Urban Extraordinary Immortal Doctor
Chapter 1410: Little Junior Brother Fang is so young and handsome!

Chapter 1410: Chapter 1410: Little Junior Brother Fang is so young and handsome!

Under the guidance of the refined middle-aged man, Fang Bai headed towards the rear mountain of Lingxu Palace.

The rear mountain was lush with greenery, streams gurgling, waterfalls cascading, all complementing each other in serene harmony. Various types of spiritual medicine adorned the landscape, while gentle spirit beasts and birds occasionally passed by, creating a tranquil scene.

To Fang Bai, this place was not only picturesque, like a paradise isolated from the world, but it also brimmed with spiritual energy, making it an ideal cultivation ground for martial artists.

"Junior Brother Fang, isn’t the scenery of our Lingxu Palace quite nice?"

The refined middle-aged man walked beside Fang Bai, pointing out the surroundings with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of flattery.

The man’s name was Zheng Hong. He was merely an ordinary disciple of the External Courtyard. Limited by his innate talents, he considered himself fortunate if he could eventually enter the Inner Court.

However, although Fang Bai was a new disciple who had just joined, he was destined to be personally mentored by Elder Wu in the future. Coupled with his innate spiritual root, his path in the Martial Dao would extend far, making it impossible for Zheng Hong to measure up to him.

Thus, Zheng Hong was determined to befriend this Junior Brother Fang, hoping to gain his favor and assistance in the future.

"Indeed, the mountains are beautiful, the waters are clear, and the spiritual energy is abundant. Not bad."

Fang Bai smiled slightly, glanced at Zheng Hong, and casually asked, "Senior Brother Zheng, how many years have you been in the sect?"

"I have been in the sect for over twenty years now."

Zheng Hong smiled bitterly, recalling the past as he sighed, "I remember that back then, there were more than a dozen of us who entered Lingxu Palace together. We all started as menial servants. Now, twenty years have passed, and those disciples have progressed in their cultivation levels, gradually advancing to become External Courtyard disciples or even Inner Court disciples. Yet I... ha, I’m still stuck in the External Courtyard..."

Hearing the deep helplessness in Zheng Hong’s words, Fang Bai patted him on the shoulder and said, "Senior Brother Zheng, don’t lose heart or despair. While a martial artist’s future achievements are influenced by their natural talent and aptitude, it’s not entirely determined by those factors. From what I know, many martial artists without innate spiritual roots or remarkable talents have achieved great success in the Martial Dao through sheer effort. Perhaps one day, you could also rise to become one of Lingxu Palace’s top figures."

Zheng Hong laughed heartily and responded, "Junior Brother Fang, that is a good thing to hear! However, I don’t dare to dream of becoming a top figure. My greatest wish in this lifetime is to advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm and join the Inner Court."

As the two chatted and laughed, they soon passed through a mist-laden mountain path, where a series of stone steps appeared before them.

The stone steps twisted and turned, stretching forward into the depths of the mountain range.

To the left of the steps stood a towering stone tablet, inscribed with the five bold characters "Lingxu Palace External Courtyard." The strokes of the characters were powerful and vigorous, exuding the presence of the Dao, clearly written by a formidable expert.

Ascending the steps for a short while, they reached a point where pavilions and towers began to emerge on both sides of the pathway. Inner Court disciples of Lingxu Palace could be seen scattered in small groups throughout, engaging in discussions and exchanging insights on the Martial Dao.

In the distance, the layered mountain ranges were veiled in flowing spiritual energy. Waterfalls poured down from towering peaks, cascading like the Milky Way descending from the heavens, echoing with a thunderous roar.

The open stretches on either side of the stone steps had been cultivated into medicinal gardens, where vibrant and diverse spiritual herbs were planted in an orderly manner.

Among the spiritual herbs were spirit ginseng as thick as a child’s arm, aromatic lingzhi, pristine snow lotuses, and ancient polygonum root with millennia of age... as well as many other spiritual herbs that Fang Bai had encountered in his previous life.

The branches, leaves, and fruits of these herbs shimmered with radiant light, containing pure and rich spiritual energy.

As he walked on the stone steps, the fragrant aroma of spiritual herbs wafted into Fang Bai’s nose. Bathing in the spiritual energy exuded by the herbs, he felt entirely refreshed, as though his body and mind were cleansed.

After observing silently for a while, Fang Bai noted that the spiritual herbs in the garden were generally around five thousand years old. He was slightly disappointed.

Spiritual herbs of around five thousand years belong to the Holy Grade, but their age was among the lowest tier within the Holy Grade, suitable only for refining lower-tier Holy Grade spirit pills.

However, despite their relatively low age, their abundance made up for it. Refining some of these herbs into spirit pills would ensure Fang Bai’s cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Realm in the future.

"These spiritual herbs, once mature, are harvested. A portion will be submitted to the Alchemy Cauldron Pavilion, while another portion will be sold in the cities nearby for spirit pills, liquid medicines, or spiritual artifacts..."

Noticing Fang Bai’s apparent interest in the medicinal garden, Zheng Hong explained.

"The Alchemy Cauldron Pavilion? I’ve never heard of it..."

Fang Bai frowned slightly.

Zheng Hong was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "Junior Brother Fang, you come from the Three Thousand Minor Worlds, so it’s natural that you haven’t heard of the Alchemy Cauldron Pavilion. It’s a powerful sect presided over by Golden Core experts!"

"Golden Core experts, hmm? Truly a strong sect..."

While Fang Bai said this, his expression remained indifferent, without a trace of astonishment.

In his previous life, Fang Bai had roamed the entirety of the Spirit Martial Realm, gaining knowledge of its strongest sects. However, he had never heard of the Alchemy Cauldron Pavilion, leading him to assume it must have been established after his ascension to the Immortal Realm.

Above Foundation Establishment comes Golden Core. Golden Core experts were entities whom Foundation Establishment experts could only look up to. Yet to Fang Bai, "astonishment" was far from an appropriate reaction to such figures.

Fang Bai understood that in every world, the principle of the survival of the fittest prevailed. Lingxu Palace’s submission of cultivation resources to the Alchemy Cauldron Pavilion was essentially "protection fees" paid by a weaker sect to a stronger one.

With these "protection fees," the stronger sect wouldn’t trouble the weaker one. Additionally, in situations where the weaker sect encountered overwhelming difficulties, they could seek support from the stronger sect.

Such was the plight of weaker sects—inescapable yet inevitable.

Unless a peerless talent emerged from the weaker sect, leading it to rise in power and overturn the balance, it would remain oppressed indefinitely.

Clearly, Lingxu Palace currently lacked the strength for such a reversal and could only comply with paying the "protection fees."

On the way to Fang Bai’s residence, they encountered several External Courtyard disciples familiar with Zheng Hong.

Zheng Hong’s popularity in the External Courtyard was evident, as disciples who recognized him would casually approach to chat or, if they were junior to him, offer him respectful salutes.

Zheng Hong maintained a composed demeanor while interacting warmly with the disciples and then introduced Fang Bai with great enthusiasm.

"Oh my, Junior Brother Fang is so young!"

"Hehe, not only is he young, but also so handsome!"

"With Junior Brother Fang here, Lingxu Palace’s ’most handsome man’ title might need a new owner!"

"Hah, Senior Brother Ye will have to step down!"

...

The female disciples in the External Courtyard, especially those without companions, were thrilled to welcome the young and attractive Junior Brother Fang.

Meanwhile, the male disciples in the External Courtyard felt a sense of "competition." However, upon learning of Fang Bai’s innate spiritual root and Elder Wu’s intention to personally mentor him, most of them quickly warmed up to him.