Promotion to Outer Disciple

Direct promotion to an outer disciple?

Upon hearing of such a stroke of good fortune, Chen Changming's heart hammered against his ribs, thumping with uncontrollable excitement.

Having been in the Lingxiao Sect for nearly two years, he naturally understood the vast disparity in status between an outer disciple and a servant disciple.

For as long as he could remember, he had yearned to become an outer disciple.

Now that the opportunity had arrived, he did not want to let it slip away.

"Very well, I will return."

Chen Changming made up his mind and followed the young man out. Once they exited the secret realm, however, he did not see the woman in white.

"The young lady had urgent business and left early; I have come to escort Fellow Daoist Chen back."

A man at the Foundation Establishment Realm descended upon a giant goshawk, cupping his hands toward Chen Changming with a smile.

Chen Changming thanked him repeatedly.

Subsequently, the two boarded the tenth-layer Qi Refining goshawk, piercing through clouds and mist as they made their way back to the outskirts of the Lingxiao Sect.

After dismounting, Chen Changming took a shortcut, heading straight for the spirit rice cultivation valley.

"This..."

The moment he entered the valley, Chen Changming was struck dumb.

The valley was scarred and in ruins, a scene of utter devastation with not a single patch of land left intact.

It was over!

The spirit fields were all destroyed!

A sharp, knife-like pain pierced Chen Changming's heart, and his body began to tremble slightly.

So many spirit fields had been the culmination of his hard work, yet now, they had been ruined in an instant by those from the Blood Demon Sect!

"Senior Brother Chen, you've returned."

A first-layer Qi Refining disciple walked up from behind, his face etched with grief. "Those heaven-forsaken Blood Demon Sect bastards! When they retreated, they even destroyed the underground spirit veins. This ensures that our Lingxiao Sect will have no more spirit fields to cultivate!"

Chen Changming turned around and recognized the man.

This person had entered the sect as a servant disciple in the same batch as him, and had been working the spirit fields at the foot of the mountain ever since.

To think that after such a battle, this man had actually survived—it was nothing short of a miracle.

Perhaps his low cultivation of the first layer of Qi Refining had, ironically, increased his chances of survival.

"Junior Brother Zhao, do not lose heart. The sect will naturally have a way."

Chen Changming walked over, patted his shoulder, and offered words of comfort.

"Mm, mm."

Zhao Huanzhen looked at Chen Changming, suddenly wearing a look of astonishment. "Senior Brother, your cultivation has broken through so quickly! You are already at the second layer of Qi Refining."

"Indeed."

Chen Changming sighed.

To achieve this breakthrough, he had endured unimaginable pressure. For the past two years, he hadn't slept a single peaceful night, spending every day in relentless, bitter cultivation.

Zhao Huanzhen cupped his hands and smiled. "Then congratulations, Senior Brother. You can be promoted directly to an outer disciple."

"May we both be happy."

Chen Changming smiled. After chatting with his junior brother for a while, he turned and headed to the sect's Affairs Hall to report.

"Eh? It's you, kid. You've actually broken through to the second layer of Qi Refining."

At the entrance of the Affairs Hall, Elder Luo looked at the youth before him with a face full of surprise, speaking in disbelief.

He hadn't seen this youth in many days; he had grown taller, sturdier, and appeared much more spirited. What surprised him even more was that this servant disciple with a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root had actually reached the second layer of Qi Refining.

This progress was nothing compared to an outer disciple, but for it to happen to a servant disciple was extremely rare.

Seeing Elder Luo, Chen Changming was also taken aback, but he immediately smiled respectfully. "I didn't expect it to be Elder Luo. You are in charge of the Affairs Hall now?"

"Mm, mm."

Elder Luo sighed softly. He currently held multiple positions, and the Affairs Hall was merely one of them.

The Lingxiao Sect had first participated in the war against the Chu Kingdom's cultivation sects, followed by a great battle with the Blood Demon Sect, resulting in severe casualties for the sect.

In order to recover their strength as quickly as possible, even the servant disciples, whom they had always looked down upon, were being recalled.

There was simply no other choice.

After two great wars, the Lingxiao Sect had lost half its members; it would take a long time to recover.

"Take this storage bag. Inside, you will find your outer disciple identity token, your robes, the outer disciple manual, the first to sixth layers of the Evergreen Art, ten spirit stones, and ten Spirit Gathering Pills."

Elder Luo handed over a storage bag, explaining in a kindly tone.

Regardless, Chen Changming was the first handyman disciple to return, which was a great boost to morale.

"Thank you, Elder Luo."

Chen Changming took the Storage Bag and smiled his thanks.

Just then, a commotion erupted behind him, and he heard someone shout, "The Senior Sister is here!"

"Senior Sister!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister!"

Many outer sect disciples hurriedly stepped aside, speaking respectfully.

Chen Changming turned around and immediately saw a beautiful woman in red walking toward them, her features exquisite, her figure graceful, and a sword strapped to her back.

She was heroic and spirited, her stride powerful and resonant with every step, exuding a formidable sense of intimidation in every gesture.

Senior Sister?

Chen Changming was stunned. He had been busy planting spirit rice the entire time and was completely unfamiliar with this Senior Sister; he had never even heard of her.

Seeing the Senior Sister walking toward him as if seeking trouble, Chen Changming felt an instinctive panic and hurriedly dodged to the side.

He had to dodge, for this Senior Sister's cultivation had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. Even with his own hidden trump cards, Chen Changming dared not cross swords with such a figure.

After all, the gap in their realms was too vast.

Chen Changming considered himself a waste and had never dared to think of fighting across several minor realms.

"Grandpa, I'm back."

The Senior Sister marched heroically up to Elder Luo, slapped the table with a casual air, and then hopped up to sit on it, showing not a shred of ladylike decorum.

Slap! Slap!

Elder Luo was so angry his beard flew up. He slapped the table repeatedly and fumed, "Get down! You don't have a single ladylike quality; how will you ever get married in the future?"

The Senior Sister pouted and replied indifferently, "Then I won't marry. Isn't it fine for me to be on my own?"

As she spoke, she still hopped down from the table.

So she is Elder Luo's granddaughter...

Hearing the conversation between this bold Senior Sister and Elder Luo, the mystery in Chen Changming's mind was solved, and he no longer felt so afraid of this stranger.

"Eh, a handyman disciple?"

The Senior Sister's beautiful eyes darted around, and she spotted Chen Changming at once.

After all, he was wearing the attire of a handyman disciple, making him quite conspicuous among the crowd of outer sect disciples.

Chen Changming nodded.

The Senior Sister walked over, pressed both hands onto Chen Changming's shoulders, and said with great solemnity, "Mm, according to the sect's current rules, you are an outer sect disciple now. If anything happens in the future, just come find me, your Senior Sister. Do you hear me?"

Feeling a tremendous force acting upon his shoulders, Chen Changming's body trembled slightly.

He had not expected this Senior Sister to be so chivalrous, immediately offering to protect him, a mere second-level Qi Refining outer sect disciple.

"Yes, yes..."

Chen Changming bit the bullet and agreed.

"Haha!"

The Senior Sister was quite satisfied with Chen Changming, let out a loud laugh, and strode away.

Elder Luo looked embarrassed and hurriedly explained, "Little Chen, my granddaughter is just like that; please don't mind her."

Chen Changming replied with a serious face, "The Senior Sister is righteous and noble; I am too grateful to her to ever mock her!"

"Hehe, that's good then."

Seeing the youth speak so eloquently, Elder Luo was satisfied and let out a few hearty laughs.

Chen Changming bid farewell to Elder Luo and turned to walk toward the living quarters of the outer sect disciples. He had not walked more than a few dozen meters when a youth ran to his side and grabbed him.

"Chen Changming, you're still alive!"

The youth said excitedly.

Chen Changming stared at the youth before him, finally recognized him, and said with pleasant surprise, "You... you are Yu Hailong."

This Yu Hailong was one of the youths who had boarded the immortal ship to enter the Lingxiao Sect that day. Among the entire group on the spirit ship, he had the best aptitude: a yellow-grade mid-tier water spirit root.

"It's me, haha, I never thought we would see each other again."

Thinking of something, Yu Hailong's eyes turned red.

Seeing the youth in such a state, Chen Changming sighed softly. Having survived two great battles with only the strength of the third level of Qi Refining, Yu Hailong was truly a miracle.

"Let's go, I'll take you to your living quarters."

Yu Hailong wiped away his tears and pulled Chen Changming along.

After the two had walked for a while, the image of that heroic figure resurfaced in Chen Changming's mind, and he couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Who exactly is that Senior Sister?"