On the sixth day, Zuo Song walked into the Side Hall.

"Little guy, it’s time to come out of seclusion!"

Zuo Song’s voice was mystical, like the tolling of an evening drum or a morning bell—profound and thought-provoking. Yet, it wasn’t overbearing. Instead, it was as gentle as a spring breeze and soft rain, carrying wisps of the Dao’s rhythm that awakened the mind.

The vast, ocean-like aura around Qin Feng ebbed and flowed before gradually dissipating.

Qin Feng opened his eyes and looked at the white-browed old man clad in the black robe of a Mystic Master.

"Elder Zuo, it looks like you have good news!"

"Bad news. Terrible news!" Zuo Song kept a straight face, his expression grim, but the fleeting smile in his eyes betrayed him.

Qin Feng rose to his feet and stretched, loosening the Qi and Blood that had stagnated from sitting for so long. "Did Fan Qingshan’s Array fail?"

Zuo Song gave the black-robed youth a surprised glance. "You don’t seem surprised or puzzled at all?"

"What’s so puzzling about it? Forget twelve people—even with twenty, or two hundred, it would be impossible to condense Celestial One True Water using his method!"

Qin Feng walked out of the Side Hall and saw Long Ling, Zhang Mu, and the other ten people from their group of twelve stumbling out of the Medicine King Hall in a sorry state.

The group’s faces were grim, and from the Medicine King Hall, the furious roars of Fan Qingshan could be heard intermittently.

"Useless trash! It’s all your fault! If it weren’t for you, the Array would have succeeded long ago!"

"You’re the ones who ruined my Array!"

...

With a BANG, a turbulent wave of air blasted out of the Medicine King Hall.

BOOM!

A heavy object thudded to the ground.

Qin Feng’s gaze fell to his feet. The "object" had landed right in front of him.

"Elder Duanmu!"

Qin Feng shot Duanmu Rong a questioning look. Duanmu Rong’s face was deathly pale. He glanced at the black-robed youth, then suddenly let out a wet cough and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning as white as paper.

Just then, Qing Mu emerged from another Side Hall. Seeing Duanmu Rong vomit blood, his expression froze for a moment before a flicker of anger appeared in his eyes.

In a flash, Qing Mu appeared in front of Duanmu Rong and knelt to inspect his injuries.

"There’s no need to look!" Zuo Song said, strolling over with an indifferent gaze. "The kid’s internal organs were injured by Fan Qingshan’s Cyan Extreme Mountain-Breaking Force. All of his organs have been violently shaken. He won’t be getting out of bed for at least half a year!"

Qing Mu froze, looking up toward the voice with a hint of embarrassment on his face. "Elder Zuo!"

At that moment, Qin Feng spoke with self-deprecating humor. "It seems I was lucky to withdraw from the twelve-man Array. Otherwise, the one lying here today might very well have been me."

Qin Feng wore a lamenting expression as he glanced at Qing Mu.

Qing Mu’s expression stiffened slightly. He glanced at Qin Feng and then at the beaming Zuo Song standing behind him, forcing himself to suppress his irritation.

After a moment, he called over a group of disciples to carry Duanmu Rong away. "Take good care of him. Give him the best Spirit Medicines!"

Qing Mu turned back, his gaze falling on Zuo Song, his face the very picture of awkwardness.

Six days had passed. Six whole days, and Qing Mu had seen no sign of progress from Fan Qingshan.

The Spiritual Root was withering day by day. In just a few more days, this exceptionally rare Celestial Level Spiritual Root would be gone completely.

The pressure was becoming too much for Qing Mu to bear.

Just then, a black-robed Fan Qingshan emerged from the Medicine King Hall with a dark expression. He looked up and saw Zuo Song and Qin Feng standing at the bottom of the steps.

’Why are those two still here?’

Fan Qingshan’s expression changed, and he suddenly sneered. "Someone has some thick skin, can’t even be shooed away. Some people are just gluttons for punishment!"

Qin Feng suddenly spoke up. "Of course we wouldn’t leave. Master Fan swore he would save the Spiritual Root. How could we pass up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the show!"

Zuo Song chimed in. "That’s right. So, Master Fan, have you saved the Spiritual Root yet?"

Fan Qingshan’s old face burned, more from humiliation and anger than anything else!

Zuo Song glanced at Fan Qingshan’s ugly expression and scoffed. "Don’t tell me it was all just boasting? To think that the great Fourth Grade Xuan Master Fan Qingshan also spouts nonsense without a second thought!"

Qin Feng sneered. "There are too many ’masters’ these days. You see people on the street all the time claiming to be one. It’s what you call ’tooting your own horn’!"

The two of them were like a comedy duo, playing off each other perfectly.

Fan Qingshan’s expression grew darker and darker, his eyes so full of gloom they seemed ready to drip water!

They were slapping him in the face!

Just a few days ago, he had sworn that he would save the Spiritual Root.

Qing Mu had even driven Zuo Song and Qin Feng away for his sake.

Yet six days had passed, and he had accomplished nothing!

In fact, the Spiritual Root had only withered faster over those six days!

Some of the surrounding disciples from the Medicine King Hall were giving Fan Qingshan strange looks. Fan Qingshan’s face turned livid.

Glancing at Qing Mu, whose expression was shifting uncertainly, Zuo Song sighed. "It’s a shame. People these days love to listen to the boasts of so-called masters, while those with real skills are left on the sidelines!"

"Well, if we’re not welcome here, there are other places that will have us!"

Zuo Song glanced at Qin Feng and said, "Little guy, let’s go!"

Qin Feng nodded.

The two of them started walking toward the outer edge of the valley.

Qing Mu’s expression changed. In a flash, he appeared before them.

Zuo Song looked at the green-robed old man in surprise. "Brother Qingmu, what are you doing?"

Qing Mu looked at Zuo Song with a bitter smile. "Younger Brother Zuo, please don’t make things difficult for me. I apologize. It was my fault. This Spiritual Root is going to wither completely in a few days. If that happens, how could the Peak Master possibly spare me!"

A deep bitterness flashed in his eyes as Qing Mu cupped his hands. "I implore you, Younger Brother Zuo, you must help me save this Spiritual Root!"

Zuo Song put on a troubled expression. "But, if I recall, Brother Qingmu didn’t seem to welcome us very much before, did he? Besides, isn’t someone already treating the Spiritual Root? As they say, you don’t trouble two masters for one task. With a Fourth Grade Xuan Master here, why would you need to ask a humble Third-grade Xuan Master like me!"

A mocking smile touched Zuo Song’s lips.

"Younger Brother Zuo, I apologize. It was my mistake before. I was rude to you. Please, forgive me!"

Qing Mu bowed deeply.

’This Fan Qingshan... To think he’s a Fourth Grade Xuan Master. He usually seems so dignified and steady, but I never expected him to be all flash and no substance. He’s really put me in a terrible spot!’

’This is just great. Zuo Song has the upper hand now, and he’s not one to be merciful. If I can’t satisfy him, I’m afraid it will be very difficult to explain myself to the Peak Master!’

After a moment of hesitation, Qing Mu suddenly gritted his teeth. ’Fan Qingshan, oh, Fan Qingshan, this is your own incompetence. Don’t blame me for not giving you face!’

Lifting his head, Qing Mu fixed his gaze on Fan Qingshan and said, "Brother Fan, since you are unable to save the Spiritual Root, please leave!"

’Leave?’

’He’s kicking me out!’

’He’s calling me, Fan Qingshan, incompetent!’

A flash of livid anger crossed Fan Qingshan’s face!

This was a monumental insult!

As a Fourth Grade Xuan Master, Fan Qingshan was highly respected and held a noble status. Everywhere he went, he was met with flattery and deference. Never before had he been told to leave!

Fan Qingshan’s face went from red to green, then to purple. He pointed at Qing Mu, too enraged to speak.

Zuo Song taunted, "What’s this? I thought someone couldn’t be shooed away. Who was it that was shamelessly sticking around?"

"Zuo Song!" Fan Qingshan’s vicious glare landed on Zuo Song. This was the first time in his life he had ever lost out to him.

Staring daggers at Zuo Song, Fan Qingshan sneered after a moment. "Zuo Song, don’t get cocky. I am a Fourth Grade Xuan Master, while you are a mere Third-grade Xuan Master. If I can’t save the Spiritual Root, I don’t believe for a second that you can!"

Zuo Song sneered back.

Sensing the hatred in Fan Qingshan’s eyes, Qing Mu gave a wry smile and said to Zuo Song, "Younger Brother Zuo, are you satisfied now?"

Zuo Song pondered for a moment, then his gaze fell on the expressionless, black-robed youth. "Little guy, do you think we should save this Spiritual Root?"

In an instant, everyone’s eyes fell upon the black-robed youth.

(Same as always—five Chapters today. That’s five Chapters a day for a whole month, so you know I’m reliable! Please send some recommendation tickets my way, add this to your library, and consider donating~)