Chapter 142

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Chapter 142: Becoming Black Robes

The square outside the Martial Hall was crowded with people, noisy and bustling.

Ye Yun and his companions froze upon entering. They hadn’t expected so many outer sect disciples gathered here.

“Unbelievable—such a crowd just to welcome us,” Yu Minghong muttered, stunned.

Duan Chenfeng smirked. “Little Yu, you’re wrong. Even after returning from the great tomb to claim rewards, the sect wouldn’t hold a ceremony this grand for us.”

“Right. The bell tolled seven times—not as weighty as nine tolls, but still rare. Something major must be happening,” Ye Yun agreed, certain the commotion wasn’t for them.

Just then, Elder Lan emerged from the Martial Hall, his presence silencing the crowd.

“Seven tolls mean urgency. Most of you heeded the call,” Elder Lan said, scanning the crowd.

A black-robed outer disciple stepped forward. “Elder Lan—what’s the reason for the seven tolls?”

Ye Yun glanced over—it was Zhong Ying.

“Patience, Zhong Ying. Summoning black robe disciples signals importance,” Elder Lan replied calmly.

Whispers rippled through the square. Black robe disciples rarely left their posts—vital to the outer sect’s operations. None had joined the Hualun Secret Vault mission. Their involvement now hinted at grave matters. These disciples held power not just through connections but strength: most had reached the peak of the body refinement stage, some even entering the Qi refining stage, eligible for inner assessments.

“Even Zhong Ying’s here… This mission must be critical.”

“Black robes can’t abandon their duties lightly. The outer sect would collapse!”

“Not just anyone can join this task, clearly.”

“Half those black robes got their positions through favors. In a real fight? I’d crush them.”

“Let’s see how strong they *really* are.”

Ye Yun watched coldly. At his current cultivation level, black robe disciples meant nothing. Those at the body refinement stage’s peak couldn’t survive one punch. Unless they reached the fifth level of the Qi refining stage, they stood no chance.

Moreover, the great tomb’s trials had honed him. Spiritual power swelled within him, ready to transform into true qi—any moment now, he’d break through to the Qi refining stage.

Elder Lan allowed the chatter, an odd smile on his lips.

“Silence.” His voice cut through the noise.

The square stilled instantly.

“Two announcements,” Elder Lan began. “First: days ago, Tian Zhu Peak sent 100 elite outer disciples on a sect task. Only three survived—Ye Yun, Duan Chenfeng, and Yu Minghong. The rest met death and disappearance of the spirit.”

He pointed at the trio. “Step forward. The Grand Elder himself will reward you.”

Every eye locked onto them—envious, jealous, scheming.

Ye Yun’s lips curled. Let the fools try something. He’d happily send them to their graves.

The three bowed and leaped onto the Martial Hall’s steps.

“Elder Lan.”

The elder nodded. “Losing 97 elites shows the mission’s danger. Yet your cultivation levels… all peak body refinement stage now. Remarkable progress in mere days.”

A clamor erupted!

Ye Yun and his two companions had previously been at the fifth and sixth stages of body refinement. Yet after only a few days in the sect trial, they’d suddenly reached the peak of the body refinement stage. Such a feat seemed impossible—what extraordinary luck had they stumbled upon?

Countless envious and hostile eyes fixed on them.

Though body refinement was merely the first step on the path of cultivation, reaching its peak remained challenging. Among the thousands of outer disciples in the square, most hadn’t achieved it. Only a handful of seasoned disciples and those with decent talent barely touched the Comprehending Qi Stage. Beyond them stood the black robe disciples and the purple robe disciples who’d already entered the Qi refining stage.

Surviving the sect trial promised lavish rewards: twenty top-grade spirit stones and a medium-grade spiritual weapon—enough to drive any outer disciple wild with greed.

Even Elder Lan and the others hid their astonishment. They’d expected none of the hundred dispatched disciples to return alive, least of all Ye Yun’s group.

But since these three had survived, Elder Lan and Grand Elder Chunyu Yan saw no reason to withhold rewards. After all, the treasures came from Shadowless Peak’s coffers.

Ye Yun and his companions stood beneath the Martial Hall’s entrance, enduring the crowd’s stares.

Ye Yun’s gaze remained steady. To him, these rewards mattered little. He doubted any disciple present could survive a single strike from him.

Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong, however, brimmed with excitement. In the great tomb, Duan Chenfeng had obtained a Spirit Gathering Jade. With enough top-grade spirit stones, he’d likely break through to the Qi refining stage soon.

Yu Minghong’s cultivation techniques granted him dense spiritual power. His Little Xuanwu Shield—a superb low-grade spiritual weapon from the tomb—could block three strikes from a third-level Qi refining cultivator. Paired with an offensive medium-grade spiritual weapon, even first-level Qi refining disciples would struggle to defeat him.

“First, Grand Elder Chunyu Yan will bestow the sect’s rewards,” Elder Lan declared, her voice sharp with anticipation.

Chunyu Yan emerged from the Martial Hall, his white robes edged in gold. Smiling faintly, he swept his gaze across the square before settling on the trio.

“Your survival pleases us. Let’s dispense with formalities.”

“Our gratitude, Grand Elder.” The three bowed.

“Three medium-grade spiritual weapons and sixty top-grade spirit stones await. Choose wisely.” Though Chunyu Yan smiled, his eyes held gravity.

Duan Chenfeng stepped forward immediately to inspect the offerings.

Yu Minghong hesitated, glancing back at Ye Yun.

“You first, Junior Brother Yu,” Ye Yun murmured. Having already acquired fine spiritual weapons, these held no allure for him.

Elder Lan interjected, “The Moon-Chasing Soul-Cutting Blade from Tian Zhu Peak slays souls like moonlight. The Breaking Sun Spear shatters the blazing sun with one thrust. The Swift Phoenix Feather grants swallow-like speed.”

After exchanging looks, Yu Minghong claimed the blade—a perfect match for his shield. Duan Chenfeng seized the spear, its forceful style aligning with his Great Sun Boxing Gloves.

Ye Yun collected the remaining feather. Offensive and defensive tools didn’t interest him, but this speed-enhancing item intrigued him.

As the trio bowed again, the crowd buzhed. Even black robe disciples eyed the medium-grade weapons covetously, some radiating murderous intent.

Chunyu Yan observed them all before coughing lightly.

“Shadowless Peak grants one final reward.”

The three looked up, expectant.

“Ye Yun and his companions may visit the Zang Wu Pavilion’s second floor to select eighth-grade Celestial Techniques.”

His words detonated like thunder. The pavilion’s second floor housed seventh and eighth-grade techniques—a dream for most outer disciples.

Yet Chunyu Yan wasn’t done.

“From today, these three are black robe disciples. In ten days, they’ll join the inner disciple assessment!”