The Legend of Fangren

"A Heavenly Rank disciple?"

To everyone's surprise, the other party burst out laughing upon hearing this.

Fang Shi was somewhat puzzled, thinking that even if he was lying, there shouldn't be too many flaws.

It wasn't until the other disciple spoke that he understood: "Junior brother, I was once a Heavenly Rank disciple too. It's a pity you don't understand. What good is talent if you don't have the resources of a powerful family? In other people's eyes, you're just a poor, worthless boy."

How were they so sure that Fang Shi was a poor boy?

It's very simple. Regardless of whether Fang Shi was lying or not, his behavior, demeanor, and attire all gave him away. Even as a Heavenly Rank disciple, his monthly stipend was only three thousand. This kid was wearing a plain robe worth more than two thousand. He didn't look like a rich man. Instead, he looked like a poor boy who had earned stipends to save face. It couldn't be more obvious.

After all, if a family had any money, they wouldn't have bought robes without adding any talismans.

Especially since he hadn't participated in the entire preliminary exam, the group concluded that this kid wasn't an ambitious person. He had just entered the sect and wasn't diligently cultivating. Instead, he bought a plain robe and went to the mountains to find fruit, just to do business.

Such a shallow understanding of the world suggests he was unearthed from some remote mountain village, wasting his talent and ruining his future.

"snort!"

The leading disciple seemed to recall his past, and a surge of anger rose within him for no apparent reason. He said in a low voice, "Boy, if you know what's good for you, you'll tell us obediently. Everyone will benefit, and we can take care of each other in the future. Otherwise, it might not be safe for you to go in and out of those mountains alone."

As for whether the dangers in the mountains and forests are lurking spirits, mythical beasts, or other people, that remains unknown.

Since that's the case, Fang Shi smiled and said, "Then, according to Senior Brother, you can protect me safely in the mountains?"

"You can give it a try."

Seeing that this guy wouldn't admit defeat until he was faced with a desperate situation, the group pointed him to the Azure Dragon Platform.

"Private duels are strictly prohibited within the sect. You just need to go up to that platform and declare that you are challenging us."

Ironically, the sect strictly forbids disciples from fighting privately, yet it ignores the domineering and arrogant behavior of these individuals.

"My senior brothers are from different years than me, so let's forget about it." Fang Shicai wasn't that foolish.

However, seeing that he was avoiding them, the others assumed he was afraid and held on even tighter.

"Since you're afraid of being bullied by your senior, that's fine. I have a few juniors in the same year as you, but their aptitude is poor, only at the Earth Rank. Today, I'll let them experience the strength of a Heaven Rank disciple like you."

As if it had already been agreed upon, as soon as the words were spoken, a disciple walked onto the stage and pointed in the distance.

The people surrounding Fang Shi quickly moved aside, so that when everyone looked at him, he became the center of attention.

Everyone: "..."

This guy looks kind of familiar.

The familiar backpack, the slightly messy hair, and although he's changed into nice clothes, his demeanor... oh, it's just like that junior brother who was selling fruit everywhere.

Very good, Fang Shi's image as a merchant has overshadowed the impression of him making a fool of himself at the foot of the mountain back then.

"Hmm?" Qu Yang noticed Fang Shi at this moment.

Isn't this kid an outer sect disciple? Last time he came to exchange spirit fruits for money, he went back and bought a new set of clothes? Quite casual.

Also, isn't this disciple on stage a Earth-rank disciple? If he's going to challenge someone, he should be challenging a Heaven-rank disciple, not someone from an outer sect.

"Nonsense!"

With a resounding shout, Liu Yiyuan directly transmitted his voice using his Xuan Qi: "He's just an outer sect disciple. You're challenging him? Do you intend to 'advance' to an outer sect disciple yourself?"

"Huh?" The disciples on and off the stage were all taken aback.

Fang Shi's group was also taken aback.

No... You lie like that without even blushing, making us seem so innocent.

I quickly turned around, only to find that the person was gone.

They slipped away?!

Several thousand people watched as Fang Shi leaped over the wall and ran away.

There's nothing I can do. He fraudulently obtained the cultivation technique and the Heavenly Rank belt, which is impossible to explain. If he's caught in front of everyone, he won't even have a chance to plead for leniency.

"That's interesting."

Qu Yang, who had never been interested in the preliminary exam, had no intention of taking on apprentices, but now he seems to have found something that interests him.

"Elder Liu, do not move yet, I will capture that brat."

Both elders had seen Fang Shi's Heavenly Rank belt and naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it. However, Liu Yiyuan did not actually intend to arrest Fang Shi on the spot. After all, he knew that Luo He was concerned about Fang Shi, and if he couldn't save face and had to punish him severely, he was afraid that Luo He's mind would waver.

Alas, that's how it is when people get old; they can't bear to see their good disciples being held back.

Although he didn't know what Qu Yang was thinking, since the other party had already made a move, he could only take it one step at a time.

Qu Yang tossed the gourd in his hand, and it flew to the outside of the inner sect wall. Then, a scream drifted back from afar. Everyone saw a gourd larger than a person fly back into the air, and someone's muffled groan could be heard from inside.

"Waaaaah—!"

"The prescription!" Luohe below saw it and shouted anxiously.

Qu Mei, who was standing next to her, scratched her head. The big bump was still there, and she thought to herself in pain: Why is this person calling me the same way?

Many disciples were amazed by the gourd's wondrous properties, as most of the new disciples were seeing this magical technique for the first time.

Finally, with a splash, Fang Shi, reeking of alcohol, was dumped onto the Azure Dragon Platform.

"Cough cough..."

As soon as he came out, Fang Shi looked like he was coughing from being choked, completely unaware that the two elders had landed beside him.

"Good lad, it's been a month, I didn't expect you to still be here."

Liu Yiyuan spoke first, but deliberately obscured the matter of the Heavenly Rank Belt.

The main point is not to mention that few people notice the details of the belt. We can find this kid again later, replace it with a new one, and give him a symbolic punishment in private. We won't have to worry about anyone asking about it again.

However, Qu Yang had a smirk on his face, clearly plotting something wicked.

He squatted down, not using his Xuan Qi to transmit his voice, but only speaking in a voice that could be heard by those around him, teasingly saying, "It's been a few days, young Fang, you've improved quite a bit. You've almost broken this gourd of mine from struggling."

Fang Shi looked up guiltily. The two looked at each other and smiled, one with amusement and the other with embarrassment.

"Oh, by the way, I heard from the old man at the Heavenly Book Pavilion the other day that there seems to be a discrepancy in the number of cultivation manuals..."

"!"

Fang Shi was extremely guilty, and two words kept running through his mind.

Spicy!

If his act of fraudulently obtaining the cultivation techniques is exposed, and done so in such a public manner, he will surely be used as a cautionary tale to warn other disciples.

Unexpectedly, Qu Yang changed the subject again, and this time he used his Xuan Qi to transmit his voice, saying to the crowd around him: "Everyone, I have just confirmed that although this boy is an outer sect disciple with extremely poor aptitude, he is very diligent and has made some progress in cultivation over the past month."

"Oh..." Everyone nodded.

The problem is, he's not a Celestial-level expert either. Are we really going to let him continue accepting challenges on stage? Who's challenging whom then?

They must have mistaken him for someone else, mistaking this junior brother for a disciple of the Heavenly Rank.

But Qu Yang had no intention of letting Fang Shi go. Upon meeting him again, he discovered that the boy had many interesting qualities.

So he leaped onto the dragon pillar and proclaimed loudly, "Fang Shi, Feng Zhonghua!"

Everyone was even more astonished. The elder's naming of names clearly implied the same meaning as the competition between disciples of the same rank earlier that morning.

But how could these two people on stage possibly compete against each other?

Fang Shi was also stunned. He remembered that the passerby on the mountain road had said that this Feng Zhonghua had the potential to reach the Heavenly Rank.

"I can beat a prodigy? Really?"