Volume 1, Chapter 106 – Reputation

Silence fell over the place.

About half a stick of incense later, a wild gust swept past, and a burly figure appeared in front of everyone.

It was an old man of about seventy, more than seven feet tall. His hair and beard were completely white, his loose white robe hung from a straight frame, and his back was as upright as a pine tree.

In Shi Lan’s perception, this old man’s aura was constantly shifting, at times no different from that of an ordinary mortal, at others as deep and unfathomable as a boundless sea.

“Greetings, Old Sect Master.” Qiu Hongxin bent slightly at the waist.

The elders standing before the main hall bowed deeply. “Greetings, Old Sect Master.”

“Hongxin, for what matter have you called me out of seclusion?” The old man glanced around and asked softly.

Qiu Hongxin stepped forward and briefly explained the cause and effect of what had happened.

The old man’s calm face turned as dark as water. He gave Sikong Qian, standing to the side, a glance, then looked at Shi Lan. “You are from the Demon Suppression Army?”

Shi Lan nodded. “That’s right.”

Seeing the gloom on the old man’s face, Sikong Qian had no idea what the Old Sect Master was thinking. Feeling uncertain, he probed, “Old Sect Master, please let me explain…”

“Impudent!” the old man roared. Before Sikong Qian could finish, he flicked his hand, and a slap sent him flying.

Sikong Qian shot through the air for several dozen zhang, smashed through a wall, and crashed into a side hall, where he lay without a sound.

Seeing the old man fly into a rage, all the elders fell silent like cicadas in winter. The few elders who had just spoken up for Sikong Qian now lowered their gazes and stared at nothing, not daring to say another word.

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“Sikong Qian dared to rob the Demon Suppression Army. His death would not be enough to atone. As for how he should be dealt with, you may handle it as you please. My Qianyun Sect will not utter a single complaint. Is that answer satisfactory to you?” The old man withdrew his hand and looked at Shi Lan.

“Old Sect Master, that might not be appropriate… Elder Sikong, he…” One elder spoke up cautiously.

“If anyone dares say another word, they can get out of Qianyun Sect along with Sikong Qian today!”

After those words, no one else dared to speak, though everyone felt somewhat stifled inside.

Some strangers had shown up out of nowhere and, just like that, wanted to take away one of their sect’s elders. The Old Sect Master had come out and was actually helping an outsider. This was undoubtedly a huge blow to the sect’s cohesion.

At the same time, a faint sense of awe toward Shi Lan and the others rose in everyone’s hearts. After all, even the Old Sect Master had to speak gently in front of them.

Watching this scene, Qiu Hongxin sighed inwardly. If he didn’t do this, the entire Qianyun Sect might be facing annihilation. Sikong Qian had only himself to blame for provoking someone he could not afford to offend.

The old man lifted his hand and beckoned. The half-unconscious Sikong Qian floated out of the side hall and landed in front of Shi Lan and her companion.

Shi Lan crouched down and woke him. “During that melee the other day, did you see the longbow in my hand?”

Sikong Qian glanced at the old man, then swept his gaze over his silent fellow sect members all around. His heart turned to ashes. He shook his head and stammered, “All I had were those spirit crystals. I didn’t have anything else.”

Shi Lan sighed inwardly. It seemed the Divine Cloud Bow had most likely been taken by that Yang Kun in the chaos.

“Elder Sikong is, at the end of the day, someone of Qianyun Sect. I believe Qianyun Sect has its own rules for punishment. I won’t overstep my bounds.”

In the end, Shi Lan did not take Sikong Qian away, but instead handed the right to deal with him back to Qianyun Sect.

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Qianyun Sect was, at the very least, a seventh-rank power. There was no benefit in making a complete enemy of them. Moreover, the old man’s attitude was ultimately only because of the Demon Suppression Army’s status. He would inevitably have a knot in his heart over it.

One could not do things too absolutely. Besides, whether Sikong Qian lived or died did not matter in the slightest. There was no need to make an enemy over him.

Qiu Hongxin had people rewrap the spirit crystals and send them to Shi Lan and her companion.

The old man personally saw Shi Lan and her group down the mountain. Watching Shi Lan mount her horse, he clasped his hands and said, “I, Liu Huaxing, will remember this favor you have shown today. I wish you all a smooth journey.”

By not taking Sikong Qian away, Shi Lan had left Qianyun Sect a shred of face so they would not become a laughingstock. Given the Demon Suppression Army’s influence,

handling it this way was already showing leniency. Shi Lan said nothing more. She turned her reins, about to leave, when Liu Huaxing called out to stop her.

“Please wait, young lady. This old man’s memory is getting bad. I actually forgot to ask your name. May I have your name?”

“You flatter me, Old Sect Master Liu. I am Shi Lan.”

Watching Shi Lan and the others go farther and farther away, Liu Huaxing let out a long breath, then raised his head to look at the sky. His eyes were full of worry. The last time he had seen the Demon Suppression Army had been more than two hundred years ago, if he remembered correctly.

It seemed things would not be peaceful again…

“Master.”

Qiu Hongxin came to Liu Huaxing’s side and bowed in greeting.

“Hongxin, I’ll be entering a life-or-death seclusion shortly. Unless it concerns the life and death of Qianyun Sect, do not disturb me. Also, send people to scout to the west. If they find anything… make preparations early.”

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From Shi Lan’s group suddenly appearing, Liu Huaxing had already smelled the scent of an approaching storm. He was only half a step away from the Tiangang Realm. He had hesitated at that life-and-death step that would let him be reborn for nearly ten years and still had not dared to take it.

Now he had to move a little faster.

……

Wu Lingkong looked at Shi Lan, who was silently leading the way ahead, and felt complicated. At first she had not understood why Shi Lan wanted to let Sikong Qian go, but when Liu Huaxing spoke at the foot of the mountain, she suddenly came to her senses.

Whether in methods of handling matters or in the steadiness of her state of mind, Shi Lan surpassed her by far. One could not tell at all that she was not yet twenty.

Her talent and aptitude were extraordinary, and she was smooth and worldly in the way she dealt with people. For such a person to have been born in the barren land of the Chengtian Domain really did prove that when things reach an extreme, they turn around.

Sitting on horseback, Shi Lan stared at her system panel, still a little dazed.

Host: Shi Lan

Cultivation: Innate Realm, Seventh Layer

Root Bone: 9 (Innate Spiritual Body, once in a thousand years.)

Techniques: Jade Purity Creation Art (Layer One), Vajra Divine Fist (Great Completion), Tempering Jade Art (Sixth Layer)

Divine Ability: Heaven’s Eye Qi-Gazing Technique (Three Stars)

Strength Evaluation: Making Some Progress

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Reputation: 1240 (Slightly Known)

Not long after leaving Qianyun Sect’s station, a system notification sounded in Shi Lan’s mind.

[Congratulations to the host for achieving the “Slightly Known” achievement.]

[Achievement reward issued.]

[Congratulations to the host for gaining three Beginner Lottery chances and one Lottery Reset chance.]

As for reputation points, after finishing the last reputation quest, Shi Lan had hardly paid them any attention. The last time she glanced, they had still been just over a hundred. Now, for some reason, they had suddenly shot up by nearly a thousand and even triggered an achievement.

On top of that, the system had issued a new reputation quest.

[Long-Term Reputation Quest issued: “Make a Name for Yourself”]

[Quest Requirement: Accumulate one hundred thousand reputation points within three years.]

[Quest Reward: Depends on how quickly the host completes the quest.]

[Quest Failure Penalty: The Beginner Lottery Wheel will be shut down.]