Steward Xiong’s small eyes narrowed to a slit. He glanced at the skinny stall owner, who was so frightened his legs began to tremble and he seemed to shrink in on himself.

’Useless fool. Can’t even check someone’s identity before starting trouble!’

Steward Xiong cursed inwardly, then declared with an air of righteousness, "Even disciples of the Qingfeng Sect must be reasonable! You can’t just bully people in the Market because of your status. Am I right, everyone!"

"Ah, two servant disciples. I happen to have a younger clan brother who also joined the Qingfeng Sect... heheh, an Inner Sect Disciple named Xiong Baishan. I wonder if you’ve heard of him. If you two insist on bullying others with your status, then this Old Bear will have no choice but to write a letter to my clan brother and ask him to find an Elder in the Sect to judge this matter."

"What... what are you going to do?"

Elder Tong had been cautious and timid his entire life. He had relied on his skills as a Spirit Farmer to enter the Qingfeng Sect as a servant disciple and had only just started to enjoy a few comfortable days.

The moment he heard the other man had a clan member who was an Inner Sect Disciple, he panicked.

In the eyes of servant disciples like them, an Inner Sect Disciple was an untouchable figure.

Although they couldn’t directly control them, the worst-case career path for an Inner Sect Disciple was still becoming an Outer Sect Steward. With just a casual word from one of them, someone in the Outer Sect would surely do them a favor and target two mere servant disciples.

Since joining the Qingfeng Sect, he was first bestowed a Cultivation Technique, then his farming skills were tested. After that, he was directly assigned thirty acres of Spirit Fields to manage.

All the sect missions assigned to him were related to being a Spirit Farmer. There was no danger at all, which was exactly what Elder Tong wanted.

The Spirit Plant Steward had even made it clear that as long as the Spirit Land’s output increased by twenty percent next year, he would hand over all the several hundred acres of Spirit Fields under his charge to Elder Tong. He would also apply to the Sect for Elixirs to help him break through to the Mid-Stage Qi Refining realm.

Elder Tong, who felt that a good life was just around the corner, was terrified of any complications. If he really offended an Inner Sect Disciple and ended up losing his status as a servant disciple, it would be like falling from heaven into hell.

"I’d say this Treasure Bowl is worth ten Spirit Stones... You two can just compensate him for that amount, and we’ll have no more trouble between you."

Steward Xiong had an obese and foolish appearance, but his mind was extremely sharp. Seeing Elder Tong’s timid and hesitant behavior, he knew the old man was the most powerless type of servant disciple.

No background, no talent, and no Spirit Stones—a man with nothing.

With the threat of an Inner Sect Disciple hanging over them, he was sure they didn’t have the guts to make a scene.

’Still, they’re servant disciples of the Qingfeng Sect, so I can’t fleece them too badly this time. I’ll just extort a few Spirit Stones, tell them to get lost, and I’ll save face in the process.’

"Ten Spirit Stones it is... Junior Brother Lu, let’s pool our money."

Ten Spirit Stones was no small sum for either Elder Tong or Lu Song.

But having lost his composure, Elder Tong actually felt a sense of relief upon hearing that a few Spirit Stones could resolve the trouble.

Lu Song bit his lip so hard that blood seeped out, yet he didn’t loosen his jaw. He kept muttering a single phrase, "I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it..."

’He couldn’t understand. When he was a Loose Cultivator, he could only swallow his anger and endure the humiliation when bullied. He had buried himself in bitter cultivation, never daring to slack off for a single day. He had finally been chosen as a candidate for servant disciple on the day the Qingfeng Sect opened its gates. Then, because the two Loose Cultivators ahead of him in line had mysteriously disappeared, he’d gotten lucky and become one. But now that I have the status of a Qingfeng Sect disciple, I still have to suffer this injustice? What was the point of all my painstaking cultivation?’

"I didn’t break this bowl, and I won’t pay any Spirit Stones!"

Lu Song stubbornly lifted his head and shouted.

"What did you say?"

Steward Xiong was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t expected a complication in a matter he thought was a sure thing.

"You’d better think this through. Disciples with poor character who use the Qingfeng Sect’s name to bully Loose Cultivators can be expelled from the Sect. There are two Foundation Establishment Elders from the Upper Sect right here in the Market. If I report what’s happening here, little brother, you can imagine the consequences." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Junior Brother Lu, don’t be rash... How about this, I’ll pay for all the Spirit Stones. You don’t have to chip in, okay?"

Elder Tong was so anxious his graying hair became disheveled as he tugged at Lu Song.

"Then go ahead and report it to the Elders! Let the Sect pass judgment on me, because I will never admit to this!"

"Well said! How can a disciple of our Qingfeng Sect suffer such a baseless accusation!"

Bai Zichen clapped in approval.

He had been watching from the side for a while and could only sigh. Both of them were caught in the middle of the scheme, their reactions more than a beat too slow.

Elder Tong was worldly-wise but timid, while Lu Song was resolute and stubborn. They should have complemented each other perfectly. But because they had only shed their status as Loose Cultivators a month or so ago, they were easily intimidated by Steward Xiong’s words.

The upper echelons of the Qingfeng Sect truly didn’t care much for servant disciples, but when these disciples were out and about, they still carried the Qingfeng Sect’s name.

It would be a miracle if Steward Xiong got any response from the Foundation Establishment Elders over such a trivial matter.

What Bai Zichen hadn’t expected was to find such dens of iniquity and market tyrants operating right next to the Sect’s Market.

’And he wouldn’t dare detain a servant disciple of the Qingfeng Sect in a million years.’

"Didn’t this Steward Xiong just say he was going to report to the two Elders? In that case, I’ll wait right here and see what the Elders have to say."

"By the way, I also know Senior Brother Xiong Baishan. When I return to the Sect, I’ll be sure to pass on Steward Xiong’s regards."

Among the Inner Sect Disciples, there was indeed one named Xiong Baishan. Coincidentally, this person was one of the Inner Sect Disciples who had proactively come to his door to offer their calling cards.

"Brother Bai!"

Elder Tong cried out in pleasant surprise. He hadn’t seen any trace of Bai Zichen since the assessment that day.

Hearing his words today, he knew that Bai Zichen had also become a Qingfeng Sect disciple. ’With his age and potential, he must be an Outer Sect Disciple!’

Lu Song gave a slight nod as a greeting, the expression on his face relaxing a little.

Steward Xiong cursed his luck, knowing he had kicked an iron plate today.

’A Qi Refining Sixth Layer this young, who also knows Xiong Baishan... He’s most likely an Inner Sect Disciple, too.’

Right now, Steward Xiong was calling Xiong Baishan his "clan brother," but if he were actually standing before the man, he would have long since been bowing and scraping in attendance.

Although he and Xiong Baishan shared the same surname, there was an age gap of over thirty years between them, and their bloodline was separated by many generations.

To maintain this connection, Steward Xiong sent two hundred Spirit Stones to Xiong Baishan every year, claiming it was Cultivation Resources provided by the Clan. In reality, it all came out of his own pocket.

"I’ve taken another close look, and there’s something suspicious about the crack in this bowl. I think it’s highly likely Little Kid Yan here staged the whole thing!"

Steward Xiong completely changed his tune, a total reversal from what he said before.

"You brat! How dare you frame a disciple of the Upper Sect! You almost fooled me too. You deserve to die!"

A palm as large as a cattail fan swung out, knocking the skinny stall owner’s teeth to the ground with a single slap. He passed out without even a groan.

At the same time, he snatched the man’s storage pouch, rummaged through it for a moment, and pulled out twenty Spirit Stones.

"Take these Spirit Stones as compensation for your emotional distress for being framed by this man. Please, you must accept them."

Bai Zichen gestured for Elder Tong to take the Spirit Stones, not bothering to get involved in what happened next.

’Whether it’s being a market tyrant or setting people up, it’s not my business. I’m not a Law Enforcement Cultivator from the Sect. If my two old acquaintances hadn’t run into trouble today, I probably wouldn’t have interfered.’

"Not bad. You were able to persevere even when facing adversity... Brother Lu, after your spirit has undergone this trial, I estimate your Cultivation will advance another layer within half a year."

Bai Zichen strolled with the two of them near the square, talking about everything that had happened since they parted ways.

That little girl, Jiangg Shu, happened to have clan elders nearby and was taken home the very next day.

"Thank you, Bro- Brother Bai, for your encouragement. I was just following my heart and made a choice."

Lu Song’s eyes were filled with gratitude. For a moment there, he had truly been prepared to be expelled.

After some simple pleasantries, Bai Zichen refused Elder Tong’s offer to give him half of the compensation Spirit Stones, making the excuse that he had matters to attend to back in the Sect.

Once outside the square, he rode a beam of light and departed, leaving only a streak of dark jade green.

"We really have Brother Bai to thank this time. He’s an Outer Sect Disciple, after all. He’s only been in the Sect for a few days and already knows a big shot from the Inner Sect. That’s why that Steward didn’t dare to act recklessly."

Elder Tong patted Lu Song’s shoulder, still shaken from the experience, and said.

"Junior Brother Lu, you have to restrain that temper of yours from now on. There are a lot of people we can’t afford to offend!"

"Didn’t you hear Little Friend Bai say to stay true to one’s heart? I can’t keep running away anymore."

Lu Song took a deep look at the black ring on his index finger. It was as if he had made a momentous decision, and his entire aura changed.