"Your appearance has given me hope!" Duanmu Qingshan stared at Ling Feng, his face displaying a tinge of excitement, "Not only can you heal my wounds, you are also the unparalleled genius I have encountered in my life!"
"I ask you, are you willing to take me as your master, even if it means incurring the undying enmity of Wenxian Sect?"
Duanmu Qingshan's voice was very serious as he fixed his gaze on Ling Feng and asked gravely.
Ling Feng took a deep breath and nodded firmly, "Once a teacher, forever a father."
"Good!" Duanmu Qingshan burst into hearty laughter, "I, Duanmu Qingshan, have indeed not misjudged someone."
"The 'Sword Scripture' that Lin Canglang and his people have always coveted is known as the 'Moving Flower and Burying Jade Sword,' which is the signature technique of my wife's sect, Yihua Palace. Those wretched people have coveted this swordsmanship for more than ten years, yet they haven't managed to even scratch the surface, while you are my personal disciple, and I will certainly pass onto you every detail of this technique!"
"Moving Flower and Burying Jade Sword?" Ling Feng touched his nose. Even the previous Sect Leader of Wenxian Sect had died because of this swordsmanship, which showed how astonishing this technique was.
Perhaps it was countless times more formidable than the "Shattering Star Sword Technique" that Duanmu Qingshan had taught him before.
"Moving Flower and Burying Jade Sword requires an extremely high threshold for practice; one must at least reach the Magnetic Condensation Realm. You are currently only at the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation, a considerable distance from the Magnetic Condensation Realm." Duanmu Qingshan took a deep breath, regaining his usual calm demeanor.
"Wenxian Sect owes me a great deal, and it is time to collect some interest." Duanmu Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back and continued slowly, "Take this Sect Leader Token to the Scripture Pavilion and Elixir Medicine Pavilion, and ask for more good things to bring back. With this token, you can have whatever you desire."
"This..." Ling Feng clutched the Sect Leader Token, smiling wryly, "Master, as nice as it is to have this token, with my current strength, I might not even be able to beat a slightly stronger Inner Sect Disciple. I'm afraid as soon as I show this token, it'll be snatched away."
"Don't worry, if I am giving you the token, I naturally have my ways."
Duanmu Qingshan flung his sleeve grandly, "Just ask Wenxian Sect for favors; any elixirs, any cultivation techniques, any divine weapons. Take whatever you like! You are my disciple, Duanmu Qingshan, and with my backing, you need not worry about any repercussions."
"Understood." Ling Feng nodded, knowing that if Duanmu Qingshan dared to make such an offer, he had his arrangements.
Therefore, there was no need to cower in Little Bamboo Peak. It was time to exercise the rights of an Inner Sect Disciple and visit the splendid places like the Scripture Pavilion and Elixir Medicine Pavilion.
...
The next morning, a figure agilely and swiftly moved through the mountains and forests. This was the first time Ling Feng had left Little Bamboo Peak since arriving at Wenxian Sect.
There were majestic buildings and palaces within Wenxian Sect, which were beyond comparison with the simple bamboo houses of the Little Bamboo Peak.
Soon, Ling Feng arrived at a significantly vast Martial Arts Square, where the disciples from different peaks practiced every morning. Already, many disciples had gathered, practicing some basic fist and sword techniques.
"Eh? Isn't that the disciple who just joined the Inner Sect a few days ago? Seems like he's from Little Bamboo Peak!"
"This guy's pretty lucky. Those who joined Little Bamboo Peak before would leave the Inner Sect within three days nursing their injuries, but this kid has actually persisted for so long?"
"Anyway, anyone who joins Little Bamboo Peak is doomed to a bad end. Let's stay away from him to avoid trouble."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
As they whispered, the disciples scurried away from Ling Feng's vicinity like he was the plague.
"Hmph!" Naturally, these words couldn't escape Ling Feng's ears. His gaze narrowed as he thought to himself, who exactly would be losing out in the end? It was far too early to conclude.
Ling Feng was about to step away when he heard a surprised voice from behind, "Ling Feng?"
Ling Feng turned around and saw the person coming. It was none other than Wang Danfeng, the Outer Elder who had initially brought him into the Wenxian Sect.
Wang Danfeng looked at Ling Feng, shook his head, and sighed. He stepped forward, grabbed Ling Feng by the arm, and tried to lead him away.
"Little Ling, do you not understand your situation? You've joined Little Bamboo Peak's lineage, so you shouldn't appear here. If the disciples from Feixing Peak catch sight of you, you'll be in deep trouble!" Wang Danfeng said in a low voice.
"Uncle Wang, don't worry, I'm fine." Ling Feng gave a faint smile, surprised that Wang Danfeng remembered the kindness of his grandfather and still cared a bit for him.
"Here are a few bottles of Qi Condensing Pills, take them." Wang Danfeng produced three porcelain bottles from his sleeve and handed them to Ling Feng, "I advise you to leave Little Bamboo Peak and come to the Outer Sect. The treatment may not be as good as the Inner Sect, but I can arrange a leisurely position for you to avoid being bullied in the Inner Sect."
"Uncle Wang, I appreciate your kindness, but those who dare to bully me, Ling Feng, may exist, but within the Wenxian Sect, there absolutely are none!"
A haughty glint flickered in Ling Feng's eye as he returned the Qi Condensing Pills to Wang Danfeng. With a carefree smile, he turned and walked toward the back of the Martial Arts Square.
"This kid..." Wang Danfeng stood there, stunned. It had only been a few days, but Ling Feng seemed to have transformed, like a treasure sword hidden in its scabbard, exuding a domineering sharpness that made even him shudder.
At that moment, on the bluestone steps ahead, several well-dressed disciples approached. The leader, upon seeing Ling Feng, was initially shocked, then a cold smile spread across his face, "Ling Feng, oh Ling Feng, you actually had the gall to come here without hiding behind Old Bastard Duanmu?"
The approaching figure was Shi Tailong, who went to teach Ling Feng a lesson at Little Bamboo Peak that day and was repelled by Duanmu Qingshan, suffering no small injuries. It took ten days of rest before he finally recovered.
Since he didn't dare to trouble Duanmu Qingshan, naturally, he vented his hatred on Ling Feng. Seeing his enemy made his blood boil.
"Kid, you had the choice of heaven but chose hell; with Old Bastard Duanmu not here to protect you today, tell me, do you want to break your left leg or right leg first?" Shi Tailong sneered, full of pent-up anger, and today he finally had a chance to vent it.
"Wow, it's Brother Shi Tailong from Feixing Peak, haha, this is going to be a good show!"
Suddenly, quite a number of Inner Sect Disciples in the Qi Condensation Realm gathered around, all eagerly closing in.
Wang Danfeng clenched his fist and stepped forward, his voice grave, "Turns out it's the proud disciple of Senior Brother Yang from Feixing Peak. How did Ling Feng offend you gentlemen, I beseech you to please show some leniency."
"Cut the crap, an Outer Elder also wants to meddle in Inner Sect affairs?" Shi Tailong's eyes flashed with disdain, "Old man, I respect you as an elder and won't hold it against you, so scram quickly and don't get in my way!"
Distinctions were made between insiders and outsiders, and upon entering the Inner Sect, one's status increased a hundredfold.
Although Wang Danfeng's cultivation was higher than Shi Tailong's, his limited talent and advanced age meant this was as far as he would go in his cultivation journey; how could he compare with a promising "seedling" like Shi Tailong?
Thus, even though Wang Danfeng was an Outer Elder, Shi Tailong didn't take him seriously at all.
"Uncle Wang, this matter doesn't concern you; I'll handle it," Ling Feng said, his gaze icy. His tone was measured, void of joy or sorrow, neither hurried nor slow, as casual as a passing breeze.
"Little Ling..." Wang Danfeng clenched his fist, regretting his solemn promise to take good care of Ling Feng. Now that it came to the Wenxian Sect, he was helpless to assist.
"Ling Feng, you've got guts, but today you're definitely going to die a miserable death!" Shi Tailong's mouth twisted into a savage smile, as if he could already see Ling Feng lying on the ground like a dead dog.
Ling Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on Shi Tailong, and spoke word by word, "Is this how a mere disciple talks to their Uncle Master?"