In the Gold Vault kitchen, a table laden with delicious dishes, yet no one had the heart to eat a single bite.
The seven plates and eight bowls of gourmet food were like hot stones and tiles.
The ten people in the room were like ten puppets, sitting stiffly with their arms crossed, no one willing to speak.
No one had ever asked why Jin Buhuan had fallen from being one of the Inner Sect's Ten Xiong Jun to a Gold Vault Guard.
Sad things should not be revealed; revealing them only wounds the heart again.
But with Jin Buque's arrival, everyone seemed to understand: that Jin Family's Young Clan Chief Jin Buque, an Inner Sect Disciple at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation and a Great Steward of the Mission Hall, was his mortal enemy.
The wound on Qian Duoduo's left hand had stopped bleeding, but the blood in his heart was still dripping.
Although he had long known that Jin Buque was a nightmare, when the nightmare arrived, he still couldn't help but tremble all over.
Qian Duoduo felt a bit of contempt for himself; as a Cultivator, he couldn't even dodge a slap.
He was like an ant, trampled underfoot, yet he didn't even dare to raise a hand.
The protective jade pendant given by Zhangzuo Dajiu didn't even react as if it needed to be taken out.
Even though he bore the name of Jin Buhuan, he was far inferior to Jin Buhuan.
The dishes on the dining table had long since stopped steaming.
Wang Dahei sighed deeply, "It's all my fault, Senior Brother is incompetent and can't protect you all."
"It's not your fault. It's mine; I've implicated everyone," Qian Duoduo looked at Huang Guiren, "Especially you."
Huang Guiren shook his head, indicating he was fine.
His forehead was broken and wrapped in white cloth; he had just learned that the person who knocked him unconscious was named Jin Buque.
"Why are we afraid of him?" Wang Dahei cheered everyone up, "We are under Elder Bi's management, guarding the Gold Vault for the Sect.
Elder Bi is an old-timer in the Sect and deeply trusted by the Sect Leader.
That Jin Buque, his Jin Family, can't do anything to us."
"Exactly. We are the Refining Spirit Sect, not the Jin Family Sect. Why should we be afraid of him?" Bai Machi chimed in, agreeing with him.
Lei Jiashu's face was still pale, "Next time that thoughtless fellow comes, I'll activate the Gold Vault Formation.
If he dares to lay a hand on someone, I, I'll 'accidentally' operate it—"
Qian Duoduo now knew his habit of turning pale when angry.
"Absolutely not!" Qian Duoduo quickly stopped him.
If Eighth Senior Brother really used the Formation to kill Jin Buque, according to Sect rules, he would also lose his life.
Second Senior Brother Yi Xiaoyun offered Qian Duoduo advice, "Junior Brother, don't go out or leave the courtyard recently.
Just hide inside the Four Thousand Formations, and let's see what Jin Buque can do to you."
The Senior Brothers spoke one after another, and the icy atmosphere slowly melted.
Qian Duoduo also realized that taking this beating was not without its benefits.
At least it sobered him up from his fervor for making money.
Having money alone was not enough.
Having money without strength was like being a fat pig, liable to be slaughtered at any time.
Within the Sect, with rules governing things, it might still be better.
Outside the Sect, it was a tiger eating chickens, and chickens eating worms; without strength, you were just someone else's meal.
Hiding anywhere was useless.
Relying on anyone was not as good as relying on oneself.
Surpassing Jin Buque in strength was the key.
To survive in the Immortal Cultivation World, even a Spirit Chicken needed its sharp beak and claws.
Picking up his chopsticks, Qian Duoduo told everyone, "Let's eat.
As long as he doesn't kill me, I won't bow my head.
Moreover, I have you brothers.
After eating, I'll Cultivate.
It's just Qi Condensation Level 9, what's there to be so arrogant about?"
With a full stomach, Qian Duoduo put down his chopsticks, immediately forgetting what he had eaten.
Returning to his room, he closed the door, sat on his Spiritual Platform, and activated his Spiritual Qi to two thousand gold coins per hour.
A cloud of spiritual mist ascended, enveloping him.
It felt like only a blink of an eye, but four hours later, dawn broke.
Just as Qian Duoduo was about to get up and go out, Senior Brother said from outside, "Junior Brother, Cultivate a bit longer.
Come to the Gold Vault at noon.
I'll have Huang Guiren call fewer numbers; we can manage."
Qian Duoduo thought about it and, without being polite, sat down on the Spiritual Platform again.
At this moment, Liu Bo transmitted a message from the Golden Toad, "All the materials for the Magic Treasure are complete, only missing the cauldron.
When you have time, go to the Artificer Hall to rent one.
I'll help you refine the Magic Treasure.
Also, just foolishly Cultivating isn't enough; find an opportunity to spar with people at the training ground.
You can't defeat that Jin Buque now, but dodging his palm strikes and kicks isn't difficult."
Liu Boli felt that his Disciple being bullied was not a bad thing.
Qian Duoduo's personality, once he set his mind on something, ten Golden Oxen couldn't pull him back.
What a Master couldn't teach, reality would have to teach him.
Making money was necessary, but making money wasn't everything.
Qian Duoduo hummed in acknowledgment, knowing that his performance yesterday was quite foolish.
If he were still in the village, that dog might run faster than him, but it could never bite him.
Why? Because he was always prepared and understood its patterns.
Yet in this Immortal world, against a 'thick-headed' Senior Brother like Jin Buque, he hadn't learned to guard against him like a rabid dog.
"Click," the Spiritual Platform closed.
Two hours passed, and it was already noon.
Qian Duoduo awoke from his Cultivation state.
At his current speed, he was confident he could reach Qi Condensation Level 4 within a month.
Running to the entrance of the Gold Vault, Huang Guiren saw Qian Duoduo and shouted loudly, "Welcome, the handsome and extraordinarily talented Senior Brother Jin Buhuan!"
His forehead and emotional wounds seemed to have healed.
Entering the main hall, the Senior Brothers smiled, seeing that Qian Duoduo's state had recovered well.
There were forty to fifty people in the hall, all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who came to deposit and borrow money.
Business was still good, orderly and unaffected by Jin Buque in the slightest.
"Jin Buhuan's mother said, 'Endure, endure, endure,'" Qian Duoduo told himself mentally.
While he had no shortage of Cultivation resources now, he would reach the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation here and gain self-preservation ability before considering returning to Qinglong District.
He walked around the Gold Vault; the vault was as clean as new, and he had nothing to do.
"Senior Brother, I'm going out for a bit." After saying goodbye, Qian Duoduo ran towards the Artificer Hall.
In the rental area of the Artificer Hall, dozens of cauldrons were displayed.
Considering the Magic Treasure to be forged was only a high-grade Mortal Weapon, Qian Duoduo spent three thousand gold coins to rent a mediocre cauldron, placed it in his embrace, and headed back.
Passing by the Mengyuan Mountain training ground, Qian Duoduo stopped to watch the sparring.
On the high platform, two Outer Sect Disciples were competing.
Qian Duoduo imagined one of them as himself, and the other as Jin Buque, envisioning how Jin Buque would attack, how he would defend, and how he would counterattack.
Within a few moves, Qian Duoduo was sweating profusely.
Because before he could even figure it out, his opponent had already made the next move.
If it were really him on the stage, he would have been chopped into seven or eight pieces by now!
Qian Duoduo closed his eyes and told himself that the Realm of Outer Sect Disciples was too high, and it was normal not to understand.
He needed to start learning from the gray-robed Disciples.
He waited for two more matches.
Finally, two gray-robed Disciples at Qi Condensation Level 3 stepped onto the stage.
Indeed, Qian Duoduo could understand this much more clearly.
One of them clearly had poor control over his Flying Sword; both its speed and accuracy were lacking.
If he, Qian Duoduo, went up, with his surprising strength, flying the Magic Treasure at its fastest, he would have a good chance of winning.
Gaining some confidence from the gray-robed Disciples on the stage, Qian Duoduo happily walked back.
"Liu Bo is a stronger Artifact Refiner than Elder Tian Shu.
If he refines a convenient Magic Treasure for me, then I'll have even more confidence in winning against Disciples of the same level."
Walking back to the Gold Vault entrance, not seeing Huang Guiren's figure, Qian Duoduo's heart skipped a beat: "Nothing happened again, did it?"
Lightening his steps, Qian Duoduo walked towards the main door.
Before he even entered, he heard a strange man inside speaking at an even pace: "You must understand, when the great river has no water, the small streams dry up; you must have a broader perspective..."
"Who is this person, and what is he saying?" Qian Duoduo pricked up his ears, wanting to eavesdrop a bit longer, when Zhangzuo Dajiu's voice came from beside him, "Bu Huan, since you're back, come in."