Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Scary Rumors
It was the end of the month. Feng Xin was at his cave reading a book he borrowed from the library. He was like a scholar who cares nothing about worldly matters.
He had swiftly completed his mission of killing a five Demon Beasts and turned their heads in, earning him an extra income of 100 spirit stones. He used all those to successfully breakthrough stage 5 of Martial Apprentice.
Tomorrow would be the monthly assessment of the outer disciples. They have to report their cultivation progress and their resources would be allocated according to their performance. With a cultivation of stage 5 and a young age, it was expected that Feng Xin would be promoted to become an inner sect disciple.
According to his predecessor's knowledge, once one becomes an inner disciple, the mission that would be given would become more dangerous and rewarding at the same time. But the most important thing was that he would have the opportunity to go outside the territory of the Bloodshadow Demon sect.
According to the biography written recently by an inner sect disciple, the territory past the sect was controlled by the so called 'Righteous' cults.
By then, Feng Xin hoped that he would be able to escape to the good side. Although one could not tell from his paralyzed face, he was quite stressed out by the gloomy and bloody atmosphere in the sect. It easily elicits the most negative emotions in humans.
Perhaps that is the reason why he went on a killing spree lately. The negative energy have penetrated his mind. Feng Xin assumed that's probably the case.
Feng Xin stretched out once it was noon and entered the forest. This forest was previously teeming with outer sect disciples trying to complete their missions or going on rendezvous, but after the several missing cases in the past weeks, no one dared to go unless necessary. If they must, they would go in groups.
The officials sent by the sects have found several body parts and human bones scattered around the forest, turning the forest into a haunted place in the minds of newbies. As for inner sect disciples, they were forbidden to go here and interact with the low level disciples.
Feng Xin went to a clear place and took a moment to appreciate the silence. He couldn't help but worry. Several people have mysteriously gone missing these days. He could remember that there were many of them trying to provoke and offend him lately, but now the place became desolate.
He threw those ominous thoughts out of his mind and focused on training. His Buzzing Steps finally progressed and reached minor attainment. Killing some frogs would be very easy for him now.
Shadow Concealment also improved. He could conceal his footsteps and blend in the darkness quite easily.
After training his martial arts, he started his Qi manipulation exercise. It was from another biography he found in the library. It seems to be written by someone with high standing in the sect.
It was this Qi manipulation exercise that helped him tame Buzzing Steps. Otherwise he would have crippled his legs many times.
While he was walking to back, he encountered a group of three, two males and one female. Feng Xin avoided them and went on his way.
They were discussing something about rumors of a ghost wandering in the Twisted Grove.
"Hmmp, just a ghost. Don't worry sister Ning, brother Zhen is a prodigy at stage 4! No one in the outer sect could compete with him save for that lunatic Feng Xin. Mere ghost would be a peace of cake." The other man said to the girl.
The girl was curious and asked the talkative man. "Who is Feng Xin? I once heard this name when I first entered the sect last month."
The one called brother Zhen replied in a low voice, looking around as though somebody would hear him. "Feng Xin belongs to the 3rd batch of newly recruit. He joined on the third month of the year. One night while everyone was catching dinner, everyone in his batch suddenly died!"
The girl gasped in shock. "D-did he...?"
Brother Zhen shook his head. "Let's not speak of this anymore. That Feng Xin is a dangerous man. The instructor warned us to avoid him. Even the seniors of the 1rst and 2nd batch are afraid of him."
They did not know that they have just brushed past the 'dangerous man' they were talking about.
Feng Xin was already far and did not hear their discussion. If he did, he would want to retort. It was obviously the others who were dangerous. Just look at the actions of the maniac kid, Cai Shun, licking blood on his lips and glaring with killing intent. It was fortunate that Feng Xin did a reverse card on him and made society more peaceful.
Every other kids he encountered in the would would challenge him, plot to kill him, extort him and so on and so on. Some even spoke of nonsense such as avenging their brothers and such. These psychotic people scared him sometimes.
Seeing that they delivered themselves willingly unto himself, he considered it a divine providence. These people were probably the one that caused the mass disappearance. After Feng Xin killed them, no one disappeared anymore. Unfortunately, no knew of his good deeds and he saw no need to inform others either.
The first day of the month commenced. It was already the fifth month and the 5th batch of new disciples would also enter the sect. These new disciples belong to villages around the sect, some of them were from the bandits and some were slaves bought from their connections.
Feng Xin was not sure of his predecessor's origin. But since he had already taken over, that is none of his business anymore.
Feng Xin was called out by his instructor and was asked to display his cultivation level and martial arts attainment.
He did so under the astonished eyes of the instructor.
Feng Xin finished displaying his capabilities and looked at the instructor with expectant gaze.
"I see that you want to become an inner sect disciple. You are qualified, but that is not how things work in here."
The stone faced instructor said and begun to explain.
"Every year we recruit batches of disciples, one batch per month and we stop at the fifth month. A total of five batches per year."
Feng Xin nodded. The original Feng Xin was aware of this fact.
"The remaining 7 months are spent to hone your skills. At the end of the year, the most important assessment test will commence. This is where we promote outer sect disciples into an inner sect disciple, given that they are qualified and able to survive the assessment."
After explaining everything, the instructor left and Feng Xin stood with a slight frown. To be honest, that extra seven months was quite helpful, the monthly allowance would be delivered into him usual. Others would not mind it but Feng Xin had an advantage, he receives a hefty sum of spirit stones per month.
But this means that he would be delaying his escape. Other than that, there's also those missions that were unpredictable. They do offer a generous rewards but Feng Xin would rather not risk his life for that.
At the end he had no choice. He returned to his cave and cultivated until the next morning. He was about to breakthrough stage 6 but resources for outer sect disciples did minimal help.
He turned his attention into improving his martial arts attainment. Buzzing Steps improved slightly, while Shadow Concealment reached major attainment. It would be easy to sneak on his preys now while remaining unnoticed. It could also allow him to escape should there be danger
The next day, Feng Xin was informed of his next mission. The sect was determined to get back the resources they have invested in him, for no one knew if he would suddenly die one day.
His tasks did not sound dangerous, harvesting thirty weird fruits from the depths of the Twisted Grove. Although Feng Xin was a frequent visitor of the site, he had never gone deeper than what his mission required.
He took a look at the illustration of the weird fruit that eerily resembles a human brain. He read about his target first before preparing.
He would not believe that an evil sect would offer such an easy mission. There's gotta be a catch somewhere.
But whatever it was, Feng Xin was sure of one thing, that was his strength that has reached the standard of an inner sect disciple.
He went to prepare various poisons, arrows and his trusty dagger. His the armor was long replaced by a supernatural silk armor. It could fend off against Qi attacks, it was fire resistant, light, and could cover his entire torso including his arms.
The silk was processed in special means so it was nearly transparent, nonetheless, he appears weird wearing it.
He cared nothing about that and set off under the fearful gazes of everyone.
Once he disappeared from their sight, everyone let out the breath that they were unconsciously holding.
"That's..."
"Right, that's Feng Xin."
"I heard that he killed his entire batch to obtain more resources, everyone that offend him mysteriously disappeared."
"You know nothing. I've seen him being challenged into a duel before. The arrogant guy thought he was powerful enough, but that monster simply used one palm strike to explode his entire head. His eyes as he did so was frighteningly indifferent, as though he was swatting a mere insect."
"I was there too, it was simply a duel and he killed him without thinking twice. The instructors did nothing to punish him."
"His speed was so fast, I swear I did not even see him move and Gao Cheng's head turned into bits of blood and brain matter."
Everyone stepped away from that person who was describing it vividly. The new batch were frightened, these people were discussing about someone's death so casually as though they were buying cabbage.
"That's nothing." One man suddenly said and interrupted them. "I was walking in the southern forest one night when I suddenly saw him on the path. God knows how frightened I was , I thought my heart would pop out of my chest. He was looking at me with his dead eyes and there was blood on his clothes." the man took added breath and his face revealed a terrified expression as he recalled that horrible encounter.
Everyone was listening attentively.
"I was froze then and my breathing stopped until he passed by. I later walked absentmindedly went I found a severed arm poking out of the bush! Then I heard a sound from behind me..."
Hiss!
Everyone took a deep breath, their hearts were beating as though they were experiencing the situation themselves.
"When I turned around, I saw his pale face and emotionless eyes staring back at me."
The atmosphere suddenly became cold.
The man scanned the crowd and saw their pale faces. Their eyes were wide with the look of horror. He was satisfied. He was about to continue his story from where he left off, "The man nonchalantly took the severed arm and left..."
Suddenly, he noticed that they were not focused on him, but on his back. The man felt a shiver go through his spine, as though he was poured with a cold bucket of water.
"A-a-and then S-su Ling went and carried the corpse away..."
He was shaking and dared not turn around. He tried to turn the direction of his story, not caring whether it made sense or not, before he knew it, he already talking about the final battle between the Demon God and the Sword Immortal.
Feng Xin who had forgotten to bring some healing potions was trading with the stall at the back of the man. He was listening as the man tell a story. He felt that the first part of his story was strangely familiar.
He searched his memories and found that this was the guy whom he met while he was disposing some unpleasant things.
He did not know Su Ling however.
He kept the potions and went on his way, not minding the small episode but keeping the man's face on his memory, even taking note of his items and even the people within his personal space, identifying his close friends in a mere glance.
This was just a habit developed over time, he had no malicious intent or whatever.
He would not mind not such small case and neither does he have time to bother about it.
This time, he really headed to his destination, deep into the forest.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone