Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Sect Leader’s Summons

Shen Haoran looked forward to the unknown challenges ahead, but he also knew it was better to keep a low profile until he had enough strength. For that reason, he sealed the Golden Token within his Sea of Consciousness, not daring to let any of its aura leak out.

After giving him several stern warnings, Elder Yan returned to his place within Shen Haoran, leaving the young man to wrestle with the problem alone.

However, Shen Haoran was quite carefree and soon put the matter out of his mind. In his words, ’We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’ ’Worrying about it now is useless! I might as well focus on improving my strength so I can handle whatever comes my way.’

Having figured things out, Shen Haoran focused all his attention on his recovery. The injuries from climbing the Chaos Celestial Ladder a few days prior were quite severe. Fortunately, thanks to the Red Flame Hall’s excellent Healing Medicine and his own monstrous regenerative abilities, he was able to get out of bed and move about freely five days later.

PHEW... Once his injuries had healed, Shen Haoran took to meditating in the courtyard. He had gained many insights on the Chaos Celestial Ladder and needed time to digest and fully integrate them.

"Haha, you brat! You’re recovering nicely. I thought you’d need another seven or eight days before you could get out of bed. What a monstrous physique!" One day, as Shen Haoran was meditating as usual, Elder Huo’s voice rang in his ears.

"It’s all thanks to the Healing Medicine you gave me, Elder Huo. Otherwise, I’d still be stuck in bed!" Shen Haoran said with a smile.

Elder Huo remained noncommittal. ’I know best how effective my Healing Medicine is. For Haoran to recover this quickly, my medicine could have accounted for ten percent of it, at most. The other ninety percent must be due to his own formidable physique!’

"Alright, you brat, enough with the chatter. Come with me, the Sect Leader wants to see you!" Elder Huo said, rolling his eyes at him.

"The Sect Leader wants to see me?" Shen Haoran was puzzled. But then, something seemed to occur to him, and he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. He asked meekly, "Elder Huo, can I... not go?"

"What do you think? Let’s go!" Elder Huo stepped aside, clearing the path.

"Ugh..." With a pained expression, Shen Haoran followed behind Elder Huo. ’I guess the inevitable has arrived.’

After following Elder Huo along a winding path that took them over two mountain peaks, Haoran was brought to the entrance of a grand hall.

"Go on in. The Sect Leader is waiting for you inside. Remember, be sharp, and watch what you say. You’ll be in for a world of hurt if you offend the Sect Leader!" With that final instruction, Elder Huo departed.

Shen Haoran stared at the dark, cavernous hall and took a deep breath. ’Damn it. If worst comes to worst, I’ll just have to go all out!’ With that, he strode into the hall.

The moment he entered the hall, an overwhelming pressure immediately washed over Shen Haoran. The sudden force made his body tremble, and he nearly buckled to his knees.

Fortunately, Shen Haoran reacted instantly. Waves of Spiritual Power surged from within him, continuously stacking upon one another until they quickly neutralized the surrounding pressure.

In truth, the Spiritual Power stacking technique Shen Haoran had comprehended wasn’t omnipotent. On the eightieth step of the Chaos Celestial Ladder, for example, the terrifying pressure had rendered his technique completely useless. The disparity in power had simply been too vast to overcome.

The pressure in this hall, however, was a far cry from that of the Chaos Celestial Ladder, so Shen Haoran was able to cope.

"Oh?" Chen Yu was somewhat amazed to see Shen Haoran looking so relaxed under the pressure of his aura.

"As expected of the genius who could reach the top of the Chaos Celestial Ladder!" Chen Yu praised, then withdrew the oppressive force.

As the surrounding pressure vanished, Shen Haoran felt his body suddenly become light. He retracted his own Spiritual Power and bowed with clasped hands toward Chen Yu. "Sect Leader Chen, you flatter me. May I ask for what reason you have summoned me?"

Seeing how formal Shen Haoran was, Chen Yu waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit. "There’s no need to be so reserved. I called you here today to give you your reward."

"A reward?" Shen Haoran was puzzled.

"That’s right. The reward for taking first place in the test is a Dragon Saliva Pill and an Earth Tier Low Level Martial Skill. You haven’t forgotten, have you?" Chen Yu said with a smile, handing a Storage Ring to Shen Haoran.

Seeing the Storage Ring, Shen Haoran slapped his forehead. He’d been so preoccupied with that Golden Token for the past few days that he had completely forgotten about this.

"Thank you, Sect Leader!" Shen Haoran accepted the Storage Ring. ’An Earth Tier Low Level Martial Skill doesn’t hold much appeal for me, but you can never have too many skills,’ he thought, quite satisfied. ’And the Dragon Saliva Pill will be extremely useful. It looks like I didn’t suffer those injuries for nothing.’

Seeing Shen Haoran clutching the Storage Ring, Chen Yu smiled and continued, "You’re Shen Haoran, correct? May I ask you something?"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran’s heart sank. He forced a bitter smile. ’Here it comes.’

"Please ask, Sect Leader," Shen Haoran said, trying to sound casual as he suppressed the unease in his heart.

"Is the Chaos Celestial Ladder in your possession?" Chen Yu didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.

"Well..." Shen Haoran looked awkward for a moment before opening his palm. A miniature golden Chaos Celestial Ladder materialized in his hand.

Seeing the golden Chaos Celestial Ladder, even though Chen Yu had prepared himself for this, he still couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

’The Chaos Celestial Ladder is the sacred artifact of the Five Elements Sect, always held by the Sect Leader,’ he thought. ’I never expected it would be claimed by a disciple.’

’But Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures belong to the fated. Looking at the golden Chaos Celestial Ladder, I can clearly feel that it has far more Spiritual Qi than it ever did in my hands. It seems it truly has acknowledged Shen Haoran as its master.’

"You don’t need to worry," Chen Yu said. "Since it has chosen you, I will not forcibly take it back. However, you must agree to one condition."

"What condition?" Shen Haoran was surprised to hear that Chen Yu didn’t intend to take back the Chaos Celestial Ladder.

"The condition is that if the Five Elements Sect should face a great calamity in the future, you must step in to help!" Chen Yu said, his tone grave.

Seeing Chen Yu’s solemn expression, Shen Haoran’s face grew serious as well. "I have already joined the Five Elements Sect. Even without the Chaos Celestial Ladder, I would do everything in my power to help!"

"Haha, your word is good enough for me!" Chen Yu laughed heartily, clearly very satisfied with Shen Haoran’s answer.

The two chatted for a while longer before Shen Haoran left the hall. Not long after his departure, a dark figure materialized behind Chen Yu.

"Sect Leader, why would you place your hope in a Tier Eight Spirit Pupil?" the shadowy figure asked, looking at Chen Yu with confusion.

"Ah, Elder Zhong, one cannot judge things by their surface. Years ago, before the old Sect Leader passed on, he prophesied that the Five Elements Sect would face a great calamity in the near future. The only person who could help the Sect overcome this trial, he said, would be the one who could reach the top of the Chaos Celestial Ladder. So many years have gone by, and Shen Haoran is the only one to have done it. Moreover, this Shen Haoran is truly extraordinary. With a great enemy at our doorstep and no time to spare, we can only place our wager on him!" Chen Yu said, his eyes narrowing as he watched Shen Haoran’s departing figure. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"The Sect Leader is wise. I hope he can truly help the Sect survive the great calamity," the shadowy figure said hopefully.

"He will." For some unknown reason, Chen Yu was filled with absolute confidence in Shen Haoran.