Chapter 27

The Sect Master Peak lay in the place with the richest spiritual energy in the sect. After all, the sect master managed affairs great and small within the sect, which inevitably delayed personal cultivation somewhat, so this counted as a little compensation.

The several peaks surrounding Sect Master Peak were arranged according to the Five Elements. To the southwest was Artifact Refining Peak; directly south was Talisman Peak; southeast was Pill Peak. Pill Peak also oversaw cultivation, so it occupied the largest area. To the northwest was the renowned Discipline Hall, which connected to the Trial Secret Realm in the back mountains. The secret realm was said to be extremely perilous, and only Foundation Establishment Realm disciples could enter to explore it. To the northeast was Beast Taming Peak, second only to Pill Peak in size, where many rare Demonic Beasts with strange temperaments were raised.

Of course, there were also countless peaks, large and small. For instance, Founding Peak, where sect tasks were issued and Sect Contribution Points could be earned; Six Lectures Peak, where disciples studied and attended lectures; Sword Peak for sword practice; Blade Peak for blade practice; Seven Stars Peak for playing with formations; and so on. In any case, once one reached Golden Core, one could establish a peak. They could name it whatever they wanted. The sect was very lax about such matters—as long as one could afford the Sect Contribution Points, any peak could be chosen.

Sect Contribution Points, as the name implied, were contributions disciples made to the sect. Gathering spiritual plants, feeding Spirit Beasts, slaying demons and evil creatures outside the sect, eliminating Evil Cultivators, guarding a certain secret realm, representing the sect in grand competitions and winning a ranking—all of these could earn Sect Contribution Points. But the former certainly paid less than the latter.

Founding Peak, which issued sect tasks, was named after a high-grade spiritual artifact. This artifact was said to have been forged by Yonglu Mountain's founding ancestor. It could automatically assess the difficulty of sect tasks and determine the Sect Contribution Points awarded upon completion. For example, feeding Spirit Beasts for one day earned sixty contribution points, while reclaiming one mu of spiritual farmland earned eighty.

Every elder seated at this small consultation meeting had no fewer than a million contribution points under their name.

In other words, they were all the sect's pillars. Now, every one of them intended to take the Mutated Wind Spiritual Root as a personal disciple. Precisely because there were too many interested parties, the sect master had a terrible headache.

Gu Wufang had a terrible headache. He even wanted to throw down the burden and quit. Damn it, whoever wanted this lousy sect master position could have it. Back then, he had suffered because of his rotten luck at drawing lots. He had clearly entered the sect last—by all reason, no matter how they took turns, it should never have landed on his head!

"Senior brothers, stop arguing." If they kept at it, they would blow the roof off Sect Master Peak.

"Then tell us—who is best suited to take Wen Xu as a disciple?"

Gu Wufang: ...Then they should keep arguing.

When all was said and done, this was an extremely practical matter. Yonglu Mountain had opened its gates to accept disciples this time and, with extraordinary luck, had netted a disciple with a Mutated Wind Spiritual Root. Barring accidents, he would become one of the foremost among Yonglu Mountain's disciples of this generation.

Moreover, from the examinations over the past three days, Wen Xu had been flawless in appearance, character, and talent alike. Taking in such an excellent disciple was every master's ultimate dream. Even Gu Wufang himself had entertained the thought of accepting him as a disciple, let alone everyone else.

Setting Wen Xu's personal wishes aside for the moment, Wind Spiritual Roots were exceedingly rare. At the very least, there were currently no great Wind Spiritual Root cultivators within the sect. Since they could not find a perfect professional match, they had to settle for the next best thing: wood-element or earth-element cultivators, or failing that, cultivators with Dual Spiritual Roots of wood and earth, were the optimal choices.

Yonglu Mountain was brimming with talent. Even after narrowing things down by elimination, there were still... far too many choices.

Seeing that they were about to start arguing again, Gu Wufang could not help seeking aid from his most reliable senior brother, Du Qiujin. Speaking of which, his senior brother had a steady temperament and should have been the most suitable candidate for sect master. Unfortunately, Senior Brother Du was too honest and could easily be deceived by the old foxes of other sects.

Du Qiujin was quite considerate toward his junior brother. Seeing this, he took over the conversation. "Everyone, might you listen to a few words from me?"

"Then say them already."

Du Qiujin said, "At present, the most famous Wind Spiritual Root cultivator on Hengze Continent is surely clear in everyone's minds."

That could not have been clearer. It was Jun Zhaoying, the Supreme Elder of the Harmony Sect—the foremost person beneath the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. Her Windplay Art was unmatched to this day. She was flamboyant in her conduct and of great seniority besides; she truly was capable of coming to their door and snatching away a disciple.

At Du Qiujin's mention, everyone's expressions turned solemn.

"Therefore, I believe we need to find Wen Xu a... master who can suppress Jun Zhaoying, at the very least one who would make her not dare to steal him openly."

The moment those words fell, everyone went silent.

Only after a long while did someone speak in irritation. "The way you put it, are we supposed to invite a Tribulation Transcendence ancestor out of seclusion?"

Among cultivators in the Cultivation Realm, there were Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Body Integration Realm, and at the very peak, great powers of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm—also known as half a step to ascension. Tribulation Transcendence Realm cultivators possessed the power to move mountains and fill seas, but because their strength was too great, they were restrained by the powers of heaven and earth and could not emerge without a major event.

Generally speaking, Tribulation Transcendence ancestors cultivated in seclusion and contemplated life's great Dao. Yet in truth, their ears and eyes were keen; some even sent out incarnations to walk the world in search of opportunities for ascension. Of course, such people were an exceedingly rare minority.

"Actually... it isn't as though there's no such candidate."

Just as everyone had fallen silent, someone suddenly stroked his beard and spoke. "Have you forgotten? We still have a little grand-uncle master."

Those four words—little grand-uncle master—came crashing down, and well, the scene became even more silent.

Even the honest Du Qiujin could not help shrinking back a little. In his heart, he fiercely questioned himself: Must Yonglu Mountain take this Wind Spiritual Root? It wouldn't be impossible to give him to Jun Zhaoying, would it?!

But Gu Wufang, worthy of being sect master, remained silent for a long time before directly making the decision. "Fine. I'll go... seek instructions from little grand-uncle master."

Everyone: ...

The next day, the thirty-five new disciples washed up early, Chen Zui included. Well, the disciple leading them had nearly failed to recognize Chen Zui, since his changes were simply too great. Fortunately, the blade in his hand and the spiritual power surrounding him proved his identity.

The group soon arrived outside Juyong Hall. Juyong Hall was generally opened only when the sect handled important affairs. It stood atop the first great peak after entering the mountain gates, and it was also a place many Yonglu disciples could visit only once in their entire lives.