Subsequently, Zhang Da Niu informed Ling Feng of a few more things: tomorrow, he would be accompanying Yu He and several other fellow Disciples on an outdoor Cultivation journey.
From now on, Xu Gou Zi would be in charge of managing this place. Xu Gou Zi had been in the Sect for two years and was quite familiar with all the situations here. If Ling Feng encountered any unclear issues, he could consult him at any time.
As for when he would return, Zhang Da Niu did not mention it; perhaps even he himself was unsure of the exact return date. He only stated that after this Cultivation journey, he was very likely to be promoted from a Utility Disciple to an Outer Sect Disciple.
Next, Ling Feng inquired about why they were injured.
Initially, Zhang Da Niu was reluctant to tell, claiming he was worried Ling Feng would become emotional and act impulsively after hearing it. However, under Ling Feng's persistent persuasion, Zhang Da Niu finally revealed the truth of the matter.
It turned out that after Duan Yuan and the others fled in fear yesterday, they found his backer in the Inner Sect—Zhang Tao.
Upon hearing Duan Yuan and the others' experiences and complaints, Zhang Tao immediately became enraged. He quickly gathered a group of his followers and henchmen and rushed to the back mountain to set up an ambush.
Regrettably, they waited anxiously but never saw Ling Feng's figure.
Left with no choice, they could only vent their anger on Zhang Da Niu and the others.
How could Zhang Da Niu's group possibly defeat Zhang Tao and the other Inner Sect Disciples?
Within a few moves, they all fell to the ground, and naturally, they were subjected to a beating.
Ling Feng remained silent throughout, simply listening quietly as Zhang Da Niu recounted the entire sequence of events.
Although he was already seething with rage internally, he did not show any emotion.
Considering that Zhang Da Niu was about to leave the Sect for Cultivation, Ling Feng certainly did not want him to worry about him before his departure, so he readily promised not to act rashly.
However, although Ling Feng agreed verbally, he had already planned his revenge internally. He just needed to wait until Zhang Da Niu and the others left the Sect before putting it into practice.
It wasn't until nightfall that Ling Feng asked Zhang Da Niu for some martial arts techniques, and then the two of them returned to their respective rooms.
That night, Ling Feng tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, his mind filled with the plight of Zhang Da Niu and the others.
The more he thought about it, the harder it was to sleep, so he got up and began practicing the martial arts techniques Zhang Da Niu had taught him.
Ling Feng practiced each move and stance, putting all his strength into every punch and kick.
By the middle of the night, he actually felt increasingly energetic, as if he had an endless supply of strength.
It wasn't until dawn that he felt a hint of fatigue. So, Ling Feng stopped, grabbed a bucket, and went out of the small house to fetch a bucket of clear water to wash away the sweat and odor from his body.
Today was the day Zhang Da Niu and the others were leaving the Sect for outdoor Cultivation, but there was still some time until dawn.
Taking advantage of this free time, Ling Feng decided to meditate and circulate his Qi to eliminate his fatigue.
To avoid missing Zhang Da Niu and the others, Ling Feng did not return to the small house but chose to meditate in an open space outside it.
He slowly closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, adjusted his breathing, and calmed his mind.
Soon, he entered a state of self-forgetfulness, a warm current slowly flowing within his body, moving along his Meridians, passing through his limbs and bones, and finally sinking into his Dantian.
This warm current circulated endlessly, forming a complete Grand Cycle of Internal Energy circulation.
As time passed, Ling Feng's breathing gradually stabilized, and his body slowly regained its vitality.
He knew that this meditation not only eliminated his fatigue but also slightly increased his Internal Energy.
When he awoke, it was already bright, and rays of brilliant sunlight shone on Ling Feng's face.
Xu Gou Zi and the other Utility Disciples had already emerged from the small houses, busily preparing for the various tasks before harvesting Spiritual Plants.
Ling Feng smiled and greeted his Senior Brothers one by one.
Suddenly, with a creak, the two dilapidated wooden doors of the small house where Zhang Da Niu resided slowly opened, emitting a grating sound. Zhang Da Niu walked out of the small house.
"Junior Brother Ling Feng, good morning!" Zhang Da Niu spotted Ling Feng at a glance, immediately stepped forward, and enthusiastically greeted him.
Ling Feng quickly responded, "Senior Brother Zhang, good morning!"
Just then, a graceful figure suddenly appeared in the Void Realm, stepping on a Flying Sword, flying towards them as lightly as a Fairy.
Everyone looked closely and realized it was Senior Sister Yu He. As soon as she landed, everyone gathered around her to greet her.
"Good morning, Junior Brothers!" Yu He responded with a smile, then gave them a few instructions regarding the harvesting of Spiritual Plants before waving her hand, allowing them to go and harvest the Spiritual Plants.
However, she specifically kept Ling Feng and Zhang Da Niu behind.
Yu He's gaze gently shifted, finally resting on Ling Feng. She softly said, "Junior Brother Ling Feng, I presume you already know that we are about to leave the Sect for outdoor Cultivation, don't you?"
Her tone was unusually calm, but a hint of anticipation was unmistakably present in her eyes.
"Replying to Senior Sister, Senior Brother Zhang mentioned this to me yesterday," Ling Feng immediately replied.
"Actually, Senior Sister doesn't want to leave the Sect, but this matter has already been decided by the Sect Elder, who specifically assigned me to lead a group of Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters for outdoor Cultivation, and it cannot be changed."
Yu He pondered for a moment, then continued, "How about this! From now on, you don't need to worry about harvesting Spiritual Plants. Just Cultivate peacefully here, and we'll discuss other matters when I return."
"Everything will be done as Senior Sister instructs; Ling Feng will naturally comply," Ling Feng responded.
"Alas!" Yu He sighed softly, a trace of helplessness and worry in her eyes. "I'm telling you this because I'm afraid you might be upset, but Senior Sister truly can't bear to see you dwelling on the events of the past two days, overthinking, and thus disrupting your state of mind and path of Cultivation."
She paused slightly, seemingly contemplating something, then continued, "Alright, don't think about it anymore! The Elder is pressing us, so Senior Sister needs to hurry over!"
Actually, Yu He had originally wanted to chat with Ling Feng for a bit longer.
She knew that once she left, she didn't know when she would return.
However, the Elder was already urging them to go to the gathering point quickly.
Left with no choice, Yu He could only bid farewell to Ling Feng and hurry with Zhang Da Niu towards the gathering point.
Ling Feng watched Yu He and Zhang Da Niu leave until their figures completely disappeared from sight before retracting his gaze and walking towards the depths of the mountain forest.
Duan Yuan and the others, emboldened by their backing, committed evil deeds and bullied these Utility Disciples. Today, no matter what, he had to teach them a lesson.
He needed to make them understand that Utility Disciples also had dignity and were not to be bullied at will.
Following the winding path he had taken the day before yesterday, Ling Feng traversed mountains and ridges, crossing several towering peaks.
This was a different time, a different situation.
Ling Feng was no longer the inexperienced youth he once was. After a full day of dedicated Cultivation yesterday, he had already grasped how to skillfully utilize the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian.
He moved as light as a swallow, as swift as a flying bird, climbing mountains as easily as walking on flat ground, his speed astonishing.
In just a short hour, Ling Feng successfully found Xu Gou Zi and the other Senior Brothers who were harvesting Spiritual Plants.
He secretly wondered, "I wonder if Duan Yuan and those people have also come here."
Ling Feng did not rashly approach and disturb the Senior Brothers but quietly hid in the nearby bushes, concealing his aura, silently observing the surrounding movements.
Because he was hidden in the bushes, concealed by the dense branches and leaves, and had restrained his aura, Xu Gou Zi and the others walked past him without realizing there was someone hidden there.
At this moment, his heart was filled with both anticipation, hoping to see Zhang Tao's figure appear, but at the same time, he was somewhat reluctant to meet Zhang Tao.
After all, as an Inner Sect Disciple, Zhang Tao's Cultivation strength was naturally extraordinary, far beyond what Duan Yuan and the others could compare to.
Ling Feng quietly hid in the bushes, carefully listening to the conversations among the Senior Brothers, and learned that Duan Yuan and the others had indeed been in this area.
Not only that, besides himself, Zhang Tao had also led several other Inner Sect Disciples deep into this mountain forest. Their target remained Ling Feng.
Although Xu Gou Zi had informed them that Ling Feng was not accompanying them and had even casually fabricated a name, not telling them Ling Feng's real name, all of this had been instructed by Yu He to Xu Gou Zi and the others.
Yu He's intention was to confuse their perception, making it impossible for Zhang Tao and the others to find him, hoping that with time, they might forget about the matter.
But this did not seem to change their plans and direction of action; at least for the next few days, Zhang Tao would not let Ling Feng off the hook.
Zhang Tao did not believe Xu Gou Zi's words. In his opinion, how could a new Disciple, fresh out of the Sect, easily gain contribution points without going out to collect Spiritual Plants?
Such unconvincing words could probably only fool naive children.
Ling Feng thought that Yu He must have anticipated that Zhang Tao would not easily believe such a thing. Therefore, she made this decision, resolutely not allowing Ling Feng to show himself.
He waited for another half an hour, but still did not see any sign of Duan Yuan or Zhang Tao and the others.
"Instead of waiting here like a sitting duck, it's better to take the initiative," Ling Feng thought to himself, quietly retreating and heading deeper into the mountain forest to search for them.
This mountain forest was extremely vast, and even though Zhang Da Niu and Xu Gou Zi and the others came to harvest Spiritual Plants every day, they had not explored every corner.
This time, Zhang Tao and the others came with over thirty people in total, ten more than yesterday.
Therefore, Ling Feng did not dare to be too ostentatious and could only secretly search for isolated unlucky individuals.
Even so, finding Zhang Tao and the others in this vast mountain forest was not an easy task.
He searched for half a day and did not see a single person, but instead encountered a few Yao Beasts, which he repelled on the spot.
Ling Feng no longer ventured deeper but returned the way he came, looking for Xu Gou Zi and the other Utility Disciples.
Xu Gou Zi and the others were not difficult to find; they basically harvested Spiritual Plants in a fixed area.
When he saw Xu Gou Zi and the others again, Xu Gou Zi's legs had already been broken by Zhang Tao, and he was being carried on a stretcher made of bowl-sized branches by two Disciples.
Another stretcher was also being carried by two Disciples, but the Disciple being carried had already died.
In addition, one Disciple's Dantian had been crippled.
Ling Feng had no choice but to appear before everyone. He first checked Xu Gou Zi's injuries, who was unconscious, then reached into his robe to take out the jade bottle Yu He had left him, poured out a Spirit Pill, and fed it to Xu Gou Zi.
When everyone saw Ling Feng, they were all dumbfounded, looking at each other. They all gazed at Ling Feng with surprised eyes, none of them knowing that Ling Feng was so bold as to follow them.
"Junior Brother Ling Feng, why did you come here too?"
"Zhang Tao is looking for you everywhere. Hurry back; don't let them see you."
"Yes, yes! Junior Brother Ling Feng, hurry up and go!"
The Senior Brothers all gathered around, trying to persuade Ling Feng.
Everyone looked desolate and dejected, and each of them bore injuries, supporting each other.
Seeing this scene, Ling Feng felt very uneasy. "Senior Brothers, it's all Ling Feng's fault; I made you suffer."
He respectfully bowed, then distributed the remaining Spirit Pills to the Senior Brothers and disappeared into the mountain forest.
"Zhang Tao, Duan Yuan, since you insist on seeking death, then don't blame me."
On a towering tree that reached into the clouds, Ling Feng hid, exuding a chilling killing intent.
