A Grudge Must Be Repaid

Chu Xinghe was now dressed in the black robes that marked him as an elite disciple.

He had just seen off the fifth group of people who had come to congratulate him that day.

Just as Chu Xinghe was about to take a break, more people arrived. This time, they were members of his squad. Everyone had come except Chu Cheng and the two dead spies.

"Brother Chu... congratulations!"

"Brother Chu, now that you're an elite disciple, you can't forget us brothers. You'll have to look out for us in the sect from now on."

As the number one sect under heaven, the Vast Heaven Sect possessed formidable strength and equally strict rules. Under normal circumstances, even a talented ordinary inner sect disciple would have to endure three to five years of hard work to become an elite disciple, let alone someone less gifted.

Elite disciples not only enjoyed a much higher status than ordinary inner sect disciples, but also received more resources and could learn more profound cultivation techniques. What was more, Chu Xinghe had been personally promoted and taken under the Grand Elder's wing. How could his future be anything but bright?

No one stood to lose by getting on good terms with Chu Xinghe now.

"Oh... why didn't Chu Cheng come?" Chu Xinghe asked, though he knew perfectly well.

"That bastard's an outer sect disciple now. He can't just come into the inner sect whenever he feels like it."

"Exactly. When he was captain, he didn't even treat us like people. Now that he's been demoted to the outer sect, let's see how arrogant he can be."

The squad members knew that Chu Cheng had once broken one of Chu Xinghe's arms. They understood better than anyone that, although the two came from the same hometown, there was no affection to speak of between them.

"That's right, he's an outer sect disciple now. What a pity..." Chu Xinghe sighed.

"A pity?" Hearing Chu Xinghe's words, Zhao Dong, the shrewdest member of the squad, caught on.

"Brother Chu, that bastard used to beat us plenty. What do you think..." The moment Zhao Dong spoke, everyone's eyes lit up.

"Tsk, tsk... Dong, that's not right. Although that bast— ahem... although Chu Cheng is a little shameless, a little despicable, and a little depraved, he and I are from the same hometown, after all. Far from home, fellow townsmen are like brothers. How can you drop stones on someone who's fallen into a well?"

Zhao Dong and the others hurriedly said they wouldn't dare.

Chu Xinghe spoke as if grief were tearing at his heart. "How about this? Just break one of his arms, and that'll be enough. Don't go too far, all right? He's an outer sect disciple too, after all."

"Brother Chu is magnanimous!"

"Brother Chu, your heart is as vast as the heavens. We brothers admire you! We'll do as you say!"

After a round of flattery, Chu Xinghe saw his former squadmates off.

Later, some ordinary inner sect disciples who had joined the sect in the same batch also came to congratulate him. Chu Xinghe received each of them, saying only that the Grand Elder had shown him undue favor and that he had merely been lucky.

That evening, Chu Xinghe heard that several of his squad brothers had gone to visit Chu Cheng. The fellow had spoken rudely and been beaten by the group, leaving him with a broken arm and a face covered in bruises. But he was just an outer sect disciple. Who would care, right?

That night, Chu Xinghe lay in bed and looked at the missions in the Misfortune Compass. Countless missions were listed there. As long as a mission could bring the Vast Heaven Sect to ruin, it was there.

Although he had missed his chance to be expelled from the sect and become a peak Martial Emperor, Chu Xinghe felt no panic as he looked at the Misfortune Compass.

If he wanted to stand out in the Vast Heaven Sect, the number one sect under heaven, it would be difficult even though he was now an elite disciple. After all, there were still core disciples, personal disciples, and even a chief disciple above him.

But if he wanted to court death and find a way to be punished and expelled from the sect, there were plenty of paths to choose from.

He slept without dreams. Early the next morning, Chu Xinghe put on his elite disciple robes and went to the elite disciples' dining hall for breakfast.

He greeted the other elite disciples along the way.

The elite disciples' dining hall lived up to its name. Its food was beyond anything ordinary disciples could compare to. After polishing off four bowls of braised pork in a row, Chu Xinghe was full and satisfied.

He was just about to leave when two dejected elite disciples came in behind him. At a glance, he saw that their robes bore the same spirit crane pattern as his own, unique to the Grand Elder. That meant they were elite disciples under the Grand Elder, just like him.

"Greetings, senior brothers."

"Oh..." Neither of them even raised his head to take another look at Chu Xinghe. They each found a place to sit and eat.

Chu Xinghe thought nothing of it and was about to leave when he heard one of the elite disciples speak. "Ma Biao, I'm afraid I'm done for this time."

Ma Biao sighed. "Shen Chun, honestly. The Grand Elder excels at alchemy, so all his disciples have to study it. But the Grand Elder hates careless disciples most of all, and you actually blew up your furnace while refining medicine. When the Grand Elder heard, his beard was practically twisted with rage. You definitely won't escape punishment."

"Ah!"

Shen Chun cried out in alarm, "How will I be punished?"

"At best, you'll be confined for a month. At worst, you'll lose your status as an elite disciple outright."

"No... I only just became an elite disciple. I can't lose it..."

Shen Chun was almost frightened to tears, but Chu Xinghe's eyes lit up!

What? All I have to do is blow up a furnace while refining pills, and I'll be punished? At best, I'll be confined, and at worst, I'll lose my elite disciple status? Something this good exists?

He hurriedly glanced at the Misfortune Compass. Sure enough, there were similar missions.

Being punished with confinement can make me a Martial Master right away?

Having my elite disciple status revoked can make me a Great Martial Master right away?

Holy shit!

Chu Xinghe was so excited that the braised pork churned in his stomach.

Cultivators in this world were divided into nine ranks, from the first and lowest to the ninth and highest.

First-rank Martial Warrior was Chu Xinghe's current cultivation. He had only just started and was practically a nobody.

Second-rank Martial Master.

Third-rank Great Martial Master.

Fourth-rank Martial Ancestor.

Fifth-rank Martial Spirit.

Sixth-rank Martial King.

Seventh-rank Martial Saint.

Eighth-rank Martial Venerable.

Those of the ninth rank were Martial Emperors. Rumor had it that a Martial God realm existed above the Martial Emperor realm, but the details were beyond Chu Xinghe's knowledge.

The Misfortune Compass's unique ability meant he could embark on a path of reverse cultivation.

Confinement would let him advance to Martial Master! Losing his elite disciple status would let him leap straight to third-rank Great Martial Master.

Good heavens. If I cultivated steadily on my own, even with my decent talent, it would probably take me at least two or three years to reach that level.

But now... Chu Xinghe excitedly ran over to the two dejected senior brothers and, without a word, bowed ninety degrees to thank them. The two stared at him in bewilderment, having no idea what had happened.

After leaving the dining hall, Chu Xinghe hurried without stopping to the Spirit Crane Palace. The Vast Heaven Sect occupied the entire Haotian Mountain Range, and each elder had a mountain of their own. The Grand Elder's mountain was called the Spirit Crane Palace, and apart from the sect master's, it was the best place, with the densest Spiritual Qi.

Chu Xinghe made his way up to the Spirit Crane Palace and entered after his identity was verified.

The Grand Elder was a ninth-rank grandmaster of medicine refinement who had entered the Dao through medicine, so his disciples were also required to study the art of refining medicine.

Chu Xinghe arrived at the Medicine King Palace at the very center of the Spirit Crane Palace. Waves of medicinal fragrance drifted out from within.

Breathing in the fragrance, Chu Xinghe hurried straight into the Medicine King Palace.

After asking around, Chu Xinghe found an elite disciple named Feng Fei. The four furnace designs on his chest told Chu Xinghe that he was a fourth-rank medicine refiner. Feng Fei was also the senior brother who usually guided the disciples in their training.

The Grand Elder and the other elders were busy and could not personally teach every day, so most of the time, their disciples were taught by selected senior disciples of higher rank. Feng Fei was the disciple teaching that day.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, word of how you remained neither arrogant in reward nor shaken by punishment has spread throughout the Vast Heaven Sect. It's even more admirable that you stepped forward without hesitation for your fellow townsman." Feng Fei clearly knew of Chu Xinghe. His words left Chu Xinghe a little embarrassed. After all, his fellow townsman probably wouldn't be able to get out of bed for at least half a month.

"Senior Brother Feng, I want to learn how to blow up... ahem... refine pills!" In his excitement, Chu Xinghe almost said what was on his mind.

"Since you want to learn, Junior Brother, I'll teach you personally. However, the art of alchemy demands exceptional talent..." Feng Fei went on and on, but Chu Xinghe didn't remember a single word. Only when Feng Fei reached the precautions did Chu Xinghe perk up.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, the first step in learning alchemy is controlling fire. Everyone is born with the ability to control a different kind of flame, and only those who can control spirit fire can learn alchemy. I'll test your spirit fire next, but remember this: during the test, when the spirit fire permeates the pill furnace, you must not lose your focus. Otherwise, the spirit fire could go out of control and blow up the furnace, and that would be trouble. The Grand Elder considers this a grave offense, and the punishment is severe."

Feng Fei looked solemn, and Chu Xinghe nodded gravely.

Feng Fei had said so much, but Chu Xinghe remembered only a few points...

First... losing my focus will blow up the furnace.

Second... blowing up the furnace brings severe punishment.

Absolutely perfect!

Chu Xinghe followed Feng Fei to the Vermilion Bird Hall to test his spirit fire. Feng Fei explained the method to him again, leaving nothing out.

He also told Chu Xinghe that it didn't matter if he failed the test; he could try again another time. But he absolutely must not lose focus and cause his spirit fire to erupt and blow up the furnace. He added that Chu Xinghe was a disciple personally promoted by the Grand Elder and must not disappoint him.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng!"

Chu Xinghe gave Feng Fei a resolute look. When Feng Fei nodded in satisfaction, Chu Xinghe was very satisfied too. Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng. When it comes to disappointing people, I never disappoint!

Once everything was ready, Chu Xinghe sat before the earth fire and channeled his Spirit Power into it as Feng Fei had instructed. In an instant, the earth fire surged upward, changing from red to orange.

Feng Fei was delighted at the sight. The earth fire had changed color immediately, which meant Chu Xinghe should be able to control spirit fire.

But just as Feng Fei was excitedly waiting to see what rank Chu Xinghe's spirit fire could reach, the orange flames burst apart!

Boom! Terrifying spirit fire erupted straight from the heart of the earth and swept over the pill furnace in an instant. Under the spirit fire's intense heat, the furnace glowed red.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, stop!" Feng Fei realized that Chu Xinghe had lost control.

Stop? I finally got the spirit fire to run wild. How could I stop now?

Chu Xinghe ignored Feng Fei completely. More fire! Go! Today's the day this furnace blows!

Seeing that Chu Xinghe wasn't responding, Feng Fei thought he had lost his focus. He could no longer worry about anything else and hurriedly summoned his Spirit Power to suppress Chu Xinghe's spirit fire.

After Feng Fei poured in his power, the spirit fire was indeed suppressed considerably. Feng Fei breathed a sigh of relief.

But Chu Xinghe was furious. I'm about to blow up the furnace! I can't let Feng Fei ruin this for me! At this point, Chu Xinghe couldn't care about anything else.

He unleashed the full force of the fire, pouring every bit of Spirit Power in his body into the spirit fire at once.

In an instant, the spirit fire, which had nearly been extinguished, changed from orange to crimson, then from crimson to crimson-gold. The terrifying flames swept away the Spirit Power Feng Fei had used to suppress them.

Feng Fei went pale with shock. As he panicked, a faint cry came from the spirit fire. The next moment, the crimson-gold flames overwhelmed the pill furnace, which was already on the verge of collapse.

Boom... A tremendous explosion sent flames scattering in every direction. Feng Fei could only rush forward, shield Chu Xinghe, and escape with him.

The pill furnace exploded with a thunderous crash. Flames engulfed the room in the Vermilion Bird Hall, reducing the entire room to ashes.

Feng Fei stared dumbfounded at the destroyed room, only one thought remaining in his mind. It's over!

But as Chu Xinghe looked at the destroyed room, joy bloomed in his heart!

This time, let's see who can stop me!