Novel Full Chapter 31: Lin Qifeng's Reward
The sudden voice from behind sent a chill down Zhang Xishun’s spine.
When did he get there?
Appearing silently behind him—how was that possible!
He needed to remember that his own cultivation level was at the late stage of the Qi Sea Realm, and he wasn’t far from reaching the peak of the Qi Sea Realm either!
Unless… the other party’s cultivation was above the Passable God Realm?
Zhang Xishun quickly turned around, and his panicked, vigilant eyes soon transformed into despair.
A blue Daoist robe, completely white temples, and an imposing, dignified aura.
Zhang Xishun knew the identity of this elderly cultivator standing before him.
Martial Elder of Qingchan Peak, master of Cangwu Residence.
Fu Qian.
“You want to see the list, is that it?”
Fu Qian spoke slowly, slightly raising his head with a contemptuous and arrogant attitude.
“Fu Qian!”
A flash of ferocity appeared in Zhang Xishun’s eyes. Without hesitation, he raised his hand to strike his own forehead.
He wanted to commit suicide!
However, before his hand could reach his forehead, a black line appeared on Zhang Xishun’s wrist.
In the next instant, Zhang Xishun’s right hand fell cleanly severed to the ground.
With a mere thought from Fu Qian, a strand of innate true energy flowed out, directly piercing Zhang Xishun’s qi sea.
Immediately after, all of Zhang Xishun’s true energy and meridians were sealed.
This was the first time Chen Yan had witnessed the methods of a Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator.
Unlike the brute force of Qi Sea Realm cultivators and below, their every movement was filled with calmness and effortless grace.
Then, with just a casual glance from Fu Qian that swept deep into Zhang Xishun’s eyes, this Qi Sea Realm cultivator collapsed stiffly to the ground, like a discarded puppet.
Fu Qian’s finger made a slight hook in the empty air, and Zhang Xishun’s body floated upward.
“Very good.”
Although Fu Qian didn’t directly look at Chen Yan, instead focusing his gaze on Zhang Xishun floating in mid-air.
He was indeed praising Chen Yan.
Chen Yan didn’t speak, merely bowing respectfully in Fu Qian’s direction.
“How did you discover that this person was on the list?”
Fu Qian then asked.
“Reporting to the Elder, one of this disciple’s close friends unfortunately perished in this incident, and I have been deeply grieving over it during this time.”
Chen Yan said:
“Therefore, this disciple has been secretly investigating Elder Song’s cause of death. Perhaps because they believed I was connected to that matter, they sent Zhang Xishun to approach me.”
“But this disciple has developed considerable connections in the outer court and noticed something suspicious about Zhang Xishun, hence I reported this matter to Qingchan Peak.”
Chen Yan fabricated a story—after all, there were no living witnesses to contradict him.
Fu Qian raised an eyebrow slightly:
“Your connections in the outer court?”
“Some of the outer court stewards are quite enthusiastic about advancement, so…”
Before Chen Yan could finish, Fu Qian already understood.
Some people, in their efforts to curry favor with Lin Qifeng, would also try to please this kid Chen Yan.
How laughable.
However, this was something he could potentially exploit as well.
Fu Qian thought to himself.
“Continue investigating Zhang Xishun’s social network in the outer court. If you make new discoveries, I will naturally reward you handsomely.”
Fu Qian said:
“Also, send my regards to your master.”
“Yes.”
Chen Yan responded.
In the next instant, Fu Qian vanished from the clearing along with Zhang Xishun, disappearing into thin air.
If there are new discoveries, there will be generous rewards?
What about this time then?
Chen Yan secretly grumbled in his heart.
It seemed Elder Fu was quite skilled at making empty promises.
…
The next day.
The second day of the outer court competition.
Chen Yan walked from below the arena platform toward the viewing stand.
His presence attracted almost everyone’s attention.
Because this personal disciple of the outer court elder had delivered an absolutely stunning performance yesterday.
However, Chen Yan himself felt something was off.
Because from the moment he appeared in the training grounds today until he sat down behind Lin Qifeng, Lin Qifeng hadn’t once looked directly at him.
Although he indeed wasn’t a disciple who pleased Lin Qifeng’s heart—merely a messenger tool—the attitude toward him previously hadn’t been this cold.
“You went to Qingchan Peak yesterday?”
Only after Chen Yan had taken his seat behind Lin Qifeng did the elder slowly speak.
“Yes.”
Chen Yan replied.
He probably understood why Lin Qifeng’s attitude was poor today.
“Didn’t I tell you not to get involved with Qingchan Peak’s affairs, to let them sort out their own mess?”
“Master did say that.”
“Then what did you do?”
“…”
Chen Yan didn’t respond immediately.
When facing difficult questions, silence was the best answer.
Because any answer that could be spoken would be worse than silence.
Chen Yan didn’t know what consequence awaited him for going against Lin Qifeng’s wishes.
After all, although he was nominally Lin Qifeng’s personal disciple, he was actually just a messenger.
But he didn’t regret it.
Because preventing the outer court calamity that would occur over two years from now was something he believed he had to do.
But what punishment awaited him?
Expulsion from the master-disciple relationship, or being kicked out of Kongshan Sect?
These were actually outcomes Chen Yan could accept.
Because he held no particular attachment to either Lin Qifeng or Kongshan Sect, where he had lived through over twenty reincarnations.
Perhaps leaving Kongshan Sect would allow him to live more freely.
“You kid.”
Lin Qifeng said sternly, then paused slightly:
“Although I never had any expectations of you, your personality unexpectedly suits my taste.”
Huh?
Chen Yan was covered in question marks.
Originally, Chen Yan thought he would face harsh criticism from Lin Qifeng.
After all, from what he knew, Lin Qifeng and Fu Qian had a very poor relationship.
As Lin Qifeng’s disciple, having dealings with Fu Qian could be seen as slapping Lin Qifeng in the face.
But Chen Yan didn’t receive the scolding he expected from Lin Qifeng.
“Speaking of which, when you became my disciple, I still owed you a meeting gift. Today, your master will make it up to you.”
As he spoke, Lin Qifeng flipped his sleeve, causing space to distort and tremble.
A palm-sized jade box appeared in his hand, containing nine ice needles with deep blue flowing light inside.
“These are Soul Ice Needles, a middle-grade third-tier spiritual artifact I obtained by chance during my travels in Qingque Kingdom years ago. When activated with true energy, these needles can directly penetrate the protective true energy of cultivators at the same level.”
Lin Qifeng said:
“As for the other wonderful uses of this spiritual artifact, you’ll have to figure them out yourself.”
“Thank you for Master’s reward.”
Chen Yan said respectfully.
“Don’t celebrate too early.”
Lin Qifeng said:
“In the future, if you meddle in Qingchan Peak’s troublesome affairs again, don’t blame me for breaking your legs!”
“This disciple understands.”
Chen Yan said.
Just at that moment, the gong sounded in the training grounds, signaling the official start of the Body Forging Realm competition.
Chen Yan stored the nine Soul Ice Needles in his robe.
A middle-grade third-tier spiritual artifact—Lin Qifeng was indeed generous.
In this limited territory of the outer court, the prized possessions of those stewards or ceremonial officials were at most middle-grade spiritual artifacts.
However, Chen Yan was rather indifferent, showing little emotional reaction.
Because in his previous reincarnation, the reward he had obtained was a middle-grade second-tier magical instrument.