The Great Elder and the other elders didn't praise Chu Xinghe, because they knew that this good kid didn't need praise; his actions had already shown everyone what kind of person he was.

The Great Elder left with a group of elders, all smiles. Although the Medicine King Palace had been destroyed, the Grand Sky Sect was incredibly powerful. The palace had become a bit crowded due to the increasing number of disciples.

Now that it had been burned down, they could build an even more magnificent Medicine King Palace. So, Chu Xinghe did well to set that fire!

By evening, a dirty Chu Xinghe had finished a day's work with his fellow Spirit Crane Palace brothers. He was tired, but hearing the rumor that Chu Cheng had been beaten up again swept away his fatigue.

If it weren't inappropriate, he would have gone to the outer sect to see what state Chu Cheng was in after the beating.

Just as he was about to head back with Feng Fei to rest, Shen Chun approached.

"Junior Brother Xinghe!"

"Hello, Senior Brother Shen Chun!"

"Haha... Junior Brother Xinghe, you've been busy all day and must be exhausted. When you get back, hand over your core disciple robe to the inner disciples. There are dedicated disciples to wash it for you. This is a privilege only for core disciples."

"How can I... Senior Brother Shen Chun, please don't say that!" Chu Xinghe said seriously, "I joined the sect last, how can I let my senior brothers wash clothes for me? I already feel guilty for not being able to help you all with your laundry, so I'll wash my own clothes. I don't know what privileges other core disciples have, but please treat me as an ordinary disciple. You all have taken great care of me, and I am grateful."

Shen Chun was moved to tears...

That's Junior Brother Xinghe for you...

"Alright! As you say, Junior Brother Xinghe. Oh, by the way, Junior Brother Xinghe, the Spirit Tomb will open in a few days. I've arranged for someone to gather information about the Spirit Tomb for you. What kind of spirit weapon do you like?"

"Ah..." Chu Xinghe was taken aback. What kind of spirit weapon did he like?

You see, entering the Spirit Tomb is usually a matter of luck. The Grand Sky Sect believes that the meeting between a spirit weapon and a disciple is a matter of fate. A life-bound spirit weapon will follow a disciple until death, only then returning to the Spirit Tomb. So, fate is very important.

This fate is quite mysterious.

Some people have great talent but end up choosing the worst spirit weapon in the Spirit Tomb by accident, and their fate is sealed, with no future.

Others might obtain a powerful spirit weapon and change their destiny.

But very few know that so-called fate isn't absolute. New disciples entering the Spirit Tomb are unfamiliar with its situation.

Even those favored by elders might receive some insider information before entering, but the elders can't say too much due to sect rules.

But now... Shen Chun's implication was that he could choose his own fate?

"Senior Brother Shen Chun, wouldn't this violate sect rules?" Chu Xinghe asked seriously.

"It won't... I've discreetly sounded out the Great Elder, and he nodded... so it won't violate sect rules, and you won't be punished. Rest assured, Junior Brother!"

After hearing Shen Chun's words, Chu Xinghe laughed in exasperation. Is that what I meant by asking if it would violate sect rules?

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If it doesn't violate sect rules, what's the point? What's the future without punishment?

"Oh, I see. Thank you, Senior Brother Shen Chun. I like swords... cough, swords!"

"Swords, huh! Haha, don't worry, Junior Brother. Our Grand Sky Sect's Spirit Tomb has ten divine swords. Although five are currently in the hands of various elders and the Sect Master, five remain without owners. Their locations are a mystery, but the Great Elder must have some information. Rest assured, I'll discreetly inquire with the Great Elder and see what I can find."

"In that case, thank you, Senior Brother Shen Chun."

"No need to be so formal, we're brothers! I'm off!"

Shen Chun left, and Chu Xinghe returned to his room, where Feng Fei was already washed up and drinking tea.

Chu Xinghe mentioned Shen Chun's visit to Feng Fei, with the simple goal of probing for any loopholes in the rules.

"This isn't really a secret. Elders from each palace open some back doors for their favored disciples, and Spirit Crane Palace is no exception. So, it's not against the rules."

Chu Xinghe looked disappointed. If Feng Fei said it wasn't against the rules, then it truly wasn't.

"With your talent, Junior Brother Xinghe, if you can obtain a divine sword, your future will be limitless. So go for it."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Feng." Chu Xinghe smiled wryly. It seemed there was no chance to break the rules.

Seeing Chu Xinghe's wry smile, Feng Fei thought he was worried about not being able to tame a divine sword. After some thought, Feng Fei said, "Junior Brother, the five divine swords aren't solely about fate; some small tricks are needed... so rest assured, the Great Elder will find a way for you to get a divine sword."

"Ah..." Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded. So, there's under-the-table manipulation behind this so-called fate.

But Feng Fei didn't say more, as he had already said enough.

Chu Xinghe pondered whether to expose this manipulation. If he did, wouldn't the new disciples be in an uproar?

It would likely be a huge blow to the entire Grand Sky Sect.

But after thinking it over, Chu Xinghe realized it wouldn't work. Would he be expelled from the sect if he exposed this?

Unlikely... very unlikely!

Would he be punished?

Yes... but not severely, because the Great Elder would go to great lengths to suppress it. With the Great Elder's methods, it would likely end without consequence, possibly pinning the blame on Shen Chun as a scapegoat and dismissing it as a rumor.

Doing something that harms others without benefiting oneself is not something Chu Xinghe could do.

Moreover, obtaining a divine sword was important for him. The ten divine swords of the Grand Sky Sect were renowned, like the Sect Master's Sky-raising Sword and the Great Elder's Soul Extinguishing Sword, both treasures.

If he could get such a divine sword as his spirit weapon, his future would be promising.

Five divine swords remained in the Spirit Tomb, and with the Great Elder's manipulation, getting one was no problem. Considering how many times he had tried to trick the Great Elder before, although unsuccessfully, he felt a bit guilty.

***

That night, Chu Xinghe dreamed of Chu Cheng wrapped like a dumpling, seeking revenge and spouting nonsense about "thirty years east, thirty years west, don't bully the young and poor."

And saying things like "my fate is mine, not heaven's"?

And threatening to cut off his head with a sword?

Damn... that little brat isn't dead? How is he sending dream revelations now?

So, can strong resentment really lead to dream revelations?

***

Angry, Chu Xinghe rushed to the cafeteria early in the morning!

"Brother, give me two dumplings! The kind wrapped the tightest, with meat filling!"

After devouring two meat-filled dumplings, Chu Xinghe felt much better. That little brat's resentment runs deep, huh? What hasn't your Brother Chu seen? Bring on the dumplings, and if you come in person, see if your Brother Chu won't chew you up and swallow you whole!

The remnants of the Medicine King Palace had been cleared. The Grand Sky Sect had its own construction team, a group of disciples practicing civil engineering techniques, demonstrating how to build houses on-site for Chu Xinghe.

He had always heard about skyscrapers rising from the ground, but that was just boasting. Here, they truly rose from the ground, pulling stones up and shaping them into pillars.

Goodness, various palaces centered around the Rosefinch Furnace truly rose from the ground. In just a few days, under the hands of the civil engineering disciples, the Medicine King Palace had taken shape, its area more than ten times larger than before, the kind where you could easily get lost inside.

Of course, there would be many things to add to the Medicine King Palace later, but with the Grand Sky Sect's wealth, these were trivial matters.

Chu Xinghe watched the construction for a few days. Although he wasn't particularly interested in becoming a disciple of civil engineering techniques, he truly loved the Grand Sky Sect's techniques.

However, Chu Xinghe was still at the peak of the First Grade Martial Artist realm. To formally learn techniques, he had to obtain a spirit weapon and properly step into the Second Grade Martial Master realm to start learning techniques suitable for him.

During this time, the Great Elder visited Chu Xinghe once, even seeking his opinion on the construction of the Medicine King Palace. Chu Xinghe, knowing nothing about it, could only say that the Great Elder should handle it.

But these days were the most comfortable for Chu Xinghe. All he had to do was watch the civil engineering disciples perform their arduous task of raising buildings from the ground. He really didn't have to do anything, and even if he wanted to, he didn't have the ability.

So, during these days, Chu Xinghe kept thinking about his next plan.

Burn down the Spirit Tomb?

That's unrealistic... if the spirit weapons automatically protected the Spirit Tomb and pierced him with a thousand swords, it wouldn't be worth it.

Just as Chu Xinghe was at a loss, Shen Chun arrived.

Shen Chun mysteriously handed a piece of paper to Chu Xinghe. Chu Xinghe glanced at it... goodness... four of the five divine swords' locations were marked... and how to obtain three of them was clearly written... no wonder the Great Elder had cryptically told him to seize the opportunity when he visited earlier. This was the opportunity!

"Thank you, Senior Brother Shen Chun."

"Oh, Junior Brother, no need to be so formal. I'm just a messenger. Don't let the Great Elder down."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Shen Chun!"

"Junior Brother, the Great Elder asked me to tell you to choose one of these three swords, and don't touch the others. Also, remember not to communicate too much with others when you enter the Spirit Tomb. Last time it opened, a disciple got some information but misguided others, leading to many disciples getting the worst spirit weapons. The palaces were furious, and even the elders couldn't protect him; he was expelled from the sect. So, Junior Brother..."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother! I definitely won't misguide anyone!"

Chu Xinghe was moved to tears. Senior Brother Shen Chun! You are the best!

I've been racking my brains for days with no progress.

Senior Brother, you're an expert; you know what to do!

Misguiding others can get you expelled from the sect, huh... rest assured, Senior Brother, in terms of misguiding, that expelled disciple is a rookie compared to me!