That afternoon, Zhào Yù brought a tailor to the residence where Bái Xī Wén was staying halfway up the mountain. After the tailor finished measuring Duàn Yì's various dimensions, Zhào Yù said to Bái Xī Wén,
"Since Brother Duàn has only just arrived on the mountain and has yet to look around the Golden Cauldron Sect, why not let this nephew take him for a stroll?"
Bái Xī Wén pondered briefly. Recently, aside from hunting in the mountains to replenish the loss of his body's vital essence, Duàn Yì had spent all his time cultivating and practicing martial arts in the residence with him. That could not go on forever. It would be better for Duàn Yì to make a few friends, so Bái Xī Wén agreed...
As they walked along the man-made mountain path, Zhào Yù, tall and slender with a sunny smile, seemed quite friendly toward Duàn Yì. He introduced him to many of Shalu Mountain's geographical features and told him about the Golden Cauldron Sect.
Before they knew it, they arrived at a level, open area. What greeted their eyes was an enormous white-stone arena.
Three sides had nine tiers of stone steps, while red-carpeted wooden chairs stood against the mountain wall, presumably for elders or those judging the matches. At each of the arena's four corners stood an engraved bronze cauldron as large as a farmhouse water vat, clearly weighing a tremendous amount.
Many Golden Cauldron Sect disciples in yellow robes had gathered around the arena as well, in groups of three or five or pairs of two. Some chatted animatedly, while others sparred and competed. The atmosphere was blazing hot.
It gave Duàn Yì the feeling of returning to his high school class in his previous life. With the college entrance examinations approaching, everyone had gathered to discuss and solve problems. It had been tedious and dull, certainly, yet there had been a special sense of fulfillment to it—a precious memory rarely found in one's life.
"This arena is where our Golden Cauldron Sect holds its monthly minor competitions and year-end grand competitions. When the time comes, the inner disciples on the mountain compete against one another, allowing their masters to understand their progress in martial arts and guide them accordingly.
"If outer disciples are confident in themselves, they may also challenge any disciple within the sect. Should they perform outstandingly and win the favor of the elders, it is not impossible for them to go from outer disciples to the direct disciples of a certain master.
"Oh, I nearly forgot. Has Junior Brother Duàn entered Uncle Bái's school? If so, perhaps at the next minor competition, we may get to witness Junior Brother's brilliance."
Zhào Yù pointed toward the distant arena as he explained things to Duàn Yì. Since they were some distance away, the Golden Cauldron Sect disciples surrounding the arena had not noticed them.
Duàn Yì had already heard Zhào Yù mention the Golden Cauldron Sect's monthly minor competitions and year-end grand competitions on the mountain path. They were rules established by the sect's third-generation leader.
They could fairly accurately test the disciples' progress in martial arts, and were also a way for sect members to display their talent and earn promotion, much like monthly and final examinations in modern schools.
Martial arts were rather mysterious, involving many aspects. Observation alone was inaccurate, and relying on one's own words was even less trustworthy. Only by truly displaying it—that was, by fighting—could it be taken as the standard.
Outstanding performers naturally would not lack rewards, while those who fell short would certainly be urged and instructed by the sect elders in the future, lest they drag everyone down.
Throughout the years, the Golden Cauldron Sect had produced expert after expert among its disciples, inseparable from this system of regular martial competitions.
"Senior Brother Zhào flatters me. How could I possibly have the fortune of joining the Golden Cauldron Sect? Brother Bái merely taught me a few superficial martial arts. He never intended for me to enter the Golden Cauldron Sect.
"Oh, right. These martial arts were acquired by Brother Bái outside the sect; they are not Golden Cauldron Sect martial arts. Senior Brother Zhào, please do not misunderstand."
Duàn Yì was quite interested in these regular competitions. First, they could increase one's real combat experience and prevent one from building carts behind closed doors. Second, the rewards were generous enough to make him drool.
However, he was not a Golden Cauldron Sect disciple. Neither the competitions nor the rewards had anything to do with him. Thus, he could only look at those disciples with envy as he replied.
His first words had been normal enough, but the latter half made Zhào Yù's heart suddenly leap like gongs and drums pounding away. With a sidelong glance at Duàn Yì, he unconsciously wondered: Martial arts acquired outside the sect—what martial arts could they be?
Everyone knew that Bái Xī Wén's famed ultimate art was the Invincible Treasure Codex, acquired through his own fortuitous encounter. Its power was unmatched, allowing him to sweep across an entire region. Could this boy truly have learned the Invincible Treasure Codex?
"Oh? So that is how it is? Uncle Bái is being far too strict. I can see that Junior Brother Duàn possesses extraordinary talent. It would be a pity if he did not enter the Golden Cauldron Sect.
"By the way, what sort of martial arts did Uncle Bái teach you?"
Thrown into turmoil by Duàn Yì's earlier words, Zhào Yù could no longer spare thought for concealing his probing intentions. Though regret showed on his face, he asked as if casually.
He immediately realized the impropriety of it and inwardly cursed himself for losing composure. It would not be good if Duàn Yì became suspicious, so he continued,
"If those martial arts are truly too shallow, I can petition my master to take Junior Brother Duàn into our school. Then you can cultivate profound martial arts, which would not waste your talent."
One had to know that martial arts were a person's foundation. If their origin, moves, and characteristics became known to others, it was exceedingly easy for those people to spot flaws and thus bring about defeat and death.
For those of the martial world, probing into another person's martial arts was a great taboo. That was why Zhào Yù had offered that string of remedial words afterward.
If Duàn Yì really had learned the Invincible Treasure Codex, taking him into the sect and then waiting for an opportunity to draw out the martial art from him would save far more effort than dealing with a powerhouse like Bái Xī Wén.
Even if Duàn Yì had not learned the Invincible Treasure Codex, accepting one disciple would have little impact on the Golden Cauldron Sect.
Duàn Yì had not felt much earlier, but when Zhào Yù inquired into the martial arts he had learned, he suddenly jolted awake. His expression remained unchanged, but thoughts had already formed in his heart.
No wonder this fellow had been so enthusiastic all the way, and why he kept steering the conversation toward martial arts, whether intentionally or not. He was here to gather information.
Was he targeting me, or Bái Xī Wén? Could it be because of the Invincible Treasure Codex?
Though Duàn Yì and Zhào Yù had chatted merrily all the way, Duàn Yì had not let down his guard for even a moment. After all, if the people here learned his true identity, they certainly would not allow him to remain alive.
Furthermore, the matter of delivering the wedding invitation that morning showed that the relationship between Bái Xī Wén and his martial brother Qū Dōng Liú did not seem particularly good. That made Duàn Yì even more cautious.
One held great power as the sect leader, while the other possessed immense prestige and was called the Golden Cauldron Sect's number one expert. If their relationship was good, it would be a fine tale like harmonious generals and ministers. But if it was bad, the conflict would be far more intense.
In other words, Bái Xī Wén might not have intended anything, but Qū Dōng Liú would certainly view Bái Xī Wén as a thorn in his eye and a spike in his flesh. It was much the same principle as a subject whose merit overshadowed his ruler.
From what Duàn Yì understood so far, Bái Xī Wén's prestige was simply too great—so great that Qū Dōng Liú might already be guarding against him.
The reason Duàn Yì could think so far ahead, aside from his meticulous mind, was also because he had read many wuxia novels in his previous life. Some of the stories within had laid bare the ugliness of human nature without a shred of covering.
"Brother Bái taught me a set of Songshan Swordplay and a cultivation art called Ice True Qi. Unfortunately, my aptitude is dull, and I have yet to make anything of them. Has Senior Brother Zhào ever heard of these two martial arts?"
With suspicion in his heart, Duàn Yì let his thoughts spread further and decided to reveal some information, lest others misunderstand and come looking for trouble later.
After all, compared to the Invincible Treasure Codex, these two martial arts were far less remarkable.
Sure enough, upon hearing Duàn Yì's words, disappointment involuntarily appeared on Zhào Yù's face. However, he quickly restored his smile and patted Duàn Yì on the shoulder.
"I have heard of Songshan Swordplay. It is one of the sword arts Brother Bái relied upon to make his name, and it is exceedingly formidable, no weaker than the direct-line sword arts of our Golden Cauldron Sect. For Junior Brother Duàn, it is enough to study for an entire lifetime.
"As for Ice True Qi, forgive my limited knowledge, but I have never heard of it. It must be an exceptionally powerful inner cultivation method.
"Then congratulations are in order, Junior Brother Duàn. Having obtained such formidable martial arts, your future will surely be boundless."
Zhào Yù naturally would not dispel his suspicions based on Duàn Yì's few words alone, but he still had to keep up appearances.
Just then, five people descended from another mountain path leading straight to the summit. They met Duàn Yì and Zhào Yù, who had stopped to talk, face-to-face. Both sides were startled.
Then a crisp voice filled with delight rang out,
"It's you? Why are you inside the Golden Cauldron Sect? Could it be that you have taken a master?"
Her features were exquisite and flawless, her skin whiter than milk. Her Flying Immortal Hairpin was both adorable and dignified, while a string of pearls around her neck glittered brightly.
At such a young age, she already possessed beauty capable of toppling cities. Who else could she be but Yuè'er, whom Duàn Yì had encountered by chance?
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