Thirty days passed quietly within the outer sect, but beneath the surface, the atmosphere had begun changing noticeably.
Fang Lin could feel it clearly.
The moment he stepped outside his room now, more disciples looked toward him than before. Some carried admiration, others caution, and quite a few carried hostility that was no longer hidden.
Defeating Zhou Yan had changed his position completely.
He was no longer merely a talented newcomer.
He had become a variable.
And within the sect, variables attracted attention from every side.
That morning, Fang Lin finally left the outer disciple quarters after several continuous days of cultivation. The Nine Nether Phantom Body remained painfully slow, but the improvements within his body had become increasingly obvious.
His movements felt lighter.
His senses sharper.
Even his Qi circulation had become smoother due to the strengthening of his meridians.
As he walked calmly through the sect pathways, several disciples instinctively moved aside.
Some even lowered their voices while speaking.
"That's Fang Lin…"
"He hasn't shown himself much recently…"
"I heard he's been cultivating nonstop…"
Fang Lin ignored the whispers completely.
He was heading toward the Bamboo Lotus Palace when suddenly—
Several figures blocked the path ahead.
Around eight disciples stood there quietly.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
The surrounding disciples instinctively slowed their steps.
Fang Lin's eyes swept across the group calmly.
Strong.
Very strong.
Most were around middle to late-stage Qi Conjunction.
At the center stood a tall young man wearing dark blue robes. His expression was indifferent, his gaze slightly cold.
Beside him stood a woman with narrow eyes and sharp features, calmly observing Fang Lin from head to toe.
The tall disciple spoke first.
"You're Fang Lin?"
His tone carried no politeness.
Only scrutiny.
Fang Lin nodded calmly.
"Yes."
The disciple crossed his arms.
"I'm Chen Hao."
He gestured lightly toward the others behind him one by one.
"Xu Ren."
"Qiao Lei."
"Sun Jie."
"Mo Yun."
"Lin Tao."
"Shen Ku."
"Yue Fang."
Fang Lin silently memorized the names.
None of them looked friendly.
Especially after hearing his identity.
The woman beside Chen Hao finally spoke.
"You caused quite a scene recently."
Her voice was calm, but faint ridicule lingered within it.
Fang Lin replied simply,
"I defended myself."
A faint sneer appeared on one of the disciples behind her.
"Defended yourself?"
"Against Zhou Yan?"
Another disciple added coldly,
"You humiliated an entire faction."
The surrounding atmosphere became tense.
But Fang Lin remained calm.
"Then perhaps your faction embarrasses itself too easily."
Several expressions immediately darkened.
The pressure around them subtly increased.
But before things escalated further, Chen Hao raised a hand slightly.
"We're not here to fight."
His gaze remained fixed on Fang Lin.
"In five days, there will be a faction gathering."
"Outer sect competition discussions."
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Outer sect competition.
He had heard vague mentions of it before but knew little about the details.
Chen Hao continued,
"You're being invited."
The word "invited" sounded particularly cold.
More like an order than a request.
Fang Lin asked calmly,
"And if I refuse?"
The surrounding disciples immediately frowned.
But Chen Hao simply smiled faintly.
"You won't."
The confidence in his voice was absolute.
A brief silence followed.
Then Fang Lin nodded slightly.
"I'll think about it."
Xu Ren immediately sneered.
"Think?"
Chen Hao raised a hand again, stopping him.
Then he looked at Fang Lin one final time.
"Five days."
"Don't be late."
With that, the group turned and walked away.
But the moment they left—
Fang Lin's eyes sharpened faintly.
These people…
Were dangerous.
Not merely because of strength.
But because of the feeling they carried.
Organized.
United.
Disciplined.
Unlike Zhou Yan's earlier arrogance.
These people felt far more troublesome.
And somehow—
More important.
------
"Looks like they found you already."
A familiar voice suddenly sounded nearby.
Fang Lin turned.
Li Shan walked toward him casually, his usual relaxed smile resting on his face.
Beside him stood several unfamiliar disciples.
Unlike Chen Hao's group, their atmosphere felt much lighter.
More natural.
Li Shan stopped beside Fang Lin.
"You alright?"
Fang Lin nodded.
"They invited me somewhere."
Li Shan chuckled softly.
"Of course they did."
He gestured toward the disciples beside him.
"This is Luo Chen."
A broad-shouldered young man grinned slightly.
"And this is Bai Qing."
A calm-looking woman nodded politely.
"Murong Yue."
A cheerful-looking girl waved lightly.
"Han Zhi."
A tall disciple carrying a sword gave a brief nod.
"And Zhao Feng."
The final disciple smiled faintly.
Fang Lin observed them quietly.
Different.
Very different.
None carried the cold hostility he felt from Chen Hao's group.
Li Shan crossed his arms.
"These people are trustworthy."
Murong Yue immediately laughed.
"That's a rare compliment from him."
Even Fang Lin smiled faintly at that.
Luo Chen looked at Fang Lin carefully.
"You really beat Zhou Yan badly, huh?"
"Almost crippled him."
Fang Lin replied calmly,
"He wanted to cripple me first."
"Fair enough," Luo Chen laughed.
Bai Qing stepped forward slightly.
"You should be careful around Chen Hao's group."
Fang Lin looked toward her.
"They're stronger than Zhou Yan?"
"Much," Han Zhi replied calmly.
"Especially Chen Hao."
Li Shan's relaxed expression faded slightly.
"They're directly connected to one of the strongest outer sect factions."
A brief silence followed.
Then Zhao Feng lowered his voice slightly.
"And behind that faction…"
"…stands the Grand Elder."
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed faintly.
Grand Elder.
So that was the true backing.
No wonder the other elders turned a blind eye repeatedly.
Even Zhou Yan had acted fearlessly because of this support.
Murong Yue frowned slightly.
"The Grand Elder rarely interferes directly, but many faction elders follow his side."
Li Shan shrugged lightly.
"And because of that, they've become increasingly bold recently."
Fang Lin remained silent.
But inwardly—
The situation became clearer.
The sect itself was divided.
Not openly.
But internally.
Factions within factions.
Power behind power.
Luo Chen suddenly laughed.
"Enough serious talk."
He threw an arm around Zhao Feng's shoulder casually.
"You finally came outside after hiding for a month. We should eat."
Murong Yue nodded immediately.
"Yes! Senior Sister Bai Qing keeps training all day too. We rarely gather properly."
Bai Qing rolled her eyes lightly.
"You're the lazy one."
The atmosphere suddenly relaxed considerably.
Fang Lin quietly observed them.
For the first time since entering the sect—
He felt something unusual.
Normal interaction.
Not pressure.
Not hostility.
Just people speaking naturally.
Li Shan glanced sideways at him.
"You coming?"
Fang Lin paused briefly.
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
Murong Yue immediately smiled brightly.
"Good! Then today you're paying since you won 200 gold coins."
Fang Lin stared at her silently.
Even Li Shan laughed slightly.
Meanwhile, high above the sect—
Invisible to all—
Several eyes quietly observed everything.
And within the hidden currents of the Green Bamboo Sect—
The storm continued growing larger.