In the Xuantian Monastery, an immortal cave had been built into the front of Skywood Mountain. From that place, one could look over the entire Xuantian Monastery, a scenery that stretched thousands of miles.
Within the immortal cave, Tu Fang respectfully greeted Ling Yun-zi. "Sect leader."
Ling Yun-zi stood at the front of the immortal cave, looking over the Xuantian Monastery. "How is the situation lately?"
"The current state is excellent, beyond our predictions. This time there were a total of seventeen core disciples who passed," excitedly said Tu Fang.
Normally only two or three core disciples would manage to pass each time. Even within all of their history, the greatest they had ever had at once was six core disciples. So it really was exciting for them to have so many this time.
"Furthermore, there are four who have revived their ancestral marks," said Tu Fang.
"Oh, that is some good news." Ling Yun-zi's eyes brightened. That news also made him very happy.
By awakening their ancestral mark, their cultivation speed would be much faster, surpassing their peers. They were definitely geniuses amongst geniuses.
"Right, how is Long Chen," asked Ling Yun-zi.
Tu Fang smiled bitterly. "If I had to describe him with one word, it would have to be 'terrifying'."
A jade tablet appeared in his hands. Inserting his spiritual qi, the entire scene of Long Chen fighting Gui Sha appeared.
Not only was there that scene, there was also his sudden fight with the law enforcers. Everything had been recorded in there.
Ling Yun-zi nodded emotionally. "Using terrifying to describe him really is perfect. He really is worthy of being an existence of legends, a paragon amongst the same realm. Perhaps even if he had only just broken through, he would be able sweep away everyone amongst his generation!"
"Cough!" Ling Yun-zi suddenly went through an intense coughing fit, a bit of blood flowing out of his mouth.
Tu Fang was greatly alarmed. "Sect leader!"
"I'm fine. It's just that I seem to have underestimated the power of the Heavenly Daos' backlash. But it was definitely worth it," laughed Ling Yun-zi proudly.
Perhaps from ancient times to now, he had been the only one with the qualifications and the courage to dare confirm a Divergent's existence!
Tu Fang was appalled. Ling Yun-zi was someone who had stepped into the Xiantian realm. He had simply guessed Long Chen's identity and said 'Divergent' to confirm it. But in return, he had received such a huge backlash. That was too terrifying.
"There is something I am extremely worried about," said Tu Fang.
"What?"
"I think Elder Xun Sun's Dao-heart is no longer pure. He should have formed some greed and I don't know what to do about it. Elder Sun has already been in our monastery for over a hundred years. He is a powerful senior Elder-level combatant and has fought in our great battles several times. He has dedicated much to the monastery…,"
"What do you want to say?" Ling Yun-zi smiled slightly.
"I think he has placed a wicked intention on Long Chen. Should I stop him?" probingly asked Tu Fang.
"Why would you stop him?" asked Ling Yun-zi.
Ads by Pubfuture
"Huh? If I don't stop him, then Long Chen…"
"There's no need. All you need to do is your own job. Let everything come naturally."
"But that's extremely harmful to Long Chen!" Tu Fang was an upright person, and he didn't like to see any despicable acts take place.
"Tu Fang, do you know why a peak expert is able to become an expert? He cannot be lacking in one thing."
"What thing?"
"A whetstone." Ling Yun-zi looked out into the distance.
Tu Fang immediately understood Ling Yun-zi's meaning. But he shook his head, "This whetstone might be a bit too big for Long Chen."
Ling Yun-zi smiled, "Tu Fang, I understand your character. I know you like that child Long Chen. He definitely has a convincing, charismatic charm.
"But he's not the same as others. His path is not the same as normal people. His path is one that will end up destroyed by the Heavenly Daos or overturning all of heaven and earth.
"If you really want to do what's good for him, don't interfere with his growth. That will not only not help him, it will infect you with karma."
Overturn all of heaven and earth? Tu Fang's heart tightened. He felt an intense sensation of fear.
That kind of terror didn't come from anywhere. It came directly from the core of his heart. He couldn't help raising his head to look up into the heavens.
"Not bad. Your perception of the Heavenly Daos is becoming increasingly keener. Your distance from the Xiantian realm is closing every day. Congratulations," smiled Ling Yun-zi.
"Many thanks sect leader for the reminder. Tu Fang understands." He respectfully thanked him.
Ling Yun-zi nodded. Looking into the distance, he thought to himself what an honor it was to be able to personally watch a Divergent's towering rise.
…
Once Tu Fang left, Long Chen was uneasy being stared at by everyone and began to walk to the Xuantian pavilion with Tang Wan-er.
"Please wait a moment senior brother Long!"
Suddenly two people walked over to him. Both their auras were extremely formidable. The surrounding people didn't dare approach too close to them.
This was because their auras were extremely unstable and berserk from having just advanced to the Tendon Transformation realm. They still were unable to control their auras, causing it to spill out on its own.
Long Chen stiffened. No way right? Was there really someone finding trouble for him again just after he finished a fight? Was there no intermission?
"Ah, don't misunderstand senior brother Long. Just now we saw your incomparable divine strength and that convincing bearing so we wanted to get acquainted," explained the man with a very bushy brow.
The other one looked a bit frailer, but his aura was still extremely domineering. He said, "Senior brother Long's imposing manner that does not fear heaven or earth really causes admiration. Although everyone in the monastery is a competition, that doesn't prevent us from becoming friends. Even if we can't become friends, having such a powerful rival is also a good thing."
Although that person seemed frail, he had a heroic mannerism deep within him, and hearing him speak made people feel comfortable inside.
Long Chen smiled, "You honor me with your words. If it weren't for Elder Tu Fang helping, I would already have been turned into dog meat."
Both of them laughed. Long Chen's combat strength was so great, but he spoke so candidly without the slightest arrogance.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Song Mingyuan, and he's Li Qi," said the bushy-browed man.
Long Chen smiled, "Well then I won't say any nonsense greeting about what an honor it is to meet you and etc. In any case, you both already know my name."
Ads by Pubfuture
Song Mingyuan and Li Qi couldn't hold back a laugh at that. Long Chen's manner of speaking was quite interesting, both humorous and not lacking in elegance. He spoke extremely effortlessly.
"Let me give you guys a grand introduction. This is our Heaven Earth Faction's old boss… uh, our Heaven Earth Faction's leader, the number one martial beauty, sister Tang Wan-er."
Long Chen almost slipped up and called her the wrong name again.
Tang Wan-er was a bit red. She was still not used to that unfamiliar appellation. But she still forced herself to smile, "Hello."
"Sister Tang Wan-er's grand name is already extremely well known. To revive the ancestral mark during the trial, it really causes admiration," courteously said Li Qi.
At the very beginning they hadn't known who she was, but as soon as she had summoned her wind blades to fight against those law enforcers, revealing her powerful runic power, they had immediately realized who she was.
"With sister Tang Wan-er and brother Long Chen, the Heaven Earth Faction will definitely stand out amongst all the factions," praised Song Mingyuan.
Both Long Chen and Tang Wan-er politely chatted with them for a while. They learned the two of them were core disciples. Song Mingyuan's faction was called the Brotherhood Guild and Li Qi's faction was called the White Cloud Pavilion.
Both parties asked about which mountain the others were on, agreeing to visit when they had an opportunity. They even invited Long Chen to come over to drink when he had time.
After politely saying some final words, Li Qi very sensibly made an excuse about needing to do something else and brought away Song Mingyuan.
They had already received their own rations and exchanged them for what they wanted, so they didn't need to spend more time there.
Only then did Long Chen and Tang Wan-er walk into the Xuantian pavilion. Long Chen saw that inside it was very spacious.
There was a winding staircase going downstairs. There was also a large lounge with many people around. They were all lined up, and there was someone busily recording things. That should be the place to receive the monthly rations.
But Long Chen saw that other than that busy spot, there was also another counter without a single person lined up. There was only a single woman quietly sitting there.
Long Chen and Tang Wan-er walked over there. Tang Wan-er handed over her badge to that woman. "Sister, can I receive my rations here?"
That woman examined the badge and then nodded to Tang Wan-er. "Yes, in accordance to the monastery rules, you can take out one hundred spirit stones and fifty thousand points here. Furthermore, as faction leader, you can also take out one hundred thousand points for your faction's usage. Here are a total of one hundred fifty thousand points as well as one hundred spirit stones."
Long Chen's jaw dropped. An outer disciple was only able to get one spirit stone and five hundred points.
Inner disciples could obtain three spirit stones and two thousand points.
But core disciples could obtain one hundred spirit stones and fifty thousand points?! That difference was huge!
Although he still didn't know what usage those points had exactly, he could guess that they were a kind of currency within the monastery. Furthermore, it was a currency that would never depreciate.
No wonder Tang Wan-er would risk her life to help him obtain a core disciple position. This difference was far too great.
He now felt more regret about that bastard Gui Sha. He cursed eighteen generations of his ancestors, cursing how wicked he was.
Tang Wan-er quickly received a bag. Inside were one hundred neatly stacked, bright and sparkling spirit stones.
Spirit stones were incredibly rare and precious. They had to be nourished for hundreds of thousands of years underground before they could crystallize spiritual qi. The amount of spiritual qi inside was absolutely shocking. They were priceless treasures in the outer world.
Tang Wan-er happily put those spirit stones into her ring. A recess in her badge lit up with a couple numbers.
The badge wasn't just a proof of status, but it was also a tool used for storing your points. It was similar to the crystal cards found in the outer world. Points could be directly taken out, put in, transferred, etc. Furthermore there was no transaction fee.
"Sister, can I also receive my rations? Thank you." Long Chen also courteously handed over his badge.
That woman indifferently glanced at him. "This spot is only for core disciples to obtain their rations. You need to line up there."
Long Chen sighed bitterly. That line practically had no end. Long Chen had been hoping try to get some special treatment with Tang Wan-er by his side. Unfortunately, this woman didn't even pay any attention to him, now closing her eyes and resting.
As for Tang Wan-er, she was impishly laughing at him. Long Chen angrily rolled his eyes. He obediently lined up.
After more than two hours, Long Chen finally received his own meager rations. He then followed Tang Wan-er down to the next floor. That was a place to buy things.
They only just reached that first level when Long Chen heard a familiar voice, causing him to smile.