Dark Night Hall

Watching Qin Fengming, who was only twelve or thirteen years old, he appeared slightly thin but was extremely calm, showing no signs of shyness or panic. Sect Master Sima couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Fengming, do you know why I brought you here?"

"This disciple does not know, please enlighten me, Sect Master." Qin Fengming bowed again, showing extreme respect, and answered honestly.

"Hehe, I imagine you might have guessed. Following your outstanding performance in the last Hundred Refinements Hall Grand Competition and Hall Master Zhang's strong recommendation, after joint consultation among our sect's high-level members, we wish for you to join the Dark Night Hall. Are you willing?" Sect Master Sima chuckled, his expression smiling at the beginning of his speech but becoming very serious towards the end.

Hearing the Sect Master's words, Qin Fengming was slightly stunned but then suddenly realized his wish had come true. He couldn't hide his excitement and replied after bowing again, "This disciple is willing."

"Hehe, don't rush to answer. You may not yet understand what the Dark Night Hall is or what responsibilities it entails. Let me explain it to you first, and then you can answer. It won't be too late." Sect Master Sima smiled faintly, his expression suddenly becoming serious, and he spoke in a deep voice.

"The Dark Night Hall is the most core part of our sect. Those within it are the absolute best among our sect's experts. Entering it signifies that you are already an ultimate expert, and you will also receive priority supply of various resources. This is a place all disciples of our sect aspire to join."

"However, it is also the most dangerous place in our sect. The missions undertaken by the Dark Night Hall are the most perilous. Minor injuries can result from them, and serious ones can lead to death. However, I can tell you that in hundreds of years, only seventy-eight disciples have perished in the Dark Night Hall. It has the lowest number of deceased disciples among all the halls in our sect."

"After entering the Dark Night Hall, you can receive one hundred taels of silver each month. Furthermore, as long as you remain in the Dark Night Hall for ten years, you can automatically withdraw and then assume the position of Elder, along with a resettlement fee of ten thousand taels."

"Now, I believe you have a clear understanding of the Dark Night Hall's specifics. Do you still wish to join?"

Sect Master Sima looked at Qin Fengming, a wave of authority suddenly emanating from him, startling Qin Fengming standing before him.

At this moment, although Qin Fengming had some reservations about the dangers mentioned by the Sect Master, upon hearing that he could receive one hundred taels of silver each month, he had already disregarded all other so-called dangers in his heart.

One hundred taels of silver was equivalent to several years of expenses for his family back then. With this money, not only could his parents and family live better, but the lives of his fellow villagers could also be slightly improved.

"This disciple is willing." Qin Fengming raised his head and looked at Sect Master Sima. His young face held an extremely resolute expression.

After observing Qin Fengming for a while, Sect Master Sima nodded slightly and raised his hand, clapping three times.

With a flash of movement, a person emerged from behind a screen. This person wore a black long robe, a bamboo hat, and a black veil over their face. If Qin Fengming hadn't seen them directly, he would have assumed this black-clad figure wasn't in the room at all.

"This is the Hall Master of the Dark Night Hall. You are now officially a member of the Dark Night Hall. From now on, you will only obey the Hall Master's orders and will not accept commands from anyone else, including myself. Fengming, you must understand this point." Sect Master Sima pointed at the black-clad figure, his expression grave.

Qin Fengming looked at the black-clad figure and nodded at Sect Master Sima, "This disciple understands."

After gazing at Qin Fengming for a moment, the black-clad figure did not linger. Their voice, slightly hoarse as if coming from a distant place, said coldly, "Follow me." It was impossible to determine their age from their voice. After speaking, they showed no deference to Sect Master Sima, turned, and walked towards the back door.

Seeing this, Qin Fengming dared not delay any further. He bowed to the Sect Master and Elder Wu respectively and quickly followed the black-clad figure.

They did not speak a word along the way. After leaving the manor and walking for more than half an hour into the depths of the mountain forest, the black-clad figure stopped in a valley and pointed towards a distant forest.

"There is a courtyard over there. You will live here from now on, and someone will deliver your meals on time every day. Our Dark Night Hall only has ten members, and you are entering exceptionally. You will not be assigned any missions for two years. You must focus on practicing martial arts and become a formal member after two years."

"If you have any needs, feel free to find Elder Wu who brought you here. He will help you solve anything within his capabilities." After speaking, he ignored Qin Fengming, leaped into the nearby dense forest, and vanished in the blink of an eye, as if he had never appeared.

Qin Fengming stood there, stunned for a while, before walking into the dense forest. He saw a courtyard nestled in a clearing within the woods. Inside the courtyard were three houses built of bamboo, with a small stream in front of the door, giving it a very tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

Entering the bamboo house, although the furnishings were simple, all the daily necessities were complete. Sitting on a bamboo chair, Qin Fengming recalled what the Hall Master had said earlier and felt a slight doubt.

The Dark Night Hall was so famous within the sect, yet it only had ten members. It seemed that these ten people were undoubtedly the cream of the crop in the martial arts world. If he was not even at the bottom among these ten, then he could only strive and practice martial arts diligently in the future.

Time passed slowly, and half a year flew by. During these six months, Qin Fengming received one hundred taels of silver each month. Every three months, he would entrust someone to deliver the silver to Qijia City and give it to his elder brother.

In these past few months, Qin Fengming's swordsmanship had also greatly improved, and he had deepened his understanding of its essence.

One day, after some thought, Qin Fengming went to the manor where the Sect Master had resided previously. He found Elder Wu and respectfully bowed before saying, "Qin Fengming greets Elder Wu. There are some matters I wish to ask Elder Wu's help with. I wonder if Elder is willing?"

"Hehehe, I thought you would have come to me much sooner. I didn't expect you to wait for half a year. But what is it? As long as it is something within Luoxia Valley, I will surely fulfill your request." Seeing Qin Fengming standing before him, Elder Wu was greatly pleased and chuckled, as if Qin Fengming's arrival at this time was quite unexpected.

Hearing Elder Wu say this, Qin Fengming's slight unease vanished. It turned out that what the Hall Master had said earlier was not just empty words.

"Thank you, Elder. Fengming has indeed come today to ask for Elder Wu's help with something. Previously, Master Hall Master Zhang taught me a light body technique, but I feel it is somewhat lacking now. Therefore, I wish to ask Elder to recommend a profound light body technique for me."

Upon hearing Qin Fengming's words, Elder Wu pondered for a moment. "With Hall Master Zhang's abilities, the light body technique he learned must also be extraordinary. In our Luoxia Valley, there are dozens of light body techniques, but few can surpass what your master learned. Oh, I do recall a light body technique. If one can master it, it will surely surpass what your master learned. However, that technique is too special. In our sect's history of over a hundred years, no one has ever managed to learn it. Are you interested?"

"May I know what technique it is? What is its name?" Hearing this, Qin Fengming was overjoyed.

"This technique is called 'Azure Cloud Maze.' It was created by an exceptionally talented Elder of our sect hundreds of years ago. However, since a genius disciple learned it over three hundred years ago, no one among the generations of exceptionally gifted individuals in our sect has been able to comprehend it."

"This light body technique is unique. Ordinary light body techniques require internal energy to cooperate with them to exert their effect. But this technique is completely different. As long as one can comprehend it, even an ordinary person can still use it."

"Such a technique that defies common sense has already been listed as one of our sect's three most difficult techniques."