True Transmission Courtyard, Chu Feng's Courtyard In the study room.
Song Xiang stood with his hands down, sweat stains visible on his forehead, and carefully reported the news that Fang Han's ranking had been raised to General Ranking ninety-five, without even daring to take a breath.
There was a dead silence in the study, and the air seemed to be frozen, making people breathless.
Chu Feng has his back to Song Xiang, standing in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, his figure casting a long shadow in the sunset.
He didn't speak, but Song Xiang could clearly see Chu Feng's hands behind his back. The knuckles were slightly white from exertion, and veins were looming on the backs of his hands.
After a long time, Chu Feng slowly turned around. There was no expression on his face, but his deep eyes were piercingly cold, as if they contained a storm that was about to break out.
When he spoke, his voice was so calm that it made one's heart tremble:
"Seventh-rank mid stage...General Ranking Ninety-five... Okay, it's really good."
Every time he said a word, the temperature in the study seemed to drop one point.
"It's cunning. I have been living in seclusion for half a month, leaving me nowhere to start. Now that I have entered the top 100, not only will I receive a large amount of contribution value every month, but I will also gain more training resources."
"As his reputation grows, it will take more effort to touch him again."
Chu Feng's tone was still calm, but Song Xiang could clearly feel the coldness and anger in it.
He knew that Senior Brother Chu Feng was really angry this time.
Fang Han's growth rate has exceeded senior brother's expectations and constitutes a substantial threat.
After a moment of silence, a strange light flashed in Song Xiang's eyes, he took a step forward and lowered his voice.
"Senior brother, I accidentally heard a piece of news from a familiar friend of the Law Enforcement Hall recently. If done properly, we can take this opportunity to legitimately suppress Fang Han."
Chu Feng's eyes flashed, and his body leaned forward slightly. "What's the news? Tell me carefully!"
Half an hour later, Chu Feng waved his hand, and Song Xiang understood and respectfully left the study.
In the study, Chu Feng turned around again and looked out the window at the dark night with deep eyes.
"Fang Han... Top 100? Ha, I hope you can withstand the trouble caused by this 'honor'."
The night was getting darker and the chill was filling the air. A plan against Fang Han had already taken shape in his mind.
On the first day of February, early in the morning, the mist still lingered and the chill penetrated my bones.
Fang Han entered the Instruction Hall hall on time as usual.
Many disciples have gathered in the hall, but unlike the noise when contribution points were distributed in previous months, the atmosphere today seems a bit strange.
The disciples gathered together in twos and threes, chatting in low voices, with very low voices, and most of their faces looked a bit solemn and uneasy.
Vaguely, there were fragments of words and phrases such as "missing", "not returning after the due date", "I'm afraid it's bad luck", floating into Fang Han's ears intermittently.
He frowned slightly and glanced across the hall. He saw that Xiao Chen had sat down in a seat near the front, lowering his head in thought, so he walked over and sat down in the empty seat next to him.
"Brother Xiao Chen, the atmosphere in the palace seems a little different today Internal Qi, but what happened?"
Fang Han tilted his head and asked in a low voice.
Xiao Chen raised his head when he heard the sound, and saw it was Fang Han, with a heavy look on his face. He came closer and lowered his voice.
"Fang Han, you're here, something happened, and it's not a small one."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of unnoticeable solemnity.
"I heard that five of our Zi Courtyard disciples took on a sect mission together last month to investigate the destruction of a village."
"But now it has been several days overdue. The five people have not returned yet, and there is no news. Law Enforcement Hall has sent people to the village to investigate. I am afraid that... the situation is more serious than bad."
Fang Han heard this, and his heart was slightly shocked.
Beginner stage Over the past year or so, it was not like he had never heard of news about disciples from other colleges encountering accidents while performing tasks.
But those things happened in other schools after all, and he had no contact with these disciples, so the feeling was not real.
However, this time, what happened was a fellow disciple who was also practicing at Zi Courtyard and whom he met every day. This feeling was completely different, and a cold sense of reality quietly gripped him.
This was the first time that the news of death happened so clearly around me.
"Which five disciples are they?"
Fang Han was silent for a moment and asked.
Xiao Chen sighed lightly and reported five names: "It's Sun Hai, Sun Li, Li Mo, Zhou Bin, and Wang Yuan."
These five names are quite unfamiliar to Fang Han.
In Zi Courtyard, due to Chu Feng, he did not interact with many people. In addition, he devoted himself to cultivation, and he was only familiar with most of the disciples. He had never even spoken to these five people, so naturally there was no friendship.
But when I heard that five living lives may have disappeared, I still couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion in my heart.
At this moment, there was a steady sound of footsteps outside the hall.
Chen Xuan Elder, surrounded by Deacon, slowly walked into the main hall.
Today's Chen Xuan Elder's face is more solemn than usual, and there is an irreversible haze between his brows. When his eyes scan the disciples in the audience, there is a deep solemnity.
Wu Hao and several Deacon who followed him also had serious expressions on their faces, without any trace of their former peace.
The entire hall fell silent instantly, all the disciples' eyes were focused on the front, and there was an invisible pressure in the air.
Wu Hao Deacon came forward with the roster in hand and began to distribute benefits and rewards for this month as usual.
"First place, Fang Han."
His voice was still loud and clear, but today it was less formulaic and plain, and more indescribably complex.
In an instant, countless eyes focused on Fang Han.
Surprise, envy, awe, exploration... all kinds of emotions are intertwined, and they are hotter than ever before.
General Ranking Ninety-fifth place!
This ranking has completely distinguished Fang Han from ordinary Zi Courtyard disciples, meaning that he has truly entered the elite ranks of the younger generation of the Azure Profound Sect.
Fang Han looked calm, stood up and left his seat, and walked steadily to the front of the hall.
"Congratulations on being among the top 100 General Ranking."
Wu Hao Deacon looked at the young man in front of him, a trace of faint exclamation flashed across his eyes, but it was soon replaced by a deeper solemnity.
He took Fang Han's Identity Jade Token and scratched it on the inkstone-shaped object.
After the faint light flickered, he handed the jade token back to Fang Han and added in a deep voice.
"Beware of arrogance and impetuosity. The road ahead is long, so take care of yourself."
"Thank you Deacon for your teaching, my disciple understands."
Fang Han took the jade plaque with both hands, bowed and stepped back, returning to his seat.
As soon as he sat down, he couldn't wait to separate out a wisp of Internal Qi and inject Identity Jade Token.
The number on the jade plate clearly appears - 1540!
This number made Fang Han's heart beat faster involuntarily.
After receiving the reward last month, his contribution balance was 490 points.
It cost 30 points to purchase Foundation Cultivation Pill needed for practice, leaving 460 points.
This month, Zi Courtyard's number one basic benefit and reward is 330 points.
In other words, General Ranking's additional reward for the ninety-fifth place is as high as 750 points!
750 contribution points, converted into silver taels, is fifteen thousand taels!
Although General Ranking had already guessed that the rewards for the top 100 would be extremely generous, Fang Han still felt frightened when he actually saw the actual number.
The sect is so generous in allocating resources to its top disciples!
While excited, he quickly calmed down.
1540 contribution points are more than enough to exchange for an ordinary High Grade Sword Technique, and there is even a lot left over to purchase Danyao.
As he reached Seventh-rank mid stage, his monthly consumption of Foundation Cultivation Pill increased again. He had to buy three bottles of Foundation Cultivation Pill every month to use it, and the contribution value he spent increased.
And when Middle Third Grade and Foundation Cultivation Pill are broken through in the future, the medicinal effects produced by Internal Qi will not be able to satisfy Internal Qi, which has become extremely pure, and it is no longer suitable to be used to assist cultivation.
Only one pill of True Spirit Pill, which requires 10 contribution points, can produce a strong medicinal effect that can meet the needs of cultivation.
At that time, the monthly contribution value spent on cultivation will skyrocket.
Fang Han calmed down, carefully put the jade tablet away, and continued listening.
The distribution of rewards lasted for about two quarters of an hour. After all the disciples had received them, Chen Xuan Elder slowly stepped forward.
His eyes were focused, and he slowly scanned every young face in the audience, and you could hear a needle drop in the hall.
"I have called you together today. In addition to the monthly distribution, there is something else I need to inform you about."
Chen Xuan Elder's voice was low, but it reached every disciple's ears clearly, carrying a heavy power.
"It has been confirmed by the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall that five disciples, Sun Hai, Sun Li, Li Mo, Zhou Bin, and Wang Yuan, have... unfortunately died during the mission."
Despite the premonition, when the bad news was confirmed by Elder himself, there were still suppressed exclamations and gasps in the hall.
Many disciples' faces turned pale, and their eyes were full of shock and fear.
Five disciples, five in total, were all killed!
For the disciples of the Ziyuan who have just started for a year and have not experienced too many storms and have not seen too many life and death, this impact is really great.
"According to the Law Enforcement Hall's report, five people encountered the murderers of the village during the mission of investigating the destruction of the village, and were defeated and killed..."
Chen Xuan Elder did not describe the specific details, but the tragedy revealed in the words is enough for people to imagine.
He paused for a moment to give his disciples time to digest the heavy news, and then continued in a deep voice, with an undoubted warning in his voice.
"The road to martial arts is dangerous and unpredictable, and the sect's mission is no child's play."
"What happened this time is enough to serve as a warning! You only have one life, and everything ends when you die!"
"I hope you and others will be very careful when choosing and executing sect tasks in the future, act within their capabilities, and make complete preparations. Don't be greedy for success and rush forward, and waste your life!"
The words are like a heavy hammer, hitting every disciple's heart.
The initially lively atmosphere due to receiving contribution points was gone at this moment, replaced by a heavy solemnity and vigilance about the road ahead.
All the disciples fell into silence and deep thought. Many of them could not help but clenched their fists, or showed fear on their faces, or had firm eyes.
"..."
Fang Han sat silently on his seat, his fingertips unconsciously brushing the cold hilt of the sword at his waist.
The loss of five lives truly reminded him of the cruelty of this world.
On the road of spiritual practice, there is not only scenery, but also dangers and death everywhere.
Although his feud with Chu Feng was full of open and covert attacks, at least it was still within the rules, with the sect's laws as a barrier.
But outside the sect, in the wilderness, the dangers in those missions are truly unreasonable life and death tests.