The Thousand Hidden Sect was a third-rate sect located in a remote part of the northern plains.
It had three main peaks: Thousand Bamboo Peak, the main peak where the sect leader, Inner Sect elders, and Inner Sect disciples cultivated.
Dark Shadow Peak, where the Disciplinary Hall elders and disciples trained. Disciples who had committed mistakes would be sent to Dark Shadow Peak.
Tiger Run Peak, where the Outer Sect elders and disciples cultivated.
The Replication System prevented Qin Yang from taking direct action, but this wasn't a problem at all.
If Zhou Shi and Li Xiaoqian knew he had survived, they would surely come to confirm it immediately.
After leaving the rear mountains, Qin Yang arrived at the Pill Dispensary on Tiger Run Peak.
What he needed to do first was retrieve his own pills!
If not for Sun Mu's explanation, he wouldn't even know that Outer Sect disciples could receive two Foundation Establishment Pills each month!
Today just happened to be the day for pill distribution!
At noon, the Pill Dispensary was bustling with activity. Many people had come to collect their pills, but their faces showed suppressed anger, daring to be furious yet unable to speak out.
At the counter, the young Outer Sect disciple Li Niu was in charge of distributing the pills.
Li Niu was good friends with Zhou Shi and one of his loyal lackeys. That's why he'd been assigned such a lucrative position.
Li Niu's face was contorted with arrogance and contempt as he glared at those who lingered after receiving their pills. "Get lost, you bastards!" he barked. "Don't make me look at you! I need to cultivate after distributing these pills. I'm aiming for the Inner Sect in the Outer Sect Competition next month!"
"Ooh, what a display of bravado," Qin Yang sneered. "I bet you've been chugging Foundation Establishment Pills like candy all this time, building up this hollow confidence."
The Pill Dispensary fell silent. Outer Sect disciples exchanged uneasy glances before all eyes turned toward Qin Yang at the entrance.
"Has that kid lost his mind? Who does he think he is, talking to Li Niu like that?"
"Even without considering Zhou Shi's influence, Li Niu's a peak Qi Refining Realm cultivator. Who the hell is this brat?"
Li Niu's icy gaze settled on Qin Yang, his smile as insincere as a corpse's grin. "What kind of joke is this, junior brother? We only get one Foundation Establishment Pill per month. How could I possibly treat them like sweets?"
Noting Qin Yang's disheveled appearance and caked-on dirt, Li Niu chuckled. "Finished your outer sect duties? State your name and claim your monthly pill."
"Qin Yang," he announced his name.
Among the numerous Outer Sect disciples, none recognized him at first.
"Here's your pill." Li Niu produced a ceramic bottle from his robes, plucked out a pill, and flicked it toward Qin Yang as casually as one might dismiss a nose booger.
The pill spun across the floor, coming to rest at Qin Yang's feet.
While others received their pills directly from the bottle, Li Niu's method was clearly meant to humiliate Qin Yang!
All eyes turned to Qin Yang, eager to see his response. No one anticipated that Qin Yang would approach with a smile, not even glancing at the pill on the ground.
His first step crushed the Foundation Establishment Pill into dust.
The Outer Sect disciples gasped. This was open provocation!
Some wore expressions of schadenfreude, anticipating a good show.
Reaching the counter, Qin Yang extended his hand. "Please dispense the pill, Senior Brother."
Li Niu's eyes flashed dangerously. "Younger Brother, haven't I already given you your pill?"
Qin Yang feigned confusion. "Ah? Did I? Where?"
Li Niu gritted his teeth in fury, viciously pulling out a porcelain bottle and slamming it onto the table. He growled, "Boy, it seems you truly don't know my capabilities. If not for the sect's rules prohibiting private combat, I'd break both your legs and make you beg for mercy on your knees!"
"Ha!" Qin Yang curled his lip in disdain. "If you've got the guts, come at me now!"
The Qi Refining Realm was merely the entry-level stage for cultivators, focusing on tempering the body and laying a solid foundation. With limited cultivation methods and martial techniques available, Qin Yang naturally wouldn't let this prime opportunity for replication slip away.
Hiss! Has Qin Yang gone mad? To provoke Li Niu like this?
Among Outer Sect disciples, Li Niu's strength is considered exceptional. None who've offended him have ever escaped unscathed!
Is it really worth risking everything for a single Foundation Establishment Pill? Qin Yang shouldn't be some unknown nobody.
"You think I wouldn't dare strike?" Li Niu's eyes widened like copper bells as he clenched his fists. "A single punch from me could shatter your bones!"
"Exactly, you're too scared to move," Qin Yang mirrored the gesture with his own fist, sneering. "To be honest, my punch would split your skull like a ripe melon!"
Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd as everyone froze in stunned silence.
"Holy shit! That's insane!"
"About time! An Outer Sect disciple should've stood up to Zhou Shi ages ago! Whoever you are, I'm with you!"
The room erupted in cheers - their pent-up frustration had finally found release.
Foundation Establishment Pills were crucial for early-stage cultivation. Those who refused to collude with Zhou Shi had their rations halved, while his lackeys treated the precious pills like candy.
The Outer Sect Competition loomed in a month. Those who made it into the Inner Sect would truly begin their cultivation journey. But how could they possibly challenge Zhou Shi and his henchmen?
"I didn't hear that clearly. What did you say?" Li Niu's ears burned with disbelief. Though officially Zhou Shi's subordinate, he considered himself nearly Zhou Shi's equal in strength! Where had this Qin Yang suddenly appeared from?
Qin Yang's lips twitched with amusement. "Didn't expect you to enjoy such blunt talk. Let me repeat it properly."
Clearing his throat, Qin Yang roared: "This fist will smash your dog head into pulp!"
His voice carried through the hall with thunderous clarity.
The Pill Dispensary erupted in laughter.
Li Niu's face flushed crimson, his eyes bloodshot. "Fine! It seems I'll have to teach you a lesson today! Even if I break sect rules, I doubt anyone would dare report this!"
"Bull Fist!" Li Niu roared, his fist smashing through the counter like a raging bull, reducing it to splinters.
"Oh no! Li Niu's lost his senses! Qin Yang's finished!"
"Heavens! Could Qin Yang really be killed on the spot?"
Copy technique: Bull Body Tempering Art. Not exceeding host's current realm. No upgrade.
Copy martial art: Bull Fist. Automatically upgraded proficiency to peak mastery.
A satisfied smile tugged at Qin Yang's lips as he mirrored Li Niu's motion - another Bull Fist!
A dull thud was followed by the sickening crunch of breaking bones.
"Ah! Pain! You've actually broken my arm!"
Li Niu clutched his twisted limb, stumbling backward in retreat.
The Pill Dispensary stood silent, all Outer Sect disciples staring in disbelief.
"What? Wasn't Li Niu supposed to break Qin Yang's arm? No, shouldn't he have been instantly killed?"
"Li Niu's cultivation realm is at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, and his Bull Fist martial technique has reached absolute mastery. For a single punch to result in this... this Qin Yang..."
Everyone involuntarily swallowed hard. This Qin Yang was simply too ferocious!
"Impossible!" Li Niu cried through the searing pain. "How can you be so strong? And the cultivation technique and martial arts you're using... Who exactly are you?!"
Qin Yang sneered. "I'm me, of course. Outer Sect disciple, Qin Yang."
Clenching his fist again, Qin Yang growled, "I told you, this punch will smash your dog head to pieces!"
The fist shot out, instantly splitting Li Niu's head open and sending blood spraying.
"Mercy! Mercy! Senior Brother, spare me! I'll fetch the pills right now!" Li Niu wailed, prostrating himself on the ground.
Qin Yang snorted. "You were the one threatening to break my legs and make me beg for mercy earlier."
Looking mockingly at Li Niu, Qin Yang continued, "Now it's your turn, but you're still a bit short."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qin Yang threw another punch, shattering Li Niu's thigh bone.
Li Niu writhed in agony on the ground.
Qin Yang nodded in satisfaction. "Better. Now that's more like it."
"Good hit! About time!"
"Satisfying! Finally vented that pent-up anger!"
Li Niu, too frightened to linger, scrambled away under the pretense of retrieving pills. Along the way, Outer Sect disciples from the Pill Dispensary spat on him repeatedly.
The crowd erupted in triumphant cheers.
All eyes turned to Qin Yang, regarding him as a hero.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Qin Yang called out, "Don't worry, everyone. From today onward, I'll keep an eye out for anyone trying to secretly withhold pills. Don't be afraid - this isn't Zhou Shi's Outer Sect anymore. His grandfather is just an Outer Sect elder - can he really cover everything up?"
"Exactly! As long as we stand united, what's there to fear from Zhou Shi? Or from some Outer Sect elder?"
"Right! Can he kill us all?"
"We must report this to the Inner Sect. They should strip that elder of his position - maybe even destroy his cultivation and expel him from the Thousand Hidden Sect!"
The crowd, now united in their resentment, roared in agreement.