Ye Liang's Test and Reaction (Please Bookmark)

To the southeast of the Inner Sect, atop a rather tall Spirit Peak, thin Clouds and Mist billowed. Dim sunlight shone down from above.

At the Mountain Peak of that Spirit Peak stood a Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansion.

At the entrance of the Cave Mansion, Ye Liang stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in splendid robes. A clear breeze swept over him, making his garments flutter loudly, while a strand of black hair hanging before his forehead danced in the wind, lending him an imposing presence.

At this moment, his noble features wore a gentle smile as his gaze rested ahead.

Because his Spirit Peak was extremely tall and his Cave Mansion sat at its summit, his view was exceptionally broad. Looking down from the entrance, he could vaguely make out many of the Inner Sect's Spirit Peaks.

That was also why, after drawing his Cave Mansion back then, he had felt its location was rather good.

"That direction should be where Qi Chuan's Cave Mansion is, right?"

Ye Liang looked with a faint smile toward a Spirit Peak that appeared and disappeared at the left edge of his vision. That peak was where Qi Chuan's Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion stood. Though it was Tier 1 High-grade, the Spirit Peak itself was somewhat shorter than the one supporting his Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansion.

When he had first entered the Inner Sect, he had not known much about Qi Chuan. He only knew that he was a Qi Family Prodigy who had been lucky enough to draw a Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion.

However, afterward, he had secretly had the Ye Family investigate the Family Disciples and Rogue Cultivator disciples who had entered the Inner Sect in the same batch, thus learning some information about the new Inner Sect disciples of his cohort.

Although the lucky Qi Chuan had been rather well protected by the Qi Family, leaving the Ye Family's secret investigation with somewhat less information on him, Ye Liang had still vaguely learned that the other party seemed to be a Magic Talent?

According to the Ye Family's investigation, Qi Chuan's Fireball Technique should have reached the Minor Accomplishment Stage, perhaps even the Major Accomplishment Stage.

However, Ye Liang felt it could not be the Major Accomplishment Stage, only the Minor Accomplishment Stage.

After all, Qi Chuan was merely around fourteen years old, two years younger than himself. How could he possibly cultivate the Fireball Technique to the Major Accomplishment Stage?

Still, even the Minor Accomplishment Stage made him a bona fide Magic Talent.

Moreover, Qi Chuan's Cultivation Base was not weak either. At fourteen, he seemed to have already reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Combined with his Magic Talent, this immediately piqued Ye Liang's interest.

And this time, with his birthday falling three days later, an idea had come to him. He would use the Birthday Banquet as a pretext to invite Qi Chuan over, then test him during the banquet and probe the Fireball Technique's true stage.

In truth, it was not solely for Qi Chuan's sake.

This time, he had only invited those new disciples from his cohort who had entered the Inner Sect whom, after the Ye Family's investigation, he considered to possess decent aptitude and potential—people worthy of his recruitment.

Although his goal was to become a True Disciple, even a Foundation Establishment Elder of the Wind Moon Sect, he would remain an Inner Sect Disciple for some time before that.

During that period, if he could have these promising new Inner Sect disciples work for him, it would be ideal. It would save him much trouble and allow him to devote more energy to cultivation.

Take Qi Chuan, for instance. He had been lucky enough to draw a Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion. If Ye Liang could think of some way to exchange it for resources or promises, acquiring Qi Chuan's Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion would certainly bring enormous benefits to his cultivation.

"This time, I personally sent him a letter. Qi Chuan probably won't refuse, will he?"

Looking ahead, Ye Liang wore a warm smile.

In his view, he should not.

After all, he was a member of the Ye Family. The Ye Family was faintly acknowledged as the foremost lineage beneath the Wind Moon Sect. As the Ye Family's sole candidate for an Inner Sect Quota, whether in Xiu Xian aptitude or current realm, he was publicly the foremost among the new Inner Sect disciples of his cohort.

For someone like him to personally lower himself and take the initiative to invite Qi Chuan to his Birthday Banquet was already giving him ample face. Whether Qi Chuan wished to curry favor with him or feared offending him, he should not dare refuse.

And once Qi Chuan came, Ye Liang would have all manner of methods to test the true stage of his Fireball Technique.

If it was a Fireball Technique at the Minor Accomplishment Stage, then compared with the other new Inner Sect disciples of their cohort, Qi Chuan would be even more worth recruiting.

But if it was a Fireball Technique at the Major Accomplishment Stage, then he would pose something of a threat. In the future, he might even become Ye Liang's rival for the position of True Disciple.

If it was the latter, learning of it early would allow Ye Liang to make preparations early...

Flap! Flap!

Just then, the sound of beating wings rose from ahead.

A paper crane struggled to flap its wings, parting the thin white mist as it flew up from below.

At the sight, Ye Liang smiled faintly and held out his palm, allowing the paper crane to land upon it.

Then, he unfolded the paper crane and read Qi Chuan's Reply Letter on its reverse side.

"Sorry, Brother Ye. I've truly been rather busy lately and can't get away. I won't be able to make it three days from now, but I still wish you a Happy Birthday."

"...Qi Chuan."

As he stared at the handwriting on the Paper Crane Letter, the gentle smile on Ye Liang's face gradually stiffened.

"Hmph, this Qi Chuan is rather full of himself!"

Whoosh!

He crumpled the Paper Crane Letter into a ball, flames rising from his palm. In merely a breath, the letter turned into ashes and scattered down through his Fingers.

Ye Liang looked toward the Spirit Peak where Qi Chuan's Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion stood, a trace of gloomy fury surging from the depths of his eyes.

He truly had not expected the other party to dare refuse.

He had originally assumed that even if Qi Chuan did not accept his recruitment, he would still give Ye Liang face by attending his Birthday Banquet.

Who would have thought...

"Forget it. He merely has some Magic Talent..."

Ye Liang gave a light laugh and shook his head, his eyes carrying a trace of disdain.

In his estimation, there was a ninety-nine percent chance that Qi Chuan's Fireball Technique was only at the Minor Accomplishment Stage. It was absolutely impossible for it to be at the Major Accomplishment Stage.

If it was only a Fireball Technique at the Minor Accomplishment Stage, then in Ye Liang's eyes, Qi Chuan merely had a little Magic Talent. That was all.

After all, in the Cultivation World, the most important thing was still one's Cultivation Realm.

Even if the Fireball Technique was cultivated to the Perfection Stage, it could only run rampant in the Qi Refining Realm. What could it do against a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator?

If Qi Chuan thought himself somewhat special merely because he possessed a little Magic Talent, then he would truly be making a laughingstock of himself.

"I should first prepare to recruit the other promising new disciples coming in three days. Among them, at least some will agree to be recruited."

Cold light flickered in his eyes. With a sweep of his sleeve, Ye Liang turned and returned to his Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansion. Behind him, the formation's light rose, and then, with a boom, the Cave Mansion's doors slammed heavily shut.

From within the Cave Mansion came what seemed to be a faint chuckle.

"As for this Qi Chuan... forget it. There will be opportunities later..."