Free Web NovelChapter 262: Chapter 260: How About I Support You?~
As time went on, the students of the Thunder Saint Academy almost spontaneously began forming various organizations, large and small.
They were clan associations for members of the same family, Dao alliances for those of the same school, or leagues for those with a common goal, among others.
At first, this was because it was the only way to accept group-based missions.
On a deeper level, however, the purpose was to teach the students to fight side-by-side and understand the principle that greater strength comes from unity.
After all, an individual’s power is limited. In an era without Venerables, the strength of an organization was paramount!
The greatest difference between Loose Cultivators and established orthodoxies is the lack of an organization.
The Loose Cultivator organizations in the various domains were often the primary targets of exclusion and suppression by orthodoxies large and small.
Even a Demon Venerable would maintain a demonic sect.
Under these circumstances, Fang Yang followed the prevailing trend and joined several loosely-formed organizations.
For instance, there was the Changkong clan’s association. Since the person leading it was Sen Wei, it would have been unreasonable for him not to join.
Now, he was taking the initiative, planning to join the Celestial Star Pavilion, which had been founded by Mo Ran, Xuezhi, and others.
...
"Brother Fang, you really want to join our Celestial Star Pavilion? We couldn’t ask for more!" Mo Ran exclaimed, his face lighting up with surprise.
Xuezhi and the others behind him were also utterly shocked, as if they had never expected a peerless prodigy like Fang Yang to deign to join them.
Fang Yang smiled faintly. "Some learn the Dao sooner than others, and every profession has its own specialty. Besides, it will be a great help to us all if we exchange insights on cultivation. As long as you all don’t mind having me."
With that, he flicked his fingertips, and several streams of shimmering light shot out from his sleeve.
These streams of light were, in fact, all Talismans of the Thunder and Fire Daos.
Electric Python Talismans, Lightning Flash Talismans, Fire Feather Talismans, Flame Prison Talismans... He had them all, from Tier One to Tier Four.
He smiled faintly. "Since Lady Xuezhi is serving as the affiliated Pill Master, perhaps I can act as a Talisman Master and contribute my strength."
Joining the Celestial Star Pavilion was not a decision made on a whim, but one he had considered deeply.
Nanyu, Xuezhi, Mo Ran, and the others were all essentially top prodigies from their respective clans and families.
’Just having a network for exchanging intelligence and information is something I sorely need. I can’t just rely on Sen Hui for everything, can I?’
"HISS... A Tier Four Talisman Master?!"
Seeing the Talismans in the air, Mo Ran drew a sharp breath.
The others all stood up, gazing at Fang Yang with considerable awe.
In the end, Fang Yang successfully joined the Celestial Star Pavilion as an affiliate, much like Hong Qishang had with the White Feathered Eagle tribe.
...
While Fang Yang was settling in and consolidating his foundation, Fang Min and Fang Hao had not been idle either.
The former, Fang Min, had climbed from eighty-fifth to sixty-third on the Earth Ranking.
The latter, Fang Hao, had gone from not being on the Celestial Ranking at all to securing the ninety-second spot.
In a short time, the three prodigies of the Fang Clan had all made it onto the Celestial, Earth, and Human Rankings, and their fame soared.
This continuous stream of good news left the clan elders at the Fang Clan’s Residence ecstatic.
One day, Fang Min took the initiative to challenge Fang Yang, wanting to see for herself the gap between her and the young Great Saint.
However, at Fang Yang’s persuasion, they changed it to a non-martial duel, competing instead on the depth of their respective school’s mastery.
In the end, Fang Min was left utterly demoralized.
Even Fang Hao, watching from the side, felt completely numb and started to question his very existence.
A Quasi-Master of the Thunder Dao!
’This is just too outrageous! We’ve never seen anyone at twenty-two possess such a profound mastery of a school. Even the Carp Eagle Ancestor Fang Nian at his peak had only reached the Grandmaster Level in the Thunder Dao School.’
"Ah Yang’s talent is truly remarkable," Fang Hao sighed, silently watching Fang Yang walk away.
"No wonder some people believe that in this respect, he can be compared to ’Monarch Sen Yue’."
At his side, the deeply struck Fang Min nodded repeatedly. Her expression was a mixture of gratification and a touch of melancholy.
...
「Bai Zhi Dojo.」
The sky was vast, the sea boundless, and the air was filled with the drifting aroma of medicinal herbs.
Thanks to Sen Hui, Fang Yang was able to set foot in this dojo.
Sen Hui had not yet finished the tasks assigned by Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint, so Fang Yang simply stood to one side, silently watching her from a distance.
Just then, a gentle breeze stirred, and a woman appeared in the mountain pavilion.
Fang Yang focused his gaze and saw a graceful figure in green robes. Her beauty was so stunning it could topple nations. It was Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint.
"Greetings, Senior Bai Zhi," Fang Yang said with a polite bow.
"Mm..." Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint nodded, her gaze remaining fixed on Sen Hui.
Suddenly, she turned to Fang Yang. "Do you think I’m too strict with Xiaohui?"
In that instant, the mountain breeze seemed to freeze and the clouds hung motionless.
Hearing this, Fang Yang replied with a serene expression:
"How could that be, Senior?"
"If I ever had the chance in my life to follow a top-tier Alchemist Doctor..."
"...even if I did nothing all day but watch her perform Alchemy and listen to her speak, I would consider it the greatest blessing."
Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint smiled.
She shook her head with a soft, almost helpless laugh, but said nothing more.
At that moment, she finally understood why the Sen lineage treated Fang Yang with such favor.
Words like these were not something an ordinary person could utter.
「An hour later.」
Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint departed gracefully, and not long after, Sen Hui arrived.
The moment she reached Fang Yang’s side, she wanted to reach out and hold his hand, never to let go.
But given the special nature of the dojo, she hesitated shyly for a moment.
When she finally mustered the courage to take his hand, she discovered that their hands were already clasped together, and had been all along.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She slowly fell into step with Fang Yang as they walked out of the dojo.
"Wait, Ah Yang! Let’s go to the capital of cuisine—Saint’s Feast Metropolis."
She said with a serious expression, "This is the first time I’ve received a stipend from my master, so I absolutely have to buy you something delicious."
In Saint’s Feast Metropolis, the first treat she bought for Fang Yang was a sweet red date pastry.
The sweet red date pastry was flaky and soft, melting in the mouth. It was delicious.
The first, the second, the third...
She spent her Merit Points on him like water flowing from a tap, without a hint of regret.
"Hee hee! Ah Yang, I can earn lots and lots of Merit Points now. How about I take care of you~?" she said, her smile like a blossoming flower as she held tightly to his arm.
Fang Yang smiled. "You’re so amazing, Xiaohui. To think you can support me now..."
The setting sun was the color of blood.
The ocean waves crashed.
Before they knew it, they had returned to the Wind Peng Dojo.
Now, Sen Hui nestled against Fang Yang’s shoulder, quietly listening to him play a melody on the Yimu Guzheng.
The melody was lingering and as beautiful as celestial music.
Gradually, Sen Hui closed her eyes, resting against Fang Yang in peaceful contentment.
"Ah Yang... in my heart, you’ve long since been my husband... I love you."
"...I love you too, Xiaohui."
A faint pink hue instantly bloomed on her snow-white cheeks, a sight of heart-stirring beauty.
