Chapter 14: Has Lin Yang the Coward Finally Dared to Come Out?

Meanwhile, on Qingyuan Peak, Huang Bin sat cross-legged inside a Spirit-Gathering Array surrounded by low-grade spirit stones. After more than two days of cultivation, he had reached the first level of Qi Refining. Among the Qingyuan Sword Sect’s new disciples, that was exceptionally fast.

But ever since the region-wide announcement that Wealthy Heavenly Emperor had reached the Violet Palace Realm, Huang Bin felt his own progress wasn’t much to celebrate.

“How’s Lin Yang doing?” He opened his eyes and looked at Liu Feng.

“I asked around at the Demon Beast Suppression Hall,” Liu Feng replied at once. “That kid hasn’t come out since he entered his courtyard. He keeps the gate shut all day. The demonic beasts outside the hall must have scared him.”

Huang Bin sneered. “Coward! I thought he had some backbone, but after joining the hall he doesn’t even dare leave his courtyard.”

Huang Bin hadn’t been idle these past few days. He had invited Tang Yu and Fang Qingyao to complete the main quest’s demon-hunting assignment with him, but both refused. Fang Qingyao said she had just joined the Beast Taming Hall and needed to care for spirit beasts. Tang Yu was even more direct: she was cultivating in seclusion and had no time.

The Qingyuan Sword Sect’s other outer disciples practically threw themselves at Huang Bin, the sect master’s personal disciple. Yet these two women wouldn’t give him the time of day!

“It must still be because of Lin Yang.”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. On Blue Star, Lin Yang had surpassed him in everything. Now Huang Bin was the sect master’s personal disciple, while Lin Yang was merely an outer disciple with third-grade spirit roots. Why did Tang Yu and Fang Qingyao still care more about Lin Yang?

Liu Feng saw what he was thinking and asked quietly, “Young Master Huang, shall I find someone to teach him a lesson?”

“What good would that do?” Huang Bin narrowed his eyes. “Demon Beast Suppression Hall disciples have to go on mountain patrol after seven days. Find some people to take Lin Yang out early.”

Liu Feng’s eyes lit up. “You mean deal with him on patrol?”

“Don’t kill him. Break an arm and cripple a leg. Make it serious enough that he’ll struggle to walk normally afterward.”

Lin Yang would suffer more alive. Once he was crippled, Huang Bin wanted to see whether Fang Qingyao and Tang Yu would still hover around him!

“Don’t worry, Young Master Huang.” Liu Feng smiled. “People from the hall die outside every day. We’ll say he ran into a demonic beast. Nobody will suspect a thing.”

Huang Bin nodded in satisfaction. “Do this well, and I won’t forget your reward.”

…

At the Demon Beast Suppression Hall, two outer disciples found Chen Junsheng, the disciple who had received Lin Yang on his arrival.

“Bring the newcomer Lin Yang on tomorrow’s mountain patrol.”

Chen Junsheng frowned. “He only joined two days ago. Hall rules give new disciples seven days to settle in. If he goes out now, he might not even have learned a basic spell.”

The leading disciple, Cao Hu, was at the sixth level of Qi Refining. The other, Zheng Tong, was a veteran at the fifth level. Both had spent years in the hall clearing low-level demonic beasts from the sect’s outskirts.

Cao Hu grew impatient. “There are more and more demonic beasts in the mountains. We’ve lost several people, and the outer patrol team is short-handed. He joined the hall, so he’ll have to go out sooner or later. What difference do a few days make?”

Chen Junsheng still felt it was wrong. “At least let him draw spiritual energy into his body first, so he can protect himself a little.”

Zheng Tong glanced at him. “If you object, take it up with the deacon. This was arranged from above. We’re only here to notify you.”

With the hall’s deacon invoked, Chen Junsheng could do nothing. He was an ordinary disciple and had no authority over assignments.

“Fine. I’ll go too. I brought Lin Yang into the hall. I’ll look after him personally on his first patrol.”

Cao Hu and Zheng Tong exchanged a glance but didn’t object. One extra Chen Junsheng didn’t matter. Once they reached the place, they could drive him away.

…

In Courtyard C-17, Lin Yang took out the tier-two Pure Yang Sword. The red-gold blade raised the room’s temperature as soon as it appeared.

【Pure Yang Sword】

【Tier: Two】

【Quality: Epic】

【Rating: 19880】

The common enhancement stone from his quest was obviously insufficient; one enhancement would take more than ten thousand of them. He opened the tier-two shop and searched for weapon enhancement stones.

【Tier-Two Epic Weapon Enhancement Stone!】

【Original price: 5,000,000 low-grade spirit stones!】

【Discounted price: 0.005 low-grade spirit stones!】

“Buy!”

【Purchase successful!】

A red-gold stone appeared in his hand.

【Use enhancement stone on the tier-two epic weapon “Pure Yang Sword”?】

“Use it!”

The stone instantly became golden light and entered the sword. The blade hummed and shook violently. Red-gold sword light shot upward, almost tearing the roof off the chamber. Lin Yang hurriedly suppressed it with his true essence.

“Keep a low profile!”

【Pure Yang Sword enhanced successfully!】

【Enhancement level: +1!】

【Rating: 19880 → 21868!】

【Sharpness, Evil-Breaking, Burning, and True Essence Amplification effects increased by 10%!】

【Congratulations! Player has completed Main Quest 4: Enhance a Weapon!】

A new quest immediately appeared.

【Main Quest 5: Sect Training!】

【Objective: Complete one sect assignment issued by the Qingyuan Sword Sect!】

【Reward: Unlock the next main quest!】

【Notice: Main quest progress affects the availability of certain game features!】

Lin Yang sighed at the objective. He had already reached the Violet Palace Realm, yet still had to run a newcomer quest. Just like an ordinary game, there was no skipping it!

Other players had mentioned this in world chat. To unlock more features, they had to keep completing the main quests. Even if some heaven-defying opportunity let them wake up as immortals, they’d still have to come back and finish the beginner quests!

“Fine. A walk outside will do me good. I’ve been in this cultivation world for days, and I haven’t even seen what’s beyond the Qingyuan Sword Sect.”

Someone knocked. “Lin Yang, are you there?”

He opened the gate to find Chen Junsheng outside. “Senior Brother Chen, what is it?”

“The hall is temporarily short-handed, so they’ve arranged for you to join a mountain patrol early.” Chen Junsheng looked apologetic. “You should have three days left to settle in, but the order came from above. I couldn’t help it. If you don’t want to go, I can ask the steward again.”

“No need.” Lin Yang had been wondering where to find a sect assignment, and one had come right to his door! “I’ll go!”

Chen Junsheng blinked. He had expected Lin Yang to be afraid, since he hadn’t left his courtyard for days. He hadn’t expected such a quick agreement.

“Mountain patrol isn’t just a stroll near the sect. Most beasts outside are only tier one, but some are as strong as late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. If you encounter danger, don’t run around. Stay close to me.”

“Don’t worry, Senior Brother Chen. I’m excellent at taking advice.”

Lin Yang turned to Xiao Hei. “Come on. I’ll take you out for some air tomorrow.”

Xiao Hei lay lazily in the courtyard. At that, he raised his head. “Finally! This lousy courtyard has made me miserable. Once we’re in the mountains, find me some demonic beasts to build up my strength!”

Chen Junsheng heard only a few barks: Xiao Hei was using spirit pet voice transmission, which only Lin Yang could understand. He looked down at the dog. “The mountains are dangerous. Best not bring an ordinary puppy. A demonic beast could swallow him in one bite.”

Xiao Hei took offense at once, but Lin Yang gave him a warning look, so Xiao Hei lay down and continued pretending to be an ordinary dog. Still, he made a mental note of Chen Junsheng. How dare Chen say Xiao Hei could be swallowed in one bite! Xiao Hei would remember that grudge for a while.

Carrying Xiao Hei, Lin Yang followed Chen Junsheng outside the Demon Beast Suppression Hall. Cao Hu and Zheng Tong were already waiting with three ordinary outer disciples. After a few brief preparations, they left the Qingyuan Sword Sect and entered the outer mountain forest.

It was Lin Yang’s first time outside the sect. Ancient trees tens of meters tall rose in every direction, and demonic beasts roared intermittently from deep in the woods. The air smelled of vegetation and earth.

“Now this feels like a cultivation world!”

As they traveled, he extended his spiritual sense. Since breaking through to the Violet Palace Realm, he could use it to explore his surroundings. His soul attribute was so high, and he had perfected the Supreme Yin Spirit-Refining Scripture, that his sense far surpassed an ordinary Violet Palace cultivator’s. When someone nearby felt a strong emotion, he could even hear their thoughts.

They had traveled only a dozen or so li—roughly six to ten kilometers—when a voice appeared in his mind. It was Cao Hu’s thought:

*Once we’re inside Blackwind Cave, I’ll break the kid’s right arm and cripple his left leg. Senior Brother Huang is the sect master’s personal disciple. If I do this well, who in the Qingyuan Sword Sect will dare cross me?*

Then came Zheng Tong’s thoughts:

*A newcomer with third-grade spirit roots is worth five hundred spirit stones. Senior Brother Huang is generous! We need to act quickly so Chen Junsheng doesn’t interfere.*

Lin Yang glanced at the pair. Five hundred spirit stones to break an arm and a leg? Huang Bin was willing to spend quite a bit to deal with him.

He found himself looking forward to it. He hadn’t fought anyone since reaching the Violet Palace Realm! These two were outer disciples who had cultivated for years. What levels of Qi Refining were they? He would have to give the fight his all.

After more than an hour, Cao Hu suddenly stopped. “Something’s wrong!”

He crouched to examine several tracks. “An Iron-Clawed Demon Wolf passed through here recently. Judging by the direction, it entered the cave ahead.”

Chen Junsheng looked forward. A few hundred meters away, vines covered most of a cave entrance.

“Blackwind Cave isn’t on today’s patrol route,” he said, frowning. “The terrain inside is complicated. Even if a beast went in, we should return for more people first.”

Cao Hu’s face darkened. “Our assignment is to clear demonic beasts from the sect’s outskirts. We’ve found an Iron-Clawed Demon Wolf. Should we pretend we didn’t see it? Come on. Killing it will earn us merit and more contribution points.”

He entered first, with Zheng Tong close behind. Lin Yang already knew their intentions and naturally wouldn’t stay outside. Carrying Xiao Hei, he followed them in. Worried for him, Chen Junsheng hurried after him.

They went deeper. After several hundred meters, no sunlight reached them. Cao Hu produced an illumination talisman, and pale yellow light revealed the nearby stone walls.

They continued a little farther. Cao Hu suddenly stopped at the front, while Zheng Tong turned and blocked the exit behind them.

Chen Junsheng’s expression changed. “What are you doing?”

Cao Hu no longer bothered pretending. He drew a long saber and looked at Lin Yang. “Chen Junsheng, this doesn’t concern you. Get out now, and we’ll act as though you saw nothing.”

Chen Junsheng immediately stepped in front of Lin Yang. “You deliberately brought him here? Cao Hu, harming a fellow disciple is a grave crime! If an elder of the hall finds out, both of you will have your cultivation crippled!”

Zheng Tong laughed. “Who said we harmed a fellow disciple? On Lin Yang’s first patrol, a demonic beast accidentally bit off an arm and a leg. We arrived in time and saved him from its jaws. What’s wrong with that story?”

Chen Junsheng finally understood. For them to act so openly, someone had to be backing them! “Who sent you?”

“Knowing too much won’t do you any good.” Cao Hu rested the saber on his shoulder. “Last chance. Get out. If you insist on meddling, we don’t mind putting you in bed for a few months too!”

Chen Junsheng gritted his teeth. He was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining; Cao Hu was at the sixth, and Zheng Tong was also at the fifth. Against both, he had no chance.

But he had brought Lin Yang out. Lin Yang had trusted him enough to enter the mountains with the team. If Chen Junsheng abandoned him and left alone, how could he face anyone in the Demon Beast Suppression Hall again?

He drew his sword and remained in front of Lin Yang. “I brought him out, so I have to take him back in one piece. If you want to touch him, you’ll have to get through me first!”

Xiao Hei raised his head from Lin Yang’s arms and looked at Chen Junsheng. “This kid’s pretty loyal. I could make an exception and take him as my adopted son.”