Inside the main hall of Myriad Star Peak.
After a ceremony that was neither overly elaborate nor entirely simple,
before the witness of many disciples and elders, Zhao Tianchen formally accepted Fang Hong as his personal disciple.
"Hong'er, get up. Let me introduce these elders to you."
Once it was over, Zhao Tianchen smiled and pulled Fang Hong up from the cushion where he had been kneeling.
"This is Peak Master Chen of Blazing Sun Peak."
Zhao Tianchen pointed to the broad-faced man in a gray robe at his left and introduced him.
Fang Hong raised his brows, somewhat surprised, and quickly offered his greetings.
It seemed he had still underestimated this cheap master of his.
Even the peak master of Blazing Sun Peak had come to witness the ceremony.
This was one of the Star River Sect's top three great figures.
Looking at it this way, his master's status, seniority, and even strength were all greater than he had previously imagined.
Thoughts churned through Fang Hong's mind as Zhao Tianchen began introducing the others.
"This is your Martial Uncle He, the Head of the Artifact Refining Hall of Blazing Sun Peak. If you need any weapons forged in the future, just go to him."
"This is your Martial Uncle Sun, an elder of Bright Moon Peak. His medical skills can revive the dead and restore flesh to white bones."
"This is your Martial Uncle Li, an elder of Blazing Sun Peak."
"This is your Martial Uncle Zhou, the Inner Sect Transmission Elder."
As Zhao Tianchen continued introducing him to everyone, Fang Hong maintained a polite smile and repeatedly greeted them.
The many renowned great figures of the Star River Sect all smiled and nodded in response.
Finally, there were another seven or eight much younger people, all True Disciples of the three peaks.
Since the entire ceremony had ended, the atmosphere in the hall was no longer as solemn as before.
Those True Disciples had now gathered together.
Yet because of what had happened earlier, the atmosphere between several True Disciples of Blazing Sun Peak and Bright Moon Peak was somewhat stiff.
Thus, the three True Disciples of Myriad Star Peak instead stood between the two sides, serving to ease the tension.
"Greetings, senior brothers. Fang Hong pays his respects."
Keeping up a somewhat stiff smile, Fang Hong cupped his hands and greeted them.
"You're too polite, Junior Brother Fang. To have caught Elder Zhao's eye and been accepted as his disciple, your future must be boundless."
"That's right. Elder Zhao has achieved the pinnacle of creation. I imagine it won't be long before Junior Brother Fang takes a place among the True Disciples."
"Indeed. I believe your Myriad Star Peak lineage will soon gain another True Disciple."
Among the True Disciples, several spoke with friendly expressions, praising him.
Yet as soon as those words were spoken, the eyes of the other True Disciples narrowed slightly.
Then they all glanced at a handsome young man with phoenix eyes among Myriad Star Peak's True Disciples, their smiles not quite smiles and their gazes deeply meaningful.
Hearing this, the phoenix-eyed young man in everyone's sights merely chuckled.
"Heh heh, I too hope Junior Brother Fang will soon attain the position of True Disciple. That way, our Myriad Star Lineage can grow even stronger, can't it?"
Listening to their words and watching the changes in everyone's expressions,
Fang Hong's outward expression did not change.
But his pupils contracted slightly.
These people were stirring up trouble.
Judging from what they said, it seemed somewhat like killing with praise, yet also carried a hint of sowing discord.
More importantly, judging by the changes in the others' expressions, it might actually work.
It seemed that within the Star River Sect, not only were the relationships between the various peaks complicated.
Even Myriad Star Peak alone did not seem peaceful.
Thinking of this, Fang Hong sighed helplessly in his heart.
The tree wished to be still, but the wind would not cease.
Don't provoke me. I really don't want to stir up trouble.
I only wanted to cultivate quietly and grow stronger.
At that moment, Zhao Tianchen on the other side suddenly beckoned Fang Hong over.
"Everyone, I'll excuse myself first."
Fang Hong spoke to the True Disciples whose faces still bore expressions of watching a show and hidden meaning, then left directly.
Watching Fang Hong's departing back, one of Blazing Sun Peak's True Disciples gave a light laugh and said,
"Everyone, do you think Junior Brother Fang can successfully cultivate that so-called Starry Sky Treasure Art?"
"Heh, which of you hasn't seen that so-called treasure art? Its contents seem reasonable, but they are actually wild fantasy. No one could possibly cultivate it."
"Oh? Senior Brother Qian is so certain?"
"I see Elder Zhao's confidence is quite abundant. Otherwise, after living in seclusion for so many years, he would not have directly accepted Fang Hong as his personal disciple now."
"Haha, if he really can cultivate it successfully, then this will become a huge matter."
"Once that treasure art is cultivated successfully, one can directly undergo the Postnatal to Innate Transformation, cross the Earth Realm, and directly attain the Body Heaven Realm. Its power is astonishing."
"When that time comes, won't the position of the Myriad Star Lineage's number one True Disciple have to change hands?"
A group of True Disciples began discussing fervently with smiles on their faces.
After all, whether Fang Hong could cultivate it successfully or not had little to do with them.
In any case, they would not be the ones who needed to worry.
But upon hearing the constant discussion and feeling the gazes directed at him,
a trace of gloom flashed deep within the phoenix-eyed young man from Myriad Star Peak.
Because he was Myriad Star Peak's current number one True Disciple, Wang An!
At the same time, his master, the current peak master of Myriad Star Peak, had been one of Zhao Tianchen's rivals for the position of peak master back then.
If Zhao Tianchen had not suffered a crushing blow to his spirit and fallen into despair over his son's affairs, voluntarily giving up the position of peak master,
the position of peak master of the Myriad Star Lineage would never have fallen to his master.
Thinking of this, Wang An's gaze grew even deeper.
At that moment, seeming to notice his displeasure, a red-haired young man from Blazing Sun Peak grinned.
"Why has Junior Brother Wang remained silent all this time? Could it be that you have a different opinion on whether Fang Hong can successfully cultivate that treasure art?"
As soon as he said this, everyone who had been discussing the matter paused in unison, then looked toward Wang An while suppressing their laughter.
Wang An wore a smile. "Heh heh, I wouldn't call it a different opinion."
"Although many elders and even the sect master did not think highly of that treasure art back then, Junior Brother Fang is Martial Uncle Zhao's personal disciple, and also a disciple of our Myriad Star Lineage."
"Of course, I still hope Junior Brother Fang can cultivate it successfully."
Hearing this, a disdainful and contemptuous expression appeared on the red-haired young man's face.
"Tsk, Junior Brother Wang is still as hypocritical as ever. The sight of it makes one want to vomit."
Upon hearing his words, the smile on Wang An's face did not change in the slightest.
"Heh heh, the brothers of Blazing Sun Peak seem especially lively today."
"Those who didn't know better might think that the True Disciple who broke through to the Heaven Realm a few days ago was from your Blazing Sun Peak."
"You!!"
Hearing Wang An's words, the several True Disciples of Blazing Sun Peak all flew into a rage.
Setting aside the quarrel here, Zhao Tianchen led Fang Hong around and chatted with the many elders for quite some time.
It was not until two or three in the afternoon that everyone in the main hall finally dispersed completely.
Afterward, Zhao Tianchen returned to the back mountain first.
Fang Hong, meanwhile, was held back by the ingratiatingly smiling Xu Wenfei.
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