Chapter 235: Hall of Merit

235. Chapter 235 Hall of Merit

Zhou Tong watched his master pondering and dared not disturb him.

After waiting for a while, he could no longer hold back and said, "Master, there is another matter. When I tried to persuade junior sister Hu to leave, Elder Fang heard our entire conversation, for example... for example, I said that many core disciples of the sect leader's lineage had already been secretly transferred, and I also intended to slip away..."

"Useless!"

Jinmu True Person shouted angrily, "You even betrayed your master?"

"No, no! Of course not," Zhou Tong quickly shook his head, "I never mentioned you, master. But... I'm worried Elder Fang might leak my desire to leave, and then the sect would send someone to investigate the disciple..."

Jinmu True Person waved his hand and said, "You needn't worry about that. Go down. Since Elder Fang is still alive, you can't interfere with Hu Li's matter. Just complete the other tasks I assigned you. If everything is handled properly, the Condensing True Pill will still be given to you in the end."

"Thank you, master!"

Zhou Tong's face showed delight.

His cultivation had already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage and was about to face the Core Formation issue.

But the Condensing True Pill, even in the Qingxu Realm, is a rather precious item.

Especially for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

His innate spiritual root was decent, though not exceptionally outstanding, so obtaining the Condensing True Pill was not easy.

Therefore, whether he held the Sanyang Sect in a deadly battle against the Fuhai Sect or chose to desert, it was all unimportant to him.

What mattered was obtaining the Condensing True Pill!

And his master, Jinmu True Person, had already prepared the Condensing True Pill for him.

Watching his disciple's departing back, Jinmu True Person furrowed his brows.

Fang Yuan hadn't died, which disrupted his plan.

His subconscious first reaction was, since Lady Minghe couldn't kill Fang Yuan, perhaps he could act personally to make Fang Yuan die a second time.

But he quickly dismissed that thought.

On one hand, although Fang Yuan was at the early Core Formation stage, he was not a newly formed Core Formation cultivator; his foundation was relatively deep, and the fact that he could withstand Minghe True Person's killing technique this time indicated he was not simple, that he had secrets, and even if he acted personally he couldn't be certain of killing him; on the other hand, considering it from another angle, Fang Yuan not dying might actually be a good thing.

For example, if he could win Fang Yuan over and make him willingly obey, it would be equivalent to also winning over Hu Li.

The bond between this master and disciple was indeed very deep.

Fang Yuan persuading Hu Li was countless times more effective than Zhou Tong's attempts! So winning over Fang Yuan was better and simpler than eliminating him! "Tsk tsk…"

"First, by accident you took in Hu Li, a fine disciple, and now he survives a great calamity. Fang Yuan, could it be that this person truly has luck on his side?"

Jinmu True Person couldn't help but smile wryly.

……

……

"Master, previously the External Affairs Hall had tasks assigned to me, but when you entered seclusion, they temporarily stopped assigning me."

"Now that you have emerged, should I go to the External Affairs Hall to report?"

Hu Li, seeing her master safe and sound, felt genuinely happy and also thought of the sect's current shortage of manpower, wanting to contribute a share.

"What are you going to report? Stay in the cave and cultivate, and raise your cultivation to late Foundation Establishment first!" Xiao Zhangqing retorted, "When the two great sects clash, what can a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator like you do? It's just a clash of false Dan and Core Formation True Persons! Your three senior brothers have already perished on the battlefield; I, your master, have also walked the Ghost Gate once. Who in the External Affairs Hall would dare send you to fight?"

Although he had transmigrated and possessed this body, fundamentally he had no affection for this cheap disciple.

However, after this brief period of contact, Xiao Zhangqing's impression of Hu Li was quite good and he didn't want her to go to her death. According to the memories in his mind, his previous self, when participating in battle, was being chased by Minghe True Person, which was rather suspicious.

After all, under normal circumstances, both sides adhere to certain rules in combat, and in non-extreme situations a Core Formation True Person of the later stage wouldn't chase an early Core Formation cultivator.

That would be a waste of talent.

Moreover, several other disciples of his previous self fell on the battlefield, making the 'mortality rate' rather high.

Xiao Zhangqing guessed perhaps his former self had some enemy secretly framing him.

Hu Li, being the only remaining disciple, should honestly continue cultivating within the sect; even if she has to go on a mission, she should stay by his side.

If the Sanyang Sect were truly breached, it wouldn't be difficult for him to leave with his disciple.

"But…"

"There's nothing to object to. If you don't listen to my words now? Cultivate properly. I go out once; without my order, you cannot leave the sect, understand? The External Affairs Hall will be arranged by me."

After Xiao Zhangqing finished speaking, he flew toward the sect's Hall of Merit.

His current status is sect Elder; having completed many missions before, he had accumulated considerable contribution points and should be able to exchange some treasures directly at the Hall of Merit.

That could be considered a perk of having transmigrated.

No need to work first; just take the reward directly.

……

Hall of Merit.

It could also be called the Sanyang Sect's Treasure Hall.

The various treasures accumulated by the sect over centuries are mostly stored here.

Disciples, guardians, and elders of the sect who complete sect missions earn contribution points and can come here to exchange treasures based on those points.

Xiao Zhangqing's figure halted before the ancient and majestic hall; after producing the Token that proved his identity and having it verified, the hall's formation slowly opened, allowing him to enter.

"Fang Yuan, meet the Grand Elder."

Xiao Zhangqing looked toward a white-haired elder sitting cross-legged not far away, appearing to be cultivating or perhaps sleeping, and gave a slight bow.

This person was the Grand Elder of the Sanyang Sect. Though he appeared aged and senile, his combat power was not only the highest beneath the sect leader Chi Xuan True Lord within the Sanyang Sect, but he was also renowned throughout the Eastern Extreme State, having earned a great reputation in his prime.

His most proud achievement was that, with comparable cultivation, he once fought the former brightest Heavenly Champion of the Zixia Sect, now a Nascent Soul cultivator Baiyun True Lord, and was only slightly outmatched.

Of course, the current Baiyun True Lord is exceptionally powerful; in the Nascent Soul Initial Stage he is top-tier, even stronger than the Sanyang Sect's leader Chi Xuan True Lord, so this Grand Elder naturally could not be compared with him.

"Elder Fang?" the Grand Elder slightly opened his eyes and praised, "Not bad, not bad. I heard you were pursued by Lady Minghe, your Soul Transformation was severely injured, and they thought you wouldn't survive, yet you recovered so quickly. Moreover, your aura... seems to have progressed beyond before?"

Xiao Zhangqing nodded, "Fortune was on my side; both my magical power and Soul Transformation have grown, and my cultivation has broken through years of shackles, advancing to the mid Golden Core stage."

"Excellent! My Sanyang Sect remains destined by Heaven, and new talents will continuously emerge; the Fuhai Sect dare not think they can extinguish my legacy!" the Grand Elder exclaimed with excitement.

He feels an incredibly strong sense of belonging to the Three Yang Sect.

"You came to the Hall of Merit today to exchange treasures, right? Let me see…" The Grand Elder took out a special artifact that recorded the contribution points of everyone in the sect, "Elder Fang has a total of 14,700 contribution points, so there are still quite a few items that can be exchanged."

Immediately, the Grand Elder produced another artifact; as magical energy poured in, clusters of light circles appeared around, each circle projecting a treasure and displaying its detailed description—very convenient. (End of chapter)