The ceremony ended, and Zhao Ting became a Purple-Robed Disciple as he had hoped, as well as the True Inheritance Disciple of the fourth elder, Chu Ningshang.
Once everything was over, the disciples of the various peaks, apart from the Purple-Robed Disciples, left the Martial Arena one after another and headed down Heaven Mystic Peak. The outer sect disciples, stewards, and elders were visibly trembling with fear. The elder in charge, Xu Ansong, looked thoroughly displeased, and they would surely be punished once they returned.
At the foot of Heaven Mystic Peak, the Outer Disciples and elders were dumbfounded to see the two disciples guarding the mountain lying on the ground, sleeping soundly. They had actually dared to slack off at such an important time. No wonder a mortal had managed to sneak up the mountain.
Seeing Xu Ansong's dark expression, someone hurried forward to wake the two disciples.
Xu Ansong erupted on the spot, his fury soaring to the heavens. "Bind these two beasts and drag them back!"
The two disciples were still groggy when their faces suddenly turned deathly pale. They were bound in terror, having no idea what had happened after Chen Xun's knife-hand strikes had knocked them out.
Meanwhile, after chatting with the representatives of the various sects and factions for a while, Nangong Yao personally escorted them out through the sect gates with the core elders.
At the gates of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
The two disciples guarding the gates lay prostrate on their knees, trembling.
"Sect Master Nangong, do visit our pavilion when you have time."
"Sect Master Nangong, we shall take our leave."
"Sect Master Nangong, esteemed elders, please see us no farther..."
Nangong Yao smiled and cupped his hands. "Then I shall see you off here."
Nangong Yao, Liu Yunjian, and the other elders watched the representatives depart with smiles. Once they were gone, the smiles slowly faded from Nangong Yao's and the elders' faces.
"Sect Master, are we simply letting today's incident at Heaven Mystic Peak's Martial Arena go?"
After pondering for a moment, Liu Yunjian asked uncertainly.
Although the sect master had said to leave the matter there, that had been during the ceremony. The circumstances had been different, so Liu Yunjian still could not quite judge his intentions.
Beside him, the other elders also looked toward Nangong Yao.
Nangong Yao nodded and said evenly, "Yes. I made myself perfectly clear at the Martial Arena. Elders, go attend to your duties."
With that, Nangong Yao entered the sect gates.
The elders hurriedly bowed to see him off, only slowly straightening once he was out of sight.
They exchanged looks, something unreadable in their eyes. They all felt there was something a little off about the sect master...
Still, none of the elders said anything. No one dared discuss Sect Master Nangong Yao behind his back.
Shaking their heads, the elders also entered the gates one after another and disappeared.
Yet what had happened at the Martial Arena that day was deeply etched into their minds.
As for Chen Xun, he had only arrived at the Heavenly Dao Sect a few days ago, but now everyone in the sect, from its highest leaders to its disciples, knew of him.
After the ceremony conferring Purple-Robed Disciple status ended, word that Chen Xun had appeared at the summit of Heaven Mystic Peak and caused a disturbance quickly reached Servant Disciple Peak.
In an instant, Servant Disciple Peak boiled over.
Qian Laifu, usually so full of confidence, was frightened out of his wits. He immediately ordered disciples to fetch Chen Xun from the thatched hut in the west.
Meanwhile, Nangong Yao arrived at the foot of Servant Disciple Peak.
Looking up at Servant Disciple Peak, Nangong Yao could not help feeling a surge of emotion.
This was his first visit to Servant Disciple Peak.
If not for the senior's presence here, Nangong Yao, the sect master, would never have set foot in this place.
Strictly speaking, servant disciples did not count as disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
Many servant disciples left each year. Only those who broke through to the third level of Qi Refinement could enter the outer sect. Only then were they truly disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
"Phew."
Nangong Yao exhaled, composed his nervousness and anticipation, then rose into the air and flew up the mountain.
When the two servant disciples arrived in the west and entered the thatched hut, they found Chen Xun sleeping soundly on his bed.
The two exchanged a glance and sighed helplessly, though their eyes held deep admiration.
As a mortal, Chen Xun had climbed Heaven Mystic Peak and disrupted proceedings in front of all those important figures. Most astonishingly, he had even walked away unscathed. That was fucking incredible.
For them, merely climbing Heaven Mystic Peak was something they would not even dare dream of.
"Chen Xun, Chen Xun, wake up! The steward wants you!"
One disciple stepped forward, shook Chen Xun, and spoke.
"Mm." Chen Xun slowly woke and muttered, "This humble scholar was sleeping. What do you want?"
The two disciples froze, then had no choice but to step forward and hoist Chen Xun up between them.
"The steward's orders. Forgive us."
With Chen Xun supported between them, the two disciples headed out of the thatched hut.
Chen Xun, however, found it rather pleasant. Wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, he said cheerfully:
"Hehehe, not bad, not bad! Giddyup, giddyup! This is fun!"
The two disciples' faces darkened. Good grief, Chen Xun was treating them like horses.
They carried Chen Xun toward the pavilion, but halfway there, they encountered a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man was, of course, Nangong Yao.
Nangong Yao was initially delighted to see Chen Xun, but when he noticed the two servant disciples carrying him, his eyes narrowed. "Stop," he said evenly.
Huh?
The two disciples noticed Nangong Yao as well, confusion in their eyes. Who was this man? They had never seen him before.
Still, judging by his bearing... he seemed anything but ordinary.
Could he be an outer or inner sect steward?
But that wasn't right either. Outer and inner sect stewards had their own designated attire.
Still, this middle-aged man presumably held some status in the sect.
"May we ask who you are?"
One disciple bowed and asked cautiously.
Nangong Yao approached and carefully looked Chen Xun over before asking, "Where are you carrying the sen... him?"
The disciple replied respectfully, "Uh, Senior, Chen Xun has caused enormous trouble. Steward Qian ordered us to bring him back."
As for what would happen once they brought him back, it would surely be a scolding.
Nangong Yao nodded slightly. "Very well. This sect... I shall go with you."
Huh?
The two disciples were bewildered, but neither dared say anything.
And so, Chen Xun was carried along in comfort while Nangong Yao followed behind with his hands clasped behind his back, heading toward the pavilion.
All the while, Nangong Yao's gaze remained fixed on Chen Xun, his eyes thoughtful.
When they reached the servant disciples' quarters, the disciples saw Chen Xun being carried over and began discussing him, all filled with admiration and shock.
Nangong Yao, who followed behind, was overlooked. After all, they had never seen him before.
"Steward, we have brought Chen Xun."
Soon, the disciples carried Chen Xun into the pavilion, and Nangong Yao followed them inside.
Qian Laifu, who had been pacing anxiously, drew a deep breath and snapped his head toward Chen Xun. He growled, "Chen Xun, do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused? If my superiors punish me, I certainly won't let you off... agh!!!"
But halfway through his tirade, Qian Laifu caught sight of Nangong Yao standing behind them, silently watching him.
At first, Qian Laifu looked blankly at Nangong Yao. Then his pupils slowly contracted, utter disbelief filled his eyes, and finally his fat body went limp. He dropped to his knees with a thud and said shakily:
"Th-th-th-th-th-this lowly one greets the Sect Master!"
What? The Sect Master!!
The two servant disciples' faces instantly turned deathly pale. They fell to their knees with a thump, pressed their foreheads to the ground, and trembled, their minds utterly blank.
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