After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Fang Chen and the others boarded a Spirit Boat. Those who boarded with them were Outer Sect Disciples who were unhurt or only lightly wounded. Some of the severely injured had been taken back by Flying Shuttle the night before; the rest were carried onto another Spirit Boat.
The Spirit Boat rose slowly and carried them away from Spirit Flame Valley.
"Junior Brother Fang Chen, you were incredible last night!"
"Yeah, Junior Brother Fang Chen! I never knew your swordsmanship was so formidable!"
Inside the Spirit Boat, the surviving Outer Sect Disciples were full of admiration for Fang Chen. Most had reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining; only a few were at the Second Layer of Qi Refining.
Fang Chen's performance the night before had won them all over. They were all at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, yet their actual fighting strength fell far short of his.
Fang Chen had endured bullying for so long that seeing so many people look up to him filled him with delight. It feels good to be admired.
He remained modest in the face of their praise, which only made them like him more.
The mood aboard the Spirit Boat was lively. After all, they had survived a battle for their lives the night before, and everyone who made it back would receive a reward from the sect.
An hour later, the boat reached Crimson Rainbow Peak first, since it was the closest to Spirit Flame Valley.
Wang Zheng stood up. As a disciple of Crimson Rainbow Peak, he was getting off here. "Fang Chen, I'm heading out. If you ever need anything, come find me!"
"I will!"
Fang Chen gave Wang Zheng a slight nod.
The cabin door opened, and Wang Zheng and the other survivors from Crimson Rainbow Peak disembarked from the Spirit Boat.
Half an hour later, the Spirit Boat reached Azure Cloud Peak. As it was the final stop, the Spirit Boat landed directly in the square, and Fang Chen stepped off alone.
Azure Cloud Peak was fairly strong overall and had sent quite a few Outer Sect Disciples to Spirit Flame Valley, but all of them except Fang Chen had died.
Fang Chen had barely stepped off the Spirit Boat when a guard from the Enforcement Hall approached him with a smile. "Junior Brother Fang Chen, I'm Liu Yu, a disciple of the Enforcement Hall. Congratulations on your great contribution at Spirit Flame Valley last night. Please come with me to the Merit Hall to collect your reward!"
"A reward? Already?"
Fang Chen paused, surprised that the Merit Hall worked so quickly.
"Yes. Please follow me!"
The Enforcement Hall disciple nodded, his manner courteous.
"Mm."
Fang Chen nodded and followed him toward the Merit Hall.
Inside, Fang Chen was led into a spacious hall. An elderly man in a pale green robe sat at its center. His face was lean, his hair graying, and his long eyebrows drooped to his temples, where they blended with his beard. His gaze was sharp, and silver Yun patterns were embroidered on his cuffs and collar.
Liu Yu said, "Junior Brother Fang Chen, this is Elder Liu Hongyi, head of our Azure Cloud Peak Outer Sect Merit Hall!"
Liu Hongyi had a Second-Grade Water Spiritual Root and had reached the Sixth Transformation of the Nascent Soul. His Dao Name was Li Shui.
"Disciple Fang Chen greets Elder Li Shui!"
Fang Chen immediately bowed slightly to the old man.
True Person Li Shui looked at Fang Chen with a faint smile. "Well done, Fang Chen. You've brought honor to Azure Cloud Peak this time!"
The guards at Spirit Flame Valley had already told True Person Li Shui everything that had happened the night before. He knew Fang Chen had distinguished himself and broken through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining during the battle.
True Person Li Shui had even looked into Fang Chen's background. When he learned that Fang Chen had no Spiritual Root and had only entered the Qi Refining Realm a few days earlier, he was astonished. Curious about him, he had sent for Fang Chen as soon as he returned.
"You praise me too highly, Elder. As a disciple of the Glazed Sword Sect, I only did what I should have done!"
Fang Chen bowed slightly to True Person Li Shui, remaining modest.
True Person Li Shui smiled. "Fang Chen, I hear you have no Spiritual Root. Is that true?"
"It's absolutely true. I was tested when I joined the sect and again a few days ago, when I became an Outer Sect Disciple. Both tests showed that I have no Spiritual Root!"
Fang Chen knew his cultivation had advanced too quickly not to draw attention. He had expected questions and had prepared himself on the way back.
He had wanted to keep a low profile, but circumstances would not allow it. After offending Zhang Tielin, he dreamed of growing stronger as quickly as possible.
An opportunity like the one the night before was hard to come by. He could hardly stand by and watch so many Bloodthirsty Evil Crows hop about in front of him without killing them, when doing so could rapidly improve his cultivation.
He had gained his cultivation through honest training, and he was not practicing some deranged demonic art. He had no reason to fear their questions or examinations, even if they were a little troublesome.
True Person Li Shui nodded slightly. "May I examine you?"
"Of course."
Fang Chen nodded.
True Person Li Shui rose from his chair and walked over. He placed a hand on Fang Chen's Baihui Point, then sent his Spiritual Sense into Fang Chen's dantian.
The next moment, Fang Chen felt a cool current flow into his body through the Baihui Point.
After seeing the state of Fang Chen's dantian, True Person Li Shui's eyes narrowed slightly. He withdrew his hand and looked at Fang Chen in puzzlement. "You truly have no Spiritual Root. How did you reach the Third Layer of Qi Refining so quickly without one?"
Fang Chen gave the explanation he had prepared. "I'm not entirely sure myself. A few days ago, two menial workers chased me through Thousand Bamboo Ridge. With my life hanging by a thread, I broke through to the Qi Refining Realm. Last night, Bloodthirsty Evil Crows attacked the Stronghold at Spirit Flame Valley. Under that terrible pressure, the rate at which I absorbed Spiritual Qi from my surroundings shot up, and my cultivation broke through again!"
The explanation was hardly perfect, but Fang Chen was not afraid of anyone checking it.
After all, people could unleash extraordinary potential when their lives hung by a thread. In that respect, his account held up.
True Person Li Shui studied Fang Chen, then nodded. "Not bad. Well done. You may have no Spiritual Root, but your cultivation is advancing quickly. Keep training hard. I hope you reach even greater heights. Take this Spirit Jade. You may come to my Daoist Grounds to hear me lecture whenever you wish!"
"Thank you, Elder!"
Fang Chen immediately reached out and accepted the Spirit Jade True Person Li Shui offered him.
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