Chapter 28: Peak Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Ascending to Peak Eight

Within the Baiyang Sect, the living conditions of disciples varied according to their cultivation level. Liu Pan had now stepped into the Martial Apprentice Realm—the first threshold on the path of martial cultivation. Though this breakthrough might seem insignificant in the wider world of cultivation, for a two-star sect on the southern frontier, Liu Pan could be considered to have passed the mark.

Thus, as Liu Pan updated his information and departed from the Outer Hall, a newly drafted list was promptly issued from the Outer Hall and sent to each mountain of the Baiyang Sect.

On Peak Nine, outside the room where Liu Pan had stayed the previous night, several figures waited. Among them stood Liu Kuang, Hu Lang, and Ye Ming.

Liu Kuang frowned slightly, lost in thought. Ye Ming, on the other hand, appeared carefree, incessantly chattering with Hu Lang about matters concerning the second and third rankings. As for Hu Lang, his eyes were tightly shut, brow furrowed, enduring Ye Ming’s verbal barrage. If not for his injuries, and the fact he hadn’t yet overcome his habitual combat mindset, he would have long since snapped and silenced Ye Ming.

Lin Dong stood to the side, baffled as he observed the trio. He still couldn’t fathom what was going on between them. The five others who had followed him here to seek Liu Kuang had now gone down the mountain to look for Liu Pan.

Time passed, and just as Hu Lang was about to lose his patience with Ye Ming’s incessant nagging—ready to disregard his wounds and start a fight—a figure sped towards them from the distance.

“Senior Brother Liu Kuang, there’s news of Senior Brother Liu Pan!” the disciple called out as he approached, coming to an abrupt halt before Liu Kuang and handing over a scroll.

“What’s this?” Liu Kuang frowned, puzzled. How did searching for news of Liu Pan turn into receiving a scroll?

“It’s the list of Outer Sect disciples who have reached the Martial Apprentice Realm, just sent out by the sect,” the disciple replied, panting for breath.

“A list of Outer Sect disciples at the Martial Apprentice Realm?” Liu Kuang was stunned, then suddenly realized something. He snatched the scroll and unfurled it.

Hu Lang and Ye Ming, sensing what this meant, crowded beside Liu Kuang.

Soon, the three exchanged bewildered glances, each seeing confusion in the other’s eyes.

After a brief silence, Ye Ming was the first to recover, but this time he was less carefree. He frowned slightly and asked, “So what do we do now?”

Liu Kuang and Hu Lang looked at each other, shook their heads, and said nothing.

Yueqing Peak was where the third elder of Baiyang Sect, Li Liao, resided.

Examining the list of Outer Sect disciples at the Martial Apprentice Realm, Li Liao’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected Liu Pan to advance so swiftly. After a moment’s thought, Li Liao left Yueqing Peak and headed straight to the main mountain of the Baiyang Sect—Baiyang Peak.

Baiyang Peak was the residence of the sect master, Yang Jiangshui. At this moment, not only Li Liao but three other elders also ascended Baiyang Peak in succession.

Two quarters of an hour later, several elders were seated in the grand hall of Baiyang Peak, with the sect master Yang Jiangshui presiding.

Looking down at the four elders, Yang Jiangshui didn’t need to ask why they had come; he already had an inkling, and it troubled him.

In the Baiyang Sect, once someone broke through to the Martial Apprentice Realm, they were considered to have met the standard. This breakthrough ensured the disciple would fall under the scrutiny of all. The reason for sending the list to each mountain was twofold: to motivate disciples in their cultivation, and to notify the elders immediately when someone advanced.

For larger sects, elders might not even glance at such lists, but in Baiyang Sect, any disciple breaking through to the Martial Apprentice Realm had to be reported. This notification was, in fact, an agreement reached among the elders.

If an ordinary disciple advanced, the elders might glance at the list and pay it little mind. But a talented disciple’s breakthrough would draw their attention, each hoping to take such a one as a personal disciple.

Regarding Liu Pan, due to his performance in the entrance competition, nearly all the elders recognized him as someone with a certain understanding of the martial path. To cultivate martial arts, talent was important, but more crucial was understanding the path itself.

Moreover, Liu Pan had only entered the sect a few days ago and now had already broken through. The elders believed he hadn’t yet reached sixteen years of age; such progress could hardly be considered poor talent.

Thus, upon hearing of Liu Pan’s advancement, the elders eager to take him as their personal disciple hurried to Baiyang Peak.

After waiting for two quarters of an hour and seeing no other elders arrive, Yang Jiangshui finally spoke. “The time is about right. Whoever was coming should already be here. Let’s get down to business.”

“I suspect all of you are here for Liu Pan, so let’s hear your reasons.”

The matter of elders recruiting personal disciples always vexed Yang Jiangshui, for as sect master, he had to ensure the sect’s development. He couldn’t allow discord among the elders—or if discord did arise, he had to ensure it remained hidden.

As for why he sat here, one reason was to make the final decision; another was to “intimidate” the elders, to prevent them from becoming too heated or excessive in their competition for disciples.

After Yang Jiangshui finished speaking, no one responded immediately. All frowned slightly, as if pondering how to begin, or perhaps deliberately waiting for others to speak first.

“I’ll go first,” Li Liao’s eyes flashed, and he spoke. “When Liu Pan joined the sect, I sensed a connection with him and had already planned to make him my personal disciple. Time has proven my judgment correct. He—”

“Then let me speak as well,” interrupted a robust, lean man. “We all know Liu Pan has a certain understanding of the martial path. As for myself, I have always devoted myself solely to cultivation, never dabbling in alchemy, arrays, or talismans. With me, Liu Pan could train without distraction.”

“I must object to that,” an elder past sixty interjected, cutting off the lean man. “What do you mean, ‘with you he can train without distraction’? Are you saying one can’t properly cultivate while studying alchemy with me? You’ve said yourself that Liu Pan understands the martial path—which means his character is mature. In alchemy, character is paramount. So young, yet so mature, I believe he’d benefit most from studying alchemy with me.”

“Cough, cough. You all know I went out three years ago, don’t you?” The last to speak was another somewhat lean man, who didn’t immediately address Liu Pan’s qualities, but instead posed this odd question, leaving the others perplexed.

“Well, during that trip three years ago, I met Liu Pan. I decided then and there to make him my personal disciple.”

The lean man spoke without the slightest embarrassment, seemingly oblivious to the skeptical looks from the others.

Li Liao’s expression darkened upon hearing this, realizing the man was simply trying to claim he’d met Liu Pan earlier.

Though all four elders wished to take Liu Pan as their personal disciple, Liu Pan himself remained entirely unaware.

After leaving the Outer Hall, Liu Pan went directly to Peak Eight.

Peak Eight was the mountain where Outer Sect disciples who had broken through to the Martial Apprentice Realm resided. Including the newly advanced Liu Pan, only sixteen people lived there. Not only were the residents few, but the living conditions were far superior to those of other peaks.

Upon Liu Pan’s breakthrough, the disciples residing on Peak Eight naturally received the notification.

Li Liao had already paid attention during the recruitment. He had intended to speak privately with Liu Pan after the entrance competition, but unexpectedly, Liu Pan broke through right afterward, upending his plans.

Thus, after Li Liao finished speaking, the robust, lean man continued, “We all know Liu Pan has a certain understanding of the martial path. As for myself, I have always devoted myself solely to cultivation, never dabbling in alchemy, arrays, or talismans. With me, Liu Pan could train without distraction.”

“I must object to that,” the elder past sixty interrupted. “What do you mean, ‘with you he can train without distraction’? Are you saying one can’t properly cultivate while studying alchemy with me? You’ve said yourself that Liu Pan understands the martial path—which means his character is mature. In alchemy, character is paramount. So young, yet so mature, I believe he’d benefit most from studying alchemy with me.”

“Cough, cough. You all know I went out three years ago, don’t you?” The last to speak was another somewhat lean man, who didn’t immediately address Liu Pan’s qualities, but instead posed this odd question.

“Well, during that trip three years ago, I met Liu Pan. I decided then and there to make him my personal disciple.”

The lean man spoke without the slightest embarrassment, seemingly oblivious to the skeptical looks from the others.

Li Liao’s expression darkened upon hearing this, realizing the man was simply trying to claim he’d met Liu Pan earlier.