Contribution Ranking

Hearing Fang Wang's words, Fang Hanyu thought it over and ultimately chose to trust him. The commotion caused by the Jihao Sect had been far too great; it was best for him not to know, lest he invite trouble.

Fang Hanyu took a deep breath and said, "Fang Wang, you're already seventeen, aren't you? If you hadn't taken up cultivation, Fifth Uncle would have celebrated your birthday for you."

Fang Wang smiled. "We're pursuing immortality now. Why bother with birthdays? We may live for centuries, millennia, even ten thousand years. Only such round-numbered ages will be worth celebrating."

A smile appeared on Fang Hanyu's face, and he began speaking with Fang Wang about the past.

Life in the Fang Realm passed swiftly.

More than another month went by. Fang Hanyu reached the ninth level of the Qi Nurturing Realm. His speed was enough to prove just how powerful the Heart Severing Evil Eyes were, and Fang Wang therefore decided to return to the Taiyuan Sect.

Before leaving, Fang Wang instructed Qing Wan'er to go out as little as possible and wait for Zhou Xue's return.

The Fang Realm had now been built up quite well. Pavilions rose all along the lakeside, countless spirit herbs and spirit flowers had been planted before the mountain walls, and the spiritual energy continued to grow.

"Don't worry. We won't do anything reckless," Qing Wan'er said with a nod. After what had happened with Li Honggang, she had resolved to cultivate properly and stop relying on others for protection.

Fang Wang said no more and departed with Fang Hanyu.

To conceal the Heart Severing Evil Eyes, Fang Hanyu once more wrapped a strip of white cloth over his eyes. He had already cultivated Spiritual Sense and could see through it.

Thus, Fang Wang and Fang Hanyu left the Fang Realm and flew away on their swords.

Along the way, Fang Wang considered teaching him the White Rainbow Escape Technique, so he increased his speed while Fang Hanyu did his utmost to keep up.

From the western border of the Great Qi Dynasty to the Taiyuan Sect, cultivators needed only a few days of travel. The farther inward they went, the fewer Demonic Cultivators they encountered. Once they put on the robes of Taiyuan Sect disciples, they met no trouble along the way.

Four days later.

Following the guidance of their Disciple Tokens, the two returned to the Taiyuan Sect.

After returning to the Taiyuan Sect, they did not part ways. Fang Wang took Fang Hanyu straight to the main peak and came before Shiyuan Hall to seek an audience with the sect master.

"Come in."

The gates of Shiyuan Hall opened, and Guang Qiuxian's voice came from within.

Fang Wang and Fang Hanyu immediately entered the hall. Guang Qiuxian sat cross-legged on a cushion with his eyes closed, looking like an immortal descended from the heavens, his bearing that of a transcendent sage.

After bowing, Fang Wang directly recounted Fang Hanyu's experiences without concealing anything, including how Zhou Xue had bestowed the Heart Severing Evil Eyes upon Fang Hanyu. This had been decided after discussing it with Zhou Xue. She had told him to speak the truth and said she had her own way of handling it.

Guang Qiuxian opened his eyes before Fang Wang had spoken for long. His brows furrowed, and his gaze turned cold.

As sect master, how could he remain unmoved upon hearing that a disciple had endured such agonizing torment?

Once Fang Wang had finished, Guang Qiuxian slowly said, "Like the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Scripture, the Heart Severing Evil Eyes are cultivation methods created by ancient people based on primordial physiques. Both possess the power to defy fate and rewrite one's destiny. Green Cicada Valley has possessed the cultivation method for the Heart Severing Evil Eyes for a hundred years, yet no one has succeeded. I never expected you to succeed. It seems the expert behind Zhou Xue is no simple figure."

"Over a lifetime of cultivation, aside from one's sect, one also needs many benefactors. The Taiyuan Sect respects every disciple's fortuitous opportunities. Though the Heart Severing Evil Eyes are regarded as an evil-path technique, they do not wholly belong to Green Cicada Valley."

Guang Qiuxian raised his sleeve, and a jade slip flew out and landed in Fang Hanyu's hand. "This is my decree slip. Go to the Scripture Pavilion and collect the Clear Heart Incantation. It can effectively suppress your instinctive killing intent."

Fang Hanyu hurriedly nodded. "Thank you, Sect Master."

"Keep your eyes covered from now on, to avoid unnecessary trouble. I do not mean being ostracized by your fellow disciples, but being discovered by Green Cicada Valley. You should understand that there will always be spies of the Demonic Path within Righteous Path sects," Guang Qiuxian instructed.

Fang Hanyu acknowledged him. Seeing Guang Qiuxian wave his hand, he bowed and withdrew.

Only Fang Wang and Guang Qiuxian remained in the hall.

Guang Qiuxian smiled, shedding his previous bearing as sect master. He shot Fang Wang a glare and snorted. "You brat, only a year after entering the sect, and you've already stirred up so much trouble. I sent Lu Yuanjun to bring you back, yet you still refused to return?"

Fang Wang said helplessly, "Sect Master, I had no choice. My clansmen were in distress. I couldn't simply stand by."

"White Clad Startling Swan—what a fine title. It's even more imposing than when Lu Yuanjun first rose to fame. As sect master, I am naturally pleased. Your reputation will benefit the Taiyuan Sect. But from a personal standpoint, I hope you won't act rashly. Cultivate properly. Too many geniuses die young; only those who survive can become the powerhouses of their era," Guang Qiuxian said seriously.

Fang Wang nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master."

Next, he too planned to spend time accumulating cultivation.

"The Thirty-six Startling Swan Swords... tsk, tsk. You've already surpassed your master. Hahaha! When you see your master in the future, you must try to please him. That man is narrow-minded. Back then, when I was chosen as sect master, he sulked for a very long time and ignored me for a full ten years..."

Guang Qiuxian began recounting his past with Yang Yuanzi, describing Yang Yuanzi as a petty and blunt-tempered junior brother.

Fang Wang listened attentively while also analyzing the true relationship between the two.

A long while later.

When Guang Qiuxian finally finished, still seeming to have more to say, Fang Wang asked, "Sect Master, who is Senior Brother Lu's master? Is it the peak master of First Vein?"

Stroking his beard, Guang Qiuxian smiled. "Lu Yuanjun has two masters. One is the peak master of First Vein, and the other is me. Why do you ask?"

Fang Wang smiled. "After meeting Senior Brother Lu, I found him to be a truly good person. He will surely become a good sect master one day. Yet you also wish to groom me into the next sect master, so I find it difficult to choose."

He was probing him.

Guang Qiuxian smiled and replied, "Being a good person is not enough to become sect master. A good sect master must endure fierce struggles, possess sufficient strength, and command the people's respect. If you wish to contend, I can privately provide you with support greater than Lu Yuanjun's. But you need prestige—at the very least, the sect's disciples must believe you are qualified to compete with him. When the entire Taiyuan Sect believes you are more suited than Lu Yuanjun to become sect master, that will be the day I yield my position to you."

"You needn't worry about your relationship with Lu Yuanjun. A sect cannot have only one strong person. Losing the position of sect master does not mean a complete break. Just like your master and me, no matter who wins or loses, you will both be the pillars of the Taiyuan Sect's next generation."

Guang Qiuxian instructed him on many matters and even imparted his experience in competing for the position of Senior Disciple.

Half an hour later.

Fang Wang left Shiyuan Hall and flew toward the Sect Main City.

Along the way, he pondered Guang Qiuxian's words. Guang Qiuxian appeared to be supporting him, but in truth, he was instilling a notion in him: no matter how they fought, they must not hurt their harmony. This showed how much weight Lu Yuanjun held in Guang Qiuxian's heart. Even though Fang Wang was the Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit, Guang Qiuxian was unwilling to abandon Lu Yuanjun.

From a disciple's perspective, such a sect master was excellent. But from Fang Wang's perspective, this was a major obstacle, because he and Lu Yuanjun could never remain harmonious!

Had Zhou Xue not been reborn, Fang Wang, who had not learned the Sword Control Technique, would surely have fought to the death and then perished on the Night of the Clan Annihilation. The entire Fang Manor would have died as well.

If he did not avenge this hatred, the breath lodged in his heart could never be released.

Fortunately, Fang Wang had long known that Lu Yuanjun stood behind the Night of the Clan Annihilation. Otherwise, he might truly have been tormented by Lu Yuanjun's warmth.

He was not competing for the position of Senior Disciple for power. He only wished to suppress Lu Yuanjun. When the day came that he drew his sword against Lu Yuanjun, the entire sect would have no choice but to tacitly accept it—or yield!

After entering the city, Fang Wang flew toward the Mission Hall.

The Mission Hall was the liveliest place in the city. This pavilion had nine full floors, and disciples flowed in and out without end.

Fang Wang sheathed his sword, landed, and entered the Mission Hall. He was preparing to hand in Li Hongshuang's head.

Within the Taiyuan Sect, aside from the basic benefits granted to disciples, disciples had to rely on contribution to upgrade the rank of their cave dwellings or obtain cultivation techniques, pills, magical artifacts, and more. Contributions came from all kinds of missions, from slaying mighty figures of the Demonic Path to planting medicinal herbs. Different mission difficulties yielded different amounts of contribution, as recorded in the general cultivation compendium.

Even the most gifted disciples needed to continuously undertake missions and build prestige, especially since promotion to higher ranks tested one's contributions to an extreme degree.

As disciples continued carrying out missions, their ties to the sect would grow ever deeper. Even spies of the Demonic Path would find it difficult to return after killing too many Demonic Cultivators for the sect.

Upon entering the main hall, a broad chamber came into view. The moment he stepped inside, he saw ten pillars. Nine surrounded one massive central pillar, and glowing words upon each pillar displayed the names and contributions of disciples.

Contribution Pillars. They recorded the contribution rankings of disciples from every vein, including elders. The enormous pillar in the center recorded the contribution ranking of the entire Taiyuan Sect. Those who could enter the main pillar were all powerhouses of the Taiyuan Sect.

The Contribution Pillars were one means of raising disciples' renown, ensuring that those who toiled quietly would not remain unknown.