A Hot Potato

Inside the grand hall, eight cultivators of varying builds and appearances were arguing loud enough to bring the roof down...

"What? The Foundation Establishment Pill is going to someone else? Someone came with an Azure Mystic Token?!" an elder with white hair and a white beard demanded angrily.

"Fifth Elder! Why are you getting so worked up? Who said it was yours? Haven't circumstances changed?" a beautiful female elder said unhurriedly.

The Fifth Elder's face darkened. "Damn it! How can a mortal enter the sect and take my Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"The newcomer has both a recommendation letter from a great cultivator and an Azure Mystic Token. We can't very well turn him away!"

"Wait a moment, Fifth Elder. No one said the Foundation Establishment Pill was yours!"

"Silence!" the Azure Profound Sect Master said sternly. "I called you here to make arrangements for that mortal! Not to discuss these matters!"

"According to the rules, since he came with an Azure Mystic Token, we must also grant him the status of an Inner Sect Disciple. I called you here so you could discuss which Mountain Peak can accept him!"

At the Azure Profound Sect Master's words, the elders immediately fell silent, thoughtful expressions appearing on their faces.

Besides its main peak, the Azure Profound Sect had seven inner sect Mountain Peaks. Apart from the master of Heaven and Earth Peak, which ranked first, all the other peak masters were present.

Only Inner Sect Disciples could enter those Mountain Peaks to cultivate. For outer disciples to become Inner Sect Disciples, they had to pass an inner sect assessment mission or place in the top ten of the outer sect tournament.

This newcomer was a mortal who had not cultivated even a trace of spiritual power. Accepting him into their Mountain Peak would affect its annual assessment.

This was especially true for the higher-ranked Mountain Peaks, whose strength was closely matched. With such a burden added to their ranks, they might drop one place in the annual rankings and receive ten percent fewer cultivation resources. That would have a significant impact.

Thus, once those words were spoken, all the peak masters present fell silent.

Seeing that no one was speaking, the Fifth Elder gritted his teeth and said, "Sect Master, my Profound Heaven Peak still has room. We could accept this boy."

Wang Fa's cultivation is at a critical juncture now. I must get my hands on that Azure Mystic Token.

As for this mortal cultivating at his Mountain Peak, he would drag them down, but the two Mountain Peaks behind his were far weaker anyway.

"Fifth Elder, your abacus is clicking so loudly that even my Elegant Beauty Peak can hear it," an elder sneered.

Another elder said, "Fifth Elder, you'll have to guarantee his safety."

How could the Azure Profound Sect Master fail to see through the Fifth Elder's intentions? But since that mortal wished to set foot in the cultivation world, he would have to face cultivators whose powerful ranks stood as thick as a forest. Even with the Azure Mystic Token, the sect master still had a duty to protect him.

So the Azure Profound Sect Master said, "This person has come to our sect with a token. Besides guaranteeing his safety, we must also look after his progress in cultivation. Our Azure Profound Sect must ensure both the safety and cultivation of disciples from these meritorious Lineages! Even if his aptitude is somewhat poor."

Hearing this, the Fifth Elder's expression shifted, and he immediately fell silent. He had clearly heard the warning in the Azure Profound Sect Master's words.

His intentions had never been so innocent. Once that damned mortal landed in his Profound Heaven Peak, wouldn't getting his Azure Mystic Token later be the simplest thing in the world?

At that moment, a small, thin, middle-aged elder with a pale, beardless face spoke. "Since no one wants to accept him, let him come to my Seven Mysteries Peak. My Mountain Peak is at the bottom anyway. I have no desires or ambitions."

"In that case, let him go to Seven Mysteries Peak," the Azure Profound Sect Master said with a nod.

Yet the Seventh Elder refused to give up and said, "Wait, Sect Master. Let him come to my Profound Heaven Peak instead!"

Hmph, what is this Seventh Elder doing? Competing with me for the Azure Mystic Token?

This put the Azure Profound Sect Master in a difficult position. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "How about this? Let the boy decide for himself!"

Tsk! Since when did the Fifth Elder care about a mortal disciple? He's clearly after the Azure Mystic Token in the boy's hands.

Ye Han sat in a side hall, waiting calmly.

The bronze token he had obtained in that cave was an Azure Mystic Token.

According to the rules, he could receive a reward from the Azure Profound Sect and be admitted as an Inner Sect Disciple. He could also exchange the Azure Mystic Token for a Foundation Establishment Pill. According to Teacher Lan Qing, this pill was extremely important to cultivators.

But this Azure Mystic Token was a hot potato. After all, he had witnessed Teacher Lan Qing's abilities. Even martial arts experts had been killed before they could react.

A mortal like him, in the eyes of cultivators, could be killed with a single finger.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Ye Han's eyes. Should I do as Teacher Lan Qing said and exchange the Azure Mystic Token for something I need...?

As he was thinking, the Azure Profound Sect Master entered with two people. One was short, with a pale, beardless face. The other had a gloomy expression and white hair.

"This is the Fifth Elder of Profound Heaven Peak, and this is the Seventh Elder of Seven Mysteries Peak," the Azure Profound Sect Master said, casually gesturing to the two as he introduced them.

"Greetings, Fifth Elder, Seventh Elder." Ye Han stepped forward respectfully and bowed.

Though he had greeted the two elders this way, unease drummed in Ye Han's heart. I'm only joining the sect. Why have two elders come?

Something must be wrong.

The small, thin Seventh Elder asked, "What's your name?"

Ye Han replied respectfully, "This disciple's surname is Ye, and my given name is Han-the Han that means cold!"

The Seventh Elder looked Ye Han up and down and said in surprise, "Ye Han? Your surname is Ye?"

Ye Han found the Seventh Elder's tone rather strange, but he still nodded. "This disciple's surname is indeed Ye!"

If this fellow hadn't been a cultivator, he would have snapped back. Didn't I already say it? My name is Ye Han.

The Azure Profound Sect Master beside them said, "Ye Han! Since you've come to our Azure Profound Sect with an Azure Mystic Token, you are to become an Inner Sect Disciple. Two elders now wish to accept you. You may choose for yourself which Mountain Peak you want to join."

Hearing this, Ye Han looked stunned, and his heart suddenly lurched...

Teacher Lan Qing had told him that his cultivation aptitude was very poor. Without the Azure Mystic Token, there was no way the Azure Profound Sect would accept him as a disciple.

But now two Mountain Peaks want to accept me as a disciple? What's going on? Isn't my cultivation aptitude poor? How have I suddenly become such a sought-after treat?

This is bad! It's that Azure Mystic Token inviting disaster.

Teacher Lan Qing was right after all. This Azure Mystic Token really is a hot potato.

Although Ye Han was young, his head was perfectly clear. There was definitely something wrong here.

Then a gleam flickered in Ye Han's eyes, and he asked the Azure Profound Sect Master, "Sect Master, which peak do you think would be better for me?"

He was clever about it. Rather than asking either elder, he asked the Azure Profound Sect Master directly.

The question caught the Azure Profound Sect Master off guard. This boy is crafty enough. He's thrown the question straight back at me, the sect master.

The Azure Profound Sect Master was thoroughly seasoned and shrewd. Of course he knew the problem behind both elders wanting to accept Ye Han.

Especially if Ye Han went to Profound Heaven Peak-how would the Fifth Elder ever leave him alone?