Under Ning Xian’s expectant gaze, Fang Xuan finally bit the bullet and finished most of that "second bowl" of congee, only stopping when he truly could not force down another mouthful.
He was so full that he just wanted to sprawl out.
The bamboo rocking chair in the courtyard looked exceptionally inviting now.
He moved over, lay down comfortably, and basked in the warm sun, not wanting to move a single inch.
This kind of life—he wouldn't trade it even if an immortal came calling.
Unfortunately, the immortals clearly did not intend to let him lie there forever.
After he had basked for about an hour, Ning Xian’s cold voice drifted over: "It is time to practice your swordplay."
Fang Xuan sighed and stood up, resigned to his fate.
He couldn't eat for free, his cultivation couldn't rise for nothing, and he certainly couldn't enjoy his senior sister’s feeding routine without putting in the work.
Limbering up his muscles and bones, he unsheathed the pitch-black little brother.
Things were indeed different after reaching the Void Core Realm.
It wasn't just that his spirit power was thicker and purer, flowing as easily as an extension of his own limbs, but more importantly, his perception and control over the world's spiritual energy had reached a new level.
Places in the Qingyun Sword Scripture that had previously felt somewhat stagnant now flowed naturally as his thoughts guided the sword's movement.
He tried combining his core spirit power with his sword momentum, and as the black sword slashed out, the sword qi traveled further and was far more condensed.
When it struck the distant trial stone, it left a deep mark, and the recoil force no longer seemed so difficult to withstand.
He even tried to circulate his spirit power into the blade, attempting to make the heavy little brother hover.
Basic sword-kinesis could usually only be performed with ease once a cultivator reached the Void Core Realm.
The black sword merely trembled slightly, lifting barely an inch off the ground before falling back down with a loud clang after less than three breaths.
"It’s still too heavy..."
Fang Xuan muttered, though he wasn't discouraged.
After all, this sword was made of a special material and was still sealed; being able to make it hover even slightly proved that his control over spirit power had met the requirements.
From the looks of it, the spirit buns provided by the system were truly effective.
Although the process was a bit bizarre and the rewards seemed stingy, there was no denying that they allowed him to raise his cultivation without bottlenecks while maintaining a stable foundation.
He just wondered if the system would unlock other rewards besides buns in the future.
Perhaps cultivation techniques, artifacts, or... items that could directly increase training progress?
While he was lost in thought during his sword practice, the sound of footsteps came from the bamboo path outside the courtyard gate.
Before long, a youth wearing inner disciple robes appeared at the entrance, his expression respectful as he bowed with cupped hands toward the courtyard.
"Senior Brother Fang, Senior Sister Ning."
Fang Xuan retracted his sword and looked over, seeing a face he didn't recognize.
"What is it?"
Ning Xian walked out from the house and stood beside Fang Xuan.
The disciple quickly said, "I have been sent to deliver a message by order of the peak lord."
"The peak lord has learned that Senior Brother Fang’s cultivation has progressed to the Void Core Realm. According to the sect rules, a disciple at this realm may visit the first floor of the Scripture Pavillion to select a suitable cultivation technique or sword scripture as a reward."
"The peak lord requests that Senior Brother Fang proceed to the Main Hall to receive the voucher."
Choosing a technique at the Void Core Realm? Did the Qingyun Sect have such a rule?
Fang Xuan looked at Ning Xian.
He wasn't familiar with the sect rules, but he vaguely remembered never hearing about this one.
As expected, Ning Xian’s expression didn't change, but her gaze grew a degree colder.
The Qingyun Sect did encourage disciples to advance their cultivation, but so-called rewards were usually bestowed by masters after a sect competition or the completion of an important mission, or they were exchanged using sect contribution points.
To specifically reward a technique just for breaking through to the Void Core Realm... at least in her memory, there was no such precedent on Sword Peak.
It was a trap.
A trap set by Shen Chen.
Fang Xuan had revealed his Void Core strength at the Fuchun Restaurant last night, and the news had traveled back this quickly.
Shen Chen was clearly unable to sit still and wanted to personally probe Fang Xuan’s background.
Or did he want to use this opportunity to draw him away from her side, and perhaps... do something in a relatively isolated place like the Scripture Pavillion?
Her original plan was to use Fang Xuan as a variable to test the reactions of Shen Qingqing and Shen Chen.
Now that the opportunity had come, according to her plan, she should let Fang Xuan go alone to see exactly what Shen Chen intended to do.
However...
Ning Xian looked at Fang Xuan beside her, who still seemed somewhat oblivious. The string of "utilization" in her heart was pulled taut, yet it wouldn't quite snap back into place.
"Senior Sister?" Fang Xuan called out when he saw her silence.
The messenger disciple waited respectfully.
"Understood," she said to the disciple. "Junior Brother Fang will follow shortly."
"Yes, this disciple shall take his leave."
The disciple bowed and departed.
Fang Xuan did indeed need more contact with the core of the Qingyun Sect to gather information.
The Scripture Pavillion was a good place, and Shen Chen’s proactive invitation was an opportunity for him to probe as well.
He turned to go change his clothes.
"Wait."
Ning Xian called him back.
Fang Xuan turned around.
Ning Xian had already walked up to him. "I am coming with you."
Fang Xuan froze for a moment, then smiled. "Senior Sister, that won't be necessary, right? I can go by myself; it's likely just a formality."
He was mainly afraid that if Ning Xian went along, that old schemer Shen Chen would trigger some plot point targeted at her.
He didn't want his plans to be disrupted; it was better for the plot to proceed as originally intended so he could break the deadlock.
He wanted to take his senior sister out of the Qingyun Sect, spend every day together... and gain a massive amount of training value to reach godhood.
.......
"No." Ning Xian’s reply remained brief.
"...Alright then." Fang Xuan smiled helplessly. "It’ll be good to have Senior Sister’s company."
Fine, it was a two-person dungeon now.
He hoped Shen Chen’s level was high enough not to make things too basic.
.......
At noon, the sunlight was intense.
The Main Hall of Sword Peak, Hidden Edge Hall, remained towering and solemn, but compared to the morning, there were significantly fewer disciples coming and going, as most were practicing in their respective quiet rooms.
Fang Xuan and Ning Xian stepped onto the white jade steps side by side.
Along the way, whether they were inner or outer disciples, the looks they gave Fang Xuan were markedly different.
"Senior Brother Fang!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother Fang!"
"Good day, Senior Brother Fang!"
Greetings rose one after another, and regardless of their age, they all respectfully addressed him as "Senior Brother."
In the world of cultivation, strength was respected above all else.
The Void Core Realm was a top-tier existence among the younger generation of disciples in the Qingyun Sect, enough to earn this respect.
As for age, cultivators had long lifespans, and there were plenty of old monsters who looked young, so who could tell the difference?
Ning Xian walked silently by his side, ignoring the gazes from their surroundings, but she alertly observed everything around them.
She still had backup plans, but she didn't want to use them unless absolutely necessary.
Most importantly, she had to ensure Fang Xuan’s safety.
She actually knew that the Qingyun Sect was a massive entity, not a place where Shen Chen, a mere Golden Core peak lord, could cover the sky with one hand and do as he pleased.
But an open attack is easy to dodge while a hidden arrow is hard to defend against, especially on the opponent’s territory and under a seemingly legitimate reason like a sect reward.
Walking to the entrance of the hall, Ning Xian stopped and looked at Fang Xuan.
"I will be right here. Call me immediately if anything feels wrong."
Fang Xuan replied, "I know, Senior Sister. I’m not a child; I’ll keep an eye on the situation."
He really wasn't that afraid.
Putting aside his identity as a scion of the Fang family, which he didn't want to use for now.
No one knew just how many good things were inside his storage pouch.
With all the different grades of artifacts, talismans, array disks, and pills combined, he could pile them up high enough to crush an old Golden Core fellow like Shen Chen several times over.
Rate on N.U.
