Chapter 120: Senior Brother Was Right About You After All

As a prominent, high-ranking sect, the Weiwo Sect maintains a vast organizational structure. Its长老 (Elders) are categorized into numerous roles: those overseeing chores, those managing outer sect disciples, those in charge of inner sect disciples, those overseeing administrative bodies like the Scripture Repository, and a countless variety of teaching elders and miscellaneous administrative elders.

However, despite their titles, most of these elders lack profound cultivation, often remaining at the Golden Core stage or even the peak of Foundation Establishment. Frequently, they hold less weight than the prodigies of the inner sect. The true authority rests with only three individuals: the First Elder, Feng Yazi; the Second Elder, Yan Changqing; and the Third Elder, Xu Haiming. These three represent the pinnacle of the sect's power, each being a Nascent Soul grandmaster. It is precisely due to their presence that the Weiwo Sect is regarded as a high-ranking sect. Beyond these three, the Sect Master also possesses Nascent Soul cultivation, alongside a few reclusive and unfathomable Supreme Elders. Together, they constitute the entire foundation and strength of the sect.

Wang Ran had, by a twist of fate, become the disciple of the First Elder, Feng Yazi. He had essentially latched onto the sturdiest tree in the entire sect, a fact that made countless other disciples green with envy. It was common knowledge that as Feng Yazi’s disciple, one could walk tall anywhere—be it the inner or outer sect—without fear, provided one avoided the Law Enforcement Hall, a lawless place where the sect tacitly allowed disciples to engage in mutual combat. In reality, Wang Ran enjoyed high prestige and deep respect among both inner and outer sect disciples; it was only in the cutthroat environment of the Law Enforcement Hall that he found himself besieged on all sides.

Thus, upon hearing that Yan Wanrou’s grandfather, the Second Elder Yan Changqing, might have a solution, Wang Ran was momentarily stunned before his face filled with anticipation. As one of the three great elders and a Nascent Soul grandmaster, there was no doubt in Wang Ran’s mind that Yan Changqing would possess the methods and experience to facilitate a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.

"Junior Sister, tell me more. Is the Second Elder truly going to help me?" Wang Ran pulled her close, asking with urgency.

Her wrist being caught in such a manner, the Junior Sister’s face flushed a deep crimson. She lowered her head and murmured, "Actually, it’s me who wants to help you. Grandfather doesn't know about this."

"Ah?" Wang Ran blinked, momentarily bewildered.

Tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear, she blushed and explained, "Grandfather possesses a Grade-Earth Spirit Treasure with miraculous properties. It is said to contain a separate dimension filled with items that can stimulate human potential. I’m not entirely sure of the specifics, but Grandfather once used this treasure to help Senior Brother Xiao Fan, a previous generation's true disciple, successfully form his Golden Core."

"The Second Elder has a... Grade-Earth Spirit Treasure?" Wang Ran’s eyes widened. A Grade-Earth Spirit Treasure was a legendary artifact.

It was common knowledge on this continent that spiritual artifacts were graded from one to ten. The higher the grade, the greater the power. Once an artifact reached the eighth grade and entered the ninth, it was no longer called a spiritual artifact but a "Spirit Treasure." Because ninth-grade artifacts possessed heaven-defying functions deemed beyond the capability of ordinary tools, they were bestowed the title of "treasure." The ninth grade was designated as Grade-Earth, and the tenth as Grade-Heaven.

If fourth or fifth-grade artifacts were rare, and sixth or seventh were scarce, then anything above the eighth grade was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. To possess a ninth-grade Grade-Earth Spirit Treasure would be enough to make the various powers of the continent ravenous with greed. Wang Ran felt that even with the Second Elder’s Nascent Soul cultivation and the backing of the Weiwo Sect, it would be difficult to safeguard such an item. His shock was immense.

As if reading his thoughts, the Junior Sister continued, "This Spirit Treasure is only a fragmentary version, and it possesses no offensive capabilities—it is purely an auxiliary tool. That is why, even though many know Grandfather has it, no one has ever tried to seize it."

"That makes sense. It would be unwise to offend a Nascent Soul cultivator and a top-tier sect for an incomplete, auxiliary-type Spirit Treasure," Wang Ran mused, stroking his chin.

"I only saw Grandfather use it once when I was a child, for Senior Brother Xiao Fan, who had emerged victorious in the previous generation’s true disciple selection. Senior Brother Xiao Fan had been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment for a long time, unable to break through. After training inside the Spirit Treasure for a period, he emerged as a top-tier Golden Core with ninety-two years of Dao intent!" she said, gesturing excitedly.

Wang Ran smacked his lips. "Senior Brother Xiao Fan? One of the two true disciples of the Weiwo Sect?" He had heard of this Senior Brother Xiao Fan; he was said to be the prodigy of the previous generation, a contemporary of Yao Jianjia, and one who had risen to prominence alongside her in the struggle for the status of true disciple.

According to sect records, Xiao Fan had originally been an ordinary chore disciple. Then, through unknown circumstances, he obtained a great opportunity and rose to power, fighting his way from the chore duties to the outer sect, then to the inner sect, and finally into the Law Enforcement Hall, where he founded the formidable "Xiao Alliance." He had enjoyed a moment of great glory, slapping the faces of everyone who had once looked down upon him. Rumor had it that even as an outer sect disciple, he could kill those of higher ranks, leaving many inner sect disciples beaten to a pulp. His combat prowess was so terrifying that only the Yao Jianjia of that time could compare. Due to his outstanding performance, he was noticed by the Second Elder and taken in as a disciple.

Wang Ran could only describe Xiao Fan’s journey in four words: "Protagonist Template." Indeed, the very name "Xiao Fan" carried an aura of pretension; it was clearly the name of a lead character from some fantasy novel. Combined with his rise from obscurity, this was the exact trope seen in the web novels of his past life.

*Damn it,* Wang Ran thought, *why is this world filled with people destined to be protagonists?* From Ye Cang to Ling Tianchen, and now Xiao Fan, Wang Ran felt surrounded by main characters. He, meanwhile, had transmigrated as a completely unremarkable background character, languishing in the outer sect for years without progress.

Wiping his face in self-pity, Wang Ran rallied his spirits. "Junior Sister, when shall we go to the Second Elder?"

The Junior Sister squirmed, blushing. "Let’s go now! Grandfather just went to drink with the Sect Master. Before he returns, I’ll sneak you into the Spirit Treasure!"

"Huh?" Wang Ran blinked. So, this wasn't the Second Elder’s idea at all? It was entirely the Junior Sister’s plan?

Feeling a sudden surge of gratitude, Wang Ran solemnly patted her slender shoulder, looking at her with approval. "Junior Sister, I was not wrong about you. You truly are capable of great things..."