If there aren't enough masters, disciples will make up the difference!

Inside Tingfeng Courtyard, Lin Yuan sat upright on a stone stool, leisurely brewing himself a pot of spiritual tea.

His Divine Sense swept over the group of Core Formation Elders outside the door, who were anxious and scratching their heads but dared not barge in; a playful arc curled at the corner of his lips.

So this was the trouble Gu Zheng had mentioned.

This wasn't trouble at all; it was clearly leeks delivering themselves to his door, one crop after another.

Outside the door, the atmosphere had evolved from initial probing into a tense, sword-drawn confrontation.

"Old Ghost Wei, everything should follow a first-come, first-served basis! I arrived first, why should I let you cut in line?"

"Hmph, that's still better than your neither-human-nor-ghost appearance! Elder Lin only sees those with affinity; with that look of yours, I'm afraid you have none!" Granny Long's bone staff tapped rhythmically on the bluestone slab, her voice cold and sinister.

"Stop arguing!" One-Eyed Elder roared, his fierce gaze sweeping over the crowd. "What's the use of arguing here? In my opinion, we should rank by Sect contribution. I have shed blood for the Sect, so I should be first. Does anyone have an objection?"

"Bullshit! My man died on the battlefield, so I should definitely be ranked ahead of you!"

Deep within the courtyard, on the stone stool, Lin Yuan listened to the quarrel outside, a cold arc curling at his lips.

His Divine Sense had already seen through this group of usually high-and-mighty Core Formation Elders.

The trouble Gu Zheng spoke of was, to him, nothing more than a group of leeks waiting to be harvested.

Thoughts raced through his mind, and he had already calculated his strategy: "Elder Wei's Lifespan is nearing its end, making him the most desperate and the best Breakthrough point. One-Eyed Elder has a violent temper and is easily used as a tool. As for Granny Long... she doesn't look like someone to be trifled with, so she should be left to wait for now."

Seeing that those outside were about to come to blows over a spot to see him, the Restriction of the courtyard quietly dissipated, and the courtyard gate creaked open on its own.

Lin Yuan, in green robes, stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the people at the door with an indifferent expression.

The Elders, who had been at each other's throats just a second ago, instantly fell silent, hurriedly tidying their robes and squeezing out ingratiating smiles; the speed of their change in demeanor was truly remarkable.

"Fellow Elders, why are you making such a racket in front of my door?" Lin Yuan's voice was devoid of any ripples.

"Elder Lin!" Elder Wei stepped forward first, bowing deeply to Lin Yuan with a very low posture. "This old man has been stuck at the Perfection of the Late Core Formation Stage for two hundred years, and my time is running out. I heard that the Elder's Alchemy is divine, so I have come specifically... to beg for a pill to break through!"

As he spoke, he took out a Jade Box from his Storage Pouch with a pained expression and offered it with both hands: "This is a 'Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Ginseng' that I have treasured for three hundred years. Please, Elder Lin, accept it!"

"Elder Lin, don't listen to him!" Granny Long squeezed forward, thrusting a pitch-black wooden box in front of Lin Yuan. "I have the venom sac of the ancient Vicious Beast 'Nine Nether Spider', which is best for refining sinister Medicinal Pills. I only ask for the Elder's compassion!"

"Elder Lin, my daughter is just sixteen, with a stunning face..."

For a moment, the entrance of Tingfeng Courtyard turned into a vegetable market, with sounds of various rare treasures and promised benefits ringing endlessly.

Lin Yuan sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he revealed a just-right look of exhaustion. He raised his hand, and the noise came to an abrupt halt.

"I appreciate everyone's good intentions," he said, scanning the crowd. "However, refining the breaking nascent soul returning origin pill for Elder Gu has exhausted most of my mental energy. Such a Heaven-Defying Divine Pill burns my Origin every time I start a furnace, and now I am truly unable to do more."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces were filled with disappointment.

Lin Yuan changed the subject: "Moreover, I have already promised Elder Su that I would start a furnace for her. Everyone, please return."

Once these words were spoken, everyone was stunned at first, then the looks they exchanged changed.

That vixen Su Meiniang had actually beaten them to it!

Not only were they not discouraged, but they were even more certain—Elder Lin wasn't refusing to refine, it was just that the rewards they offered weren't enough to make him start the furnace!

This meant that the path to Nascent Soul was possible!

"Since that is the case, we will not disturb Elder Lin's cultivation." Elder Wei and the others immediately put on understanding expressions, put away their treasures, and tactfully took their leave.

However, they had all made up their minds to prepare generous gifts upon returning and go to Su Meiniang's Immortal Cave to inquire about the situation!

Lin Yuan closed the courtyard gate, and a fiery red figure appeared behind him like a ghost, bringing with her a heady, intoxicating fragrance.

"It really is quite impressive to be a Guest Elder; you have these old fogies in the Sect running around in circles." Su Meiniang leaned against the door frame, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering, wearing a half-smile.

"And who do you think I did this for?" Lin Yuan turned around, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head to blow a breath of hot air into her ear. "If it weren't to help you with Alchemy, I wouldn't want all these benefits! You must compensate me well!"

Su Meiniang's pretty face flushed red from his intimate gesture, but she didn't struggle. Instead, she leaned into his embrace, her breath like an orchid: "At least you still have a conscience. I've prepared everything. Can you... do it now?"

"Let's go!"

Two hours later.

"Boom!"

The familiar seven-colored pill cloud once again shrouded the sky above Black Stone City, and compared to last time, the momentum was not the least bit weaker!

In the city, the Core Formation Elders who had just dispersed rushed out of their Immortal Caves, gazing at the brilliant phenomenon in the sky.

"It... it succeeded again!"

"Tsk tsk... If Su Meiniang can also condense a Nascent Soul, then I... I also have a chance!"

"Oh my, oh my... If only this pill were mine... that would be great! No... the next furnace of pills must be refined for me!"

Tingfeng Courtyard, inside the Quiet Room.

Lin Yuan tossed a supreme grade breaking nascent soul returning origin pill, also wreathed in nine pill patterns, to Su Meiniang, while he leaned weakly against his chair, rubbing his temples.

"Phew... A supreme grade pill consumes too much; I need to rest for a few days."

Su Meiniang held the Jade Box in her hands, feeling the massive life essence within, and her delicate body trembled with excitement. She looked at Lin Yuan's "pale" complexion, the gratitude and affection in her eyes almost overflowing.

She carefully put away the Medicinal Pill, then moved with lotus steps to stand behind Lin Yuan. Her soft, boneless jade hands gently placed themselves on his shoulders, kneading with just the right amount of pressure.

"Thank you for your hard work." Her voice carried an unprecedented tenderness and huskiness.

With warmth and soft jade in his arms, his nose filled with an intoxicating body fragrance, and feeling that just-right pressure, Lin Yuan closed his eyes comfortably.

This damned world where strength is respected, this decadent life, it really makes one degenerate.

"Aren't you in a hurry to go back and make a Breakthrough?" Lin Yuan asked.

"Before the Alchemy, didn't you say you wanted me to compensate you? I must finish compensating you before it's too late to go for the Breakthrough!"

When the wind stopped and the rain ceased, Su Meiniang left, satisfied, and headed straight to her Immortal Cave to go into seclusion for the Breakthrough.

Lin Yuan fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone through the window lattice into the Quiet Room, Lin Yuan opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

The Physical Body of the Blood Moving Stage truly has formidable recovery capabilities.

He pushed open the door, only to see a slender figure standing in the courtyard with her head bowed.

The person was dressed in a pale green dress, with a graceful figure and hair like a waterfall—it was Xue Linglong.

She seemed to have been waiting here for a long time. Hearing the door open, she hurriedly stepped forward and bowed gracefully to Lin Yuan, her voice crisp but carrying a hint of respect and distance.

"By the order of Revered Master, from today onwards, Xue Linglong has come to attend to Elder Lin's daily life."