Wei Tianchong couldn’t help but be proud. This was an upper-grade fiend snake close to Mind Opening. Its formidable strength would leave ordinary students helpless, and there had been two of them. While Wei Tianchong had been killing one, this one had used the chance to escape, but Wei Tianchong had managed to catch up to it and slay it.
In the past, a single middle-grade would push Wei Tianchong to the brink of death, but now, he could take care of two upper-grades. It had to be said that these last two years under Yan Changfeng’s instruction had allowed Wei Tianchong to rapidly advance.
After laughing, Wei Tianchong suddenly turned pale, clenching his stomach. “This Changfeng Thirteenth Style is incredibly powerful, but it takes too much. Using it multiple times in a row is forcing it a little.”
Nearby, Shi Meng limped over. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he said, “Shit, it hypnotized the snake only for so little time! Things almost went sour there.”
The little fox snorted, “The Neverwinter Hypnotic Song is still a secret art of the Five Gods Faith. Things only ended up like this because you haven’t trained it enough. It’s one thing for you to lack training, but for you to also be so arrogant? You were lucky to not die there. In a battle of life and death, victory or defeat can be decided by centimeters. If this happens again, you might not be so lucky.”
Shi Meng resentfully said, “Understood.”
Tang Jie had the Divine Firmament Sword Classic while Wei Tianchong had been enduring Yan Changfeng’s tutelage, so back when the little fox had been passing down her techniques, these both had enough secret arts to learn and didn’t have the energy to study the secret arts of the Five Gods Faith. Thus, after some discussion, they had the little fox teach Shi Meng.
Thus, in these last two years, the one with the greatest grasp of the Five God Faith’s spell arts wasn’t Tang or Wei, but Shi Meng.
But this kid placed quantity over quality. While he had learned thirty to forty spells, he hadn’t truly mastered any of them. The Neverwinter Hypnotic Song was an extremely powerful mind-seizing art of the Five Gods Faith, but in his hands, it could only hold a fiend snake for two or three seconds. If Divine God Luo down below had learned of this, he probably would have crawled out of his grave in anger.
As the little fox began to scold Shi Meng, Wei Tianchong laughed and began to dismantle the snake. He removed a fiend pellet and said in satisfaction, “This trip wasn’t a complete waste.” But as he turned to look at his puppet, he paled and yowled, “Fuck!”
He rushed over and grabbed the puppet. Several cracks had appeared on the arm, clearly from damage inflicted in the battle just now.
“And there’s some internal damage too…” Wei Tianchong moaned.
Shi Meng said, “I think this puppet is about to hit its limit.”
Wei Tianchong had taken this puppet everywhere in these last two years, and it had been through countless battles as Wei Tianchong’s most important combat ally. In terms of contribution, it had far exceeded Wei Tianchong’s initial investment of five thousand coins.
But over these battles, the internal damage had gradually built up.
It probably wouldn’t be long before it completely fell apart.
The fox commented, “This puppet was built very well, but your opponents over these last two years have been getting stronger and stronger, and it can no longer keep up. It’s good that it’s broken. You can make a stronger one. While it still works, you can either sell it or recycle it for resources.”
Shi Meng said, “I think it would be better to sell it. The resources you can get from recycling are limited, but if you sell it, it can still be rather useful for the students in the lower years.”
Wei Tianchong didn’t reply, dumbly gazing at the puppet.
The puppet had no mind of its own, but Wei Tianchong had used it for ages and was accustomed to its existence. The thought of switching it out unexpectedly left him rather reluctant.
After a while, he said, “Let’s recycle it. In this way, I can still keep a few things with me.”
Shi Meng froze for a moment before saying, “Young Master is full of passion and loyalty, and Shi Meng acknowledges his inferiority. This being the case, let us do as Young Master says and recycle it.”
Wei Tianchong casually grunted, his good mood from finishing the mission gone. “Shi Meng, go and dismantle the rest of the snake and collect what’s usable. We’ll go and stroll around the streets, selling what we should sell and buying what we need. This time, I’m going to make a puppet that will last me a very, very long time.”
“Young Master, that will take a lot of money.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve managed to save up some money these last two years. My mom sent me some money a few days ago, and I still haven’t even touched it.”
“But how much could you have possibly saved?”
“Fifteen thousand, I suppose.”
“Wow, Young Master, aren’t you being a little too disloyal here? When I wanted to borrow money from you to get a Green Jade Flute, you wouldn’t even loan me one thousand.”
“Ahem, ahem, as your young master, I don’t have much extra money either. Once I’ve made my new puppet, I’ll be poor again.”
“Hah, who’d believe that?”
“Is this how you speak to your young master?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Alright, alright. When we get back, I’ll take you to Tang Jie’s Carefree House. His spirit fruits are almost done ripening, so I’ll help you steal a few to try them out.”
“Young Master…”
“Mm?”
“Tang Jie said before that you won’t die if you don’t seek death.”
“…Oh, then forget it.”
As they joked, the two people and one fox headed to Sanshan City, which was located near Westwind Ridge.
Back at the inn, they were going to rest when they saw a familiar person drinking alcohol in the inn’s main hall.
Nan Baicheng.
“Seventh Senior Brother!” Wei Tianchong shouted, quickly going over to greet Nan Baicheng.
After becoming Yan Changfeng’s disciple, he no longer addressed Nan Baicheng as Esteemed Master, but as his official senior brother.
Even though this senior brother had once tried to impede his every step, since they were under the same teacher, they left much of the past unsaid. Wei Tianchong didn’t have much else, but at least he wasn’t one to hold grudges. Thus, whenever he met Nan Baicheng, he would be very respectful, and as the days went by, the resentment between them, which hadn’t been very great in the first place, gradually faded away.
Wei Tianchong bowed and said, “Senior Brother, what brings you to Sanshan City?”
“To see you, naturally. So, how is the mission Master has given you going?” Nan Baicheng asked, putting down his cup.
“It’s done, and I was heading back to report to Master.”
“Good. There’s no need to report to Master. I’ve come this time because Master has given you another mission.”
“Huh?” Wei Tianchong grimaced. “Seventh Senior Brother, even a forced laborer doesn’t have it this hard, right? I just finished a mission and haven’t even had time to return to the academy. At least let me rest a few days.”
“But this is good news, something that others can’t even beg for!” Nan Baicheng smiled.
While two years had made Wei Tianchong much more mature, he was still a rather carefree personality. However, he knew about his priorities, and he had finished all of the missions Yan Changfeng had given him in excellent fashion.
For Nan Baicheng, while this meant that he had somewhat lacked judgment and insight, it at least meant that Yan Changfeng would not grow angry at him because of it.
Of course, this was because Wei Tianchong was constantly fawning and respectful to him. If Wei Tianchong had resented him, Nan Baicheng probably wouldn’t have thought so well of him.
Wei Tianchong asked, “What is it?”
“In another three months, the Wandering Palace will be holding the Immortal Fortune Conference. Master hopes for you to go, so he recommended you to the sect.”
“The Immortal Fortune Conference? What is that?” Wei Tianchong didn’t understand.
Nan Baicheng gave a rough summary of what the Immortal Fortune Conference was about.
“Marrying the young palace master of the Wandering Palace?” Wei Tianchong couldn’t help but be startled. He bitterly said, “It’s a gathering of elites from the six major sects. With my puny ability, I probably won’t have much of a chance, right?”
Nan Baicheng snorted. “You’re quite the well-behaved person, but you lack competitive spirit! You think we want you to go? The problem is that despite all the True Inheritors in the world, only a few of them are still students. As Changfeng’s True Inheritor, if you didn’t even have the right to participate in the Immortal Fortune Conference, wouldn’t everyone in the world just laugh?”
“So it was for the sake of Master’s dignity,” Wei Tianchong mumbled.
“Correct, for Master’s dignity!” Nan Baicheng harshly said. “That’s why you don’t just have to go, you have to put on a splendid show at the Immortal Fortune Conference! Master said that you have to get into the top ten this time!”
“What?” Wei Tianchong yelped. “What sort of joke is that? I’m not that capable.”
“You don’t have to worry.” Nan Baicheng smiled. “Tang Jie will also participate in this Immortal Fortune Conference, and Master has permitted you to seek his help. Since he was able to get you True Inheritor, I’m sure he can get you into the top ten.”
“Tang Jie’s also going?” Wei Tianchong exhaled in relief. “That’s good, then.”
Nan Baicheng saw him relaxing and chuckled. “Master also said that if you can’t get into the top ten, he’ll drive you out! Don’t think that everything’s smooth sailing once you’re in the door. If you do a poor job, you can be driven out all the same!”
“……”
Looking at the dejected look on Wei Tianchong’s face, Nan Baicheng felt happy.
In truth, this was all his own idea. Yan Changfeng hadn’t required Wei Tianchong to get into the top ten, only put on a decent show and at least not bring shame to True Person Changfeng. But Nan Baicheng was still angry about how Tang Jie had stubbornly insisted on supporting Wei Tianchong, and he had yet to forgive Tang Jie for it. Thus, he had given Tang Jie this tough problem, after which he laughed and stood up.
As Nan Baicheng left, Wei Tianchong said, “Farewell, Senior Brother.”
He remained bowed until Nan Baicheng was far in the distance, and only then did he rise.
Wei Tianchong shouted, “Shit! Threatening me with expulsion again! It’s always the same excuse! If you can really do it, then expel me already!”
This actually wasn’t the first time such words had been said to him.
But marrying the young palace master wasn’t a bad thing, and he grew lively once more. But he quickly shook his head and rejected the idea. It had to be understood that this was a gathering of elites from the six sects, and every opponent would be stronger than the last.
If either of them had a chance, it was much more likely to be Tang Jie. While Wei Tianchong had been making tons of progress in these last two years, Tang Jie always defeated him in their spars. Wei Tianchong didn’t understand how this guy trained, nor had he ever seen him learn any new spell arts, but his strength was so terrifying that Wei Tianchong understood him less and less.
But hold on.
Wasn’t there something wrong here?
Wei Tianchong realized something, and he jumped up. “Xu Miaoran? Tang Jie, good work! I’d like to see how you explain this to Xu Miaoran!”