cultivation to stabilize his power, he also studied Formation knowledge and repeatedly deduced the route and methods to break the Formations of the Qingfeng Ruins, having long ago made thorough preparations.

Before long, Qin Changsheng saw a large crowd gathered not far ahead.

Qin Changsheng approached quietly and scanned the crowd, finding that most of those who came to the Qingfeng Ruins to try their luck were Outer Sect Disciples.

Their expressions varied; some were full of anticipation, some were uneasy, and others were chatting with each other, planning how to find opportunities after entering the ruins.

Qin Changsheng observed closely and discovered that among these Cultivators, the highest cultivation level was merely a Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

Just as Qin Changsheng was silently observing his surroundings and waiting for the ruins to open, he spotted several familiar figures.

They were Qin Changsheng's fellow townsmen from Beihai Prefecture, Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and others.

Years ago, he had come from Beihai Prefecture together with Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others. Initially, they had looked out for one another, but later, as he focused on his cultivation and deliberately kept a low profile, he gradually grew distant from them.

Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also looked down on Qin Changsheng.

However, Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others could never have imagined that Qin Changsheng was already a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Qin Changsheng's gaze fell upon Zhang Han and noticed that his left arm had long since disappeared.

Qin Changsheng was well aware of how Zhang Han had lost his left arm.

It had been taken by the Golden Core Yao Beast, the Green-Striped Toad, when they went to Qingyun Lake last year.

Perhaps because Qin Changsheng's gaze lingered for a moment, Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also sensed his presence and turned their heads to look.

When they saw Qin Changsheng dressed in Outer Sect attire, looks of disdain appeared on their Faces. Their eyes were full of contempt, without the slightest joy of reuniting after a long absence.

Zhao Lei sneered and whispered to Zhang Han beside him, "Brother Zhang, look, isn't that Qin Changsheng? Haven't seen him in so long, and he's still so worthless. He doesn't even have a decent Magical Artifact, yet he dares to come to the Qingfeng Ruins to try his luck?"

Zhang Han's Face darkened, and he let out a cold snort. "A piece of trash, where would he get the Spirit Sand to buy a Magical Artifact?"

His tone was filled with disdain and contempt, as if Qin Changsheng were some utterly pathetic waste.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for Qin Changsheng to hear clearly. It also caused several nearby Cultivators to turn their heads, their gazes filled with a bit more mockery.

After saying that, Zhang Han withdrew his gaze and ignored Qin Changsheng, turning back to continue his low-voiced conversation with Zhao Lei and the others. His tone was urgent, and his words were full of longing for the low-level Spiritual Plants and Magical Artifact Fragments within the ruins, as if Qin Changsheng were just an insignificant passerby, not even worth a greeting.

Zhao Lei and the others also withdrew their gazes, occasionally glancing at Qin Changsheng with mocking smiles on their lips, whispering a few insults, their words full of contempt.

In their view, Qin Changsheng had a low cultivation level and a cowardly temperament; he was destined to be an obscure low-level Cultivator for the rest of his life. He was not worthy of standing side-by-side with them, let alone searching for opportunities together.

Faced with all of this, Qin Changsheng remained calm. There wasn't the slightest ripple on his Face, as if he hadn't heard the mockery of Zhang Han and the others, nor noticed the gazes of those around him.

There was no disturbance in his heart; he didn't care in the slightest.

To him, the contempt and mockery from Zhang Han and the others were nothing more than the self-amusement of buffoons.

A quarter of an hour later, a commotion suddenly erupted from the back of the crowd.

"The Eldest Senior Brother is here! The Eldest Senior Brother is here! Quick, stand up and salute!"

"I didn't expect the Eldest Senior Brother to actually come here!"

The originally noisy crowd instantly fell into a dead silence. All the Qi Refining Cultivators respectfully turned around and looked toward the direction of the voice, their Faces full of awe, not daring to be the least bit slack.

Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also instantly retracted their mocking expressions. Their disdain was replaced by trepidation as they hurriedly stood up straight, bowing their heads and not daring to breathe too loudly.

Seeing their reactions, Qin Changsheng felt a bit puzzled.

A few years ago, the Outer Sect Eldest Senior Brother had always been Lin Hao.

He hadn't expected that after Lin Hao, Qin Changsheng, Jiang Lijuan, and the others reached Foundation Establishment, a new Eldest Senior Brother would appear in the Outer Sect.

Qin Changsheng also looked up slightly and saw a group of Cultivators dressed in green martial attire surrounding a man in fine silk clothes, slowly walking toward the crowd.

The man in fine clothes had a handsome Face but an arrogant expression. He held his chin high, his gaze looking down on everyone from above, radiating an innate arrogance as if all the Qi Refining Cultivators present were merely ants in his eyes, not worth a second glance.

The several Cultivators surrounding him were all at the Sixth or Seventh Level of Qi Refining. They had respectful expressions and followed closely behind him, appearing completely submissive.

"Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother!" Once the man in fine clothes approached, all the Qi Refining Cultivators bowed in salute, their tones extremely respectful.

Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others bowed even lower, their foreheads almost touching their chests, as they repeatedly murmured, "Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother," their eyes filled with trepidation and flattery.

Although they were impetuous and cared about Face, they also knew that the man in fine clothes before them was definitely not someone they could afford to provoke.

Qin Changsheng did not bow; he only calmly observed the man in fine clothes.

"This is Eldest Senior Brother Senior Brother Zhang Hao, a Named Disciple of Elder Lin Zhentian!"

"No wonder he's so domineering; he's one of Elder Lin's people. Moreover, he's at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, just one step away from Foundation Establishment!"

"I heard that Eldest Senior Brother Senior Brother Zhang Hao is overbearing and usually acts without restraint within the Sect. I didn't expect him to come to the Qingfeng Ruins today!"

"Shh! Keep it down. Don't let the Eldest Senior Brother hear you, or you'll be in for it!"

Hearing the crowd's discussion, Qin Changsheng understood why Senior Brother Zhang Hao was so tyrannical.

It turned out he was a disciple trained by Lin Zhentian.

Senior Brother Zhang Hao raised his hand, signaling everyone to rise.

Everyone hurriedly stood up, still keeping their heads low, not daring to look directly into Senior Brother Zhang Hao's eyes.

Senior Brother Zhang Hao's gaze slowly swept across the field, and a disdainful smirk curled on his lips. "This Young Master didn't come here today for anything else but to say one thing—after you enter the Qingfeng Ruins, half of all the treasures, Spiritual Materials, and Spirit Stones you obtain will belong to me!"

"What?!"

"Hand over half the treasures?"

"Eldest Senior Brother, you can't do this!"

As soon as Senior Brother Zhang Hao finished speaking, the expressions of all the Cultivators changed drastically. Their Faces showed disbelief, and their eyes were filled with shock and anger.

Everyone was stunned. They never expected Senior Brother Zhang Hao to be so domineering as to demand half of their gains.

They had come to the Qingfeng Ruins to try their luck, hoping to find some low-level Spiritual Plants or fragments of Magical Artifacts, which was better than nothing. Now, with a single sentence, Senior Brother Zhang Hao wanted to take away half; this was no different from robbery!

A Cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining turned pale, his lips trembling slightly as if he wanted to speak out in protest. But when he met Senior Brother Zhang Hao's cold and sharp gaze and felt the Pressure of his Great Perfection of Qi Refining, the words at the tip of his tongue were forced back down. The anger in his eyes was gradually replaced by fear.

Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also turned pale. Their hearts were filled with resentment, yet they dared not show it in the slightest.

Senior Brother Zhang Hao was a Named Disciple of Lin Zhentian and was at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. They were merely Cultivators at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining. If they dared to object, they would certainly Face Senior Brother Zhang Hao's retaliation. At that time, they might not only lose the treasures but also their lives.

Every Cultivator present was furious but did not dare to speak. Their Faces were filled with helplessness and fear. No one dared to stand up and resist, nor did anyone even dare to look up at Senior Brother Zhang Hao.

After all, the disparity in strength was too great, and with Lin Zhentian backing Senior Brother Zhang Hao, the consequence of resistance would only be self-destruction.

Seeing the crowd's terrified and resentful yet submissive appearance, a triumphant smile appeared on Senior Brother Zhang Hao's Face. "What? No one is speaking? Could it be that you disagree?"

As his words fell, he slightly released his Great Perfection of Qi Refining Pressure. A powerful aura swept through the field, causing the Cultivators to tremble. They quickly lowered their heads and repeatedly said, "We wouldn't dare! We will follow Eldest Senior Brother's instructions!"

"Yes! What the Eldest Senior Brother says is right. After we enter the ruins, we will definitely hand over half of our gains to the Eldest Senior Brother!"

Everyone chimed in, their tones full of flattery and fear. Gone were their previous anticipation and unease, replaced only by a heart full of helplessness and resentment.

Qin Changsheng saw all of this, but his expression remained indifferent, without the slightest ripple on his Face. He only gave Senior Brother Zhang Hao a faint glance when he demanded half the gains before immediately withdrawing his gaze, as if the farce before him had nothing to do with him.