Chapter 29: Master Chen Ji
Chapter 29: Master Chen Ji
After receiving their rewards, the ten new Inner Sect Disciples sought masters…
The Elders qualified to take disciples were all present on the high platform. The Deputy Sect Leader briefly described each Elder’s expertise in magic and specializations.
This time, they didn’t proceed from the tenth rank upwards; priority went to the first place winner to choose first. The remaining placements would be decided by the Elders themselves through discussion, with each Elder limited to taking one disciple.
If satisfied, a master would take their disciple away immediately.
Lu Hangzhi unhesitatingly chose the Deputy Sect Leader who had extended him an offer earlier.
The latter nodded in satisfaction, signaling Lu Hangzhi to stand behind him.
Qin Zhen and Wang Yu couldn’t help but show envy.
Because the Sect Master was often in seclusion, Deputy Sect Leader Chen not only managed the entire sect’s affairs but was also a master of artifact refining and pill concoction. He commanded the Golden Jade Hall and was undeniably the wealthiest mentor in the Xuanxin Sect. He rarely participated in accepting disciples before, making his proactive offer today a surprise.
The other nine had nothing but intense envy.
Finally, Qin Zhen selected the Discipline Hall’s leader, Elder Nangong, as his master…
Wang Yu chose the Spirit Beast Hall’s chief, Elder Heishi.
The remaining seven were, rather undignifiedly, divided and taken away by the Elders. They had no choice but to follow their new masters.
With that, the Outer Sect Disciple Grand Competition officially concluded!
Watching the Outer Sect Disciples riding the Divine Cranes back to their peaks and the Elders gradually leaving the high platform, Deputy Sect Leader Chen turned and smiled:
“Heard you just emerged from a whole month of cultivation in Elder Mu’s Training Room. I suppose there’s no rush to return to seclusion now.”
“The disciple will follow Master’s arrangements.”
“Good. This master shall acquaint you with the Xuanxin Sect first.”
As Deputy Sect Leader Chen finished speaking, Lu Hangzhi felt currents of air swirling beneath his feet. An unseen flow of air lifted both of them into the air gently.
“Your master’s name is Chen Ji. Remember that.”
“Yes, Shifu.”
Chen Ji nodded and said:
“…The Sect Protection Array shields a hundred li, gathering the Spiritual Energy of a thousand miles, nurturing the Seven Spiritual Peaks. The phrase ‘Three Pavilions, Three Halls, Three Peaks’ is how we present it to outsiders.”
“The Three Pavilions are located on Yuyang Peak. The Three Halls are on Zichao Peak. Each Spiritual Peak has over a hundred mountain spurs for the True Disciples and the various Elders to cultivate upon.”
Lu Hangzhi noticed his master omitted mention of the other two Spiritual Peaks. He surmised these were for the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders but didn’t ask further.
“Up ahead is Zichao Peak. From now on, you will reside and cultivate in the courtyard next to the Golden Jade Hall.”
“Yes.”
“If you wish to go to the Classic Pavilion on Yuyang Peak, seek a Senior Brother at the Spirit Beast Hall. Pay one Low-Grade Spirit Stone to use a Divine Crane for travel within the sect.”
Lu Hangzhi felt a surge of joy inwardly:
Using the Divine Crane for travel was indeed excellent.
“If you need to travel outside for training or missions, you must obtain a written order from this master.”
Chen Ji, the de facto deputy leader of the Xuanxin Sect, explained everything meticulously, leaving no detail out.
“Yes, Shifu.”
“For your achievement in this Sect Grand Competition, you were awarded a thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and two Foundational Reinforcement Pills. That should suffice for now, but resources run out eventually. Though this master has vast resources, they ultimately belong to the sect. Overtly lavishing them upon you juniors would be inappropriate. Your Senior Brothers and Sisters all learned skills of their own from me. Now, let’s see which interests you: Artifact Refining, Pill Concoction, or Talisman Crafting.”
Teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish!
The master indeed had foresight.
However…
Lu Hangzhi wasn’t shy about asking.
“Replying to Shifu: This disciple feels all three skills are vital to a Cultivator. I’d like to learn all of them, Master. Whether I can master them depends on later progress.”
“You are quite greedy!”
Chen Ji sighed. “But then again, isn’t greed for immortality what drives us Cultivators to struggle against heaven and earth? Take these three pamphlets. They contain some insights from this master’s younger days. Keep them safe, read them, and return them to me later.”
Chen Ji actually agreed!
Lu Hangzhi was ecstatic: “Thank you, Shifu!”
“This master knows of your arrangement with Leng Wuya. That Bone Shield is a fine Spiritual Artifact. Likely Leng Wuya is preparing to brave the Black Water Dragon Pool. The Turbid Lotus of Pure World should soon bear fruit, considering the timing. A single seed is equivalent to a Fifth-Grade Cultivator’s year of arduous cultivation. Such rare treasure is perfect for breaking through to Sixth Rank. Hand it over to him. Consider it returning his favor.”
Chen Ji flicked his horsetail whisk. The air currents under their feet surged suddenly. Lu Hangzhi saw the scenery flashing past wildly before they appeared before a resplendent palace. Above the entrance hung a plaque with three powerfully written characters:
Golden Jade Hall!
“Your courtyard is over there, placard marked ‘Golden Jade Seven’. The compound has a Spirit Gathering Array; its effect won’t be worse than Elder Mu’s Training Room.”
Overjoyed, Lu Hangzhi thought:
This is the Inner Sect! This is the Golden Jade Hall!
“Henceforth, your monthly stipend is two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Once you master Artifact Refining, Pill Concoction, or Talisman Crafting, your monthly income will be greater.”
“If you desire more resources, you must wait for the Inner Sect Disciple Grand Competition in six months’ time. Your rank there will determine the corresponding resource allocation.”
Chen Ji stepped forward slowly. The young attendants guarding the hall beside the Golden Jade Palace immediately knelt down.
“This is your Seventh Senior Brother. Remember him.”
“Yes. Xiao Mu/Xiao Ying greets Seventh Senior Brother.” The attendants, as identical as twins, were very endearing.
Lu Hangzhi was momentarily surprised. Then he heard his master explain: “These two are my registered pupils. Their talent isn’t outstanding, but they are obedient enough. They can only be registered disciples here, helping out.”
“Xiao Mu/Xiao Ying are perfectly content to serve Shifu.” The two youths chorused.
They had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and pink, tender faces – the cute, adorable type.
He hadn’t expected to become a Senior Brother right away.
Lu Hangzhi walked forward happily, resisting the urge to pinch their cheeks. He pulled out two boxes of Spirit Fruits from his Qiankun Pouch: “I don’t have much else on me. Please have these Spirit Fruits.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
Hearing “Spirit Fruits,” Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying nearly drooled. They accepted them while thanking him.
“Hmph, you hit their weakness perfectly.”
Chen Ji shook his head resignedly:
“Eating is the greatest joy in their lives. Total gluttons. Offer them food, and they’ll happily fan the furnaces for a whole day. Enough. Both of you, call your Senior Brothers and Sisters out.”
Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying promptly scurried inside the hall on their short legs.
The Golden Jade Hall contained a vast space within: one hundred and eight pill furnaces and one hundred and eight Artifact Refining rooms. Talisman crafting, being simpler, could be done in their own residences.
“Shifu, I assume this is the little Junior Brother?”
“Refined features, a fine figure. No wonder Shifu made an exception to accept him. Welcome.”
Two people approached from inside. The first, in his early twenties, was broad-shouldered and imposing, his voice booming like a great bell. The one following was more scholarly but slightly older, with some white hair showing at his temples, yet his smile was warm and bright.
Chen Ji introduced them with a smile:
“Hangzhi, these two are your Senior Brothers. The loud one is Xiong Qi. The prematurely grey fellow is Lü Liang.”
Lu Hangzhi quickly cupped his hands in salute: “Hangzhi pays respects to Senior Brother Xiong Qi and Senior Brother Lü Liang.”
“Heard from Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying how enthusiastic our new Junior Brother is, giving them Spirit Fruits. They kept singing your praises, saying you’re nicer than us. Ah, why didn’t I think of coaxing those two foodies when I joined?”
Xiong Qi looked utterly regretful.
“You jest, Senior Brother.” Lu Hangzhi was slightly surprised. Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying seemed to get along very casually with these Senior Brothers, defying his image of aloof, arrogant figures.
Lü Liang laughed:
“Of course! Our little Junior Brother achieved Third-Grade cultivation in just three months and seized the top spot among the Outer Sect Disciples—a true prodigy. Did you expect everyone to be like you, barely scraping tenth place? Shifu only took pity on you!”
“White-Haired Ghost! Stop embarrassing me in front of Junior Brother!”
Xiong Qi erupted furiously. An aura, no less imposing than Leng Wuya’s, instantly filled the hall.
Lü Liang remained perfectly calm, his smile unchanging.
“Fine! Once I break through to Sixth Rank… heh heh… with the gloves Shifu bestowed, I’ll settle the score then.”
Xiong Qi huffed, retracting his aura reluctantly.
Chen Ji completely ignored their bickering throughout. He simply resumed introducing things to Lu Hangzhi: “Your Senior Brother Xiong Qi here is fine otherwise, but he flares up easily—a powder keg. Surprisingly calm when alone though. His skill in refining Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts has reached a professional level. Make friends with him, and he might just kit you out in a matching set.”
“Shifu!”
Xiong Qi was flabbergasted, realizing his master had just sold him out instantly.
“‘What?’ Look at how clever and gracious your little Junior Brother is. Is it that hard to learn a little? Thickheaded block! Wasting my worry.” Chen Ji stared him down. The sharp scolding immediately weighed Xiong Qi down.
“And you!”
“Never acting your age! Playing the experienced elder while still young? Even this old master doesn’t have white hair! Next time, why not disguise yourself as an old man? I’ll call you master out in public!”
Lü Liang, who had been looking smug moments before, suddenly found the Master’s fury redirected at him. Unprepared, he was thoroughly berated and broke into a cold sweat.
“What’s wrong with Shifu today?”
“Seems quite annoyed.”
Just as Lu Hangzhi felt deeply awed by his Master’s authority, a voice, ethereal and sweet, drifted in from outside, instantly dispelling the tension in the hall.
All four turned to look.
Chen Ji also exhibited a rare, hearty smile:
“Is Xiaojun out of seclusion?”
“Not really. Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying ran saying a new Junior Brother has been accepted. How could I, the Senior Sister, not appear? So, you must be Junior Brother Hangzhi…”
As the voice spoke, a stunningly beautiful face suddenly appeared mere inches away out of nowhere.
Two Senior Brothers with Fifth Grade Cultivation were already powerful. This Senior Sister appeared without the slightest warning. What level had she reached?
“Hangzhi pays respects to Senior Sister.” Lu Hangzhi hastily saluted.
Nangong Jun nodded with the proper authority of a Senior Sister:
“Good. It seems Master has finally taken on a promising Junior Brother.”
Hearing this, Xiong Qi and Lü Liang looked both amused and exasperated.
Lu Hangzhi also wore an awkward expression. He wondered why this Senior Sister seemed perhaps even less conventional than the two Senior Brothers?
Was this Master Chen’s unconventional entourage?
Lu Hangzhi couldn’t help but silently complain in his mind before swiftly pushing the thought aside.
“Young Junior Brother is new here. How come you two Senior Brothers haven’t brought any gifts? Never mind. I’ll take the lead. Junior Brother, here’s the Inner Core of a Fifth-Grade peak Monster Beast. It was sealed recently. Digest it whenever you get the chance.”
“Senior Sister! You’re playing favorites! I never got any ‘congratulations’ gifts when I joined! And it’s a peak Fifth-Grade Monster Beast Inner Core?!” Xiong Qi and Lü Liang both stared covetously at the pulsating, meaty orb Nangong Jun held. Their eyes turned red.
“Is that so?”
Nangong Jun tilted her head thoughtfully for a second, then waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t remember that.”