New Opportunities

The news that Lin Hao had been defeated by a single strike from Fang Yan soon spread among the Outer Sect Disciples.

Everyone was shocked by the speed of Fang Yan's growth. From an unknown newcomer to defeating Zhao Hu and Lin Hao, two veteran powerhouses, one after another, Fang Yan had needed only a short month. His ranking had soared as well, vaulting straight to twentieth among the Outer Sect Disciples.

For a time, no one dared provoke Fang Yan lightly anymore. Everyone looked at him with awe and curiosity.

That day, Fang Yan was practicing the Profound Ice Spear Technique. The Ink Ice Spear moved as naturally as his own arm in his hands, its tip spitting out a half-foot-long ice-blue spear radiance. Every thrust came with a sharp howl that tore through the air, while the ground was frozen into streaks by the chill.

Suddenly, an aged and imposing voice sounded beside him. "Fang Yan, come with me."

Fang Yan's heart tightened. He put away his spear and turned to look. An old man dressed in a green robe, with hair and beard as white as snow, stood not far away. His gaze was deep as an ancient well. He was none other than Elder Li, the enforcement elder of the inner sect of the Mystic Martial Pavilion.

"Disciple Fang Yan greets Elder Li." Fang Yan hurriedly cupped his hands in salute, his heart filled with confusion. Why would an inner-sect elder suddenly seek him out?

Elder Li nodded slightly. His gaze lingered on Fang Yan for a moment before shifting to the Ink Ice Spear in his hand. He slowly said, "I've heard about you. Not bad. To possess such strength and comprehension at such a young age is truly rare."

He paused before continuing, "I sought you out today because there is an important matter. An inner-sect elder has taken a liking to your talent and wants to accept you as a Registered Disciple, allowing you to enter the inner sect early for cultivation. Are you willing?"

Fang Yan's heart shook violently, and an incredulous expression appeared on his face. Enter the inner sect early? He could even become an inner-sect elder's Registered Disciple? This was simply a heaven-defying opportunity!

"This disciple is willing! Thank you, Elder Li! And thank you to that elder!" Fang Yan said excitedly, bowing deeply.

Elder Li nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Come with me. That elder is waiting for you inside."

Following Elder Li through several quiet corridors, Fang Yan arrived before an ancient, unadorned great hall. Standing at the entrance was a middle-aged man dressed in a white robe. His bearing was ethereal, and faint strands of chill radiated from his body, faintly resonating with Fang Yan's Ice Heart Art.

"Elder Wu, I've brought him," Elder Li said, cupping his hands toward the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man nodded, his gaze settling on Fang Yan. He said gently, "You're Fang Yan? Not bad. You truly are a fine piece of jade. My name is Wu Bing. I'm the inner-sect elder responsible for teaching ice-attribute cultivation techniques."

"Disciple Fang Yan greets Elder Wu!" Fang Yan saluted once more.

Wu Bing waved his hand, signaling him to rise. "There's no need for such ceremony. The reason I'm accepting you as my Registered Disciple is, first, because I value your talent, and second, because your Ice Heart Art and this Ink Ice Spear are highly compatible with the attribute of my cultivation technique."

He walked up to Fang Yan and extended a hand, gently pressing it against the Ink Ice Spear. A stream of pure ice-attribute inner power slowly flowed into the spear.

"Hum—"

The Ink Ice Spear suddenly let out a soft hum, its shaft trembling violently. The layer of ice on it grew increasingly crystalline, and a vague phantom of a spear soul seemed to swim within the shaft.

Fang Yan's heart jolted. He could feel that the Ink Ice Spear had seemingly become more nimble, and its connection with him had grown even closer.

Wu Bing withdrew his hand and said, "This Ink Ice Spear was forged from thousand-year Profound Ice Iron. It already contains a trace of a spear soul, but it has never been awakened. Just now, I used my inner power to nourish it, making it more compatible with your inner power."

He paused before continuing, "From today onward, you are my Registered Disciple. Besides cultivating your own technique and spear technique, I will teach you a higher-level ice cultivation technique—the Extreme Ice Prison Art—as well as its accompanying spear technique, the Ice Soul Spear Technique."

"Thank you, Elder Wu!" Fang Yan was bursting with excitement. The inner sect's cultivation techniques and spear techniques were surely far more powerful than those of the outer sect!

Wu Bing smiled faintly. "Cultivate diligently, and don't disappoint my expectations. Your potential is immense. In the future, you may perhaps become a pillar of our Mystic Martial Pavilion."

In the days that followed, Fang Yan officially became Wu Bing's Registered Disciple and began cultivating in the inner sect. The inner sect's resources were far richer than the outer sect's, with dedicated cultivation rooms, vast seas of cultivation manuals, and elders providing personal guidance.

Under Wu Bing's meticulous instruction, Fang Yan's progress was truly advancing by leaps and bounds. Nourished by the Extreme Ice Prison Art, his blood and qi smoothly broke through to 2.2, officially entering the ranks of a Martial Artist. With the aid of the Ice Soul Spear Technique, the Profound Ice Spear Technique also broke through to the Minor Achievement stage.

What delighted him even more was that as his strength rose and he grew more attuned to the Ink Ice Spear, the spear-soul phantom within its shaft became increasingly clear. He could even faintly sense the spear soul's consciousness. During battle, the spear soul could actively guide his spear techniques, making his attacks even more ferocious.

That day, Wu Bing looked at Fang Yan as he practiced his spear technique and said with satisfaction, "Fang Yan, your progress is very fast. After some more time, your Ice Soul Spear Technique will reach the Initiate stage. When that happens, I'll take you somewhere. There's a trial there that will help your growth tremendously."

Fang Yan's heart stirred. "A trial? May I ask what kind of trial it is?"

Wu Bing smiled. "You'll know when the time comes. Prepare yourself well. That trial is no simple matter."

Fang Yan nodded heavily. "This disciple understands!"

He knew that a new challenge was about to arrive. But this time, he was no longer alone. With Elder Wu's guidance and the Ink Ice Spear Soul's aid, he was confident he could face any difficulty!