The Wheel-Turning Master.

Chapter 184 Asking for help
After all these years, Qu Ruyi is still as unreliable as ever.

It can be seen that the confinement was too short and Qu Chengjia was too lenient.

Lin Bai didn't know how he became a wheel. But looking at the three men and one woman in the room, Lin Bai could probably guess that Qu Ruyi wanted to show off her connections and reputation, and that anyone she called would come.

I shouldn’t have come!
Some people love to show off the more they lack something. After being locked up for so long, maybe he has become stupid.

Looking at the three men and one woman, they were all at the foundation-building stage. There was an old cultivator with a white beard, a middle-aged cultivator at the foundation-building stage with a simple and honest face, and the young man and the female cultivator were wearing the Qinglian Sect's standard Taoist robes, and they were actually from one of the four golden elixir sects.

However, the young female cultivator didn't pay any attention to Lin Bai. Her eyes were fixed on the young male cultivator, and her admiration for him was obvious.

Lin Bai has always been honest and loves to help others. He just smiled and bowed, saying, "I have a small reputation, but I am a joke in front of you all."

After a few polite words, he looked at Qu Ruyi and said, "Sister Qu, we have a deep friendship, a life-long friendship! This time you are visiting Xinyifang, no matter what the matter is, I will definitely help you with all my strength! If you need people, I will let you command; if you need things, I will give you everything I have! If you want to make friends, I will invite all my friends!"

Lin Bai forced himself to suppress the urge to imitate the fox and gave Qu Ruyi enough face.

Anyway, it’s one thing to say nice things, but if Qu Ruyi really makes a request, you can persuade her in private.

Lin Bai dared to fool even the Nascent Soul, not to mention the little Qu Ruyi. Glancing at her, he found that this girl didn't seem to have grown much, three points inferior to Sister Pei, but could be on par with Jiang Yu.

Sure enough, Qu Ruyi was extremely happy when she heard that, and the jade pendant on her waist jingled.

"You're too polite!" Qu Ruyi pulled Lin Bai and said with a grin, "Junior Brother Li and Junior Sister Ye just arrived, and you're here too. Let me introduce them to you!"

Perhaps Qu Ruyi had been in seclusion for too long and wanted to catch up on what she had said, so she kept mumbling to herself and introduced them one by one with joy.

The old foundation-building cultivator was called Baimei, a casual cultivator. Judging from his appearance, he must be at least 170 or 180 years old.

The middle-aged foundation-building cultivator is named Yang Lijian, with a square face and a simple smile, like an honest man.

The young Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing the Qinglian Sect's standard Taoist robe was named Li Xinghe. He had an average appearance and was so ugly that he could hardly be found in a crowd.

However, he looked calm and quiet. He just nodded at Lin Bai without saying a word, as if he didn't care about anything else.

The female cultivator was called Ye Ruoqing. She looked good, but her aura was a little unstable. She must have established her foundation not long ago. She was the granddaughter of the Taoist Master Baimei.

Ye Ruoqing and Li Xinghe were both born as independent cultivators. Later, the four major Jindan sects recruited new members. The two of them happened to enter the Qinglian Sect, and since then they became acquainted and have a close relationship.

But according to Lin Bai, Li Xinghe was probably forced here by Ye Ruoqing, and the man had no intention of coming, but the woman had feelings for him.

After getting to know each other, everyone sat down and Qu Ruyi poured tea.

Lin Bai didn't say anything, but just kept thinking in his mind.

Qu Ruyi has always been unreliable. He suddenly summoned so many people. I'm afraid he's going to cause trouble. Or explore a secret place, or something else.

Lin Bai wasn't interested at all.

Now he lives a happy life, currying favor with Aunt Gu, trying to please the fox, and even learning the formation.

When he is free, he trains his disciples, practices sword with Sister Pei, drinks with Sister Huanhuan, and eats melons with Girl Jiang.

Life was a little bit hard and tiring, but much more peaceful. His cultivation had not fallen behind, and he had obtained the alchemy books from the Gu and Tian families, so he was thriving.

"My current friends are all Yuanying-level cultivators! Aunt Gu was at a loss when she left me. She sent people to look for me every month just to get some of my writings. The slutty fox was in my hands. I touched her slender waist and tender back without any resistance. She was willing to be driven by me and even pulled her tail."

"I have enough food and drink, do I need to go out to look for opportunities? Making friends with Yuanying is the greatest opportunity."

"Besides, nowadays, if you want to go on a long journey, you have to say hello to Gu Yao. If you really want to go, I'm afraid Aunt Gu won't let you go."

Lin Bai had already made a plan in mind. Not only did he not go, he also had to stop Qu Ruyi.

Once you have lived a life of luxury and debauchery for a long time, you really don't want to go out and live a hard life.

Sure enough, after a few words, Qu Ruyi got straight to the point and said, "Brother Baimei, this Wheel Master is my close friend. I have saved his life several times, so he is trustworthy."

Qu Ruyi did not talk about the specific matter, just looked at the old monk with white eyebrows.

Baimei stroked his beard for a while, looked at Lin Bai, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhuanlun, may I ask, besides alchemy, do you have any other strengths?"

"He...hiss..." Before Qu Ruyi could finish her words, Lin Bai almost pinched off a piece of flesh from her leg.

"Brother Baimei, Brother Yang, Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Ye." Lin Bai sat down and saluted, then smiled and said, "I am acquainted with Senior Sister Qu, and Senior Sister Qu is familiar with all of you, so there is no need to hide it from you. I do have some experience in alchemy, and I also want to practice sword cultivation when I practice Qi. But after building the foundation, I will no longer use the sword, and will focus on other things."

At this point, Lin Bai smiled confidently and said, "My fellow Taoists, if you want to refine any elixir, please tell me. With Senior Sister Qu as the one who makes it, I will not charge you even a single spirit stone."

Qu Ruyi only felt that she had become more proud, and the more she looked at Lin Bai, the more she liked him.

The old Taoist with white eyebrows also smiled and said, "It's always good to be an alchemist. You can live a more peaceful and happy life than people like me who don't have much skills. You don't need to go out and take risks and live a life of licking blood on the knife edge."

This means that you don’t want Lin Bai anymore.

Lin Bai did not say anything. Although casual cultivators valued alchemists, when they went out, they still hoped that their companions would be more capable. No one wanted to travel with an alchemist who was used to a comfortable life.

Qu Ruyi glanced at Lin Bai, and Lin Bai glanced back.

"We still have to find a sword cultivator. If we can find a formation master, it will be safer." The female cultivator Ye Ruoqing looked at Li Xinghe with a bitter face and asked, "Brother Xinghe, do you recognize these people?"

When meeting Li Xinghe, Ye Ruoqing became gentle.

"I don't like socializing." This was the first sentence Li Xinghe said since he joined Lin Bai.

"Yes, I knew you didn't like talking to others..." Ye Ruoqing asked Yu Mang, then sighed and looked at the old cultivator with white eyebrows, and said, "I heard that Shangjia has a senior sister who is good at formations, but it's a pity that I don't know her."

The old monk with white eyebrows asked, "Qing'er, isn't there such a person in the Qinglian Sect?"

Ye Ruoqing smiled bitterly and said, "Grandpa, my brother Xinghe and I are independent cultivators. We have no foundation and no one to rely on. The art of formation is a profound subject. It is not our turn to learn it. Only the people from the aristocratic families can inherit it."

The so-called independent cultivator gangs and aristocratic family gangs have only emerged in recent years. They originated from the fact that the four major Jindan sects accepted independent cultivators into their ranks.

Take the Tianchi School as an example.

Among the three Jindan of Tianchi Sect, Liu Tianhe is the leader, who is in the late stage, and has the support of Qiaoshan Sect, so he is the most powerful. Yao Wanshan is also in the late stage of Jindan, and his family power cannot be underestimated. Gai Chengfei is only in the middle stage of Jindan, and he is free and easy-going. He does not fight for power, but the children of the family are also favored by the Jindan ancestor.

Although there are still many foundation-building families, they are all under the jurisdiction of these three golden elixirs.

In the past, Tianchi recruited new members mostly from among the descendants of its own family.

This is the case when a sect becomes big and powerful, and it is inevitable that some aristocratic families will emerge. The Qiaoshan Sect is no exception, and it is like a sect with several families and surnames.

The descendants of these people are called the Aristocratic Family Gang by the Casual Cultivators Gang.

And the individual cultivators naturally formed an individual cultivator gang.

In the past, Tianchi Sect had accepted many people from the independent cultivators, and the sect was not stingy, but invested a lot of energy and spiritual materials. However, as a result, the family gang got less, and gradually the two gangs could not get along.

However, independent cultivators are independent cultivators after all, and they are far better than disciples from noble families in terms of bravery and ruthlessness. But once they have entered a sect, their backgrounds will be considered. Any disciple from a noble family will be at the foundation-building stage, and they are not something independent cultivators can mess with.

As time went by, the gap between the Loose Cultivators and the Aristocratic Cultivators grew deeper. However, with the Sect Leader keeping an eye on them, there was no trouble.

However, in the past one or two years, as new independent cultivators built their foundations one after another, the independent cultivator gang has become much more powerful.

But in terms of background, they are still far behind those aristocratic families. They have been in the sect for several generations, and have inherited the skills of alchemy, talisman making, and even formation.

Moreover, the teachers do not impart advanced knowledge to the independent practitioners, but only rank them based on their martial arts skills.

A cold and aloof person like Pei Ning has no interest in sectarianism. He has been practicing diligently since he entered the sect, and only goes down the mountain once every one or two months to take a short rest.

But even so, Pei Ning was included in the San Xiu Gang. Later, Lin Bai served Yao Qianyuan and Gai Yingqiu well, and Sister Pei was expelled from the San Xiu Gang. Later, Sister Pei showed her talent and became a member of the San Xiu Gang again.

Even after Pei Ning established his foundation, he was regarded as a role model by many disciples who came from independent cultivation backgrounds.

And Pei Ning didn't care about these trivial matters at all during the whole process.

"After all, they are outsiders. You can't force them." The old Taoist with white eyebrows sighed, "Nowadays, there are many foundation-building people from independent cultivation in the four sects, and they are more powerful. But how can your ten years of hard work compare to the accumulation of several generations of others?"

"It's okay, it's okay." Lin Bai advised with a smile, "Wait until this batch of independent cultivators have a promising future and have many descendants. After a hundred years, as long as they can build a foundation, won't they also become an aristocratic family? If they can succeed in forming a pill, they can even have a shot at becoming the head of the sect."

The old Taoist with white eyebrows was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then he nodded in agreement and said, "Every casual cultivator hates noble families, and they also hate that they are not from noble families." Yang Lijian also smiled naively, "Brother Zhuanlun is right."

Li Xinghe nodded slightly, but Ye Ruoqing said directly, "Yes, yes, yes."

Except for Qu Ruyi, all the people on the field were independent cultivators. Moreover, Qu Ruyi's family background was higher. His ancestor was one of the three disciples taught by the leader of Yunxia Sect. He was a person who could kneel in front of a Yuanying high cultivator and say a few auspicious words during the solar terms.

"Although these things are still a long way off, think about the future. If we are really successful, others will call us Qiaoshan Li like Qiaoshan Jiang and Qiaoshan Shang..." Seeing Li Xinghe frowned slightly, Ye Ruoqing quickly stopped talking.

"Qing'er, formation masters are hard to come by, even in Qiaoshan Sect there are only a few, we can't force them." The old cultivator with white eyebrows pinched his white eyebrows and said, "Do you have a favorite sword cultivator? Or someone with powerful magical powers?"

"That's quite a few..." Ye Ruoqing nodded slightly, "I heard that there is a female cultivator in Tianchi Sect, her last name is Pei. When she was practicing Qi, she won first place in every small competition. After she established her foundation, she became even more amazing. She can control swords and groups. Even cultivators in the late stage of foundation building have to think twice when they meet her."

"Would you like to invite me?" asked the old Taoist with white eyebrows.

Ye Ruoqing shook her head again, "I heard that person climbed up the Yang family's high branch in Qiaoshan Sect and was recognized as a sister by the eldest daughter of the Yang family."

Bai Mei sneered when he heard this, "The Yang family hasn't produced a Yuanying for a long time, so they started to support outsiders and make good friends." At this point, the old cultivator Bai Mei became more serious and said, "Even if you have more spirit stones, you can't hire anyone?"

"It's difficult." Ye Ruoqing shook her head. "I heard that Senior Sister Pei had a Taoist partner, who was an alchemist. That alchemist had no integrity, and even less the demeanor of a cultivator. When he was in the Qi training stage, he refined Tiger Wolf Pills day and night, and gave all the proceeds to Senior Sister Pei. Nowadays, many female cultivators of the Tianchi Sect ask her for the art of controlling their husbands. Later, that alchemist built a foundation, and got in touch with the Gu family, so she had no shortage of spirit stones."

Qu Ruyi looked at Lin Bai and saw that Lin Bai was listening with great interest.

"Can such people build a foundation?" The old cultivator with white eyebrows smiled helplessly and said bitterly: "Alas, if Boss Bu was still here, how could he be so entangled?"

Ye Ruoqing asked curiously, "Grandpa, Boss Bu... is gone? He was very successful in physical training and had powerful magical powers. Three or five foundation-building masters couldn't do anything to him. How come he is gone?"

Bai Mei shook his head and sighed, saying, "I went to a black market with him before, and the item he liked was bought by a cultivator named Han. Boss Bu was not convinced, so he followed him after leaving the black market, and he never came back."

Those who kill people to steal treasures will eventually be killed, and the treasures will be taken by others.

After listening to Bai Mei's words, Lin Bai kept reflecting in his heart: When you are out there, you will always make mistakes. Therefore, you must never underestimate anyone. You must know that there are always stronger people among the strong. Who dares to say that he is invincible? Besides, his destiny is mysterious and strange. He might meet someone who can restrain him, or even be tricked by an inconspicuous person.

"What should we do then?" Ye Ruoqing shook her head and sighed, then looked at Qu Ruyi and said, "Senior Sister Qu, do you know any fellow Taoists in Yunxia Sect?"

Before Qu Ruyi could say anything, the old cultivator with white eyebrows said, "I have already troubled Brother Qu enough, how can I trouble you again?" The old cultivator with white eyebrows smiled and gently patted Ye Ruoqing's hand.

Lin Bai has always been acting under Yuanying's butt, and he can roughly guess Baimei's thoughts. He is not afraid of troubling Qu Ruyi, but is on guard.

Although Qu Ruyi is not very cunning, she comes from a big sect after all. If she calls two or three more fellow disciples, wouldn't that be a distraction? If the opportunity arises, I'm afraid that Yunxia Sect will take it first, and Baimei and others will just watch.

Therefore, the helpers that Baimei and others were looking for could be related to Qu Ruyi, but not too closely. Or they could be someone they were not familiar with at all, or even a casual cultivator would do.

In this light, Lin Bai felt that he had just boasted too much, as if he would go through fire and water for Qu Ruyi, which made others wary, so he was unwilling to accept it. Of course, there was also a reason why he looked down on the ability of the alchemist.

"I know quite a few people in Qiaoshan, all of them are disciples of various sects. Would you like me to introduce one or two to you?" Qu Ruyi was still trying to be a good guy.

"No hurry." The old monk with white eyebrows smiled and said, "We have just arrived at Xinyifang. Let's spend some time to ask again. If it really doesn't work, we will trouble you again."

"Just come find me when the time comes!" Qu Ruyi said confidently.

"Then let's leave for now." The old Taoist with white eyebrows stood up, "Wait a few days, and then come back to find Brother Qu."

Laying the foundation is not something that can be decided on a whim. It takes three to five months, or even three to five years, or even ten years to prepare.

Qu Ruyi sent everyone out of the Crystal Palace and said goodbye. Lin Bai couldn't wait to pull her inside.

"What are you doing?" Qu Ruyi was unwilling to go upstairs again, "Let's go to your cave first."

"You just remembered it now?" Lin Bai, who was leading the way, laughed angrily, "Why didn't you tell me about this first?"

"Before coming to Xinyifang, I said that I could summon people with just a letter. How can I go back on my word?" Qu Ruyi said.

So you are trying to show off in front of others and how many people you know, and you are using me as a raft?
Lin Bai didn't have a temper. Anyway, Qu Ruyi had always been unreliable, so he let her off this time.

"How do you know them? The old Taoist with white eyebrows is quite wary of you." Qu Ruyi is not an outsider, so Lin Bai can speak his mind.

"Did you take precautions? How come I didn't see it?" Qu Ruyi was stunned for a moment, then said confidently: "Don't worry, Baimei is an old friend of Senior Sister Meng. We've been through the same thing together, so he's trustworthy."

Since it was Meng Yuan who did it, Lin Bai no longer doubted it and asked, "What are they doing?"

"I don't know either." Qu Ruyi smiled.

You don't know, but you're still dragging people indiscriminately? Lin Bai rubbed his eyebrows and thought to himself that Qu Chengjia had locked you up for too short a time. He should have locked you up for decades!
"Don't run around." Lin Bai still cared about Sister Qu.

"I've been cooped up at home for a few years, and I'm going crazy. I have to go out for a walk." Qu Ruyi pulled Lin Bai's sleeve, "Lin Zhuanlun, I heard that you rely on refining Tiger and Wolf Pills to support Pei Ning? Is it true?" She blinked hard.

"It's fake." Lin Bai said.

"Has Pei Ning really made it?" Qu Ruyi laughed again.

"Fake." Lin Bai replied.

The two chatted idly, returned to the Jiang family, and entered the cave.

Qu Ruyi looked around and seemed very interested.

After she finished her inspection, the two of them sat down and chatted again.

"Xiuxiu hasn't come back yet. I suspect that fox... Fairy Chenyu ate her up." Qu Ruyi was full of resentment. Both she and Qu Chengjia had suffered from foxes.

"You don't have to worry." Lin Bai didn't say much.

"I remember you said in your letter that you accepted a girl from the Zhu family as your apprentice. She is quiet, gentle, obedient and sensible. Where is she?" Qu Ruyi asked curiously.

"..." Lin Bai went out and asked Jiang Chun to call Miaomiao, and also brought in a bottle of Tiger and Wolf Pills.

"This is Miaomiao, her full name is Zhu Miao, and she is my first disciple." Miaomiao arrived soon, and Lin Bai introduced her with a smile. "Miaomiao, this is your uncle Qu, she loves you the most for being polite and sensible, come over and pay your respects."

"Hello, Master Qu." Miaomiao looked steady as she stepped forward and kowtowed to greet him, as if Jiang Yu was there in person.

"What a well-behaved child, she's about the same age as Xiuxiu back then." Qu Ruyi helped Miaomiao up and took out a jade pendant and handed it to Miaomiao. "I remember the Zhu family's generational order is to see Yu Mingxin, right?"

"Since you become my apprentice, you are naturally no longer considered as a member of the Zhu family." Lin Bai said.

"Okay, okay, now you are becoming more and more promising." Qu Ruyi laughed endlessly and held Miaomiao's hand while talking.

"I often hear Master talk about my uncle. He says that he values ​​friendship over his own life, is kind to others, is sincere, has great Taoism skills, and loves to help younger generations." Miaomiao said seriously, blinking her eyes. "My uncle has been meditating in Bagua Mountain of Yunxia Sect. Why did he want to go out?" Miaomiao was also very happy, as if she was extremely attached to Qu Ruyi.

"I came to see you specially." Qu Ruyi felt very comfortable after being coaxed. She took out a lot of things at once and gave them all to Miaomiao.

The two girls talked for a long time, and Miaomiao left happily.

The cave was quiet again, and Qu Ruyi asked, "Are you really related to the Gu family?"

"The Zhu Clan of Fengming Mountain is a vassal of the Gu Clan. I am on good terms with the Zhu Clan, so naturally I was recruited by the Gu Clan." Lin Bai said with a smile, "Didn't Senior Sister Meng Yuan come when the Gu Clan's ancestor passed away? Didn't she tell you about me?"

"She just told me to be careful with you, saying that a girl from the Gu family would always look after you." Qu Ruyi chuckled, "Lin Zhuanlun, has something happened to the Qiaoshan Sect?"

"Isn't this obvious?" Lin Bai smiled and spread his hands, "Gu Da... the ancestor was teased by Jiuyin Mountain, and now he is full of anger."

"It's not this one." Qu Ruyi lowered his voice and said, "Last time, the Qiaoshan Sect's Cheng Laozu came to our Yunxia Sect in person, and then crossed the Qianhe Sand Land and went to the Daoyin Sect."

"..." Lin Bai frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "Do you know what it is?"

"How can I know the secrets of the Nascent Soul?" Qu Ruyi looked like a dead pig. "It seems like asking someone to do something for me. I heard the ancestor mention it."

"Ancestor Cheng has the longest life span. What else can he do? Why would he have to ask your sect leader for help?" Lin Bai was puzzled.

"Maybe there is another secret," Qu Ruyi grabbed Lin Bai, put his ear close to his, and whispered, "Before I came here, I went to Longmenfang specifically. There I heard a rumor that the Qiaoshan Sect's Supreme was trapped in a secret realm and couldn't escape."

"Longmenfang... How could Longmenfang know these things?" Lin Bai was even more puzzled, and felt that something was wrong.

"Some people say it was spread by a stinky fox." Qu Ruyi smiled.

"You..." Lin Bai quickly looked around, held Qu Ruyi's head, and warned her: "If you dare to say anything disrespectful to Fairy Chen Yu again, we will break up!"

(End of this chapter)