Chapter 60
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Chapter 60: Conflict
Ye Yun no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath, gripped the Little Absorption Technique in his hand, and stepped out of the Zang Wu Pavilion.
Yu Minghong brightened upon seeing him and hurried over. “Brother Ye, did you make your choice?”
“What did you pick?”
Duan Chenfeng shot a glance his way.
“The Little Absorption Technique? A support technique?”
Duan Chenfeng froze for a moment, blurting out in surprise.
He’d only chosen a support technique?
Though Qu Yiping and the others kept their distance, they too stared at the manual in Ye Yun’s hand, stunned by Duan Chenfeng’s words.
“Brother Ye Yun, why pick such a technique?” Yu Minghong asked, disbelief written across his face. He wondered if Ye Yun had rushed the decision due to time constraints.
“It seemed useful, so I chose it on a whim,” Ye Yun replied.
Several nearby disciples exchanged pitying looks, assuming Ye Yun’s humble origins had left him ignorant of better options.
“Does it matter?” Duan Chenfeng’s mocking voice cut through the air. “The first layer of the Zang Wu Pavilion only holds mediocre techniques. Once we survive the sect trial, we’ll access the second layer. Any technique there would be a hundred times better.”
At these words, eager anticipation flickered in the eyes of the surrounding disciples.
Surviving the trial meant more than just earning a black robe and abundant resources—it promised breakthroughs to the Qi refining stage and higher-tier cultivation techniques as rewards.
But a sneering voice interrupted their thoughts. “Ants like you dare dream of surviving the sect trial? Reaching the second layer? How delusional. Do you think the Zang Wu Pavilion’s second layer welcomes just anyone?”
“Who said that?” Duan Chenfeng snarled, whirling around.
Ye Yun turned to see two figures in purple robes standing behind them.
Purple robe disciples!
His pupils narrowed. Yu Minghong and the others tensed, their postures stiffening.
Outer disciples of Tian Zhu Peak were ranked by status: the lowest were new disciples and ordinary Green Robed Disciples, followed by Yellow Robed Disciples, then black robe disciples like Nan Cheng who served in various halls. At the peak stood purple robe disciples—those taken as personal disciples by elders, already at the Qi refining stage.
Purple robe disciples never performed menial tasks. They freely accessed the Zang Wu Pavilion’s second layer to select cultivation techniques, enjoying a distinguished status. Their sole duty was to grow stronger.
The number of outstanding disciples a peak like Tian Zhu produced directly influenced Shadowless Peak’s resource allocations and standing. Thus, every peak fiercely nurtured its purple robe disciples, tolerating even their arrogance, for they determined the sect’s future.
These two purple-robed figures radiated superiority, towering above ordinary outer disciples.
While Ye Yun remained expressionless, Duan Chenfeng glared defiantly. “And who are *you*?”
His words hung in the air like twin slaps to the faces of the purple robe disciples.
A stunned silence fell over the Zang Wu Pavilion. No one dared breathe.
No one expected Duan Chenfeng to still look down on purple robe disciples at the Qi refining stage, daring to speak such words. It was unclear whether this stemmed from extraordinary confidence or sheer foolishness. To most onlookers, it was clearly the latter!
"Excellent. These new disciples are truly impressive, daring to speak to us like this," the leading purple robe disciple said after recovering from his initial shock, eyes flashing with incredulity as murderous intent gathered.
"Senior Brother Zhen, why lower yourself to ants? They’ll enter the sect trial soon anyway – who knows if they’ll return?" The other disciple spoke gently without anger.
"True. Better than dirtying my hands." The murderous intent in Senior Brother Zhen’s eyes gradually subsided.
Tian Zhu Peak’s sect rules were strict. Even purple robe disciples couldn’t kill freely. Life-and-death battles required formal sect approval on designated platforms. Killing without authorization – even a green-robed disciple – brought severe punishment. What use were talented disciples who couldn’t follow rules?
"They say this sect trial’s important. Why aren’t you going? Ah, shows your poor cultivation and mediocre potential." Duan Chenfeng relentlessly mocked both men.
"Sharp-tongued fool! You’re courting death. Think the sect would punish me for killing trash?" Senior Brother Zhen whirled around in rage.
The other purple robe disciple glanced at silent Ye Yun and whispered to Senior Brother Zhen. The anger faded from Senior Brother Zhen’s face as he turned: "You’re Ye Yun?"
When Ye Yun nodded uncertainly, Senior Brother Zhen continued: "I know you – top new disciple without Celestial Techniques, using basic cultivation methods from a border town. You’ve potential. For your sake, I’ll spare them."
Ye Yun returned the courtesy gesture impassively, understanding their fear of offending Elder Seven through him.
Just as tensions eased, Duan Chenfeng laughed coldly: "You decide unilaterally? Who do you think you are?"
Senior Brother Zhen froze mid-turn. "Leave your name. I’ll settle this later," Duan Chenfeng declared icily, confidence overriding arrogance.
"Magnificent! I’m Zhen Huacheng!" The purple-robed disciple’s chest heaved with contained fury, murderous intent restrained only by sect rules and fear of Elder Seven. He left with a sneer.
The eight disciples watched them depart with mixed expressions. Yang Yunsong and others wore resentment – though wary of Ye Yun, Senior Brother Zhen had marked them all.
"Must you play fool and provoke enemies?" Ye Yun approached Duan Chenfeng coldly.
"He’d never treat us well regardless," Duan Chenfeng shrugged, giving Ye Yun a meaningful look. "You’re no better – provoking Qin Qianhan himself."
Ye Yun’s expression cooled at Qin Qianhan’s name, though he remained confident breaking through to Qi refining stage would nullify that threat.
Without another word, Ye Yun headed for Zang Wu Pavilion’s registration desk. Cultivation techniques and Celestial Techniques couldn’t be studied inside – pages unlocked only after departure. All disciples required inspection by guarding disciples before leaving.
