After incorporating the Black Shark Gang into the Azure Cloud Sect, the Azure Cloud Sect completely replaced the Black Shark Gang. Many disciples defected, causing quite a stir.
Lu Fan and his group were merely new students, yet they could establish a sect, which was enough to show that Lu Fan and his companions were not simple.
"Sect Master, the Azure Cloud Sect has gained quite a few members now. This courtyard might not be enough to house them!"
Zhao Wei stepped forward with a smile and said, "Why don't we seize another courtyard? With the Azure Cloud Sect's current strength, it shouldn't be difficult to take over other courtyards."
"That's a good idea!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly. "Which courtyard do you think is suitable?"
"The North Sea Academy is vast, with countless courtyards. The best ones are in the Heaven character courtyard, where the top geniuses reside. However, we can't afford to offend them. I think the Profound character courtyard in front of our current courtyard would be a good choice!" Zhao Wei stated frankly.
Lu Fan frowned slightly. "If my guess is correct, the Profound character courtyard is likely filled with experts. Breaking through the Profound courtyard might not be that simple."
"The Sect Master is correct!" Zhao Wei nodded. "Any force capable of entering the Profound courtyard must have at least 10 Grand Spirit Masters, so it is indeed very difficult."
"Ten Grand Spirit Masters?"
Long Yi frowned. "I think you have ill intentions, wanting us to go to our deaths. How can the Azure Cloud Sect deal with so many Grand Spirit Masters!"
"I'm just offering an opinion, with no intention to harm you!"
Zhao Wei quickly said, "I am also a Spirit Person of the Azure Cloud Sect now, so how could I harm my brothers in the Azure Cloud Sect!"
"I like to hear you say that!"
Li Ziming smiled. "From now on, we are all family, all members of the Azure Cloud Sect. If we are bullied in the North Sea Academy, we must help each other and never let others trample on us."
"Exactly, exactly!" Zhao Wei nodded. "That's precisely what I mean."
"You all go back first. As for the courtyard matter, I will find a way!" Lu Fan said. "However, after you go back, change the name of the Black Shark Gang. You are now people of the Azure Cloud Sect, and you cannot use the name Black Shark Gang anymore."
"Naturally, we wouldn't dare!" The Black Shark Gang Leader quickly cupped his fists, his expression becoming more solemn.
After leaving the courtyard, Zhao Wei looked at the Black Shark Gang Leader and said, "Gang Leader, are we really joining the Azure Cloud Sect just like that?"
"Is there any better way?"
The Black Shark Gang Leader said coldly, "Since things have come to this, we can only do so. Joining the Azure Cloud Sect might not be a bad thing. After all, no matter what, their strength is indeed quite good."
Zhao Wei nodded slightly, not saying anything more.
In the following days, Lu Fan was busy refining the Spirit Gathering Pills. He knew very well that for the Azure Cloud Sect to grow, it needed sufficient resources, otherwise, it would be difficult to sustain.
After refining a batch of Spirit Gathering Pills, old man Hong Meng smiled and said, "You don't have enough medicinal ingredients now. Why don't you go get some from the back mountain? That back mountain is full of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, a good place to go!"
"That's exactly what I was thinking!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly and put away the alchemy furnace. He was short of medicinal ingredients and had to go to the back mountain himself, otherwise, he couldn't refine Spirit Gathering Pills without them.
Long Yi and the others were cultivating in their rooms, not daring to delay at all. They were all working very hard now. With the Spirit Gathering Formation, they could clearly feel their cultivation gradually improving, which was an opportunity for them.
After a journey, Lu Fan arrived at the back mountain. Looking at the medicine scattered all over the ground, he was overjoyed. "Old man, why are so many medicinal ingredients growing here? Outside, these would be worth a lot of spirit stones!"
"These medicinal ingredients are just trash in my eyes, but for you, they are indeed heavenly materials and earthly treasures." Old man Hong Meng smiled. "Under normal circumstances, for an academy of the North Sea Academy's caliber, it's impossible to have such expensive medicinal ingredients growing casually. Someone must have planted them!"
"Someone planted them?"
Lu Fan was slightly stunned, his expression changing slightly. He hadn't expected these medicinal ingredients to be planted by someone. If that were the case, wouldn't he become a thief?
"Old man, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Lu Fan glared. "If people find out, won't I definitely be a thief?"
"Look at what you're saying. There's no free lunch in this world. If you don't steal, how can you get Spirit Gathering Pills?" Old man Hong Meng waved his hand. "Besides, there's no one else here. Maybe they just grew wild. You don't need to take it too much to heart."
Lu Fan stood there somewhat helplessly, but he couldn't say much more. He indeed needed these medicinal ingredients to refine Spirit Gathering Pills, so he couldn't bother with so much.
Helplessly, Lu Fan began to pick the medicinal ingredients, looking very carefully. These medicinal ingredients were not simple, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to refine such high-grade Spirit Gathering Pills.
"Who's the little thief? How dare you steal my medicinal ingredients!"
A shout of killing sounded. A woman stepped through the air, her gaze fixed on Lu Fan, carrying a chilling killing intent.
Lu Fan stopped what he was doing and asked inexplicably, "Miss, are you sure these medicinal ingredients are yours?"
"All the students of the North Sea Academy know that the medicinal ingredients in the back mountain are planted by me." Bi Yao said coldly, wearing a blue dress and carrying a sword in her hand, looking quite heroic.
"If that's true, then I'm truly sorry. I didn't know these were owned items."
Lu Fan smiled awkwardly. "Since these medicinal ingredients all belong to you, Miss, I shouldn't take them back."
"Calling me Miss one after another, do you know who I am?" Bi Yao said coldly. "I think you're a new student, you don't understand the rules at all."
Lu Fan's eyebrows twitched slightly. "I am indeed a new student."
"I am Senior Sister Bi Yao of the academy. You stole my medicinal ingredients, and I can't let you go!" Bi Yao said coldly. "So I'll go to the Enforcement Hall."
"To the Enforcement Hall?"
Lu Fan was slightly surprised. "Isn't that too serious? I only took a few medicinal ingredients, I didn't commit any major crime!"
"You have quite a big tone. I spent a full three years growing these medicinal ingredients, and you've used them all."
Bi Yao said coldly. "If you obediently come with me to the Enforcement Hall, I won't make things difficult for you. Otherwise, I will make you look good!"
"Senior Sister, please don't do this. It's just a few medicinal ingredients. I'll pay you back!" Lu Fan said earnestly.
"You kid have quite a tone. A few medicinal ingredients is not just a few!"
Bi Yao said angrily. "Last time I discovered that the snow lotus was missing, did you take it?"
"This..."
Lu Fan was slightly embarrassed. He hadn't expected Bi Yao to be so calculating, but as he said, he had indeed picked the snow lotus. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but he didn't expect to have to return it eventually.