Lihua stood there silently with a strange expression on her face.
She was smart, smarter than people her age and even most adults. She could tell that these rumors started around the same time when Xi Shen went to the Conclave Academy for the yearly Faction Leader meeting.
And given the name Shoe-less hero, Lihua didn’t find it hard to pinpoint that towards Xi Shen who loved walking around bare feet.
Xi Shen rubbed his suddenly aching head a little, this was actually too much of a shock to handle.
Changing the topic he asked, “What about the others? I assume they have gone to the Inner Academy’s Cultivation Grounds with the Academy Points I gave them?”
Lihua nodded and replied, “Fei Yin and Mu Fan have gone to the Ten Thousand Sword Valley.”
“Huh? Why did Mu Fan go to the Ten Thousand Sword Valley, instead of the Blade Grotto? Isn’t that a Cultivation Grounds for sword users? He uses a saber.”
“He said it has a Sword Intent mountain that a past senior who had trained in both the sword and saber before he abandon the saber for the sword, left behind. Something about him wanting to reinforce his resolve for his saber, and prove that senior wrong. I’m not really sure what to make of that crazy idiot’s nonsensical words.”
Lihua said visibly annoyed at Mu Fan.
Hearing Lihua’s words, Xi Shen fell into thought about what Mu Fan was up to.
‘Is he confirming his saber by testing it against that senior’s own? That crazy bastard, if his heart is weak, doing that can break his Dao Heart and even create a Heart Devil.’
Xi Shen frowned, but tell Lihua to continue nonetheless.
“Fang Chen was only able to form seven of his nine Qi Seas, so he’s currently in seclusion in the Inner Academy’s Qi Gathering Spell Formation trying to form all nine.”
Xi Shen nodded, before Lihua continued, “Yang Su seems to have been possessed by some demon.”
“Huh?”
Xi Shen said in surprise by Lihua’s words.
Lihua with a solemn expression nodded and continue to say, “This is the only way I can describe him at the moment. He seemed to have sunken into a single-minded focus on cultivating. He hasn’t once left the Qi Gathering Spell Formation since last week.”
Hearing her full explanation, Xi Shen finally understood and he chuckled before saying, “He isn’t possessed by a demon. More-like he found something that stimulated his desire to grow stronger, though he should know when to rest. Doing nothing but cultivating can have some consequences occur on the mind.”
After saying that, Xi Shen took out his jade slip and sent a message to Yang Su. After, he place it back into his storage ring and asked Lihua about their final member.
Lihua hesitated a bit when it came to Jun, her expression change multiple times before she simply sighed and said, “He’s… fine.”
Seeing Lihua’s exhausted expression, Xi Shen wondered what happened to her.
As he was about to ask her to elaborate further, Jun's voice could suddenly be heard, “Elder sister Hua, how can you leave your room so untidy? It’s unbecoming of a woman to leave her garments laying around and about.”
Jun who had a cloth wrapped around his head, and gloves on with clean attire, stomped forward and began berating Lihua.
Lihua was no longer in her disguise, and her delicate features twisted into an ugly expression when she saw Jun appear.
“You-you annoying brat. What the hell are you doing in my room in the first place?! What goes on in there is my business and my business alone!!”
Jun frowned and said, “How can you be shouting like that, it’s so improper for a lady.”
“Lady my foot! Leave me alone and stop nagging me! No wonder the others ran away, I might as well go into seclusion too.”
Lihua said as she stomped off in the direction of the mansion's main gates.
Jun frowned as he watched her go.
“I was only cleaning, how rude to not even say a word of thanks.”
Xi Shen, who was watching all of this with a strange expression, turned to Jun in his get-up and said, “Have you decided on a weapon yet?”
Jun upon hearing Xi Shen’s question turned to him and bowed respectfully before saying, “Yes master, I have.”
“Hm, I didn’t know which one was more suitable for you so I allowed you to choose. So which one did you pick?”
Jun raised his head and firmly said, “This.”
Xi Shen looked to the broom Jun was motioning to in his hands.
Seeing his Master’s amused expression, Jun smile awkwardly before he gripped the broom and swung it down.
The bottom end was shaken off and tossed aside, leaving the shaft in Jun’s hands.
Jun then did a few skillful twirls in his hands before placing the staff vertical in front of him and bowed with cupped fists to Xi Shen.
“So you chose to use a staff? This weapon isn’t exactly used at a high level of cultivation, how about you use a spear instead?”
Jun hearing this suggestion, had a thoughtful look on his face before he said, “Yes, Master’s judgment is better than my own.”
Xi Shen waved his hands and said, “You don’t have to rely on my decisions all the time, I’m not infallible. Since you’ve delayed choosing a technique from the Techniques Library it’s about time you chose one. But while you're there you should study the basic skills of wielding a spare from the first floor. Your foundation is quite mediocre. How is your cultivation going? I see you’ve reached the 5th stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.”
Jun answered happily, “The cultivation method Master gave me is wonderful! I haven’t faced any major bottlenecks so far and my cultivation speed is only getting faster and faster.”
Jun was smiling from ear to ear at the end of his sentence.
Xi Shen nodded.
The Internal Cultivation Method he gave was of his own creation, similar to Yang Su’s own.
Both of them were quite different from the others, in that the others have already established their cultivation path and have their own cultivation methods and techniques. It would cause more problems than benefits if Xi Shen was to switch out theirs with something he created now.
As for the cultivation method he created for Jun, it was of course different from normal.
Jun had the Saint Physique, which makes ordinary cultivation methods of the six elements unsuitable for him to bring out its full potential.
In this world, there were numerous Qi born from the origin of all Qi, Chaos Qi.
However, there wasn’t just Qi that was derived from Chaos Qi. There were others that were created by powerful experts in the past, using revolutionary cultivation methods they created.
Slaughter Qi, Jade Qi, Null Qi, Moon Qi, Sun Qi. Just to name a few, albeit the two last ones were actually the refinement of extreme Yin and Extreme Yang Qi, which were products of Chaos Qi.
But the previous three were Qi that could be created using any one variations of one Cultivation Method that could be traced back to a one that was invented by a single person. Though the originals had long lost in time.
The cultivation method Xi Shen create was in fact one of those techniques that allow one to form their own Qi.
With Jun’s Saint Physique acting as the key that transforms the ordinary Qi he absorbs into his own unique one, Xi Shen named it Righteous Qi.
It was pure white and gave off a rather holy feeling that seemed as if it could vanquish all the evil in this world.
Inevitably, this also made Jun have an aura of holiness about him, which caused anyone who sensed it to get the feeling that all the righteousness in this world was congregating around him.
Although this does have its drawbacks. Jun had become a bit of a stuck-up to the other’s annoyance, always preaching and telling them off on their inadequate behavior.
This made Xi Shen start to think he might have created an extremist for all those good doers out there.
‘Well, as annoying as he is, even the others know that they could count on him to act with their interest in mind. In the cultivation world, there probably isn’t anyone like him who you can put your entire trust in, even in the dire of situations he’ll never betray his friends and comrades. Hmm, he could make a great leader, but a terrible schemer.’
After thinking that, Xi Shen suddenly had an idea.
“Jun, I want you to get on one knee and bow your head.”
Even though Jun didn’t understand why he should, he still followed Xi Shen’s orders and got on one knee.
Xi Shen then stood up from his chair and came in front of him.
Flipping over his palm, Xi Shen’s Divine Encouragement Pole he had recreated appeared in his hand.
As if he was anointing a knight, Xi Shen's expression was serious as he carried out his actions. “I now pronounce you the Judge, the Jury, and secondary executioner of my Faction. As of now, you will be responsible for judging and punishing members of the Faction who have broken the three rules of the Faction. Rule number one, never betray the Faction. Rule number two, never hurt your fellow Faction members, and Rule number three, never disobey my orders. Rise and accept this Divine Pole as the symbol of your anointment!”
Jun's body shook, and he rose before accepting the Divine Pole.
Both youths’ had serious expressions on their faces at this time. But if someone from the outside were to witness this scene it would look rather strange to them. Especially since Jun was still in his get-up, it just look exceptionally comical.
And unfortunately, “Ehem, brother Shen, do you mind if I let myself in?”
Bai Xiaofung who had watched the strange ceremony in its entirety couldn’t take the cringe anymore and suddenly spoke up.
With an awkward look, Jun bowed to Xi Shen and turn and entered back the mansion.
Turning to Bai Xiaofung, Xi Shen coughed a little before smiling and asking, “Brother Fung, what brings you here?”
Smiling in return, Bai Xiaofung said, “Brother Shen, I just came to congratulate you on your birthday that’s in a few days. How about we go out to have an early celebration? I can finally show you those amazing places I’ve been meaning to take you!”
Xi Shen thought for a moment then said, “Sure, let’s go.”
After that, both Bai Xiaofung and Xi Shen left the Celestial Academy to visit one of the biggest Cultivation Cities close by.
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