Chapter 202: How Could Someone So Young Be a Nascent Soul Cultivator
Mei Haihe felt a twinge of unease in his heart.
But seeing Shen Mo's confidence, he followed him.
After all, Shen Mo was a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Even if the Jade Cauldron Sect had rules, they'd surely give some respect to a Nascent Soul cultivator, right?
"Stop!"
Two Foundation Establishment cultivators stood guard at the entrance to Jade Sea Hall.
Seeing Shen Mo approach confidently, they immediately raised their hands to block him.
"Only members of the three main sects may enter! If you have business, say it outside!"
Their eyes drifted past Shen Mo and landed on Mei Haihe.
"It's you again? Here for another task, right? Wait outside!" the guard on the right said dismissively.
Mei Haihe instinctively nodded. "Yes, yes, of course."
Shen Mo chuckled softly.
Interesting.
A sect's Foundation Establishment disciples could command even a Core Formation cultivator like Mei Haihe to bow his head.
It seemed the three main sects of Yuzhou were indeed powerful forces; he had come to the right place.
With a casual wave of his hand, a small token appeared in Shen Mo's palm.
It bore the character "Ten."
The expressions of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately shifted.
They fell to one knee, their voices trembling with respect. "Forgive us, Elder of the Tenth Peak. We did not recognize you!"
Shen Mo said calmly, "No harm done. May I enter now?"
"Of course!"
"I also have a follower. What about him?"
"As the elder's servant, he may enter as well."
"Who is the hall master here?"
"Hall Master He Tianchou is currently in the study. Do you wish to see him, Elder? Please, follow me."
Mei Haihe, thoroughly bewildered, followed Shen Mo into Jade Sea Hall.
The inside of Jade Sea Hall was entirely different from the exterior.
From the outside, it looked modest and understated, like an ordinary teahouse.
But once inside, it was clear that it held hidden wonders.
Precious artifacts and rare plants adorned every corner and desk.
Just inhaling the air within brought a sense of clarity and vitality.
Every detail reflected the grandeur of one of Yuzhou's three major sects.
Since entering Jade Sea Hall, Mei Haihe's eyes had been wide with awe.
"You look like you've never been here before. Weren't you saying how familiar you were with this place?" Shen Mo teased.
Mei Haihe scratched his head, "I do come here often, but only to wait outside and receive the tasks Jade Sea Hall assigns to rogue cultivators."
"I've never actually been inside Jade Sea Hall before."
A short while later, the Foundation Establishment guard led Shen Mo and Mei Haihe to a quiet study.
He knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Hall Master, a sect elder is here to see you."
"Understood. Come in."
The door opened.
Shen Mo took in the sight of a study filled with the scent of books.
A middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and piercing eyes was levitating in midair, immersed in cultivation.
The man glanced at Shen Mo and Mei Haihe, then focused on Mei Haihe, "This elder looks unfamiliar. How is it that I haven't met you before?"
Shen Mo couldn't help but chuckle.
Mei Haihe was older and had a dignified appearance.
It was no wonder He Tianchou mistook him for a sect elder.
Mei Haihe awkwardly smiled, "Hall Master He, there's been a misunderstanding. The elder here is actually my master. I'm only his follower."
He Tianchou paused, looking over at Shen Mo.
With one glance, he discerned that Shen Mo's youthful appearance was no disguise.
Someone so young couldn't possibly be a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Typically, Nascent Soul cultivators were over two hundred years old.
They often appeared to be in their forties or fifties.
Frowning, He Tianchou said, "Young man, I don't know how you managed to deceive the two disciples at the entrance, but if you think you can use the same trick on me, you're mistaken."
"Leave. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll pretend this never happened and overlook your breach of protocol."
With that, he prepared to close his eyes and resume his cultivation.
Shen Mo said calmly, "Hall Master He, do you recognize this item?"
He took out the small pearl.
He Tianchou opened his eyes with some impatience, but when he saw the pearl, he froze.
"This is… the pearl of an Elder from the Tenth Peak. How did it come into your possession?"
"Did you perhaps attack an Elder of our Jade Cauldron Sect's Tenth Peak and steal it?"
He Tianchou's gaze turned dangerous.
Shen Mo shook his head.
How stubborn this man is, he thought.
"Shen Mo, from Xuanjiang Prefecture. I reached Nascent Soul half a month ago, and Elder Lü Dongxuan recruited me."
He Tianchou showed little reaction to the first part of this explanation.
But as soon as he heard Lü Dongxuan's name, he jumped up as if his tail had been set on fire.
"Lü… Lü Dongxuan?!"
"Oh, heavens, now I remember!"
"You're the Shen Mo Elder Lü specifically recruited!"
"Please, sit, please sit!"
"I apologize for my lack of respect!"
He Tianchou quickly gestured for Shen Mo to sit down and called for tea to be served.
His attitude had completely transformed, now full of respect.
Watching this dramatic change, Mei Haihe could hardly believe his eyes.
"Elder Lü contacted me through a voice-transmitting jade and informed me that a sect elder he had recruited would arrive soon."
"But Elder Lü didn't mention a name, and I certainly didn't expect that the new elder would be someone as young as yourself."
He Tianchou gave an embarrassed laugh, eager to excuse himself.
Shen Mo sipped his tea calmly, his expression serene. "I'm not yet an official elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect."
He Tianchou quickly replied, "Not to worry! I'll report to the sect immediately!"
"At most, within a day, the official confirmation will come down."
"Once that happens, I'll personally escort you to the mountain gate!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
One day… that's efficient enough.
"Elder Shen, you must be tired from your journey. I'll arrange accommodations and meals immediately."
"I'll make sure your follower is looked after as well," He Tianchou added eagerly.
"Good. I appreciate it, Hall Master He." Shen Mo rose.
Mei Haihe swallowed nervously.
As a rogue cultivator who normally wouldn't even be allowed inside Jade Sea Hall, he was now going to stay here and eat their food?
He looked at Shen Mo with newfound admiration.
It seems I've truly latched onto a powerful benefactor this time!
Once Shen Mo and Mei Haihe had left, He Tianchou wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"No wonder that pearl looked so familiar. It belonged to Lü Dongxuan…"
"Thank goodness I didn't say anything offensive, or Lü Dongxuan would've been after me, stealing my wine."
"But who exactly is this Shen Mo? To have reached Nascent Soul at such a young age?"
He Tianchou was both astonished and puzzled. "If that's true, he must be an extraordinary genius."
"But… it's difficult for a sect to accommodate two supreme talents."
"Shen Mo will inevitably compete with Ye Yan for resources in the future."
"And with Lü Dongxuan recruiting him, it means Shen Mo will likely belong to the Tenth Peak. Although Tenth Peak has few people, every one of them is a powerhouse…"
"I'd rather not offend either side… This is going to be tricky…"
He Tianchou held his head, looking quite troubled.
The next morning.
Shortly after Shen Mo woke up, a disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect delivered freshly steamed fish to him.
The fragrance filled the air, tempting anyone nearby.
After taking a few bites, Shen Mo felt an indescribable satisfaction, as if he'd swallowed a whole block of ice on a sweltering day.
Mei Haihe, fortunate enough to share in Shen Mo's meal, was wide-eyed with amazement.
Damn, this is delicious!
So this is the treatment an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect receives!
"Elder Shen, the response from the sect has arrived. I'll accompany you to the mountain gate right away!" He Tianchou said, striding in with a pleased expression.
"Very well. Let's go. Mei Haihe, wait here for me," Shen Mo said casually.
"Yes, of course!" Mei Haihe nodded respectfully.
🌟 Unlock Exclusive Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers!
Join my Patreon community to enjoy:
📚 Daily Updates: Never wait for new chapters—get your story fix every day!
📖 20 Chapters Ahead: Access new chapters far in advance of Scribblehub/RoyalRoad/Webnovel releases.
Support the creation of the stories you love and dive deeper into my world!
Patreon.com/Alex_Cruise