Chapter Thirty tells the story

“First of all, on behalf of the sect, I must apologize to you. During the demon-slaying mission in Yueyang City, due to an error in assessment by our Task Hall, you were placed in peril. That demon was indeed cunning, constantly stirring up trouble with its beasts while hiding behind the scenes.”

“I am truly sorry; this was a lapse on the part of the Task Hall!” Elder Fu said, bowing lightly to them.

Such a scene was unheard of among these disciples. Even if the sect intended to gloss over the incident, they could not object, nor had they ever imagined the sect would treat them this way.

“Elder Fu, you are being too serious; this is merely what disciples ought to do!”

...

Half an hour passed. Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but twist his neck; this old man was indeed shrewd. Everything said earlier was merely paving the way for what was to come—so much pointless chatter!

Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but wonder, having been an emperor for hundreds of years in his previous life, why he hadn’t developed such habits. Or perhaps he simply lacked the talent for it?

Noticing Shen Qingyun’s impatience, Elder Fu realized he had gotten carried away. Clearing his throat, he continued, “In short, due to the Task Hall’s mistake, I and the other executive elders have decided to upgrade your Black-level conscription task to a Red-level conscription task!”

“I believe you have already seen this reflected in the latest points ranking.”

Hearing this, all except Shen Qingyun and the two sisters from the Qiao family were immediately elated. They had wondered why a Black-level task would grant so many sect points!

Yet, the incident had brought them fame within their respective branches.

But what excited them most was the mention of a Red-level conscription task.

Everyone knew that rewards were tied to the difficulty of the task; though there was only a one-level difference between Black and Red, the rewards were worlds apart! The spirit stones awarded would allow them to live extravagantly for quite some time without needing to take on further tasks.

After letting them bask in their joy, Elder Fu continued, “This is all well-deserved. But strictly speaking, the true difficulty of a Red-level task is much greater, so while your records show a Red-level task completed, the reward has merely been doubled.”

Elder Fu’s expression grew serious as he asked, “Although your process was recorded in the image crystal, I must still ask you again—describe the demon-slaying process!”

At this, the disciples all turned their heads in unison, looking at Shen Qingyun, yet none spoke.

“We all owe thanks to Young Master Shen…”

“We all must thank Brother Shen…”

After a moment, two voices rang out simultaneously: Qiao Xinran and Wu Qing.

“Qiao Xinran, you recount the process in detail,” Elder Fu instructed, his curiosity piqued regarding Elder Bai’s disciple.

“Very well,” Qiao Xinran nodded and began to speak, recounting everything in detail, even more than what was captured by the image crystal, including their activities after leaving Cangyun Sect.

She described Zhou Weiqing and Fang Qiyang’s actions against Shen Qingyun, Fang Qiyang departing without inviting Shen Qingyun, and then Shen Qingyun ascending the mountain alone to rescue his brothers, among other events.

Throughout this, Fang Qiyang kept his head lowered, staring at the bricks beneath his feet, quiet and subdued.

When Qiao Xinran described how Shen Qingyun summoned divine thunder and unleashed a world-destroying attack, the impact was far greater than witnessing it through the image crystal!

He had seen the footage of Shen Qingyun using those techniques, and it could only be described as apocalyptic.

Now, hearing Qiao Xinran recount it, he realized the image crystal had not captured it so thoroughly. Of course, it was possible Qiao Xinran was exaggerating.

Nonetheless, no matter how many times he watched or listened, he simply could not believe a disciple in the Qi Refining stage could accomplish such feats!

“In the end, when Young Master Shen unleashed that earth-shattering strike, the demon and its enormous cauldron—whose purpose remains unknown—were reduced to ashes along with the mountain!”

“However, it seemed Young Master Shen deliberately controlled the attack, so neither we nor the ground beneath us suffered much impact. Otherwise, I believe we would have perished alongside the demon under such power!”

“Is that so?”

At this, Elder Fu no longer wished to listen further and asked directly.

Qiao Xinran replied, “All present witnessed it; how could it be fabricated?”

Elder Fu took a slow breath and gazed at Shen Qingyun, suddenly understanding why the sect master valued him so highly.

He then took nine universe pouches from his storage ring and distributed them to the disciples. Seeing their joy, Elder Fu said, “You may leave now; Shen Qingyun, stay behind.”

After they left, Elder Fu regarded Shen Qingyun with a complex expression.

“Do you know why I asked you to stay?”

“You wish to know how I could use such techniques?”

Facing Elder Fu, Shen Qingyun remained calm, unaffected by the disparity in their statuses.

Elder Fu’s brows twitched imperceptibly. His seasoned instincts told him this young man before him was not someone to be trifled with.

Suddenly, he understood why Elder Bai had chosen this youth as his protector.

“Exactly,” Elder Fu admitted frankly.

“Many elders believe that, as a disciple of the sect, you ought to hand over these abilities to the sect.”

Shen Qingyun clasped his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips. “And if I refuse?”

“If you refuse, the sect will inevitably take measures.” Elder Fu raised his hand, drawing it across his neck.

“And the result?”

Shen Qingyun asked, his tone indifferent, as though he had expected this answer.

Elder Fu was startled; the young man before him was growing increasingly inscrutable.

“In the end, the proposal did not pass. The sect master suppressed it single-handedly.”

Shen Qingyun was taken aback; for the sect master himself to intervene was a rare occurrence.

“Your sect master made an exceptionally wise decision,” Shen Qingyun remarked. “Otherwise, Cangyun Sect might become history by tomorrow.”

Elder Fu’s expression changed, and he rebuked, “Arrogant! Do you realize how many hidden experts reside within Cangyun Sect?”

“Arrogant, indeed, but I have grounds for my arrogance,” Shen Qingyun replied without changing expression. “Before absolute strength, all your defenses are mere illusions!”

“Thus, you and the elders of Cangyun Sect should be grateful to your sect master!”

Elder Fu felt a headache coming on, uncertain whether Shen Qingyun was bluffing or genuinely formidable.

“What is it that you seek in Cangyun Sect?” Elder Fu asked, pressing his forehead in frustration.

Shen Qingyun smiled faintly. “Rest assured, so long as none of you harbor ill intentions, I shall not trouble you. In Cangyun Sect, I am just an ordinary disciple. As for the duties a disciple ought to fulfill, I will not shirk them.”

He emphasized the word “ought,” referring to the proper obligations he intended to uphold.