Promoted to Outer Sect

The old man had grizzled hair and a lean face, but his steps were light, his breathing deep and steady, and his eyes sharp.

At the sight of him, the Outer Sect Disciples immediately clasped their hands in salute. "Greetings, Elder Bai Lie!"

This old man was none other than Bai Lie, the elder in charge of Azure Cloud Peak's outer sect Qi Sensing Pavilion.

When the Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple responsible for testing saw Elder Bai Lie, he immediately said, "Elder, you came at just the right time. We've run into a problem!"

Elder Bai Lie's gaze sharpened as he asked in a grave voice, "What problem?"

The Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple promptly replied, "When I tested him just now, his cultivation had met the standard—he has reached the first level of the Qi Refining Realm. But no spiritual root could be detected. This is his handyman identity plaque. When he entered the sect and was tested years ago, no spiritual root was detected then either!"

The Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple handed Fang Chen's identity plaque to Elder Bai Lie.

"No spiritual root, yet he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm?"

Elder Bai Lie was briefly taken aback, finding the matter rather strange as well. After taking Fang Chen's identity plaque, he swept it with his Spiritual Sense.

After seeing the information on Fang Chen's identity plaque, he walked over to him and said, "I need to examine your body now. Relax."

"Alright!"

Fang Chen nodded, drew a deep breath, and relaxed his body.

Elder Bai Lie raised a hand and pressed it against Fang Chen's Baihui acupoint. Fang Chen felt a scorching current surge in through the Baihui acupoint, travel along his meridians, and flow toward his Dantian.

After a while, Elder Bai Lie withdrew his hand, his brows slightly furrowed. He had carefully examined Fang Chen's body and discovered that Fang Chen truly had no spiritual root.

He looked at Fang Chen and said, "You really do have no spiritual root."

Xu Yi said to Elder Bai Lie, "Elder, how is that possible? Without a spiritual root, how did he break through to the Qi Refining Realm?"

"Yes, Elder, could you have made a mistake?"

The surrounding Outer Sect Disciples could not help asking as well.

Elder Bai Lie gently shook his head. "There is no mistake. This boy indeed has no spiritual root, and he has already passed the age at which spiritual roots awaken."

"Then why has his cultivation risen to the Qi Refining Realm?"

The surrounding Outer Sect Disciples all looked up at Elder Bai Lie.

Elder Bai Lie smiled. "The world is vast; strange things abound. Before this, quite a few people without spiritual roots have also broken through to the Qi Refining Realm. Such people all did so under particular circumstances—for example, after consuming certain rare heavenly treasures, or because they possessed special constitutions. But even if these people break through to the Qi Refining Realm, without spiritual roots, though they can cultivate, their cultivation progresses very slowly. Unless something unexpected happens, they will find it difficult to break through the third level of the Qi Refining Realm for their entire lives!"

"So that's how it is!"

The people around them looked enlightened. When they looked at Fang Chen, their faces all showed pity.

The Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple who had tested Fang Chen asked Elder Bai Lie, "Elder, then how should we assess Fang Chen? His cultivation has reached the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, but he has no spiritual root. Can he become an Outer Sect Disciple?"

Elder Bai Lie nodded. "Of course he can. The Glazed Sword Sect's rules state that anyone whose cultivation reaches the first level of the Qi Refining Realm can become an Outer Sect Disciple. There is no rule saying he must possess a spiritual root!"

"Mhm."

The Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple slowly nodded.

Fang Chen gave Elder Bai Lie a slight bow and said respectfully, "Thank you, Elder Bai Lie!"

Elder Bai Lie smiled faintly at Fang Chen. "No need to thank me. I am merely acting according to the sect's rules."

With that, Elder Bai Lie walked toward the interior of the hall.

The Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple in charge of testing said to Fang Chen, "Fang Chen, you've passed the examination. Wait over there. I'll have someone make your identity plaque right away!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Fang Chen gave the Qi Sensing Pavilion disciple a slight salute.

Half an hour later, Fang Chen and Xu Yi emerged from the Qi Sensing Pavilion together. Fang Chen now wore a brand-new gray robe, its collar and cuffs patterned with pale green clouds, with a small azure sword embroidered over the chest.

The pale green cloud patterns represented Fang Chen's status as an Outer Sect Disciple, while the small azure sword on his chest was the emblem of Azure Cloud Peak.

Inner Disciples wore robes with blue cloud patterns on their collars.

The robes of Direct Disciples under inner sect elders had red cloud patterns on their collars and cuffs.

The robes of Holy Sons and Holy Maidens had purple cloud patterns on their collars and cuffs.

The robes of sect elders had silver cloud patterns on their collars and cuffs.

The robes of the masters of the various peaks had gold cloud patterns on their collars and cuffs.

As for the Supreme Elders and the sect master, they needed nothing to proclaim their status.

Within the Glazed Sword Sect, ranks were strictly divided, and this was clearly reflected in everyone's attire.

After leaving the Qi Sensing Pavilion, Xu Yi looked at Fang Chen and said, "Junior Brother Fang Chen, congratulations on officially becoming an Outer Sect Disciple!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu Yi!"

Fang Chen smiled slightly at Xu Yi.

Xu Yi looked at Fang Chen with a regretful expression. "What a pity. You have no spiritual root. From now on, raising your cultivation will be almost impossible!"

Fang Chen smiled. "It's alright. Without a spiritual root, being able to break through to the first level of the Qi Refining Realm is already a stroke of great fortune. I'm stronger than many ordinary people, and even many people with spiritual roots cannot break through to the Qi Refining Realm. I'm already content."

Xu Yi nodded. "True enough. Contentment brings happiness. In your case, you really are better off than many people. Come on, let's go to the Enforcement Hall!"

Although Fang Chen had become an Outer Sect Disciple, he still had a murder case hanging over him and had to go to the Enforcement Hall to stand trial.

A short while later, Xu Yi brought Fang Chen to the entrance of the Enforcement Hall.

Standing at the doorway, Xu Yi said to Fang Chen, "Junior Brother Fang Chen, please follow me inside!"

Fang Chen asked Xu Yi, "Senior Brother Xu Yi, in your opinion, how will the Enforcement Hall punish someone in my situation?"

Xu Yi smiled faintly at Fang Chen. "Junior Brother, don't worry. You've now broken through to the Qi Refining Realm and can become an Outer Sect Disciple. The Enforcement Hall's punishment for you won't be too severe. Under normal circumstances, they'll simply fine you and leave it at that!"

After saying this, Xu Yi stepped into the Enforcement Hall.

"If it's only a fine, then that's fine!"

Fang Chen slowly let out a breath. As long as money could solve the problem, it wasn't a problem. Now that he had broken through to the Qi Refining Realm, with the Floating Immortal Sword's help, his strength would only grow greater and greater, and earning money would become easier and easier.

After entering the Enforcement Hall's pavilion, Xu Yi led Fang Chen into a spacious main hall. Inside sat a plump old man.

Xu Yi said to Fang Chen, "Fang Chen, this is Elder Hu Yi!"

Fang Chen immediately bowed to the plump old man before him and said respectfully, "Fang Chen greets Elder Hu Yi!"

The plump old man looked at Fang Chen and said indifferently, "Fang Chen, you killed Tian Hu, a senior Handyman of Dragon Tiger Mountain, and Zhang Tieniu, a junior Handyman. The Enforcement Hall hereby punishes you with a confiscation and fine totaling one thousand and ten stones. If you refuse to accept the judgment, your cultivation will be abolished and you will be expelled from the sect!"