He Was Actually the Heavenly Dao Sect Master?

Xu Yang soon brought Chen Xun to the pavilion.

"Deacon Qian, this is Chen Xun. Find him somewhere to live and assign him an area to sweep."

Xu Yang smiled as he spoke.

Qian Laifu hurriedly rose and came forward to look Chen Xun over. "Chen Xun, I'm the deacon in charge of the area halfway up Servant Disciple Peak. You can just call me Old Qian."

Having learned that Chen Xun was a friend of Zhao Ting, the newly promoted Purple-Robed Disciple, Qian Laifu dared not slight him, even if he was a mortal without a spiritual root.

Chen Xun tilted his head, studying the pavilion's interior, seemingly oblivious to Qian Laifu's words.

"Uh... haha." Qian Laifu gave an awkward laugh.

Xu Yang was speechless. "Deacon Qian, didn't I tell you that Chen Xun suffers from madness? You don't need to treat him like an ordinary person. Sometimes he's simply very difficult to communicate with."

Qian Laifu nodded. "Yes, yes, of course."

"Mm." Xu Yang let out a breath. The task Deacon Shen He had given him was finally complete. "You can sort out Chen Xun's arrangements later. I'll head back to Human Mystic Peak."

With that, Xu Yang walked toward the pavilion's exit.

Seeing this, Qian Laifu said, "Wait."

Xu Yang turned around, puzzled.

Qian Laifu glanced at Chen Xun, then stepped forward and pulled Xu Yang aside. He whispered, "Xu Yang, just how should I arrange things for Chen Xun?"

To be honest, seeing Xu Yang's rather indifferent attitude toward Chen Xun had left Qian Laifu unsure again.

Xu Yang fell silent for a moment before saying, "Senior Brother Zhao Ting probably won't have much to do with Chen Xun from now on."

Xu Yang knew all too well how strict the sect's hierarchy was, and how human warmth so often turned cold.

In fact, Xu Yang had once had a good friend here on Servant Disciple Peak, who was still here even now. But ever since Xu Yang had been promoted to the outer sect, the two had rarely crossed paths.

After saying that, Xu Yang shook his head and left.

Qian Laifu pursed his lips as he watched Xu Yang's retreating back. A moment later, he turned around, much of the warmth in his gaze fading as he looked at Chen Xun.

"Someone, come here."

Qian Laifu called out.

Soon, a disciple entered and bowed. "Deacon."

Qian Laifu nodded slightly. "Take Chen Xun to the western side. Isn't there a thatched hut there? He'll live there from now on. On the way, show him where we usually eat so he can learn the route."

The disciple froze for a moment, glanced at Chen Xun, then nodded in assent.

Still, he could not help asking, "Deacon, don't all the disciples live together? Why is Chen Xun..."

Qian Laifu glanced at the disciple. "Chen Xun is a mortal, not a disciple. How could he live with you?"

The disciple said, "..."

The disciple was stunned and took a long, searching look at Chen Xun. Since when could mortals enter the Heavenly Dao Sect?

"All right, take Chen Xun there." Qian Laifu waved a hand, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. From now on, Chen Xun will sweep the mountain path from halfway up Servant Disciple Peak down to its foot."

The disciple bowed. "Understood."

He then looked at Chen Xun and smiled. "Chen Xun, come with me."

But when Chen Xun ignored him, he faltered and looked blankly at Qian Laifu. "Deacon, this..."

Qian Laifu's gaze shifted, and he gave a dry cough. "He's not quite right in the head. Just take him by the arm."

"Uh, yes."

Coming back to his senses, the disciple took Chen Xun by the arm and quickly led him outside.

By evening, the sky gradually darkened.

On the western side, halfway up Servant Disciple Peak.

A solitary thatched hut stood in the mountain wilderness.

Weeds and trees surrounded the hut, with only a narrow trail leading outside.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."

The mountain wilderness was quiet, yet the insects chirped incessantly, enough to fray anyone's nerves.

In front of the hut, Chen Xun crouched alone, holding his blank book and leafing through it with feverish eyes.

Earlier that day, after leading Chen Xun out of the pavilion, the disciple had shown him the dining hall and the area he was to sweep. Finally, he had brought Chen Xun to this hut and left.

It had still been afternoon then. After arriving, Chen Xun had not gone out again, not even for dinner.

In this remote mountain wilderness, with darkness all around, anyone would have felt abandoned by the world.

Fortunately, Chen Xun felt nothing of the sort. He remained immersed in his own world.

Chen Xun suddenly yawned, put away his book, and stood up. He looked blankly around before turning and entering the hut.

The hut was sparsely furnished. In the dim light, a wooden bed and a wooden table with chairs were barely visible.

Chen Xun yawned again and flopped onto the bed. Taking the wooden sword off his back, he hugged it to his chest and fell asleep.

The inner pavilion stood at the summit of Heavenly Dao Peak!

Heavenly Dao Peak was another mountain peak, separate from Servant Disciple Peak, Human Mystic Peak, Earth Profound Peak, and Heaven Mystic Peak.

It was also the heart of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Whenever something important happened, the Heavenly Dao Sect's senior figures would gather here to discuss it.

At that moment, inside the inner pavilion.

Zhao Ting stood in the center, at a complete loss.

A group of people in deep purple robes sat there, their eyes fixed on him, brimming with delight and scrutiny. Zhao Ting could barely withstand their attention.

To one side, Deacon Shen He stood bowed, keeping his posture exceedingly humble. A closer look revealed cold sweat beading on his forehead.

As an inner sect deacon, Shen He's standing in the Heavenly Dao Sect was hardly low.

But there was nothing he could do. Every person before him was a core elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect!

Any one of them held a position far beyond Shen He's. The difference was as vast as heaven and earth.

"Shen He, you've done very well. To think you would bring back such an outstanding disciple this time!"

The third elder on the left, an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face, stroked his beard and smiled.

His name was Jiang Bailu, the Heavenly Dao Sect's third elder.

Shen He hurriedly knelt and kowtowed. "You flatter me, Third Elder. This is no achievement of mine, but a gift bestowed upon our Heavenly Dao Sect by heaven."

Shen He was, after all, an inner sect deacon. His words were watertight: he claimed no credit, instead calling it a gift from heaven.

Jiang Bailu smiled faintly, and the other elders nodded as well.

Clearly, they were quite satisfied with Shen He's answer.

"Rest assured. Once the sect master arrives, you will certainly be credited for this. A heavenly spiritual root! How long has it been since our Heavenly Dao Sect recruited a disciple of such dazzling talent?"

The first elder on the left, a young man with an upright countenance, spoke with a faint smile.

His name was Liu Yunjian, and he was the Heavenly Dao Sect's grand elder!

Shen He's body jolted. He was overjoyed, but did not dare show it.

"Zhao Ting."

Liu Yunjian suddenly looked at Zhao Ting and called to him with a smile.

Zhao Ting's heart trembled. He hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "E-Elder."

At present, Zhao Ting only knew that everyone before him was an elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect. He had no idea who was who.

Liu Yunjian nodded slightly. "You possess a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root. Talent like yours would rank among the best even among the Purple-Robed Disciples."

The elders silently nodded at his words.

The grand elder was indeed correct. Among the Purple-Robed Disciples, heavenly spiritual roots were the highest grade. Some possessed earth spiritual roots, but even the lowest of those were supreme-grade earth spiritual roots.

Most importantly, Zhao Ting's heavenly spiritual root was of the metal attribute, making him one of a kind in the Heavenly Dao Sect at present.

"I wouldn't dare claim such praise!" Zhao Ting hurriedly said. "I've only just set foot on the path of cultivation and know nothing at all. I'll need much guidance from all of you elders in the future."

The elders smiled and nodded, though a hidden rivalry flickered in the looks they exchanged.

Every Purple-Robed Disciple would become an elder's direct disciple.

The question was which of them would take Zhao Ting as his direct disciple.

The elders spoke kindly now, and the atmosphere was harmonious, only because the sect master had yet to arrive.

Once the sect master arrived, the elders would begin competing for him.

Listening to the elders' appraisals of Zhao Ting, Shen He was numb with envy. Zhao Ting had truly ascended to heaven in a single step. Still, remembering that he too would receive credit made him feel much better. It was thanks to Zhao Ting, after all; in a sense, they had helped each other succeed.

Just then, a figure entered the inner pavilion and walked toward the head of the hall, hands clasped behind his back.

The elders hurriedly rose and bowed. "Sect Master."

Shen He's heart pounded as well. Lowering his head, he hurriedly followed them in offering a respectful greeting.

To be fair, although he was an inner sect deacon, he rarely had the opportunity to see the sect master.

As for Zhao Ting, he kept his head lowered and grew even more nervous, sweat covering his body.

For the newcomer was the supreme sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect!

At that moment, a burly middle-aged man stood at the head of the hall.

He wore plain robes, his black-and-white hair falling behind his shoulders. His hawklike eyes were piercing, commanding awe without a trace of anger.

Looking at his face...

He was none other than Nangong Yao, the man who had appeared atop Little River Peak outside Little River Town that day while Chen Xun played the ancient zither-the man Chen Xun had met only once!

Who would have thought that he was actually the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect!

And now, Chen Xun was here in this very sect... Fate was truly a wondrous thing.