Chapter 139

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Chapter 139: Meeting the Elder Again

Ye Yun stared at the teal token shaped like a tiny sword in his palm, confusion swirling in his mind. He kept silent and stored it away.

A white-clad disciple soon appeared at the Small Courtyard and escorted Ye Yun out.

“To think he actually mastered the Little Absorption Technique… unbelievable,” Su Hao murmured as Ye Yun disappeared around a corner.

“There’s far more you haven’t seen yet,” Shui Qingxuan replied with a gentle smile.

Su Hao raised his sharp brows. “What else did you notice?”

Shui Qingxuan shook her head. “An exotic spiritual energy shields him from my sight. I detected the Thunder Spirit Qi and the Little Absorption Technique, but something else lies hidden. I couldn’t pierce through it.”

“Impossible! Even Golden Core stage cultivators can’t hide from your vision unless their pill has broken and they’re reborn!” Su Hao’s disbelief was palpable. Though Shui Qingxuan lacked cultivation, her innate insight had never failed.

“Perhaps this disciple—the only one since Elder Lei to grasp Thunder Spirit Qi—will achieve greatness beyond measure,” Shui Qingxuan said, eyes bright with anticipation.

“I’d planned to take him into Shadowless Peak’s inner sect. With proper guidance, he’d reach the Qi refining stage swiftly, soaring to the Seventh Level. Pity Elder Zi claimed him first… though it’s still a blessing for the boy,” Su Hao sighed.

Shui Qingxuan chuckled. “Elder Zi’s cultivation rivals yours, but you know he’ll dump the teaching on you eventually. Congratulations, Senior Brother—Shadowless Peak’s top ten disciples will finally be complete.”

Su Hao squeezed her hand. “That’s why I let him go with a token. He’ll return to become my disciple in time.”

“Scheming against juniors at your age… shameful.” Shui Qingxuan’s teasing gaze softened.

Su Hao threw back his head and laughed.

Guided by the white-clad disciple, Ye Yun soon reached a crude teleportation array and vanished. Moments later, he materialized at Tian Zhu Peak.

“Brother Ye! We’ve waited ages!”

“Told you he wouldn’t stay at Shadowless Peak alone!”

Yu Minghong and Duan Chenfeng rushed forward as Ye Yun stepped from the array.

“After surviving the great tomb together? I’d never abandon you,” Ye Yun grinned. Though only days had passed, returning to Tian Zhu Peak felt like revisiting another lifetime.

The array guardian sneered, jealousy dripping from his voice. “Outer disciples! Report to Elder Lan at once!”

He didn’t know their sect trial had succeeded—nor that they’d soon claim twenty top-grade spirit stones and a medium-grade spiritual weapon. Even inner disciples coveted such rewards.

Ignoring his glare, the trio descended to the Trial Hall.

“Is Elder Lan present?” Ye Yun asked a black-robed disciple behind the counter.

The disciple glared. “Outer trash causing trouble already?”

Ye Yun blinked. After their recent fame, how could anyone at Tian Zhu Peak not recognize them?

Duan Chenfeng stepped forward. “Careful, black robe. Words have consequences.”

The disciple shot up, eyes blazing. “A seventh-level body refinement ant dares threaten me? Time to die!”

Duan Chenfeng laughed heartily, his voice dripping with mockery. "Come on then! Make your move. If you’re too scared, crawl away whenever you see me from now on."

Though all were outer disciples, their status was marked by robe colors: teal, yellow, black, and purple. The three youths wearing teal robes – the lowest-ranked Green Robed Disciples – actually dared confront a black robe disciple.

The black-robed disciple paused, then erupted in laughter that nearly brought tears. His gaze held pity – how could these Green Robes survive at Tian Zhu Peak after provoking him? At best, they’d end as beaten dogs with no future.

"Well, well! How impressive!" The black-robed disciple stepped from behind the long table, shoulders shaking with mirth. "Sun Mingkun’s spent fifteen years here thinking he’d seen everything. Yet today I find greenhorn Green Robes daring to act this bold!"

Sun Mingkun advanced with deliberate steps, his cultivation at the second stage of Qi refinement radiating authority. Having failed the inner disciple exam once, he ranked among the top outer disciples – held back only by mediocre talent. No one had dared challenge him in years.

The three teal-robed youths stared at him like he was a village idiot.

"My mood was already foul," Sun Mingkun spat. "That upstart Nan Cheng gets promoted after barely reaching Qi refinement, while I’m stuck handing out tasks to maggots like you. But since you’re volunteering for punishment…" His lips twisted in a cruel smile.

Duan Chenfeng crossed his arms. "Go ahead. Let’s see you break the Trial Hall’s no-violence rule."

"You think I won’t?" Sun Mingkun’s palm glowed faintly. "Killing three Green Robes would barely earn a slap. You’re less than insects to the sect."

"Try it." Duan Chenfeng’s expression suggested he faced a kitchen drudge rather than a senior disciple.

"Die then!" Murderous intent flashed as Sun Mingkun gathered true qi.

"Enough!"

The old voice froze Sun Mingkun mid-strike. He quickly barked, "Kneel for Elder Lan!" even as the elder materialized in the doorway.

"Honored Elder, what brings-"

"Should I let you trample sect laws?" Elder Lan’s glare could chip stone.

"Exactly!" Sun Mingkun turned on the youths. "These Green Robes showed no respect! They’d have attacked me if-"

"The lawbreaker here is you." Elder Lan’s voice turned glacial. "Get out."

Sun Mingkun gaped. When the elder raised a hand, he scrambled backward, shooting venomous looks at the trio before fleeing.

Elder Lan’s expression softened as he surveyed the survivors. "You made it back."

Ye Yun bowed slightly. "We completed the sect trial."

"Only three?" The elder’s gaze swept the empty hall. Though the sect compensated for lost disciples, and elders profited from such tragedies, the weight of ninety-seven deaths still pressed his voice low.

These weren’t elite black or purple robes, but youths with potential. Now gone, their promise buried in some trial ground.

Ye Yun nodded silently as the elder sighed.

"Rest today. Tomorrow Elder Chunyu Yan will test you for inner disciple promotions."

Yu Minghong and Duan Chenfeng bowed deeply, faces alight. Ye Yun gave a shallower nod. "With permission, I’ll take my leave."

"Where to?"

"Elder Zi awaits at Zang Wu Pavilion."

Elder Lan’s eyes narrowed briefly before he waved assent.