The Sect Had Strength, but Not Much

"Would you like to draw?"

Lu Changzhi thought it over and declined.

Cang Wenyu and the others were still there. It was better to lie low and see them off first.

When he came back to his senses, he saw the two men having a friendly conversation.

"Senior brother sect master, we're in this together. You have to share some with me." Xu Kun stared fixedly at Cang Wenyu's hand.

"Ahem." Cang Wenyu coughed lightly.

"Allow me to say something fair..."

"I'm not listening! I'm not listening!"

"Looks like I still underestimated the value of this tea."

Lu Changzhi shook his head gently.

"By the way, sect master, did you come here for something?"

The two men stopped for the time being. Cang Wenyu then put on a more serious expression and said:

"Changzhi, we came mainly because of your newly accepted first disciple."

"I intend to test his talent again."

"Besides that, there's another matter."

Cang Wenyu pondered for a moment and looked at Lu Changzhi:

"Since he has taken you as his master, do you have any plans for teaching him, Changzhi?"

Lu Changzhi pondered for a moment.

Honestly, with the system Gu Chen had, there was only one way to nurture him that suited him best.

Let him roam free.

"What plans do you have, sect master?"

"Here's the situation," Cang Wenyu said:

"Since he has joined our Five Symbols Sect and has Spirit Rank aptitude, we should naturally do everything we can to nurture him."

"Though he has already taken you as his master, you are still young, Changzhi. After discussing his training with the other peak masters, I decided that we would nurture him together. In name, he would remain your disciple. What do you think?"

"Would they be willing?" Lu Changzhi was somewhat surprised.

After all, no matter how well they taught him, Lu Changzhi would still be the one called his master.

Cang Wenyu shook his head. "Changzhi, that's what you don't understand."

"Every talented disciple is extremely important to the Five Symbols Sect. Once they join the sect, no matter whose disciple they are, the sect's elders have a responsibility to look after them."

Hearing this, Lu Changzhi nodded and smiled:

"In that case, sorry for the trouble, sect master and peak masters."

With that, the matter of teaching his disciple was also resolved.

Just then, Gu Chen finished his moment of enlightenment and woke up.

His presence had grown noticeably stronger.

"Greetings, seniors."

Gu Chen rose and bowed.

He then picked up the teapot from the table, paused for a moment, and said:

"I'll make some tea for you both."

With that, he headed outside.

He had barely taken two steps when he stopped, gave a soft exclamation of surprise, and turned around:

"Master, you didn't eat all the tea leaves, did you?"

As his words fell, a brief silence suddenly descended over them.

"Senior brother sect master."

Xu Kun spoke softly:

"Did you feel a scorching power of fire rising to your face?"

Cang Wenyu's expression remained unchanged as he replied:

"Peak Master Cai, don't go slandering me."

Xu Kun's expression froze. "Senior brother sect master, my surname is Xu! Xu! How did that brat Changzhi lead you astray too?"

"All right."

Lu Changzhi spoke up:

"There's no need to make more tea. The sect master and Peak Master Xu have something they need you to do."

Hearing that, Gu Chen let the matter drop.

Afterward, Cang Wenyu took out a bead and gestured for Gu Chen to place his palm on it.

Several breaths later, the bead burst into dazzling light.

"High-Grade Spirit Rank!"

Cang Wenyu gave an exclamation and looked at Lu Changzhi, his eyes full of envy:

"Changzhi, you really picked up a treasure."

Lu Changzhi smiled faintly. "You flatter me, sect master. It was all hard work and perseverance."

Cang Wenyu shook his head.

It truly was a pity. If Lu Changzhi hadn't stabbed him in the back,

Gu Chen would most likely have been his disciple.

After that, Cang Wenyu began telling Gu Chen some things about the sect.

Lu Changzhi took the opportunity to learn about it as well.

Of the six top forces on the Heavenly Profound Continent,

the Five Symbols Sect had been founded first and had the longest history.

The sects founded at the same time as the Five Symbols Sect

had all vanished like smoke and scattered clouds through one calamity after another.

Only the Five Symbols Sect had survived.

The most important reason for this was one of its ancestral precepts: "Do not casually display your strength to outsiders."

Thanks to this precept, throughout the calamities of the past, the greatest enemies had paid no attention to a force like the Five Symbols Sect.

This had saved the Five Symbols Sect a great deal of trouble.

Of course, that didn't mean they had to keep skulking in the shadows forever.

When it was time to act, they still had to act.

But when they did, they had to strike with the force of thunder and leave nothing to chance.

"Although we are now one of the six top forces, we still rank last."

"We have strength, but not much."

"When you go out in the future, remember to be extra careful, lest you meet with disaster."

"If you do run into danger, take this token."

Cang Wenyu handed Gu Chen a jade token:

"Remember, when you encounter danger, there are only two things you must do first."

"Hide if you can."

"Second, call for help."

"Do you understand?"

Cang Wenyu looked utterly serious.

"This disciple understands." Gu Chen nodded and accepted the token.

Cang Wenyu nodded. "I'll tell you the rest gradually in the future."

"For now, we should first improve the cultivation environment on Hidden Origin Peak."

He called Xu Kun over, and the two of them got to work.

In the Five Symbols Sect, Xu Kun was the most skilled in formations.

Most of the formations recently added to the sect were his work.

Xu Kun took the lead, with Cang Wenyu assisting him.

As the two worked, the spiritual power on Hidden Origin Peak became noticeably denser.

Compared with other places, it was more than ten times as dense.

"I'll come back in a while to set up some defensive formations. Let's stop here for today," Xu Kun said.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Lu Changzhi nodded in thanks.

By the time the two left, the sky had darkened.

Gu Chen also returned to his half-finished house.

Lu Changzhi returned to his room and spoke silently in his heart.

"System, draw a sacred beast."