The Scripture Pavilion stood at the very back of the Hall of Skill Transmission, in a courtyard pressed against a sheer cliff.
Few people came here. The scenery was tranquil and secluded, a mountain spring gushing from a hollow in the rocks beneath the pavilion and cascading down. Its murmuring waters only added to the place's otherworldly air.
After taking his leave of Wei Kuang, Zhou Qing immediately set off for the Scripture Pavilion.
At the entrance, he saw an old Daoist in a coarse cloth robe, standing with his hands tucked into his sleeves as he leaned against the doorframe, squinting contentedly in the sun.
Thanks to Wei Kuang's reminder, Zhou Qing already knew that this was Xu Jingfeng, the Hall of Skill Transmission Leader and a Golden Core True Person of the Azure Cloud Sect.
Zhou Qing hurried forward and respectfully bowed. "Greetings, Patriarch Xu. This disciple, Zhou Qing, requests permission to enter the pavilion and read its scriptures."
Xu Jingfeng opened his eyes and gave him a once-over. "So you are Zhou Qing. Not bad."
Then he narrowed his eyes again. "Go on."
Xu Jingfeng's manner left Zhou Qing completely baffled. What did he mean, so you are Zhou Qing, not bad...
Still, Patriarch Xu's words confirmed what Wei Xu had said. His name had indeed reached the sect's highest ranks.
He had always thought that the Azure Cloud Sect's way of training Outer Disciples was simply to let them run wild—placing no restrictions on them and allowing them to cultivate freely as they explored their own paths.
Now, however, it seemed that close attention still lay behind that hands-off approach.
At the very least, they had not neglected those promising disciples favored by the masters who answered their questions.
Zhou Qing bowed to Xu Jingfeng once