Every day, each member of the entire clan gives me a wisp of spiritual energy.

Chapter 4 The Huang Clan of Qinghe

Shen Qing withdrew his hand and nodded without any change in expression.

"Your qualifications are acceptable. Move over there."

Zhong Xiu was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting it to be so simple.

He silently walked to the line of registered disciples and stood at the very back.

Shen Qing continued registering the next person, but her heart was already churning with turmoil.

This little girl named Zhong Xiu was born with two spiritual roots, her meridians were naturally clear.

Such talent would be highly sought after even by major sects.

And now, she has become a disciple of the Qingyun Sect.

Of course, Shen Qing noticed that the system had not yet bound Zhong Xiu, and her loyalty had not yet reached the threshold of "genuine recognition".

But that doesn't matter. As long as someone is in Qingyun Sect, their loyalty can be cultivated gradually.

Most importantly, no one knows she exists right now.

By the time they find out, it will be too late.

By evening, more than forty people had signed up.

Shen Qing selected eighteen who met the criteria, and together with three senior disciples, the total number of disciples he bound reached twenty-one.

Shen Qing didn't completely rule out the others who weren't loyal enough, only saying that he would take them in as peripheral disciples for now.

After all, Shen Qing's goal is not just the small Qingyun Mountain; he needs the power of the masses to help him step out of Qinghe County.

As the sun set, Shen Qing led a large entourage out of the county town.

The group was filled with former laborers who carried loads, beggars, and refugees fleeing famine.

Although they still wear tattered clothes, there is something burning in their eyes, something called hope!

Shen Qing walked at the front, but kept her eyes on Zhong Xiu at the back of the group.

The girl walked with her head down, looking no different from the others.

But Shen Qing noticed that her steps were very steady, and her breathing adjusted itself as she walked. She walked for an hour on the mountain road without even panting.

Shen Qing withdrew his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips. Is this what a genius is like?

It was already dark when they returned to Qingyun Sect.

Upon seeing this large group of people, Zhou Bo exclaimed in surprise, "Sect Master, these people..."

"They are all newly accepted disciples. Uncle Zhou, please arrange accommodations. There are plenty of empty rooms in the sect, enough for them."

Uncle Zhou opened his mouth, then turned around to make the arrangements.

Shen Qing stood in the courtyard, watching the new disciples being arranged into the various rooms that had been empty for many years.

The noise brought life to this mountain that had been silent for many years for the first time.

Late at night.

The new disciples settled down and gradually fell asleep.

Shen Qing sat alone in the quiet room, staring at the system panel.

[Daily automatic draw, starting.]

Spiritual energy suddenly surged forth from within his dantian.

Nearly ten wisps of spiritual energy converged together, forming a small vortex in the dantian.

Then, this spiritual essence merges into the meridians and flows into the dantian.

boom!

The barrier that had held them in place for years shattered at this moment.

Shen Qing returned to the ninth level of Qi Refining once again.

The total amount of spiritual energy in the dantian increased by at least 30%, the meridians became wider and stronger, and the circulation speed increased significantly.

We're one step closer to foundation building.

Shen Qing clenched his fists, feeling the power surging within him, and felt an urge to roar.

He held back because of the commotion outside the courtyard.

Someone is coming.

more than one.

Shen Qing pushed open the door.

In the courtyard, the moonlight was like water.

Three figures scaled the wall and entered. The one in the lead was Huang Wenyuan, followed by two guards.

He saw Shen Qing standing in the courtyard, paused slightly, then smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Sect Leader Shen, I apologize for the late visit. My elder brother asked me to inquire about your consideration of our previous proposal."

Huang Wenyuan glanced at the side room, a strange light flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"I heard that Sect Leader Shen took in quite a few disciples today? Congratulations! The Qingyun Sect is thriving, that's a good thing."

His tone was very polite, and there was no hint of sarcasm in it.

Shen Qing raised his right hand.

Spiritual energy condensed in his palm, gleaming faintly with a bluish light under the moonlight. The aura of a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator was released without reservation.

Huang Wenyuan's pupils constricted slightly.

"...Ninth level of Qi Refining?"

He stared at Shen Qing for a couple of moments, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"Sect Master Shen, you've broken through?"

Shen Qing withdrew his hand and said calmly, "I've had a sudden realization."

Huang Wenyuan was silent for a moment, then smiled again.

"Congratulations, Sect Leader Shen. After being stuck at the eighth level for so many years, it's truly a cause for celebration to break through. My elder brother will be very happy to hear this."

Although his tone was very polite, there was a hint of seriousness on his face.

"In that case, Wen Yuan will not disturb you any longer. Sect Leader Shen, please take your time to consider the previous suggestion; there is no need to rush."

After saying that, he turned and left with two guards, much faster than when he came.

Shen Qing watched the three figures disappear into the distance, then slowly withdrew her gaze.

Huang Wenyuan was very smart. He saw Shen Qing's breakthrough and the sudden appearance of dozens of disciples. Instead of testing them or making sarcastic remarks, he chose to retreat.

Shen Qing naturally understood that the Huang family would not let this go easily.

They will reassess the existence of Qingyun Sect and find out exactly what happened these past few days.

The real game will only begin once they have investigated thoroughly.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Zhao Shitou rubbed his eyes and came out: "Sect Master, what happened?"

Shen Qing turned around and patted him on the shoulder.

"It's nothing. Go back to sleep."

Zhao Shitou nodded blankly, took two steps, then turned back: "Sect Master, you seem a little different than usual. Could it be... that you've broken through?"

Shen Qing did not answer.

He looked at the row of side rooms, his gaze lingering on one of them for a moment.

That was Zhongxiu's room.

Today, the twenty disciples he bound to brought him a breakthrough.

What about tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow?

Once these disciples begin their cultivation, once geniuses like Zhong Xiu begin to grow, and once they bring in more newcomers...

Shen Qing looked up at the night sky.

The moonlight was bright and clear, and the stars twinkled.

The sky here doesn't seem so high anymore.

The Huang family in the south of the city.

The head of the family, Huang Dehou, sat in a grand chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Huang Wenyuan stood at the lower end and recounted everything he had seen that night.

"Ninth level of Qi Refining?" Huang Dehou frowned slightly. "He's been stuck for over a decade, and now he's breaking through?"

"Yes. His aura is powerful; he doesn't seem like someone who has just broken through."

Huang Wenyuan pondered for a moment and said, "What's even stranger are the disciples he took in. When I went there, I saw that the rooms were full of people, at least twenty or so."

"Are they all just ordinary people?"

"Yes. I asked around at the foot of the mountain, and they were all peasants from the north of the city."

Huang Dehou fell silent.

He took a group of ordinary people as disciples, and suddenly broke through the bottleneck that had been stuck for ten years.

These two things together seem unusual no matter how you look at it.

Huang Wenyuan spoke up, "Brother, I think Shen Qing is no ordinary person. He tolerated our ultimatum and the pressure from the county magistrate, but then he went down the mountain and took in more than twenty disciples, and even broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining. Moreover, I think that the guy surnamed Mo is ultimately a variable."

Huang Dehou sneered, "A mere ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator? Our Huang family has plenty of those. The real pressure from the County Magistrate is what's pressing on the Qingyun Sect."

"As for the one surnamed Mo," Huang Dehou's face twitched noticeably at this point, "the one surnamed Mo should have died long ago, otherwise it would have been impossible for him to have been gone for twenty years."

"Let's leave Qingyun Sect alone for now. The county magistrate is our weapon, and we can't rush to play this card. Let Shen Qing continue to cause trouble and continue to recruit his mortal disciples. Once he's squandered all of Qingyun Sect's resources, the county magistrate's patience will run out, and he'll collapse on his own without us even having to lift a finger."

"As for those mortal disciples, they are a bunch of ants and can't cause any trouble."

Huang Wenyuan nodded: "What you say is true, brother. But we still need to keep an eye on things, just in case anything changes..."

"Send the third brother over there. Keep an eye on Qingyun Sect and report back immediately if anything unusual happens."

Huang Wenyuan acknowledged and withdrew.

Huang Dehou picked up the teacup and gently blew on it.

It's just a level nine Qi Refining stage.

In this county town, nothing can be turned upside down.