Lin Qingyu: Xiao Chen, You've Chosen to Fall into Depravity!

"Kid, why did you lose your nerve right off the bat?"

Chu Feng had originally wanted to put the kid in his place, but the moment Cao Youqian opened his mouth, he begged for mercy.

"I still preferred that unruly, defiant attitude you had before."

Cao Youqian: ???

Why didn't this master play by the usual rules?

"There's been a misunderstanding, Master. I'm a fairly mild-mannered person."

Seeing how timid this fellow was, Xiao Chen subconsciously stepped aside as well.

Even if Cao Youqian were given the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, he wouldn't dare act recklessly before his master.

Chu Feng waved his hand. "All right, go get some rest, both of you."

With that, he headed straight for his room.

Xiao Chen spoke up. "Master, you haven't taken your spirit stones yet."

"Aren't these your spirit stones?"

Chu Feng turned his head and smiled.

Xiao Chen said respectfully, "Master, without you, I could never have won so many spirit stones. Please accept these as my offering to you."

Hiss...

Cao Youqian sucked in a cold breath inwardly. Those are my spirit stones!

If neither of you wants them, just give them back to me.

A thoughtful look appeared on Chu Feng's face, and he casually picked up a storage bag.

"Since it's your offering to me, I'll just take a little. You still need to cultivate, so keep the rest for yourself."

"Thank you, Master."

Xiao Chen obeyed this master without question. As he saw it, his master had his reasons for doing this.

After Chu Feng left, Xiao Chen put away all the storage bags and storage rings on the stone table.

Cao Youqian looked at the empty stone table, his heart dripping blood. He wanted to ask Xiao Chen to leave him just a little, but he didn't dare open his mouth.

Only after Xiao Chen had disappeared did he remember something very important.

His master hadn't arranged a place for him to stay yet, had he?

He looked around at the empty surroundings, gritted his teeth, and picked a room at random to rest in for the night.

The next morning.

Xiao Chen got up early and cultivated for a while before heading to the Merit Hall to claim his reward for the outer-sect competition.

When he arrived, Lin Qingyu and the others happened to arrive as well.

They exchanged greetings.

An elder of the Merit Hall came out from inside.

"Everyone, the various institute heads are already waiting for you inside. Go on in."

"Yes."

As the champion of the competition, Xiao Chen naturally walked at the front.

The group entered the Merit Hall and found the eight institute heads, including the Carefree Sword King, seated inside.

"We pay our respects to the institute heads."

"No need for formalities."

The Carefree Sword King was the first to speak.

"Thank you, Institute Head."

The Carefree Sword King waved his hand. "Bring out everyone's rewards."

"Yes."

Before long, the people from the Merit Hall brought out a series of boxes.

Unlike the other disciples in the top ten,

the top three disciples each had a large chest placed before them. When they opened the chests, they found several treasure artifacts inside.

"Each of you three may choose one from inside as your reward."

Without even thinking, Xiao Chen chose a treasured sword.

Lin Qingyu and Jin Gang chose a treasured sword and a pair of gauntlets, respectively.

The Carefree Sword King said, "Next, you may choose which inner institute you wish to join."

The disciples' faces lit up at the news, and they quickly made their choices.

Basically, no one switched to another institute.

Soon, Xiao Chen was the only one who hadn't made a choice.

He looked at the institute heads in bewilderment and asked respectfully, "Institute Heads, why isn't the Miscellaneous Dao Institute an option?"

The moment he said that, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone, including the eight institute heads, stared at him in astonishment.

Has this kid gone stupid from practicing swordsmanship? Even now, he's still thinking about that lousy Miscellaneous Dao Institute of his.

Doesn't he want to grow stronger?

The Carefree Sword King spoke. "The Miscellaneous Dao Institute has never had an inner institute, which is why it isn't an option. You may choose any one of the eight institutes.

"If you join my Heavenly Spirit Institute, I am willing to take you as a nominal disciple and grant you the treatment of a true disciple.

"As long as you enter the Heavenly Origin Realm, I will take you as my disciple and teach you everything I have learned in my life."

When he finished, the people present wore all kinds of expressions.

Lin Qingyu and the others looked at Xiao Chen with a little more envy and jealousy.

How did this fellow catch the eye of the Heavenly Spirit Institute's head? If he joins the Heavenly Spirit Institute, the gap between us will only widen.

The other institute heads, however, were displeased, and they all spoke up.

"Carefree Sword King, you have no martial virtue! You aren't even following the proper procedure."

"Xiao Chen, if you're willing to join my Artifact Refining Institute, we can have a spirit sword tailored to you. You can also enter under my tutelage and become a true disciple directly."

"..."

Seeing the eight institute heads vying for Xiao Chen,

the other nine disciples who had placed in the top ten of the outer-institute competition were dumbfounded.

A thought involuntarily surfaced in their minds.

Seniors, did you really call us here to claim our rewards?

Not to stab us in the heart?

Only after quite a while did the institute heads fall silent. They were all people of standing, so on an occasion like this, they naturally used their mouths, not their hands.

They all turned their gazes to Xiao Chen, waiting to see what choice he would make.

Xiao Chen bowed to the senior figures. "Thank you for your kind offers, Seniors, but in this life, Xiao Chen will only choose to stay at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."

Silence. The Merit Hall once again became a motionless tableau.

Everyone looked at Xiao Chen in disbelief.

The Carefree Sword King was the first to recover. "Give us a reason."

Xiao Chen said respectfully, "Senior, to a disciple, a master is like a parent who gave him a second life. Without my master, Xiao Chen would not be where he is today.

"If Xiao Chen left the Miscellaneous Dao Institute after taking the outer-institute competition, that would be unfilial."

The Dao-Seeking Academy had always emphasized devotion to parents, heaven, earth, ruler, and master.

Loyalty and filial piety were the foundation of every disciple.

Though the senior figures were dissatisfied with this explanation, they could hardly force Xiao Chen.

After all, none of them would take an unfilial disciple. What if he stabbed them in the back one day?

The Carefree Sword King nodded slightly. "Very well. But I want to ask you, was this your own decision, or did your master tell you to make it?"

"Senior, this was my own decision. I did not discuss it with my master."

Xiao Chen spoke with a sincere expression.

"Since you've made your decision, I won't force you. But at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, you can only receive the resources of an outer-institute disciple. You should think it over carefully."

The Carefree Sword King paused, then said, "Of course, you may also return and discuss it with your master. We will give you a month to consider."

Xiao Chen replied politely, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but Xiao Chen will not go back on a decision he has already made."

Hearing this, the senior figures were displeased, but none of them intended to vent their anger on a disciple.

The Carefree Sword King waved his hand. "All right, once you've claimed your rewards, return to your respective places."

"We take our leave!"

With that, everyone bowed to the eight institute heads, then turned and left.

Xiao Chen had just stepped out of the Merit Hall when Lin Qingyu blocked his path.

He asked in puzzlement, "What is it?"

Lin Qingyu wore an arrogant expression. "Xiao Chen, I never thought you would choose to fall into depravity. You're no longer worthy of being my opponent. Hmph!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves, turned, and walked away.

Jin Gang and the others glanced at Xiao Chen, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to leave in a hurry.

From the moment Xiao Chen chose to stay at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, they were no longer people of the same world.

The only person in the crowd who was happy was Tang Feng.

His mood today had been like a swing going back and forth, but the outcome was good.

He had entered the inner sect, while Xiao Chen would only be trampled mercilessly under his feet from now on.

Xiao Chen paid no mind to Lin Qingyu's words and headed straight for the Miscellaneous Dao Institute...