Chapter 535

"What brings you here?"

Fang Yu continued his cultivation within his cave dwelling, yet his words drifted out and reached the ears of the two arriving disciples.

Both You Chen Dao Ren and the green-robed man froze, seemingly surprised that they had been discovered the moment they arrived; they exchanged glances, and the green-robed man spoke: "Disciple Bu Ying, Dao name Fish Hawk, having witnessed the Elder's noble bearing in the Zhang Sect Hall, I am filled with reverence and humbly beg the Elder to guide me—do you have time?"

The green-robed man, Bu Ying, observed all formalities with utmost care.

"Oh. Guide you?"

Fang Yu smiled. "Then let's go—I've been pondering something, and my mood is good. I'll show you a few moves."

"Thank you, Elder!"

Bu Ying's expression shifted—he had not expected this Fang Yu Elder to boldly claim he would offer guidance—but he wished to see the Elder's true ability, so he led Fang Yu toward the Discourse Hall.

The Discourse Hall was where the Black-White Academy held its discourses, and debating within it was a favored method among its disciples.

When Fang Yu strode into the Discourse Hall, he saw many already inside.

Zhang Yuandong, who had entered with Fang Yu but became a new disciple, was also present; his mood seemed poor, clearly having been humiliated by senior disciples in the Discourse Hall and lost something valuable.

"Brother Yuan Dong, I'll take these hundred Black-White Pills and ten catties of Primordial Fluid."

A man in white robes, stained with blood spots, spoke coolly.

"Brother Wen Jian, I lost—I accept the loss."

Zhang Yuandong's lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing harsh; yet he felt he had been utterly tricked this time.

He had only a thousand Black-White Pills to begin with, and now he had lost a hundred in one match.

For him, this was a substantial loss.

Primordial Fluid was the essence of heavenly and earthly Qi; one could cultivate directly with it, without burdening the body. Ten catties was no small amount for him.

This discourse had cost him dearly.

Now that another new disciple had arrived, Zhang Yuandong wanted to warn Fang Yu not to join the discourses—but he couldn't speak up, as those senior brothers were watching him.

Perhaps this Fang Yu Elder, who had become an Elder the moment he entered, would shock these disciples.

"Brother Yuan Dong, don't compete anymore. Your senior brothers and sisters have trained in the Academy for years; if you keep fighting, you'll only lose more."

A distant woman in water-blue Dao robes, her long hair flowing, spoke kindly.

"Sister Jiu Lian, I'll try my best!"

Zhang Yuandong nodded upon hearing her words.

At that moment, Fang Yu, You Chen Dao Ren, and Bu Ying entered the Discourse Hall; all turned to look.

"Sister Jiu Lian, this is our Black-White Academy's newly promoted Elder Fang—he has come specifically to the Discourse Hall to guide our disciples' cultivation."

Hearing this, all present showed surprise; the woman named Jiu Lian turned her gaze and bowed: "Greetings, Elder. I arrived at the Academy only at dusk, so I missed your entrance ceremony. For you to come and guide us is truly an honor for us disciples."

"No trouble at all. Who's first?"

Fang Yu smiled.

To be fair, the atmosphere of the Black-White Academy was truly pleasant; in the Yuhua Sect, there would have already been countless fights by now—but here, even those who wanted to humiliate him did so with such polite words, asking him to guide them.

That would be unthinkable in the Yuhua Sect.

"I beg the Elder to instruct me—I'll be the first to challenge."

The disciple with Dao name You Chen spoke first, yet did not step onto the platform. "Elder, our discourses always have stakes—would a hundred Black-White Pills and a hundred catties of Primordial Fluid suffice?"

At these words, many faces changed; a hundred Black-White Pills were nothing, but a hundred catties of Primordial Fluid was no small sum—it could raise a cultivator by a full minor realm.

For a Purple Mansion realm cultivator, ten catties of Primordial Fluid was enough to advance from initial to early Purple Mansion.

To break from early to mid-Purple Mansion required only dozens of catties.

Now they were betting a hundred catties—it was excessive.

Fang Yu, however, paid it no mind and nodded.

He himself had no need for Primordial Fluid, but when he later cultivated his Second Primordial Spirit, it would indeed require Primordial Fluid to progress; if someone was willing to offer it now, why refuse?

"A hundred Black-White Pills, a hundred catties of Primordial Fluid."

A withered voice rang out from the edge of the Discourse Hall; a standing white-haired elder spoke: "Since both parties agree, the stakes are set."

"Now, both of you, select your puppets."

The white-haired elder continued.

This elder was not a True Person—he was a puppet, assigned to manage minor affairs of the Discourse Hall.

Discourses in the Discourse Hall did not involve the disciples' true bodies; such direct combat might ignite real anger and cause injury, so discourses here required each participant to choose a puppet, refine it, and use it to represent themselves in battle.

This prevented any real harm to the disciples' true bodies.

"The Black-White Academy's discourses are so refined…"