It's been a week since Yuan became an inner sect disciple, and during this time, Aqua introduced him to many people, including members of the Wu Family and Li Family.
As Yuan met the a member of the Li Family, he recalled the tournament from three months ago, where a participant also bore the surname Li. However, the person he met this time was not the same one. Instead, he was a middle aged man named Li Yun, and Aqua said he is 80 years old and at the peak of the Blood Purification Stage.
During their conversation, Li Yun spoke about the new disciples who had recently joined the sect, mentioning the most talented juniors of the generation. Naturally, he named Alex and Krieger, both of whom had also become inner sect disciples. Unlike Yuan, however, they hadn't attended the three month schooling phase, they directly advancing to the inner sect.
It was rumored that Alex had taken Grand Elder Wu Bin as his master. However, ever since arriving at the sect, Alex had completely vanished from the public eye. No one had seen or heard of him since, leading some to jokingly call him dead.
In contrast, Krieger had become a well known and respected figure within the sect. He had joined the Discipline Hall under Grand Elder Hei Jun's direct order, proving his remarkable talent and discipline. Rumors spread that once Krieger reached the peak of the Blood Purification Stage, he would be given a Beginner Judge position,a position given to a select few. To even be considered for the Judge Hall was a huge honor, as only those personally chosen by Grand Elder Hei Jun could even dream of joining its ranks.
But as Li Yun continued discussing the promising new recruits, he mentioned several talented individuals who, within the next decade, might have a chance to become inner sect disciples.
Among those names, one caught Yuan's attention
Emilia.
But Li Yun didn't seem to care much for Emilia. To him, she wasn't particularly extraordinary apart from her fast cultivation speed. He casually remarked that she would only become relevant to the sect once she successfully joined the inner disciple circles.
Apart from himself, Alex, and Krieger, there was one more from their group who had managed to become an inner disciple,Kuang Hao.
Hearing all this information, Yuan's mind sharpened.
Something didn't feel right.
Every single talented new disciple with the most potential had come from his group during the trial. That was strange. Too strange.
It couldn't be a coincidence. There must be a pattern,a suspicious one.
Yuan decided that once he had the time, he would look deeper into this matter. But for now, he kept his thoughts to himself, not revealing even a hint of suspicion.
At that moment, Li Yun smiled at him.
"So, fellow disciple Yuan, I hope these pieces of information help you reunite with your friends."
But Yuan simply nodded his head.
"fellow disciple Li Yun, I should be thanking you. You've shared a great deal of valuable information with me! Since I was directly placed into the school pavilion, I had no time to meet anyone. Then, before I even had the chance, I was promoted to inner disciple. Because of that, I missed out on everything. Please, allow me to return this favor,tell me what I can do for you."
Hearing this, Li Yun let out a soft sigh.
"Fellow disciple Yuan, there's no need to concern yourself over this. The information I've shared is common knowledge among the inner disciples. Even your situation is widely known throughout the sect.So, really, please,you don't owe me anything. If you insist, I'll only feel embarrassed to take a favor over something so trivial."
Li Yun firmly rejected him.
Yuan could only sigh before smiling and saying,
"Then, Brother Yun, at least let me buy you a meal! If you reject even that, I fear I won't be able to sleep peacefully tonight!"
Yuan insisted on treating him to a meal, and Li Yun could only accept it. After all, his Junior had invited him,how could a Senior reject something like this?
And so, the two of them walked toward the outer disciple area, where food was sold.
In the inner sect area, there was no one selling food. Cultivators there rarely ate daily meals, as most of them sustained themselves with pills and only ate for special occasions or ceremonies. Because of this, there was no food business among the inner disciples.
However, the outer sect disciples were different.
Since they had lower cultivation realms, many of them still required normal food, so food stalls and restaurants existed only in the outer sect market.
After an hour of walking, they finally arrived at the outer sect market, a bustling place where disciples of all levels outer, inner, and even core disciples could open their own stores. Many did, but the core disciples mostly specialized in selling rare materials, pills, and other high value goods rather than ordinary food.
For Yuan, this was his first time stepping into the outer sect market. He turned toward Li Yun with curiosity.
"Brother Yun, you've been in the sect far longer than me. Please lead the way,this is my first time here."
Li Yun glanced at Yuan and suddenly had a look of realization.
"Ah, yes! Brother Yuan never left the school pavilion, so this must be completely new to you. Then, for your first visit, we should eat at a place I loved when I was still an outer disciple."
And so, Yuan followed him as they walked deeper into the market, engaged in casual conversation. Yuan mostly listened, while Li Yun did most of the talking,but that was fine.
However, as they walked, their bright green inner sect robes immediately drew attention.
The moment the outer sect disciples saw them, they bowed in respect.
"Greetings, Seniors!"
At first, only two disciples noticed them and bowed. But once the others saw the inner disciples walking together, more and more people paused what they were doing, stopping to lower their heads in greeting.
Then, an older man, dressed in the plain green robes of the outer sect, quickly approached them.
"Greetings, Seniors! What can I do for you? I am one of the outer sect guides assigned to assist inner sect disciples!" The older man spoke respectfully, lowering his head slightly.
Li Yun gave him a casual nod.
"We want to go to The Old Man's Fresh Meat."
However, at those words, the old guide suddenly froze.
His expression stiffened, and for a brief moment, he seemed troubled.
Li Yun raised a brow, perplexed by the reaction.
After a short silence, the older man sighed before shaking his head.
"Excuse me, Senior... but Old Man's Fresh Meat no longer exists."
"The owner,Old Man Hai,passed away twenty years ago."
As Li Yun heard the news, he sighed.
"So, he passed away, huh… Well, I hope he enjoyed the life he lived. There's nothing more to say about it. He was already old ,surviving this long is already a testament to his longevity."
Li Yun himself was 80 years old, and he had mentioned that Old Man's Fresh Meat had existed since his outer sect disciple days. That meant the old man had to be over 100 years old before passing away. Surviving that long was already a miracle from the heavens,a rare lifespan for a mortal awakaned stage.
With another sigh, Li Yun turned back to the guide.
"Haa… then, can you recommend a good place to eat? My brother here wanted to treat me to a meal."
The old guide nodded immediately and pointed toward a street nearby.
"Yes, Senior! Just around the corner, there is a restaurant with excellent meat dishes. It became well known among disciples,it's called Breezy Meat Restaurant."
Li Yun gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Good. We'll go there."
And so, the two of them walked toward the Breezy Meat Restaurant.
The moment they stepped inside, the restaurant owner, who had been standing behind the counter, instinctively turned toward the entrance.
The moment he saw their inner disciple robes, his eyes lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, he hurried over to them, bowing deeply as he welcomed them with great enthusiasm.
"Greetings, Seniors! I must thank you for honoring this humble one's establishment!" His voice was eager, but respectful.
"Please, allow me to guide you to the second floor, where you can enjoy your meal without disturbance."
Seeing his enthusiasm, both Yuan and Li Yun simply nodded. Without another word, the restaurant owner personally led them upstairs.
The second floor was noticeably better than the first. There were three private rooms, ensuring privacy for those who dined there. The owner gestured for them to enter the first room, and they stepped inside.
Though the restaurant itself wasn't extravagant, it had a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The aroma of cooked meat drifted through the air, adding to the warm ambiance.
Yuan took a moment to take in the surroundings, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.
Li Yun, who had been observing him, noticed his reaction and let out a chuckle.
"Oh? Brother Yuan, have you taken a liking to this restaurant?" he asked with a teasing smile.
Yuan nodded his head slightly.
"Yes. It reminds me of home."
Indeed, everything about this place,the wooden interior, the aged furniture, the simple decorations,it all felt eerily similar to his grandfather's home in the Illusion Forest.
However, as memories of his past surfaced, Yuan's mood slightly shifted. He quickly pushed those thoughts aside.
At that moment, the restaurant owner returned, holding a beautifully crafted teapot in his hands.
"Seniors, please try my family's special spiritual tea!" he said with a proud smile.
"This tea has been passed down through my family for generations. I hope you will find it to your liking!"
The owner carefully placed the teapot and two cups on the table, then gracefully poured the steaming tea for them.
The moment the fragrant aroma reached Yuan's nose, he immediately noticed the difference.
This wasn't like the ordinary tea he had drunk at Old Man Viktor's house,no, this was something far superior.
It had an undeniable richness, yet it carried a soothing quality that seemed to calm the mind with just its scent alone.
A faint smile appeared on Yuan's lips as he lifted the cup closer to his nose, inhaling deeply.
And then
For the first time in a long while, his mind cleared completely.
All the chaos, all the calculations, all the plans that constantly ran through his thoughts,they all faded away.
His heart calmed, his breathing slowed, and for once, he allowed himself to simply exist in the present moment.
Unbeknownst to him, a subtle change occurred within his azure black eyes. The faint azure hue that often shimmered in his irises dimmed slightly.
However, Yuan remained completely unaware of this shift.
Without further hesitation, he finally took a sip.
A smooth warmth spread through his body as the tea coursed down his throat.
"Good tea."
His simple praise was enough to make the restaurant owner beam with joy.
The man quickly bowed his head, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you, Senior! I am honored that you enjoy it!"
But Yuan said nothing more.
As the warmth of the tea settled in his body, his entire being entered a peculiar state,a state where his mind and soul felt perfectly aligned.
Li Yun, who had been quietly watching him, immediately recognized what was happening.
"He's entering a state of enlightenment…!"
His heart clenched with a mix of awe and envy.
After all, achieving enlightenment was something that most cultivators could only dream of.
Even for those with great talent, experiencing a single moment of enlightenment in their entire lifetime was already considered a blessing from the heavens.
Yet, Yuan,who had only just advanced to the Blood Purification Stage,had fallen into this state naturally, all because of a simple cup of tea.
Li Yun couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
But at the same time, he understood one thing clearly
After this night, he must become a true brother to Yuan.
And so, he said nothing more.
Instead, he simply ate his meal, drank his tea, and allowed Yuan to enjoy his moment of silent enlightenment.
After finishing their meal, Yuan's mind gradually returned to clarity. Realizing what had just transpired, he smiled at Li Yun.
"Brother Yun, I must thank you."
But Li Yun only chuckled.
"Hehehe, what is there to thank me for? If anything, I should be the one thanking Brother Yuan. Witnessing an enlightenment firsthand gave me some inspiration,I believe that with a few years of preparation, I might finally be able to advance to the Meridian Awakened Stage!"
Hearing this, both of them laughed heartily at their current situation.
If Li Yun had spoken even once or allowed the owner to interrupt, Yuan would have likely broken out of his enlightenment prematurely. Yet, because of Li Yun's silent patience, Yuan was able to fully immerse himself in that moment of realization. In return, Yuan's enlightenment had, in turn, given Li Yun a much needed spark of insight.
This was a fortunate exchange for both of them.
Seeing that the meal had come to an end, Yuan prepared to pay for it. However, Li Yun immediately insisted that he would cover the cost instead.
But before Li Yun could protest further, Yuan simply waved his hand dismissively and had already walked out of the room.
As he stepped downstairs, Yuan's gaze fell upon the restaurant owner, and recognition struck him.
During his enlightenment, a memory resurfaced,the owner of this restaurant was none other than Daoist Pressuring Books, the disciple who had faced Alex in the first round of the tournament.
A knowing smile crept onto Yuan's lips.
"Hello, Junior Pressuring Books. It's been a while."
Pressuring Books, standing behind the counter, looked at him with clear confusion.
"Ahh... Senior, do we know each other?"
Yuan chuckled, amused by the man's obvious act of ignorance.
"Hehehe, of course, we do. We joined the sect together, after all."
Seeing that Pressuring Books still looked unsure, Yuan's expression grew calm as he spoke in a measured tone.
"Say, Junior Pressuring Books… do you wish to work under me?"
The young man's eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected offer. He stood there, momentarily speechless, his mind scrambling to process what was happening.
"Ahhh… Yes?" he finally blurted out, sounding more like a question than a proper answer.
Yuan's smile deepened.
"Good. Then I will return tomorrow around this time. Close the restaurant when I arrive."
Without waiting for another response, Yuan casually placed five merit coins on the counter in front of Pressuring Books.
"Li Yun, I've paid," he called out, signaling that it was time to leave.
Moments later, Li Yun descended from the second floor, nodding in acknowledgment.
And just like that, the two of them left Breezy Meat Restaurant, disappearing into the bustling streets of the Outer Sect Market.