Chu Xinghe was already dressed in the black disciple robe that symbolized an elite disciple.

He had just seen off the fifth group of people who came to congratulate him today.

Just as Chu Xinghe was about to take a break, more people arrived. This time, it was his own squad, minus Chu Cheng and the two spies who had died; everyone else was here.

"Brother Chu... congratulations..."

"Brother Chu, now that you've become an elite disciple, don't forget about us brothers. You must look out for us in the sect."

As the number one sect under the heavens, the Grand Sky Sect was powerful, and its rules were strict. Normally, an ordinary inner disciple would take three to five years of hard work to become an elite disciple if they were talented, and even longer if they weren't.

Elite disciples not only held a position far above ordinary inner disciples, but they also received more resources and learned more advanced techniques. Moreover, Chu Xinghe was personally taken under the wing of the Great Elder. How could his future not be bright?

Building a good relationship with Chu Xinghe now would be beneficial for everyone.

"Oh, why didn't Chu Cheng come?" Chu Xinghe asked knowingly.

"That bastard is now an outer disciple. He can't just come to the inner sect as he pleases."

"Exactly, he used to act like he was above us when he was a captain. Now that he's been demoted to the outer sect, let's see how arrogant he can be."

The squad members knew that Chu Cheng had once broken Chu Xinghe's arm, so they were well aware that despite being from the same hometown, there was no real camaraderie between the two.

"Yeah, he's an outer disciple now. What a pity..." Chu Xinghe sighed.

"Pity?" Zhao Dong, the sharpest in the squad, caught on to Chu Xinghe's words.

"Brother Chu, that bastard used to bully us a lot. You see..." Zhao Dong's words made everyone's eyes light up.

"Tsk tsk... Dong, you're wrong there. Although that bastard... ahem... Chu Cheng is a bit shameless, despicable, and lowly, we're from the same hometown after all. In a foreign land, fellow townsmen are like brothers. How can you kick someone when they're down?"

Zhao Dong and the others quickly said they wouldn't dare.

Chu Xinghe said with a pained expression, "Let's do it this way. Just break an arm, but don't go overboard, okay? After all, he's still an outer disciple, right?"

"Brother Chu, you're so generous!"

"Brother Chu, your magnanimity is admirable. We'll do as you say!"

After some flattery, Chu Xinghe saw off his former squad mates.

Later, some ordinary inner disciples who joined the sect at the same time also came to congratulate him. Chu Xinghe entertained them one by one, modestly saying it was the Great Elder's favor and his own good luck.

***

By evening, Chu Xinghe received news that some of his squad brothers went to visit Chu Cheng. The guy spoke rudely and ended up getting beaten up, with an arm broken and a face bruised. But who would care about an outer disciple, right?

That night, Chu Xinghe lay in bed, looking at the tasks listed in the Compass of Misfortune. It was filled with tasks that could potentially bring down the Grand Sky Sect.

Although he missed the chance to be expelled from the sect and become a peak Martial Emperor, Chu Xinghe wasn't worried as he looked at the Compass of Misfortune.

In a sect like the Grand Sky Sect, standing out was extremely difficult, even as an elite disciple, because there were still core disciples, personal disciples, and even chief disciples above him.

But if he wanted to court disaster and get expelled from the sect, there were plenty of ways to do that.

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***

After a dreamless night, Chu Xinghe donned his elite disciple robe early the next morning and headed to the elite disciples' cafeteria for breakfast.

He greeted other elite disciples along the way.

And indeed, the elite disciples' cafeteria lived up to its name; the food was far superior to that of ordinary disciples. After four bowls of braised pork, Chu Xinghe was full and satisfied.

Just as he was about to leave, two dejected elite disciples walked in. Their robes, like his, bore the unique Spirit Crane Pattern of the Great Elder, indicating they were also elite disciples under the Great Elder.

"Hello, Senior Brothers."

"Oh..." The two didn't even look up at Chu Xinghe and found a place to sit and eat.

Chu Xinghe didn't mind and was about to leave when he heard one of the elite disciples speak, "Ma Biao, I think I'm done for this time."

Ma Biao sighed, "Shen Chun, you know the Great Elder excels in pill refining, so all his disciples must learn it. But the Great Elder despises those who are careless. You blew up the cauldron while refining medicine this time, and the Great Elder was so angry his beard went crooked. You can't escape punishment."

"Ah!"

Shen Chun exclaimed in shock, "What kind of punishment?"

"At best, you'll be confined for a month; at worst, you'll lose your elite disciple status."

"No way... I just became an elite disciple. I can't..."

Shen Chun was almost in tears, but Chu Xinghe's eyes lit up!

What? Just blowing up a cauldron can get you punished? At best, confinement; at worst, losing elite disciple status? Is there such a good thing?

He quickly checked the Compass of Misfortune and found similar tasks.

Being confined could directly promote him to Martial Master?

Losing elite disciple status could directly promote him to Grand Martial Master?

Wow!

Chu Xinghe was so excited that the braised pork in his stomach churned.

In this world, cultivators were divided into nine grades, from First Grade to Ninth Grade.

First Grade Martial Artist was Chu Xinghe's current cultivation level, just an entry-level nobody.

Second Grade Martial Master.

Third Grade Grand Martial Master.

Fourth Grade Martial Grandmaster.

Fifth Grade Martial Spirit.

Sixth Grade Martial King.

Seventh Grade Martial Saint.

Eighth Grade Martial Sovereign.

Ninth Grade was Martial Emperor, and above Martial Emperor, there was rumored to be the Martial God realm, but that was beyond Chu Xinghe's understanding.

The Compass of Misfortune's unique ability allowed him to embark on a reverse cultivation path.

Confinement could promote him to Martial Master! Losing elite disciple status could directly promote him to Third Grade Grand Martial Master.

Goodness, if he cultivated steadily, even with his talent, it would take two or three years to reach this level.

But now... Chu Xinghe excitedly ran to the two dejected senior brothers, bowed at a ninety-degree angle, and thanked them, leaving them completely confused.

***

Leaving the cafeteria, Chu Xinghe hurried to the Spirit Crane Palace. The Grand Sky Sect occupied the entire Grand Sky Mountain Range, with each elder having their own peak. The Great Elder's peak was called Spirit Crane Palace, the most spiritually abundant place besides the Sect Master's.

Chu Xinghe walked up to Spirit Crane Palace, verified his identity, and entered.

The Great Elder was a Ninth Grade Alchemy Grandmaster, who had achieved enlightenment through medicine, so his disciples were required to learn alchemy.

Chu Xinghe arrived at the Medicine King Palace at the center of Spirit Crane Palace, where the scent of medicine wafted out.

Smelling the medicinal aroma, Chu Xinghe hurried into the Medicine King Palace.

After some inquiries, Chu Xinghe found an elite disciple named Feng Fei, whose chest bore the four cauldron pattern, indicating he was a Fourth Grade Alchemist. Feng Fei was also the senior brother who usually guided the disciples in their cultivation.

The Great Elder and other elders were busy with affairs and couldn't personally teach every day, so most of the time, disciples were taught by selected higher-level disciples. Feng Fei was today's instructor.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, your deeds of not being proud in rewards and not being afraid in punishments have spread throughout the Grand Sky Sect. Your willingness to stand up for a fellow townsman is truly admirable." Feng Fei clearly knew of Chu Xinghe, and his words made Chu Xinghe a bit embarrassed, considering his fellow townsman probably wouldn't be able to get out of bed for half a month.

"Senior Brother Feng, I want to learn how to blow up... ahem... refine pills!" Chu Xinghe almost blurted out his true intentions in excitement.

"Since Junior Brother wants to learn, I will personally teach you, but the art of pill refining requires high talent..." Feng Fei rambled on, but Chu Xinghe didn't remember a word until Feng Fei mentioned the precautions, which caught his attention.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, the first step in learning pill refining is fire control. Everyone can naturally control different flames, and only those who can control Spirit Flames can learn pill refining. Next, I'll test your Spirit Flame, but remember, during the Spirit Flame test, when the flame permeates the pill furnace, you must not lose focus, or the Spirit Flame will go out of control and cause an explosion, which is a serious offense the Great Elder detests."

Feng Fei looked serious, and Chu Xinghe nodded solemnly.

Feng Fei said a lot, but Chu Xinghe only remembered a few points...

First... losing focus could cause an explosion.

Second... an explosion would result in severe punishment.

Perfect!

Following Feng Fei, Chu Xinghe arrived at the Rosefinch Hall to test the Spirit Flame. Feng Fei meticulously explained the method to Chu Xinghe again.

He also reminded Chu Xinghe that even if the test failed, it was okay; he could try again next time, but he must not lose focus and cause the Spirit Flame to explode. He also said that since Chu Xinghe was a disciple personally taken under the Great Elder, he must not disappoint the Great Elder.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng!"

Chu Xinghe gave Feng Fei a determined look, and seeing Feng Fei nod in satisfaction, Chu Xinghe was also very pleased. Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng, I never disappoint when it comes to disappointing people!

With everything ready, Chu Xinghe sat before the Earthly Flame, channeling his spiritual power into it as Feng Fei instructed. In an instant, the Earthly Flame rose and changed from red to orange.

Seeing this, Feng Fei was delighted. The change in color indicated that Chu Xinghe might have the ability to control Spirit Flames.

But just as Feng Fei eagerly awaited to see what grade of Spirit Flame Chu Xinghe could produce, the orange flame suddenly exploded!

"Boom!" The terrifying Spirit Flame erupted from the earth, instantly engulfing the pill furnace. Under the high temperature, the furnace turned red-hot.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, stop!" Feng Fei realized Chu Xinghe had lost control.

Stop? I've finally got the Spirit Flame to go berserk; how can I stop?

Chu Xinghe ignored Feng Fei's words and increased the intensity. The explosion must happen today!

Seeing Chu Xinghe unresponsive, Feng Fei thought he had lost focus. In a hurry, he channeled his own spiritual power to suppress Chu Xinghe's Spirit Flame.

With Feng Fei's power, the Spirit Flame was indeed suppressed, and Feng Fei breathed a sigh of relief.

But Chu Xinghe was furious... I was about to blow up the furnace; I can't let Feng Fei ruin it. At this point, Chu Xinghe couldn't care less.

He unleashed all his power, pouring all his spiritual energy into the Spirit Flame.

In an instant, the flame, which was about to extinguish, turned from orange to crimson, then from crimson to a fiery gold. The terrifying flame swept away Feng Fei's suppressive power.

Feng Fei was shocked, but just as he panicked, a faint cry echoed from the Spirit Flame. The next moment, the fiery gold flame overwhelmed the already collapsing pill furnace.

"Boom..." A massive explosion accompanied by flames spread out, and Feng Fei had to protect Chu Xinghe and flee.

The pill furnace exploded, and flames engulfed the room in the Rosefinch Hall, reducing it to ashes.

Feng Fei was dumbfounded, with only one thought in his mind... It's over!

But Chu Xinghe was overjoyed as he looked at the destroyed room!

This time, let's see who can stop me!