Today was the day. An incredibly exciting day for everyone. Everyone but Xiaoyao Julong. Today was the day Zi Xiao was going to unveil Julong as her new disicple.
For weeks now people had learnt about her taking on a disciple, something extremely rare, and something she had not done before. Only the likes of Cang Yuan and a few other Saints had taken on disciples before. Zi Xiao was not one of them.
The whole Region was excited, ready to find out who this person was, as he would have to be extremely special to gain her attention. Not to mention, not even the Elder or Grand Elders, the highest authority aside from Zi Xiao, were aware of the identity of the said disciple, so even the higher-ups were itching.
The people of the Region were all making guesses as to which realm he could be in currently. Most guesses were toward the higher realms such as the Law Domain Realm or the Nascent Source Realm.
Those people were about to be shocked.
"Uhh, Master?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure you want to unveil me while I'm still at the Qi Nourishing Realm?"
She looked quizzically at him.
"Yes, why wouldn't I?"
"Because there might be backlash."
Zi Xiao chuckled at the thought.
"If anyone from the Qi Nourishing or Heavens Gate Realms have any objection, then you can show them why they are wrong. Everyone else, I will take care of.
"This is not so I can boast you to the public eye, this is so the public accepts you since this day would come in the future anyway. The way I see it, the sooner they accept you, the more it will brandish your reputation and make you a respected person in the Zixiao Region."
Julong nodded his head in understanding, though there were hints of dejection in his body language. He wasn't as optimistic about him beating a Heavens Gate Realm expert as Zi Xiao was, especially when he was still at the Middle Stage of the Qi Nourishing Realm.
Despite this, however, he had quickly mastered all the techniques that were given to him by Zi Xiao a few weeks ago. The only technique which hadn't been mastered was the Minor Mythic Saint Body Art, but that was because it was a very continuous Art.
In doing so, by mastering these Techniques he had also reached a Genesis Qi breakthrough, which with the help of some Grade 4 Genesis Beast Blood Essence - generously provided by his Master for the day at hand - he was able to obtain Grade 6 Omni Serpent Genesis Qi.
These feats had already proven that he was an unprecedented genius. The doubt in his mind was slowly fading, but some still lingered. It wouldn't stop him though, and he would complete anything his master told him to do.
"I'll trust in your words, Master."
She smiled at him warmly.
She moved her hand out into the space in front of her and a ripple slowly spread out until the dimensional fabric was ripped apart, creating a pathway out of the Saint Domain they resided in.
"Ready?"
Julong shook his head but walked forward anyway. If he couldn't do this small task, how would he ever become a great Cultivator in the future?
He stopped in front of the ripple but was gently pushed inside by Zi Xiao. At her touch he felt calm, and took the steps himself in the end, appearing in a meeting room of sorts, with a large, grand wooden table in the centre. Around it was many Law Domain experts.
He was assuming these were the Elders of the Zixiao Region.
Only one seat was empty, making Julong imagine that the empty chair belonged to the Law Domain expert who was currently in the Cangxuan Heaven.
They threw discerning gazes at him. They were genuinely surprised by his age and divine looks. But this more so meant that he was in a low Realm of Cultivation, making a few of them frown slightly. It didn't mean that he wasn't going to be exceptional, it just meant that he would have to be able to prove himself to the others who were undoubtedly going to be envious.
He formed a sign in his hand and bowed.
"I pay respect to the Elders."
The small frowns on the faces of the few Law Domain experts who had done so, faded. At least the boy had manners despite being in what was a more powerful position than them.
A few seconds later Zi Xiao herself stepped out of the tear in space, meeting the Law Domain experts.
They immediately stood and bowed with a hand signal, just like how Julong had done a few seconds before.
""We pay respects to Supreme Sovereign Zi Xiao.""
She waved her hand, dismissing their courtesy, allowing them to seat themselves once more.
"As you all know, today is the day I will be announcing the identity of my only disciple."
The faces of the Law Domain experts remained solemn, only a few of them had a small twitch in their eyebrows, as the meaning of her words were akin to someone saying she wouldn't need another disciple to carry on her legacy, as the boy in front of her was that much of a genius.
Julong picked on the message as well and took a sideways glance at Zi Xiao, who grinned at him in response.
"As such, allow me to introduce to you my first and last disciple, Xiaoyao Julong."
From their chairs, they all gave him a hand sign as a show of respect. All but one. An Elder candidate known as Zhun Lao. He was one of the Law Domain experts who had been making some unsightly reactions to the boy. When he wasn't making unsavoury looks, he was actually a rather handsome man with short black hair that complemented his facial structure.
"I mean no offence Supreme Sovereign Zi Xiao, but isn't the boy at too low of a Cultivation Realm?"
Zi Xiao's head snapped toward Zhun Lao, an icy glare spread toward him. She didn't like his tone, what he said, nor the way he referred to Julong.
"Are you doubting my Judgement, Zhun Lao? Do remember you are only at the Early Stage of the Law Domain Realm and are only here as a candidate for an Elder position?"
He stiffened.
"No, I would never doubt you, Supreme Sovereign. I only meant that it may be unwise as the public may create a large ruckus about this."
"I believe it is best to take someone in when they are young so they may be properly grown with the correct guidance. As such, I have found the only one worthy of my attention in this regard, that person being Xiaoyao Julong."
Zhun Lao stood and bowed with a hand sign once more.
"Of course, sorry for my ignorance Supreme Sovereign."
She waved him off and he sat down. As soon as her eyes averted from him, he shot a filthy look at Julong, who had inadvertently caused him to lose face and possibly an Elder position within the Region.
"Either way, despite the fact he is at the Middle Stage of the Qi Nourishing Realm, I am rather certain that he would be able to beat Early or even some Middle Stage Heavens Gate Realm Practitioners."
"With all due respect, how can you be so sure, Supreme Sovereign?"
One of the elders known as Kan Xiao asked. Once again another handsome man, only this time with long brown hair tied by a hair piece.
"When first beginning Cultivating his Genesis Qi Scripture, he stepped into the peak of Grade 5 Genesis Qi and with a little bit of refinement, has achieved Grade 6 Genesis Qi."
An uproar arose from the Law Domain experts. The normal amount of time it would take someone to achieve Grade 6 Genesis Qi was when someone stepped into the Alpha-Origin Realm or the Early Stage of the Heavens Gate Realm as a very minimum.
"As I'm sure you know, even some of the greatest Geniuses only achieved Grade 6 Genesis Qi by the end of the Heavenly Gate Realm. This should give you a good idea about his talent."
Even Zhun Lao was impressed by this, however, it only made his contempt grow further. It was indirectly humiliating him further for saying anything in the first place.
"If you do not believe me, take a look."
Julong received the signal and a shuttle of Genesis Qi appeared in his hand. There was a very distinct difference between Grade 5 and 6 Genesis Qi. This was quite shocking to the Law Domain experts, as furthermore he also had a Gold Grade Qi Dwelling, shown by his Gold Grade Genesis Qi.
The uproar was not as great as it was initially, but it was still vivid.
Zi Xiao chuckled a little, drawing attention to herself, as it was not something she did often, especially in front of people.
"That is not even the most amazing thing about him. If you are wondering what I am referring to, I want you to take a closer look at his body to determine his age."
Most of the Law Domain experts began operating their spirits to look at his body structure and quickly determined a rough estimate of his age.
A woman rose from her seat and slammed her hands on the table in amazement. Her name was Qin Wanling, and she was a rather beautiful woman with long flowing brown hair and red lips.
"Where did you find someone so amazing, Supreme Sovereign!?"
Zi Xiao smiled softly.
"He was actually the one who gained my attention. He manipulated Ancestral Dragon Qi to pull my attention while in the Saint Meeting in Wanzu."
Silence ensued before an even louder uproar ensued, not even people of their level could do such a thing. And they were miles above him in terms of Cultivation.
"And for those who have not figured it out yet. Xiaoyao Julong is 11 years old."
The faces of the remaining Elders who were yet to realise just went dumb. The boy in front of them, if he survived, was sure to be one of the greatest Heaven Prides the All Heavens had, and would ever have.
They all rose, convinced with this revelation. They bowed toward him with the utmost respect as if to say sorry for their suspecting eyes when he first entered.
There was only one who did not bow so sincerely. Naturally, this was Zhun Lao. A fire had been sparked in his eye. It had barely been ten minutes and he had come to hate the boy in front of him thanks to an off-hand comment he himself had made.
The mere existence of Julong had caused him to lose far too much face.
If the chance arises in the future, I will kill you, Xiaoyao Julong.
Of course, this was nothing but a mere wish, as he was protected by a Saint. If he even had the slightest involvement with a plan that didn't even succeed to kill Julong, he would be burned to ash in seconds by Saint Fire.
Under the expecting gaze of Zi Xiao, Xiaoyao Julong bowed back to the Elders.
Without even doing anything, he had somehow proven himself. The doubt that had been plaguing him disappeared even further.
He knew he was special, but not this special.
Zi Xiao seemed to recognise the shift in his attitude and once again smiled fondly at him.
"Now. To release this to the rest of the Zixiao Region."