In a great hall of the Dahe Sect.
At the north side of the hall, a man was sitting cross-legged at the moment. The man was about forty years old as an ordinary person. Wearing a Taoist robe, with a broad face, he was meditating with his eyes closed. A faint misty aura emanated from his body. The only drawback was that the man had no left arm and was only a one-armed Taoist.
The one-armed Taoist slowly opened his eyes, and two sharp rays of light shot out.
In front of the one-armed Taoist was a young man. It was Feng Shao, the third-generation disciple of the Dahe Sect who was defeated by Yan Chuan with a grape a year ago.
"Congratulations, Father. You have advanced from refining qi to transforming spirit and entered the divine realm and become a first-generation disciple. As your child, I also rise in status and become a second-generation disciple!" Feng Shao said with a smile.
The one-armed Taoist glanced at Feng Shao and gave a doting smile. "If your cultivation is insufficient and you become a second-generation disciple, it is not good for your growth!"
"No! Becoming a second-generation disciple means enjoying more resources within the sect. What's not good about it?" Feng Shao asked in confusion.
"Your mental cultivation is not enough!" The one-armed Taoist shook his head.
"Mental cultivation?" Feng Shao frowned.
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have been made like that by Yan Chuan's grape, right?" The one-armed Taoist patiently guided.
Feng Shao's face showed embarrassment for a moment, and then his face darkened as he said, "Hmph, at that time, Yan Chuan tricked me. How would I know!"
"Tricked? If you don't have the ability, don't blame others. Fortunately, it was Yan Chuan. If it were someone else, you would have lost your life already!" The one-armed Taoist said sternly.
"Father, why are you speaking for him? Don't you forget? Your left arm was lost because of his father, Yan Tao. If it weren't for that traitor Yan Tao colluding with a demoness, back then..." Feng Shao said resentfully.
"Ridiculous! Yan Tao was the previous sect leader. Don't be disrespectful to him!" The one-armed Taoist said in a deep voice.
"What if he was the previous sect leader? Grandpa was the sect leader two generations ago. When he abdicated to Yan Tao, he didn't expect him to bring so much trouble. As a result, Grandpa had to take over the Dahe Sect again!" Feng Shao said unhappily.
"Trouble? Although Yan Tao brought trouble to the sect, his merits outweigh his faults. No one can compare to his contributions to the Dahe Sect. Without him, could the Dahe Sect have its current status? Don't speak ill of Yan Tao anymore in the future. Did you hear me?" The one-armed Taoist said in a deep voice.
"All right. I won't say it if you don't want me to." Feng Shao said sulkily.
"Father, if it weren't for your lost arm, you should have reached the divine realm six years ago. But fortunately, six years later, Father is still a master of the divine realm. Moreover, you have become the peak master of 'Xuan Peak' and can compete for the position of the next sect leader. Grandpa is choosing now!" Feng Shao said with a smile again.
"Peak master? Heh, there are more than just a few people in the divine realm within the sect. It's just that other divine realm cultivators don't want to be bound by this. As for me, I have already lost an arm and am not suitable for competing for the position of sect leader. Moreover, today, I didn't achieve this entirely because of your grandpa. Everything must depend on oneself. The same goes for you!" The one-armed Taoist educated.
"I know. You always say that. You are my father. If I don't rely on you, others will look down on me!" Feng Shao said strangely.
"You... Alas, it would be great if you could learn more from Jiang Nan!" The one-armed Taoist said helplessly.
"Senior Brother? No, now I am a second-generation disciple. He is my nephew disciple!" Feng Shao immediately showed a look of pride.
"Nephew disciple? Heh, soon he will be your senior brother again." The one-armed Taoist shook his head.
"Ah?"
"Jiang Nan is a genius. Last time he was defeated by Yan Chuan. Instead of being depressed, he took it as motivation. At this moment, he has reached the peak of the refined realm and may break through to the qi realm at any time!" The one-armed Taoist said in a deep voice.
"Ah? No way. It's only been a year. Just one year. He has advanced three levels? How is this possible?" Feng Shao exclaimed.
"There's nothing impossible. Jiang Nan is a genius in the first place. Now he is extremely diligent. Diligence will always be rewarded. As for you, cultivate well. Otherwise, even if you are a second-generation disciple, no one will look up to you!" The one-armed Taoist said in a deep voice.
"Isn't there still Yan Chuan?"
"Ridiculous! Do you like to compare with those worse than you? How did I give birth to such a disobedient son!" The one-armed Taoist said angrily.
"Father, don't be angry. I didn't say..." Feng Shao's face showed a strange expression.
"Go back to your room and face the wall and reflect!" The one-armed Taoist said unhappily.
"All right!" Feng Shao left the great hall with a sense of helplessness.
"Alas..." The one-armed Taoist sighed slightly, sighing at his son's lack of understanding.
"Forget it. He is still young. He will understand in the future!" The one-armed Taoist comforted himself.
...
In the mountains and forests.
Three thousand men in brocade uniforms were continuously climbing towards the great river in the north. After climbing over a big mountain, they camped by a large lake and took a short rest.
Jiu Jiansheng and Yan Chuan were sitting by the large lake, drinking tea and chatting.
"Jiu Jiansheng, tell me about the situation of the Dahe Sect." Yan Chuan asked while drinking tea.
"All right." Jiu Jiansheng nodded.
"The Dahe Sect. The sect leader is 'Feng Tairan', who was the sect leader two generations ago. After your father died, he took over the Dahe Sect again."
"The sect leader lives on the main peak. Next are the four peak masters, namely Tian Peak, Di Peak, Xuan Peak, and Huang Peak. The peak master of Huang Peak is Gao Bufan, who is also the master of the Seven Swordsmen. The peak master of Xuan Peak is Feng Tianyu, the son of the sect leader Feng Tairan. The peak master of Di Peak is my master, Mo Wuhen." Jiu Jiansheng briefly introduced.
"The peak master of Huang Peak is Gao Bufan, the peak master of Xuan Peak is Feng Tianyu, and the peak master of Di Peak is Mo Wuhen. What about Tian Peak? What about the last Tian Peak?" Yan Chuan asked in confusion.
"Tian Peak?" Jiu Jiansheng frowned slightly.
"The peak master of Tian Peak was originally in charge of your father. At that time, your father was not only the sect leader but also the peak master of Tian Peak. Unfortunately, in the battle where your parents died, Tian Peak suffered heavy losses. The remaining disciples all defected to the other three peaks. Now, Tian Peak is empty." Jiu Jiansheng said in a deep voice.
"Um." Yan Chuan nodded.
"In the Dahe Sect, in addition to being classified by teacher-disciple relationship, there is another way, which is cultivation level." Jiu Jiansheng thought for a moment and said.
"Oh?"
"Those at the refined realm are third-generation disciples. Once they reach the qi realm, they will automatically be promoted to second-generation disciples. Only those at the divine realm are first-generation disciples. Of course, teacher-disciple relationship is another matter. For example, if a first-generation disciple takes in a disciple, even if the disciple has no cultivation, he is still a second-generation disciple. Just like you. Your father is a first-generation disciple, so you are a second-generation disciple." Jiu Jiansheng explained.
"Oh? Is there such a saying? Then, if I inherit everything from my father, and I become the peak master of Tian Peak?" Yan Chuan asked in confusion.
"Ah?" Jiu Jiansheng looked at Yan Chuan in confusion.
"Can't I become the peak master of Tian Peak?" Yan Chuan asked in confusion.
"This... Theoretically, it is possible because your current identity belongs to Tian Peak. Now you are the only one on Tian Peak, so naturally you can be the peak master of Tian Peak. However, if you stay on Tian Peak, who will you take as your master? Once you take someone as your master, you will belong to that peak!" Jiu Jiansheng was also confused.
"I won't take a master. I just need to inherit everything from my father!" Yan Chuan shook his head.
"What? No master? Then who will teach you to cultivate? How will you cultivate? Just reading the sect's books is far from enough. Without a master's guidance, how can you gain a lot of experience? How slow will your cultivation progress be?" Jiu Jiansheng said strangely.
"No need. When I want to take a master, I will find someone. Since I am the only one on Tian Peak, I can't leave even more." Yan Chuan said in a deep voice.
Jiu Jiansheng's face twitched. He really couldn't understand what was going on in Yan Chuan's mind.
"If I become the peak master of Tian Peak, then I am..." Yan Chuan looked at Jiu Jiansheng.
"You are a first-generation disciple!" Jiu Jiansheng said helplessly.
If this were really the case, Jiu Jiansheng found that he would have to call Yan Chuan his uncle master? This... This...
"Are the sect leader and the peak masters of the other three peaks all in the divine realm?" Yan Chuan asked in confusion.
"They are all in the divine realm. In addition to the peak masters of the three peaks, there are some relatively free and easy uncles. They are also first-generation disciples. There are about ten in total. By the way, there are also two elders in the sect who have gone on a journey and I haven't seen them. When sect leader Feng Tairan abdicated to your father, he was also about to become the third elder. But because of that incident, he came back to be the sect leader again to stabilize the Dahe Sect!" Jiu Jiansheng explained.
"Um." Yan Chuan nodded.
Just as the two were talking, suddenly, the large lake on one side began to churn.
"Gurgle..."
The lake water churned, immediately making everyone show a look of nervousness.
The Seven Swordsmen were originally grilling fish on one side. Immediately, their faces changed and they ran over.
Zizi in a small tent also came out of the tent with a worried look on her face.
The three thousand soldiers immediately stopped eating and quickly grabbed their respective weapons, on full alert. Huo Guang and Liu Jin quickly guarded near Yan Chuan.
"Boom!"
In the large lake, the water churned more and more violently. Even huge waves soared into the sky.
"What's going on?" Yan Chuan asked in confusion.
"I don't know. This 'Black Dragon Pool'. We used to come here often, but we have never seen this happen before!" Jiu Jiansheng frowned.
"Roar!"
From the Black Dragon Pool, a vague and loud roar suddenly came. Under the roar, the lake water jumped again.
"What's going on? We used to swim in the lake before. How could there be the sound of a demonic beast at the bottom of the lake? There has never been such a thing before!" The third Swordsman said in confusion.
As he spoke, a powerful aura emanated from the bottom of the lake, forcing the three thousand soldiers to retreat one after another.
"It's a demonic beast. And it should be at the qi realm. Stronger than mine? Peak of the qi realm?" Jiu Jiansheng's face sank.
"The sound just now was a bit like a dragon's roar? You said this is called Black Dragon Pool?" Yan Chuan looked at Jiu Jiansheng.
"Yes, but there was originally no demonic beast here at all. I used to come here often!" Jiu Jiansheng said in confusion.
"I know!" Suddenly, Zizi on one side spoke.
"Hmm?" Everyone turned their heads.
"Miss Zi? You know what's going on?" Jiu Jiansheng asked in confusion.
Miss Zi looked at Yan Chuan. Although wearing a mask, there was a flash of guilt in her eyes.
"It's me. That day, it was because I was too close to you. Because of me, you are suffering this unforeseen disaster!" Zizi's voice was like she was about to cry.
"Ah?" Jiu Jiansheng and others immediately changed their expressions and backed away from Zizi in horror again.
"It has nothing to do with you." Yan Chuan shook his head.
"No, it's me. Originally, there was no demonic beast here at all. It's because of me that you..."
"I said it has nothing to do with you!" Yan Chuan interrupted Zizi's guilt again.
After speaking, Yan Chuan looked at the large lake again.
"Jiu Jiansheng, Seven Swordsmen, since the aura emanating from the lake is only at the qi realm, you should be able to resist it, right?" Yan Chuan looked at the eight people.
"Haha, don't worry. As long as it's at the qi realm, if a demonic beast comes, it will just add to the menu!" Jiu Jiansheng said with a smile.
"It probably won't be that simple!" The third Swordsman looked at Zizi and said with lingering fear.
Zizi bit her lip. Although Yan Chuan said it had nothing to do with her, years of experience made Zizi understand that this must be related to her. It's that damn curse again.