"Junior Brother Lin."
"Senior Brother Lin."
The disciples' enthusiastic greetings reached his ears, and Lin Fan nodded calmly to everyone.
This was what came of being popular. Look, just look at how popular he was. If they knew that one day he would leave them, what a blow that would be. They would probably grieve themselves to death.
"Junior Brother Lin." Just then, Lü Qiming appeared before Lin Fan. As far as Lin Fan could see, his senior brother seemed in fine spirits today.
"Senior Brother Lü, you're in a good mood today. Did something good happen?" Lin Fan asked.
Hadn't Senior Brother Lü been in a terrible mood last night? Why was he so happy today?
Lü Qiming paused, then caught on. "Oh, right, Junior Brother Lin, you probably haven't heard yet. Senior Brother Lu is all right now. More importantly, the war is over. Word came from the front that our sect and the Sunshine Sect have negotiated peace. We can return to the sect."
"Huh?" Lin Fan was dumbfounded. They could fucking negotiate peace? How could they not fight until one side was dead?
But wait. The war was over, and they could return to the sect. Didn't that mean his plan to roam around outside had been snuffed out for the time being?
No, that wasn't right. Based on experience, returning to the actual sect would probably give him the best opportunity to leave.
Seeing Junior Brother Lin's blank expression, Lü Qiming seemed to think he was excited that the war had ended, and went on talking to himself. "When I first heard the news, I was thrilled too. Half a year. It's been half a year since I last went back to the sect. I don't even know how I survived."
Then Lü Qiming took Lin Fan's hand. "Junior Brother Lin, you've earned quite a few major merits in these battles. Once we return to the sect, you'll definitely be able to become a first-grade outer disciple."
The Flame Magnificence Sect's outer disciples were divided into three grades, with first grade the highest and third grade the lowest. Lin Fan was currently a third-grade disciple. If he advanced to first grade, his benefits would be much better too.
First-grade outer disciples enjoyed plenty of benefits. Apparently, they could claim quite a few things.
Besides, now that the war was over, he would have to actively seek out enemies to earn points. Still, the sect offered plenty of benefits that could save him a lot of time.
After carefully analyzing it all, he decided to take a look at the sect first.
As for how this body's previous owner had managed to stay alive for half a year, he had probably survived by turtling.
To sum it up in one phrase.
A real turtle.
Dong, dong!
The bell rang.
Hearing it, Lü Qiming grew excited. "That's the assembly bell. It's time for us to go back."
Lin Fan coughed lightly. "Senior Brother Lü, stay calm. Stay calm."
Just then, Zhang Long, Yin Xiaotian, and the others arrived too. Clearly, they had already heard the news about returning to the sect.
Although they didn't know how the sect had negotiated peace with the Sunshine Sect, at least it meant they could return.
"Junior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Lü, you two keep getting closer. Don't tell me you're, you know?" Yin Xiaotian asked with a grin.
In his excitement, Lü Qiming had kept holding Lin Fan's hand. Lin Fan immediately realized something was wrong and hurriedly shook his hand off. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm a normal man."
"Haha, we already got a good look at your figure yesterday, Junior Brother Lin. Of course we know you're a normal man," Zhang Long said with a mischievous grin.
Remembering yesterday's events, Lin Fan felt rather embarrassed. He had overdone his posing and let everyone see his pure body.
He hurriedly changed the subject. "All right, all right. Let's hurry over and assemble."
In the square.
Under everyone's gaze, Lu Daosheng appeared on the raised platform. His face was slightly pale, and it looked as though his injuries had not fully healed. Still, judging by his current state, there was clearly no major problem. At least he could move about freely.
"The war is over. All disciples may return to the sect."
When Lu Daosheng spoke those words, every disciple present erupted with excitement. Those were the words they had wanted to hear most.
Just then.
Lu Daosheng raised his palm, and divine arks flew out of his storage ring, growing larger and larger until they blotted out the sky and sun, then slowly descended.
Lin Fan stared wide-eyed at them. These things really were treasures.
These treasures had all been crafted by the sect's master artifact refiners. They were mid-grade Mystic-rank support-type passenger arks, requiring many rare materials and a great deal of money. Their drawback was that they had no offensive power whatsoever.
The disciples excitedly boarded the divine arks. Leaving this place and returning to the sect was what they hoped for most.
Lü Qiming said, "Junior Brother, let's go."
"We're really leaving?" Lin Fan was still a little reluctant. What the hell was this peace negotiation? Why was the Sunshine Sect so cowardly?
"What's wrong?" Lü Qiming had no idea what Lin Fan was thinking. He thought Junior Brother Lin had yet to recover from his joy.
"Nothing. Let's go."
Ten days later.
Lin Fan had originally planned to cultivate aboard the divine ark to pass the boring hours, but that had remained nothing more than a thought. Could you imagine what it was like to be packed shoulder to shoulder aboard that ark?
Anyway, it wasn't worth talking about. It had been sheer suffering.
Still, Lin Fan had not come away empty-handed.
Standing aboard the divine ark and looking down, he could see towns, mountains, and rivers that appeared tiny below.
It was his first time seeing such scenery with his own eyes, and his heart filled with anticipation.
"How magnificent."
They had arrived at the Flame Magnificence Sect. Looking into the distance, he could see a statue standing within the sect. It depicted its great founder, Great Emperor Yanhua.
If he had to describe it in words.
Spectacular, magnificent, enormous.
After they disembarked from the divine ark, many disciples were already gathered below in groups of three or five, chatting with one another.
Everyone wore a radiant smile.
Of course, some looked rather unhappy. Clearly, their friends had died on the battlefield.
Lin Fan felt a little nervous now. In a place with so many people, would some conflict break out? With his outstanding bearing, would someone take a dislike to him?
And then beat him up.
All these thoughts passed through Lin Fan's mind.
Lü Qiming said, "Junior Brother Lin, let's head back."
Lin Fan paused. "Senior Brother Lü, we're just going back? Isn't there a commendation ceremony or something? Some rewards, for instance?"
Lü Qiming smiled. "No. The senior brothers have recorded all our merits. The sect elders will have people deliver things according to those records. All we need to do is wait."
"All right."
Lin Fan was a little disappointed. He felt this system wasn't very good.
It couldn't stir up the disciples' enthusiasm.
If I were in charge, I'd definitely hold a grand commendation ceremony and let the disciples have their moment in the limelight.
Of course, that was only a thought.
With his current status and strength, wouldn't acting presumptuously be courting death?
Was he the sort of person who courted death?
Clearly not.