Chapter 22 Rumors and Going Back to the Sect

Shi Feng felt like he was speaking to someone who has the same age as him. It shows how mature Liang Chen was. He was calm and polite even in this situation. After a few moments, old man Yun arrived as well and gave Liang Chen 7 more Geng metal ores. Liang Chen asked for the price intent on paying but Shi Feng disagreed and said what Liang Chen was doing is something that helps them out and these Geng metal ores are considered a few expenses for the process. Liang Chen didn't believe that a Geng metal ore can be just a few expenses since artifacts made from it can only be destroyed by Foundation Establishment and above strength. Nevertheless, Liang Chen accepted. He felt that Shi Feng genuinely wants to be good friends with him and cooperate in the future. He started making 2 more array flags and set the 4th array formation. Old man Yun ordered the servants to bring in the rest of the Golden Sunfire Corals.

Shi Feng asked Liang Chen. "How long will it take for each coral to reach perfect quality?"

Liang Chen answered. "Depending on the size of the ore, it takes about 30 minutes to an hour."

Shi Feng and the rest just stared at him. This means that they can change the quality of the material to a maximum of 48 a day per array formation. For 4 array formations, that will be a max of 192 total per day. With the 545 waste Golden Sunfire Corals they received, everything will be converted within 3 days. This speed of upgrading the materials is very captivating. Old man Yun asked Liang Chen if this will work with other materials as well. Liang Chen answered that it would not work and explained that different materials have different compositions. He also said that he was just lucky since he knows about the Golden Sunfire Corals. Truthfully, Liang Chen can do it with each material if he wanted to, as long as the materials don't exceed the level of his array formation mastery. However, he decided to lie about it. He knows that if he answered "Yes" then they will keep on pestering him about it. Though he wished he could also do this with herbs, it is impossible unless he can speed up time. He doesn't need money right now but what he needs is time and cultivation to a higher realm. After this job, he intends to do close-door cultivation to practice his Rising Sun Sword techniques and try to enter the 1st level of sword intent if possible. When they heard Liang Chen's answer, old man Yun and Shi Feng has this disappointed faces but they disappeared within a moment. They have a vague understanding of Liang Chen. They thought that if Liang Chen wanted, he can do research on a material however he instantly said no to them and which means he has no time instead. They wouldn't mind about it and the important thing is that if Liang Chen needs help, they with Jade Mountain Trading are willing to be the 1st to step in. They wouldn't let go of a rising star like Liang Chen.

Somewhere outside the academy, inside the forest in an isolated place, you could see 2 people sitting on a chair with a table, talking. These 2 were Liu Yang and Wei Ling. After the incident in the female yard of the east outer sect peak, she tried to contact Liu Yang. With a response, she was invited over here.

"Are you sure about that?" Liu Yang asked.

Wei Ling finished sipping tea before she said. "Yes. Or do you have any other explanation why would a female wear another male's outer robe unless something happened to her clothes?"

Liu Yang thought about it. Xiu Ying returned before night fell and she was wearing male clothes with her. If the clothes became wet, a girl could have waited for them to dry. The other explanation would be that the girl encountered a demon beast however there aren't any scratches on her and even if there are, she would return with tattered clothes. The only thing that is swirling inside Liu Yang's head was that Xiu Ying undressed and Liang Chen cooked rice. Xiu Ying was too embarrassed because there would be blood on the robe and she has no spare clothes to change into. Liu Yang frowned. He finally found a girl who has the qualifications to be his and before he could get her, she was already spoiled.

"Where is this Liang Chen now?" Liu Yang asked with hatred.

"I checked the assignment hall and he went to a place called Qingyuan village for the subjugation of cobalt monkeys." She answered calmly.

Liu Yang didn't say anything for a few moments, thinking of something. Then he took 10 gold coins out of his storage ring and placed them on the table. "Here, you can go now."

Wei Ling took the coins, stood up, said her farewell, and left. Liu Yang made a signal from his hand and someone who was dressed like a ninja immediately appeared and bowed before him.

"Contact the family and send someone over with the strength of the Foundation Establishment realm. Have them wait outside the sect or once Liang Chen is alone, have that person kill him."

The ninja-dressed person nodded and immediately disappeared. Liu Yang, smirked thinking that if Qi Refining realm experts can't handle Liang Chen, then sending someone from another realm higher would do the trick. Even if Liang Chen is a genius among geniuses, his strength in the Mortal realm could not compete with someone who is 2 realms higher than him. Liu Yang took the chairs and table inside his storage ring and left the place. After some time, rumors about Liang Chen and Xiu Ying reached all over the outer sect disciples. Master Wu called for Xiu Ying however not to discipline her but instead said to ignore it. Master Wu knew where the rumors came from but he doesn't care who is spreading them. He was there when Xiu Ying made out of her Divine Damnation. Since Liang Chen and Xiu Ying don't have any status, as long as there are no shreds of evidence to a rumor, Master Wu will not care for it. The best would be to ignore such things and the truth will come out eventually.

3 days later, Liang Chen was done converting the waste corals to high-quality materials. He also advanced with the Rising Sun Sword technique. There are 8 moves on this technique, the higher the move, the higher the damage and the number of hits one can counterattack. With mastering the 1st move called Graceful Reflect, as long as he sees the attacker's strike, he can counterattack with ease. Thanks to the Universal Guide's ability to simulate practice within his mind, even without an opponent, Liang Chen can grasp a lot of insight on the move. He was able to understand how and when Graceful Reflect was done and just needs to practice the movements with muscle memory. Shi Feng was pleased that he gave Liang Chen 10 Golden Sunfire Corals. He didn't mind giving them out since they are expecting the good quality to sell but instead they got perfect quality and will make 3x more earnings from it. Wang Jun and Chen Wei sold their materials and are happy as well. Jade Mountain Trading gave them very good prices since they are friends with Shi Long. They said their goodbyes, got a carriage for rent and went back to the sect. Once they are a few miles from the sect, Liang Chen detected someone from his spirit sense.

"Someone is here observing this carriage from the trees and has this murderous aura. This person has the strength of Foundation Establishment realm level 4." The Universal Guide warned him.

Liang Chen frowned. Thanks to his insight into the sword, his spirit sense broaden as well. His spirit sense range is now much higher compared to other Qi Refining realm level 2 experts. He knew that the Liu family will do something in the future but did not expect they will send someone who is a higher realm right away. Liang Chen observed this person for now. When they stopped and were about to enter the sect gates, the person was still just observing them. He and the Universal Guide concluded that this person is just observing them now and seems to only make a move once Liang Chen is alone. Liang Chen tried to think of a way for his 3 friends to follow him naturally to the east outer sect peak but couldn't think of something. He also sensed that the man walked through the gate as well. This means he has a sect token and has confirmed that it has something to do with Liu Yang. While walking, Liang Chen noticed that most disciples are looking at him with disdain. He didn't mind it, though it was weird. He had this same feeling when he went to high school. He confessed his love to his crush, got rejected and it became known throughout his grade the next day. It was those same eyes and feelings he got. They reached the assignment hall, reports the mission, and got their contribution points. Liang Chen still hasn't thought of a way not to be alone till he reaches his sect peak and they are about to walk their separate ways. When Liang Chen was about to give up, a girl suddenly called out on him.

"LIANG CHEN, YOU VILE BEAST!, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO XIU YING?" The 4 were startled and immediately looked toward this angry girl that was backed up by 3 other girls. Liang Chen realized that it was Yu Yan, Xiu Ying's housemate.

"What do you mean that I have done something to Xiu Ying?" Liang Chen asked.

Yu Yan frowned and lashed out again. "You won't admit it? After you cooked some rice, you will just wipe your mouth and leave? How dare you do that to Xiu Ying?!"

Liang Chen was frozen on the spot. How can he do that to Xiu Ying? Not only that, they are just 14-year-old children. Liang Chen almost face palmed and realized that this was not earth anymore. This world's concept of being an adult is almost close to medieval china. Once a boy is 14, he is already considered an adult and once a girl's menstruation starts, they too are considered an adult and already marriageable.