Chapter Sixteen: A New Path in the Outer Sect, Fraught with Challenges
A crisp voice broke through Dong Changfeng’s thoughts. A graceful young female disciple approached him, her smile blossoming like a flower. “Senior Brother Dong, I look forward to your guidance in the future!” Dong Changfeng returned the smile warmly, but before they could exchange more pleasantries, he sensed an unsettling shift in the atmosphere around him.
The once lively crowd had quietly fallen silent, and the glances cast his way grew complicated—some filled with envy, others with jealousy, and even... hostility?
He furrowed his brow slightly, puzzled.
In the days that followed, Dong Changfeng increasingly felt the strangeness. Walking along the paths, disciples purposefully avoided meeting his gaze, as if he were a plague. Even several senior brothers, with whom he had maintained good relations, began to keep their distance, treating him with cold formality.
Tentatively, he greeted a few fellow disciples, only to receive frosty responses. Some even sneered with biting sarcasm, “Well, well, if it isn’t the newly minted ‘rising star’ Senior Brother Dong. Not too busy cultivating, huh? Got time to chat with us lowly underlings?”
Dong Changfeng was utterly baffled, unable to comprehend what was happening. Could it be that his outstanding performance had stirred envy?
He wracked his mind in vain.
This strange atmosphere reached its peak during the distribution of cultivation resources.
When Dong Changfeng went to collect his share, he found the number of pills and spirit stones he received far less than that given to other disciples.
He approached the steward in charge of allocation, but the man stumbled over his words, evading the question.
At that moment, Senior Brother Liu and Senior Sister Lin passed by, wearing expressions heavy with meaning.
Senior Sister Lin cast a disdainful glance at Dong Changfeng, her tone dripping with sarcasm: “Some people, just because they have a bit of talent, think they’re special. Resources don’t come for free.” Senior Brother Liu chimed in nearby, “Exactly. Some folks should stay grounded instead of reaching too high, or they’ll end up bruised and battered.” The two exchanged a knowing smile before walking away, leaving Dong Changfeng stunned.
Staring at the meager resources in his hand, a fierce anger ignited within him.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.
Someone was clearly targeting him on purpose!
Could it be Senior Brother Liu and Senior Sister Lin?
Were they harboring grudges and secretly scheming against him?
The surrounding disciples watched coldly, none daring to speak on his behalf.
Dong Changfeng felt utterly isolated, as if stranded alone on a deserted island, surrounded by cold, unyielding seas with no hope in sight.
Returning to his quarters, he sat cross-legged, trying to quell the raging fire in his heart.
Yet, the spiritual energy within him was restlessly agitated, making meditation difficult.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He had to uncover the truth behind all this and find a way to resolve it.
He pulled out the few spirit stones he had, holding them tightly, feeling the faint energy they contained. He murmured, “This little bit of spiritual energy...”
---
In the modest training chamber, Dong Changfeng sat cross-legged, the few spirit stones in his hand quivering faintly.
Despite his best efforts to concentrate, the spiritual energy inside him remained restless, as if protesting the paltry supply.
His cultivation progress crawled at an agonizing pace, starkly contrasting with the rapid advancement of his peers, weighing heavily on his spirit.
The flickering candlelight cast shadows on the walls, illuminating his furrowed brow and anxious, flickering eyes.
From afar, the cheers and shouts of the training grounds occasionally drifted in, each sound like a sharp sting piercing his heart.
Dong Changfeng struggled to suppress the burning anger inside him, but his fists clenched involuntarily, nails biting deep into his palms, sending waves of sharp pain.
“This little spiritual energy...” he muttered, voice low and filled with despair.
He stared at the spirit stones in his hand, as if the feeble glimmers mocked his helplessness.
A stifling, oppressive atmosphere hung thick in the air of the chamber, making each breath feel heavy.
He sensed the walls closing in around him, suffocating and pressing tightly.
Yet, Dong Changfeng refused to bow to adversity.
He took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and strode purposefully toward the door.
Elders of the sect were gathered in the council hall, discussing internal affairs.
Dong Changfeng pushed open the door and addressed them resolutely, “Elders, I am willing to undertake the sect’s perilous missions to earn more resources.”
A profound silence fell over the hall; the faces of other disciples were filled with astonishment.
The elders exchanged glances, eyes alight with curiosity and scrutiny.
An elderly elder spoke slowly, tinged with a hint of approval, “Dong Changfeng, your courage is commendable, but we must consider this carefully...”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Dong Changfeng’s mouth, his eyes gleaming with indomitable spirit.
He answered firmly, “I am willing to risk everything to prove my strength.”
The elders nodded to one another, seemingly deliberating the next steps.
At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Senior Brother Liu and Senior Sister Lin arrived in a rush, their faces etched with unease.
Senior Brother Liu glared at Dong Changfeng with clenched teeth, eyes brimming with fear and anger, while Senior Sister Lin sneered coldly, a mocking curve playing on her lips.
Dong Changfeng ignored them, turning away and leaving the council hall, his heart brimming with resolve.
He headed toward the training chamber’s main gate, strides steady and strong, leaving silence in his wake.
The first dangerous mission assigned to Dong Changfeng was to venture into the Ghost Valley to gather Millennium Blood Lingzhi mushrooms.
The valley was laden with chilling winds and haunted by restless spirits; ordinary disciples entering faced near-certain death.
But for Dong Changfeng, it was a tailor-made training ground!
---
His cultivation technique, the Devour Heaven and Earth Art, could absorb various energies from the world, including the yin and malicious qi.
So, where others dared not tread, Dong Changfeng thrived. He not only successfully gathered the Blood Lingzhi but also absorbed vast amounts of yin energy, causing his cultivation to soar dramatically.
Upon his return, Dong Changfeng stood tall, carrying a spirit pouch brimming with Blood Lingzhi, a confident smile radiating a clear warning: “Don’t mess with me.”
His abundant harvest stirred envy and jealousy in Senior Brother Liu and Senior Sister Lin.
Their faces turned ashen, their eyes nearly popping out with spite.
Surrounding disciples cast admiring glances, whispering excitedly: “Wow, that’s incredible!” “Senior Brother Dong is truly a legend!”
Dong Changfeng basked in the attention, his inner monologue cool and unbothered: Is that all?
Child’s play~
With ample cultivation resources, Dong Changfeng’s strength skyrocketed like a rocket.
In a small competition among outer disciples, he effortlessly defeated several who had previously mocked him.
His movements were ghostlike, his techniques flowing like clouds and water, dazzling the onlookers.
Those he bested left looking dejected and crestfallen, as if frostbitten eggplants—withered.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. “Senior Brother Dong is mighty!” “Senior Brother Dong, forever our god!”
Dong Changfeng smiled faintly and cupped his hands in thanks, “Much obliged, just basic moves, basic moves.”
His outstanding performance caught the attention of the sect’s upper echelons.
A white-haired elder approached him, informing him of a special upcoming evaluation.
“This trial is extraordinary, fraught with unknown dangers. Are you willing to participate?” the elder’s gaze was sharp, his tone grave.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—how could Dong Changfeng refuse?
“I am willing!” he responded firmly, without hesitation.
The trial was set in the sect’s forbidden area—the Misty Forest.
Legend had it that the forest was perilous beyond measure; most who entered never returned.
Standing at the forest’s edge, Dong Changfeng looked into the thick mist, emotions swirling within him.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward...
“Wait!” an aged voice called from behind.
Dong Changfeng turned to see an old man in a purple robe approaching slowly.
The elder’s deep eyes fixed on him as he spoke solemnly, “Child, do you know that stepping into this Misty Forest is like walking into the gates of death...”