Uncle Had Their Backs

After Chen Feng returned to his room, he did not activate the Isolation Formation, so the conversation of the other three reached his ears word for word. A bitter smile appeared on his face, but it was swiftly replaced by a ferocious expression. These people knew nothing of what had happened, so how could they understand his suffering?

Tang Ru had never willingly become that Golden Core Elder's concubine. She had been forced into it. Because their cultivation was low and they had no one to rely on, Tang Ru had no choice but to submit to that Golden Core Elder in order to preserve their status as Outer Sect Disciples.

At an age as radiant as a flower, she had been forced to stay by the side of an old man whose lifespan was nearly exhausted. He had not wanted Ru Ru to suffer such humiliation and had suggested leaving the sect, but Tang Ru had helplessly stopped him. Her face had been filled with desolation as she said:

"Brother Feng, where could we go if we left the Haoran Sect? Leaving the sect would be the same as betraying it, and that Golden Core True Person would have even more of an excuse to deal with us. It isn't worth sacrificing both our lives and our paths to immortality for me alone.

If I stay by his side, I can still secure some cultivation resources for you. Don't give up. Your aptitude is better than mine. Once your cultivation rises, you'll be able to help me escape this sea of suffering."

Chen Feng knew that his slap-the-forehead decision had been impulsive. Everything Tang Ru said was true. They were far too weak right now, unable to resist. He could only swallow his broken teeth mixed with blood and choose to endure for the time being.

After that, he began cultivating like a madman. Yet after three months, he had only raised his cultivation to the fourth layer of Qi Refining. Once he had exhausted the cultivation resources in his possession, he prepared to take on missions to earn more.

On his way to the Disciple Hall, he heard that new disciples had entered the sect, and that was when he set his sights on them. He had simply never expected them to have an Inner Sect Disciple backing them. That was not something he could shake at present, but he had remembered this debt.

When the sun rose the next day, Wei Yunxi had already completed one cultivation cycle. Sensing someone trigger her Isolation Formation, she ended her cultivation and opened the formation. She saw Wei Yunting standing at the door, a smile still on her face.

"Sister Yunting, what is it?"

"Uncle has come to see us. I've called everyone to gather in our courtyard, so hurry out too!"

"Alright, I'm coming."

Wei Yunxi's heart leaped with joy upon hearing this, and she immediately left her room. In any case, she had not left anything important inside.

When Wei Yunxi reached the courtyard, she saw a young man nearly 1.9 meters tall, with resolute features and a fifty-percent resemblance to the Wei Family Head, Wei Lingtao. He was seated on a jade stool.

He too wore the blue robe issued by the sect, but his robe had blue-gold trim around the collar, making it look exceptionally noble and setting it apart from the robes worn by Outer Sect Disciples like them.

"Are you girl Yunxi from my elder brother's family?"

Wei Lingkai smiled and beckoned to Wei Yunxi.

Wei Yunxi immediately stepped forward, cupped her hands, and bowed.

"Your niece, Wei Yunxi, greets Uncle."

Wei Lingkai raised a hand to help Wei Yunxi up and said with a smile:

"No need for such ceremony. You look very much like your mother."

Wei Yunqing, who had arrived a step later, also promptly stepped forward to bow.

"Your niece, Wei Yunqing, greets Uncle."

Wei Zonghao and the others who entered the courtyard afterward also greeted Wei Lingkai one by one. They were all delighted to meet their uncle so soon. With their uncle here, they felt much more secure.

At that moment, Wei Yunting took out a Storage Pouch from her robes in front of everyone and offered it to Wei Lingkai with both hands.

"Uncle, this is what the Family Head asked me to bring you before we set off."

After receiving the Storage Pouch, Wei Lingkai swept it with his divine sense and immediately knew that it contained cultivation resources the family had prepared for him. He accepted it without false modesty, then asked about their experiences during the sect examination.

Wei Yunting stepped forward to recount the events first, while the others filled in the details. The experiences of Wei Yunxi and Wei Zonghao after they had fallen behind were told by the little fatty, all the way up to yesterday, when they had been troubled by an Outer Sect Disciple named Chen Feng.

Wei Lingkai nodded as he listened, feeling that the Wei family disciples had all performed commendably this time. In particular, the two little ones who had fallen behind had instead been the first to reach the sect gate. He did not comment on Wei Yunqing's disaster-attracting constitution; saying too much would not benefit unity.

"You all performed very well. Among the disciples the family sent here before, few passed all three trials and entered the Outer Sect directly. Your uncle was one of them, and another was your granduncle in the Inner Sect's Dharma Peak. He is already a Golden Core True Person. As for the other disciples who entered Service Peak, very few ever rose above the rest."

After receiving their uncle's approval, the moods of all eight visibly improved. Wei Zonghan cupped his hands and said:

"Rest assured, Uncle. We will certainly cultivate diligently from now on and never bring shame upon the family."

The rest nodded in agreement.

Wei Lingkai nodded with satisfaction, then continued:

"As for what you said about Chen Feng, I'll go to the Disciple Hall in a while and speak to Elder Zheng. No one will trouble you again in the future.

"But you must also remember not to throw your weight around and commit wanton acts just because you have the family behind you. If something truly happens, be prepared to bear the responsibility yourselves.

"Our Wei Family has only one Golden Core True Person in the sect to rely upon. Don't be too high-profile. If you provoke someone you should not provoke, even the Wei Family will have no choice but to compromise."

All eight answered solemnly:

"Yes, we will remember."

"However, for now, your granduncle can still protect you in the Outer Sect. Just as Yunting said, we do not stir up trouble, but neither do we fear it. You need only focus wholeheartedly on cultivating well.

"Within one year, all of you must raise your cultivation to the third layer of Qi Refining. Yunting and Zonghan, who have already reached the minimum threshold for Outer Sect Disciples, must also raise your cultivation as soon as possible and strive to cultivate on peaks with abundant Spiritual Qi.

"Once you advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, you will automatically become Inner Sect Disciples. Or, if you achieve an excellent top-ten ranking in the Sect Grand Competition, you can also enter the Inner Sect to cultivate.

"The sect's next grand competition will be held ten years from now, so you have ample time. You must begin preparing early."

Wei Yunting and the others listened intently, even counting on their fingers. Among them, Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan had greater chances of entering the Inner Sect.

Wei Lingkai was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. With a smile, he waved his sleeve and placed eight porcelain bottles on the jade table.

"These are the greeting gifts I prepared for you. Each bottle contains ten top-grade Nourishing Spirit Pills, which can help you during minor breakthroughs."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

The eight of them smiled as they stepped forward in turn to take the pills, then carefully placed them into their own Storage pouches as though they were treasures.

Wei Lingkai continued:

"Remember, wealth must not be displayed. Don't let the others in the Outer Sect swindle them away from you. Your starting point is already higher than that of disciples who have yet to cultivate, so you must hold yourselves to even stricter standards. This jade slip contains spells usable during the Qi Refining stage. Each of you may make a copy and practice them well."

With that, he handed the jade slip to Wei Yunting.

"You've gone to so much trouble, Uncle."

Wei Yunting knew that copying such a spell jade slip required spirit stones. Her uncle had saved them another expense.

"Alright, that is all I needed to say. Since all of you are here, I'll take you to the Lecture Hall and greet the Outer Sect Elder while we're at it."

"Yes, Uncle!"

All eight were delighted. Their uncle was clearly backing them up, and they had to follow along. After this, those who had secretly been eyeing them would surely not dare act rashly.

See you tomorrow, darlings~