Chapter 46

There have been cases in the sect where disciples, once taken into the Law Enforcement Hall, would disappear completely. According to the older disciples, those who disappeared were likely killed by the Law Enforcement Hall.

He feared that such an incident might happen to Zheng Shiyi.

Since Zheng Shiyi was taken to another place, he hadn't had a good night's sleep.

He never expected that the brother he had been worried about would appear before him unscathed.

Zheng Shiyi gave him a cold look and said, "Do you welcome me back?"

"Of course, I welcome you!" Wu Dong smiled warmly, circling around Zheng Shiyi and patting his back and shoulders.

He was more thorough than a doctor checking a patient's injuries.

Once he confirmed that Zheng Shiyi was unharmed, his heart, which had been hanging, finally settled.

His eyes darted around Zheng Shiyi, and he pointed to Su Jingdan's room with a sly smile, "Brother, you haven't gone to see someone yet. I bet that person is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan right now."

"You scoundrel." Zheng Shiyi chuckled and quickly walked towards Su Jingdan's door.

Before Zheng Shiyi could enter, Su Jingdan, probably hearing his footsteps, pushed the door open, her anxious expression evident, "Is there any news?"

Zheng Shiyi nodded and smiled lightly, "Yes, there is news."

"Zheng Shiyi?" The familiar voice and face confirmed for Su Jingdan that the person at the door was indeed the Zheng Shiyi she had been worrying about day and night.

She quickly lowered her head, covering her face with her delicate hands as if trying to wipe away any dirt, then ran back into the room.

Zheng Shiyi was puzzled and looked at Wu Dong, asking, "What's wrong with her?"

Wu Dong patted Zheng Shiyi's shoulder and smiled warmly, "Of course, she's afraid you'll see her in an embarrassing state."

Wu Dong pointed to Su Jingdan, who had run inside, and said, "Brother, Su Jingdan has been busy for you, mobilizing all the resources she could."

"You should be grateful to her."

Su Jingdan, after composing herself, her face slightly flushed, walked over and glanced at Wu Dong, saying to Zheng Shiyi, "Big Brother Zheng, don't listen to his nonsense."

"I'm not talking nonsense," Wu Dong stood behind Zheng Shiyi, sticking his head out and looking at Su Jingdan playfully.

Su Jingdan's face turned redder than a ripe apple, pointing at Wu Dong, "You are talking nonsense."

Her angry expression made it seem like she wanted to eat Wu Dong.

Wu Dong quickly moved to the other side of Zheng Shiyi and whispered, "Brother, I, Wu Dong, never lie."

He patted Zheng Shiyi's shoulder and suggested, "Since you're back, we should have a good drink tonight!"

Zheng Shiyi nodded heavily, "Definitely!"

That night, Zheng Shiyi and Wu Dong drank until they were completely drunk.

When they sobered up, it was already noon the next day.

Looking at Wu Dong, who was still asleep, Zheng Shiyi pushed the door open and walked towards the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Elder Huo had asked him to try carving the tenth circle of the Spirit Wheel on the roulette wheel to break through to the Ninth Foundation Stage.

He lacked the cultivation technique needed to break through to the Ninth Foundation Stage, so he needed to go to the Martial Arts Pavilion to find such a technique.

The first floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion was open to outer disciples, who could select techniques without time limits.

However, the second and third floors were different.

Outer disciples could only enter once a month to select techniques, and the time limit was half an hour. If a disciple didn't leave by then, they would lose the privilege of selecting techniques.

Due to this rule, no disciple dared to disobey.

The lazy old guardian, Old Ding, still half-closed his eyes, leaning against the door frame, ignoring the disciples entering.

Zheng Shiyi glanced at Old Ding and quickly stepped inside.

Old Ding seemed to be having a sweet dream, his lips moving constantly.

Although his eyes were half-closed, he saw Zheng Shiyi's every move, especially the Shadowless Blade on his back, which caught his attention.

"He's carrying a four-foot-long, one-and-a-half-foot-wide large sword. If he comes to the Martial Arts Pavilion, you must extend his time on the second and third floors!"

Elder Huo's words echoed in his mind.

"Zheng Shiyi?" Old Ding frowned and opened his eyes.

The weapons carried by the disciples entering the Martial Arts Pavilion were usually ordinary, and no one had ever carried such a large sword. Old Ding naturally concluded that the person entering was Zheng Shiyi.

"This back view looks familiar. Have I seen this back view before? Could Zheng Shiyi have come to the Martial Arts Pavilion before?" Old Ding looked at Zheng Shiyi's departing back with doubt.

Zheng Shiyi searched the first floor but found no cultivation techniques for the Foundation Stage, so he went up to the second floor.

At the entrance to the second floor, several hourglasses were placed. Each time a disciple stepped over the threshold, the corresponding hourglass would be inverted to count their time inside.

If the sand in the hourglass ran out and the disciple hadn't left, they would be in trouble.

The books on the second floor were much neater than those on the first floor.

There were also fewer people inside.

Zheng Shiyi moved between the bookshelves, carefully selecting techniques.

A good Foundation Stage cultivation technique would be more beneficial for breaking through to the Ninth Foundation Stage.

Zheng Shiyi had read several Foundation Stage cultivation techniques before, but they didn't suit him. To be precise... they were fine for regular cultivation, but they were too weak for breaking through to the Ninth Foundation Stage.

After searching for a while, Zheng Shiyi still couldn't find a suitable Foundation Stage cultivation technique.

Those who had come earlier left excitedly after finding techniques they liked.

Those who came later looked at the techniques on each shelf with bright eyes.

Since they only had one chance a month to enter and select techniques, they had to choose carefully.

Whenever someone found a good technique, others would run over to see what they had chosen.

Even the pickiest disciples would stop searching when the sand in their hourglasses was halfway through, choosing a technique they had previously considered acceptable and leaving.

Zheng Shiyi picked up one book, put it down, and then picked up another.

This behavior soon caught the attention of a fat, muscular martial artist.

Zheng Shiyi also felt someone observing him and smiled bitterly. It seemed he had made a name for himself among the outer disciples, drawing attention wherever he went.

"Hu Wenhao, what are you looking at? Aren't you supposed to find the techniques you need quickly?"

Hu Wenhao, with his narrow eyes, looked at Zheng Shiyi suspiciously and whispered, "Mu Ke, I find this person strange. Outer disciples only get one chance a month, so they usually prepare well before coming."

Mu Ke, who looked ordinary, nodded in agreement. As an outer disciple, everyone knew they needed to be well-prepared before coming.

"This guy's hourglass is almost empty, yet he's still searching and flipping through books. Clearly, he didn't prepare! There are actually such fools in the outer disciples?" Hu Wenhao's lips curled into a malicious smile.

"What do you mean, Hu Brother?" Mu Ke also smiled maliciously, "Newbies like this might have some oil to squeeze! Hu Brother, are you thinking of doing something to this newbie?"

Zheng Shiyi didn't pay much attention to Hu Wenhao's unfriendly gaze. If such a person really wanted to cause trouble, he would be courting death! He had even dared to kill an elder of the Three Pass Hall!

When the last grain of sand in the hourglass fell, Zheng Shiyi had even less energy to deal with Hu Wenhao. According to the rules, if he stayed any longer, the old guardian would come to find him. It was best to leave quickly.

Hu Wenhao watched Zheng Shiyi leave with a suspicious gaze, still unable to believe that such a foolish newbie existed.

"Someone so foolish might be useful for something..." Hu Wenhao rubbed his chin, his narrow eyes filled with malice.

Zheng Shiyi quickly descended the stairs. Since there were no techniques he needed on the first floor, he didn't linger and headed for the door.

Old Ding, leaning against the door frame, although half-closed his eyes, was no longer as calm as before. He had been eagerly waiting to see if Zheng Shiyi could find a good Foundation Stage technique in such a short time.

But... this kid seemed to have found nothing?

"Look... isn't that Zheng Shiyi?"

"That sword... it must be Zheng Shiyi."

The young disciples selecting techniques on the first floor recognized Zheng Shiyi immediately. Many in the sect had heard of Zheng Shiyi, but few had actually seen him.

"He looks similar, but it's hard to say. Who has seen what Zheng Shiyi looks like?"

"That's true! I heard that many new disciples are also imitating Zheng Shiyi's appearance when they go out."

Old Ding snorted in disdain. Appearance could be imitated, but that hard and resolute aura! Could that be imitated? A bunch of blind fools! This kid... this kid... isn't this the kid who took the 'Eight Directions Step'?

Old Ding's narrow eyes, which usually showed disdain, suddenly widened. He had once advised this person not to practice the 'Eight Directions Step'! Could this kid have actually mastered it?

Old Ding's doubts grew. From the moment Zheng Shiyi took the 'Eight Directions Step,' he had been certain that the kid would return within three days, begging for another chance to choose a different technique.

But he had miscalculated. Zheng Shiyi didn't return after three days.

Old Ding secretly rejoiced. If it weren't for Elder Huo wanting Zheng Shiyi to break through to the Tenth Foundation Stage and extending his time in the Martial Arts Pavilion, he wouldn't have known that the stubborn youth who ignored his advice was actually a genius who had comprehended the meaning of a fist.

As Old Ding was deep in thought, Zheng Shiyi had already come to his side.

Zheng Shiyi politely nodded to Old Ding and prepared to leave the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Old Ding snapped out of his thoughts, stood up, and asked Zheng Shiyi, "You have empty hands. Didn't you find a suitable technique?"

Zheng Shiyi politely replied, "There are many types of techniques inside, but my time for this month is up. I can only come back next month."

Old Ding stroked his beard and smiled, pointing to the stairs, "Since you didn't find one, go back and choose again."

"This..." Zheng Shiyi looked puzzled, about to say, "That might not be good," but then he remembered that this old man was in charge of the time disciples spent in the Martial Arts Pavilion.

He swallowed his words and bowed to Old Ding, "Thank you, Old Ding."

"Go quickly." Old Ding waved at Zheng Shiyi.