“Did he really reach the top?”
“If I wasn’t barely managing to stand here, I’d swear the Celestial Stairs were broken!”
“But he made it to the top without any fuss. How come there weren’t any crazy reactions?”
“Who cares? He walked up so easily, his talent must be beyond the fifth rank!”
The crowd was buzzing with chatter.
Just a moment ago, Ying Bing had drawn countless gazes, making quite the spectacle.
But when Ke Mo ascended, there was no strange phenomenon at all.
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! He must have cheated!”
Wang Hu tumbled down several dozen steps, completely dazed and confused.
Seeing that brat who had ambushed him reach the top only made his vision turn black with anger.
At that moment, he was grinding his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter. He just wanted to rush over and yank Ke Mo down.
Too bad he could barely stand up right now.
“Cousin! That little brat is sneaky and vicious; he doesn’t deserve to be a disciple of the Qingyuan Sect!”
“Shut up! The elders will decide that!”
Wang Hao was embarrassed but promptly interrupted his cousin from speaking without thinking.
How they judged this matter was the elders’ business, and it wasn’t up to them to question the legitimacy of the sect’s ceremony.
Of course, Wang Hao felt that Ke Mo must have used some other means to achieve this.
The sect had records of its history.
The fifth head of the Qingyuan Sect was said to have summoned rivers from the Milky Way, and the sixteenth head was known to provoke a hundred trees to bloom.
Including the current leader, Shang WenCang, there were countless sword masters bowing in respect.
All who had reached the top had extraordinary talents on full display.
…
Unlike the crowd climbing the Celestial Stairs, the high-ranking officials on the observation platform had fallen silent.
They were all at the Observation Realm, able to see beyond what the n*ked eye could perceive.
In their eyes, that young man with a crow on his head had truly remarkable phenomena surrounding him.
Behind him was a shadow, turned away from the azure sky.
That silhouette seemed utterly ordinary but held an incredible depth.
Fishermen by the rivers, night readers under lanterns, generals marching with golden swords…
It was as if one blindness followed another, and when they looked again, the silhouette returned to that graceful young man in splendid garments.
Ke Mo’s silhouette?
Was he reflecting his true self while on the Celestial Stairs?
What the heck is happening?!
The elders exchanged glances, seeing absurdity and astonishment mirrored in each other’s eyes.
They had never expected such a thing to occur.
But one thing was certain.
This young man was anything but ordinary.
“Since he reached the peak, he can be considered a true disciple. What do you all think?” Xue Jing said calmly as he relaxed his hand, letting go of the beard he had accidentally pulled.
“Sure.”
“Yeah, I think we should observe for a while.”
“But both of these guys have reached the top.”
Elder Han He put down his tea bowl, hesitating to speak:
“The ancestral teachings say that reaching the peak makes one a candidate for the sect leader. This is to cultivate future successors for the Qingyuan Sect.”
“How could a single sect allow for two successors?”
This had never happened before where two people reached the top simultaneously within a century.
In an instant, the elders all looked to the sect leader.
Shang WenCang remained silent for a moment:
“Ying Bing as the true disciple, and Ke Mo as the true disciple.”
On hearing this, the elders were not surprised.
One represented an ordinary person reflecting himself, while the other reflected something honorable and mysterious, like a phoenix in the shadow of the moon.
Clearly, the latter has more potential.
….
Ding—
A long bell rang out, echoing through the mountains.
The fragrant incense in the huge bronze furnace burned out; an hour had passed.
As the time hit, the young men climbing the stairs all relaxed. Some were filled with joy, others were calm, while some were clearly unwilling.
But now, everything was settled.
The seventh round that could truly join the Qingyuan Sect was down to but a handful of seven or eight people.
Elders from various peaks came down from the platform.
Stepping forward, Shang WenCang caused the ruckus in the scene to suddenly quiet.
“Those from the outer sect, go to the Outer Court Affairs Hall to receive your tokens and miscellaneous items.”
“Those from the inner sect can select one peak to join. Each peak has different functions, specialties, and martial arts. You have three days to understand them.”
“Be it inner or outer sect, do not be slack! You are still young, and the world is full of uncertainties.”
The sect leader’s voice carried a weight that commanded attention.
Ke Mo looked at the elders and slightly froze.
Xue Jing winked at him.
Well then…
Ke Mo had been curious how a barefoot doctor from a medical clinic could produce something like a pure Yang pill.
“Ying Bing is the true disciple, and you are under my tutelage.”
Shang WenCang spoke again.
The crowd, who hadn’t left yet, had expected this, but still, their minds were shaken.
Being taken in by Shang WenCang as a disciple of the Qingyuan Sect!
Stepping past the Celestial Stairs, one step to reach the heavens.
Just moments ago they were all accepting the sect’s ceremony together, and in the blink of an eye, the difference between them was as vast as the sky and the earth, such is the unpredictability of fate.
“Ke Mo, Lin Jiang, Murong Xiao also exhibit true disciple potentials.”
“Any elder willing to take them in?”
Having true disciples also meant that there were limited spots.
Each elder could take at most five true disciples.
“What a pity, my disciples are already full.”
“Lin Jiang, you possess mantis legs, magpie-painted shoulders, and green snake spine; I specialize in long weapons. Would you like to follow me?”
“Tsk tsk, this Murong Xiao kid isn’t bad; he possesses the bloodline of auspicious beasts, a fine seedling!”
Lin Jiang was quickly taken under the wing of an elder.
Murong Xiao even attracted three elders fighting over him, ultimately becoming the disciple of Elder Han He.
“This kid.”
Li Mo was also sizing them up.
[Name: Lin Jiang]
[Age: 16]
[Talent: Mantis Legs, Green Snake Spine, Magpie-Painted Shoulders]
[Realm: Qi and bl**d Realm, Four Meridians.]
[Destiny: Blue]
[Evaluation: This person has decent talent yet is overly eager for quick gains, fragile if too rigid; if he wakes up in time, he may still ascend to greater heights.]
[Recent Experience: Just became a true disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, looking for a weapon above a certain quality.]
…
[Name: Murong Xiao.]
[Age: 16.]
[Talent: Ming Jiao Body.]
[Realm: Qi and bl**d Realm, Five Meridians.]
[Destiny: Blue.]
[Evaluation: His father is a revered man; his mother is a snake-shaped creature, kind in nature but heavily influenced by her bloodline. If he aligns himself with the positives, his future is limitless; align with the negatives, and it could spell trouble.]
[Recent Experience: Long repressed instincts, hoping to revive his bloodthirsty nature.]
“Whoa…”
Li Mo took a silent breath.
Isn’t he supposed to have the bloodline of auspicious beasts?
There lies a human being, and the mother is a dragon?
Murong Xiao’s father must be quite the character; even Xu Xian would have to pour tea for him.
He mentally noted their whereabouts.
“By the way, what about me?”
Li Mo came to his senses to find the elders looking at him, their expressions a bit hesitant.
“This child has excellent talent, but how should we instruct him?”
This was what the elders were pondering simultaneously.
For a moment, the place fell silent.
Suddenly, a lazy voice broke the silence:
“Hey kid, hic… do you want to come under my wing?”
Li Mo turned to look.
There stood a woman in palace attire with her hands on her hips, desperately trying to strike a solemn pose.
Her features were grand and elegant, and the loose palace attire didn’t hide her stunning figure.
Standing there, she looked like a peony blooming freely.
“Of course.”
Li Mo didn’t hesitate long and bowed respectfully.
“Uh, but… Shizi Shang Wu…”
Xue Jing was startled for a moment, about to speak.
But he was shot a threatening look by Shang Wu as she clenched her long, elegant fingers into a fist.
“Well, being under her tutelage isn’t bad. You’ll be the only gem of the Ninth Peak now.”
Xue Jing instantly changed his tone with remarkable speed.
“Greetings, Master.”
Li Mo stepped forward to acknowledge his new master, feeling puzzled.
Why did the elders look at him with a hint of sympathy?
He couldn’t help but activate the Eye of Destiny.
[Name: Shang Wu.]
[Age: 27.]
[Talent: Southern Bright Fire Lotus Body.]
[Realm: Inner Realm, Seventh Layer.]
[Destiny: Purple.]
[Evaluation: The youngest elder in the Qingyuan Sect. You may doubt her character, but do not question her capabilities; she has extraordinary origins.]
[Recent Experience: Ran out of money for drinks and contemplating how to hit up the other peak’s elders for cash, quite interested in the true disciple Ying Bing.]
Li Mo: “Huh?”
No wonder the higher-ups had strange looks in their eyes.
Whatever the case, Shang Wu seemed like a bad choice for a master.
And… is she not interested in his peculiar bones but rather in Ying Bing?
Those evaluations…
Li Mo began to suspect the real quality of a purple destiny.
“At least it’s my first encounter with purple.”
“Even if I don’t learn much, there’s bound to be a return on the investment.”
Thinking this way, Li Mo relaxed.
“Hehe, from now on, I’ve got your back. In the future, just drop my name whenever you’re out there.”
Shang Wu slapped him on the shoulder, seemingly wanting to reinstall some bones.
Li Mo gasped; her strength was no joke.
Not far away, Ying Bing watched the palace-attired woman with a helpless-looking young man.
“Did he… join under Shizi Shang Wu…”
Ying Bing subtly nodded.
If Li Mo could learn even a few real skills from Shang Wu, he might find a place among his peers in the Ziyang Mansion.
Of course, even among the Eastern Wilderness Realm, he wouldn’t be considered a top genius; it would likely be impossible for him to reach the system ranking.
“With four true disciples from this session, the Qingyuan Sect will thrive.”
“Alright, let’s go attend to the sect formalities.”
The short and stout elder looked at the group with a smile.
