This High Martial World is Too Crazy!!!

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Are All Protagonists Lone Stars of Calamity?

In the very center of the Tiger Slaughter Sect headquarters in Yanggu County sat a spacious courtyard residence.

The estate boasted red walls, green tiles, and intricately carved beams and painted rafters. Within its deep courtyards were rockeries, pools, exotic flowers, and strange grasses, all hinting at a hidden opulence.

Nearly every disciple who had been with the sect for some time knew this was the residence of the Tiger Slaughter Sect Leader, Yang Duan.

According to Yang Duan’s daily routine, after his ten-hour martial arts practice, he would return to his residence to handle the sect’s affairs.

Today, as usual, after meditating before a waterfall for half a day to gain enlightenment, Yang Duan slowly strolled back to his residence, surrounded by several guards.

Before he even drew near, from a great distance, he sensed a man in his forties or fifties standing and waiting in front of his home.

Puzzled, Yang Duan took a single step. As if the ground itself contracted, his figure silently crossed several dozen meters in a single breath, appearing before the man.

The man who had been waiting patiently felt his vision blur. A tall, sturdy figure was already blocking his path, asking, ”Yang Lie, you’re not in the training hall. What are you doing here?”

Indeed, the man waiting at the gate was none other than Yang Lie, who had come to report on Fang Can’s situation.

Seeing Yang Duan return, Yang Lie was overjoyed. ”Grandfather, you’re finally back! Your grandson pays his respects.”

Yang Duan’s expression was calm as he looked at the bowing Yang Lie.

He appeared to be only in his early thirties. He was tall, broad-shouldered and powerfully built, and wore a jade thumb ring on his right hand. He looked even younger than Yang Lie.

But as a Second Turn expert who had taken two steps on the Heaven-Ascending Road, his life had been extended by three hundred years. His true age was only ninety, putting him right in his prime. Thus, having a grandson in his forties or fifties was perfectly reasonable.

If he could take a few more steps on the Heaven-Ascending Road in the future, living for another few hundred years would be no problem at all.

It was precisely because of their blood relation that Yang Lie, with his meager Profound Gate Fifth Layer cultivation, was entrusted with the great responsibility of the training hall—a place for cultivating the sect’s future core disciples.

”Speak. What business do you have with me this time?” Yang Duan asked calmly, looking at the still-bowing Yang Lie.

”Grandfather, I’ve found a peerless genius within the sect,” Yang Lie said seriously.

”Oh? A peerless genius?” Yang Duan’s tone grew heavier.

”Yes. He’s only been in the sect for a few days, but he’s already developed a sense of qi, and his Realm is approaching the Profound Gate First Layer. He defeated every disciple in the training hall through mere observation. And what’s even more terrifying is...”

Yang Lie said grimly, ”He manifested a Heart Image before even reaching the Profound Gate First Layer.”

With each part of Yang Lie’s report, Yang Duan’s eyebrow twitched. When he heard about the Heart Image, he couldn’t help but ask doubtfully, ”Are you trying to trick me? Is this ’person’ you’re describing even human?”

”Grandfather, it’s the absolute truth,” Yang Lie said, nodding emphatically. ”Hall Master Li brought him in. His name is Fang Can, and he’s in the sect right now. If you don’t believe me, we can summon him immediately.”

Seeing Yang Lie speak with such certainty, Yang Duan’s brows knitted together.

’If this is all true,’ he thought, ’even the legendary Great Derivation Divine Monarch would have to sit at the junior’s table. Could some old monster be pretending to be young?’

At this thought, he turned to the guard beside him and ordered, ”Bring Li Fengtian to me. I’ll question him myself.”

An incense stick’s time later, a bewildered Li Fengtian arrived at the residence to find Yang Duan sitting in a Grandmaster’s Chair, staring at him. ”What is the origin of this Fang Can?”

At this, Yang Duan said irritably, ”Why do you always insist on dragging things into the sect? Last time you went out, you fell into a trap set by the Transformation Sect and brought back a spy. I haven’t even settled the score with you for that, and now you’ve brought someone else in.”

”What? Is there a problem?” Before Yang Duan, Li Fengtian suppressed his usual boisterousness and said sheepishly, ”Is that kid a spy? He doesn’t seem like one.”

”Of course he’s not a spy. What kind of sect would use a monster like that as an undercover agent?”

Yang Duan looked at the clueless Li Fengtian and repeated what Yang Lie had told him.

Seeing the other man’s jaw drop so wide it almost wouldn’t close, Yang Duan knew. ’This brute really doesn’t know a thing.’

”Now, tell me everything that happened when you met this Fang Can,” Yang Duan said.

A short while later, after Li Fengtian had recounted the entire story of how he met Fang Can, Yang Duan was even more bewildered.

Unknown origins, strange clothes, extraordinary talent, handsome features, found destitute in an alley...

’Every single detail is bizarre. How could you just casually bring someone like that back to the sect? Did the Heaven-Ascending Road give you power but make your brain regress?’

”So, Sect Leader, what’s the plan?” In front of Yang Duan, Li Fengtian gave an awkward smile and scratched his head. ”That Fang Can is truly gifted. We can’t just drive him away, can we?”

”Of course we have to drive him away. What are you going to do, keep him for the New Year’s festival?” Yang Duan said irritably. ”A small temple like our Tiger Slaughter Sect can’t house a great Buddha like him. The sooner we send him away, the better.”

”But why, Sect Leader? Fang Can’s talent is so great. Isn’t it a waste to just send him away?” Li Fengtian said urgently.

After all, he was the one who brought the boy in, so he couldn’t help but feel a little protective.

”It’s precisely because his talent is so great. If he doesn’t die young, his future achievements will surely be immense. But the trouble he’ll attract will be even greater. People like him are like King Yama himself—they bring death wherever they go.”

Yang Duan continued, ”If he attracts an expert at the Third Turn or higher, our Tiger Slaughter Sect will have no way to escape. Are you expecting him to avenge us after he masters his divine techniques?”

”Besides, with that kind of talent, his name is bound to appear on the next Latent Dragon Ranking from the Celestial Secret Tower. If we don’t send him away, should we wait for those righteous sects, so eager to recruit talent, to come ’slay demons and defend the righteous path’?” Yang Duan laid out the harsh realities for Li Fengtian.

”This... this...” Li Fengtian scratched his head awkwardly. He couldn’t agree with the Sect Leader’s proposal, but he couldn’t very well refuse it either.

Seeing his subordinate acting so wishy-washy, Yang Duan waved his hand in resignation. ”Fine, you can go. I will handle the matter of Fang Can.”

Watching Li Fengtian leave resentfully, Yang Duan turned to the guard at his side. ”Go and bring Fang Can here. I want to meet him myself.”

As his subordinate departed, Yang Duan gently closed his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking.

Meanwhile, in his own small courtyard, Fang Can awoke from a deep sleep and stood up, giving a light stretch.

His eyes were sparkling with vigor. The sleep had fully restored the Heart Image he had exhausted that morning, and it even felt a step stronger.

Without any hesitation, Fang Can walked outside, took a pill, and resumed practicing his fist techniques, attempting to further improve his body and reach the great milestone of the Transcendent Body.

Having broken through to the Profound Gate First Layer, Fang Can’s fist techniques were now even more fierce and powerful. The Qi Force from the swing of his arm could make willow branches several meters away tremble violently.

He had only been practicing outside for a short while when his movements suddenly froze. In the distance, a man was rushing toward him.

The man arrived before Fang Can at top speed, then came to an abrupt halt. ”By order of the Sect Leader, Fang Can is summoned to the residence for a meeting.”

’So, it’s finally time?’ Fang Can stopped what he was doing and said, ”I’ll have to trouble you to lead the way, Senior Brother.”