Chapter 452 - 334: Lechuan’s News
It took Fang Qingyuan only half a day to fly to the gates of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, a speed much faster than he was used to.
Once he arrived, Fang Qingyuan finally retracted his All Things Heart Sound Divine Techniques. As he did, he felt like something else was mixed in with it, but he had no time to investigate. There were more important matters at hand.
A few Guest Officers were waiting at the sect gate. They recognized Fang Qingyuan and greeted him with smiles, crowding around to offer to lead the way.
This "guidance" was a matter of protocol. It wasn’t that Fang Qingyuan didn’t know the way, but rather that any non-disciple of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect had to be escorted by a current member upon entering the mountain.
Fang Qingyuan had once been a disciple of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, but his status was now Sect Leader of the Qingyuan Sect. While his master-disciple relationship with Lechuan was real, the rules of the sect still had to be observed.
Fang Qingyuan casually followed one of the Guest Officers up the mountain. After they had left, the remaining Guest Officers began to chat amongst themselves.
"Sect Leader Fang’s cultivation seems to have improved again. We haven’t seen him in years. He must have perfected his Foundation Establishment Realm by now, right?"
"I can’t see through him at all. My Extreme Eye can penetrate almost anything, but this... In the past, when Sect Leader Fang visited, I could still sense his Cultivation Realm. But just now, my gaze was completely blocked. I’ve only ever experienced that with Sect Leader Le. Don’t tell me... Sect Leader Fang has become a Golden Core Cultivator?"
"What? It’s only been a few years. How could he possibly become a Golden Core Cultivator? Do you think the Golden Core Celestial Tribulation is that easy to overcome?"
"That’s true. He must have had some kind of lucky break. Anyway, you all carry on. I have something to attend to, so I’ll be off."
One of them murmured in agreement before turning and hurrying through the sect gate.
...
Fang Qingyuan arrived outside the Sect Leader’s Quiet Chamber. Even through the protective Array, he could sense Lechuan’s aura within—something he would have been incapable of in the past.
A moment later, the door swung open, and Fang Qingyuan walked calmly inside.
The moment he stepped inside, Lechuan, who was meditating on a Cloud Bed, shot his eyes wide open in astonishment. He stared at Fang Qingyuan, his expression shifting to one of sheer delight.
"Qingyuan, you’ve successfully completed your Core Formation?"
Lechuan leaped off the Cloud Bed in a single stride, not even bothering to put on his shoes. He grabbed Fang Qingyuan by the shoulders and sent out a wisp of Magical Power, intending to inspect his cultivation.
Fang Qingyuan let out a hearty laugh. With a mere stir of the Magical Power in his body, he shattered Lechuan’s probe in mid-air before bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Master."
Instead of being angry that Fang Qingyuan had shattered his Magical Power, Lechuan was even more overjoyed. He only then noticed he was barefoot and sat back on the edge of the bed, trying to regain his previous composure as an enlightened master.
But the irrepressible joy on his face showed he had no intention of hiding it at all.
After a few moments of silence from Fang Qingyuan, Lechuan couldn’t hold back his questions.
"Where did you complete your Core Formation?"
"In the Barbaric Bear Wind Lair."
"What was the grade of your Pill Theory?"
"Second Grade. It was the Five Elements Star Phase Pill Theory."
"Good, good, good! You’ve done well for yourself. It’s even a grade higher than your master’s."
In just a few words, Fang Qingyuan explained the circumstances of his Core Formation. He hadn’t intentionally deceived Lechuan about the Pill Discussion Grade, but he did omit some rather crucial information.
The Five Elements Star Phase Pill Theory could indeed be classified as Second Grade. However, Fang Qingyuan failed to mention his Innate Primordial Qi, the Soul Dao Godslaying Needle, or his Voice of All Things Divine Techniques.
"So I’ve finally managed to raise a Golden Core Disciple. A pity your Eldest Brother was so ill-fated, your Third Brother’s character was corrupt, and your Fifth Brother’s talent was merely average. Only you, my youngest disciple, came from behind to surpass them all. Now that you’re a Golden Core Cultivator, in terms of status, you can be considered my equal."
Lechuan had mixed feelings. Years ago, he had taken Fang Qingyuan as a disciple mainly for his long lifespan, planning to make him a Vice Sect Leader to handle the sect’s mundane affairs. But things never go as planned. He had only served as Vice Sect Leader for a few years before being spirited away to become a Sect Leader in his own right.
Now, this disciple whom he hadn’t thought much of back then had actually become a Golden Core Cultivator, just like himself. And Lechuan had invested far more in his other disciples than he ever had in Fang Qingyuan.
"A teacher for a day is a teacher for a lifetime. No matter what I achieve, I will always be your disciple, Master. How could I dare consider myself your equal?"
Fang Qingyuan’s attitude remained deferential. Although the Beast Taming Sect didn’t strictly follow the ethical codes of the Confucian Family, this world was ultimately dominated by the Great Zhou Academy, so respecting one’s master was proper everywhere.
Lechuan was pleased by Fang Qingyuan’s declaration. Looking at his disciple now, he grew even more satisfied.
"A Golden Core Cultivator at one hundred and thirty years old... you can be considered a genius. You might not compare to those disciples from Major Sects who achieve Core Formation before they’re a hundred, but across all of White Mountain, you’re now a prominent figure."
Fang Qingyuan took the praise in stride. Reaching Core Formation at one hundred and thirty did indeed qualify him as a minor genius. Of course, compared to the true prodigies who could form their Core in their fifties, his achievement was nothing special. But such individuals were a once-in-a-millennium sight and couldn’t be compared to ordinary people.
Fang Qingyuan knew that his own aptitude had always been merely average. He owed most of his current success to the Immortal Mansion. Without that Immortal Divine Artifact, he figured he’d still be out there with Yinbao, hustling to make a living.
After a bit more conversation, Fang Qingyuan brought up the question that was currently weighing on his mind: why hadn’t Lechuan launched the offensive against the Wilderness Cloud-Clawed Lizard? If the Cloud-Clawed Lizard wasn’t eliminated, how could they attack Bear Wind’s territory? And if he had no legitimate reason to be in contact with Bear Wind, then the fact that he’d completed his Core Formation in its territory would truly substantiate the crime of colluding with the Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness.