The progress bar was finally full.
Han Feng wore a grave expression as he watched the glowing, translucent light on his palm. It was as if countless tiny lamps were embedded inside, illuminating his flesh and meridians all at once. As the final book was read, that glowing radiance spread all the way to his fingertips, suddenly bursting into a brilliance so intense that Han Feng had to shield his eyes.
When the light faded, Han Feng was astonished to find that his palm had completely returned to normal, yet resting in the center of his hand was a familiar-looking, antiquated book. Dark as ink, it seemed capable of capturing a soul.
*Standards for Students*.
The cover was blank, yet three archaic characters emerged in Han Feng's mind.
As a scholar, he had naturally read the three-word rhyming text *Standards for Students*, written by the Qing dynasty educator Li Xiuxiu.
——The standards for students; the teachings of the sages. First, be filial to parents and respectful to elders. Second, be cautious and trustworthy. Love all people broadly, and draw close to the benevolent. If you have energy to spare, then study literature...
Yet the *Standards for Students* in his hand was evidently completely different from the one in his memory.
Opening the cover, the first thing that met his eyes were two neat seal-script characters carved as if by a supreme sword: Luan Jian.
[Disciple: Luan Jian.]
[Current Cultivation: Golden Core Realm Perfection (False Nascent Soul Stage).]
[Primary Cultivation Method: Wenxin Sword Canon.]
[Current Location: Jiushen Sect.]
[Loyalty: 80%.]
[Current Cultivation Feedback: 80%.]
[Note: At 100% loyalty, an additional 100% cultivation feedback can be obtained. Below 60% loyalty, there is a risk of defecting from the sect. Below 30% loyalty, it is easy to trigger regicide and betrayal of the master.]
Only 80%.
Han Feng frowned.
According to the information Luan Jian had previously revealed, the other disciples of the Jiushen Sect—namely those girls once written onto the "bed-attending roster"—would likely not even reach 80%.
Well, that meant they were going to defect...
Once the *Standards for Students* was in his possession, Han Feng could immediately feel its benefits. An invisible force connected Han Feng to Luan Jian, who had already fled in a panic. By now, Luan Jian should have just begun to settle down, and a continuous stream of cultivation feedback began to flow over. It made the Golden Core within Han Feng's Nirvana Palace spin and inhale the spiritual energy of heaven and earth several times faster in an instant!
Several times faster!
After a moment, Han Feng realized: this was the 80% cultivation feedback of a False Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. For a little fellow like himself who had just entered the Golden Core stage, multiplying his cultivation speed by severalfold was already considered slow. He guessed that Luan Jian's mind was probably filled entirely with erotic paintings right now, leaving her with zero desire to cultivate, which was why there was only this tiny trickle.
Not much at all! Could there be much? Not much indeed!
Han Feng's eyes grew increasingly bright. Knowing this was an extraordinary supreme treasure, he was naturally eager to turn to the next page.
However, there was nothing more below...
This mysterious and powerful book could shockingly only have a single page turned.
Jiushen Sect certainly had more than one disciple besides Luan Jian, but whether the others failed to enter the book because they had never met or because he had not imparted teachings to them, Han Feng could not figure out.
Yet such doubts did not last long.
Just a few days later, Luan Jian, having regained her cold and aloof demeanor, once again stepped onto the Main Peak. Her expression was grave, and she was followed by several female disciples. Each possessed exquisite beauty in her own distinct way, yet all cast dodging glances, reluctant to meet Han Feng's eyes.
At that moment, the *Standards for Students*, dormant for days, slowly unfolded before Han Feng. The pages turned gently, visible to Han Feng alone.
[Disciple: He Handan. Loyalty: 50%.]
[Disciple: Ren Xinyi. Loyalty: 45%.]
[Disciple: Nalan Yunzi. Loyalty: 30%.]
[Disciple: Qin Lingyun. Loyalty: 59%.]
[Disciple: Hong Dou. Loyalty: 40%.]
The pages had opened, but the situation was terribly awkward.
Because their loyalty fell short of 60%, there was no point in dreaming about any cultivation feedback—there wasn't even a single sliver of it.
Han Feng had an inkling of why they had come. Luan Jian had previously dropped hints that, due to the decline of the Jiushen Sect, which was on the verge of dissolution, these disciples were seeking a way out for themselves and had agreed to gather on this day to bid their final farewells.
It seemed that if not for the remaining authority of Eldest Senior Sister Luan Jian, they probably wouldn't even have bothered with this farewell and would have simply slipped away quietly.
The most extreme case was that Nalan Yunzi, whose loyalty was actually displayed in red, faintly carrying a fierce murderous intent. He had no idea what his predecessor had done to incur such public wrath that made her harbor such deep hatred toward him.
"Sect Master." Seeing Han Feng once again, a slight flush rose to Luan Jian's cheeks. It was hard not to recall the awkwardness of that day, but she quickly gathered her wits, bowed, and said, "These junior sisters wish to leave the Jiushen Sect. This disciple has already tried to persuade them, but their minds are made up. Therefore..."
"Right, let's part on good terms, and we can at least preserve some lingering affection!" A voice rang out as a woman walked straight up to Han Feng, slapped him on the shoulder, and laughed, "I'm not the type to hold grudges. Before, you wanted to sleep with me, but you didn't succeed. Let's wipe the slate clean on that disgusting business, what do you say?"
Ugh!
Han Feng wore a peculiar expression as he looked at the rosy-lipped, white-toothed girl. Clearly an absolute beauty of the Human World, her eyes revealed an untamed wildness, completely lacking feminine gentleness and mildness.
Qin Lingyun...
Such a pity for such a gentle name.
Han Feng gave a dry laugh. Seeing her hair as dark as ink, she did wear it long, but rather than being neatly pinned up in a gentle maiden's bun, it was tied loosely behind her head with a coarse cloth ribbon. A few stray strands fluttered in the wind, adding a touch of unrestrained freedom and nonchalance.
Qin Lingyun, loyalty 59%. Perhaps she could still be saved?
"In the Jiushen Sect, people come and go freely." Han Feng glanced at Luan Jian, whose expression carried a hint of anxiety, swept his gaze across the group, and said with a smile, "No matter how far you go, or how long you are gone, whenever you wish to return, the sect will always be your home. The gates of the Jiushen Sect will forever remain open to you."
These words eased the tense atmosphere considerably.
Han Feng noticed that the loyalty displayed on the *Standards for Students* had mostly increased slightly, especially for Qin Lingyun, which had jumped to 61%—crossing the threshold where she would not defect.
"Hahaha, you sure know how to talk today!" Qin Lingyun laughed. "If you'd been like this earlier, I wouldn't be leaving!"
"Hmph! Don't listen to his sweet-talking nonsense!" A cold voice rang out with a warning. "Do you senior sisters not know what kind of character this little bastard has? Just a few days ago, he broke straight into Sword-Asking Peak and drove Eldest Senior Sister all the way to Ninth Junior Sister's place! Eldest Senior Sister might be too embarrassed to tell the reason, but can't I guess it?"
"Han! Consider yourself tactful enough to say a few pretty words today, so I'll leave you some face!"
"I, Nalan Yunzi, from this day forth, am no longer a disciple of the Jiushen Sect!"
"If we cross paths elsewhere in the future, it's either you or me to the death!"
With that, Nalan Yunzi thrust her hand into her bosom, pulled out a uniquely shaped token, and hurled it heavily onto the ground. Then, without even casting a glance back, she turned on her heel and strode away.
Sigh!
Ren Xinyi, the youngest of them all, instantly recalled the events of that day.
Eldest Senior Sister had even claimed he had turned over a new leaf. Sigh... that Eldest Senior Sister of theirs was good at everything except for being somewhat blindly loyal and unreasonable.
If he had turned over a new leaf, why was he driven away from Sword-Asking Peak?
Whenever asked, she would mumble vaguely and instantly blush. What more needed to be said?
It must have been that same old business.
A leopard cannot change its spots.
Ren Xinyi also pulled her own token from her robes, tossed it onto the ground, and said indifferently, "In cultivating immortality, the most important thing is to be happy. If you aren't happy, you might as well go home and be an ordinary mortal..."
The other female disciples exchanged glances. The loyalty that had just risen thanks to Han Feng's words steadily dropped back down one by one, and they then offered their farewells in succession. Although they did not spew vicious curses like Nalan, it was obvious their minds were firmly made up.
Token after token was cast onto the ground.
He Handan managed a reluctant bow toward Han Feng, but Hong Dou mirrored Nalan Yunzi, shooting him a vicious glare before spinning around and flying off swiftly.
Before long, the vast Main Peak was left with only Han Feng, Luan Jian, and the uninhibited Qin Lingyun, who had been the first to call for parting on good terms.
Qin Lingyun's loyalty fluctuated up and down, ultimately settling at 60%.
"I'm leaving too!" Qin Lingyun glanced at Luan Jian and said quite frankly, "I've already arranged it with Qingyin Pavilion. I'm going over there to study the Great Dao of music and become a disciple of the Nine-Fingered Zither Demon to specialize in zither melodies."
"If I back out now, it won't look good for me over there."
"Since we're leaving the Jiushen Sect, we can't cause trouble for the sect either, so it's better to..."
"Rest assured about that." Han Feng had been listening quietly all along, but at this point he suddenly interjected, "If you want to leave, the sect will not hold you back. But if you stay, you remain a disciple of my Jiushen Sect. Within the sect, no one will make things difficult for you, nor will it be any trouble!"
Hmm?
Qin Lingyun paused, then burst into hearty laughter, once again giving Han Feng a heavy pat on the shoulder as she said boldly, "I really like this temper of yours! Did you really turn over a new leaf? Don't tell me you've been possessed by a soul-seizing spirit?"
"Stay, Junior Sister Qin," Luan Jian seized the opportunity to persuade, "The Sect Master is truly different from before! Our Jiushen Sect will surely rebuild its glory and live up to the expectations of the late sect master back then!"
Clang!
At that very moment, a crisp zither note rang out, echoing through the surrounding mountains.
"They're here." Qin Lingyun looked down the mountain, spread her hands, and wore a look of helpless resignation.