novelraw Chapter 124: Unexpected Influence
Chapter 124: Unexpected Influence
Song Qiaoqiao’s reaction was to be expected.
This was because when Fang Yun had described his abilities to her, he hadn’t deliberately downplayed them.
He told her exactly how powerful he was.
But that was just Fang Yun’s own account. How Song Qiaoqiao interpreted it was also colored by her own imagination.
"Junior Brother Fang is incredible!" Yao Shuixiao praised from beside Song Qiaoqiao.
On the other side of Dueling Platform Three.
Zhang Cailing and Lu Zefeng watched Fang Yun’s performance.
The two of them looked at each other, momentarily at a loss for words.
They were well aware that Fang Yun’s defensive techniques were exceptional. However, before watching this Magical Combat, both Zhang Cailing and Lu Zefeng had believed their own offensive abilities surpassed his.
"Senior Sister Zhang, we severely underestimated Junior Brother Fang," Lu Zefeng finally said after a moment of silence.
"I know," Zhang Cailing replied, nodding dazedly.
Fang Yun was powerful, no doubt, but neither of them believed his strength could truly match that of the Senior Brothers and Sisters at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
They were both at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer and had crossed swords with cultivators at the Ninth Layer before. They knew very well how wide the gap was.
In their eyes, Fang Yun’s only chance of winning this Magical Combat was by relying on his defensive abilities to stall for an opportunity.
For a Qi Refining Seventh Layer Cultivator, just having a chance to defeat a Ninth-Layer Cultivator was a testament to their incredible strength.
After all, they were all disciples of the Celestial Cloud Sect. This wasn’t a comparison between a sect disciple and a Loose Cultivator.
"We should stop thinking about bringing Junior Brother Fang on our missions from now on."
"Yes, Senior Sister is right," Lu Zefeng agreed, nodding emphatically.
Taking Fang Yun on their missions would be a waste of his talent. A disciple of his caliber should be tackling much harder assignments that offered better rewards.
The Magical Combat between Fang Yun and Hong Lingfeng came to an end.
After the Elder announced the result.
Many of the Inner and Outer Sect Disciples below the Dueling Platform still couldn’t process what had happened.
The higher the pedestal they placed Fang Yun on, the more they mythologized his power.
Yet, reality had just shown that even their wildest exaggerations fell short.
Most of the Inner and Outer Sect Disciples below the platform had still favored Hong Lingfeng, the Qi Refining Ninth Layer disciple.
Even the few disciples who had favored Fang Yun never expected the battle to end like this. From start to finish, Fang Yun had only made a single move.
Only a tiny minority who had practically deified Fang Yun reacted quickly to the outcome.
These disciples were basically all Outer Sect Disciples.
"I knew Senior Brother Fang’s offense was strong! None of you senior brothers and sisters believed me. You believe me now, don’t you!"
"I thought you were exaggerating, Junior Brother, but it turns out Senior Brother Fang’s actual performance is even more unbelievable."
"They all say Junior Brother Fang’s defense is invincible and unbreakable among those in the same Realm. I’d say his offense is invincible in the same Realm too!"
"I think Junior Brother Fang won with a bit of a trick. He didn’t actually break through Brother Hong’s Golden Bell Talisman..."
"Oh? So you’re saying you could’ve sent Brother Hong flying like that, Senior Brother?"
"That’s not what I meant! Even if Junior Brother Fang used a clever trick, he’s still terrifyingly strong."
After watching the Magical Combat, some disciples were already thinking about changing Fang Yun’s nickname.
The might of that single sword strike had forced them to completely re-evaluate Fang Yun.
"Listen up, everyone! It doesn’t feel right to keep calling Senior Brother Fang the Turtle Immortal anymore, is it?"
"That’s right! Junior Brother Fang—no, wait, it should be Senior Brother Fang—his offense is even stronger than his defense!"
After this battle, not a single Qi Refining Seventh Layer Inner Sect Disciple under the Dueling Platform called Fang Yun "Junior Brother" anymore. To all of them, he was "Senior Brother."
"So what should his new nickname be?"
"Senior Brother Fang’s skill with the sword is sublime! I propose his new title should be Sword Immortal!"
"Sword Immortal... Not bad, not bad."
Some disciples were already sold on Fang Yun’s new title.
But other disciples disagreed.
"Why change his title? Have any of you ever seen the limit of Senior Brother Fang’s defense? For all we know, he could easily block an attack from a Qi Refining Tenth Layer Cultivator!"
"Exactly! Senior Brother Fang’s defense isn’t necessarily weaker than his offense."
Other disciples took a neutral stance on the matter of his title.
"I think both titles are fine. There have been senior brothers and sisters with multiple titles before."
"I agree, both titles are great."
The discussion below the Dueling Platform grew increasingly animated.
Meanwhile, Fang Yun stood calmly on the Dueling Platform, but inwardly, he was bursting with joy.
His joy stemmed mainly from the notifications appearing on the light screen.
Sect Influence 1%↑
Sect Influence 1%↑
Two consecutive prompts appeared, with an interval of less than half a breath between them.
His Sect Influence, which had been stagnant for so long, had finally increased. It had gone up by two percentage points in total.
Amid his joy, Fang Yun didn’t forget to ponder the mechanics behind his influence growth.
Based on the patterns he had deduced previously, he hadn’t expected such a large, sudden increase in Sect Influence right after the Magical Combat.
’Is it because of the Sect Elder?’
’Or is it related to these senior brothers and sisters?’
’The only difference between now and before is that I’ve displayed my offensive abilities. Judging by how excited they are, has my offense improved my image and raised my standing in their eyes?’
As Fang Yun rapidly considered the possibilities, he felt that the increase in influence was likely related to all of these factors.
’Fame is one thing,’ he thought, ’but fame just means people know who you are. It doesn’t guarantee you a place of importance in their hearts.’
Fang Yun realized that if he wanted to achieve one hundred percent influence within the sect after becoming Sect Leader in the future, he would need to hold an extremely high place in the hearts of most disciples and Elders.
Hong Lingfeng, who had been standing motionless at the edge of the Dueling Platform, finally came back to his senses.
The chatter of the Inner and Outer Sect Disciples below reminded him that his Magical Combat was over, and that he had been utterly defeated.
The effect of the Golden Bell Talisman was still active.
’To think I was still sent flying off the Dueling Platform even under these conditions.’
’Without a doubt, what Fang Yun just used was a top-tier Upper-Grade Magical Artifact. And one he’d Refined himself, at that.’
’What a talent for Artifact Refining... ’
Hong Lingfeng had to admit it. By knowing every characteristic of the Magical Artifact he had Refined and using his tactics accordingly, Fang Yun had demonstrated he knew exactly how to secure victory—just as he had previously demonstrated with his impenetrable defense.
’I lost way too quickly.’
This was the one thing about the Magical Combat that left Hong Lingfeng dissatisfied with his own performance.
’I’m a Senior Brother at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, for crying out loud. I should have held out longer.’
"Junior Brother Fang, your offense is incredible too!" Hong Lingfeng said, walking back to his original starting position on the platform.
"Oh... Brother Hong, thank you for the match."