The Sect Was in an Uproar

"Could this be the proper way to cultivate with a Five Elements Root?"

Watching the five-colored light shine from Lin Chen, Qi Ruming looked on with envy.

The Five Elements Root was considered useless, yet it allowed its owner to cultivate any of the five elements' techniques and cast their spells.

Besides, other people's Five Elements Roots were called useless because their cultivation couldn't advance.

For Lin Chen, however, his cultivation was rising rapidly, so his Five Elements Root had instead become his strong suit.

Most importantly, his comprehension was astonishing, and he cultivated everything quickly.

He had also heard that the Alchemy Hall and the Scripture Depository had once fought over Lin Chen.

If his master hadn't been so determined, Lin Chen would probably have been snatched away.

"Master really has an excellent eye. Every disciple he picks is more impressive than the last."

Qi Ruming congratulated himself inwardly, though his face grew more and more puzzled. "What realm is Little Junior Brother in? The more I look, the less I understand."

He had no idea that the total amount of spiritual power inside Lin Chen had already reached the standard of the Return to Origin Realm.

Unfortunately, that spiritual power existed only in his Qi Meridians. It hadn't yet been drawn into his dantian and returned to its origin.

So, to Qi Ruming, Lin Chen seemed to be in the Qi Condensation Realm and the Return to Origin Realm at the same time.

He couldn't make heads or tails of it.

A moment later, Lin Chen finished cultivating. The light vanished, and his aura quickly settled.

He opened his eyes, and the five-colored radiance receded within him.

"The spiritual power in my body is at least three times greater than before. And with the five elements generating and transforming into one another, both my stamina and combat strength have multiplied several times over."

After carefully sensing the power of his realm, Lin Chen nodded with satisfaction.

If he learned all the corresponding elemental techniques, his strength would increase more than tenfold.

He had already decided to start with the most basic spells, such as the Small Fireball Art...

"Impressive, impressive!"

Just then, Qi Ruming came over from a distance. "Little Junior Brother, you're already showing the makings of me in my younger days. Back then..."

Qi Ruming rambled on, singing his own praises.

Lin Chen was happy enough to listen and enjoy the show.

At the key moments, he even applauded and shouted.

The enthusiastic response made Qi Ruming feel so good that he was over the moon.

On the spot, he brought out a row of Top Grade Magic Artifacts.

Lin Chen's eyes lit up.

He wasn't some clueless novice anymore.

Any one of these would fetch several thousand Spirit Stones.

Third Senior Brother had actually brought out dozens of them at once.

This was all money!

"Little Junior Brother, take your pick." Qi Ruming beamed with generosity.

Lin Chen rubbed his hands together. "That wouldn't be right..."

"What's wrong with that? Your senior brother has plenty of Top Grade Magic Artifacts. Take whichever one catches your eye."

Since he'd put it that way, insisting on being polite would only put distance between them.

Lin Chen picked up a Flying Sword and happily examined it in his hands. "Third Senior Brother, I'll take this one."

He didn't dare take more. After all, Qi Ruming had already given him six thousand Spirit Stones.

"Don't you want to pick a few more?" Qi Ruming asked with a smile, watching Lin Chen.

Lin Chen hurriedly waved his hands. "Third Senior Brother, I want to try controlling more Flying Swords at the same time. Two should be enough if they're Top Grade Magic Artifacts."

"That works." Qi Ruming put away the rest of the artifacts and casually asked, "Little Junior Brother, you haven't taken on any sect missions yet, have you?"

Lin Chen nodded.

He didn't mind sect missions at all.

But he'd looked into them recently, and none of the available missions suited him.

"Perfect." Qi Ruming patted his shoulder. "Normally, a senior brother can accompany a junior brother on his first mission. I have one here that's right for you. Want to go?"

Lin Chen's eyes lit up. "I do. Absolutely!"

"Come on. I'll take you to accept the mission." Qi Ruming led the way with a mysterious look.

Lin Chen followed close behind, a trail of light beneath his feet.

The two soon arrived at the Mission Hall.

Only when Qi Ruming accepted the mission did Lin Chen understand.

"Third Senior Brother, you're not taking me mining, are you?" Lin Chen said with an incredulous smile.

So much for there being no such thing as a free lunch.

He'd just gotten a Top Grade Magic Artifact, and now he was being sent to do hard labor.

"Not at all." Qi Ruming shook his head. "I'm the one mining. You're here to kill Mine Beasts. Here's your mission Token."

Lin Chen took the Token. Sure enough, it called for killing a hundred First Order Peak Mine Beasts.

A First Order Peak Mine Beast had a cultivation level equivalent to the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.

But its strength was slightly greater, making it just right for Lin Chen to practice on.

"Third Senior Brother, you know what I'm like." Lin Chen looked at him, his gaze turning more serious.

Third Senior Brother seemed hot-tempered and straightforward.

But this incident showed that he was thoughtful beneath that rough exterior and keenly perceptive.

Lin Chen had never expected Third Senior Brother to understand him so well.

"Hahaha... Let's go." Qi Ruming draped an arm around Lin Chen's shoulders, and the two walked out of the Mission Hall.

Everyone who saw them walking arm in arm stared in astonishment.

They stood behind them, whispering among themselves.

"Who's that kid? How come he's on brotherly terms with Third Senior Brother Qi Ruming?"

"You're really out of the loop, aren't you? That's Lin Chen, the new Five Elements Root odd-job disciple!"

"An odd-job disciple? Are you blind? He's wearing an Inner Disciple's robes now!"

"Oh my god, really? Lin Chen's become an Inner Disciple? Who took him in, the Sect Leader?"

The news sent shockwaves through the sect and quickly spread.

In no time, it had reached every corner.

Lin Chen and Qi Ruming had only just left the sect when a crowd of powerful sect figures went looking for the Sect Leader at Sect Leader Peak.

Unfortunately, the peak was deserted.

With its protective formation in place, no one could get in.

"How could the Sect Leader make such a rash decision? How can an odd-job disciple become his Personal Disciple?"

"Exactly! Lin Chen belongs in a little place like my Alchemy Hall. How could the Sect Leader steal him right out from under me?"

"Give it a rest. Lin Chen belongs in my Scripture Depository. His gift for comprehension would be wasted anywhere else!"

The foot of the mountain rang with complaints.

The sect's bigwigs simply camped out there and refused to leave.

They declared that they would wait for the Sect Leader to return so they could demand an explanation.

At the same time, the sect disciples went into an uproar when they heard the news.

This was especially true of those who had taken the entrance exam alongside Lin Chen and successfully joined the sect.

The news struck them like a bolt from the blue.

"What makes him so special? Just because he has a Five Elements Waste Spirit Root?"

"Could he have an old man living in his ring, just like in those storybooks?"

"Bullshit! That guy must've tricked the Sect Leader somehow. When the Newcomer Competition comes around in two months, I'll show him why flowers are so red!"

These words quickly reached Jin Yuanbao. He didn't make a scene or argue back.

Instead, he silently memorized the names of everyone who'd made those threats.

When the time came, he would teach those guys a proper lesson and help his bro Lin Chen vent his anger.

Thanks to Lin Chen's money-making schemes, he'd made a fortune lately and was buying cultivation resources by the handful.

By the time the Newcomer Competition arrived, he was sure to have reached the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.

He might not win the championship, but dealing with these little nobodies would be a piece of cake.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen and Qi Ruming had already arrived at the mission site.

"This is a Blue Copper Mine occupied by Mine Beasts."

As soon as the two landed, Qi Ruming began to explain.

"Blue Copper Ore is an essential material for forging Magic Artifacts and Spirit Artifacts. Let's mine as much as we can this time."

Seeing Lin Chen's serious expression, Qi Ruming laughed. "Little Junior Brother, there's no need to worry. None of the Mine Beasts here are above the First Order Peak, and there aren't many of them. You..."

Before Qi Ruming could finish, a beast's roar rang out from inside the mine, cutting him off.

One roar after another immediately echoed across the mine.

Dense footsteps pounded in succession, converging in one place until the ground itself trembled.

Lin Chen looked into the depths of the mine. There was no complaint in his eyes, only rising battle intent.