"How is this possible? How could Wu Xuan be so formidable?" The entire Weapon Peak was stunned upon witnessing the shift in the rankings at the Refining Tower. No one had expected that an outer disciple from the Pill Peak could unlock the fourteenth level of the Refining Tower. Such an achievement was exceedingly rare, even in the history of the Weapon Peak.
"What are these people doing?" Lin Tian walked out of the Refining Tower, looking at the disciples of the Weapon Peak who were all fixated on the tower, murmuring to themselves. His face twisted in disdain. Clearly, he had no idea what was happening. After walking past, Lin Tian quickly made his way to the Library Pavilion.
Not long after Lin Tian left, Gao Zhenhao emerged from the Refining Tower. Upon seeing the outer disciples gathered in front of the tower, a smug smile spread across his face. He hadn't expected that after completing only the thirteenth level, he would become the center of attention for so many disciples.
"Really, what's all this fuss about?" Gao Zhenhao chuckled, his smile shining brightly as he walked toward the tower.
But as he drew closer and glanced at the rankings, Gao Zhenhao's expression darkened instantly. His smile vanished entirely. The name at the top of the list was unmistakably Wu Xuan. What made matters worse was that the number next to Wu Xuan's name had changed from thirteen to fourteen. In other words, while Gao Zhenhao had only just completed the thirteenth level, Wu Xuan had already passed the fourteenth level.
For Gao Zhenhao, this was nothing short of a calamity. In the art of refining, each level was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. The thirteenth level had already consumed nearly all his mental energy, forcing him to barely pass. Now, to think of tackling the fourteenth level... it felt like a death sentence.
"Gao Zhenhao, you're finally out," several outer disciples called out as they saw him emerge. They all rushed forward, for in their minds, Gao Zhenhao was their only savior, the only hope to oust Wu Xuan from the top spot.
"Brother Zhenhao, Wu Xuan has already passed the fourteenth level. You mustn't let that kid's name stay at number one any longer!" the disciples urged.
"Don't worry," a particularly confident disciple added, "Brother Zhenhao will never let us down. He will definitely pass the fourteenth level." Upon hearing this, Gao Zhenhao rolled his eyes so hard that it nearly knocked him out. This disciple was practically pushing him into the fire.
Meanwhile, Lin Tian had already entered the second floor of the Library Pavilion. His greatest interest at the moment was in the method of crafting spirit-binding talismans. When the Human Cannon was bound with spirit energy, Lin Tian had clearly sensed the changes in it. While the weapon's spirit was still quite limited in awareness, it had a significant advantage: in addition to using spirit liquid as energy, the cannon could also absorb spiritual energy from the surrounding environment to fuel its operation.
If weapons could indeed be bound with spirits, it would save Lin Tian a great deal of spirit liquid. However, as he flipped through the books on spirit-binding talismans, Lin Tian furrowed his brows.
Although he didn't yet fully understand the process of crafting these talismans, he did realize one thing: the spirit in these talismans was extracted from a very rare type of medicinal herb. And in all of Xuanwu Sect, there was only one place where such herbs could be found—the Medicine Peak.
"It seems I'll have to pay the Medicine Peak a visit," Lin Tian muttered with a sigh, closing the book. After a quick change of clothes to disguise himself, he set off toward the Medicine Peak.
With the token of an outer disciple, Lin Tian faced no obstacles entering the Medicine Peak. The moment he stepped inside, the rich scent of herbs enveloped him, and he could immediately feel his own spiritual energy flowing more swiftly.
Looking around, Lin Tian noticed that most of the outer disciples at the Medicine Peak had a cultivation level above the eighth stage of Qi Refining. Clearly, the peak's environment was conducive to cultivation, offering immense benefits to its disciples.
However, while the Medicine Peak disciples excelled in herbal medicine and alchemy, they were less skilled in combat and defense. This was likely why the peak was ranked just below the Pill Peak in the five sects.
"You all don't even recognize me?" As Lin Tian entered the Medicine Peak, he encountered a woman in red holding a blood-red longsword, who addressed the disciples around her in a challenging tone.
The disciples, visibly embarrassed, couldn't seem to recall who she was. Few in the Medicine Peak seemed to know her.
"Senior brother, what's going on here?" Lin Tian murmured, looking confused.
"Junior brother, you don't know her?" A nearby disciple glanced at Lin Tian and explained, "That's Senior Sister Xiao Min. The outer disciples didn't recognize her, and now she's throwing a fit."
"She's throwing a fit because they didn't recognize her?" Lin Tian was stunned. Clearly, this woman was quite overbearing.
"Kid, you must be new here. Do you recognize me?" Seeing Lin Tian's unfamiliar face, the woman, Xiao Min, demanded.
"Me?" Lin Tian was taken aback. To be honest, if not for the previous introduction from the outer disciple, he wouldn't have been able to name her.
"I certainly recognize Senior Sister Xiao Min," Lin Tian quickly replied. After all, he was here for the medicinal herbs, not to waste time on trivial matters.
"Oh? Then, junior brother, do you know which 'Xiao' is in my name?" Xiao Min asked, a teasing smile on her face.
"Ah?" Lin Tian was completely dumbfounded at this question.