Faced with the elder's angry rebuke, any other disciple might have been trembling with fear. But Leon Nightfall merely smiled. Calmly, he replied, "There's no need for anger, Elder. As Brother Nan has explained, if I successfully pass the assessment, it would be a great contribution to the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect. Merit deserves reward; it's only fair that I state my conditions."
"You can discuss that after you've passed!" the elder retorted coldly, clearly displeased with Leon's audacity.
The Great Elder nodded slightly. "Very well. Rest assured, as long as you pass, you may choose any technique within the sect, except for the Heavenly Mandate Secret Arts and core Immortal Emperor techniques. I believe the other elders have no objections."
The other elders exchanged glances. If Leon could indeed pass, such a request wasn't excessive. However, they all knew the chances of him succeeding were virtually zero.
"The other conditions can wait until after I pass," Leon continued with a smile. "However, one of my conditions requires preparation now. Once I reach a certain level in the 'Physique Tempering' stage, I will need a dose of King Physique Paste."
"You're asking for too much!" The six elders' expressions changed at his words, and one of them shouted angrily.
Unfazed, Leon replied, "Elder, that's uncalled for. Think about it—forming an alliance through marriage with the Nine Saints Demon Gate is a significant achievement for our sect. While the King Physique Paste is precious, I believe it's a worthy exchange."
"Hmph! King Physique Paste doesn't come easy!" the elder scoffed, clearly dissatisfied.
The Great Elder regarded Leon for a moment before speaking. "If you succeed, requesting a dose of King Physique Paste isn't unreasonable. However, the sect currently cannot fulfill this. We're still missing several key ingredients to refine a batch."
Hearing this, Leon sighed inwardly. It seemed he had overestimated the current state of the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect. In the past, when Immortal Emperor Ming Ren founded the sect, their treasures were abundant. Providing a dose of Sacred Physique Paste would've been no problem, let alone the King Physique Paste.
"Very well, I'll compromise. I request the Royal Physique Paste—the best you have," Leon conceded.
The six elders exchanged looks. Finally, the Great Elder nodded. "We can agree to that, provided you succeed."
Leon merely smiled at the Great Elder's response, then said, "Before I head to the Nine Saints Demon Gate, I have a small request. No one knows whether I'll return alive, so I need to learn some techniques and have a weapon or two for protection."
"You're quite the opportunist, trying to gain advantages," Elder Xiong snorted, displeased.
The Great Elder remained fair. "Very well. You may choose one technique and one weapon below the level of the Hall Masters'. What do the other elders think?"
Though they disliked Leon's bargaining, the elders agreed to the Great Elder's proposal. They understood that the likelihood of Leon passing the assessment was practically nil. Giving him a weapon and technique was like throwing meat buns to a dog—they'd never see them again. Still, they couldn't help but cling to a sliver of hope.
"You overestimate me, Elders. I wouldn't dare make outrageous demands," Leon said, aware of their thoughts. With a calm smile, he continued, "I heard that the sect has a technique called 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' that's quick to learn. I'd like to choose this technique, and a pair of sabers that complement it."
At his request, the six elders exchanged glances. They had expected Leon to make unreasonable demands, perhaps even asking for imperial techniques. They hadn't anticipated he'd choose such a modest technique.
"'Mystical Gates Saber Art'?" The Great Elder pondered for a moment.
Another elder, who oversaw the distribution of techniques, replied, "Brother Gu, it's a martial art within the sect—not worth mentioning."
Hearing this, the elders unfamiliar with the technique were momentarily surprised. Martial arts were insignificant to cultivators; even ordinary techniques surpassed them. That Leon chose a mere martial art left the elders puzzled. To them, a fool remains a fool, unable to recognize true value.
"No problem. Huairen, deliver the manual for the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' to Solitary Peak and help him select the best pair of sabers suited to the technique," the Great Elder granted his request without hesitation.
"Any other small requests?" The elders were somewhat pleased that Leon hadn't made excessive demands, so they asked.
"Nothing for now," Leon replied with a smile.
"Very well, return and prepare. You'll depart in three days. Once you return, we'll hold the ceremony for you to pay respects to the founder," the Great Elder instructed solemnly.
Whether he'd return alive was another matter entirely.
After returning to Solitary Peak, Nan Huairen brought Leon the manual for the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' and a pair of sabers that fit comfortably in his hands.
Leon weighed the crescent-shaped short sabers, satisfied. The blades curved like a new moon, emitting a faint cold glint. Though not genuine or treasured weapons used by cultivators, the sabers were forged with a small amount of Red Moon Steel. In the mortal world, they were sharp enough to cut through hair blown against the edge. However, to cultivators, they were nothing special.
Once Nan Huairen left, Leon slowly opened the manual for the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art', reading each word carefully. As he read, memories of the technique surfaced in his mind.
Back when he was trapped in the form of a dark crow, he had eventually used a monumental scheme to break free from the control of the Immortal Demon Grotto. However, his state remained unstable; he was still susceptible to the grotto's influence. Whenever he felt his condition deteriorate, he would seal himself, entering a deep slumber.
He endured countless hardships across many lifetimes, spanning endless years. He ventured into immortal lands and burial grounds. In that wild era, he had fallen into the hands of invincible beings, experiencing unimaginable tribulations. Because of this, he had come into contact with countless techniques, some even being imperial arts and immortal secrets.
Fearing that he might one day lose control and be dragged back to the Immortal Demon Grotto, he erased his memories of these techniques in each life to prevent such profound arts from falling into the grotto's hands. However, he, along with the Medicine God and Immortal Emperor Bloodseal, devised an extremely mysterious method. Though these memories were erased, should he ever encounter these techniques again, all their profound meanings would resurface.
As Leon read the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art', the profound truths he had once erased slowly re-emerged in his mind.
After spending considerable time recalling the art's intricacies, Leon took a deep breath and carefully compared the manual in his hand with his memories. He noticed that the manual had some omissions, causing him concern.
In fact, it's normal for techniques like the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' to have missing parts. Martial arts were considered insignificant, mere child's play in the eyes of cultivators. Over millions of years, perhaps only a handful of disciples in the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect had ever practiced it.
It didn't take long for Leon to fully comprehend all the profound meanings of the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' that had resurfaced in his mind. Smiling, he set the manual aside.
Though his physique, longevity wheel, and fate palace were at mortal levels—insignificant compared to those of geniuses—the countless lifetimes of memories he possessed, and the myriad techniques he had encountered, including earth-shattering immortal secrets, gave him insights far beyond any genius.
More importantly, his experiences as a dark crow, enduring endless hardships—even being imprisoned for tens of thousands of years without seeing the light of day—had forged an unshakable Dao heart. His resolve was as solid as a rock, unmovable by any force.
Gently stroking the manual, Leon sighed softly, memories surfacing. The 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' held secrets unknown to others, secrets likely lost to the disciples of the sect.
Back when Immortal Emperor Ming Ren hadn't yet embarked on the path of cultivation, he was a young man passionate about martial arts, and the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' was the very technique he practiced. Later, after he bore the Heavenly Mandate and ruled over the Nine Worlds, he reminisced about his youth and refined the saber art further.
Of course, this martial art couldn't compare to the imperial techniques created by Immortal Emperor Ming Ren, let alone the Heavenly Mandate Secret Arts. The emperor didn't wish for future generations to practice mere martial arts, so the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art' was casually placed in the sect's library. Over millions of years, few disciples had ever practiced it, let alone grasped its true essence.
Back then, when Immortal Emperor Ming Ren was refining the 'Mystical Gates Saber Art', Leon, still in the form of a dark crow, had joked with him, "Even if your saber art can slay kings and marquises at its peak, it's still just a martial art. Future generations might not bother to learn it!"
The emperor had merely smiled at his remark. As it turned out, Leon was right; few in the sect ever practiced the saber art.
Pulling himself from his thoughts, Leon took a deep breath. Holding the short sabers in reverse grip, he began practicing the saber art slowly, executing each move with precision. He didn't seek quick results but was meticulous with every stance and motion, ensuring each was executed perfectly.