Chapter 781: The Obedient Disciple Comes into the Embrace 15

Breaking the rules, hmph.

The smile on Bixia Zhenren's face vanished instantly; she stood, flicked her sleeves, and said solemnly: 'Indeed, someone broke the rules in the earlier match.'

But it's not Fei Mian—it's you!

Xie Xi's face changed; he couldn't figure out what he had done to break the rules, and hurriedly replied.

What are you talking about? How could I have broken the rules!

Bribing fellow disciples to let you win is forbidden—it's written in the Profound Heaven Sect's rules! You've been here so long, yet you haven't even memorized it?

Bixia Zhenren hadn't originally intended to say this in front of everyone, but this little disciple actually dared to turn the tables!

Upon saying this, not only did Xie Xi's face drain of color, but even the disciple he had given spirit stones to was shaken.

It's over; I was still found out.

Xie Xi took a deep breath, forced his expression steady: 'I don't know what you, Immortal Master, are talking about; I've never engaged in any… bribery.'

But he's still young; lying makes him nervous, and anyone with a bit of scheming can see through it.

Let alone in front of these Immortal Masters who have lived for hundreds of years.

Luorongchang spoke first: 'Since it's my disciple who erred, I will naturally take him back to the Sword Cultivation Institute for discipline—no need to trouble you, True Person Bixia.'

He's the Sect Leader's disciple; I dare not discipline him.

Bixia Zhenren snorted coldly, flicked her sleeves, and left.

The mocking intent in those words was all too obvious; Luorongchang's face darkened, and he stared at the silently weeping Xie Xi.

Come back with me at once!

The farce was over; Xie Xi didn't get the first place he wanted, but was scolded instead, leaving him unable to accept it as he sobbed uncontrollably in Luo Yi Ping's arms.

On the other side, Fei Mian went to claim the first-place prize, then clung to Jin Chen, refusing to let go: 'Master, are you planning to go somewhere else lately?'

Fei Mian had noticed this a few days before the match, but held back to avoid wild thoughts; now that she'd won, she could finally ask.

I saw you packing your bags a few days ago, Master, and I wanted to go with you...

These past months, Fei Mian has got you figured out; she now puckers her lips and acts cute, though a trace of the fierceness from earlier on the stage remains.

Master, you can't abandon me...

That pack is prepared for you.

He himself has gone years without eating grain and doesn't need sleep, so what use does he have for all this stuff?

Who would have thought Fei Mian would suddenly panic, her lovely eyes filling with mist: 'Master, where are you sending me?!'

Jin Chen flicked her forehead in annoyance: 'Idiot.'

I'm taking you to the Demon Tower for a two-year trial; we can't skimp on food, clothing, and necessities.

He lowered his gaze at the little brat who'd stopped fake-crying at once, pinched his ears, and said, 'All thunder, no rain.'

Fei Mian sniffed, blinked, and squeezed out a tear.

'There's rain,' he said, rubbing against Master's chest in a bid for favor.

This match, besides facing new disciples, also involved intra-sect bouts from the various institutes, all needing to determine rankings.

After all matches were done, the next day Luorongchang issued a notice.

All disciples on this ranking must cultivate in seclusion for five years; the Observation Platform has calculated that a divine artifact will appear in five years.

By then, many sects will flock there, surely reaping abundant gains and finding opportunities.

Everyone wants to seize an opportunity, after which their cultivation will go smoothly.

Thus, all those on the list are fired up, obsessively cultivating day after day.

——

This is the Demon Tower… so tall!

Fei Mian, in Jin Chen's arms, looked up; the tower's peak pierced the clouds, endless in sight, making her neck ache.

She tilted her head, then turned to look at Jin Chen.

Master, what are we supposed to do?

A Variant Dark Spiritual Root can't be handled by orthodox cultivation methods; better to rely on actual combat.

Jin Chen flicked his sleeves, summoning the Tower-Opening Sword; mystic power forged within it rang out, and the Demon Tower opened in response.

In an instant, thick gloomy mist shrouded the sky and earth; Fei Mian could even hear the roars from within the tower, full of resentment, as if they might burst forth at any moment.

He widened his eyes in surprise, shrank into Jin Chen's embrace, and whispered, 'Master, are you sending me in to fight them?'

The first three floors are filled with weak demons; they're also your goal for these two years.

Jin Chen held him as they walked to the entrance; wicked winds gusted, billowing their robes.

Breaking through the first three levels will surely let you achieve Foundation Establishment.

Two years to clear three floors…

Fei Mian counted on her fingers; it should still be doable.

Good!

He clung to Jin Chen's neck, cooing, 'Will you wait for me here, Master?'

Yes.

Jin Chen knew he would surely feel pity, so he set three rules in advance: 'If it hurts badly, shake the bell quickly.'

He handed the Summoning Bell to Fei Mian and urged again, 'Safety first.'

I will, Master, don't worry.

Fei Mian pocketed the bell, gave Jin Chen a big kiss, and declared, 'I'll become very strong!'

Go on.

Jin Chen set him down and watched him go in.

Hey, Host should feel heartache!

0731 sighed.

——

The facts proved that Jin Chen indeed felt heartache many times.

But Fei Mian's willpower and endurance were not ordinary.

When injured in battle with demon beasts, he would immediately and quickly deal with it, then get up and continue; but if Jin Chen happened to be watching nearby, the way he handled it would be completely different.

Fei Mian would only act coquettishly toward Master with a bitter expression.

Over time, Jin Chen also tried to avoid appearing when Fei Mian was fighting.

Cold came and heat went, the years gradually lengthened.

In the blink of an eye, two years passed, and Fei Mian completed the training of the first three floors four months ahead of schedule.

With Jin Chen by his side raising him, he not only grew taller, but also was no longer as thin as before.

Two whole years of practical combat made him stronger than before, and he also followed Master's words, suppressing his dantian during these two years, not condensing his arcane power.

On the day he left the tower, under Jin Chen's protection, he sat in meditation for three whole days before converting the surging arcane power filling his dantian into meridian strength.

He directly jumped from the third layer of Qi Refining to the seventh layer, a qualitative ascension.

Jin Chen had probed his dantian; although he was still at the Artifact Refining stage, his arcane power could already compare to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

In the next three years, he needed to stabilize his arcane power and strive for a solid Foundation Establishment.

"Master, hug!"

Now fourteen years old, Fei Mian had grown considerably; his eyebrows and eyes were exquisite and lively, his gaze shining.

At this point, hugging again would be a bit strange; his stature was no longer as petite as before, but Jin Chen never mentioned it, and Fei Mian didn't feel anything wrong.

Leaning into the familiar embrace, Fei Mian squinted his eyes and rubbed against it, softly saying, "Master, we're finally going back, huh?"

"No rush, go to Tianling Peak to fetch something."

Jin Chen carried the person out of the Demon Beast Tower, suddenly feeling a gaze full of resentful and toxic killing intent; his steps paused slightly, his eyes sharp, he glanced upward through the clouds to the top level.

The gaze suddenly vanished, as if it had backed down.