What to Do When You're Too Popular?

The other elders fell silent at once. The next moment, green light flickered in the eyes of every elder as they looked at Lu Yi.

Who wouldn't want a disciple with such talent?!

There was nothing to be done about Liu Ningshuang—she had been taken as the Peak Master's disciple. Even if they had a hundred times the courage, they would not dare snatch her away. But now...

A treasure like Lu Yi had not caught the Peak Master's eye. This was their chance!

For a moment, they turned to look at one another and saw the same thought in each other's eyes.

Everyone sneered at the same time. Their auras slowly surged, and powerful, terrifying pressure spread through the main hall.

Dong Wang Lian ran a finger over his jade flute and said, "Hehe, come on. Let's see who is more qualified to guide Lu Yi!"

The beautiful female elder gave a light laugh, and a red silk ribbon appeared in her hand. "Exactly what I was thinking!"

"Come on, who's afraid of whom?!"

"Lu Yi will definitely become this old man's disciple!"

The disciples in the distance watched these Nascent Soul elders, who normally stood high above everyone else, looking as though they were about to start fighting. Their expressions as they looked at Lu Yi were full of envy.

"Have the elders all gone mad?! Aren't they afraid the Peak Master will punish them for making such a commotion? The Peak Master hates it most when people make too much noise on the peak." A Golden Core youth bared his teeth. Thinking of the Drifting Soul Peak Master's anger made his scalp tingle.

Nangong Moyu shrugged. "What can they do? Who told this new junior brother to have such incredible talent?"

"That's true... Setting everything else aside, his comprehension alone is comparable to Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang's, right?"

"It seems we'll have to get along well with this little junior brother in the future."

Everyone nodded.

Seeing the elders with swords drawn and bows bent, Lu Yi could not help feeling speechless.

Had he been a little too high-profile just now?

He felt a little regretful. I should have waited a bit longer.

Still, he had heard the elders' assessment. The comprehension he had displayed was even stronger than Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang's?

That was not bad. He was rather pleased.

Seeing the elders poised for battle, Deacon Xiao also felt his head ache.

He steeled himself and said, "...Elders, Lu Yi has not finished his assessment yet. Shouldn't we let him complete it before discussing matters like taking him as a disciple?"

Hearing this, the elders also came back to their senses. There was still the combat strength assessment to be tested.

Lu Yi's performance in the comprehension assessment had simply been too earth-shattering. Even Nascent Soul cultivators like them, who had weathered great storms and seen towering waves, were somewhat shaken.

"Ahem, that is indeed true. We should finish the testing first."

"Then let's begin the combat strength test."

"I say Lu Yi's strength in the Outer Sect Competition has already proven everything. Even Jiang Fan at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer was no match for him. Isn't that enough?" said an elder with a somewhat fiery temper.

"Facts are facts, rules are rules. The rules that should be there cannot be omitted."

A white-haired old man spoke, looking at Deacon Xiao. "Little Xiao, in that case, begin the combat strength assessment."

Deacon Xiao nodded. "Yes!"

He looked at Lu Yi and smiled. "Lu Yi, I will be your assessment opponent. Normally, the standard for the combat strength assessment is defeating an opponent one minor realm above yourself. But for you... I'll fight you with cultivation at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer. No problem?"

Lu Yi smiled. "Of course there's no problem."

Deacon Xiao nodded. "Then let's go to the plaza outside."

Lu Yi nodded and followed Deacon Xiao out of the main hall. The elders followed as well.

Lu Yi glanced at the disciples watching the show nearby. Feeling the powerful auras emanating from them, he could not help sighing inwardly. As expected of disciples of Drifting Soul Peak—every one of them felt so strong.

When the disciples saw them come out, they all moved aside, leaving ample space for the two of them.

Lu Yi and Deacon Xiao stood facing each other. A longsword appeared in Deacon Xiao's hand, and Spiritual Qi fluctuations at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer surged around him.

He smiled at Lu Yi. "Are you ready?"

Spiritual Qi also circulated around Lu Yi. A longsword appeared in his hand, and he smiled and nodded. "I'm ready."

A sharp glint flashed through Deacon Xiao's eyes. The next moment, streams of fierce sword qi wrapped around his sword as he charged at Lu Yi.

He used the Flowing Wind Swordplay, displaying the strength of an ordinary Qi Refining Tenth Layer disciple—perhaps even somewhat weaker than Li Yun.

Such strength posed not the slightest threat to Lu Yi, though that was only for Lu Yi.

An ordinary Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator definitely could not defeat someone at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer. Those capable of fighting above their level were geniuses in their own right.

Lu Yi's expression remained calm. Fierce sword intent accompanied the longsword in his hand, and clouds of sword qi emerged around it before slashing toward Deacon Xiao.

The Sword Cloud appeared before Deacon Xiao almost instantly. Feeling the fierce sword intent carried by it, Deacon Xiao's pupils narrowed slightly. This power... if I truly were at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, that strike would have killed me, wouldn't it?

He instinctively erupted with cultivation from the Foundation Establishment Realm and shattered the Sword Cloud with a single strike.

As the Sword Cloud dissipated, Deacon Xiao slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, shock still in his eyes. "Combat strength assessment passed."

The disciples and elders nearby watched the slowly dissipating Sword Cloud. The elders had long known of Lu Yi's strength, but the disciples knew far less. Seeing it now, their faces were filled with shock.

"White Cloud Swordplay at the Return-to-True level, along with that sword intent... Junior Brother Lu Yi truly is formidable."

"Heh... Junior Brother Lu Yi is still young. I wonder if he can become someone like a second Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang?"

"That's probably impossible, right? Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang has an Innate Ice Spirit Body. No matter how strong Junior Brother Lu Yi's comprehension is, he cannot match her in cultivation talent."

"No matter what, with Junior Brother Lu Yi joining our Drifting Soul Peak, our Drifting Soul Peak will likely gain another pillar capable of holding up the heavens."

"That will have to wait several decades. We can talk once Junior Brother Lu reaches the Golden Core Realm."

"Hahaha, that's true. Before then, we senior brothers and sisters must properly lend Junior Brother Lu a hand."

"Did you need to say that?"

"Stop talking—it's about to begin!" At this moment, Nangong Moyu looked at the eager elders, an expression of someone watching the fun appearing on his face.

The many disciples' eyes lit up as well, ready to watch the show.

After Lu Yi passed the combat strength test, Deacon Xiao smiled and said, "Lu Yi, you have passed the Entry Peak Assessment. Are you certain you want to join Drifting Soul Peak?"

Lu Yi smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Deacon Xiao smiled. "In that case, from today onward, you are a disciple of Drifting Soul Peak. You may join an elder's lineage, or you may cultivate on your own. When you encounter confusion in cultivation, you may also ask an elder for guidance. That will require sect contribution points."

Lu Yi nodded. "I understand."

At those words, Spiritual Qi circulated around the elders, and they nearly instantly surrounded Lu Yi.

"Lu Yi! Join my lineage! I am willing to take you as a Personal Disciple! I'll give you all the cultivation resources you could ever want!"

"Little fellow, join this old man's lineage. This old man can teach you his unique cultivation technique. It is a Spirit Transformation technique, and its power is extraordinary!"

"Boy, I see you have already comprehended sword intent. Join my lineage, and I can pass all my insights into the Sword Dao on to you, helping you condense your sword intent!"

"..."

Lu Yi felt as though he were standing in a marketplace. The voices of all the elders made his head ache.

What was he supposed to do about being too popular with the elders? Waiting online, urgently.

Just then, a crisp voice suddenly rang out. "Elders, the Peak Master wishes to see this junior brother!"

Hearing this, the elders who had been chattering away, coaxing and cajoling in an attempt to make Lu Yi take them as his master, seemed to have been hit with a mute button. They fell silent all at once.