Shen Chun's Advice

The Grand Elder and the other elders did not praise Chu Xinghe, because they knew that a good child like him needed no praise. His actions had already shown everyone what kind of person he was.

The Grand Elder left with the other elders, smiles covering their faces. Although Medicine King Palace had been destroyed, the Vast Heaven Sect had immense resources. With more and more disciples at Medicine King Palace, it had already been getting a little crowded.

Now that it had burned down, they could build an even grander Medicine King Palace in its place. Chu Xinghe had done well to set that fire!

By evening, a filthy Chu Xinghe had finished the day's work with his senior brothers from the Spirit Crane Palace. He was a little tired, but when he heard the rumor that Chu Cheng had been beaten up again, the day's exhaustion vanished in an instant.

If it had been appropriate, he would have gone to the outer sect to see what sorry state Chu Cheng had been beaten into.

He was just about to return and rest with Feng Fei when Shen Chun came over.

"Junior Brother Xinghe!"

"Hello, Senior Brother Shen Chun!"

"Haha... Junior Brother Xinghe, you've been running around all day. You must be exhausted. When you get back, take off your core disciple robes and hand them to a sect disciple. There are disciples assigned to wash them for you. That's a privilege reserved for core disciples."

"How could I do that...? Please don't say any more, Senior Brother Shen Chun!" Chu Xinghe said solemnly. "I was the last to join. How could I let my senior brothers wash my clothes? I already feel somewhat guilty that I can't wash yours, so I'll wash these myself. I don't know what privileges other core disciples have, but please don't say any more, Senior Brother. Just treat me like an ordinary disciple. You've all taken such good care of me already, and I'm grateful to every one of you."

Shen Chun's eyes filled with tears...

Only Junior Brother Xinghe would say something like that...

"All right! We'll do as you say, Junior Brother Xinghe. Oh, right, the Spirit Tomb will open in a few days. I've already arranged for someone to gather information about its various locations for you. What kind of spirit weapon do you like, Junior Brother Xinghe?"

"Ah..." Chu Xinghe froze. What kind of spirit weapon did he like?

Generally, entering the Spirit Tomb was a matter of luck. The Vast Heaven Sect believed that a spirit weapon and a disciple met through fate. A bonded spirit weapon would accompany its disciple for life, returning to the Spirit Tomb only on the day of the disciple's death, so fate was very important.

As for this fate... how to put it? It was all very mysterious.

Some people had outstanding talent, but one careless choice in the Spirit Tomb left them with the worst spirit weapon. Fate had arrived, but their future was gone.

Others obtained a powerful spirit weapon and could defy the heavens and change their destiny.

But very few people knew that this so-called fate was not absolute. Everyone who entered the Spirit Tomb was a newly joined disciple, unfamiliar with the conditions inside.

Even disciples favored by elders might get a little inside information before entering the Spirit Tomb, but the elders did not dare say too much. After all, the sect rules were there for all to see.

But now... was Shen Chun saying he could choose his own fate?

"Senior Brother Shen Chun, wouldn't doing that violate the sect rules?" Chu Xinghe asked solemnly.

"No... I quietly sounded out the Grand Elder about it, and he gave his approval... So it won't violate the sect rules, and you won't be punished. Don't worry, Junior Brother!"

Don't worry, my ass!

Shen Chun's words made Chu Xinghe so angry he laughed. Was that what I meant when I asked if it violated the sect rules?

If it doesn't violate the rules, what's the point? If I won't be punished, what future is there for me?

"I see. Thank you, Senior Brother Shen Chun. I like cheap... ahem... swords!"

"Swords! Haha, don't worry, Junior Brother. There are ten divine swords in the Vast Heaven Sect's Spirit Tomb. Although five are currently in the hands of the elders and sect master, five remain without owners. Their locations are a mystery, but the Grand Elder must have some information. Don't worry, I'll quietly ask him. I'm sure I'll learn something."

"In that case, thank you, Senior Brother Shen Chun."

"There's no need for such courtesy between brothers! I'm off!"

After Shen Chun left, Chu Xinghe returned to his room. Feng Fei had already washed up and was sitting there drinking tea.

Chu Xinghe mentioned Shen Chun's visit to Feng Fei. His purpose was simple: as the saying went, one more matter was better than one less. He wanted to sound Feng Fei out and see whether there was any way to break the rules.

"That's hardly a secret. The elders of each palace open back doors for disciples they favor. Naturally, there's nothing wrong with our Spirit Crane Palace doing the same, so it doesn't count as a violation."

Chu Xinghe looked disappointed. If Feng Fei said it did not violate the rules, then it truly did not.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, with your talent, if you obtain a divine sword, you can naturally climb higher and go farther in the future. So go ahead and do it, Junior Brother."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Feng." Chu Xinghe gave a helpless, bitter smile. It seemed there was no chance to break the rules.

Seeing Chu Xinghe's bitter smile, Feng Fei thought he was worried he could not subdue a divine sword. After a moment's thought, Feng Fei said, "Junior Brother, obtaining one of the five divine swords isn't necessarily a matter of fate. It also takes a few little tricks... So don't worry. The Grand Elder will surely find a way to get you a divine sword."

"Ah..." Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded. So there were under-the-table dealings behind this so-called fate.

But Feng Fei said no more, because he had already said everything he needed to.

Chu Xinghe considered exposing the under-the-table dealings. If he did, wouldn't the new disciples erupt like a boiling pot?

It would probably be a huge blow to the entire Vast Heaven Sect.

But after thinking it over, Chu Xinghe decided it would not work. Would he be expelled from the sect if he exposed it?

Difficult... extremely difficult!

Then would he be punished?

Yes... but not severely. The Grand Elder would stop at nothing to suppress the matter. With his methods, there was a very good chance it would all be dropped in the end. At most, Shen Chun, the one who had made the arrangements, would be dragged out to take the blame, and they would declare it a rumor. That would be the end of it.

He could do something that harmed others to benefit himself, but harming others without even fucking benefiting himself? Chu Xinghe did not think he could do that.

Besides, obtaining a divine sword was important to him too. The Vast Heaven Sect's ten divine swords were renowned throughout the world. The Heaven-Supporting Sword in the sect master's hands and the Grand Elder's Soul-Extinguishing Sword were supreme treasures.

If he could obtain a divine sword like that as his spirit weapon, his future would be promising indeed.

Five of the ten divine swords remained in the Spirit Tomb. With the Grand Elder pulling strings behind the scenes, there was absolutely no problem with him getting one. Thinking of all the times he had tried to trip up the Grand Elder before, although none had succeeded, he did feel a teeny bit guilty, right?

That night, Chu Xinghe had a dream. He dreamed that Chu Cheng, wrapped up like a zongzi, came looking for revenge, constantly saying, "Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years it flows west. Don't bully a poor youth!"

He also said something about "My fate is mine, not heaven's"!

And something about cutting off his dog head with one stroke of a sword!

Damn it... isn't that little bastard still alive? How is he appearing in my dreams?

So a grudge strong enough can let someone appear in another person's dreams too?

Furious, Chu Xinghe ran to the dining hall first thing in the morning!

"Senior Brother, give me two zongzi! The most tightly wrapped ones, with meat filling!"

After chomping down two meat-filled zongzi, Chu Xinghe felt much better. That little bastard's grudge runs deep, huh? What hasn't your Brother Chu seen? Never mind zongzi—even if you came in person, see whether your Brother Chu could chew you up and swallow you alive!

The remains of Medicine King Palace had been cleared away. The Vast Heaven Sect had its own construction crew, and a group of disciples who cultivated earth-and-wood techniques showed Chu Xinghe on the spot how buildings were erected here.

He had often heard people say that tall buildings rose from the ground, but that was all bullshit. Here they really did rise from the ground: the disciples literally pulled stone from the earth and shaped it into pillars.

Good grief, the various palace buildings really did rise from the ground around the Vermilion Bird Furnace. In just a few days, Medicine King Palace had begun to take shape under the hands of the earth-and-wood technique disciples. Its grounds were more than ten times larger than before, big enough for someone to get lost inside.

Of course, all sorts of things still needed to be added to Medicine King Palace afterward, but with the Vast Heaven Sect's immense wealth, that was nothing.

Chu Xinghe watched buildings rise from the ground for several days. Although he had little interest in becoming an earth-and-wood technique disciple, he truly loved the Vast Heaven Sect's cultivation techniques.

But Chu Xinghe was still only at the peak of the First-Rank Martial Artist realm. Before he could formally study cultivation techniques, he had to obtain a spirit weapon and properly enter the Second-Rank Martial Master realm. Only then could he begin learning techniques suited to him.

During that time, the Grand Elder came to see Chu Xinghe and even asked for his opinion on the construction of Medicine King Palace. Chu Xinghe knew absolutely nothing about it, so he could only tell the Grand Elder to decide for himself.

Those few days, however, were the most comfortable Chu Xinghe had spent. Every day, all he had to do was watch the poor earth-and-wood technique disciples perform their act of raising buildings from the ground. He truly had nothing to do, and even if he wanted to help, he lacked the ability.

So Chu Xinghe spent those days thinking about his next move.

Burn down the Spirit Tomb?

That's not realistic... What if the spirit weapons automatically protect the Spirit Tomb and send ten thousand swords through my heart? It wouldn't be worth it.

Just as Chu Xinghe was at a loss, Shen Chun arrived.

Shen Chun mysteriously handed Chu Xinghe a sheet of paper. Chu Xinghe took one look... Good grief... the locations of four of the five divine swords were marked on it... It even explained clearly how to obtain three of them... No wonder the Grand Elder had said that baffling thing about making the most of the opportunity when he visited. So this was the opportunity he meant!

"Thank you, Senior Brother Shen Chun."

"Oh... no need for thanks, Junior Brother. I'm just running an errand. You mustn't disappoint the Grand Elder."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Shen!"

"Junior Brother, the Grand Elder told me to tell you that it's best to choose one of these three swords and leave the others alone. And once you enter the Spirit Tomb, remember not to talk to people too much. The last time the Spirit Tomb opened, a disciple also obtained some information, but that fellow relied on it to give people random directions. In the end, a group of disciples obtained only the worst spirit weapons. The palaces were furious, and not even an elder could protect him. He was expelled from the sect on the spot, so, Junior Brother, you..."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother! I definitely won't give anyone random directions!"

Tears streamed down Chu Xinghe's face. Senior Brother Shen Chun! I knew I could count on you!

You're my most respected senior brother now!

I've racked my brains for days without making any progress.

But when an expert like you makes a move, everyone can see what he's made of, Senior Brother!

So giving people random directions can get me expelled from the sect, huh...? Don't worry, Senior Brother. When it comes to giving random directions, that fellow who got expelled is a complete noob compared to me!