Chapter 5

Ningcheng, located in the southeastern region of the Wu Yue Empire, is also in the southeastern part of the Fan Domain. Therefore, the place Shen Fei is heading to is the most southeastern part of the entire Fan Domain, in other words, the most remote area of the Fan Domain continent.

After traveling with the Lieryun Palace caravan for half a month, Shen Fei finally entered Ningcheng. Looking at this city, which was far inferior to the capital city of Yuecheng, he did not feel discouraged. Since he was here, he would settle down, which was his current mindset.

When leaving Yuecheng, Han Chi had already informed Shen Fei that there were three major sects in Ningcheng: Luoyun Valley, Deyin Sect, and Changning Sect. Coincidentally, these three major sects were respectively affiliated with the Luoyue Sect, Guiyin Sect, and Lieryun Palace of Yuecheng. It seemed that the branches of the three major powers in the capital had spread throughout the entire empire.

Standing in front of a tall sect gate, Shen Fei looked up at the three large characters "Changning Sect" on the gate's top, thinking that this was probably where he would spend the next few years.

The caravan leader who had brought Shen Fei here had already left. As a merchant, he was naturally quite opportunistic. Shen Fei, a cripple expelled from Lieryun Palace, was not worth further flattery. Therefore, he simply dropped Shen Fei at the gate of Changning Sect and considered his task complete.

Shen Fei, who had been left behind, did not show any emotion and directly stepped into Changning Sect. As soon as he entered, he saw a middle-aged man coming towards him, staring at Shen Fei suspiciously and asking, "Who are you? Why are you in Changning Sect?"

Being a newcomer, Shen Fei quickly bowed and said, "I am Shen Fei from Lieryun Palace. Please introduce me to the sect leader of Changning Sect."

Hearing Shen Fei's introduction, the middle-aged man looked enlightened and said, "So you are Shen Fei. What? Are you alone?"

Seeing that the other person knew him, Shen Fei was pleasantly surprised and said, "The sect caravan has already left. May I ask for your name?"

The middle-aged man glanced at Shen Fei's left shoulder, where his arm was missing, but did not show any disdain. He said, "I am Elder Li Mu, the third elder of Changning Sect. You can call me Elder Li. The sect leader is not available to see you today. Follow me!"

Elder Li Mu spoke briefly, and Shen Fei was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted. The third elder's polite words actually meant that the sect leader did not want to see him. It made sense; as a cripple sent down from Lieryun Palace, how could he expect the sect leader of Changning Sect to personally arrange for him? Having Elder Li Mu receive him was already a good treatment.

Shen Fei did not make a fuss and thanked Elder Li Mu, then quietly followed him. However, as they passed through the corridors and pavilions, many of the younger generation of Changning Sect pointed and whispered about him.

"Hey, who is that?"

"I've never seen him before. Why does he only have one arm?"

"I heard that the capital's Lieryun Palace sent a cripple named Shen Fei here."

"Is this one-armed oddball Shen Fei?"

"I think it's likely. Lieryun Palace is really something, sending such a cripple to us."

"..."

The unhidden whispers spread throughout Changning Sect. Mainly because Shen Fei's missing arm was very recognizable, and the younger generation of Changning Sect already knew about Lieryun Palace's actions, so they quickly guessed Shen Fei's identity.

Although Changning Sect was affiliated with Lieryun Palace, it was still an independent sect. Therefore, the younger disciples were quite dissatisfied with Lieryun Palace sending such a cripple. They had also heard some rumors about Shen Fei.

However, Shen Fei, who was following Elder Li Mu, was not disturbed by these whispers. After a year of low points, the humiliations from Lieryun Palace were much more intense than what he was experiencing now. Elder Li Mu, walking in front, nodded secretly. Although this young man's cultivation of dan qi was almost non-existent, his mental fortitude was commendable.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Elder Li Mu led Shen Fei to a small courtyard and said, "This is where you will live in Changning Sect. It's a bit simple, but please don't mind."

Shen Fei quickly replied, "I don't mind, I don't mind. Thank you, Elder Li."

In fact, Shen Fei was quite satisfied with this small courtyard. In Lieryun Palace, he never had such an independent courtyard. Being sent down to Changning Sect, he actually received such treatment, which was like heaven compared to his previous room.

"Click!"

Pushing the door open, Shen Fei was momentarily stunned. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw another figure inside. The person, who was sweeping the courtyard, was also stunned when he saw the two of them enter. Seeing Elder Li Mu, he immediately stopped his actions, bowed, and said, "Third Elder, why are you here?"

Shen Fei looked closely and saw that the person in the courtyard was wearing a simple robe, but his body was somewhat plump, with a round, somewhat silly face. Hearing his words, Elder Li Mu smiled and said, "Ertiger, come, let me introduce you. This is Shen Fei from Lieryun Palace. He will be living in the same courtyard as you. You can call him Senior Brother."

This Ertiger, the little fat man, looked quite simple-minded and did not resist Elder Li Mu's words. He quickly bowed to Shen Fei and respectfully said, "Senior Brother Shen Fei, nice to meet you!"

When Shen Fei saw Ertiger, he realized he had been a bit self-centered. This courtyard was not for him alone. However, seeing Ertiger's respect, Shen Fei did not dare to be careless and replied, "Junior Brother Ertiger, hello!"

Ertiger seemed very happy, scratched his head, and said with a simple smile, "Senior Brother Shen Fei, you can just call me Ertiger. The other senior brothers in the sect call me that."

"Alright, Ertiger!"

Shen Fei liked Ertiger. He seemed straightforward, without the complexities of others, and was the kind of person who would be good to you if you were good to him. Living with such a person would not cause any trouble.

Seeing the two of them getting along well, Elder Li Mu said, "Shen Fei, rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, let Ertiger take you to the martial training ground to meet the other senior and junior brothers."

Shen Fei respectfully responded and watched Elder Li Mu leave the courtyard. Turning around, he saw Ertiger staring at his left shoulder. After a long moment, Ertiger suddenly asked, "Senior Brother Shen Fei, why do you only have one arm?"

Ertiger's question was quite impolite. If someone else had asked, it might have been a mockery of Shen Fei's missing arm. However, knowing Ertiger's character, Shen Fei knew his words were sincere and did not take offense. He simply said, "I was bitten by a spirit beast once and lost my arm."

Ertiger looked worried and said, "Does it still hurt?"

Shen Fei smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "It's been over a year, so it doesn't hurt anymore."

As they spoke, Ertiger led Shen Fei to the southeast room, opened the door, and said, "Senior Brother Shen Fei, this is your room. I live across from you. If you need anything, just call me."

Shen Fei smiled and nodded. He liked Ertiger's simple-mindedness, but he knew that not everyone would like him. Ertiger's cultivation was only at the first level of dan qi, and he was simple and honest, making him an easy target for bullying. It seemed that Elder Li Mu had a specific intention in arranging this courtyard.

However, these thoughts flashed through Shen Fei's mind. He quickly tidied up the room and sat cross-legged on the bed, forming a strange hand seal with his right hand. After a moment, he entered a state of cultivation.

During the half-month journey to Ningcheng, Shen Fei had been practicing the Tiancan Devil Technique in the carriage. The half-month of cultivation had been somewhat effective, and he was now at the critical point of breaking through to the first level of dan qi.

"Crack!"

As Shen Fei continued to absorb external energy using the Tiancan Devil Technique, he suddenly heard an invisible cracking sound. He then felt a powerful energy surge as if breaking through a barrier. The white mist in his dantian suddenly expanded and contracted. With his experience, Shen Fei knew that at this moment, his cultivation had finally reached the first level of dan qi.

At the same time as Shen Fei's breakthrough, the pendant hanging from his chest suddenly emitted a bright light. Shen Fei felt a dizziness in his head and, when he opened his eyes again, he saw a red glow, indicating that he had entered the red space again.

"Child, you finally came!"

As Shen Fei focused on adapting to the red space, a soft and somewhat emotional voice suddenly entered his ears, causing him to be greatly shocked.

Shen Fei was an orphan, with no parents. Thirteen years ago, he was picked up by Han Chi from the back mountain of Lieryun Palace and had since considered Lieryun Palace his home. Although Han Chi was his teacher, Shen Fei had long regarded him as a father.

But sometimes, in the middle of the night, Shen Fei would imagine what his biological parents were like and why they had been so heartless as to leave him in the deep mountains. If Han Chi had not passed by, one-year-old Shen Fei would have had a 99% chance of being devoured by a spirit beast.

"Child, Mom misses you so much!"

The gentle voice came again, and this time, Shen Fei finally saw a blurry figure in the distance of the red space. Hearing the voice, Shen Fei could no longer hold back. He rushed towards the figure, shouting, "Why did you abandon me? Where are you? Where are you?"

But as Shen Fei approached the blurry figure, he saw it slowly dissipating, causing him to shout, "Don't go, don't go!"

However, the blurry figure remained silent and finally dissipated completely as Shen Fei was about to touch it, as if it had never existed.