"So noooooiiiisy!"
Chen Xun had been getting ready to sleep in his thatched hut, but the deep, solemn tolling of the bells had left him irritated.
Chen Xun sprang out of bed and rushed out of the hut. He glared angrily in the direction of the bells, then ran straight down Servant Disciple Peak.
Some disciples saw Chen Xun heading down the mountain, but thought nothing of it. They assumed he was going to sweep, since everyone knew he was responsible for cleaning the mountain path from the foot to the halfway point.
Chen Xun sprinted all the way, arriving at the foot of Heaven Mystic Peak moments later.
"Stop! Who are you?"
Two disciples on guard blocked Chen Xun's path and barked at him.
The two disciples stared at Chen Xun with hostile eyes. They were already in a bad mood because their guard duty kept them from watching the Investiture Ceremony.
At the same time, they noticed Chen Xun's clothes. Their hearts tightened, and suspicion crept into their eyes.
That outfit isn't from our Heavenly Dao Sect, is it?
What's going on?
Chen Xun folded his arms and raised his chin. Instead of his usual crazed grin, his face was full of displeasure. "Hey, hey, hey! It's so noisy up this mountain! This humble scholar can't even sleep, you know?"
The two disciples froze.
What?
One of them even dug at his ear and asked uncertainly, "Did you just say Heaven Mystic Peak is too noisy?"
"That's right!" Chen Xun nodded solemnly.
"Uh, hahaha!" The two disciples exchanged a baffled glance, then burst out laughing despite themselves, only to hurriedly cover their mouths.
Then they looked Chen Xun over carefully, slowly circulating their spiritual power as they prepared to seize this insolent fellow.
As though he had sensed it coming, Chen Xun wagged his head. "Hey, hey, hey! You're not planning to attack this humble scholar, are you?"
The two disciples paused, then their eyes sharpened. They exchanged a glance and suddenly attacked!
But in the next instant, Chen Xun flickered behind them and delivered two swift, precise knife-hand strikes to their necks. Smack! Smack!
"Urgh..." The two disciples' eyes rolled back, and they toppled straight forward.
Looking at the two unconscious disciples on the ground, Chen Xun patted his chest in lingering fright, his expression terrified. "Whew, thank goodness this humble scholar knows a little martial arts. You nearly got me there."
Had the two unconscious disciples known how Chen Xun was acting, they would surely have howled in fury, Come on, who hit whom here? And you're the one acting shaken?
After knocking out the two guards who stood in his way, Chen Xun hummed a tune and bobbed his head as he climbed Heaven Mystic Peak-a mountain that servant disciples, and even the stewards of Servant Disciple Peak, could never set foot on in their entire lives.
On the mountain path, Chen Xun hummed a little tune, looking as though he had come alive. As he walked, he kept leafing through that wordless book without missing a beat, his eyes blazing with fervor.
"Heh heh heh, this humble scholar really is invincible! Those two smacks just now knocked them both down. What a wonderful book, a wonderful book!"
Heaven Mystic Peak, the Martial Arena.
The Martial Arena was packed with people.
At the rear of the Martial Arena stood more than two thousand outer disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
In front of the outer disciples stood the outer sect's stewards and elders.
In the middle of the Martial Arena stood more than five hundred inner disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
In front of the inner disciples stood the inner sect's stewards and elders, with Shen He conspicuously among them.
Seated on either side of the Martial Arena were the various sects and factions invited to offer their congratulations. They examined the Heavenly Dao Sect's disciples, stewards, and elders, all feeling somewhat shaken.
In their eyes, the Heavenly Dao Sect truly deserved its reputation as one of Northern Mystic's foremost great sects. Its overall strength certainly ranked among the region's best.
At that thought, the various sects and factions all turned toward the figures at the front of the Martial Arena, their eyes flickering with envy and other, unnameable emotions.
At the same time, the many outer and inner disciples and elders also gazed intently at those few figures at the front, their eyes full of reverence.
For those people were the face of their Heavenly Dao Sect!
Fourteen exceptionally gifted purple-robed disciples, and nine core elders!
The fourteen purple-robed disciples stood quietly behind the nine core elders, receiving everyone's attention and basking in the glory of the moment.
Of course, today's star was not any of them, but their newly promoted junior brother, Zhao Ting.
Junior Brother Zhao Ting simply had not appeared yet. He would arrive with the sect master shortly.
Just then, footsteps sounded, and Nangong Yao and Zhao Ting entered the Martial Arena one after the other.
In an instant, countless gazes fell upon Zhao Ting, who followed behind Nangong Yao.
The many disciples and elders of the Heavenly Dao Sect looked at Zhao Ting in wonder.
So this is the newly promoted purple-robed disciple?
Walking with his head lowered and his back bent, Zhao Ting had never seen anything like this. Cold sweat instantly broke out across his forehead.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
The disciples, stewards, and elders immediately bowed and called out respectfully.
After sizing up Zhao Ting, the various sects and factions also rose, cupping their hands toward Nangong Yao as they greeted and flattered him:
"Hehe, Sect Master Nangong, it has been ten years since we last met. Looking at you now, your bearing is even more splendid than before!"
"Sect Master Nangong, your Heavenly Dao Sect has gained another disciple with a heavenly spiritual root. This old woman is green with envy. Heaven truly smiles upon the Heavenly Dao Sect."
"I have often heard that the Heavenly Dao Sect is a first-rate great sect in the Northern Mystic Cultivation World. Indeed, a hundred accounts cannot compare to seeing it once. My Earth Immortal Pavilion falls far, far short of the Heavenly Dao Sect."
"..."
Nangong Yao walked to the very front, smiled slightly, and cupped his hands toward the various sects and factions. "You all flatter our Heavenly Dao Sect. I am deeply honored that you could attend our sect's Purple-Robe Investiture Ceremony."
Although none of these sects and factions matched the Heavenly Dao Sect, together they were a powerful force. As both host and sect master, Nangong Yao naturally would not belittle them.
"Not at all, Sect Master Nangong. You are too kind. Witnessing a purple-robed disciple's investiture is a splendid occasion for us as well."
One faction leader spoke with a smile.
Nangong Yao nodded slightly and extended a hand. "Please, everyone, take your seats."
Once the various sects and factions were seated, Nangong Yao glanced at Zhao Ting, then said calmly, "Zhao Ting, step forward."
Startled, Zhao Ting hurried forward and knelt on the meditation cushion prepared beforehand.
Nangong Yao nodded. "Let the Purple-Robe Investiture Ceremony begin."
As his words fell, the disciples around the Martial Arena abruptly began beating the drums.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...
Amid the thunder of drums filling the air.
Grand Elder Liu Yunjian stepped out from among the core elders, walked up to Zhao Ting, and gently raised a hand.
Several disciples entered with bowed backs, holding trays high above their heads, and came to stand behind Liu Yunjian.
Liu Yunjian raised his head, swept his gaze across the gathering, and declared in a ringing voice:
"Disciple Zhao Ting possesses exceptional talent and a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root. In accordance with the sect master's wishes, I hereby invest Zhao Ting as the fifteenth purple-robed disciple of our Heavenly Dao Sect! Today, all present shall bear witness!"
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
A wave of applause swept through the Martial Arena.
At that moment, Zhao Ting's mind was utterly blank, and his whole body tingled. He could not describe the feeling, but he loved it.
"Zhao Ting, this is the Heavenly Purple Mystic Gauze Robe, a magical treasure. You may discover its functions for yourself in the days to come."
Liu Yunjian took the purple robe from a tray held by a disciple behind him and handed it to Zhao Ting as he spoke.
Zhao Ting hurriedly accepted it. Cool and smooth in his hands, it had a delicate texture that made him reluctant to let go.
Liu Yunjian nodded, then continued taking the items from the trays one by one and handing them to Zhao Ting.
"These are the Purple-Robed Disciple Identity Token, the complete Heavenly Dao Art, and the Purple-Robed Disciple Sword."
Under the many envious, yearning gazes, Zhao Ting accepted each precious item with trembling hands. Feeling how much he was valued, he declared fervently, "I, disciple Zhao Ting, am indebted to the sect for nurturing me. From this day forth, I shall place the sect before all my own interests. In life, I belong to the sect; in death, my soul belongs to the sect. So long as the sect does not forsake me, I, Zhao Ting, shall stand with it through life and death!"
Zhao Ting's heartfelt words made everyone present nod. They sighed inwardly, thinking that Zhao Ting was indeed a man of genuine feeling who knew to repay kindness.
People of genuine feeling usually fell into one of two extremes: utter evil or utter goodness. Clearly, Zhao Ting belonged to the latter.
"Good!" Nangong Yao said with a smile, then continued, "Now that you have been invested as a purple-robed disciple, it is time to acknowledge your master."
At his words, Liu Yunjian bowed in acknowledgment, then looked toward Fourth Elder Chu Ningshang among the core elders. "Fourth Elder, it is time for you to step forward and accept your disciple."
The disciples were secretly shocked at this.
Good heavens, Zhao Ting is actually going to become the Fourth Elder's direct disciple!
The Fourth Elder is the Discipline Elder! Zhao Ting is already a purple-robed disciple, and with the Fourth Elder backing him, won't he be able to swagger sideways through the sect from now on?
The disciples were numb with envy.
All the while, the drums continued to thunder.
Chu Ningshang smiled and nodded, stepped out from the line of core elders, and came before Zhao Ting.
But just as the ceremony of acknowledging his master was about to begin.
An abrupt voice suddenly rang through the Martial Arena.
"So noisy, so noooooiiiisy! Can't you let this humble scholar get a good night's sleeeeeep?!"
The thunderous drumming stopped dead!
In an instant, the smiles on countless faces froze!
The Martial Arena fell silent!
The faces of the outer and inner disciples and elders darkened. Not only theirs-even Liu Yunjian and the other core elders looked grim.
With so many sects and factions watching today's Investiture Ceremony, something like this had actually happened...
Sure enough, strange expressions could be seen on the faces of the visiting sects and factions...
Everyone in the Martial Arena therefore turned to stare intently toward the source of the voice. When they saw the blue-robed scholar standing outside the Martial Arena with his hands on his hips, their gazes stalled!
Who is this man?
Some people's expressions, however, became particularly colorful.
Shen He, for instance, as well as Xu Yang and the other outer disciples who had brought Chen Xun back to the sect.
When Zhao Ting recovered from his stunned daze, he felt as though the sky had collapsed. All color instantly drained from his face in terror!
"B-Brother Chen!"
Before you continue