C114 Move!

Shortly thereafter, Zhang Chen returned. He presented Lin Xuan with a storage ring, offering a slight smile as he spoke:

"There's a rule in the Pill Refining Hall that forbids non-disciples from accessing our internal texts. My hands are tied.

What I have here are the insights from my own journey in the Pill Dao, along with foundational alchemy texts I've acquired over the years.

They've outlived their usefulness to me, so I've come to regard them as mementos.

I'm passing them on to you, hoping they'll help you make your mark in the Pill Dao."

"Much appreciated!"

Lin Xuan expressed his gratitude with a nod, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

He hadn't anticipated such stringent restrictions from the Pill Refining Hall, where non-disciples were barred even from purchasing basic texts.

Had he not stepped in to alleviate Zhang Chen's predicament, these resources would have remained beyond his reach.

But Lin Xuan quickly grasped the underlying intent.

This was likely a mandate of the sect, designed to prevent those lacking alchemy talent from pursuing the Pill Dao only to come away empty-handed.

The Pill Dao and the Martial Path are distinct pursuits, with the former's complexity surpassing even that of the latter.

Without innate talent, years of study might not suffice to reach even the beginner level.

Had Lin Xuan not recognized his own gift for alchemy—a talent that wouldn't hinder his martial training—he wouldn't have ventured into the Pill Dao.

"Junior Brother Lin, shall we head out?"

After a brief exchange, Zhang Chen suggested.

Lin Xuan gave a small nod in agreement.

Together, they left the inner sanctum of the Pill Refining Hall. It was inappropriate to bring an outsider there, and discovery by the higher-ups would surely lead to a stern reprimand.

In the outer hall, Zhang Chen showed Lin Xuan around the communal spaces, acquainting him with the properties of various medicinal pills and herbs.

His assistance to Lin Xuan was heartfelt and sincere.

Lin Xuan acknowledged this silently.

After spending a good part of the hour together, Zhang Chen finally escorted Lin Xuan from the Pill Refining Hall.

"Junior Brother Lin, feel free to visit the Pill Refining Hall anytime to further our discussions on the Pill Dao," he offered warmly.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang. I'll do just that."

Lin Xuan replied with a smile and quickly made his way out.

Before long, he found himself back at the housing area for ordinary Inner Sect disciples.

Swiftly, Lin Xuan gathered all his belongings into his storage ring and departed for the core zone where the elite disciples resided.

His victory over Hu Yuanhua had earned him the 28th spot on the Strong List.

He was now rightfully entitled to a dwelling in the elite district.

Moreover, as a member of the Drifting Cloud Sect, second only to the Core Disciples, the elite enjoyed exceptional privileges.

The concentration of spiritual qi in their living quarters alone was significantly higher than in other areas, greatly aiding in the advancement of their cultivation.

Lin Xuan was well aware of the benefits and made his choice accordingly.

It wasn't long before he reached the elite disciples' residential area.

As anticipated, the area was segmented into individual attics, each enclosed within its own small courtyard. There were thirty-six in total, one for each of the elite disciples.

The opulence of these attics was a step above the simple dwellings of the other disciples.

A gentle mist hung in the air, its coolness bringing a sense of refreshment.

This was the spiritual qi, concentrated here by the Spiritual Gathering Array.

Indeed, this place was in a league of its own compared to the other residential areas.

Lin Xuan surveyed the surroundings and gave a slight nod of approval.

Shortly thereafter, he located attic number 28 by its doorplate.

"Who goes there? This is the elite disciples' residential area. Ordinary Inner Sect disciples must keep their distance!"

He had barely arrived when a middle-aged warrior, in the middle stage of the Condensation Spin Stage, emerged from the courtyard and called out sternly.

"Lin Xuan, the new number 28 on the Strong List. Open the gate!"

Lin Xuan presented his Strong List Token with a calm demeanor.

Upon seeing the token, the middle-aged warrior's face shifted, and he quickly unlocked the courtyard gate, greeting Lin Xuan with due respect:

"Please enter!

My name is Zhou Yun, the steward assigned to you by the sect, responsible for handling all your affairs.

Master Hu has already briefed me on your arrival.

"Rest assured, the attic has been thoroughly cleaned and is ready for you to move in."

"Very well."

Lin Xuan's eyebrows shot up, surprise etched across his face.

He hadn't anticipated the lavish treatment afforded to the elite disciples; they even had a warrior at the Condensation Spin Stage serving as their butler.

In Green Jade City, the most powerful were merely at the second level of the Condensation Spin Stage.

And in the Outer Sect, most elders were at the same stage.

Yet, despite the Strong List disciples being at least at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage, they were still assigned a butler of the same rank.

This clearly highlighted their esteemed status.

But Lin Xuan saw the upside: more resources for them meant quicker advancement in his own cultivation.

With that thought, he stepped into the courtyard.

The Strong List area, usually a bastion of tranquility, was now buzzing with activity, drawing the gaze of numerous elite disciples from the nearby lofts.

"Who's that guy? He's actually going into Old Hu's loft, and his butler just let him in?"

"Has Old Hu been defeated? Did someone take his spot on the Strong List?"

"It looks that way. But who is this newcomer? He seems like a stranger. He's not one of the Inner Sect's elite, and his presence doesn't feel that strong. How could he possibly have the power to take down Old Hu?"

"I have no idea where this master came from!"

"Neither do I."

The elite disciples buzzed with speculation.

Then, a shout of recognition cut through the chatter.

"I've got it. That's the new guy, Lin Xuan. The Lin Xuan who's been making waves recently!"

The revelation hushed the crowd for a moment before the murmurs swelled into a roar of disbelief.

"How can that be? Hasn't Lin Xuan only been here a month? How did he make it onto the Strong List already?"

"I remember hearing something about a duel at the Fighting Arena. Old Hu challenged Lin Xuan and ended up losing."

"Lin Xuan is that formidable? He bested Old Hu?"

"And that's not the half of it. He didn't just win; he demolished the entire arena. He nearly leveled the whole Fighting Arena!"

I had dismissed the rumor as a tall tale.

"But seeing Lin Xuan here with Old Hu's Strong List Token, it must be true!"

"He took down Old Hu in just two moves and managed to wreck the Fighting Arena in the process? He's got to be monstrously strong. He might even rank in the top ten of the Strong List now, right?"

As soon as someone recognized Lin Xuan, another person recounted Lin Xuan's exploits at the Fighting Arena earlier that day.

The crowd erupted in astonishment.

Many elite disciples stared at Lin Xuan, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

Their amazement deepened at the realization that Lin Xuan, a newcomer, possessed such formidable strength.

Meanwhile, in the small courtyard, Lin Xuan simply smiled nonchalantly and paid no mind to the onlookers.

He made his way into the pavilion.

Zhou Yun showed him around, then helped him rearrange the pavilion to his liking.

Afterward, Lin Xuan headed to the cultivation chamber.

He retrieved a spirit stone, ready to resume his training.

Initially, he had intended to visit the Pill Refining Hall to discover if he had any natural aptitude for alchemy. If so, he could then replicate that talent.