Star River Sect Token! Agree to the Conditions!

Night was dark, the moon bright.

On a great river, a fleet of boats sailed through the darkness.

The lead vessel stood tall with a straight mast and full sails, its momentum extraordinary.

The water, shimmering with moonlight, was ceaselessly parted.

At this moment, on the bow deck of the lead ship, an old man and a young man stood side by side.

Moonlight spilled down, joined by the rippling reflections from the river.

The entire deck was far from dark.

The two standing there were Fang Hong and Zhou Chengyuan, who had just finished the banquet.

Whoosh, whoosh~

The great ship rode the wind and waves, and the cool breeze blowing in his face sent Fang Hong's loose strands of hair dancing wildly, his robes fluttering.

Fang Hong cast a meaningful glance at Zhou Chengyuan beside him.

With a light laugh, he asked, "I wonder what matter the Elder Zhou specifically called me aside for?"

As he spoke, Fang Hong couldn't help but recall the words exchanged among the guests at the banquet.

According to them, this continent was called the Xuanfeng Continent, teeming with Martial Dao Sects.

And where they were now was a country within the inland of the Xuanfeng Continent—the Wei Kingdom.

As for the situation in other parts of the Wei Kingdom, that was another matter.

Just in their own Tianhe Prefecture, though there were many gangs and sects, the overall picture was one of good versus evil, with two major sects standing opposed.

The Star River Sect and the Crimson Spirit Sect!

As for the other large and small factions, they were mostly subordinate to these two major sects.

As for the Sea Sand Gang...

Well, an organization without even a single Bone Refining realm cultivator—could that be called a sect?

In the eyes of those sects, the Sea Sand Gang didn't even count as a minor sect.

At best, it was just a small-time gang.

No one paid it any mind.

Among these two major sects, the Star River Sect was closer to Fenshui Town.

If traveling by water, it would take less than half a month to reach the Star River Sect's territory.

When he heard that, Fang Hong immediately decided to find a way to join the Star River Sect.

The Martial Dao Sects in other prefectures were too far away, and his current strength wasn't strong enough.

Going to another prefecture would take too much time.

If something unexpected happened on the road, he might be in danger of death.

Compared to the Crimson Spirit Sect's more reckless style of conduct, the Star River Sect, though equally domineering, at least appeared righteous on the surface—and that suited Fang Hong's preferences better.

Not to mention, the Star River Sect was also closer.

But when the banquet ended, Zhou Chengyuan had secretly given Fang Hong a look.

And so, the two of them ended up meeting alone on this deck.

Hearing Fang Hong's question, Zhou Chengyuan narrowed his somewhat clouded old eyes slightly.

"Just now at the table, I noticed that Mr. Fang seemed to pay close attention to the situation of various sects in your conversation."

"Is Mr. Fang planning to find a sect and take a master?"

Zhou Chengyuan asked softly, a glint of sharpness flickering in his old eyes.

At this, Fang Hong gave a light laugh and nodded slightly.

He had no intention of hiding this, nor was there any need to.

"That's right, I do intend to join a sect."

"Cultivating as a rogue cultivator, though free, is ultimately too inconvenient—the path ahead is hard to find."

Fang Hong "sighed" as he replied.

Hearing this, a gleam of light flashed in Zhou Chengyuan's eyes, and then he chuckled softly.

"Well, isn't that a coincidence."

"Hm?"

Fang Hong raised an eyebrow and looked at him with some confusion.

Meeting Fang Hong's puzzled gaze, Zhou Chengyuan let out a soft laugh.

"In my home, there is exactly one token of the Star River Sect. With this token, as long as one's bone quality isn't too poor, they can directly enter the sect."

"What?!"

"A token that allows direct entry into the Star River Sect?!"

Hearing Zhou Chengyuan's words, Fang Hong's face also showed great surprise.

Looking at Zhou Chengyuan's old, smiling face, Fang Hong narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You guessed my intentions and specifically called me out."

"It seems Elder Zhou intends to hand that token over to me."

"Since that's the case, I won't say anything else."

Fang Hong stared at Zhou Chengyuan. "I want that token."

"Elder Zhou, whatever conditions you have, just say them."

Hearing Fang Hong's direct words, Zhou Chengyuan wasn't the least bit angry; instead, his smile deepened.

Earlier at the banquet, when Fang Hong had asked about the Martial Dao Sects in various regions, he had already noticed Fang Hong's unusual behavior.

After guessing Fang Hong's intentions and thinking it over carefully, Zhou Chengyuan had made a decision in his heart.

Give that token to Fang Hong!

Of course, he wouldn't give it away for nothing—he had his own plans.

Looking at Fang Hong's unwavering stare, Zhou Chengyuan chuckled lightly.

"Since Mr. Fang is so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either."

"I can give you that token."

"But Mr. Fang must also agree to two conditions."

Fang Hong's spirits lifted. "Speak."

Zhou Chengyuan: "First, during the upcoming Water Origin Cave operation, Mr. Fang must guarantee my safety."

Hearing this, Fang Hong nodded directly. "No problem, I can agree to that right now."

"Second, Mr. Fang must also leave a token for my Zhou Family."

"In the future, when a Zhou Family disciple takes that token to the Star River Sect to seek apprenticeship, Mr. Fang must do your utmost to help them gain entry."

At these words, Fang Hong was a bit puzzled.

"You have the token yourselves—why not go directly to seek apprenticeship?"

Hearing this, Zhou Chengyuan sighed. "I won't hide it from you, Mr. Fang."

"If it were possible, I would have sent someone to the Star River Sect long ago."

"But this generation of my Zhou Family has few descendants, and I've already felt the bones of the few we have—they're all very poor."

"They simply don't meet the Star River Sect's requirements."

Zhou Chengyuan continued: "If it were just that, it wouldn't be a big deal—I could wait for more descendants to be born."

"But I've already received news that the Star River Sect's external affairs elder who gave me the token was severely injured in a previous battle with the Crimson Spirit Sect."

"If I don't use this token now, once that elder passes away, the chance to enter the sect will likely fall through."

"So handing the token over to you, Mr. Fang, is actually a choice I've been forced into."

Speaking up to this point, Zhou Chengyuan's face was full of helplessness.

"Mr. Fang, you've already reached the Bone Refinement level at such a young age—your bone quality must be extraordinary."

"With the token in hand, you're sure to enter the Star River Sect."

"I'm only trying to carve a path for my Zhou Family's descendants, which is why I specifically stopped you. I hope you won't take offense."

After hearing Zhou Chengyuan's words, Fang Hong's eyes flickered.

This Zhou Chengyuan had clearly misunderstood the quality of his bones.

His bones were actually quite ordinary; all his strength came from the miraculous effects of his Golden Finger.

Even so, he still wanted to take the gamble.

After all, with the token in hand, his chances of entering the Star River Sect would be greater no matter what.

As for the promise to the Zhou Family—

With the effects of his Golden Finger, as long as he could join the Star River Sect, he was sure to rise rapidly.

Such a small promise was nothing.

And if, in the end, he still couldn't join the Star River Sect even with the token, then the promise would naturally be void.

Either way, he wouldn't lose anything.

Thinking of this, Fang Hong nodded directly and agreed to Zhou Chengyuan's terms.

"Alright, I accept what you've said."

Hearing this, Zhou Chengyuan burst into laughter. "Good, good, good. My Zhou Family's legacy has hope now."

"As for the token, once this Water Origin Cave matter is settled and we return to Fenshui Town, I'll fetch it immediately and give it to you, Mr. Fang!"

"Good!"

Having settled this matter, both wore satisfied smiles as they walked back into the boat.