Junior Brother Xinghe Is Righteous

The Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace was a supreme treasure left behind by the Medicine Saint, Lu Changfeng.

Over four hundred years, the Vast Heaven Sect had tried every method it could think of, yet it still could not use the Vermilion Bird Furnace again.

In the end, they concluded that only Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire could activate the Vermilion Bird Furnace.

Thus, the Vast Heaven Sect had been waiting for someone with Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire to appear.

Likewise, the Vermilion Bird Furnace was a symbol of the Medicine Saint to the Vast Heaven Sect, a divine object in the hearts of countless people.

And if he destroyed such a divine object... he was unlikely to be expelled from the sect, since he possessed Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire. On that point alone, if he wanted to be expelled, he would have to slaughter the sect master's wife and daughter.

But if he really did that and still expected to be expelled, wouldn't he be more likely to end up sliced into a thousand pieces?

So expulsion was a dead end, but surely he could still get punished.

Being punished could make him improve rapidly too, right?

If he destroyed the Vermilion Bird Furnace, surely the grand elder would fly into a rage, demote him to the outer sect, and put him in confinement for three to five years. After all that, reaching Martial Ancestor would be just around the corner!

With that thought, Chu Xinghe had a new goal, and his fighting spirit surged.

Evening primrose... moonshade grass... moon soul grass... all sorts of herbs... Chu Xinghe spent half a month finally committing most of them to memory. Though he occasionally made mistakes, the grand elder was fairly satisfied.

In the grand elder's words, Chu Xinghe was a piece of uncut jade, and he would carve him with care.

One morning, Chu Xinghe arrived at the Medicine King Palace early and greeted his senior brothers. Shen Chun came over from the side. "Junior Brother Xinghe, the Spirit Tomb will open in a few days. All the inner sect disciples in your batch will enter it to choose spirit weapons for yourselves. Have you decided what kind of spirit weapon you want, Junior Brother?"

"Spirit Tomb? Spirit weapons?" Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded.

Other than evening primrose, moonshade grass, and moon soul grass, what did he know about spirit weapons?

After a certain period of time, disciples who joined the Vast Heaven Sect would enter the Spirit Tomb. There were countless spirit weapons inside, and each disciple could search for one of their own. As long as they earned a spirit weapon's recognition, they could become its new master. The more powerful a spirit weapon was, however, the harder it usually was to get it to recognize a master.

That made choosing a suitable spirit weapon important.

After all, a spirit weapon would become one's lifebound treasure, a companion for life.

Chu Xinghe was at the Martial Warrior realm. Although he had been studying at the Medicine King Palace during this time, the growth of his spiritual power had not fallen behind in the slightest.

What a joke! What kind of place was the Spirit Crane Palace?

A sacred land of pills!

How many pills did disciples elsewhere get each month? Even if they toiled away at cultivation every day, their progress was only so-so, right?

A few pills for Chu Xinghe? Heh... not a chance!

Chu Xinghe practically ate pills like candy every day. Whenever he ran out, he did not even need to ask before a senior brother promptly brought him more.

On top of that, there were the ten Spirit Gathering Pills the grand elder had given him before. Despite hardly cultivating at all, Chu Xinghe's cultivation was not one bit inferior to that of his fellow disciples who trained diligently. It was even a little better.

But when it came to choosing a spirit weapon, Chu Xinghe really had no experience.

"It seems you don't know much about it, Junior Brother Xinghe. But don't worry. As long as you decide what kind you like, I'll find a way to get its exact location for you."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Shen Chun!"

"Think nothing of it. We senior brothers should be thanking you. Besides, you possess Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire. It's not impossible that you'll take charge of the Spirit Crane Palace someday. When that time comes, won't we have to rely on you?"

"Senior Brother, I wouldn't dare say that. I've never thought about it. I only joined recently, so how could I dare hope for such things? I only wish to cultivate diligently in the Spirit Crane Palace and assist my senior brothers in the future."

How pleasant!

Hearing Chu Xinghe's words made Shen Chun feel good. Even if you knew you might not measure up to him in the future, he humbled himself, knew his place, and held you in such high regard. How could that not make you feel good?

He was going to protect this junior brother, no matter what!

"Rest assured, Junior Brother. Leave the spirit weapon to us. We'll be sure to find the one that suits you best!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brothers." Chu Xinghe looked deeply grateful.

"All right, let's not waste any more time. The grand elder is still waiting for you."

"Yes... take care, Senior Brother."

After seeing Shen Chun off, Chu Xinghe returned to the Medicine King Palace. Today, the grand elder was not sitting in his usual place but standing beside the Vermilion Bird Furnace.

"Your disciple Chu Xinghe pays his respects, Grand Elder."

"Xinghe, you've been studying with me for so many days. Do you find identifying herbs dull and tedious?"

"I wouldn't dare... but since you asked, Grand Elder, I dare not hide the truth. It is a little dull."

As soon as Chu Xinghe said this, the grand elder smiled. This was just what he liked about Chu Xinghe: he was not only humble, but honest as well.

Since Chu Xinghe had entered the Spirit Crane Palace, when had the grand elder not been watching his every move?

He treated his senior brothers with the utmost respect and never showed the slightest arrogance because he possessed Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire. In just one month, everyone in the Spirit Crane Palace, from disciples to elders, had grown fond of the boy.

This made the grand elder extremely pleased with Chu Xinghe. Even when facing the grand elder, Chu Xinghe answered truthfully. Even if his answers might displease the grand elder and earn him punishment, Chu Xinghe never shied away from the truth, saying whatever was on his mind.

The grand elder had been annoyed and had even considered actually punishing Chu Xinghe. But when he thought it over, a disciple willing to speak honestly was surely far better than a bootlicker who could only flatter him.

The grand elder truly wanted to treat Chu Xinghe as a personal disciple, not only because of his Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire, but also because of his character.

The grand elder wanted to nurture Chu Xinghe into the future master of the Spirit Crane Palace. He had once worried most that others would refuse to accept him, but Chu Xinghe's conduct over the past month had won everyone over.

It had won over the grand elder most of all.

Looking at the grand elder's immensely gentle gaze, Chu Xinghe had no idea what he was thinking. Otherwise, he would surely have said... You call that honesty? I was genuinely courting death... All I want is punishment, Grand Elder. I'm begging you.

"Today we won't study anything dull. I'll teach you the art of controlling fire, and you can also try communicating with the Vermilion Bird Furnace!"

Chu Xinghe was stunned. The clouds and mist had parted to reveal a clear sky!

Had he finally lived to see this day?

"Yes!" Chu Xinghe was so excited he nearly wet himself.

"First, the art of controlling fire..." Chu Xinghe did not listen to a single word of the grand elder's lengthy explanation, until the grand elder said, "The Vermilion Bird Furnace is a divine object. Remember, you must not act recklessly. Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire is tyrannical, so you must not let it damage the Vermilion Bird Furnace."

"I'll remember!"

Chu Xinghe remembered. He had clearly committed every way to damage the Vermilion Bird Furnace to memory.

Today was a good day... all his wishes could come true!

A divine object, was it? The Vermilion Bird Furnace, was it? He had picked it for today. Once he wrecked the Vermilion Bird Furnace, not even the grand elder could protect him!

Soon, following the grand elder's instructions, Chu Xinghe began communicating with the earth fire. Before long, the Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire was drawn out, but Chu Xinghe did not act recklessly in the slightest. Instead, he kept listening to the grand elder and brought the Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire closer to the Vermilion Bird Furnace step by step.

It was not that Chu Xinghe did not want to make a big move. The main problem was that the grand elder was there. Pretend to lose control right in front of him? He was not afraid the grand elder would notice, but the problem was how terrifying the grand elder's abilities were. He would suppress Chu Xinghe in a single move, and it would be hard for Chu Xinghe to try again.

So on the surface, Chu Xinghe did not dare step out of line at all.

The instant the Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire touched the Vermilion Bird Furnace, the long-dormant furnace suddenly began to shake!

"It's reacting!" The grand elder was beside himself with excitement.

The shaking Vermilion Bird Furnace continued to change. Soon, the illusory image of a vermilion bird floating above it began to circle the furnace.

"Just as I thought... just as I thought..."

Tears streamed down the grand elder's aged face in his excitement.

"Sure enough, only Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire can restore the Vermilion Bird Furnace to life! Four hundred years! The Vast Heaven Sect has waited four hundred years! The Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace is back!"

The grand elder was beside himself, and the movement of the Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace also drew the attention of the Spirit Crane Palace's elders. Countless elders rushed over from every direction, and when they saw the Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace reignited, they too were immensely excited.

"Heaven blesses Vast Heaven!" a group of elders shouted.

Their gazes fell on Chu Xinghe as one, and at that moment, everyone's eyes were filled with gratification. With Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire and the Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace, the Vast Heaven Sect's alchemy would surely climb back to its peak.

The Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire receded, and the Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace returned to normal. The elders came forward and surrounded the grand elder and Chu Xinghe, continuing to shout, "Heaven blesses Vast Heaven!"

"Today is the greatest occasion in four hundred years for both the Vast Heaven Sect and our Spirit Crane Palace. We must have a drink!"

"We must, we must!"

Several elders spoke up, and even the normally stern grand elder smiled today. "Pass on my order: the ban on alcohol in the Spirit Crane Palace is lifted for today!"

"Aooo!" The elders leaped up with a howl.

When the news spread, the disciples of the Spirit Crane Palace shouted and cheered even louder.

The Spirit Crane Palace was the only place in the entire Vast Heaven Sect where alcohol was forbidden. It could not be helped; the grand elder did not like it.

Even when the disciples had something to celebrate, they could only drink tea in place of wine. But today was an occasion four hundred years in the making. They ought to drink!

Ladles flew in the Spirit Crane Palace's kitchen, and the chefs cooked so furiously that sparks flew from the stoves.

All manner of delicacies were brought out one after another, and a banquet was laid out at the Medicine King Palace.

The grand elder first raised his cup to honor the Vast Heaven Sect's ancestors and martyrs.

Then he toasted the Medicine Saint, Lu Changfeng.

Finally, he raised his cup and drank with everyone. After several rounds, laughter and cheerful voices filled the Medicine King Palace. People kept coming to drink with Chu Xinghe, since this joyous occasion had come about thanks to their junior brother Xinghe.

But Chu Xinghe could not hold his liquor. Before long, his face and ears were red, and his words were slurred.

Seeing that Chu Xinghe could not drink any more, Feng Fei hurried to drink in his place. The senior brothers were also amused by Chu Xinghe's drunken appearance and stopped asking him to drink.

The banquet finally ended late at night. The grand elder and the other elders left first, and the remaining disciples soon left one after another, unable to keep going.

Chu Xinghe looked drunk, but that was only how he looked. After seeing off Feng Fei, who had drunk so much he could no longer stand, Chu Xinghe asked the senior brothers to leave first, saying he would help clean up.

This naturally earned him another round of ghostly wails and wolfish howls from the senior brothers, who all shouted that their junior brother was righteous!

Chu Xinghe had no idea what was righteous about that. Once everyone had left and he was alone in the Medicine King Palace, his gaze settled on the Vermilion Bird Divine Furnace...

Well then... next... it's time to do something righteous.

Hehe... little Vermilion Bird, let big brother give you some proper loving...