Ten days later, on the Qingyun Sect's mountain.
True Person Zisong had announced a month prior that he would be taking on a disciple, a cultivation genius who was a once-in-a-millennium find. He had invited the six major sects of the Immortal Martial Continent's Eastern Continent, along with all the surrounding powers, to come and witness the event.
In the open-air hall, the Tianqing Sect's Sect Master, He Lixian, who had always been at odds with the Qingyun Sect, said to his two junior brothers with a displeased expression:
"Four years ago, the Qingyun Sect took in Lu Chen, a disciple with heaven-defying cultivation. Yet, that old coot Zisong didn't invite everyone to attend the apprentice-acceptance ceremony.
Now, he's found another disciple with heaven-defying talent, and is even taking him as a direct disciple. The heavens are truly blind! In the future, the Qingyun Sect will inevitably overshadow my Tianqing Sect. This is truly hard to swallow."
Wang Qinghai, the junior brother on the left, said, "Don't worry, Sect Master. Perhaps it's just that old man Zisong is putting on a show. When have cultivators with peerless talent become as easy to come by as cabbages?"
Li Tiangou on the other side said, "Even if he is a peerless genius, cultivating him will inevitably require countless treasures and effort. In the short term, Tianqing Sect and Qingyun Sect will still be evenly matched, so Sect Leader doesn't need to worry."
He Lixian snorted coldly, "Fine, I want to see just how heaven-defying this disciple is, that True Person Zisong went to such lengths to take in."
As he spoke, Shen Zhao and his group also arrived at the scene.
"Young Master Shen!"
Mo Xinchen immediately stepped forward and bowed when he saw Shen Zhao.
"I still have to thank you for the pills last time."
"Elder Mo is too polite. These pills were prepared as a birthday gift for City Lord Lu, you don't need to thank me."
"Young Master Shen, please don't be so formal, take your seat."
Mo Xinchen led Shen Zhao, Ding Buer, Su Yunying, Liang Hao, and Fahai, a group of five, to the seats that had been prepared for them. They were seated right next to the Tianqing Sect.
He Lixian glanced at them and couldn't help but sneer, "Heh, a bunch of rogue cultivators from who-knows-where, even managing to attend such a grand ceremony. The Qingyun Sect is really going downhill."
Liang Hao, upon hearing this, immediately slammed his hand on the table, "Old geezer, what are you implying? The puny Tianqing Sect dares to speak such nonsense in front of me? Do you believe that with a single order from me, I can flatten your pathetic mountain gate?"
Wang Qinghai was furious, "Youngster, I advise you to watch your words. Do you know..."
"And who are you? Did I even speak to you? Why are you so eager to prove your existence?" Liang Hao cut him off directly.
"You..."
"Alright, enough. Don't say another word. So many sects are watching. Don't let them laugh at our Tianqing Sect."
Although He Lixian was very angry, he still suppressed his rage, calming down Wang Qinghai and Li Tiangou's anger.
However, he had already developed a grudge against these ants in his heart, and decided to find an opportunity to secretly eliminate them.
But Liang Hao was still chattering on, saying to Shen Zhao, "Big Brother, there's nothing interesting about such a small scene. When I have time, I'll take you back to the Tianyuan Holy Sect. That's a real spectacle."
Shen Zhao yawned. "Just don't cause trouble, you. Why are you arguing with them so much?"
Ding Buer also said, "Exactly. It's just a Tianqing Sect. What's the big deal? Why bother lowering your status to argue with them? It's better to rest and eat and drink and be happy."
Su Yunying picked up the dried fruit in front of her and watched them without saying a word.
Liang Hao immediately smiled apologetically. "Big Brother is right. We're here to do serious business today, and we really shouldn't argue with these ants. There's no sense of accomplishment in showing off. I promise I won't do this next time."
And nearby, as soon as they heard the words "Tianyuan Holy Sect," the faces of the Tianqing Sect's people all changed.
This was definitely not something they, who were among the mid-to-lower-level forces in the cultivation world, could afford to provoke.
"Senior Brother Sect Leader, that… that person is from the Tianyuan Holy Sect?"
"That's unlikely, right? Could it be that the Qingyun Sect has also gotten involved with the Tianyuan Holy Sect? This… the Qingyun Sect is going to defy the heavens."
He Lixian was also panicked, but he still forced himself to remain calm and said, "What are you all panicking about? The Tianyuan Holy Sect is so ethereal, how could they have any dealings with the Qingyun Sect? It must be this guy boasting to show off his presence. We don't need to pay any attention to him."
"But what if…"
"There is no 'what if'. If the Qingyun Sect really had a relationship with the Tianyuan Holy Sect, do you think the Tianqing Sect could still exist to this day?"
"Senior Brother Sect Leader is right, we were being rash."
The three of them felt a little more at ease and stopped talking, continuing to wait for the auspicious time for the disciple acceptance ceremony to arrive.
Not long after, the sect's bell rang three times, the sounds ethereal, and auspicious clouds enveloped the area.
Under the gazes of countless disciples and guests, True Person Zisong of the Qingyun Sect, wearing a sky-grade, Qing-purple Daoist robe, floated down onto the center of a high platform the size of a football field.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
The Qingyun Sect's twenty thousand male disciples, twenty thousand female disciples, along with the elders from all factions, all knelt down to pay respects to True Person Zisong.
True Person Zisong smiled and clasped his hands, saying, "Thank you all for attending the Qingyun Sect's disciple recruitment ceremony. I believe you are all very curious,
why we invited you Daoist friends to observe this matter of accepting disciples. But rest assured, I will soon dispel your doubts, because this time it is my personally-chosen, last disciple."
As the words fell, the crowd began to murmur.
In the crowd, Lu Chen held his sword and felt very dejected.
He naturally knew that the Sect Master's mentioned personal disciple was Lin Feng, the man who had stolen his spotlight.
Shen Zhao and his group didn't care about any of this. After all, they had only one goal for this trip.
To crush Lin Feng's arrogance.
At this moment, He Lixian on the side spoke again: "To make such a show just to accept a disciple, how despised is the Qingyun Sect?"
True Person Zisong's face darkened, and he turned to look at He Lixian: "Sect Leader He, you're here as well. I thought you wouldn't care about such trivial matters."
"Since True Person Zisong has gained a disciple with outstanding talent, as the Sect Leader of the Tianqing Sect, how could I not come in person to observe? Where is your direct disciple? Bring him out and let this old man take a look."
"I'll grant Sect Leader He's wish right away."
True Person Zisong smiled brightly, his eyes filled with provocation as he looked at He Lixian.
This made He Lixian tremble with anger, and he couldn't help but tighten his grip on his wine glass.
The other five major sects turned a blind eye to this, as the two old fogeys had disliked each other for over a thousand years, constantly sabotaging each other openly and secretly.
As for the reasons, there were many rumors.
Some said that when He Lixian and True Person Zisong were still disciples, they fought fiercely over a female cultivator they both admired. In the end, the female cultivator chose neither of them and became a concubine of a powerful family.
Others said that during a secret realm exploration, they both coveted a certain cultivation technique. Neither was willing to give it up, and they fought fiercely over it. The conflict only subsided when the respective sect masters of Qingyun Sect and Tianqing Sect intervened. From then on, the two became sworn enemies.
Still others said that True Person Zisong had killed He Lixian's father, and He Lixian had then killed True Person Zisong's mother, thus resulting in their feud.
In short, no one knew the truth.
But one thing was certain: their rivalry had persisted for several hundred years.
Whatever True Person Zisong had, He Lixian was determined to have as well. If he couldn't obtain it, he'd destroy it. They didn't want to make things easier for each other, and both wanted the other to suffer.
These things, in Shen Zhao's eyes, were truly incomprehensible, like two overgrown babies blindly comparing themselves, so idiotic it was unbearable to watch.
"Lin Feng!"
"This disciple is here!"
With True Person Zisong's command, Lin Feng, with his gentle and jade-like face, walked calmly towards the high platform.
"It's Junior Brother Lin!"
"Oh my god, he's so handsome!"
"Look, Junior Brother Lin Feng seems to be smiling at me."
"Nonsense, he's clearly smiling at me. How could Junior Brother Lin Feng take a liking to you."
The moment Lin Feng appeared, all the female disciples in the sect were smitten, their faces flushing with shyness at just a glance.
Among the inner sect female disciples, Lu Xuanji's beautiful eyes were filled with anticipation as she stared fixedly at Lin Feng, not wanting to move an inch.
Elder Mo Xinchen also revealed a gentle expression on her face the moment Lin Feng appeared.
As for the male disciples, they were also full of praise:
"Junior Brother Lin is truly like a gentleman, making one feel like they're bathed in a spring breeze."
"Yes, I believe Junior Brother Lin will definitely be able to lead our Qingyun Sect to glory."
"Since he's the Sect Master's direct disciple, it seems the next Sect Master position will definitely be Junior Brother Lin's."
Lin Feng's appearance instantly made him the center of attention. All the glory a protagonist should have could be found on him. Even the other five major sects cast envious glances, immediately believing that the Qingyun Sect had taken in a good disciple.
Only Shen Zhao's table, along with the one from the Tianqing Sect next to them, remained unaffected.
Shen Zhao glanced at Su Yunying and noticed a shadow of gloom on her usually cheerful and lively face.
Shen Zhao and his companions remained silent, while the three from the Tianqing Sect immediately began to mock.
"What's the big deal? Just a bit better-looking, nothing special."
"Maybe she was accepted as a direct disciple because she's pretty?"
"True Person Zisong's tastes are getting stranger. I never expected him to have such a preference; it's truly beyond my imagination."
"Hahaha…"
The three of them burst into laughter.
True Person Zisong glared at He Lixian, then looked at Lin Feng, who was kneeling before him, with a kind expression.
"Disciple Lin Feng, pays respects to the Sect Master!"
Lin Feng performed a respectful bow towards True Person Zisong.
True Person Zisong raised his hand, signaling him to rise, and said to the crowd, "Everyone, this is my final disciple, Lin Feng. From today on, he is my direct disciple and the next Qingyun Sect Sect Master candidate."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
It's fine that you've accepted a direct disciple, but to appoint him as the Qingyun Sect's successor after only a month, isn't that a bit too hasty?
But the Qingyun Sect, both high and low, seemed to have no objections to this, as if they had been brainwashed by Lin Feng, and didn't even dare to question it.
Lin Feng appeared very humble, but his heart was already filled with excitement.
So this is how it feels to be the center of attention?
Since joining the Qingyun Sect over a month ago, his treatment had been worlds apart from before.
True Person Zisong not only took him as a disciple, but upon learning of his physique's special properties, he stated directly: "If you take a liking to any female disciple within the sect for Dual Cultivation in the future, you don't need to report it, just go ahead and do it. You are the hope of my Qingyun Sect."
He was truly excited, and he had already taken a liking to an inner sect disciple of the Qingyun Sect.
That was Lu Xuanji.
The first time he saw Lu Xuanji, he vowed that he would obtain her no matter what.
However, he was afraid of being too abrupt and attracting gossip, so he began to slowly approach her, and had finally almost captured her heart.
After today's master-acceptance ceremony, he would find an opportunity to consummate their relationship with Lu Xuanji.
And Lu Xuanji had long been prepared to dedicate herself to Lin Feng, even fantasizing about the beautiful image of them having seven or eight children after becoming Daoist Companions.
Thinking about it, Lu Xuanji's cheeks flushed red, and she couldn't help but cover her hot cheeks with her hands.
Just as Lin Feng was facing the guests, smiling and bowing to everyone, he suddenly met Shen Zhao's cold gaze.
The next moment, he felt a buzzing in his head, and a sharp pain followed.
As if in an instant, he found himself on top of a collapsing snow peak, with a scene of blood mist billowing below.
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