Chapter 31: Fulfilling the Promise
Chapter 31: Fulfilling the Promise
With the gifts from his three senior siblings, Lu Hangzhi quickly found the house matching his plaque, number seven. He returned feeling fulfilled.
“It’s quite big. The layout is similar to Senior Brother Lu’s… mh… it’s just missing some things.” Lu Hangzhi looked around, feeling quite satisfied with the house, except for a faint sense of loss.
This was because the house lacked cultivated spiritual items, feeling short a bit of spiritual energy and vitality.
But spirit trees, spirit wells, spirit herbs, and materials like that for the house definitely had to be gained from outside experiences. The courtyard would slowly become enriched in the future.
The building inside the inner courtyard was very neat, free of dust, precisely because the Spirit Gathering Array ran constantly. It was a completely different world from the vast, empty outer courtyard.
Perhaps because it was under the Golden Jade Hall’s jurisdiction and its Spirit Gathering Array was completely different from those for ordinary Inner Sect Disciples, the effect was just as potent as Elder Mu’s Cultivation Chamber One. It made people want to bathe in the rich spiritual energy every single day.
However…
Now was not the time for cultivation.
Leaving the Golden Jade Hall grounds, Lu Hangzhi quickly asked directions to the Bamboo Forest.
Before long, the Bamboo Forest came into view.
Senior Brother Leng’s figure appeared outside a small cottage, smiling warmly as he looked this way;
Beside him stood Zhu Fuqin and several other senior brothers and sisters he had briefly encountered before in Violet Cloud Town.
“Greetings to all you senior brothers and sisters.” Hangzhi approached and gave a respectful greeting.
“Hangzhi, now that you’re in the Inner Sect, we are peers. No need to be so formal.”
“Indeed, you fought your way in as the top seed. Your future prospects are limitless. What’s more, you were personally chosen by the Deputy Sect Leader. Who knows, we might even need to ask for your favor in the future.”
“Not at all, not at all,” Hangzhi said politely, while noticing the mixed feelings in Zhu Fuqin’s eyes as she looked at him. He inwardly sighed bitterly.
Sometimes, shifts in status really did complicate once-simple relationships.
As a disciple of the Xuanxin Sect, Zhu Fuqin naturally knew what a supremely important place the Golden Jade Hall was within the Inner Sect, surpassing even the Discipline Hall and Spirit Beast Hall. Entering the Golden Jade Hall was like stepping onto a stairway to heaven. Even though she had now broken through to the Fourth Grade, she knew Hangzhi would soon surpass her and become one of the elites among the Inner Sect Disciples.
This felt rather ironic given her original plans. So, while Leng Wuya and the others could meet Hangzhi with perfect calm, seeing him again left her feeling flustered and rather bitter.
Hangzhi owed much of his success today to Sister Fuqin and Senior Brother Leng. This is what I promised you…
Hangzhi took out the Bone Shield from his Qiankun Pouch and handed it first to Leng Wuya. Then he fetched a porcelain bottle and placed it in Zhu Fuqin’s hand. Inside were the two foundational pills that came with being the top seed.
He himself now held a Fifth-Grade Monster Beast Inner Core, which was far better than the foundational pills. Giving her one extra pill wasn’t a big deal.
The group smiled knowingly in the silence.
Leng Wuya took the Fifth-Grade Bone Shield. After tucking it away, he brought out a Qiankun Pouch. “Junior brother Hangzhi, this Bone Shield is very important to me. It relates to whether I can challenge a Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast a rank above me. I accept it gratefully. However, I cannot take it for nothing… You’ve newly entered the Inner Sect, I must give you a congratulatory gift! Thinking your house must be empty, I happen to have some Spirit Fruit Trees over five hundred years old, and some Purple Bamboo, collected over my years out training. Take these and plant them in your courtyard.”
The spectators all revealed expressions of surprise:
Oh!
What generosity! To give out several hundred-year Spirit Fruit Trees so easily – bringing them to Violet Cloud Town could establish several major families right away.
As for the Purple Bamboo, it was even more remarkable.
Spirit Bamboo Shoots grew beneath it, containing richer spiritual power than five-hundred-year Spirit Fruit Trees. Eating them could nourish beauty and refresh the spirit. Many people had sought them from him without success.
“Junior brother Hangzhi thanks Senior Brother!”
Hangzhi had been lamenting his house’s emptiness. Hearing this, he was overjoyed and quickly gave a respectful bow of thanks.
Zhu Fugin had already detected two foundational pills inside the bottle. Ecstatic, she suppressed her excitement and said, “Thank you, Junior Brother.”
With these two foundational pills, she could absolutely take the momentum straight into breaking through to mid-Fourth Grade, allowing her to achieve a better rank in tomorrow’s grand competition.
“Senior sister, there’s no need for thanks. The Golden Jade Hall disciple’s Spirit Gathering Array is potent. If senior sister ever wants to cultivate or break through, feel free to come to junior brother’s residence.”
“Alright.” Zhu Fuqin was even happier.
Visiting the Golden Jade Hall when possible to build connections would always be a good thing for her.
After awhile of chatting, their conversation unconsciously turned to the Sect Grand Competition beginning tomorrow!
Compared to the Outer Sect Competition, the Inner Sect Disciple competition was fiercer and more thrilling.
“Senior Brother Leng’s aiming for top five this time! Elder Brother Yun Yi aims for top ten! As for me, I’m not very ambitious. Getting into the top thirty will do nicely. At least there’s one foundational pill per month then.”
“That’s right. Any Inner Sect Disciple in the top thirty gets one foundational pill monthly. But that rank sees the fiercest competition. Younger Sister Huan, you ranked forty-first last year. Even breaking through to Fourth Grade peak this year, cracking the top thirty will still require extreme caution.”
“Yes, I’ll be careful,” said the senior sister who had previously bought the Snow Rabbit.
The remaining two were twins. They seemed the gentle sort without a strong drive to compete, openly expressing their intent to give up pursuing higher ranks.
“What about you, Fuqin?”
Leng Wuya brought the group’s attention onto Zhu Fuqin.
As the newest member in their circle, she needed suitable consideration.
Zhu Fuqin was originally the most inconspicuous and lowest cultivator among them. Quite pressured, she was careful everywhere, reluctant to speak rashly. Biting her lip, she responded:
“Fuqin will exert her full effort, striving to assault the top fifty.”
“Excellent. Those in the top fifty get doubled resources monthly. Work hard.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.” Zhu Fuqin felt greatly encouraged.
Leng Wuya’s gaze shifted back onto Lu Hangzhi. Smiling, he said:
“Logically speaking, Hangzhi, you are now also an Inner Sect Disciple and can participate in this Inner Sect Competition. Would you like to experience it?”
Hangzhi considered this seriously, then nodded.
“The Outer Sect Competition truly held little challenge for me. I’d welcomed the pressure from all you senior brothers and sisters so I can go back and closed-door cultivate and train harder.”
“Heh… you were born a cultivation lunatic!” Leng Wuya sounded helpless but amused.
The group all smiled gracefully, expressing kind encouragement.
Naturally, they didn’t think Junior Brother Hangzhi at Early Third Grade cultivation could achieve any significant rank in this competition. But this boldness of his was commendable.
“Alright then. Everyone should return and get ready. We’ll see each other tomorrow at the competition.”
“Alright!”
“Farewell!”
“See you tomorrow, Little Brother Hangzhi.”
Gosh. Hangzhi walked back to the Golden Jade Hall, slightly flushed, carrying the Qiankun Pouch Senior Brother Leng had given him, heading towards his residence.
Two young boys stood by the door.
“Xiao Mu? Xiao Ying?”
“Greetings to Senior Brother Hangzhi!”
“Hello, Senior Brother Hangzhi!”
The two youngsters greeted him with tender voices imitating an adult tone, very adorable. Hangzhi smiled inwardly and said aloud:
“Why are you here? Come on in. Perfect timing, I just got some tasty treats from Senior Brother Leng.”
“Delicious food?”
Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying immediately forgot their Master’s instruction to “hurry back”. Their eyes lit up as they followed into the house.
Lu Hangzhi took out the five-hundred-year-old Essence Spirit Fruit that his Senior Brother gave him before leaving. The rich fragrance immediately made Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying very eager for it.
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
“Senior Brother Hangzhi is so nice!”
Lu Hangzhi thought these two little ones were very cute, just like his own younger brothers. He did not realize he was only two years older than Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying.
Watching the two little ones happily munching on the Spirit Fruit with juice all over their faces, Lu Hangzhi laughed and said:
“Don’t rush. You can come to Senior Brother’s place anytime you want to eat Spirit Fruit.”
“Okay!”
“Mhmm.”
Xiao Mu and Xiao Ying nodded vigorously.
But…
Lu Hangzhi suddenly remembered!
Senior Brother Leng Wuya gave him a Spirit Fruit Tree and Purple Bamboo, both were good things. But he did not know how to plant spiritual items.
“By the way, Xiao Mu, you’ve been in the Xuanxin Sect for several years. Do you know how to plant trees?”
“Xiao Mu only knows how to fan the furnace.”
“Xiao Ying only knows how to sort herbs.”
“Then forget it.”
“Senior Brother wants to plant a Spirit Tree?” Xiao Mu’s eyes rolled, and he stopped eating. He said: “Xiao Mu knows a Senior Brother who is very good at planting Spirit Trees. Should I send him a message and ask him to help?”
“Oh? Which Senior Brother is it? Is he willing to come?”
“Of course!”
Xiao Mu proudly clapped his hands and said: “Senior Brother, just watch me.”
After speaking, he took out a Message Talisman, said a few words, and the Talisman vanished like lightning. Lu Hangzhi blushed a little.
As expected of a disciple who had long followed the Master, his spellcasting skill was not inferior to his own.
Xiao Mu lowered his head and continued munching on the fruit, mumbling an explanation: “Senior Brother… don’t worry… he will definitely come.”
Just as Lu Hangzhi was about to speak, a knock came from outside the courtyard:
“Senior Brother Xiao Mu! Senior Brother Xiao Mu! I’m here!”
Lu Hangzhi was stunned:
So fast?
Which Senior Brother was this, so enthusiastic?
Lu Hangzhi hurried to open the door.
Outside stood a middle-aged man with a brilliantly bright smile.
Oh!
Lu Hangzhi was surprised but did not dare to delay: “This Senior Brother…”
But the person outside spoke even faster:
“You must be Senior Brother Lu Hangzhi, who shone brilliantly in today’s Outer Sect Competition! I am Ruan Qing!”
Senior Brother?
Little brother?
Lu Hangzhi almost thought this was a Senior Brother with a short circuit in his brain.
Then Xiao Mu called out from inside:
“Little Qing Qing, you’re here.”
Boom!
Lu Hangzhi felt as if thunder had struck him!!
Little Qing Qing…
“Senior Brother Xiao Ying is here too.”
Ruan Qing slipped into the courtyard, looking left and right: “Hmm, the Golden Jade Hall’s house is really good. Excellent layout, abundant Spiritual Energy. What Spirit Tree do you want to plant? Bring it out. I, Ruan Qing, have been at Daoshan Peak for twenty years. I’ve planted every kind of Spirit Tree. It’s not an empty reputation.”
Lu Hangzhi silently took out the Qiankun Pouch…
Ruan Qing took it, his body jolted. He looked at Lu Hangzhi with even more eagerness: “Senior Brother Hangzhi, your house definitely needs a gardener!”