The appearance of the gray-robed old man instantly silenced the clamorous plaza. Even Teacher Su Qing wore a respectful expression, clearly recognizing that the old man held an extraordinary status.
The old man ignored everyone else and merely smiled at Fang Yan. "Young man, would you be interested in coming with me?"
Fang Yan's heart stirred. He could sense the unfathomably deep aura within the old man, which was more than a level beyond Wang Chen's. He nodded. "Senior, I'm willing."
The old man nodded in satisfaction. After saying to Su Qing and the referee, "I'm taking this child with me," he grabbed Fang Yan's wrist without giving him a chance to refuse. Fang Yan only felt a gentle yet irresistible force envelop him. In the next second, the world spun, and the two of them vanished from the spot.
When Fang Yan steadied himself again, he found himself inside an ancient, imposing hall. Strange runes covered the walls all around, radiating a faint halo of light.
"Senior, where is this?" Fang Yan asked curiously.
The old man turned around, the smile on his face still kind. "This is the secret base of our 'Mystic Martial Pavilion' in this martial arts school."
"'Mystic Martial Pavilion'?" Fang Yan was startled. He had seen that name in the martial arts school's records before. It was an ancient martial organization with a thousand years of heritage, possessing unfathomable strength far beyond that of ordinary martial arts schools.
"That's right." The old man nodded. "We've always been searching for young people with extraordinary talent and steadfast wills. Your performance in this Martial Arts Competition has pleased us greatly."
He paused, then continued, "Not only are you exceptionally talented, but what's even rarer is the creativity and unyielding will you displayed in battle. Those are precisely what our Mystic Martial Pavilion needs."
Fang Yan was overwhelmed with excitement. He had never imagined that an organization as powerful as the Mystic Martial Pavilion would take notice of him.
"Senior, do you mean...?"
"I hope you'll join our Mystic Martial Pavilion." The old man spoke seriously. "After joining us, you'll receive the finest cultivation resources and the most top-tier cultivation techniques. You'll also have the chance to come into contact with the core secrets of martial arts in this world. Of course, you'll need to serve the Mystic Martial Pavilion as well."
Fang Yan did not hesitate in the slightest. "Senior, I'm willing to join the Mystic Martial Pavilion!" To him, this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, far more precious than winning the School Martial Arts Competition.
The old man smiled in satisfaction. "Good! From today onward, you're an Outer Sect Disciple of our Mystic Martial Pavilion. I'm an elder of the Mystic Martial Pavilion. My surname is Chen, so you may call me Elder Chen."
"Elder Chen!" Fang Yan respectfully bowed.
Elder Chen nodded, then took a black token from his robes and handed it to Fang Yan. "This is the Outer Sect Disciple token of the Mystic Martial Pavilion. With this token, you can collect cultivation resources from the pavilion's bases, and you can also enter the pavilion's Scripture Repository to select cultivation techniques."
Fang Yan accepted the token. It was cold to the touch, and the words "Mystic Martial" were engraved on it, along with a tiny character meaning "outer."
"By the way..." Elder Chen seemed to remember something. "That move you used in battle, the one that fused boxing and swordsmanship, was highly creative. However, your foundation isn't solid enough, and your cultivation technique is far too ordinary. Come find me here tomorrow. I'll tailor a cultivation plan for you."
"Thank you, Elder Chen!" Fang Yan was so grateful that tears nearly filled his eyes.
"All right, go back for now. Get a good rest and come here on time tomorrow." Elder Chen waved his hand.
Fang Yan bowed once more before turning and leaving the hall. When he stepped out of the base, he discovered that he had somehow returned to the vicinity of the martial arts school's plaza, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a dream. Yet the black token in his hand told him that it had all been real.
After returning to his dormitory, Fang Yan carefully put the token away. He lay on his bed, his heart unable to calm down for a long time. From an ordinary student of the Body Tempering Class, to the champion of the School Martial Arts Competition, and then to an Outer Sect Disciple of the Mystic Martial Pavilion, his life had undergone earth-shaking changes in just a few days.
"This is only the beginning." Fang Yan murmured to himself, a resolute light flashing in his eyes. "I must cultivate diligently in the Mystic Martial Pavilion and become a true martial arts powerhouse!"
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