I Can Add Points Infinitely - Chapter 26
“So, you’re Shen Lian? You’re the one who defeated Junior Brother Cui Zheng?” Lu E spoke coldly, his eyes fixed on Shen Lian.
Shen Lian was slightly taken aback but then smiled and replied, “That’s right. What, did Cui Zheng run crying to you?”
“Hmph, kid, let me give you a word of advice: the secret realm is dangerous, not a playground for kids. You better watch yourself,” Lu E said, his tone laced with a chilling threat.
Shen Lian frowned at the obvious menace in Lu E’s words. He was about to retort when a loud voice suddenly bellowed from below.
“Damn it, who are you trying to scare with all that crap about danger?”
Everyone turned to see who had spoken.
“Huh? It’s Yun Xiong…”
“Haha, who else would have the guts to speak to Lu E like that?”
“Yeah, I heard Yun Xiong reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement a long time ago. Although he’s not at the peak, he specializes in body refinement.”
“Right, and rumor has it he recently punched a Rockstone Giant Tortoise to death—a beast known for its incredible defense!”
“Seriously? A Rockstone Giant Tortoise is also at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, and it’s nearly impossible to injure with ordinary sword techniques.”
“No kidding. People say that Senior Brother Yun Xiong’s physical strength is more terrifying than that of a monster.”
As the disciples whispered amongst themselves, Shen Lian turned to see a group of people walking through the crowd. At the front was none other than the burly man he had recently met—the one with the unforgettable, overpowering foot odor.
“Brute,” Lu E muttered, glaring at Yun Xiong.
“Idiot! Who are you calling a brute? Wanna come down and try me?” Yun Xiong shouted back, his eyes blazing.
Lu E’s face turned pale with anger, but after a moment of hesitation, he held back his response. It wasn’t that he was afraid of Yun Xiong, but they both knew each other’s strength. A fight between them would be long and grueling, and now was not the time to clash—entering the secret realm was the priority.
“Quiet! Finish registering or you’ll lose your spot!” the supervising elder barked, glaring at Yun Xiong.
“Yes, Elder, right away…” Yun Xiong immediately shifted to a fawning smile, rushing over to hand in his token.
The elder, familiar with Yun Xiong’s antics, coldly completed the registration before waving him off. Yun Xiong, now grinning broadly, hurried over to stand by Shen Lian.
“Hey, Junior Brother, long time no see,” Yun Xiong greeted, slapping Shen Lian on the shoulder.
“You…” Shen Lian looked at Yun Xiong’s sleeve, which bore the character “seven,” and finally understood.
“You’re my senior brother?”
“Yep! I’m your First Senior Brother,” Yun Xiong replied, laughing as he ruffled Shen Lian’s hair.
Shen Lian sighed, feeling both amused and resigned. “Uh… Senior Brother, you didn’t, um, scratch your feet just now, did you?”
“Shut up, it’s still morning! Why the hell would I be doing that?” Yun Xiong roared, embarrassed.
“Hey, seems like you two have met before?” Another voice chimed in. Shen Lian turned to see a refined young man and a lively young woman approaching.
“I’m Luo Junyuan, your Second Senior Brother,” said the young man, exuding a scholarly aura.
“I’m Shan Qing, your Third Senior Sister,” added the young woman with a bright smile.
Shen Lian greeted them politely. “Second Brother, Third Sister. I’m Shen Lian, I guess that makes me Fourth?”
“No, you’re Fifth. Your Fourth Senior Sister, Dong Yanyan, loves to fool around and didn’t return this time,” Luo Junyuan explained with a chuckle.
“Oh,” Shen Lian nodded, making a mental note of the name.
The group quickly became acquainted, the camaraderie between them evident. Despite having just met, they felt no sense of unfamiliarity, as if they were old friends reunited.
As Shen Lian got to know his senior brothers and sister, he noted that while the Seventh Elder’s disciples were few, each one was exceptionally talented. Yun Xiong, the eldest, was a formidable Qi Refinement tenth-level cultivator specializing in body refinement.
Even Lu E dared not provoke him openly. Luo Junyuan and Shan Qing were both at the ninth level and on the verge of breaking through to the tenth. The unseen Fourth Senior Sister, Dong Yanyan, was reportedly at the eighth level. And finally, there was himself, the hidden gem of the group.
As they chatted, more disciples gathered to register, forming distinct groups across the square. Shen Lian observed that the disciples from the second, fourth, and sixth elders clustered around Lu E, creating the largest group. The disciples of the First, Eighth, and Ninth Elders formed another faction, while those under the Fifth Elder mingled closely with Yun Xiong’s group, indicating a level of familiarity.
Noticing Shen Lian’s scrutiny, Yun Xiong leaned in and patted his shoulder, speaking quietly. “Getting a sense of the power dynamics within the Inner Sect? But don’t worry, our numbers may be small, but we don’t need to fear them.”
“It’s better to have a few loyal friends than a crowd of fence-sitters. I kicked out the spineless ones; they don’t deserve to stand with us. Only someone like Lu E would take in all the trash,” Yun Xiong said with a disdainful sneer.
Shen Lian nodded, appreciating Yun Xiong’s straightforward attitude. His sentiments matched Yun Xiong’s; he too preferred meaningful connections over shallow alliances.
“Alright, everyone, get ready. We’re about to set off,” the supervising elder announced, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention.
The disciples snapped to attention, and they soon noticed a colossal airship slowly descending from the sky, its imposing form casting a shadow over the square.