Lin Tian opened his eyes and unleashed a powerful burst of spiritual qi, spreading across the hill and creating violent winds that instantly sent leaves and dust flying into the air.

The qi fluctuations could even be felt in the nearest villages.

Several villagers were startled by the sudden storm-like wind sweeping through their homes.

When they looked toward the hills, a pillar of white light appeared high above them.

Every villager knew where it came from.

Wu Yue was shocked. She immediately stood up and looked toward Lin Tian through the window of the Pill Refinement Hall.

The qi pressure released by Lin Tian was equivalent to Mid Nascent Soul.

Slowly, the qi shockwave faded on its own, followed by the disappearance of the white pillar of light from the sect’s Main Hall.

His attention first shifted toward the front courtyard, where Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Ji Xue were standing.

Not only them, but the eleven new disciples were also staring with admiration in their eyes.

His second glance shifted toward the backyard, where An Yue and Luo Mei stood.

"You’ve all shown significant improvement. I’m impressed," Lin Tian praised.

An Yue knelt and cupped her hands respectfully while bowing her head.

"This junior greets the Sect Master of the Lingxian Sect."

Luo Mei did the same, followed by all the disciples in the front courtyard.

Lin Tian felt proud and pleased with their progress, but his attention focused primarily on An Yue.

"Lead the new disciples and continue cultivating, Yun’er."

"This junior Yun Yun obeys Master Lin’s command."

Lin Tian stepped forward. The moment he took a single step, a flash of white light appeared so quickly that the man instantly arrived before An Yue, his feet landing upon the backyard grass.

"10th Layer Qi Condensation. Five more levels and you’ll officially break through into Foundation Establishment," Lin Tian said.

"Thank you. This junior will train diligently."

Just as Lin Tian was about to help An Yue stand, he was suddenly startled by the appearance of a mysterious panel before his eyes.

It was not a linked mission, nor a cultivator conquest mission, but the result of a disciple mission.

[1st Disciple Task:]

[Objective: Train using the Qi Sword Technique for 7 days (Minimum 5 hours of training)] [Completed!]

[Reward:]

[Disciple: Chance to break through cultivation stage || Increased technique efficiency || Emotional level +5]

[Host: Chance to break through cultivation stage || Increase technique power || 1x Earth-Scroll Technique]

[Status Vision:]

[Name: An Yue]

[Emotional Stage: Resonance]

[Emotional Level: Attraction (12/250)] [+5]

Lin Tian saw An Yue’s emotional level increase, though only by five points.

Still, it was more than enough and completely worthwhile.

That was because disciple tasks were a type of mission Lin Tian did not need to complete personally.

Those missions would only finish once the disciple succeeded.

Only seconds after the system panel appeared, An Yue’s body emitted white qi light accompanied by violently surging qi pressure.

"Sit down and begin cultivating, Yue’er."

"I understand," An Yue replied.

Not only did An Yue gain a chance to break through, but Lin Tian also felt the spiritual qi within his own body rumbling.

However, he understood that while it was an opportunity to advance, breaking through within the Nascent Soul realm required a very long time.

An Yue had already begun cultivating and absorbing natural spiritual qi.

Lin Tian glanced to the side and looked toward Luo Mei.

The woman stood near the dome wall formation of the Pill Refinement Hall.

In addition, Lin Tian noticed a scroll spread across the ground along with neatly arranged herbal ingredients and descriptions of their properties.

That situation alone was enough to prove...

Luo Mei had a strong interest in pill refinement.

Lin Tian moved as quickly as a flash of white light and arrived there instantly.

He noticed both of Luo Mei’s hands trembling.

"J-Junior Luo Mei... greets Sect Master Lingxian," she said in a shaky and stuttering voice.

"Tell me... have you been speaking with Wu Yue?"

That question struck Luo Mei’s heart like a sword.

Sweat covered her face and body while her mouth stiffened, unsure how to answer.

"Y-Yes..."

"This junior apologizes for her insolence," Luo Mei answered nervously.

Lin Tian looked down and gathered all the herbal ingredients before handing them back to Luo Mei.

The shy woman looked confused.

"What do you mean, Master Lin?" Luo Mei asked.

Lin Tian raised his hand, firing a white qi orb from his fingertip into Luo Mei’s body.

She felt an enormous spiritual qi force flow into her, causing dominant white light to radiate from her body.

"Come with me, Luo Mei."

"Yes, Master Lin," Luo Mei replied.

The two of them walked from the side of the Pill Refinement Hall toward the front.

Lin Tian turned around and extended his hand.

"It seems you’re serious about alchemy. Elder Wu Yue is highly skilled in pill refinement. She can help you a lot," Lin Tian explained.

"B-But... I can’t enter easily. All this time, we’ve only communicated through qi letters."

"Now... you can speak with her directly."

At first, Luo Mei did not understand what Lin Tian meant.

Even so, the girl bravely extended her hand and tried touching the white dome formation wall.

To her shock, her hand passed through the dome wall successfully, reaching fully into the front courtyard of the Pill Refinement Hall.

Wu Yue saw that and immediately hurried over. Her relationship with Luo Mei had already become quite close.

Wu Yue had not officially become part of the Lingxian Sect yet, but she genuinely wanted to teach Luo Mei pill refinement.

Taking large steps, Luo Mei walked inside. Tears filled her eyes as she turned back and smiled brightly at Lin Tian in gratitude.

"Study diligently. If Elder Wu Yue hurts you, tell me immediately."

"This junior Luo Mei is deeply grateful to Master Lin," she said with a bright smile.

Luo Mei and Wu Yue finally met properly. The two women embraced each other while Wu Yue gently stroked Luo Mei’s long black hair.

Finished with them, Lin Tian turned around and vanished in a flash of white light, leaving the backyard behind.

Now, he stood completely within the sect’s front courtyard, greeted by the same respectful gestures from all his disciples.

"I’m happy all of you can cultivate now. Train diligently, and one day you’ll be able to summon dragons easily," Lin Tian explained.

"This junior understands, Sect Master Lingxian," they all answered in unison.

Lin Tian’s attention shifted sideways toward Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Ji Xue, all of whom bowed respectfully with cupped hands.

Lin Tian tapped his bag of holding and took out five Mortal-Grade techniques for them.

Yun Yun immediately accepted them.

"Train using those techniques. Choose whichever suits you best. One technique per person," Lin Tian instructed.

Yun Yun smiled brightly and thanked him. The three women even promised they would study the techniques Lin Tian had given them properly.

Lin Tian’s presence brought blessings to all of them.

Some reunited with their master, some achieved breakthroughs, and others received technique scrolls.

However, for Lin Tian, successfully breaking through into Mid Nascent Soul carried its own special meaning.

It was finally time for him to slaughter the Hongtian Sect.