"Did you hear about it? All the rich second-generation heirs have been sent to the main peak!"
"That's not a surprise. Eldest Senior Brother is as wise and talented as a celestial deity. Just his two words alone made Li Zheng become the Top Scholar between Heaven and Earth! Who doesn't want to study after him?"
"That's true! If I had the chance, I'd try my very best to prove myself to Eldest Senior Brother!"
"However… the most important thing isn't this. Do you know what Eldest Senior Brother made them do there?"
"What did he tell them to do?"
"Come on, tell us."
"Can't you just tell us directly? What's the point in telling the story in sections?"
The disciples were having a heated conversation about the interesting events that happened recently.
"Eldest Senior Brother made one of them ring the bell three times a day until the bell would ring on its own.
"He made another Senior Brother wipe the entire palace using one bucket of water, however, the water has to be crystal clear all the after using it.
"One of the Senior Brothers was made to sweep the floor and clean up all the leaves before sunset. But it's clearly impossible since leaves are always falling!"
"Did they somehow piss off Eldest Senior Brother, thus causing this punishment?" the disciple guessed.
"That's impossible. Eldest Senior Brother is upright and generous! He's not that narrow-minded."
"True, I agree with you."
"I think this is a test. Let me be straightforward, but not everyone can study under him after all, he's the Son of Heaven and Earth."
"I think you're right. Eldest Senior Brother can't be that mean."
"In fact, I see wisdom in these tests. Eldest Senior Brother's indeed a superior cultivator!"
"We should widen our horizons. Eldest Senior Brother must have his reasons for making them do those things. I just wish I could stay close to Eldest Senior Brother as well. When he studies Dao, I eat. When he cultivates, I eat. When he watches a spectacular sunset, I eat and watch him from behind."
"You'd better shut up, foodie."
The conversation went on and on.
These discussions had also floated into the ears of the Senior Leaders.
Talisman Hall.
Sitting in front of his father, Qin Ming had made up his mind as he said angrily, "Father, I want to be a better cultivator, not a better cook! And yet, Eldest Senior Brother is making me cook for him everyday, the dishes should even be different throughout the entire year! He also asks me to add more spice and less salt! I'm not cultivating under him anymore!"
Qin Ming was very upset. When he first went to the main peak, he was very encouraged to hear that he was going to be cultivating under Eldest Senior Brother.
However, what Lu Changsheng made him do was a heavy blow to his passion.
He was only capable of eating, he could even eat more if it was needed. But… turning him into a cook was just sheer torture.
These second-generation heirs had been enjoying their comfortable and luxurious lifestyle ever since they were born. Labor didn't exist in their dictionaries.
At this moment.
Qing Hai, the head of Talisman Hall, frowned.
He was fine with making his son go through some difficulties, but being a cook was completely different.
Zenith Heaven already had a lot of cooks. In fact, any random servant disciple could do the job.
Was Lu Changsheng really giving his son a hard time on purpose?
Qing Hai thought to himself for a while before he stood up. "You stay here. I'll talk to the Sect Master."
After saying this, Qing Hai stepped on his sword and left.
Meanwhile.
In the Zenith Palace.
While frowning, Perfected Qing Yun looked at the Senior and Junior Brothers who gathered in front of him again.
"Sect Master, if Lu Changsheng sent my son to the Beast Forest to strengthen his will, I wouldn't complain at all. But my son was made to pretend to be a beggar! I don't understand at all!"
"Right! Although my son isn't smart, he's still one of the leading disciples in Zenith Heaven. Changsheng asked my son to copy all the books in the library a hundred times. Sect Master, you should know this is impossible!"
Perfected Qing Yun felt slightly annoyed by all the complaints surrounding him.
However, as the Sect Master, he couldn't easily show his feelings.
Even Perfected Qing Yun had no idea what Lu Changsheng was trying to do.
And so, he commanded, "Have Changsheng come here."
Perfected Qing Yun was quite perplexed as well. Lu Changsheng had to come here and explain everything in person to make all his Junior and Senior Brothers calm down.
About an hour later.
Lu Changsheng arrived.
He still had the same celestial elegance like an immortal.
"My respects to Master Qing Yun and Uncle-masters." Lu Changsheng bowed with hands folded in front.
He already knew why he was here.
And he was prepared.
As soon as Lu Changsheng showed up, all of the Uncle-masters suddenly started to have a loving smile on their faces.
Perfected Qing Yun snorted in disgust in his mind, however, the expression on his face hid it very well.
"Changsheng, let me ask you. Why did you give the disciples all those strange tasks?" Perfected Qing Yun asked directly in front of the Uncle-masters.
It was just as Lu Changsheng expected.
But Lu Changsheng remained rather calm. He opened his mouth and slowly talked, "Uncle-masters, I know that all of you have high expectations for your heirs, but you must also know that the path of cultivation is extremely long. The Dao can never be comprehended within a day.
"All the disciples that were sent to me are quite talented, but all of them are quite arrogant because of the privileges they were born with. Even though it's sometimes hard to tell, there is still arrogance within their hearts.
"I made them do trifle chores or exercises for two purposes, The first one is to strengthen their willpower. However, I have to keep the other purpose a secret. Otherwise, all their efforts will become in vain.
"Of course, if any of them don't agree with me, they can simply leave. I won't say anything."
Even Lu Changsheng had no idea what his second purpose was. He just tried to sound profound and mysterious.
Most importantly, he didn't want too many people to follow him around. His secret might be easily revealed like that.
What if they found out the fact that Lu Changsheng was only extremely handsome and wasn't a talented genius?
Hence, Lu Changsheng's words enlightened them.
All the Uncle-masters hurriedly clamored,
"We didn't mean anything! Please don't take our words the wrong way!"
"That's right! We were rude!"
"My son kept telling me that Changsheng has unmatched wisdom. We won't doubt you again, Changsheng."
Perfected Qing Yun twirled his beard as he said, "You really deserve to be my student! Changsheng, go back and rest. Something big might happen soon."
Perfected Qing Yun tried to look mysterious by leaving Lu Changsheng in suspense, however, Lu Changsheng didn't insist on asking what it was about. After bowing to his Master and the Uncle-masters, he left the Zenith Palace.
After Lu Changsheng left.
Perfected Qing Yun cast a cold glance at his Senior and Junior Brothers.
Silence quickly seized the palace.
They lowered their heads without speaking one single word. Their arrogance had completely disappeared now.
"If you add up all of you together, you guys are more than a hundred thousand years old! But why are all of you still acting like three-year-old kids who easily panic? Do you still have any questions? Shame on you!"
He seized this chance.
Perfected Qing Yun started scolding all these proud leaders of the sect.
But as they knew their own faults, they couldn't talk back.
Two hours later.
Perfected Qing Yun walked out of the Zenith Palace in a great mood.
However, the rest of the leaders of the sect could only leave the palace in gloomy silence.
Qing Hai summoned his flying sword.
Soon, he went back to the Talisman Hall.
Upon seeing his father come back, Qin Ming was glad.
However, before he could say anything…
Qing Hai slapped his face hard!
"Unfilial son!" Even though Qing Hai was furious because of Perfected Qing Yun's two-hour sharp scolding. But what pissed him the most was the fact that he was humiliated in front of Changsheng. He couldn't bear it!
"Dad! What?!"
"You're still asking me?! You good-for-nothing… you do whatever you want and act foolishly in the sect! And then, you moan and groan whenever things don't go your way! Don't call me dad!"
'Slap!'
Qing Hai gave his son a thick ear one more time.
"Dad! I'm being wronged! What happened?" Qin Ming really had no idea what was going on. He just hoped that his dad could find him an easier job to do. Why was his father so furious right now and making such an accusation against him?
"You're talking back to me?"
'Slap!'
One more 'slap!'.
"Dad!" Blood almost spurted out of Qin Ming's chest.
"You calling me dad makes me feel ashamed!"
'Slap!'
Qing Hai gave his son a thick ear one more time.
"Then what shall I call you?! Don't tell me you want me to call you son?!" Qin Ming cried bitterly.
"What?! You want me to be your son?! How dare you! You're full of mischief! Why do I have such an unfilial son?!"
'Slap!'
Qing Hai was even more outraged now.
"Father, you're being unreasonable!" Qin Ming cried as he started to run away from his dad.
"How dare you! I'll kill you today!"
Qing Hai chased his son around.
Qin Ming quickly fled from his father.
Soon, Qin Ming noticed that there were more than a dozen familiar figures in the sky, all of them were burying their faces in their hands while running and crying.
"Dad! Listen to me!" Qin Ming shouted.
"No! I won't listen! Today, I'll let you know how stern a father can be!"
Qing Hai almost lost his sense of reason due to anger, he needed an opportunity to vent it on his son.
At this time, some distance away from them, there came an even more bitter cry.
It was Liu Qingfeng's voice.
"Dad! This isn't my fault! Why are you beating me?" he was crying.
As he was shaking in fear, the rest of the disciples in Zenith Heaven had no idea what was going on.