Qingyun Main Hall.
"Sect Leader, I really wasn't lying to you. Our little junior brother's talent in the sword dao is heaven-defying."
Like an ant on a hot pan, Su Changyu explained himself to Grand Hua Daoist.
"Heaven-defying talent in the sword dao? How exactly is it heaven-defying?"
Grand Hua Daoist still did not believe him.
A disciple he had casually picked up outside was really a genius?
The odds of that were even lower than gold falling from the sky.
"Sect Leader, you know the sword technique I practice is the Four Thunder Sword Technique, right?"
Su Changyu asked.
"I know. I was the one who bought the sword manual. It cost over two hundred taels of gold. I originally hoped you would practice your sword well and bring glory to the sect, but..."
Grand Hua Daoist stopped halfway through, afraid of hurting Su Changyu's confidence.
Su Changyu felt a little upset, but he did not dwell on it and continued.
"Sect Leader, you should know about this Four Thunder Sword Technique. The day before yesterday, I casually drew a Sword Mark for little junior brother and told him to go gain enlightenment from it. Do you know what level he comprehended it to?"
Su Changyu lowered his voice, looking mysterious.
"He could gain enlightenment from that?" Grand Hua Daoist was slightly stunned. If Su Changyu had casually drawn a Sword Mark and he could gain enlightenment from it, then he truly was a genius.
"Initial Comprehension?"
Grand Hua Daoist made a bold guess.
"Sect Leader, guess more boldly."
Su Changyu shook his head.
"Peak Proficiency?"
Grand Hua Daoist's eyes widened in disbelief.
"More boldly."
Su Changyu continued.
"Damn it, Changyu, are you trying to make me swallow needles?"
Grand Hua Daoist did not answer.
Great completion?
That was impossible.
He had once had the good fortune of studying the Four Thunder Sword Technique himself. Even with feet, one could not learn it, let alone reach great completion. He would consider someone a genius just for bringing the entire Four Thunder Sword Technique to Initial Comprehension.
Much less great completion, in a single day.
This was not a genius. This was the reincarnation of a Sword Immortal.
"Sect Leader, you might truly not believe it when I say it. I myself feel as if I'm dreaming. Our little junior brother comprehended the Four Thunder Sword Technique to great completion overnight, and he even condensed part of his Sword Momentum!"
After Su Changyu said that, he did not know what else to say.
The Four Thunder Sword Technique, all comprehended to great completion?
And he had even condensed part of his Sword Momentum?
Grand Hua Daoist froze.
He could not imagine what kind of person could gain enlightenment into the Four Thunder Sword Technique to great completion overnight.
Grand Hua Daoist fell silent.
But after a while, his laughter rang out.
"Hahahaha! A dragon has emerged! A dragon has emerged! Our Qingyun Dao Sect has finally produced a dragon!"
Grand Hua Daoist clenched his fists in excitement, utterly exhilarated.
Su Changyu, standing beside him, was stunned.
What did that mean?
"Sect Leader, what do you mean by that?"
Su Changyu was a little confused.
"What do you mean, what do I mean? Our Qingyun Dao Sect has produced a dragon. Shouldn't you be happy? Why are you wearing such a miserable face?"
Grand Hua Daoist beamed, his face glowing with delight.
"No, Sect Leader. Little junior brother is a genius, but the problem is that if our tiny sect keeps him here, wouldn't we be holding him back? I can't get past it in my conscience."
Su Changyu voiced his true thoughts.
It had been one thing when they did not know he was a genius. Now that they knew, his conscience could not quite bear it.
But the moment he finished speaking, Grand Hua Daoist's voice rang out.
"Changyu, you are overthinking it. Your little junior brother attended fifty Ascension Conventions, and not a single sect wanted him. Yet amid the vast sea of people, I chose him. That is a blessing to him, and it is also a good thing for our Qingyun Dao Sect. What is the problem?"
Grand Hua Daoist spoke earnestly.
After hearing this, Su Changyu thought for a moment, then could not help saying, "Before, we didn't know he was a genius. Now that we do, it's different."
That was what Su Changyu said.
"How is it different?" Grand Hua Daoist asked with a serious expression. "Are you suggesting that we tell your little junior brother now, 'You're a genius, hurry and go to another sect'? Changyu, let me ask you: if he went to another sect, how would he prove that he was a genius?"
"By directly demonstrating the Four Thunder Sword Technique? Even if he successfully displayed it, what sect in Qingzhou would be worthy of him?"
"Even if it were the Four Thunder Sword Sect, what troubles would he encounter after joining them? With talent as outstanding as his, would the Four Thunder Sword Sect's geniuses not become jealous when they saw it?"
"Besides, we cultivators value fate. So many sects did not choose him, but our Qingyun Dao Sect did. That is fate."
"Do you feel somewhat guilty, thinking our sect has nothing and will delay his cultivation? But have you considered that if he went to another sect, would he truly have everything he wanted?"
"Moreover, the great sects scheme against one another. To stop another sect from developing, they would directly arrange assassinations in secret. Such things are not unheard of. Changyu, do not play the saint."
Grand Hua Daoist was worthy of being the Sect Leader. Having lived fifty or sixty years, every word he spoke was well-reasoned.
It made Su Changyu suddenly see the light.
On careful thought, it really was true.
So what if he was a genius?
With an unknown background, would they dare take him in?
Even if they did, would their sect truly be lacking one genius?
There was another point as well. Were those great sects born great sects? They had also climbed up step by step from small sects, built through the efforts of one genius after another.
They had not appeared out of thin air.
For a moment, Su Changyu felt that he really had been acting a little too saintly.
"Changyu, as long as we do these things, we can be clear in our conscience."
"We will sincerely teach him cultivation, give him all the sect's resources, and our Qingyun Dao Sect will have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Of course, there is one more thing. Keep maintaining the bearing of masters. We must keep him in the sect. Your master is not greedy; once the sect advances to the second rank, we will tell him the truth. As for whether he leaves or stays then, that will be up to him. What do you think?"
Grand Hua Daoist continued.
Su Changyu nodded at once.
"What the Sect Leader says makes sense."
"It is good that you understand. Changyu, come down the mountain with me in a couple of days. Since your little junior brother is a genius, I will buy two sword manuals for him to study properly. Even if it bankrupts us, we cannot mistreat him."
"Go back and rest. Remember, do not tell anyone else. The more people who know, the easier it will be exposed. And hold steady, Changyu. Just imagine yourself as a true Peerless Expert. Do not let the act slip."
Grand Hua Daoist gave him a few instructions.
Su Changyu then left the main hall.
After Su Changyu left, Grand Hua Daoist could not help laughing again. However, he covered his mouth and did not dare laugh too loudly.
As for guilt?
Honestly, what was there to feel guilty about?
It was like buying a priceless antique for ten copper coins in the mortal world. How many people would be willing to return it to the seller?
Besides, swift horses existed, but Bole was rarely found.
More than fifty Ascension Conventions, several hundred immortal sects, and none of them had chosen Ye Ping. Could they not allow the Qingyun Dao Sect to pick up a treasure?
Still, that was only natural. Those who had never suffered hardship were always fond of urging others to be kind.
Changyu would need more tempering in the future.
Very soon, bursts of laughter occasionally drifted from the main hall, leaving several disciples thoroughly baffled.
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