40 Secret News (1/2)
Song Zhong, the previous elder of the Spirit Returning Sect, had been executed!
The news travelled far and wide within the entire Qinghe County, and of course, there was another not-so-credible rumour which said that if the one who gave the final strike was a young man, he must be highly skilled and therefore deserving of the rewards the Sect had promised.
Many martial artists did not believe that a young man could take down Song Zhong.
Who was Song Zhong? He was a renowned fearsome martial artist of the 7th Gate and an expert in inner force!
Even the eldest disciple of Spirit Returning Sect, Lin Leiyue could not hold a candle to Song Zhong. How skilful would the young man be to dare challenge the Spirit Returning Sect's top disciple?
This must be a rumour!
Song Zhong was likely to have been taken down by a skilled Spirit Returning Sect member.
Just by his cultivation level alone would allow him to wreck havoc in Qinghe County.
Only a few who knew the truth became a little worried after hearing the rumours.
...
”Fang Yuan, are you really leaving?”
He was at a small pavilion near the outskirts of Qinghe County.
Lin Leiyue appeared confused and looked at the young man on a horse. ”Just by seeing your potential in martial arts cultivation alone, you can enter the Spirit Returning Sect and become a direct disciple...”
”My apologies, I have been used to exploring the wild, and cannot tolerate being confined... Sister Leiyue, I shall see you when we meet again!”
Fang Yuan rejected her offer, whipped the horse and galloped away. Not long after, he disappeared within the horizon.
The many people within the Sect, and the main troublemaker, Lin Leiyue, would bring many problems to Fang Yuan if he were to accept her offer.
Knowing this, why would he stay long in the county?
After trading for what he wanted, Fang Yuan left the country without hesitation.
However, as for Lin Leiyue, looking at his shadow disappearing in the horizon brought much disappointment as she felt conflicted.
”Are you feeling regretful?”
With a flash, Shi Yutong appeared within the pavilion like a ghost.
”He has his path to go, and I have mine. Since he made the decision, what more can we do?”
Lin Leiyue raised her head and stubbornly replied.
”Mmm... That's good!”
Shi Yutong noded her head with satisfaction and looked in the direction where Fang Yuan left. ”But, this fiancé of yours has shocking potential and is not the average person!”
”He...”
Lin Leiyue became excited. ”Master... Please enlighten me!”
”Keke...”
Shi Yutong snickered, and touched her nose. ”Girl, you have become competitive... Don't worry, to me, you still have the greatest potential among your peers!”
”Then why was it that previously...”
Lin Leiyue was sceptical. Against Song Zhong, she could only withstand his fists and defend, but Fang Yuan could retaliate head-on and therefore everything felt illogical.
”That was because that young man had a good foundation... Leiyue, you should have known. There are people who are able to harness and use their martial arts the moment they begin to learn it, and can even become Martial Artist (4th or 5th Gate)! Fang Yuan is as such, either he has a great natural talent, or that he had consumed some spiritual food or treasure, and based on your description, Song Zhong was at the brink of death and had used up most of his inner force, and fight after fight, he could be exhausted to death and I wouldn't be surprised...”
Shi Yutong explained.
She felt that it was a pity that the young man had such great potential. He had exceedingly high Essence, Spirit and Magic. If his magical energy was many folds more of the average human, he would be a well-known legendary spiritual knight.
But for this, even if he would be outstanding in his youth, his age would catch up.
After all, inner force was magical and cannot seem to be depleted when one was harnessing it.
No matter one's foundation, those who had the inner force befitting of the 3 Perilous Gates would undergo a drastic change in their bodies.
Those with better physical quality would experience slower progress when they reach this stage, albeit still having a small advantage over the others, but it would not be as obvious as before.
Shi Yutong looked at her disciple and commented, ”Leiyue, don't be discouraged. You have gained through this experience. If you can break through the 6th Gate, you would be the first among the young people within Qinghe County!”
”Yes, Master!”
Lin Leiyue clenched her fist, looked in the direction with Fang Yuan left, and seemed as though she was not willing to admit defeat.
...
”Go!”
Fang Yuan sped off on his horse, and seeing the scenery beside him fly past, he felt free like a fish in the ocean, a bird in the sky, a tiger in the forest.
Qinghe County was complicated, like a giant trap.
He was still unfamiliar with the outside world, had little relations with the powerful people, and therefore might not be pulled into conflicts.
But that might not be the case if he decided to stay longer within the county, or even join the Spirit Returning Sect.
”At the end of the day, the treasures from the outside world cannot compare to the comfort of my home!”
Fang Yuan smiled to himself.
He had gained a lot from this trip to the county.
Defeating Song Zhong and collecting spiritual plants is one thing, and gaining from the Spirit Returning Sect's hidden library is another.