"It has nothing to do with the Profound Ghost Dao Sect." Elder Xu shook his head lightly. "You will understand once the Sect Leader arrives."
"What are you three playing at with these riddles?"
"Who are you? This is our Grand Thousand Dao Sect's ancestral hall. Can just anyone come here?"
Seeing the three of them being mysterious, someone was dissatisfied and directed their attention toward Fang Chen, questioning and scrutinizing him.
"This is Daoist Fang, he has deep connections with our sect. Please be patient," answered Guan’e in Fang Chen's steed.
Just as everyone was about to ask further questions, they suddenly sensed a majestic aura approaching. Shortly after, an elderly man slowly entered the ancestral hall.
Everyone quickly saluted, "We pay respects to the Sect Leader!"
The elderly man sat down at the main seat and nodded lightly. Gesturing for everyone to relax, his gaze fell on Fang Chen, sizing him up for a moment before softly asking, "Young friend, they have briefed me on your matter. Are you saying that you are willing to give us those precious Daoist techniques just to join our sect?"
Everyone was slightly surprised.
"How would you like to verify it?" Fang Chen asked.
"This a stone box that ancestor left behind. If you can open it, then you are indeed that ancestor's direct disciple. This will be our way of verifying the authenticity of your words."
The elderly man reached into his robes and forked out a stone box. He used his spiritual energy to gently deliver the stone box in front of Fang Chen.
"Isn't this the stone box Ancestor Hong Qing left behind?"
"Sect Leader, this stone box is a treasure unique to our Grand Thousand Dao Sect. How can you give it away to someone else without authorization!"
"Don't worry. Both the Sect Leader and we are here. Who could take it away?"
Apart from Guan’e and the other six Foundation Building Realm cultivators, everyone was shocked and nervous.
Ancestor Hong Qing was the last Nascent Soul Realm cultivator of the Grand Thousand Dao Sect, and the stone box he left behind might contain invaluable treasures. It was probably the most precious possession of the sect, carefully guarded and never leaked to the outside world.
Who would have thought that today, the Sect Leader would personally bring out the stone box and hand it over to a stranger?
"Could he really be Ancestor Hong Qing's direct disciple? What's going on exactly? You three, stop beating around the bush!" someone anxiously pressed Guan’e and the others for answers.
To calm them down, Guan’e explained the whole story from beginning to end. After hearing it, everyone was dumbfounded.
"Innate Five Lightning Art? This... This is lightning cultivation we’re talking about? That's something hardly any sect in Azure Dao Prefecture possesses...."
"And the Spiritual Attachment Technique, I've heard it enhances the effectiveness against evil beings manifold!"
"Earth Escaping Technique... An escaping technique..."
The elders looked at Fang Chen in shock, their eyes transitioning from initial skepticism to growing excitement. After all, he had proposed joining the sect in exchange for all these techniques.
As long as the Sect Leader agreed, the strength of the Grand Thousand Dao Sect would skyrocket! Whether Fang Chen is truly Ancestor Hong Qing's disciple would become secondary. The crucial point was the inheritance of these techniques!
Fang Chen's gaze fell on the stone box. For some reason, he felt a profound familiarity with it. With a simple click, the stone box opened effortlessly in his hands, without any unusual occurrences.
Everyone present was shocked. That stone box had been in the Grand Thousand Dao Sect for many years, and countless attempts had been made to open it, all in vain. The box was made of a special material that even the Golden Core Realm Sect Leader couldn't damage in the slightest!
Thus, everyone concluded that the stone box contained precious treasures left behind by Ancestor Hong Qing. Seeing someone easily open it was more than enough to verify his identity.
The elderly man slowly stood up, his gaze fixed on Fang Chen. After a few breaths, he clasped his fists in salute. "I, Junior Pei Qingfeng, pay my respects to you, Martial Uncle!"
"He truly is Ancestor Hong Qing's disciple!"
Guan’e and the others were shaken to the core, quickly following suit in salutation. "We, juniors, pay respects to you, Ancestor!"
Inside the box was a stone bead engraved with the three Divine Beasts. Fang Chen didn't understand what it was, so he closed the box slowly and looked toward the elder, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
He hadn't actually taken advantage of the situation. If one were to compare, Senior Yun He's seniority far exceeded that of Ancestor Hong Qing. Fang Chen decided not to mention him to avoid complications, tacitly following along with their speculations.
Fang Chen smiled. "Now, can I be enrolled into the sect?"
Pei Qingfeng nodded. "Of course, there's no problem!"
Fang Chen tossed the stone box to Pei Qingfeng. "I'll return this stone box to you then."
However, Pei Qingfeng shook his head, handing the stone box back to Fang Chen. "Martial Uncle, this item was left behind by Ancestor Hong Qing. It should rightfully return to its owner."
Guan’e and the others looked on with curiosity, eager to see what was inside the stone box. But seeing Pei Qingfeng's attitude, they dared not speak out of turn.
Next, Pei Qingfeng struck a bronze bell. Its melodious sound echoed through the Grand Thousand Dao Sect, prompting disciples from all nine peaks to set aside their tasks and rush to the ancestral hall.
In no time, a total of four hundred disciples from the nine peaks had gathered, with only a few who were away from the sect unable to make it.
"What's happening? Why did the Grand Thousand Bell ring?"
"Could it be that the Profound Ghost Dao Sect is attacking?"
"Wait, isn't that the Sect Leader?"
"Gasp! Has the Profound Ghost Dao Sect really come knocking? Even the Sect Leader has emerged!"
Pei Qingfeng looked at the disciples at the door, a faint smile on his face as he announced loudly, "Today is a great day because our sect has an Ancestor returning."
The disciples were stunned for a moment, their eyes immediately showing delight.
Pei Qingfeng introduced Fang Chen to everyone. "This is the direct disciple of Ancestor Hong Qing. He did not cultivate in our sect in his early years, and now he has reached the Foundation Building Realm. He has come back to join our sect under the command of Ancestor Hong Qing."
When their eyes fell on Fang Chen, however, they became doubtful.
"He's so young, and only at the Foundation Building Realm, not the Nascent Soul Realm we imagined..."
Pei Qingfeng finished speaking and, regardless of the disciples' reactions, took out a black register from his robes and opened it. He then wrote Fang Chen's name on it.
Fang Chen sighed inwardly. After many years, although he had not truly joined the Three Thousand Dao Sects, he had fulfilled his promise to Senior Yun He in a way.