Chapter Eleven: The Sect in Turmoil (Part Two)

“Ahem, ahem, I must say, Peak Masters, if you want to accept disciples, you should wait until the assessment is completed. They’ve only passed the first round; the tests of character and will are yet to come,” Elder Feng Buping from the outer peaks, named by the sect master, coughed lightly twice, interrupting Lei Wei.

“I’ll take this child with me first. Her admission to the sect is already certain. I believe that someone possessing the rare dual thunder and fire variant spiritual root will not fail even the most basic test of will,” Lei Wei waved his large hand, speaking with a rather domineering tone.

“Ahem, Peak Master Lei, I think it’s best to ask the child what she wants. Child, do you wish to leave now with this domineering fellow, or do you prefer to finish all the assessments before joining the sect?” Feng Buping ignored Lei Wei’s words, his gaze settling on Ji Mo, with a hint of the big bad wolf eyeing Little Red Riding Hood.

“If entering Thunder Peak doesn’t require passing the next round, then naturally I’ll join now. Why waste time proving myself again?” Ji Mo curled her lips, refusing to follow the path Feng Buping had set.

Feng Buping staggered, nearly cursing aloud: Why does this brat’s response differ so much from others? As a genius, shouldn’t she proudly declare: ‘I don’t need special treatment. I’ll complete all the tests and silence everyone with my strength’?

“Hahaha, excellent, excellent! As expected of the disciple I’ve chosen, such boldness is fitting. Your talent far surpasses the others. If you already know you’re destined for our Moonwatching Sect, pretending to stay for further tests just to impress the sect would be hypocritical!” Lei Wei cast a sidelong glance at Elder Feng, bursting into laughter, scooping Ji Mo up and preparing to leave.

“Wait, I must say goodbye to Uncle Changfeng and Brother Zhao Hu, otherwise they’ll worry when they find I’m gone,” Ji Mo tugged at his sleeve urgently.

“No need to worry. The elders and the disciples responsible for the test will inform them shortly,” Lei Wei didn’t pause, whisking her away and vanishing from sight.

“That fellow, always so arrogant and reckless. Please look after this child for me. Once the assessment is over, send her to Cloud Mist Peak,” Yun Shui Lan watched Lei Wei’s retreating figure, shook her head, then pointed to Jiang Ping with instructions.

“Peak Master Lan, don’t be discouraged. Though this child’s talent isn’t as extraordinary as the previous girl’s, a superior single-attribute spiritual root is still extremely rare. Her future may even be smoother. When the assessment is done, I’ll send her to Cloud Mist Peak,” Feng Buping, having been outmaneuvered by Lei Wei and Ji Mo, gritted his teeth and hastily tucked away his small ambitions, offering sweet words.

Yun Shui Lan said nothing more, her long sleeves fluttering as she vanished in an instant. The other elders who had followed from various peaks, seeing that the two outstanding spiritual root disciples had already been claimed by Thunder Peak and Cloud Mist Peak, found no reason to remain. They too waved their sleeves and turned away. Once these sect dignitaries departed, those immobilized at the scene finally regained their senses and freedom.

What just happened to me? Many people wondered inwardly, but seeing nothing amiss, they could only glance around in confusion. Only Zhao Changfeng and his companions, coming to their senses and realizing Ji Mo was gone, grew anxious. As they were about to approach the young man responsible for the test, they saw a dignified elder with a black beard, dressed in Moonwatching Sect robes, stride over and speak first: “You must be Zhao Changfeng?”

“I am. May I ask what instructions Immortal has for me?” Zhao Changfeng’s heart skipped a beat, and he asked cautiously.

“Are you looking for your girl? No need. Her spiritual root talent was exceptional and has already been noticed by the sect elders; she’s been taken ahead of time,” the elder stroked his black beard with a smile. He was none other than Feng Buping, the outer sect elder of Moonwatching Sect.

Zhao Changfeng was stunned for a moment, then joyfully bowed repeatedly to Feng Buping: “Thank you, thank you for letting me know, Immortal.”

“No need to thank me. Now that your girl has become an inner disciple of our sect, Moonwatching Sect will protect Zhao Family Village from now on. Anyone who wishes to cause trouble for your village must first ask our permission,” Feng Buping waved his hand dismissively. Though his voice was not loud, it carried clearly to every corner of the gathering. A few young men and women who had previously clashed with Zhao Family Village couldn’t help but show a change of expression.

The villagers of Zhao Family Village, hearing Feng Buping’s words, could barely contain their joy. Zhao Changjin, Zhao Changhai, and others were so excited they spoke incoherently to Zhao Changfeng: “Brother Changfeng, our village has truly found a treasure. Who would have thought Ji Mo possessed such talent? This—this is incredible…”

In the village’s centuries-long history, only a handful had been accepted by Moonwatching Sect as outer academy body cultivators, whose greatest achievement was the twelfth level of postnatal body refinement—far from qualifying for inner discipleship. They were eventually sent out by the sect to handle mundane affairs in the mortal world, unable to bring much practical benefit to their village.

But Ji Mo entered the sect as an inner disciple, personally announced by an elder, and henceforth Zhao Family Village would be under their protection. Such honor made the elders feel as if it were all unreal.

“I never imagined the girl possessed such talent. I can finally account to her parents when I depart this world,” Zhao Changfeng’s joy was beyond words; he trembled with excitement.

Father, not only has Sister Ji Mo become an inner disciple of Moonwatching Sect—one day, I too will become an inner disciple. Our Zhao Family Village will prosper more and more. At the same time, Zhao Hu clenched his fists, his gaze resolute. In that moment, this honest, unassuming youth quietly set a grand goal for himself.

Zhao Qin’s eyes flickered faintly, his face betraying no emotion. No one knew what he was thinking. Only Jiang Ping’s expression became peculiarly unsettled, alternating between pale and flushed. Her hands clenched under her sleeves until her nails broke the skin, yet she felt nothing.

“Junior Sister Jiang, what’s wrong?” The handsome young man beside her, responsible for the test, noticed her shifting expression and asked in surprise.

“Ah? It’s nothing, I just suddenly thought of my parents, and felt a bit sad…” Jiang Ping’s heart skipped; when she looked up, her eyes shimmered with a faint light.