Directly promoted to an outer sect disciple?
When Chen Changming heard there was such a good thing, his heart betrayed him, pounding excitedly in his chest.
He had been in the Lingxiao Sect for nearly two years, so he naturally knew the difference in status between an outer sect disciple and a servant disciple.
He had always longed to become an outer sect disciple.
Now that the opportunity had come, he didn't want to miss it.
"All right, I'll go back."
Chen Changming made up his mind and followed the young man out. But after leaving the secret realm, he didn't see the White-Clad Woman.
"Miss had something to take care of and left first. I'll escort Fellow Daoist Chen back."
A Foundation Establishment cultivator came down riding an Azure Eagle and smiled at Chen Changming with his fists clasped.
Chen Changming thanked him repeatedly.
Then the two rode the Qi Cultivation Level 10 Azure Eagle through the clouds and mist, returning all the way to the outskirts of the Lingxiao Sect.
After dismounting, Chen Changming took a shortcut straight to the valley where Spirit Rice was grown.
"This..."
As soon as he entered the valley, Chen Changming was stunned.
The valley was covered in devastation, a complete shambles. There wasn't a single place left intact.
It was over!
The spirit fields were all destroyed!
Chen Changming felt a knife twist in his heart, and his body began to tremble slightly.
Those spirit fields had been filled with his blood, sweat, and tears, yet the Blood Demon Sect had now reduced them to nothing!
"Senior Brother Chen, you're back."
A Qi Cultivation Level 1 disciple came over from behind, his face full of grief. "Damn the Blood Demon Sect! When they retreated, they destroyed the underground spirit vein too. They're making sure our Lingxiao Sect will never have any spirit fields to grow crops in again!"
Chen Changming turned and recognized the newcomer.
The man was one of the servant disciples who had entered the sect at the same time as him, and he had always worked the spirit fields at the foot of the mountain.
Who would have thought he'd survived a battle like that? It was nothing short of a miracle.
Perhaps his cultivation was so low at Qi Cultivation Level 1 that it had actually increased his chances of survival.
"Junior Brother Zhao, don't lose heart. The sect will have a solution."
Chen Changming walked over, patted his shoulder, and comforted him.
"Mm, mm."
Zhao Huanzhen looked at Chen Changming, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Brother, your cultivation has advanced so quickly! You're already at Qi Cultivation Level 2."
"That's right."
Chen Changming sighed.
To break through, he had endured unimaginable pressure. In the past two years, he hadn't had a single good night's sleep, spending every day in ceaseless cultivation.
Zhao Huanzhen smiled and clasped his fists. "Congratulations, Senior Brother. Now you can be promoted directly to an outer sect disciple."
"Same to you, same to you."
Chen Changming smiled. After chatting with Junior Brother Zhao for a while, he turned and headed to the sect's Affairs Hall to report in.
"Eh? It's you, kid. You actually broke through to Qi Cultivation Level 2."
At the entrance to the Affairs Hall, Elder Luo stared at the young man before him in surprise, speaking in disbelief.
The boy had been gone for many days. He'd grown taller and sturdier, and looked more spirited. What surprised Elder Luo most was that this servant disciple with a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root had actually advanced to Qi Cultivation Level 2.
That progress was nothing special compared to an outer sect disciple's, but for a servant disciple, it was extremely rare.
Chen Changming was also taken aback to see Elder Luo. Then he smiled respectfully. "I didn't expect to see you here, Elder Luo. You're in charge of the Affairs Hall now?"
"Mm, mm."
Elder Luo sighed softly. He was now juggling several duties, and the Affairs Hall was only one of them.
The Lingxiao Sect had first taken part in a war against the cultivation sects of the Chu Kingdom, then fought a major battle with the Blood Demon Sect. The sect had suffered severe losses.
To replenish their numbers as quickly as possible, even the servant disciples they'd always looked down on were being recalled.
There was no helping it.
The two great battles had cost the Lingxiao Sect half its people. It would take a long time to rebuild its strength.
"Take this Storage Bag. Inside are an outer sect disciple's identity token, robes, and handbook, along with the first through sixth levels of the Evergreen Art, ten Spirit Stones, and ten Spirit Gathering Pills."
Elder Luo handed him a Storage Bag and explained kindly.
No matter what, Chen Changming was the first servant disciple to return. That would do a lot to lift people's spirits.
"Thank you, Elder Luo."
Chen Changming took the Storage Bag and smiled in thanks.
Just then, a commotion arose behind him, and he heard someone shout, "Senior Sister is here!"
"Senior Sister!"
"Greetings, Senior Sister!"
Many outer sect disciples hurriedly stepped aside and greeted her respectfully.
Chen Changming turned and immediately saw a beautiful woman in red approaching. Her features were exquisite, her figure graceful, and a sword was strapped to her back.
She was bold and spirited, striding with thunderous steps that made the ground ring. Every movement of hers carried an imposing force.
Senior Sister?
Chen Changming was taken aback. He had always been growing Spirit Rice, so he didn't know this Senior Sister at all. He hadn't even heard of her.
Seeing Senior Sister heading toward him, as if she'd come to settle a score, Chen Changming instinctively panicked and hurriedly moved aside.
He had to. This Senior Sister was already at Qi Cultivation Level 7. Even with a few trump cards up his sleeve, Chen Changming wouldn't dare fight someone like her.
The gap between their cultivation levels was simply too great.
Chen Changming knew he was a good-for-nothing. He had never imagined he could fight across several minor realms.
"Grandpa, I'm back."
Senior Sister strode up to Elder Luo, slapped the table with a flourish, then hopped up and planted herself on it, utterly lacking in ladylike grace.
Smack! Smack!
Elder Luo's beard practically stood on end with anger as he slapped the table repeatedly. "Get down! You're not ladylike at all. How will you ever get married?"
Senior Sister pursed her lips, completely unconcerned. "Then I just won't get married. Isn't it nice to live on my own?"
Even so, she hopped down from the table.
"So she's Elder Luo's granddaughter..."
After hearing the bold Senior Sister's exchange with Elder Luo, the mystery was solved for Chen Changming. He wasn't as afraid of this stranger anymore.
"Eh, a servant disciple?"
Senior Sister's bright eyes swept across the crowd, and she spotted Chen Changming at once.
After all, he was wearing a servant disciple's uniform, making him stand out among the outer sect disciples.
Chen Changming nodded.
Senior Sister walked over, placed both hands on Chen Changming's shoulders, and said with a solemn expression, "Well, according to the sect's current rules, you're an outer sect disciple now too. If anything happens from now on, come to me, your Senior Sister. Got that?"
Feeling a tremendous force bear down on his shoulders, Chen Changming's body trembled slightly.
He hadn't expected this Senior Sister to be so much like a roving hero, ready to take him, a Qi Cultivation Level 2 junior outer sect disciple, under her wing right off the bat.
"All right, all right..."
Chen Changming agreed, gritting his teeth.
"Haha!"
Senior Sister seemed quite pleased with Chen Changming. She laughed heartily and strode away.
Elder Luo looked embarrassed and hurried to explain, "Little Chen, my granddaughter's just like that. Don't take it to heart."
Chen Changming looked serious. "Senior Sister is righteous and loyal. I'm grateful to her—how could I make fun of her?"
"Heh, good."
Elder Luo was pleased by the young man's tactful words and laughed twice.
Chen Changming said goodbye to Elder Luo and headed toward the outer sect disciples' residence. He had barely walked a few dozen meters when a young man ran up beside him and grabbed him.
"Chen Changming, you're still alive!"
The young man spoke with excitement.
Chen Changming gazed at the young man before him, finally recognizing him. He exclaimed in delight, "You... you're Yu Hailong!"
Yu Hailong was one of the young men who had come to the Lingxiao Sect aboard an Immortal Boat that day. He had the best aptitude on the entire Spirit Boat, with a mid-grade Yellow-ranked Water Spirit Root.
"That's me! Haha, I never thought we'd see each other again."
Yu Hailong thought of something, and his eyes reddened.
Seeing him like that, Chen Changming sighed softly too. Yu Hailong had survived two great battles despite being only at Qi Cultivation Level 3. That was a miracle in itself.
"Come on, I'll take you to where you'll be staying."
Yu Hailong wiped away a tear and pulled Chen Changming along.
After they had walked for a while, the image of that bold and spirited figure surfaced in Chen Changming's mind again. He couldn't help asking in a low voice, "Who exactly is Senior Sister?"