Chương 23: Conflict

On this day, Reyn slowly opened his eyes. A faint, ethereal fluorescence shimmered across his features before receding into his skin, leaving his gaze calm and profound. His entire aura had undergone a subtle transformation, shedding the raw edges of youth for a more composed and formidable presence.

"Having reached the tenth level of Qi Condensation, the efficacy of spirit pills has hit a definitive ceiling. Consuming more would be a waste of resources," Reyn murmured, a flicker of excitement dancing in his eyes. It was a feat that defied all logic; who could have imagined that the boy with mediocre spiritual roots from half a year ago could ascend to the tenth level of Qi Condensation in such a staggering timeframe?

"The Foundation Establishment Pill," Reyn whispered, his pupils sharpening like cold steel. Hours later, Reyn emerged from the seclusion of his medicinal garden and set a steady pace toward Hundred Herb Valley. Despite his heaven-defying talent for alchemy, he could not manifest a pill from thin air without a blueprint or a sample to analyze. To his slight frustration, none of the storage bags he had scavenged from his fallen enemies contained a single Foundation Establishment Pill.

His objective today was clear: obtain a pill, or at the very least, decipher its medicinal composition and energetic structure. As the sole provider of alchemical wonders within the Xuanxiao Sect, Hundred Herb Valley held a status that was beyond reproach. Although Dan Chenzi was merely at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment, even the Sect Leader—a powerhouse of the mid-Golden Core Realm—treated him with the utmost deference, engaging with him as an equal.

Dan Chenzi was notoriously selective with his tutelage; including Reyn, he only had five disciples. However, the valley was teeming with over a hundred Outer Sect disciples tasked with the grueling labor of tending the gardens and processing raw herbs. With Dan Chenzi currently in seclusion attempting to shatter the barrier to the Golden Core Realm, the valley's prestige had surged to even greater heights. At the entrance, a man known as Wang Er Mazzi was lording over a hundred laborers.

He paced back and forth as they dried the recently harvested spirit herbs, his voice cracking like a whip as he barked orders with an air of self-importance.

"Move your limbs, you lot! Get the rest of those herbs out of the warehouse and lay them out one by one. If I see a single leaf out of place, there will be hell to pay!"

"Careful with those hands! Those are ingredients for Spirit-Restoring Pills. If you bruise them, your miserable lives won't be enough to compensate for the loss!"

"Are you blind? That's a Blood Orchid Flower! It's not like the others. If you leave it in the direct sun for more than a moment, its medicinal essence will evaporate. Get it back into the shade, now!" After a flurry of shouting, Wang Er Mazzi's throat felt parched. He retreated to a stone table, pouring himself a cup of tea with a flourish. Watching the laborers toil in fearful silence, a smirk of pure arrogance crossed his face.

He remembered how he had played his cards right, shamelessly clinging to the coattails of Senior Brother Duan to secure this position of authority. Without that stroke of sycophancy, he would still be one of the ants in the dirt. Reyn stepped into Hundred Herb Valley with measured strides. As a registered disciple of Dan Chenzi, he possessed the right to enter and exit as he pleased.

Seeing the bustling scene before him, a faint, nostalgic smile touched his lips; he had spent many days performing these very tasks during his early tenure in the valley. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. As a familiar figure passed by, Reyn called out with a light chuckle, "Why is the Great Manager himself hauling herbs? Didn't you once tell me that a man in power must maintain his 'lofty dignity'? Have you suddenly had a change of heart, Wang Bin?"

Wang Bin looked up, his eyes widening with pleasant surprise at the sight of Reyn. However, his expression quickly soured into a grimace of embarrassment. He forced a strained smile and replied, "Ah, Senior Brother Reyn. It's been half a year. Things... things have changed. I'm no longer the manager. Before the Elder went into seclusion, he left the valley's affairs to Senior Brother Duan. He decided my performance was 'unsatisfactory.'"

Though Wang Bin tried to sound indifferent, Reyn caught the flicker of resentment and injustice in his eyes.

"Does this have something to do with me?" Reyn's voice dropped an octave, his face darkening.

"Well... Senior Brother Duan spoke ill of you behind your back. I couldn't keep my mouth shut and argued with him. The next thing I knew, I was stripped of my rank and replaced by that fawning bootlicker over there," Wang Bin spat, gesturing toward Wang Er Mazzi with a look of pure indignation. Reyn's internal temperature plummeted. Before he could offer a word of comfort, a harsh, grating shout cut through the air.

"Wang Bin! Slacking off to gossip with some random nobody? If you don't want to be here, pack your trash and crawl back to the Outer Sect! There are thousands of disciples breaking their necks just for a chance to step foot in this valley!" Wang Er Mazzi marched over, his face twisted in a sneer. He recognized Reyn, of course. He knew Reyn was a registered disciple of the Elder—a rank far above his own—but he considered himself Duan Zhonghua's man.

As the saying goes, one must look at the master before beating the dog. In his mind, Reyn was just a lucky brat with no real backing. He didn't fear him in the slightest. Wang Bin's face turned deathly pale. Being exiled back to the Outer Sect would effectively end his path to advancement. Reyn's expression turned icy. He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto Wang Er Mazzi like a predator pinning its prey.

"A random nobody?" Reyn said, his voice dangerously calm.

"Open those dog eyes of yours and look closely. I am a registered disciple of the Master. And what exactly are you? A mere servant, yet you dare to bark in my presence?" Though Reyn was suppressing his cultivation, the sheer weight of a tenth-level Qi Condensation master's presence leaked out. The invisible pressure struck Wang Er Mazzi like a physical blow, making his heart hammer against his ribs. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed onto the gravel.

"Heh, I was wondering who was making such a grand display of authority in our Hundred Herb Valley. So, it's Junior Brother Reyn." A mocking voice drifted from the inner courtyard. Reyn turned to see Duan Zhonghua and Ji Yueli walking toward them. Duan Zhonghua's lips were curled in a derisive smirk.

"Half a year has passed, and your cultivation is still stagnant at the first level of Qi Condensation, yet your temper seems to have grown quite formidable." Reyn gave him a cursory glance. Eighth level of Qi Condensation. To reach such a level in six months was respectable by ordinary standards, but to Reyn, it was utterly beneath notice. However, when Reyn's gaze shifted to Ji Yueli, his eyes narrowed. Seventh level! He had the advantage of the Golden Seal and a mountain of pills to reach his current height.

For this woman to reach the seventh level purely through her own talent meant her spiritual roots were nothing short of extraordinary.

"Sister Ji, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well?" Reyn said, offering a polite nod. Ji Yueli studied Reyn, noting his calm, unshakeable temperament. She was inwardly surprised; despite his supposedly poor aptitude, he possessed a depth of character that many geniuses lacked. Remembering the time he had accidentally bumped into her, a faint flush touched her cheeks, though she suppressed it instantly.

"I am well," she replied coolly.

"Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother." Seeing Reyn ignore him entirely was bad enough, but seeing the fleeting blush on Ji Yueli's face sent a surge of murderous jealousy through Duan Zhonghua. Over the past six months, Ji Yueli's progress had stunned the sect. The Sect Leader had personally designated her a Core Disciple, and her beauty had earned her the title of the 'Ethereal Fairy,' the undisputed number one beauty of the Xuanxiao Sect. Duan had pursued her relentlessly with zero success.

Seeing her show even a hint of emotion toward a 'trash' like Reyn made him grit his teeth in fury.

"Wang Er Mazzi!" Duan barked, his eyes burning.

"What is going on here? How did you manage to offend our 'illustrious' Junior Brother Reyn?"