Chapter 200
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Chapter 200: Junzi Hall
"I hate it when you call my friend a beast!" Ye Yun’s face turned cold as he stepped forward.
The five disciples helped Young Master Yun up, their eyes filled with terror. This youth’s cultivation level was clearly only at the first level of Qi refining, while they were at the fourth and fifth levels—a gap that should’ve been unbridgeable. Yet how had he sent Young Master Yun, a fifth-level Qi refining cultivator, flying with one palm strike?
Young Master Yun wiped blood from his lips, trembling uncontrollably as Ye Yun took another step. His legs nearly gave out, and he would’ve collapsed without the disciples’ support.
"Stay back! I’m from Junzi Hall! You know Junzi Hall, right?" Young Master Yun stammered, fear etched on his face.
"Y-yes! Our leader is Senior Brother Yang! If he learns you’ve harmed Young Master Yun, you’ll regret setting foot on Shadowless Peak!" one disciple shouted, though his voice shook.
"Senior Brother Yang? You mean Yang Hualong, who supposedly reached the pinnacle of Qi refining years ago? I’ve heard the name." Ye Yun shrugged. Junzi Hall meant little to him, but Yang Hualong’s reputation was hard to ignore.
"You dare insult Senior Brother Yang? You’re courting death!" Buoyed by his own words, Young Master Yun straightened slightly.
Ye Yun snorted and flicked his hand. A blur of motion—
*Crack!*
Five red finger marks bloomed on Young Master Yun’s cheek. He spat blood and broken teeth.
"I don’t know Yang Hualong, but rotten roots bear rotten fruit. Judging by you worms, he’s no saint. Consider yourselves lucky we’re on Shadowless Peak—elsewhere, you’d be corpses by now." Ye Yun’s voice dripped frost.
The six quivered silently, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Get out."
They fled like startled rabbits, vanishing in moments.
"Boy," the Divine Feather Vulture King squawked as they walked, "have you left the Heavenly Sword Sect since joining?"
"No."
"Then you lied earlier! I thought you’d actually gone outside!"
"Since when do you gossip like an old washerwoman?" Ye Yun rolled his eyes and kept walking.
Disciples scattered like leaves as they ascended Shadowless Peak, watching the pair with wary eyes. Soon, Ye Yun reached his courtyard. Two figures approached before he could enter.
"Ye Yun! Back from the dead after four days?" Duan Chenfeng boomed, striding forward with a grin.
"You’re still ahead in cultivation. I can’t die yet."
"Ha! I’ll reach the third level soon. You’ll be stuck at the first for ages." Duan Chenfeng puffed his chest.
"Let’s spar, then."
Duan Chenfeng leaped back as if scalded. "Find Little Yu! He just broke through to the second level yesterday—probably itching for a fight."
Ye Yun turned to Yu Minghong, who stood quietly nearby. The youth’s calm demeanor seemed deepened by his improved cultivation.
"Welcome back, Brother Ye." Yu Minghong smiled simply.
"Congratulations on reaching the second level. Your composure will serve you well."
"Your guidance made it possible." Yu Minghong bowed with practiced humility.
Ye Yun sighed inwardly. After surviving life-and-death trials together, such formality still felt unnecessary. But he’d learned to let it be.
“Hey, Vulture King, you look well today!” Duan Chenfeng greeted the Divine Feather Vulture King standing behind Ye Yun.
The Divine Feather Vulture King rolled its eyes, snorted, and stared at the sky with obvious disinterest.
“Vulture King, we’re old acquaintances. Isn’t this cold shoulder a bit much?” Duan Chenfeng scratched his head awkwardly.
The spirit beast suddenly fixed its gaze on him. “What? You itching for a beating?”
Duan Chenfeng chuckled. “Of course not! You’ll rule all spirit beasts someday – I’d never challenge you.”
The vulture snorted again, maintaining its skyward glare.
Yu Minghong and Ye Yun exchanged amused smiles nearby.
Ye Yun pushed open the Small Courtyard gate. The trio and the giant bird settled in the yard.
“Where’ve you been these days, Ye Yun? How was Tian Shen Peak?” Duan Chenfeng blurted the moment they sat.
“Brother Duan, there’s no need to worry. Brother Ye’s safe return shows the trip went well,” Yu Minghong said gently.
Ye Yun nodded. “Smooth overall, though there was… a slight adjustment.”
“What adjustment?” Duan Chenfeng leaned forward.
“I’d hoped to become Lord Su Hao’s formal disciple. But the higher-ups opposed it. After Lord Su Hao’s insistence, they settled on making me his Registered Disciple for now.” Ye Yun chose not to mention Elder Seven’s involvement.
“Just a Registered Disciple? After all that fuss Lord Su Hao made?” Duan Chenfeng’s face fell.
Yu Minghong interjected softly, “We’re both Registered Disciples too, Brother Duan. Stronger cultivation will earn us formal status.”
“Not the same! If Ye Yun had accepted Shadowless Peak’s offer earlier, he’d already be one of the Peak Master’s top ten disciples! Now with the higher-ups meddling…” Duan Chenfeng shook his head. “Those ten might inherit the Peak Master position someday!”
Yu Minghong’s eyes widened slightly, realizing the implication.
Ye Yun waved dismissively. “Who cares about titles? You think we’ll rot here forever? The Great Qin Empire and Jiaoyue Dynasty await!”
The three youths stood abruptly, gazes piercing the horizon as if seeing those distant lands.
“Pah! Bratlings who’ve never left Heavenly Sword Sect dare dream of empires?” The Divine Feather Vulture King’s mocking voice shattered the moment.
Ye Yun smiled, unperturbed. “Without dreams, why cultivate? You’d still be a regular vulture without ambition, no?”
The giant bird stiffened. The words struck deep – hadn’t relentless determination fueled its own transformation trials?
“Hmph! Reach Foundation Establishment Stage before spouting nonsense,” it grumbled, flopping down to hide its agitation.
Ye Yun turned to Duan Chenfeng. “What’s Junzi Hall’s deal on Shadowless Peak? Some fool called Yang Hualong confronted me earlier.”
“Yang Hualong?” Duan Chenfeng frowned. “Zhong Ying mentioned Junzi Hall members. That black robe disciple said Zhen Huacheng’s tight with him.”
Yu Minghong added quietly, “Inner sect’s riddled with factions. Junzi Hall claims top rank among dozens.”
“Top rank?” Duan Chenfeng scoffed. “Vulture King alone could wipe them out!”
The spirit beast answered with a derisive snort.
Ye Yun nodded. “Any ‘top’ group without Foundation Establishment cultivators is all talk. But our exam performance drew attention – stay alert.”
“We’re training with our Master for three months,” Yu Minghong said. “You should visit the Peak Master too.”
Ye Yun stood, eyes gleaming. “Hide? I’d rather meet them head-on!” His smile lingered on the dozing vulture.
