Perhaps it was Chu Xinghe's words that had an effect, as the senior brothers from Spirit Crane Palace indeed did not lay a hand on Chu Cheng.

But they chose another method!

Stop the medicine!

That's right, although the treatment for outer disciples in the Grand Sky Sect cannot compare to that of the inner disciples, it is still the number one sect in the world. Even the resources for outer disciples are far superior to those of inner disciples in ordinary sects, and even many major sects cannot compare.

And when it comes to pills, they naturally come from Spirit Crane Palace. It can be said that all the pill resources of the entire Grand Sky Sect are provided by Spirit Crane Palace.

Each faction would collect their pill resources at designated times and distribute them to their disciples according to their share.

But this time, the outer sect did not receive any pills. The reason was simple: a shortage of supplies.

Initially, the outer sect didn't think much of it. After all, they were the outer sect, and it wasn't unusual for them to be the first to be cut off during a shortage. But when they asked when the supply would be replenished, the answer was that it couldn't be!

This made the outer sect anxious. What? Are outer disciples not human? It's one thing to bully us in private, but now it's out in the open?

Just as the outer disciples were about to confront the Great Elder, a message came from Spirit Crane Palace.

"What? It's because of that bastard Chu Cheng!"

"He said Chu Xinghe broke his arm?"

"Nonsense... Chu Xinghe never even went to the outer sect. I was there that day. It was people from his former team visiting him, and he spoke out of turn, which led to him being beaten like that!"

"I heard this guy has always been a tyrant to his team members."

"Damn it! Just because of this bastard, we can't get our pills? It seems the people from Spirit Crane Palace said he slandered their Junior Brother Xinghe, and they couldn't stand it anymore?"

"I don't care. Watch me beat this bastard to a pulp!"

No one knows better than Chu Cheng how ruthless a group of outer disciples who can't get their pills can be.

After a few days of rest, although Chu Cheng was still bruised and battered, he could at least get out of bed and walk. Chu Cheng swore! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west! Don't underestimate a poor youth!

One day, Chu Cheng vowed to return to the inner sect as an emperor!

And the first thing he would do is make Chu Xinghe kneel before him and call him father!

He would break not just his four limbs... no! All five!

But just as Chu Cheng was fantasizing about wielding a divine sword in his left hand and a divine technique in his right, the door was kicked open by a group of outer disciples.

"So you're the damn Chu Cheng!" A senior brother who looked like a Bighead Carp tilted his head and looked at Chu Cheng.

"Senior brother... what's the matter... I... I'm Chu Cheng, what can I do for you..." Chu Cheng fell from heaven back to earth, but soon earth couldn't hold him, and the gates of hell opened.

Once the group of outer senior brothers confirmed that the person in front of them was Chu Cheng, they didn't care about anything else and pounced on him for a brutal beating!

No one could say exactly how long the beating lasted, but everyone knew how long it would take for him to get out of bed.

Half a year...

***

After this brutal beating, the news reached Spirit Crane Palace. When the outer disciples went to collect their pills again, the scarce supplies were no longer scarce... The outer disciples not only received their rightful share, but the Bighead Carp who led the beating was even rewarded with a bottle of Body Tempering Pills by the senior brothers of Spirit Crane Palace!

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This... was great. Teaming up to beat Chu Cheng became a daily routine for the outer disciples.

Chu Xinghe also received the news, and when Feng Fei brought it to him, Chu Xinghe looked pained and distressed: "Senior Brother Feng, how am I supposed to handle this..."

"Junior Brother Xinghe, you're joking. What does this have to do with you? Or with Spirit Crane Palace? Chu Cheng is narrow-minded. When he was a team leader, he bullied others. I've thoroughly investigated this matter. Moreover, he was beaten and falsely accused you, which is truly infuriating. The outer sect's actions were driven by righteous indignation, naturally punishing this scoundrel!"

Feng Fei's words left Chu Xinghe at a loss for how to respond. Damn, bullying people can be justified so righteously? Senior Brother Feng, I misjudged you!

But why do I find it so appealing?

Speaking of Chu Cheng, Feng Fei had also inquired about him. Both Chu Cheng and Chu Xinghe came from Hillside Village. Although they were from the same village, Chu Xinghe was an orphan, his parents having died when he was young, and he grew up relying on the villagers' charity.

Chu Cheng, on the other hand, had a wealthy father in the village and was a local tyrant from a young age. Chu Xinghe being bullied by Chu Cheng was a common occurrence.

Even from Chu Xinghe's former teammates, it was learned that after entering the Grand Sky Sect, during an outside trial, this guy had even broken Chu Xinghe's arm. However, the teammates all said that Chu Xinghe was broad-minded and never reported the incident.

The usually gentle Feng Fei was truly angered after hearing this!

What? Bullying an honest person?

Bullying my Junior Brother Xinghe from childhood was one thing, but daring to act recklessly after joining the sect, even Feng Fei couldn't stand it!

"Almost forgot the main matter while talking about this. Junior Brother Xinghe, the Great Elder is waiting at Medicine King Palace to teach you various basics today. You're the first to have the Great Elder personally teach you the basics of alchemy." Feng Fei, though envious, knew that Chu Xinghe was extraordinary.

With the Rosefinch Spirit Flame, he was destined to reach the pinnacle in the future.

"Ah..." After hearing Feng Fei's words, Chu Xinghe was helpless... Actually... I never wanted to learn alchemy... I've heard that learning alchemy requires memorizing all sorts of tedious knowledge, and my memory is really terrible... I can't do it...

***

But saying more was useless. Under Feng Fei's guidance, Chu Xinghe arrived at Medicine King Palace.

In the center of Medicine King Palace, a pill furnace with the shadow of a Rosefinch was extremely dazzling. This was the Rosefinch Furnace, the treasure of Medicine King Palace!

It was the pill furnace of the Medicine Saint Lu Changfeng. With the Rosefinch Furnace and Rosefinch Spirit Flame, Lu Changfeng swept across the world of alchemists, making everyone bow in submission, establishing the Grand Sky Sect's reputation as the best in alchemy.

However, in the four hundred years since, no one could use the Rosefinch Furnace, as it couldn't be activated without the Rosefinch Spirit Flame.

At this moment, the Great Elder was already standing beside the Rosefinch Furnace. He looked at the furnace and then at Chu Xinghe, as if seeing a future where the Rosefinch Furnace would once again ignite with the Rosefinch Spirit Flame, leading the Grand Sky Sect to new heights.

"Disciple Chu Xinghe (Feng Fei) greets the Great Elder."

The two of them saluted the Great Elder together.

"Feng Fei, you've worked hard. Go and teach the other disciples."

"Disciple obeys."

Feng Fei left Medicine King Palace, leaving only the distressed Chu Xinghe and the hopeful Great Elder.

In the following time, the Great Elder began by talking about the Rosefinch Furnace, recounting the story of the Medicine Saint Lu Changfeng to Chu Xinghe.

It was an interesting story... but... I don't want to learn alchemy... Chu Xinghe felt even more distressed.

"Alchemy begins with identifying herbs. From today, I will personally teach you various methods of identifying herbs. The path of alchemy is difficult, but with the Rosefinch Spirit Flame, the future belongs to you."

What is boredom? Chu Xinghe understood it in just half an afternoon.

What Moonlight Herb... Moon Nether Herb... Moon Soul Herb... Big brother... they all look exactly the same, how do you tell them apart? With only slight differences in patterns? Chu Xinghe felt like his eyes were about to explode, unable to see any difference at all.

Compass of Misfortune... Isn't this a punishment? This is more painful than being confined!

Feeling utterly miserable inside, Chu Xinghe had no way out. Why is it so hard to be expelled from the sect? I just want to become a Martial Emperor in a second.

Chu Xinghe had thought before, would pointing at the Great Elder's nose and cursing him get him expelled for betraying the sect?

But the result of betraying the sect isn't expulsion; it's death by a thousand cuts!

I want to be expelled, not reincarnated, and the Compass of Misfortune seems to have restrictions against overly deliberate actions.

To court death, you have to do it just right; that's the hard part. Chu Xinghe was looking at the three herbs while thinking, damn... is this Compass of Misfortune a system?

Logically, shouldn't a system provide all sorts of help to let me rise against the odds? Since getting the Compass of Misfortune, there's been no help at all... Various tasks are like beauties placed there to attract me, but I'm not allowed to touch them, what's that supposed to mean?

"Xinghe, identifying herbs isn't something that can be done overnight, you needn't be discouraged." Seeing Chu Xinghe's dejected face, the Great Elder thought it was because his first day of learning didn't go well.

"Thank you, Great Elder... How long will it take to learn?"

"I started identifying herbs as an apprentice, and it took me only five short years to master the properties of seventy percent of the herbs in the world." The Great Elder stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Fi... Five... years?"

"Ahem... Xinghe, you may not know, my talent isn't top-notch, but it appears once in a century. Mastering seventy percent in five years is unmatched in the world. If one's aptitude is slightly worse, mastering three to five percent in ten years would be the limit."

Crack... A thunderclap exploded in Chu Xinghe's ears.

Ten years? Three to five percent?

And that's for those with slightly worse talent? What about someone like me who doesn't even want to learn? Twenty years... thirty years? Chu Xinghe seemed to see himself, old and gray, still sitting here distinguishing between Moonlight Herb and Moon Soul Herb, wondering what the hell the difference was.

"Alright, today's lesson ends here. You can go back and rest. Come back tomorrow morning for more." The Great Elder smiled as he sent off the wooden-like Chu Xinghe.

***

Chu Xinghe walked back, woodenly greeting the senior brothers he passed. Now living in Spirit Crane Palace, sharing a room with Feng Fei, this was a special arrangement by the Great Elder.

Seeing the dazed Chu Xinghe return to the room, Senior Brother Feng Fei was also taken aback, but then he thought of the Great Elder's strictness. It was normal for Junior Brother Xinghe to be scolded on his first day of learning.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, the Great Elder is strict, but his alchemy skills are unparalleled. You must work hard while learning from him."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Feng... I'll try my best..." Chu Xinghe replied woodenly, not wanting to try, just wanting to die.

"What did the Great Elder teach you today?" Feng Fei continued the conversation.

"Identifying herbs... Moonlight Herb is Moonlight Herb... Moon Nether Herb is Moon Nether Herb, Moon Soul Herb is Moonlight Herb... Damn it..." Chu Xinghe's mind was a mess.

Feng Fei nodded understandingly: "Junior Brother, don't be discouraged. Identifying herbs is indeed difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it, the Great Elder will surely teach you more advanced Fire Control Techniques. It won't be as tedious then. And with the Rosefinch Spirit Flame, you're the only one who can use the Rosefinch Furnace. The future is limitless, but don't be reckless like the first time. If you damage the Rosefinch Furnace, it won't be good."

Feng Fei patiently reminded Chu Xinghe.

But Chu Xinghe only heard one thing from Feng Fei's words...

Damage the Rosefinch Furnace?

Is there such a good thing?