The Dragon-Slaying Peak steward said nothing. He didn't bother trading barbs with the other four stewards. With a flash, he whisked Yu Xiu away.
The four stewards were left stamping their feet in fury. "What a brute! No sense of honor!"
While they were still arguing, the other steward had already taken the man straight to Dragon-Slaying Peak. How were they supposed to compete now?
"Dragon-Slaying Peak really has luck on its side. It actually got itself a True Disciple seed ahead of time!" The Wen Dao Peak steward sighed in frustration.
The disciples were stunned, too. They hadn't heard what the stewards were saying, but it was plain enough that they were fighting over Yu Xiu!
"Since when could you be promoted to the Main Sect and have all the major peaks fighting to recruit you?"
Wasn't it usually the major peaks that chose their disciples?
Take Tianque Peak, Wen Dao Peak, and Dragon-Slaying Peak, the peaks of the Sect Master's lineage. Not just anyone could join. You needed the stewards' approval before you could make your choice.
Even the Inner Court disciples found it unbelievable, let alone the three of them, Zhu Wenjiu, Yuan Tiankuo, and Lu Shizhang. With their talents, they could get into Tianque Peak, Wen Dao Peak, or Dragon-Slaying Peak, but they were nowhere near good enough to have several peaks fighting over them!
The difference was vast!
"Sure enough, there's always a mountain higher than the last!" Zhu Wenjiu sighed.
Dragon-Slaying Peak.
Dragon-Startling Hall.
Ten elders and ten protectors had all gathered. Only the peak master was absent.
"His true qi, swordsmanship, sword intent, and comprehension are all rated A-plus, and his temperament is outstanding. He's received the highest marks in every category!" The Grand Elder exclaimed in amazement. "He's certain to have a shot at becoming a True Disciple one day!"
"We've all met him, and his potential is plain to see. So, who's going to take him as a disciple?" The Second Elder couldn't hold back any longer and got straight to the point.
The elders and protectors looked at one another, but no one spoke.
It wasn't that they didn't want to take him on. They didn't dare.
He was an uncut jade of such promise that he might become a True Disciple one day. That wasn't just talk. He might even reach greater heights.
But a thousand-mile horse was common; a Bo Le who could recognize one was not.
These elders and protectors were undeniably powerful, but none of them was certain they could truly teach this disciple well.
The Fifth Elder rubbed his hands together and smiled. "How about becoming my disciple?"
As soon as he spoke, the other nine elders and all ten protectors turned their eyes toward the slightly portly old man.
"Fifth Elder, I'll pretend you never said that," the First Protector said lightly.
The portly Fifth Elder scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The First Protector glanced at him. "You can't even beat a True Disciple. Do you really think you can teach one?"
The Fifth Elder choked on his words. He opened his mouth several times, but couldn't get anything out.
The Grand Elder picked up the thread. "Then we'll follow the usual rules. Like the Ten Heroes, such as Yuan Tiankuo and Lu Shizhang, and the Ten True Seeds, such as Yan Zhizhu, we'll make things as convenient for him as possible and help him cultivate, but we mustn't interfere by force.
"Also, in three months, when we go to Guangling Lake, Yu Xiu should come along."
The Second Elder furrowed his brow. "Yu Xiu is only at the second level of the Five Viscera realm. If he goes to Guangling Lake, I'm afraid..."
The Grand Elder shook his head. "A sword grows sharper the more it's honed. Why shouldn't he go to the place where Sage Qi attained enlightenment?
"Besides, we still have three months."
The Second Elder thought it over. "It's true Yu Xiu once reached the Qi Sea and Life Spring realms in just two months, but the Four Great Passes are different from the Four Ascending Dragon Passes.
"If he can advance from the second to the fifth or even sixth level of the Five Viscera realm in three months, that'll already be remarkable. Getting any further will be difficult."
The Grand Elder smiled. "We've given him the opportunity. Whether he can seize it is ultimately up to him."
More than twenty days passed in a flash.
Dragon-Slaying Peak, halfway up the mountain, in the courtyard.
[Realm: First of the Four Great Passes, Five Viscera realm, ninth level, perfected (breakthrough available)]
My cultivation had finally caught up with my realm! Yu Xiu let out a breath.
After joining Dragon-Slaying Peak and meeting the ten elders and ten protectors, Yu Xiu had moved into this courtyard.
It was worth mentioning that disciples who had just joined Dragon-Slaying Peak couldn't live here. Usually, only experts of the Indestructible Realm, two realms above the Four Great Passes, were given such treatment.
He also had three slots for choosing attendants.
He could choose from the Outer Court or the Inner Court, or even recruit people from outside. The sect would grant them the same treatment as Main Sect disciples.
Usually, only experts who had reached the Indestructible Realm received this privilege. Those experts within the sect often chose concubines or people close to them.
Yu Xiu had no plans along those lines for now. If he sold the three slots to the Inner Court, they'd fetch a sky-high price.
Over these twenty-odd days, Yu Xiu had swallowed one Five-Viscera Radiance Pill a day, finally bringing his cultivation to the ninth level of the Five Viscera realm.
Time to keep growing.
His comprehension of 2819 was already high, but it could still go higher.
He hadn't perfected all the cultivation techniques and martial arts he'd obtained at Cloud Mountain Cliff. Nor had he finished mastering the many sword techniques he'd comprehended beneath the wooden sword carved by Ancestor Linyuan at the Sword-Worshiping Stone.
All of those meant more comprehension and lifespan.
How could he let that go?
If I perfect everything, can my comprehension break through five thousand?
There were sixty-three Flawless Realm cultivation techniques at Cloud Mountain Cliff. He still had fifty techniques and five hundred sections to perfect.
Back then, his comprehension had only been 2189. Now it was 2894.
He picked one Flawless Realm cultivation technique and began studying it closely.
He read it once.
[Mountain-Moving Technique Chapter One: Mastered]
Then he ran through it once in his mind.
[Mountain-Moving Technique Chapter One: Perfected]
Comprehension +3
Lifespan +3
I did it!
Yu Xiu was delighted.
So fast!
He no longer needed to practice Flawless Realm techniques. One reading and one mental run-through were enough to perfect them.
Especially since his Sword Heart had reached the second stage. His consciousness was far stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. His speed after one reading and one mental run-through was absurd.
At this rate, he'd be soaring!
[Mountain-Moving Technique Chapter Five: Perfected] [Mountain-Moving Technique Chapter Ten: Perfected] [Tiger-Subduing Technique Chapter One: Perfected]...
After just one day, all fifty Flawless Realm techniques and five hundred sections were perfected.
Comprehension +1500
Lifespan +1500
His comprehension had broken through four thousand.
He then turned to the remaining forty-eight Qi Circulation realm cultivation techniques.
In theory, Qi Circulation techniques involved cultivating inner qi, and it was usually unwise to practice two at once. With two different kinds of inner qi inside the body, the slightest misstep could make them clash. Not only would that fail to increase one's strength, it could even damage the body.
But if he could perfect them without practicing them, there was no risk of clashing inner qi.
With comprehension above four thousand, I should at least be able to understand Qi Circulation techniques!
Yu Xiu looked at one of the Qi Circulation techniques.
He read it once.
[Nurturing Origin Technique Chapter One: Mastered]
He read it a second time.
[Nurturing Origin Technique Chapter One: Perfected]
Comprehension +5
Lifespan +5
"No need to practice!"
Two readings were enough to perfect it!
Yu Xiu's eyes had never been brighter.
Comprehension of ten thousand is close—very close!
Before you continue