Master?

Zhu Tiangang's brows knitted together instantly. His gaze lingered on Jiang Tian for a moment before shifting to Ji Fuyao, casting an inquisitive look.

Since he had brought Jiang Tian here, it surely wasn't because something major had happened; otherwise, he wouldn't have brought along a mere boy in the Qi Gathering Realm.

However, nine bell tolls—if it wasn't for something major, it could only mean one thing.

A True Disciple.

His lips moved, and just as he was about to speak, the impatient Lu Qingyao beat him to it.

Her voice was not loud, but it carried an irrepressible heat.

"Senior Brother, why did you bring him here? You can't possibly be saying that you intend to make him a True Disciple, right?"

Ji Fuyao stood with one hand behind his back, his posture relaxed. He nodded slightly and calmly spat out two words: "That is correct."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Tiangang and Lu Qingyao were instantly stunned.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Immediately after, Zhu Tiangang couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction: "There can only be ten True Disciples. If no one has died and no one has ascended to the Purple Mansion, then there cannot be any new True Disciples. That is the rule of the Heavenly Fire Sect."

He was somewhat displeased with Ji Fuyao's actions.

Without any notification or discussion, he was going to break the rules and appoint an eleventh True Disciple?

Did Ji Fuyao really think this was his own private Heavenly Fire Sect? This was a rule passed down for thousands of years; how could it be broken?

"Are you the Sect Master, or am I?"

Ji Fuyao glanced at Zhu Tiangang sideways.

Zhu Tiangang froze, feeling a surge of annoyance, and was about to lash out.

But for some reason, the memory of Ji Fuyao's display from last night suddenly surfaced in his mind—that empty cup, placed down with a gentle touch, had instantly annihilated the seven or eight tenths of power behind the divine abilities he and Lu Qingyao had unleashed.

He and Lu Qingyao had sparred last night; although they hadn't used their full strength and were on opposite sides, they were both part of the Heavenly Fire Sect, so how could they fight with lethal intent?

But it was at least seven or eight tenths of their power.

Even so, the divine abilities of two Golden Core True Monarchs in the early stage had been neutralized by Ji Fuyao so easily.

Ji Fuyao's cultivation, he feared, was already approaching the late stage of the Golden Core.

At this thought, he let out a cold snort and said nothing more.

Lu Qingyao, however, was concerned about another point.

She took half a step forward: "Senior Brother, didn't you say that this boy carries too much karma and is related to the Hundred Thousand Year Calamity? If you make him a True Disciple, won't his bond with our Heavenly Fire Sect become even deeper?"

Ji Fuyao chuckled softly and calmly spat out four words: "Tortoise Shell, Great Auspiciousness."

Lu Qingyao's eyes became incredibly bright for a moment, but when her gaze fell upon Ji Fuyao's hair and she saw those few strands of white, the light in her eyes dimmed instantly, replaced by deep concern.

"This divination... how much lifespan did it cost?"

"A mere sixty years." Ji Fuyao said it dismissively.

Lu Qingyao was slightly stunned.

She hadn't expected that merely catching a glimpse of a corner of Jiang Tian's fate would consume so much of his lifespan.

Sixty years—for a Golden Core True Monarch with a two-thousand-year lifespan, it might not seem like much, but that was still sixty years of life.

Jiang Tian frowned slightly.

What the hell? The Hundred Thousand Year Calamity? Why couldn't he understand what they were talking about?

Sixty years? This Ji Fuyao had spent sixty years of his life on him?

Ji Fuyao clapped his hands and laughed, the sound echoing through the empty hall.

"Alright, let the True Disciple Ceremony begin!"

During the last Hundred Thousand Year Calamity, the ancestors of that generation had exhausted all their strength to ensure the continuation of the Heavenly Fire Sect.

And he, too, would surely be able to lead the Heavenly Fire Sect through this Hundred Thousand Year Calamity.

Ji Fuyao looked at Jiang Tian and gestured for him to move forward: "Go on, it's your stage now."

Sunlight filtered through the entrance of the hall, slanting in and dyeing the threshold a brilliant gold.

Jiang Tian walked forward, step by step, against the sunlight. His shadow stretched long behind him.

Ji Fuyao followed behind him, half a step to the side, unhurried and steady.

Below the steps, thousands of eyes looked toward the direction of the main hall in unison.

When the figure of a Qi Gathering Realm disciple appeared at the entrance of the Heavenly Fire Hall, everyone was stunned.

Some had their mouths agape, forgetting to close them; others had their eyes wide with shock.

Some Qi Gathering disciples couldn't help but want to speak, but at this moment, even with a thousand questions in their hearts, they could not utter a word. An occasion marked by the nine tolls of the bell was not one where just anyone could speak.

Among the crowd of Qi Gathering disciples, those who had attended the gathering with Jiang Tian yesterday were all frozen in place.

Especially Xu Buyu.

After witnessing Jiang Tian's talent and comprehension yesterday, he immediately reported it to his master.

He thought that perhaps a Purple Mansion master would personally come to take him as a disciple, sparing them, these Qi Gathering disciples, from having to go and beg for tutelage.

It was also possible that the True Monarch Heavenly Fire Phoenix of the Master-Disciple Lineage would take him in personally; after all, such comprehension was truly terrifying.

Regarding yesterday's clash between the True Monarchs, he knew for certain that it was True Monarch Profound Water Heavy Cloud who had received the news and wanted to snatch the boy away.

But looking at things today...

When Song Yongheng saw Jiang Tian's figure, he was stunned for a moment, feeling that the silhouette looked familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

Immediately after, his expression turned extremely gloomy.

For the past two days, he had been busy with the twin sisters and had paid no attention to the outside world. He hadn't taken the clash with Jiang Tian to heart—or rather, he had never put Jiang Tian in his eyes at all.

A brat in the early stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, worthy of his concern?

But how had this brat appeared at the Heavenly Fire Hall after only two days?

Is he going to be established as a True Disciple? A True Disciple at the Qi Gathering Realm? Is the Sect Master serious?

"Wuwuwu!"

Zhang Xuechen kept his mouth pursed and let out a few strange noises, nearly jumping up on the spot, drawing dissatisfied glares from those around him.

Isn't this the kid who came to the Artifact Pavilion yesterday to buy a Sword Pellet? Is he really about to become a True Disciple?

He simply couldn't hold it in anymore.

If he wasn't allowed to say it, it would be too unbearable!

"Hey, hey, hey!" Zhang Xuechen pointed at Jiang Tian at the entrance of the main hall, his voice rising uncontrollably, "I know this guy, I..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he felt the world go dark, as if someone had rapped him on the head.

Immediately following that, several thoughts exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

"Presumptuous!"

"Have you lost your sense of propriety?!"

"Don't you know how to distinguish the gravity of a situation?! Do you even know what kind of occasion this is?!"

Zhang Xuechen shrank his neck and obediently shut his mouth, though the excited gleam in his small eyes could not be suppressed.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators did not speak, exchanging thoughts with one another as silent ripples flowed between them.

Some nodded, some shook their heads, some looked thoughtful, and some remained expressionless.

The ten True Disciples at the very front wore varied expressions.

Some frowned, eyeing Jiang Tian, while others fell into deep thought, fingers tapping lightly against the jade pendants at their waists.

Some remained expressionless, like a pool of stagnant water, showing no ripples at all.

The ceremony was actually quite simple; Sect Master Ji Fuyao made the announcement, then lit a few long incense sticks, and the phantoms of the past Heavenly Fire Sect masters appeared in the sky.

Those phantoms hung high above the sea of clouds, some sitting or standing, some holding swords or playing zithers, some with eyes closed or open. Every phantom radiated a suffocating pressure, as if they had crossed thousands of years of time to cast their gazes upon this young Qi Gathering disciple.

Jiang Tian began the rites, and then everyone followed suit.

After the ceremony ended, Jiang Tian followed behind the three True Monarchs back into the Heavenly Fire Hall.

The hall doors slowly closed behind them, shutting out the clamor from outside, leaving only four people inside: three True Monarchs and one Qi Gathering True Disciple.

Jiang Tian felt that the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Why did it feel like that old man and that woman were about to start fighting if they didn't agree on something?

"Senior Brother." Lu Qingyao spoke first, her voice firm, "Since this boy has already become a True Disciple, it should be up to my Master-Disciple Lineage to provide his instruction, right?"

Thank you to [User 36148031, Feng~Eiffel, Xinghua Luoyu, Zai Zheng Cheng Xian Zhong, Xiao Xian Tong Zai, Hua Tuan Jin Cu De Nuliang Lusheng, Feiyu Danchao Fan, Li Yang TEL, User 34023154, Buguo Xiaodao] for the support! Thank you, thank you!!!

Thank you to [Tie Tui Shui Shang Piao 卍] for the update request talisman!!! Thank you, thank you!

Thank you to [Feiyu Danchao Fan] for the flowers! Thank you, thank you!!!

Thank you to [Li Yang TEL] for the love letter!!! Thank you, thank you!

Thank you all for the gifts! I'm kneeling in gratitude to everyone!

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