“So in the decade I was gone you broke through into Qi Condensation and became an inner disciple; killed and plundered a few hundred of your fellow inner disciples in righteous 'self-defense'; announced your break-through into foundation establishment stage a year back, to the whole sect with a mystic manifestation of thunderclouds. You also managed to wreck this residence. Anything I left out?” summarized Old Man Zhu.
Fang Hao felt a bit awkward when his master mentioned the matter of him killing and looting his fellow inner disciples. But he shrugged it off pretty easily. After all, as his master mentioned, it was in righteous self defense. Added xp and loot was just an icing on the cake; he was doing it to cleanse the sect of greedy evil murderers after all.
“Master, your disciple also just broke through into the Foundation Establishment Stage as a body refiner too. This also caused my Qi cultivation to advance a bit. Maybe, we should celebrate with some good high quality potent spirit wine?” Fang Hao inquired hopefully.
Outwardly, Great Elder Shi had a calm facade; but inwardly he had mixed feelings when he heard about Fang Hao's progress as a Body Refiner. Old Man Zhu had a knowing look in his eyes as he replied.
“Don't worry about the wine. From my trip I have obtained some devil wine which would cause massacres among peak Core Formation Cultivators in the Xiuzhenist World. But more of that later. For now Brother Shi has some questions for you.” replied Old man Zhu dismissively.
Fang Hao turned his greedy pig like face to Great Elder Shi, barely concealing his lust for the devil wine which his master mentioned, and respectfully greeted him.
“Greetings to Great Elder Shi, from this Junior.”
The Great Elder Shi gave an indifferent nod, but he was cursing as to why he hadn't picked this fatty to be his disciple. Achieving Foundation Establishment in both Qi Cultivation and Body Refining with the resources at Fatty's Disposal meant that the Fatty indeed had much more talent than the initial evaluation suggested. Situations like these were not uncommon in the cultivation world, otherwise the sect wouldn't even bother with Janitorial Disciples. Many Earth-Shattering Cultivators, Demons and Devils were late bloomers and had modest beginnings.
“Junior, when you inquired about Foundation Establishment scriptures from me, I had recommended the Thunder-rock Carapace Scripture. Why the change in cultivation technique, even if it is a superior pick.” asked the Great Elder.
“Great Elder, the Primal Thunder Scripture sounded more powerful and it would help me kill and loot better; purely in self defense of course. Also, the Thunder-rock Carapace Scripture sounds like the name of a giant insect; so there is that.” answered Fang Hao honestly with a dumb look on his face.
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Great Elder Shi just snorted derisively, before teleporting away. Just before teleportation, Fang Hao thought he saw the Great elder flick his arm; but he wasn't sure whether it was actually so or just his imagination. While Fang Hao was still wondering about this; Master Zhu grabbed his neck and he felt a light tug behind his navel as he teleported and appeared in another inner disciple residence.
“If you aren't as foolish as you look; you have figured out that I am not just a simple manager of one of the hills for Outer Disciples. Indeed, I am one of the thirteen Great Elders of the Jade Pagoda Sect. I am Great Elder Zhu, head of the Palace of Formations and Restrictions!” said Great Elder Zhu rather pompously.
“I have eyes and could recognize Mt. Tai!” shouted Fang Hao without thinking.
Great Elder Zhu frowned a bit and asked,
“Mt. Tai? What Mt. Tai? We are on the Celestial jade mountain now.”
'Oops. Apparently no Mt. Tai here. Still what I said stands. I would be immensely butthurt now if I had rejected to become Master Zhu's disciple back then. Good thing I was drunk as fuck and clouded by short term gains when Master Zhu had offered to accept me as a disciple, back then.' mused Fang Hao.
“Nothing Great Elder. I had heard fables of Mt. Tai being the largest, most majestic mountain ever in the mortal world. I meant to say that I recognized master's majesty back then.” replied Fang Hao.
Hearing the explanation, Fang Hao's master dismissed his strange comments, and was visibly pleased at the flattery as he snorted a reply.
“What recognition. You were too drunk to recognize your left foot from your right hand back then.”
Fang Hao had an embarrassed yet expectant look at the mention of getting drunk. Looking at the human shaped pig's greedy expression, Great Elder made a shrugging gesture as a pale green translucent jug filled with a viscous amber colored liquid. The amber liquid seemed to emit a gentle glow, and swirled without any external agitation. Two pale green crystalline goblets winked into existence.
The hovering jug poured the viscous amber liquid, all by itself into the two hovering goblets. The goblets floated towards Fang Hao and Great Elder Zhu. Fang Hao impatiently grabbed the goblet, and was about to greedily drink it; When suddenly, the goblet was transposed with a gold triangular token with intricate designs on it. Fang Hao looked at his master with a hurt and betrayed expression.
“Before you begin drinking, keep that token in your storage pouch. You are back in your old inner disciple residence. So when you regain consciousness, head to the Task Assignment Hall and claim the position of a junior Core Disciple. The token will allow you to join the Formations and Restrictions Palace without hassle, and we will have a discussion later. For now, lets drink!” stated Grand Elder Zhu with an amused expression.
Fang Hao quickly pocketed the golden triangular token, and thanked his master, “Disciple thanks Master for his grace.”
The pale green crystalline goblet with the viscous swirling amber liquid appeared before him. He carefully grabbed the goblet and cautiously brought it to his lips; expecting any moment for it to be swapped with something inedible. Fortunately, that didn't happen and he sipped a bit of the amber liquid.
The amber liquid smelled like freshly crushed wet grass and had a sublime flavor which reminded him of avocado and truffles. When the amber liquid traveled to his abdomen he felt a mild warmth, almost unnoticeable. He was underwhelmed by the potency of the wine as he took another gulp. A pleasantly warm sensation was traveling down his throat when the mild sensation in his abdomen exploded and he felt a blazing warmth suffuse his whole body, causing him to feel dizzy even with his cultivation base and refined body.
'Well fuck. Looks like I am going to get smashed silly.' thought Fang Hao as the large gulp of the liquor reached his abdomen. Great Elder Zhu was looking at him with an amused and interested expression.