Chapter 57
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Chapter 57: Selection of Scriptures
“How reckless! You dare covet the spiritual liquid bestowed by Elder Seven?”
Another cold laugh rose from the crowd.
The laughter came from Nan Cheng.
“Elder Seven?”
“The eccentric elder guarding the spirit fields?”
“Since when does Ye Yun have connections with him?”
Gasps of shock spread through the crowd, many disciples breaking into cold sweat.
Though known as mad, Elder Seven held extraordinary status. Few at Tian Zhu Peak had actually seen him over the years. If his madness was mere rumor and he simply had strange habits, offending such a figure meant courting unseen dangers.
“So he received spiritual liquid from an elder. No wonder he’s so bold.” On the arena stage, Duan Chenfeng listened to the murmurs below, eyes glinting coldly. “Ye Yun, your luck won’t hold next time.”
Ye Yun bowed slightly to the frosty-looking Duan Chenfeng. “My thanks.”
He now understood – Duan Chenfeng had gone easy during their duel’s final moments. He suspected Duan Chenfeng had noticed the attacks were boosting his cultivation, intentionally letting him benefit while covering for him.
“Hmph!”
Duan Chenfeng snorted coldly before leaping offstage.
As Duan Chenfeng departed and Ye Yun remained standing, most disciples struggled to believe their eyes. Against an opponent armed with multiple spiritual weapons, Ye Yun had prevailed!
“First place goes to Ye Yun. Duan Chenfeng second. Yu Minghong and Liu Yunsong share third. The remaining four take fifth to eighth positions.” Elder Lan’s voice cut through the murmurs.
“After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the outer disciple assessments begin under Elder Chunyu Yan. Top eight newcomers, follow me to Zang Wu Pavilion to choose cultivation techniques and Celestial Techniques. Today marks your true first step on the cultivation path.” Elder Lan’s gaze swept over them.
“Our gratitude, Elder Lan!” The eight bowed, hearts pounding.
They’d endured grueling journeys to become servant disciples, suffered humiliation, finally passing trials to reach outer disciple status. All for this moment – obtaining proper cultivation methods and life-preserving techniques.
Though Duan Chenfeng and Qu Yiping knew family-taught techniques, how could common clan methods compare to the Heavenly Sword Sect’s treasury?
As the Jin Kingdom’s top sect, its Zang Wu Pavilion held countless techniques – especially abundant eighth and ninth-level Celestial Techniques surpassing even royal collections. This treasure hoard drove Duan Chenfeng and Qu Yiping’s desperate competition.
“Follow.” Elder Lan flicked his sleeve.
Cloud-like mist billowed from his robe, coalescing beneath the eight. The cloud trembled, lifting them skyward behind Elder Lan toward Tian Zhu Peak’s inner sanctum.
“Qi manipulation flight… This requires late Qi refining stage mastery.” Qu Yiping murmured in awe.
They plunged into the peak’s misty heights. Darkness enveloped them briefly before light burst forth, revealing…
Zang Wu Pavilion!
Golden characters glowed atop a pagoda-like structure. Seven tiers tapered upward, crimson walls shimmering with jade-like translucence.
“We arrive.” Elder Lan withdrew his true qi, dropping them several meters to the ground.
“Is this the Zang Wu Pavilion of our Heavenly Sword Sect?” Duan Chenfeng gazed at the towering hundred-zhang-high structure before him, eyes brimming with anticipation.
“Heavenly Sword Sect? How presumptuous. This is Tian Zhu Peak’s Zang Wu Pavilion,” Elder Lan retorted with an annoyed glance.
“Tian Zhu Peak’s? But Tian Zhu Peak specializes in herb gathering and material collection. Your Celestial Techniques must focus on harvesting skills and alchemy. What a waste,” Duan Chenfeng sighed, shaking his head.
“Utter nonsense! Our Heavenly Sword Sect possesses a hundred thousand ninth-tier Celestial Techniques. These are basic combat methods, utterly commonplace. All five Zang Wu Pavilions’ first layers hold identical copies of these techniques. The real challenge lies in choosing wisely, not in finding enough options,” Elder Lan snapped, irritation coloring his voice. Unlike Ye Yun, who sensed hidden depths in Duan Chenfeng, the elder simply deemed him an arrogant fool.
To new outer disciples, ninth-tier techniques seemed priceless treasures. But to outer sect experts like Elder Lan, they were mere fundamentals. Upon reaching Qi refining stage, disciples could access the second layer’s eighth and seventh-tier techniques. Elder Lan himself mastered three seventh-tier techniques. Advancement to foundation establishment stage would grant him third-layer access to sixth and fifth-tier methods.
Ninth-Grade Cultivation Techniques formed the barest foundation.
“Enough. You’ll now enter the Zang Wu Pavilion to choose your techniques. Maintain silence inside. You each have two hours – select carefully. Proper choices will multiply your cultivation efficiency.” Elder Lan addressed the top eight disciples before approaching the first layer’s massive doors.
“Disciple Lan Songheng brings the eight new disciples for technique selection. We seek the Guardian Elder’s permission.”
As Elder Lan bowed before the glowing golden gates, an ancient voice resonated clearly: “Enter.”
The creaking doors revealed an impossible space. Though the exterior suggested a ten-zhang diameter, the interior stretched beyond sight. Countless books floated mid-air, each encased in crimson light.
An array!
A spatial array!
The disciples exchanged awed glances. Though unversed in such magic, they recognized the telltale spatial distortion from ancient texts. Creating such space required at least foundation establishment stage cultivation. Formations mimicking Xumi’s realm demanded Golden Core stage power – a realm possibly beyond their entire sect’s reach.
When first arriving, these youths from Jin Kingdom’s hinterlands had believed their sect peerless. Historical records later revealed greater kingdoms beyond, some rivaling immortal sects. Now this spatial array proved their sect’s hidden depths.
Several disciples immediately sprinted toward the floating tomes. Ye Yun stayed rooted. Speed meant nothing here. Becoming a Golden Core king required perfect technique alignment, not haste.
