Mo Wangchen and Xu Chan awoke from their meditative states after about two more hours.
Now, the effect of the Qi Gathering Pill had almost faded, and the spiritual power within their bodies had mostly recovered.
"How far are you from reaching the Spirit Transformation Realm?"
As the two continued their journey, heading back to Yun Chu Academy, Mo Wangchen asked.
Hearing his question, Xu Chan paused for a moment, "I just recently broke through to the ninth level of the Vein Condensation Realm, it may take two to three months to attempt a breakthrough to the Spirit Transformation Realm..."
"Two to three months, huh..."
Mo Wangchen nodded, then said again, "When we get back, I’ll have Xue’er give you more Qi Gathering Pills. You should still have quite a few Xuan Stones, right? With the support of the Artifact Refining Tower and these pills, your cultivation speed should increase significantly. Aim to reach the Spirit Transformation Realm before the Inner Court examination."
"The Inner Court examination?"
Xu Chan paused, surprised, as it was only a month away from the Inner Court examination, right?
"The Mo Pavilion isn’t only focused on the development of the Outer Court, the Inner Court needs to be developed as well. Now, Zhang Hao is in the Inner Court, after this assessment, if I, Niu Feng, and you can get into the Inner Court, we can band together to avoid some troubles."
Xu Chan nodded, but then furrowed her brows again, "A month’s time is quite tight for me..."
"If you don’t try, how will you know? You just focus on cultivation. If you lack Qi Gathering Pills or Xuan Stones, just let me know. As for the Spirit Transformation Pill, I will make one for you." Mo Wangchen said with a smile.
"Thank you, Pavilion Master!" Xu Chan said solemnly after hearing Mo Wangchen’s words.
Mo Wangchen had helped the Xu Family greatly, and now he treated her so well. Looking back, joining the Mo Pavilion was indeed a wise decision.
By sunset, the two finally entered Yunge City. Mo Wangchen first bought many medicinal herbs and then returned to the academy with Xu Chan.
As they passed through the area where the Outer Court disciples lived, Mo Wangchen noticed a crowd not far away, all Mo Pavilion disciples.
The two slightly frowned, realizing something had happened, and hurried over.
Seeing Xu Chan and Mo Wangchen approach, the faces of the Mo Pavilion disciples in the crowd lit up with delight.
Mo Wangchen frowned, looking at Xue’er in the crowd, and asked, "Did something happen during the days I was away?"
Xue’er nodded, her expression a bit grave, "Earlier, when we were recruiting people externally, a conflict accidentally broke out with members of the Lingtian Sect. They injured Mo Cheng."
"They injured Mo Cheng?" Hearing Xue’er’s words, Mo Wangchen frowned more deeply, his eyes showing a hint of coldness, "Well done, Lingtian Sect, I haven’t sought you out, but you’ve actively provoked me!"
With a cold snort, Mo Wangchen walked through the crowd and went straight into the courtyard ahead, pushing the door open to find Mo Cheng lying in bed with Fan Wenxiao and others carefully attending him.
Seeing it was Mo Wangchen who entered, joy immediately showed on the faces of Fan Wenxiao and the others.
Mo Wangchen nodded, walking to Mo Cheng’s bedside, noticing his pale complexion, indicating he was quite severely injured.
"What happened exactly?" he asked.
"When Junior Brother Fan and I were outside recruiting, the Lingtian Sect members, without any reason, approached us with extremely harsh and mocking words. Unable to bear it, I fought them on stage, sigh, although my cultivation has progressed quite a bit lately..."
Mo Cheng was speaking, attempting to sit up from bed, but Mo Wangchen gestured for him to stay put, "Lie down and rest."
"The academy’s three major forces, we haven’t had disputes with the Lingtian Sect or the Wind Snow Sect, why did they trouble the Mo Pavilion?" Mo Wangchen asked.
"It’s because of the recruitment." Mo Cheng frowned and continued, "Upon learning that joining the Mo Pavilion might reward one with pills and cultivation techniques, many Lingtian Sect members left and joined us, which didn’t sit well with the Lingtian Sect..."
"Where are Niu Feng and the others?" Mo Wangchen inquired. With a Spirit Transformation Realm expert like Niu Feng, how did the Lingtian Sect get away with such aggression?
"The Lingtian Sect, having stood in the Outer Court for many years, naturally has ties in the Inner Court. An Inner Court disciple at the Spirit Transformation Realm held Senior Brother Niu Feng back," Fan Wenxiao chipped in before Mo Cheng could answer.
After hearing everything, Mo Wangchen nodded, then said to Mo Cheng and the others, "For now, let’s pause recruitment. At present, I will help settle this score for you!"
"The Lingtian Sect’s Sect Leader recently broke through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, so be careful if you encounter him," Mo Cheng reminded.
"Spirit Transformation Realm, huh..."
Mo Wangchen furrowed his brow, then sneered, "It seems the Inner Court examination a month from now will be quite interesting."
With that said, Mo Wangchen looked at Fan Wenxiao, "Inform Niu Feng and Gao Yang to meet at my place tomorrow!"
"What for?" Fan Wenxiao asked subconsciously, stunned.
"To of course challenge them, Mo Cheng is my Mo Pavilion’s Vice Pavilion Master, and now that he’s injured and bedridden, if we don’t do something, how can the Mo Pavilion stand its ground in the Outer Court?" Mo Wangchen declared.
"Understood!" Hearing Mo Wangchen’s words, Fan Wenxiao’s face broke into a smile.
In recent days, the news of Mo Cheng being injured had spread throughout the Outer Court, leading to much ridicule directed at the Mo Pavilion. Now, hearing that Mo Wangchen planned to confront the situation, they naturally felt a bit excited.
Quickly, Mo Wangchen returned to his residence. Before leaving, he specially concocted a healing pill for Mo Cheng, an ordinary first-grade pill, not difficult to make.
Just as he returned to his residence, he saw Liang Yuqiu waiting there.
"I heard you’re back, so I came to see," Liang Yuqiu said.
Mo Wangchen smiled, knowing what she had come for. He stepped forward, his hand flipping to reveal a pill, "This is the Youth Pill you wanted, Senior Sister."
Seeing the pill in his hand, Liang Yuqiu’s eyes visibly brightened, "Thank you."
"Besides Jun Muqing and Yang Xu, are there any other noteworthy figures in the Inner Court?" After handing the pill to her, Mo Wangchen suddenly asked.
Liang Yuqiu was taken aback, "The academy also has a strength ranking. Yang Xu is among the top three experts, and although Jun Muqing isn’t even in the top ten due to being the dean’s disciple, she naturally has quite a strong influence within the academy. But aside from those two, the experts who rank in the top ten are not simple characters."
"Why, it seems you’re preparing to enter the Inner Court?"
Mo Wangchen nodded, "There is an examination in a month. Before then, I should be able to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm."