Lin Qifeng's Reward

The voice that suddenly appeared from behind sent a chill down Zhang Xishun's spine.

When did that happen?

Appearing behind him without a sound, how was that possible!

He had to know, his cultivation realm was late-stage Qi Sea Realm, and he wasn't far from the peak of Qi Sea Realm!

Unless, the opponent's cultivation was above Spirit 통 Realm?

Zhang Xishun quickly turned his head, and the panic and vigilance in his eyes soon turned to despair.

Wearing a blue Daoist Robe, with both temples completely white, his aura was majestic.

Zhang Xishun knew the identity of the elderly cultivator before him.

Qingchan Peak, Martial Suppression Elder, Master of Cangwu Zhai.

Fu Qian.

"You want to see the list, don't you?"

Fu Qian said slowly, raising his head slightly, his attitude contemptuous and arrogant.

"Fu Qian!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhang Xishun's eyes. Without hesitation, he raised his hand to strike his own forehead.

He wanted to commit suicide!

However, before his hand could land on his forehead, a black line appeared on Zhang Xishun's wrist.

In the next instant, Zhang Xishun's right hand was severed at the root and fell to the ground.

Fu Qian's divine sense moved, and a wisp of his natal True Qi flowed, piercing directly into Zhang Xishun's Qi Sea.

Afterward, Zhang Xishun's True Qi and meridians were all sealed.

This was the first time Chen Yan had witnessed the methods of a Wanhua Realm cultivator.

It wasn't as crude as cultivators in Qi Sea Realm and below, but rather filled with a natural ease and grace in every movement.

Then, Fu Qian merely swept a casual glance into the depths of Zhang Xishun's eyes, and the Qi Sea Realm cultivator fell straight to the ground like an abandoned puppet.

Fu Qian's finger flicked slightly in the void, and Zhang Xishun's body floated into the air.

"Very good."

Although Fu Qian didn't look directly at Chen Yan, only staring at Zhang Xishun suspended in mid-air.

He was indeed praising Chen Yan.

Chen Yan said nothing, merely cupped his fists in the direction of Fu Qian.

"How did you discover that this person was on the list?"

Fu Qian then asked.

"Replying to Elder, a friend of this disciple unfortunately perished in this incident, and this disciple has been deeply saddened by it during this period."

Chen Yan said:

"Therefore, this disciple has been secretly investigating the cause of Elder Song's death. Perhaps because they thought I was involved in that matter, they sent Zhang Xishun to contact me."

"But this disciple now has quite some connections in the Outer Court, discovered Zhang Xishun's peculiarities, and thus reported this matter to Qingchan Peak."

Chen Yan fabricated a story; there was no way to verify it anyway.

Fu Qian's eyebrows twitched slightly:

"Your connections in the Outer Court?"

"Some Stewards in the Outer Court are very eager for advancement, so..."

At this point, Fu Qian understood.

Some people, in order to curry favor with Lin Qifeng, would also try to please this kid Chen Yan.

It was truly laughable.

However, this point might also be something he could utilize.

Fu Qian thought so.

"Continue to investigate Zhang Xishun's network of relationships in the Outer Court. If you have any new discoveries, I will naturally reward you handsomely."

Fu Qian said:

"Also, please send my regards to your Master."

"Yes."

Chen Yan replied.

In the next instant, Fu Qian, along with Zhang Xishun, vanished into thin air from the open space.

If there are new discoveries, there will be a generous reward?

So there wasn't one this time?

Chen Yan grumbled inwardly.

It seems Elder Fu is quite skilled at making empty promises.

The next day.

It was the second day of the Outer Court Grand Competition.

Chen Yan walked from below the stage towards the viewing platform.

His presence drew almost everyone's attention.

This was because the personal disciple of the Outer Court Elder had performed astonishingly well yesterday.

However, Chen Yan himself felt something was off.

Ever since he appeared in the Training Ground today, and even after he sat behind Lin Qifeng, Lin Qifeng hadn't even glanced at him.

Although he knew he wasn't the kind of disciple Lin Qifeng favored, merely a tool for relaying messages, Lin Qifeng's attitude had never been this cold before.

"Did you go to Qingchan Peak yesterday?"

Only after Chen Yan took his seat behind Lin Qifeng did Lin Qifeng slowly speak.

"Yes."

Chen Yan replied.

He had a rough idea why Lin Qifeng's attitude was poor today.

"I told you not to get involved with Qingchan Peak's affairs and to let them sort things out themselves, didn't I?"

"Master said so."

"Then what did you do?"

"..."

Chen Yan didn't respond immediately.

When faced with difficult questions, silence was the best answer.

Because any answer that could be spoken would be worse than silence.

Chen Yan didn't know what fate awaited him for defying Lin Qifeng's wishes.

After all, although he was nominally his personal disciple, in reality, he was just a messenger.

But he didn't regret it.

Preventing the Outer Court calamity that would occur in over two years was something he felt he had to do.

But what punishment awaited him?

Expulsion from his master's tutelage, or expulsion from the Empty Mountain Sect?

These were outcomes Chen Yan could accept.

Because he didn't hold any particular affection for either Lin Qifeng or the Empty Mountain Sect, where he had lived for over twenty cycles.

Perhaps he would live more freely after leaving the Empty Mountain Sect.

"You brat."

Lin Qifeng said sternly, then paused slightly:

"Although I never had any expectations for you, your personality is surprisingly to my liking."

Chen Yan was utterly bewildered.

Chen Yan had expected to be severely reprimanded by Lin Qifeng.

As far as he knew, Lin Qifeng and Fu Qian had a very bad relationship.

For Chen Yan, Lin Qifeng's disciple, to associate with Fu Qian was essentially slapping Lin Qifeng in the face.

Yet, Chen Yan did not receive the harsh reprimand he had anticipated.

"Speaking of which, when you became my disciple, I still owed you a meeting gift. I'll make up for it today."

As he spoke, Lin Qifeng flipped his sleeve, and space twisted and rippled.

A jade box, about the size of his palm, appeared in his hand. Inside the box were nine ice needles, emitting a faint blue glow.

"This is the Po Bing Needle. It's a mid-grade, third-tier spirit artifact I stumbled upon while traveling in the Qingque Kingdom. By channeling True Qi into these needles, they can directly pierce the protective True Qi of cultivators of the same rank."

Lin Qifeng said:

"As for the other uses of this spirit artifact, you'll have to figure them out yourself."

"Thank you, Master, for the gift."

Chen Yan said respectfully.

"Don't celebrate too early."

Lin Qifeng said:

"From now on, if you dare to meddle in Qingchan Peak's affairs again, don't blame me for breaking your legs!"

"Disciple understands."

Chen Yan said.

Just then, the gong sounded on the Training Ground, signaling the official start of the Body Tempering Realm competition.

Chen Yan tucked the nine Po Bing Needles into his robes.

A mid-grade, third-tier spirit artifact. Lin Qifeng was truly generous with his gifts.

Within the Outer Court's jurisdiction, the prized possessions of those Stewards or officiants were, at best, mid-grade spirit artifacts.

However, Chen Yan wasn't bothered, nor did his emotions fluctuate much.

This was because in the previous round, the reward he received was a mid-grade, second-tier magic artifact.

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