Chapter 402: Identification Beads

"Qi Absorption Arts..." Yi Chen muttered to himself as he saw Elder Hong Lie take his leave from the class.

’From what I know, the Qi Absorption Arts which the noble clans possess are definitely created by their Core Building Stage experts...as that’s what had allowed them to rise to their current positions.’

Yi Chen thought while using his past knowledge to connect the dots.

’However, since all the Major Sects are also in possession of Qi Absorption Arts, then doesn’t that mean that Qi Absorption Stage cultivators can also create Qi Absorption Arts?

And if that’s the case...since Major Clans are much more in number, wouldn’t that mean that the Qi Absorption Stage cultivators be the ones creating the most Qi Absorption Arts, wouldn’t it?... Or I’m just completely wrong, and instead of making it themselves they rely on buying it from other powerful cultivators using their resources?’

Yi Chen subtly furrowed his brows as his thoughts grew more and more muddled the longer he thought over it.

"Brother Chen! What are you thinking about?" Qin Yao’s voice suddenly pulled him out of his stupor, making Yi Chen shake his head and place the matter at the back of his mind.

’I have almost two hours to ponder over it, so there’s no hurry. Moreover, even if I’m unable to get to an answer, it’s not an issue, as Elder Hong Lie will give us a proper explanation later on. Therefore, it’s my attempt to understand it that matters and not the outcome...’

Yi Chen thought to himself before answering Qin Yao, who was looking at him with a curious gaze.

"Nothing much, I was just thinking about the question Elder Hong Lie had given us before leaving. After thinking over it a little, I’ve realised that it’s much more difficult to answer than I had originally thought."

"Haha, I realised the moment I heard it that it wasn’t something I could answer, so I gave up before even trying," Qin Yao chuckled with a proud smile on his face.

However, much to his bad luck, that didn’t sit well with Yi Chen, whose eyes narrowed the next moment as he sent a glare in Qin Yao’s direction. "It’s not something you should be proud of, you know. Did you come to the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect to act like this?’

"...I’m sorry," Qin Yao answered with an embarrassed expression, realising that he shouldn’t have said something like that, even as a joke, in front of Yi Chen.

However, Qin Yao’s apology wasn’t enough to convince Yi Chen, who had been given the responsibility of taking care of Qin Yao by Elder Lei before he had left.

As a result, he continued on with his lecture, "... If you think it’s too difficult for you, then you just need to try until it becomes less difficult. Isn’t that what I’m also doing? The more you do it, the easier..."

’This...’

Qin Yao’s expression turned constrained realizing that Yi Chen was going to lecture him for a long time. However, just at that moment, he noticed several disciples rushing out of the hall and, instantly thinking of something, exclaimed while pointing in their direction.

"Look, Brother Chen! Everyone is leaving for the Outer Sect Registration Hall already! Let’s hurry up, or we’ll have to wait in line for a long time."

With that said, he gestured to Dong Yun, who had been silently observing everything from the side, to tag along with him. "Let’s go, Brother Dong; we’ll hurry first and save a spot for Brother Chen."

"Alright!"

Hearing this, Dong Yun readily agreed, and together the two of them rushed out of the hall.

Meanwhile, Yi Chen froze at his spot for a couple of seconds, a little taken aback by Qin Yao’s quick-wittedness.

"I’m...impressed."

He muttered the next moment while shaking off the subtle annoyance that had welled up in his heart.

’Yeah... since we have just arrived, I must not be too strict on him for now.’

With this thought in mind, he turned towards Zhou Mei and the rest and said while gesturing towards the door.

"Let’s go then, shall we?"

"Yes."

They responded simultaneously and soon were making their way towards the Outer Sect Registration Hall alongside Yi Chen.

"Brother Chen, since I’m your friend, won’t you give me half of your contribution points after receiving them?" Zhou Mei asked a few moments later while feigning a cute tone.

"Dream on! I don’t even know what facilities I can properly avail of with the contribution points that I will be getting, and you want me to give half of them to you?" Yi Chen rolled his eyes at her and kept walking.

"Fine!" Zhou Mei snorted in annoyance and exclaimed while folding her hands, "Don’t give me then! I’ll just ask Sister Lan or Sister Xie Rou when I’ll meet them later today!"

As Zhou Mei said that, she stuck out her tongue to tease him.

"Oh? So you’re going to meet them today?" Yi Chen asked curiously the moment he heard this.

"Yes, in the evening after the classes are over, I’m planning to visit their peak and meet them. Would Brother Chen like to tag along with me?" Zhou Mei asked with an expectant glimmer in her eyes.

"Sure. It’s been several months since I saw them so naturally. I would love to go and meet them." Yi Chen answered without a second thought.

"Great! Then that’s settled hehehe." Zhou Mei exclaimed cheerily, totally forgetting that she was angry at Yi Chen just a few moments ago.

"Oh? So Brother Chen knows Zhou Mei’s Elder Sister?" Feng Ning, who had been listening in on their conversation, asked the next moment.

"Yes, we..."

Yi Chen explained how he explored the dungeon together with Zhou Lan and others hearing which they all were clearly impressed.

Especially the two female disciples who had just joined the group recently.

Their eyes lit up like pearls after hearing the entire story that was narrated by Yi Chen, as they couldn’t help but exchange a knowing glance with each other.

’...To think Brother Chen is so amazing"

’He has already explored a tomb while just being at the Meridian Refinement Stage...something which even many in the Qi Absorption Stage fail to do.’

As they thought along these lines, the desire to let all the other female disciples also know about Yi Chen’s accolades welled up in their hearts.

Meanwhile, not aware of what was going on in the two women’s minds, Yi Chen kept walking as the six of them finally arrived in front of the Outer Sect Registration Hall.

’Well...at least it looks much less grim under daylight.’

Yi Chen thought to himself as the next second his eyes went towards the long line that stretched all the way from the entrance of the registration hall to the gate outside it.

’Looks like this is going to take quite some time...’

This thought had just crossed Yi Chen’s mind when he heard a familiar shout from ahead the very next moment.

"Brother Chen here! Come here! We’ve saved your spot!"

"This guy..."

Yi Chen couldn’t help but be at a loss for words, seeing that Qin Yao and Dong Yun were standing at the very front of the line.

’Just how did they even manage to convince others...’

He muttered while walking in their direction and soon got the answer he was looking for as he saw the welcoming gazes from all the disciples who were standing near the front.

"Senior Brother Chen, please..."

"Since Senior Brother Chen was the first one to get contribution points, it’s only right for you to be the first one to get your identity beads."

"It’s our honour to let you be the first one, Senior Brother Chen..."

’These guys...they...they’ve been completely brainwashed!’

Yi Chen exclaimed in his mind while looking towards Qin Yao, who was carrying a proud smile on his face.

However, not letting his thoughts show on his face, Yi Chen nodded in a grateful manner at all the disciples before finally reaching the first spot along with Zhou Mei and the rest.

Seeing this, the staff member asked for his name for confirmation’s sake before taking out a black wooden box from underneath the counter. "Elder Hong Lie had already informed me about your contribution points, so you need not worry."

With that said, he placed the black box on the counter and, turning its face towards Yi Chen, opened it up the next moment.

A bracelet made up of mint green beads appeared in front of his eyes.

Each bead had several runic symbols engraved on its surface, which could only be seen when looked upon closely.

"That’s your identification bead. Try it on." The staff suggested while gesturing for Yi Chen to try out the bracelet.

"Yes..."

Yi Chen nodded, hearing those words, and wore it on his wrist the very next moment as a cold sensation swept over his wrist.

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