Heavenly Mechanism Sect Outer Door, Ninety-Ninth Peak.
Over a dozen disciples were cleaning the great hall, their disdainful eyes occasionally drifting towards the deeper part of the hall.
"Among our batch of disciples, even the worst has entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, right? That Yun kid is still in the Body Refinement period, what a disgrace!"
"Hehe, what's even more shameful is that last month he advanced to the Qi Refinement Realm but somehow inexplicably fell back to Body Refinement yesterday. He's totally lost face for our Ninety-Ninth Peak."
"Do you think, if the higher-ups in the sect knew about this, they might directly expel him? After all, such an embarrassing event, if it got out, would certainly become the laughing stock of the sect."
...
The crowd was abuzz with discussion, with no consideration for the feelings of the young man in the depths of the hall.
The young man's name was Yun Tianqiong, and he was meticulously cleaning the hall, his head lowered. Although he heard everyone's discussions, it seemed he had become used to it and didn't care about others' opinions.
But upon hearing the crowd's talk, Yun Tianqiong couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. If he was expelled from the sect, then all hope would be lost!
"Where is Yun Tianqiong? Come out immediately and pay your respects to the First Elder!"
Just then, a bold voice came from outside the hall.
"The First Elder? An Inner Gate Elder? Is he looking for that Yun kid?"
Upon hearing that bold voice, everyone revealed looks of surprise, and then their expressions turned playful.
"To actually alarm the Inner Gate, that Yun kid is done for. Looks like expulsion from the sect is the least of his worries."
Yun Tianqiong's expression changed slightly, being sought out by an Inner Gate Elder at this time certainly wasn't a good thing.
But he quickly calmed himself down. What was destined to come would eventually arrive, so if he couldn't avoid it, then he should face it squarely!
As he walked out of the hall, Yun Tianqiong saw an elder who was past his fifties, radiating an intimidating aura that made it hard for others even to breathe.
"Disciple Yun Tianqiong, greets the First Elder!" Yun Tianqiong bowed to the elder, neither servile nor overbearing.
This elder was indeed the First Elder, accompanied by the master of Ninety-Ninth Peak. Naturally, Yun Tianqiong wouldn't mistake him.
The First Elder sized up Yun Tianqiong and nodded slightly, "Confident yet respectful, a very commendable temperament!"
"May I ask, for what matter does the First Elder summon him by name?" the master of Ninety-Ninth Peak asked, bowing.
The First Elder withdrew his gaze, smiling, "Eighteenth Elder wishes to take a disciple, and I am taking him to try his luck."
Eh?
The master's expression froze, and the many disciples who overheard were also stunned!
"Our sect's strongest? He's taking a disciple?" The master regained his composure, astonished.
The First Elder nodded slightly without saying much more. His True Yuan surged, and he flew away with Yun Tianqiong, leaving behind the dumbfounded crowd of Ninety-Ninth Peak.
"How is this possible? Eighteenth Elder is recognized as a monstrous talent within the sect. He should be looking for a talented disciple, so why would he set his sights on Yun Tianqiong?" The master was incredulous, muttering to himself.
The disciples were equally dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the situation.
"This is crazy, with Yun Tianqiong's talent, how could he be personally chosen by the Inner Gate?"
"Yeah, if he's taken as a disciple by Eighteenth Elder, that would be soaring to the heavens..."
...
The master glanced at the crowd and said indifferently, "Enough, no more discussions!"
The disciples quickly shut up, criticizing in their hearts. It seemed that being infamous had its benefits; even a bad reputation could make the Inner Gate aware of someone.
Just look, he was specifically named to leave.
The crowd sighed inwardly. To make a name among millions of disciples, one had to be either a genius or, as in Yun Tianqiong's case, a good-for-nothing.
For a moment, everyone thought, could it be that Yun Tianqiong deliberately acted the fool just to draw the Inner Gate's attention?
At Eighteenth Peak, the First Elder, leading Yun Tianqiong up the mountain, felt somewhat uneasy.
"The Sect Master really gave me a tough problem. If the little uncle finds out this kid's a good-for-nothing, I'll be the one in trouble."
"I must carefully recall where I might have offended the Sect Master."
The First Elder mulled over this, having felt from the moment the Sect Master entrusted him with this task that he must have slighted the master.
After all, the little uncle wanted a prodigy, yet the Sect Master had picked out a very useless good-for-nothing and told him to deliver him, which was clearly setting him up for failure!
[Detection of a suitable disciple approaching, taking him as an apprentice will yield a reward.]
At the mountain summit, Li Cheng suddenly heard an alert in his mind.
Li Cheng was startled, pondering the meaning of this alert, "Taking an apprentice isn't something I just decide to do, is it? There are requirements?"
[Correct!]
"What kind of requirements?"
[Fate, indescribably wonderful!]
"Damn it, System, your explanation is really asking for a beating!" exclaimed Li Cheng, his eyes widening.
Fate?
Choosing disciples by fate?
Well, as cultivators, we do indeed regard fate highly, so the system's explanation seems somewhat reasonable.
It's just a pity, Li Cheng had planned to find someone to test first before taking on disciples on a larger scale. It looks like that plan won't work out.
But no matter, with a million disciples in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, he was bound to recruit quite a few.
If worse came to worst, he could always recruit from outside!
Soon, with an anxious heart, the First Elder appeared within Li Cheng's vision.
'How should I praise this lad? He's completely unremarkable, yet I have to praise him as a prodigy. This is tough!' the First Elder thought rapidly.
"First Elder moves quite fast, not bad, not bad!"
The latter half of the sentence was addressed to Yun Tianqiong.
The First Elder was startled and turned to glance at Yun Tianqiong beside him. Little Martial Uncle's taste is quite unique!
He really couldn't see what made this lad stand out.
"Little Martial Uncle, are you satisfied with this disciple?" the First Elder asked uncertainly.
Li Cheng smiled, "We cultivators value the concept of fate. Since this youth and I are fated, he is surely not bad."
Yun Tianqiong promptly knelt down and kowtowed, "Disciple Yun Tianqiong, greets Master!"
The First Elder raised an eyebrow. This lad was getting the hang of it!
[Discipleship successful, reward: 2 enlightenment opportunities.]
[Current remaining enlightenment opportunities: 2 times.]
Huh?
That's it?
Just taking on a disciple awards a bonus, then wouldn't teaching the disciple grant even more rewards?
With that thought, Li Cheng looked at Yun Tianqiong, "Stand up, and introduce yourself first."
Yun Tianqiong's eyes brimmed with excitement. He had never imagined that the strongest elder of the sect would actually consider taking him as a disciple!
Not because he was exceptionally talented or exceedingly useless, but just because of fate!
"Responding to Master, I am of Xuantian Ridge lineage. Originally a royal of the Cloud Mysterious Dynasty of Xuantian Ridge, the dynasty changed rulers twelve years ago. I was saved by the palace guards, narrowly escaping death, and eventually I came to the Heavenly Mechanism Sect…"
Li Cheng and the First Elder quietly listened to Yun Tianqiong's story. From his words, they didn't sense any desire for vengeance, which piqued their curiosity.
After a while, when he was done speaking, the First Elder coughed lightly and said, "You don't seem inclined toward revenge?"
Yun Tianqiong shook his head and smiled, "I was six at the time. Twelve years have passed, and I no longer remember the faces of my enemies. But I do remember that during those years, the Cloud Mysterious Dynasty's people were living in misery, yet now they live in peace and happiness. Perhaps the change in rulers was a good thing for the common folk."
Upon hearing this, both Li Cheng and the First Elder understood. The royal family of the Cloud Mysterious Dynasty must have been so corrupt that it incited the wrath of the people, leading to the change in rulership.
The Kunlun Southern Region is vast and boundless with countless dynasties. It's said that every day, many dynasties are overthrown or established. As cultivators, who would care about such matters?
The First Elder stroked his chin's beard and nodded slightly, "Once you step on the path of cultivation, it's predetermined that you are from a different world than ordinary people. It's appropriate not to concern oneself with such matters."
"In the unwritten rules of the cultivation world, cultivators should not interfere with mortal affairs. Letting go is indeed for the best," the First Elder continued.
Li Cheng glanced at the First Elder. After all, was it you taking on a disciple, or was it me?
Moreover, Li Cheng could see that Yun Tianqiong hadn't let go at all.
If he had, why would his cultivation have regressed?
Transcending tribulation was meant to understand the heavens and face trials with one's body; was that so easy to hide?
Without saying much, Li Cheng made a gesture, and a beam of sword light extended from his feet, cutting through rocks and vegetation along the way, neatly splitting the mountaintop in two!
"Yun Tianqiong, although you and I are fated, I haven't agreed to take you as a disciple yet. I'll give you three days to comprehend this sword strike. If you can satisfy me afterward, we'll talk," Li Cheng said.
After speaking, Li Cheng signalled to the First Elder, and the two of them left together.
"Little Martial Uncle, didn't you tacitly agree to accept him as a disciple? Why are you now saying you haven't agreed?" the First Elder was full of confusion.
Li Cheng shrugged. The system had already acknowledged it and even provided a reward.
But whether to accept him or not was his decision to make. He would see the results after three days!
He had spoken those words just now to leave himself a way out.
Without responding to the First Elder, Li Cheng changed the subject, "First Elder, we will be opening the mountain to accept disciples in two days. Remember to call upon me."
The First Elder was taken aback, then glanced back at Yun Tianqiong on the mountain peak. Clearly, one disciple was not enough; the Little Martial Uncle was planning to take on more disciples!
This was a matter he had to report to the Sect Master. They must find a way to persuade the Little Martial Uncle to ascend after transcending the tribulation!
He couldn't afford to waste time on taking disciples!