The News Breaks!

"Have you investigated it clearly?"

In a dark room.

A low voice rang out.

A candle was lit.

Liu Xinghe's face emerged in the glow.

A disciple standing in the candlelight's shadows replied respectfully, "It has been confirmed. The newly promoted True Disciple is named Han Yuan. He ranked ninth in this biannual Cultivation Assessment, at the initial stage of Qi Refining Layer 4. He was chosen by Peak Lord Du and became an Inner Sect Disciple ahead of schedule. Not long afterward, he was designated a True Disciple and assigned to Cangming Cave Mansion."

"What?"

"Qi Refining Layer 4?" Liu Xinghe clearly had not expected this answer at all.

"What is his aptitude?"

"A Mid-grade Five Elements Spiritual Root. Only his Wood Spiritual Root is mid-grade; his other four spiritual roots are all low-grade!"

A huge question mark appeared in Liu Xinghe's mind. "What gives him the right to be taken in by Du Yuanhe? Or has Du Yuanhe lost his mind?"

Liu Xinghe continued, "What background does he have?"

"None. He has no background in any Cultivation Family or faction. He is merely an orphan with no father or mother. Here is the detailed intelligence!"

The disciple handed the intelligence report to Liu Xinghe.

"You may leave!"

"Yes, President!"

The figure withdrew, and the candlelight in the room dimmed.

Liu Xinghe read through every detail in the report and fell into deep thought.

With no one to rely on and ordinary aptitude, how had he won Du Yuanhe's favor?

Wait!

"Ordinary aptitude, no backing, and he was still planting Spirit Rice during cultivation—how did he break through to Qi Refining Layer 4?"

Liu Xinghe swiftly spotted the issue. This cultivation progress did not match Han Yuan's basic circumstances at all.

"For his cultivation to advance so quickly, one possibility is that he consumed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. But he had never left the sect, so where could he have obtained such treasures? Other than that, it could only be comprehension!"

"If it was through comprehension, then his cultivation method must have already entered the Minor Accomplishment Realm. And he must have comprehended the Minor Accomplishment Realm very early on, otherwise there simply would not have been enough time. Such comprehension..."

Liu Xinghe admitted that this level of comprehension was far from simple. If that was why Du Yuanhe had taken notice of him, it could barely make sense, but...

"To directly grant him a Mysterious Grade Upper Rank cave mansion—this is valuing him far too highly! The previous six True Disciples never received such treatment. At most, they were given a Mysterious Grade Middle Rank cave mansion, and most only had Mysterious Grade Lower Rank cave mansions. So if my guess is correct, Han Yuan's cultivation method has not merely reached Minor Accomplishment—it has reached Major Accomplishment! Only such astonishing comprehension would be worth Du Yuanhe's high regard!"

After analyzing each point, Liu Xinghe had indeed deduced Han Yuan's previous circumstances. Aside from missing the matter of Han Yuan's "special physique," he had guessed almost everything correctly.

"A comprehension genius..."

Liu Xinghe immediately found it exceedingly troublesome. On a peak, only the disciples of the Peak Lord and Golden Core True Persons could be called True Disciples. The disciples of other elders were merely Core Disciples.

A Peak Lord could accept three True Disciples at once. Liu Xinghe had long been watching Du Yuanhe's third vacant True Disciple position, but he had never expected someone else to beat him to it.

Naturally, he was unwilling to submit just like that.

"Although Han Yuan has now become a True Disciple, the True Disciple Ceremony has not yet been held. It can still be revoked!" Liu Xinghe's gaze sharpened. "His cultivation is a fatal flaw! Qi Refining Layer 4 is simply not qualified to become a True Disciple. As long as I stir up the other disciples' dissatisfaction, even if Du Yuanhe is the Peak Lord, he will have to delay Han Yuan's elevation to True Disciple. During that time, I can make my moves!"

"I can find a way to have others test Han Yuan's comprehension in various areas. If his previous breakthrough was a coincidence rather than truly relying on comprehension, Du Yuanhe will certainly abandon him. And if Han Yuan truly possesses astonishing comprehension... then I'll give him a push and spread his reputation as a comprehension genius throughout the sect, making him a True Disciple of the sect and directly the Sect Master's disciple. That would also free up a position!"

After pondering for a moment, Liu Xinghe felt that everything was firmly within his grasp. No matter what, Han Yuan would leave the position of Spirit Script Peak's True Disciple. Afterward, Liu Xinghe would undoubtedly become the most likely candidate to become Spirit Script Peak's True Disciple!

The scheme was perfect.

He immediately arranged for people to carry out the first step: spreading throughout Spirit Script Peak the news that Han Yuan had become a True Disciple despite possessing only mid-grade aptitude and Qi Refining Layer 4 cultivation.

He could not show himself in this process. He only needed to wait quietly for the matter to ferment.

The next day.

This explosive news spread throughout all of Spirit Script Peak and even began making its way toward the other peaks.

"What? The Peak Lord accepted a new True Disciple! Which Inner Sect Disciple is this Han Yuan? Why have I never heard of him?"

"Of course you haven't heard of him! I heard he only entered the sect two years ago. Because he ranked in the top ten in the cultivation assessment, he obtained Inner Sect Disciple status early. Then he became a Personal Disciple, completing a three-step leap!"

"He's only at Qi Refining Layer 4 and merely has mid-grade aptitude. There must be something shady going on!"

"This is unfair! Someone like that can become a True Disciple? What a joke! Our Spirit Script Peak may rank near the bottom, but we cannot lose face like this, can we? What qualifications does someone like him have to become a True Disciple? I refuse to accept it!"

On Spirit Script Peak, countless Inner Sect Disciples discussed the matter heatedly, all dissatisfied with the news.

After confirming that the news was true, they voiced their dissatisfaction outright. For a time, quite a few disciples went to report the matter to the Foundation Establishment Elders.

Many Foundation Establishment Elders were also extremely shocked upon hearing the disciples' reports. One after another, they went to find Du Yuanhe and ask what was going on.

Outside Spirit Script Peak, disciples from the various peaks all mocked Spirit Script Peak for having declined so badly that it had actually allowed a Qi Refining Layer 4 disciple to become a Personal Disciple.

The Outer Sect Disciples from Courtyard D-17 in the outer courtyard were likewise unable to believe the news when they heard it.

Qin Feng heard the news and immediately decided to go seek refuge with Han Yuan. He felt that, having studied alongside Han Yuan for two years, he was surely closer to him than others were. Slipping a pack onto his back, he headed for Spirit Script Peak.

Wu Chao let out a great sigh of relief, his face even showing lingering fear. Luckily, luckily he had resolved their conflict in advance. Otherwise, it would have been too late to fix things now.

Zhao Donglai's face flushed red with jealousy and shame.

Hu Yifan stood frozen on the spot, repeatedly saying it was impossible.

Spirit Script Peak, the grand hall at the summit.

Du Yuanhe was currently surrounded by several Foundation Establishment Elders.

"Senior Brother Peak Lord, the disciples say you accepted another Personal Disciple?" the Transmission Elder asked.

Du Yuanhe glanced at everyone and chuckled. "Everyone, remain calm. I know what you are thinking. I naturally have my reasons for accepting Han Yuan as a True Disciple. He is a rare comprehension genius. In merely two years, he cultivated the Ancient Wood Nourishing Spirit Art to the Major Accomplishment Realm. His comprehension is among the best I have ever seen in my life."

"Major Accomplishment Realm? The Ancient Wood Nourishing Spirit Art is a Yellow Grade High-Rank Cultivation Method. Reaching the Major Accomplishment Realm within twenty years would already count as good comprehension. If what Senior Brother Peak Lord says is true, then this Han Yuan is indeed worthy of a True Disciple position." The Transmission Elder's expression eased. As the Transmission Elder, he understood better than anyone the difficulty of advancing through cultivation method realms.

Yet another elder voiced his doubts. "Peak Lord, can his astonishing comprehension truly be determined solely from one cultivation method reaching Major Accomplishment? Perhaps some other reason allowed him to comprehend the cultivation method to Major Accomplishment. Perhaps his comprehension is not actually so outstanding. Without testing him a few more times, isn't it somewhat hasty to make him a True Disciple directly?"

Hearing this, Du Yuanhe seemed to feel that the elder had a point. He had indeed been swept away by the advancement of a cultivation method to the Major Accomplishment Realm, but he naturally could not slap his own face.

He said, "Isn't the True Disciple Ceremony still not being held? We will know how his comprehension truly is after observing him for a while longer!"

"If so, then observe him for a while longer. Do not make a fool of yourselves and invite mockery from the other peaks!"

"Comprehension is simply too ethereal. Only time can prove everything!"

Only then did the Foundation Establishment Elders disperse.

The Personal Disciple ceremony Du Yuanhe had originally prepared was consequently put on hold.

"Do not disappoint me, Han Yuan!"