"Hmmph!"

  Seeing Yang Tianxia and Li Wuxi leave, Qi Lingyun let out a cold hum, his eyes fixed on the two of them until they disappeared from view at the foot of the mountain before he withdrew his gaze.

  His eyes narrowed and his face immediately turned solemn.

  "This time, although Yang Tianxia was forced back, but four months later, old grievances will be settled together, at that time..."

  "Qī Lǎo Láng, Jīn Gāng Mén had been plotting against us Yun Lei Sword Sect long ago. Even if it weren't for the events of the past few days, they would never have spared us!"

  Qin Tianji comforted him.

  After he finished speaking, his expression slightly chilled, and there was a kind of inexplicable self-confidence in his tone: "Besides, who knows what will happen four months later?"

  Qī Língyún nodded slightly.

  Although nothing was said, I still feel anxious and worried.

  Qin Yuyan watched this scene unfold before her eyes, pursing her lips and tightly gripping the hilt of her sword with her right hand.

  She had promised her adoptive father Qin Huailing that she would protect Qin Tianyi even if it cost her own life.

  Just then...

  Facing Yang Tianxia, a swordsman of the ninth level, her strength was really too weak.

  Although she has been working very hard in her practice these days and hasn't relaxed for a moment, however... it's still not enough!

  Far from enough!

  "Alright, let's return to the sect and stop worrying the disciples."

  Zi Lingyun said something and went up the mountain.

  For a period of time afterwards, Yun Lai Jian Zong was relatively calm and peaceful.

  The news of Zilingyun's promotion to the 9th level swordsmen spread, and those originally malicious and restless third-rate sects all temporarily restrained themselves.

  A ninth-level swordsman is already the peak combat power of a third-rate sect. Before having absolute certainty that this ninth-level swordsman can be left behind, no third-rate sect is willing to push such a strong person to desperation.

  Half a month later, with the help of Gu Mu Lingzhi, Yi Shi Shi, Jiang Caiyin, Tang Liang and Xue Zi Yi broke through one after another, entering the ranks of fifth-level swordsmen. Suddenly, Yunlai Sword Sect had four more fifth-level swordsmen, finally getting rid of the previous embarrassing situation where no one was available.

  The cultivation of a fifth-level swordsman may not be anything in those top-notch sects or second-rate sects, but in third-rate sects, it already belongs to the elite class. Even the core disciples of prestigious families like the Golden Strength Sect, the Divine Gun Sect, the Daybreak City's Shi family, and the Liu family have cultivations around that of a fifth-level swordsman.

  In half a month's time, Qin Tianyi also refined a large quantity of Lianqi Dan and Biliu Dan.

  Although the refining of Lianqi Dan is difficult, it can't be compared to Xiwu Dan. As for Biliu Dan, it's even easier. With the support of these elixirs, Qin Tianji, Gu Cheng, Xiao Sumin, Xue Ziyi, and Jiang Caiyun's cultivation are constantly improving. Even Qiling Yun, a 9th-level swordsman, is rapidly approaching the peak of the 9th level.

  The entire Yunlai Sword Sect is thriving and flourishing, radiating vigorous vitality and a bright atmosphere, with everything looking extremely good.

  ……

  "Number two, establish a plan to improve the success rate of the Return to Truth Pill."

  "In the scheme analysis..."

  In the alchemy room, Qin Tianyi looked at a pile of waste materials in the crucible and slightly furrowed his brow.

  The difficulty of refining this Returning to Truth Pill is actually several times higher than that of the Washing Marrow Pill.

  No wonder this elixir is among the most valuable treasures that can help intermediate swordsmen break through to advanced swordsmen.

  Significant efficacy is one reason, difficulty in refining is another reason.

  "Time is running out, there are only three months left."

  Qin Tianji let out a sigh.

  It took him a month's time to barely manage to refine a single Return to Truth Pill.

  Among them, cultivation took away most of his energy, and refining the marrow-washing pill, bone-piercing pill, and energy-refining pill also took away a part of his energy, making it impossible for him to focus on studying the refining method of the Returning Truth Pill.

  After all, at present, Yunlai Jianzong only has him as a Dan-making master, and the supply of alchemy pills for everyone in the sect must be found from him.

  If it weren't for the remaining less than fifty disciples of Yunlai Jianzong, he would probably stagnate in his cultivation progress as well. How could he have stabilized the realm of a 7th-level swordsman in just one month and increased his physical strength to level 2?

  "The best place to cultivate innate talent, the isolated city, has already broken through. Xue Ziyi, Tang Liang, and Xiao Sumin will break through to the sixth level of swordsmanship in just one month. If they don't quickly refine the Returning Truth Pill, there will only be two months left. With such a short time and so few people, it's uncertain whether all of them can reach the peak of sixth-level swordsmanship."

  Furrowing his brow slightly, Qin Tianyi also deeply felt that the problem was a tough one.

  At this time, he couldn't help but think of the assembly line work in the Federal World Factory.

  "Perhaps... this method may work..."

  The refining methods of Lian Mai Dan, Lian Gu Dan and Lian Qi Dan have all been mastered by him. If he had enough equipment, he could set up a production line for these three Dans. At that time, as long as there were sufficient medicinal materials, the two Dans could be produced continuously without wasting 2-3 hours every day to refine them in large quantities like now.

  "There are many advanced devices on that planet-class battleship. With a bit of modification, it should be possible to create production lines for refining elixirs, bone-refining pills, and air-refining pills. And now that I've reached the cultivation level of a high-level swordsman, even if I don't pilot a mech to get to the location of the battleship, there shouldn't be too much danger..."

  Thinking of this, Qin Tianyi has already made up his mind and decided to run a trip to the mountain range that never sets.

  If he could transform those basic dan medicine production lines, he would have at least six more hours every day.

  "Hiss! Hiss!"

  Qin Tianji walked out of the alchemy room, and a faintly sharp bird cry echoed in his ears.

  Right after that, a bird as big as an adult eagle suddenly fell from the sky and landed on Qin Tianyi's shoulder.

  It is the young bird of prey, the peregrine falcon, which has already learned to soar.

  Lei Ying, as the master of the sky, has extremely strong vitality. The growth rate in the early period is also surprisingly fast. In just one month's time, his body has already taken shape, and the power contained in his sharp claws is no less than a ordinary 7th-level swordsman's true energy-infused strike.

  "Soar! Soar in the sky! Only those who can gallop freely in the storm are truly the masters of the sky!"

  Qin Tianyi didn't have any intimate movements with the Thunder Eagle, but a cold spiritual fluctuation rushed into its mind, urging it to soar through the sky.

  The Thunder Eagle seemed to sense Qin Tianyi's thoughts as well, and after perching on his shoulder for a moment, it spread its wings again, soaring into the clouds, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

  Only Qin Tianyi would use this method, releasing the Thunder Eagle and forcing it to forage and fly on its own after just over a dozen days, without caring if it would be tormented by hunger.

  If it were an ordinary person, having domesticated for only a month, they would probably not dare to let this Thunder Eagle out of their sight, lest this naturally gifted ruler of the skies never return, leaving them with eternal regret.

  "Less is more!"

  Just as Qin Tianyi was about to go and tell Qin Yuyan that he would be leaving for a while, he happened to run into Jiang Caiyun.

  "Is Qin Shi Jie here?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Jiang Caiyun nodded: "Young Master Shao, you go ahead yourself, I'll go find Elder Qi first."

  Qin Tianyi glanced at Jiang Caiyun and his strong spirit made him extremely sensitive to the emotions of others: "Sister Jiang, is something wrong?"

  "This..."

  Seeing her like this, Qin Tianyi could almost be certain that something had happened.

  "Go on."

  "Alright... But let's invite Elder Qi to discuss this matter together."

  Qin Tianyi nodded and went with Jiang Caiyun to the study in the main courtyard of Yunlai Sword Sect.

  However, Qin Yuyan was not in the study, but in the martial arts arena on one side of the main courtyard, practicing the Wind and Cloud Twenty-Three Swords with sweat dripping like rain.

  At the seventh level of swordsmanship, Qin Tianyi had already optimized the Cloud Sea Tidal Life Code and the Wind Cloud Twenty-Three Swords once. Although the Wind Cloud Twenty-Three Swords couldn't be considered a top-notch sword technique, the true energy released by Qin Yuyan through the Cloud Sea Tidal Life Code was still gleaming with cold light, stern and powerful, its might not inferior to any top-notch sword techniques.

  "Tiān Jī?"

  After practicing for a while, Qin Yuyan discovered Qin Tianyi standing outside the martial arts arena and hurriedly stopped her sword practice.

  "Qin shi jie, your swordsmanship has become even more refined. Now, you're almost grasping the 11th move of the Fengyun Twenty-Three Swords."

  "However, the eleventh sword requires the coordination of all five internal organs, which puts a considerable burden on the physical body. Even with the circulation of true energy and the activation of life potential, there is still a feeling that the sword cannot be wielded freely, as if it were an extension of one's arm."

  Qin Yuyan nodded and said a word, then looked at Jiang Caiyun again: "Sister Jiang, is there something?"

  Just then, Qi Lingyun also rushed over from a courtyard on one side. Seeing Qin Tianyi and Qin Yuyan both there, his expression couldn't help but be somewhat puzzled.

  "There is a bit of a problem."

  Jiang Caiyun nodded solemnly: "Those towns at the foot of the mountain that rely on our Yunlei Sword Sect, one by one, have found all sorts of excuses to avoid paying their due tribute. We didn't pay much attention to it before, but now, not only are they unwilling to pay tribute, even when our Yunlei Sword Sect gives orders, they respond with empty words and secretly disobey..."

  "The towns below our Yunlai Jianzong mountain are unwilling to pay tribute..."

  Qin Yuyan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

  This world is a world where ferocious beasts roam, and humans are in a precarious situation under the pressure of ferocious beasts. Even the Great Xia Empire only nominally governs the various sects within the Great Xia territory, but in reality, it implements an autonomous strategy for the towns near those sects. The town masters and mayors are basically appointed by the nearby sects, or even directly held by the disciples of the sects. The taxes collected from those towns are not submitted to the Great Xia Empire, but rather to the nearby sects.

  Of course, the sects also have to pay tribute to the Great Xia Kingdom in proportion according to their levels.

  According to the laws of the Daxia Kingdom, the jurisdiction of a third-rate sect can have an area of 10 to 30 miles in diameter, and can build villages and towns. The jurisdiction of a second-rate sect is 30 to 100 miles in diameter, and can build cities.

  Three years ago, Yunlai Jianzong encountered a change, and the master of the great swordsmen's sect, Qin Huailing, along with a group of top-notch disciples, were completely defeated. Although the name of this second-rate sect still exists, in reality, it has already lost all its power and influence. The five small towns and two large towns under Yunlai Jianzong's protection have been secretly harboring dissenting thoughts, wanting to establish their own sects. However, a month ago, Qi Lingyun defeated the three masters of the Golden Strength Sect, Yang Tiandao, which seems to have stabilized this trend.

  But now...

  "Our Yunlai Sword Sect has always been keeping an eye on the five small towns and two large towns, even though we don't directly control them. With the martial power of our sect, even if we were to decline, they wouldn't dare be so reckless. Nine out of ten times, there's someone secretly stirring up trouble."

  Qin Yuyan was no fool and after a moment's thought, she grasped the key point.

  "Yes, according to our secret investigation, in one of the major towns, Yunwu Town, a new force called Yunyu Building has emerged. This force is very overbearing and has no scruples about us, Yunlai Sword Sect at all. It is extremely high-profile and united with other small towns to oppose us, Yunlai Sword Sect."

  "Is the law not to be feared? Or is it because you have nothing to fear? What great masters does Yunyu Tower have?"

  "What I want to say is that this Yunyu Building was founded by..."

  At this, Jiang Caiyun's tone paused slightly, with a hint of resentment: "If my investigation is correct, the founder of Yunyu Building is Yang Shan, the proud disciple of Zhou Chong, the elder of Xuanling Sect, with an eighth-level swordsman cultivation, known as 'Qiankun Sword Guest'!"