She didn't dwell on her disappointment for long and, a moment later, resumed the conversation:
"I know someone on Sewing Peak named Luo Qian'er. She's an Inspector in the Laundry Room and has a Servant backing her.
A few days ago, she asked me for a favor, hoping to let her younger brother join our Association to gather with us and share resources and information."
Wang Heng quickly asked:
"What's her brother's background? What's his cultivation level? Does he have a Servant backing him?"
Li Ruohan chuckled lightly.
"Qian'er's younger brother is named Luo Tong. He's from the direct lineage of the Lianxi Luo Clan and should be at the Mid-stage of the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
He just joined the Qianji Sect and is currently working in the Forging Room on Red Flame Peak, under the Servant Zhou Guang.
Don't worry, Senior Brother, I know the rules. We're all in the Outer Sect, striving for a spot in the Inner Peak, which is why we formed this Association.
I would never recommend someone who doesn't meet our standards and embarrass myself."
Wang Heng lowered his gaze, pondering. The Lianxi Luo Clan wasn't famous, but it was indeed a Qi Cultivation Clan, meaning they should have a few elders at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.
On the other hand, his connection to the Servant in the Red Flame Peak Forging Room wasn't anything special.
Everyone knew that Zhou Guang was greedy. As long as you could pay, you could buy a recommendation for a spot in the Inner Peak.
Therefore, he wouldn't necessarily give Junior Brother Luo much real support.
"Junior Brother Luo certainly sounds decent. Bring him to the next gathering, and we'll see what his character is like."
The threshold for joining the Outer Sect Association that Wang Heng led was actually quite high.
An ordinary Mortal Servant without any real ability would never be accepted.
If he hadn't seen how Jiang Yi had such a remarkable presence that day, standing out from the other Mortal Servants in the lecture like a crane among chickens...
...he wouldn't have misjudged him and made a fool of himself.
Besides, Zhao Fang later confirmed that Junior Brother Jiang was indeed no ordinary person.
"Alright."
Having settled the matter, a smile appeared on Li Ruohan's beautiful face as she said self-deprecatingly:
"I'm sorry to have troubled you two Senior Brothers to come all this way to celebrate with me. Now it turns out to be a wasted trip and a waste of your time... Sigh... Please, let me host next time to make it up to you."
Lu Yun waved his hand dismissively.
"Junior Sister Li, what are you talking about? We've all known each other for a while and are struggling together on the Outer Peak. There's no need to be so formal."
He was the eldest in the Association and had long since given up on competing for a spot in the Inner Peak.
He just wanted to finish his two work terms and rely on outstanding talents like Junior Brother Wang and Junior Sister Li to help him secure a shop in the Inner Peak to do some business, subsidize his clan, and repay them for their support.
Therefore, Lu Yun always did his best to help with requests from "juniors" like Wang Heng and Li Ruohan, hoping only that they would remember his kindness.
"By the way, have you seen Junior Brother Jiang recently?"
Lu Yun asked suddenly.
"No. A trip to the Inner Peak isn't cheap. Renting a Flying Crane or buying a Paper Horse costs a lot.
Even though Junior Brother Jiang has a Servant's backing, he lacks support from a clan, so his funds are never quite enough. I doubt he can afford to come here often."
Li Ruohan said with a gentle smile:
"How about this? Next time I bring Junior Brother Luo over, I'll have Junior Brother Zhao pass on a message and bring him along too.
If there's any bad blood, we can just have a drink and talk it out."
Wang Heng's face showed his approval, and he gave her a thumbs-up.
"That's very magnanimous of you, Junior Sister! You're every bit as capable as the men!"
Li Ruohan lifted her head and smiled. The group chatted for a long while, and seeing it was almost noon, they each prepared to leave.
Although they hired others to do their manual labor and didn't need to toil day and night in the workshops, they all had a mountain of miscellaneous tasks to handle, not to mention the need to advance their cultivation.
As long as they hadn't entered the Inner Peak, they would always be rushing about, living a life of toil and dust.
"Junior Sister, focus on recuperating. We can discuss breaking through to the Fourth Layer another time."
As Wang Heng walked out of the room, he didn't forget to add a final reminder. After all, Li Ruohan came from an outstanding family, and her chances of securing a spot in the Inner Peak were extremely high.
In his eyes, she was a promising talent worthy of Cultivation, someone worth investing more time and effort in.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I know..."
As Li Ruohan was speaking, a servant boy rushed up the stairs, his steps hurried. He was carrying a Wooden Plate with two copper bowls on it. One was CLANGING, and the other was steaming.
Because the servant boy was in such a rush, he nearly bumped into Li Ruohan, displeasing the nearby Lu Yun, who scolded him:
"Don't you have eyes?! What's the rush, is there a fire somewhere? Why are you in such a hurry!"
The servant boy looked aggrieved but didn't dare to argue. He bowed while balancing the Wooden Plate.
"I deserve to be punished! The Shopkeeper is rushing me! Please forgive me..."
Wang Heng glanced at the two copper bowls and smiled.
"It seems another brother has broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer. Go on, go on, don't let us delay you!"
The servant boy quickly ascended to the third floor and disappeared from sight.
Only then did Wang Heng explain to Li Ruohan and Lu Yun:
"Senior Brother Lu, Junior Sister Li, you may not know this, but Heshui Cave has an old tradition. Whenever someone from the Qianji Sect successfully breaks through while using their Quiet Chambers, they receive a congratulatory gift."
Lu Yun said with admiration:
"Worthy of a great proprietor who owns so many shops. They certainly do business with a personal touch!"
Li Ruohan felt a pang of disappointment. If she had managed to break through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, that gift would have been hers.
At this thought, she forced a smile and asked:
"Senior Brother Wang, what exactly is the gift from Heshui Cave?"
"It's what you just saw, Junior Sister. Those two bowls: one of copper juice and one of Iron Pills, used to temper the internal organs and bolster one's Primordial Essence."
Wang Heng replied.
Li Ruohan nodded lightly. The Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer was the stage of Refining the Internal Organs, where they become a single, integrated whole and one's life force grows to an incredible degree.
The internal organs are no longer ordinary; one can drink copper juice and chew Iron Pills, refining and absorbing the Metal Qi within to advance their Merit.
Thus, Heshui Cave's gift of copper juice and Iron Pills was perfectly suited to the recipient's needs.
'I wonder who it is...'
Li Ruohan's gaze drifted toward the third floor, a look of envy in her eyes.
'She had just left the Quiet Chamber herself. Both were attempting a breakthrough, both for the Fourth Layer.'