The young cultivator's eyes involuntary twitched. Was the highly coveted spot in the Immortal Sect obtained just like that, in the blink of an eye?
The elder added, "However, the master said that this position comes with a significant cost and cannot be changed once set."
"Even father thinks the cost is significant? What is that cost?" Bao Yun asked curiously.
The elder explained, "The master mentioned that the child from the East Sea Yan Family was originally squeezed out, but his family managed to secure another spot. However, since you suddenly wanted to go to the Taichu Palace, the master had to negotiate and squeeze the Yan Family out again. The master said there are limits to being capricious. If you actually write down your name, you cannot change it afterward."
Bao Yun smiled sweetly and said, "I won't change it. Haven't you always said I lack tempering? Isn't there a ready-made whetstone in the Taichu Palace?"
The young cultivator wanted to say something but only sighed. Only the Bao Family would consider Bao Yun's behavior as just a bit whimsical.
In another grand hall, the old Confucian scholar Liu Sigu was admonishing eight candidates, with three standing in the front row—all pre-ordained disciples from the Four Saints Academy—and five in the back row, actually entering a Grotto Heaven affiliated with the Academy. The old scholar had gathered them together to preach the teachings of the sages.
The old Confucian scholar spoke at length, starting from the travels of the saints across the land, going on and on. The middle-aged Confucian scholar knew he wouldn't stop for at least half an hour, and feeling some pressure in his chest, he stepped outside the hall to clear his mind. Although the Red Tide Sect was small, it had invested heavily in this martial test. The Mountain Gate was decorated impressively, which even by the standards of the middle-aged Confucian scholar, was quite pleasing to the eye.
A few steps out, the middle-aged Confucian scholar saw Sun Yu standing quietly in the shadows.
Regarding this young cultivator from Taichu Palace, the middle-aged Confucian scholar had almost no impression; he only knew the other was in charge of various miscellaneous tasks for the martial test, essentially the head of those undertaking menial tasks, nothing memorable. The middle-aged Confucian scholar thought highly of himself, having barely spoken three sentences in total to Sun Yu.
But now, standing in the shadows, Sun Yu no longer looked harmless. The middle-aged Confucian scholar inexplicably felt a sense of danger, as if facing a ferocious beast from ancient times.
However, there inside the Mountain Gate of the Red Tide Sect, and knowing Sun Yu was much younger with significantly less cultivation experience, the middle-aged Confucian Scholar was not intimidated despite sensing the young cultivator's malicious intent, and stood with his hands behind his back, composed and calm, watching Sun Yu.
Sun Yu asked, "Where is Old Liu?"
"He is inside, disciplining the new disciples."
Sun Yu then said, "Then, I'll speak to you. During this martial test, Sir Wei Yuan received extensive care from the two masters, and Junior Brother Zhang, being generous, might not hold it against you afterward, but I, Sun Yu, will keep it in mind. You and your disciples should be very careful in your future travels; there are high mountains and rapid waters, and any accidents would be unfortunate."
The middle-aged Confucian scholar boiled with anger, "Are you threatening me?!"
To his surprise, Sun Yu did not hesitate to reply, "Indeed!"
The middle-aged Confucian scholar's robe billowed as if in a wind, and he considered striking, but his expression fluctuated, and his robe gradually settled as he said, "The saying goes, 'Eat the ruler's food, serve the ruler's cause.' We are merely carrying out tasks for others. If you harbor resentments, Junior Brother, you should seek out the principal party, why bother with us?"
Sun Yu countered, "You strike the dog depending on the owner. The owner I dare not provoke, but the dog is still beatable. Besides, the task is completed now, and you are of no use, merely two disowned dogs. If beaten, then beaten."
The middle-aged Confucian scholar was furious, his robe fluttered once more, but unable to see through Sun Yu's capabilities and weighing his options, he ultimately dared not make a move. He did not strike, but Sun Yu did. Suddenly, Sun Yu opened his mouth and blew out a thin, pale line of fire straight toward the chest of the middle-aged Confucian scholar!
The middle-aged Confucian Scholar snorted, and a large Sealing character appeared in front of him, blocking the line of fire. This Sealing character, drawn with striking strokes that shone brightly, stood out especially in the black of night. Simply from its aura, it seemed many times more powerful than Sun Yu's line of fire.
But as soon as the Sealing character and the line of fire touched, it burst into fierce flames. The middle-aged Confucian Scholar felt his Mana wane tremendously in a moment, barely able to hold on. At the same time, he smelled a strange fragrance of medicine, and his mind grew dizzy.
The middle-aged Confucian Scholar, shocked and angry, exclaimed, "Elixir Fire?"
The line of fire and the Sealing character clashed only for a few moments before the Sealing character was almost entirely burnt down. Just as the middle-aged Confucian Scholar was about to falter, Sun Yu withdrew his fire line and sneered, "The Immortal Path is long, you would do well to take care of yourselves, for Immortal Silver is not so easily earned."
With that, not waiting for the middle-aged Confucian Scholar to respond, Sun Yu drifted away.
The middle-aged Confucian Scholar stood in place, his expression shifting unpredictably. Sun Yu might have seemed inconspicuous, but that wisp of Elixir Fire was of a very high grade; it had injured his Dao Foundation in just a short moment. It would take two years of peaceful rest for a full recovery, meaning that actually, the middle-aged Confucian Scholar had suffered a loss. He hadn't anticipated that Sun Yu would dare to make a move within the Mountain Gate of the Red Tide Sect; amidst his shock, he also felt indignant. He and the old scholar were just handling a task for someone else, collecting some treasures and Immortal Silver, so why drag personal grievances into it? The young people from the Taichu Palace truly lacked propriety.
Thinking of how Sun Yu had ten years less cultivation than himself, a shadow crept into the heart of the middle-aged Confucian Scholar. Disheartened, he returned to the main hall, no longer interested in the scenery.
In another serene courtyard, a table filled with high-grade food and wine was set, many of the ingredients were such that small sects like the Red Tide Sect rarely saw. Only two people were seated at the table, with Daoist Fu Feng at the head and a young cultivator from the council accompanying him.
Daoist Fu Feng, without touching his chopsticks, said, "Mr. Lu, no reward without service, it's better to speak of any matter first."
The young cultivator then said, "Fellow Daoist has assisted my young lady in the council, a deed that I, Lu Xuan, hold dear in my heart, this is one thing. The second is a small favor I still wish to ask of elder brother."
"Speak freely."
"Could fellow Daoist share with me the past deeds of Zhang Sheng?"
Daoist Fu Feng gave Lu Xuan a glance and asked, "And why is that?"
Lu Xuan replied, "I mean no disrespect, but my young lady has decided to join Taichu Palace. She remains upset about her failure in the martial test, and as her cousin from her maternal family, I might have to spar with Wei Yuan's teacher, Zhang Sheng. I know I am no match for him now, so I want to learn about his past deeds to see if there's any chance to bridge the gap."
Daoist Fu Feng's expression turned a bit odd as he said, "Junior Brother Zhang went down the mountain to practice seven years ago, and before that he indeed had a bit of a reputation in Taichu Palace, primarily for being quite reckless."
Lu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, "That's relief, for a moment I thought I'd hear something like 'his Dao Foundation is invincible'. Today at the Judgement Hall, that Sword Qi was indeed tough to match; it seems he's had some extraordinary experiences over these seven years!"
Daoist Fu Feng then said, "Junior Brother Zhang encountered a great disaster in his first year after descending the mountain; his Dao Power was sealed for a full six years, only unsealed yesterday. Hence, during these seven years of his training, he actually made no progress at all."
Lu Xuan, who had lifted his cup of wine, froze, his cup hanging in mid-air.
Daoist Fu Feng stroked his beard and added, "Moreover, Junior Brother Zhang's Dao Foundation was established with three Immortal Swords, so being 'invincible' in terms of Dao Foundation is something we take for granted here, never famous for it. Of course, the so-called invincibility is only as per our standards in Taichu Palace; outside, in the vast world, it's hard to say."
Lu Xuan's voice turned a bit hoarse, "Three... Immortal Swords?"