Chapter 44
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Chapter 44: The Unusual Talent
Ye Yun’s brows furrowed. At that moment, he instinctively wondered—didn’t Murong Wuhen fear punishment from the elders for acting this way?
"I just said attacks must be made without holding back. Are you testing my patience?"
As expected, Elder Lan’s voice rang out.
A crushing pressure fell upon Ye Yun and Murong Wuhen.
Yet Murong Wuhen casually waved a hand, seemingly unaffected by the pressure, then turned to face Elder Lan and the others.
"I choose to surrender. I don’t need to care about anyone’s feelings here."
Murong Wuhen’s expression remained calm as he spoke gently.
"Oh? Then give me a reason," Elder Lan narrowed his eyes. "A reason that justifies ignoring everyone here."
"Because Murong Wuqing is my brother," Murong Wuhen replied flatly.
Elder Lan gave a cold snort, though his face betrayed no anger.
"Just as I suspected."
Elder Chunyu Yan smiled slightly. "If that’s true, why are you here?"
"I cultivate where I please. Every Golden Pill master from the Heavenly Sword Sect once served as a servant disciple," Murong Wuhen answered with gentle arrogance, even toward Chunyu Yan. "Being a servant disciple has been enlightening. These experiences will aid my future cultivation."
Chunyu Yan studied him, no longer smiling. "Interesting."
"You show promise. Don’t disappoint me when we meet again."
Without another glance at Chunyu Yan, Murong Wuhen turned to Ye Yun on the stage. He pointed a finger, and a rainbow light burst from his fingertip. A large, colorful long-tailed bird materialized before the crowd.
"Leaving."
Murong Wuhen leaped onto the bird’s back.
The iridescent creature nodded, its glow spreading like dawn mist. In a blur, the bird became a streak of rainbow light, soaring into the sky with Murong Wuhen.
"A spirit beast! He has a spirit beast!"
"He tamed a spirit beast! Who *is* Murong Wuhen?!"
The square erupted. Disciples shouted in disbelief.
The bird’s earlier actions proved true intelligence—it understood Murong Wuhen’s words. A genuine spirit beast!
Spirit beasts possess wisdom, allowing them to fight alongside cultivators. Most experts seek such companions once they reach higher realms.
But taming them is grueling. Only through sheer dominance can one earn their loyalty.
For a spirit beast to become a *mount*? Nearly impossible. They’ll share battles, not servitude.
If taming a battle companion is difficulty one, taming a mount is a hundredfold harder.
Yet Murong Wuhen had just ridden off on a spirit beast—a mount for a fifth-stage body refinement cultivator.
Who *was* he? Where did he come from?
Ye Yun stared at the empty sky, stunned.
And who was Murong Wuqing? Someone whose name carried more weight than even the elders.
However, just a few breaths later, his shocked mind quickly calmed.
For three years he’d worked as an errand boy in Tian Zhu Peak’s collection valleys. He’d only entered Tian Zhu Peak proper recently, never reaching its upper slopes. Tian Zhu Peak itself was merely an alchemy branch of Shadowless Peak, which in turn was just one major peak among Heavenly Sword Sect’s outer mountains. Considering this, who knew how many extraordinary figures existed beyond Shadowless Peak? Murong Wuqing must be one of them – though his exact standing remained unclear.
On the arena platform, several elders showed envy. Elder Lan squinted at the spot where Murong Wuhen had vanished for a moment before turning to Ye Yun. "Since Murong Wuhen wasn’t truly from Tian Zhu Peak," he declared, "this victory goes to you."
Silence fell. Countless eyes locked onto Ye Yun.
With this verdict, Ye Yun became the first new disciple to claim a top eight position!
Under the crowd’s gaze, Ye Yun bowed his head. Murong Wuhen’s appearance made him acutely aware of his own insignificance within Heavenly Sword Sect.
He felt like a mere ant, his life and death completely beyond his control. Even Elder Lan’s cultivation level meant little in this vast sect! Yet here he was, still worrying they’d discover his secret black and white lights.
If Elder Lan wanted to kill him now, he couldn’t resist. Making top eight as new disciple was beyond his wildest dreams – yet now he unexpectedly recalled the alchemy pill sealed in that stone tablet.
In that instant, under countless watchful eyes, his mind became still as an ancient well’s undisturbed surface. Even the dangerous sect tasks ahead couldn’t shake his calm now.
Ye Yun raised his head. The world suddenly seemed vaster. Somehow, this encounter with Murong Wuhen had strengthened his mental cultivation.
"Who’s Murong Wuqing?" someone muttered. "Even Elder Chunyu Yan fears him. Some genius disciple from the inner mountains?"
"Nothing surprising about these clashes."
In the distance, black-robed Nan Cheng frowned thoughtfully. The other arena battles held no surprises – Duan Chenfeng’s opponent was clearly losing, defeat imminent. On another platform, Qu Yiping kept firing dark beams while his bloodied opponent roared, covered in wounds.
Yu Minghong caught Nan Cheng’s attention. Fighting with typical steadiness, Yu Minghong maintained perfect balance between offense and defense. He controlled his spiritual power with perfect precision, wasting none. Though his opponent initially seemed stronger, gradual exhaustion set in.
…
Murong Wuhen’s overwhelming display made other battles seem dull. Within half an incense stick’s time, Qu Yiping and Duan Chenfeng both won. Yu Minghong soon forced his spiritually drained opponent to surrender after brief resistance.
