Chapter 23 Senior Sister, please enlighten me

"Junior Sister, spare me!"

"Master, your disciple is truly no match and can only forfeit!"

The Mount Shu disciples who sparred with Lian grumbled without end; the Martial King Divine Physique was too domineering. At the mere age of ten, Lian had defeated dozens of Mount Shu disciples, causing an uproar throughout Mount Shu.

The Mount Shu Disciple Convention was in full swing, and as disciples were continuously eliminated, eventually only eight remained. This included Lin Qingzhi, Lian, Xiao Xiangdao, and others.

"Among the new disciples Mount Shu has recruited in the past ten years, two of Elder Lu's disciples have made it to the top eight. Elder Lu is truly a great master."

"The futures of Elder Lu's two disciples are boundless. They might one day become the mainstays of our Mount Shu. It's really enviable."

"I wonder how Elder Lu's two disciples will fare when pitted against the possessor of the Spirit Sword Physique, Xiao Xiangdao?"

The Mount Shu elders, having seen the final eight disciples, including two of Lu Changsheng's disciples among them, could not help but express their admiration.

"Next up, Qingyun Peak's disciple Lin Qingzhi will face Bimoon Peak's disciple Chen Yao!"

On the Martial Arts Platform, two teenagers, a boy and a girl, each with a longsword on their backs, stood their ground, swords ready as unseen waves of energy whirled and clashed.

"Bimoon Peak? Isn't that... the dwelling of a Supreme Elder?"

"Aren't the Supreme Elders in seclusion? How could they recruit disciples?"

"It's said that one of the Supreme Elders had an epiphany, emerged from seclusion nine years ago, and brought a young girl back to Mount Shu when he returned. This girl was later taken as a disciple by this Supreme Elder. Being one of the new disciples Mount Shu has acquired within the last ten years, she naturally qualifies to participate in this Mount Shu Disciple Convention."

"Since she's been taken in by a Supreme Elder, there must be something special about her."

"Her entrance into the final eight Mount Shu disciples speaks to her talent."

Some Mount Shu elders engaged in gossip, enthusiastically discussing the matter.

It seems that even in the realm of cultivation, indulging in gossip is still a common human sentiment.

Lu Changsheng turned his gaze toward Chen Yao, the Mount Shu disciple who was about to duel his eldest disciple.

This Mount Shu disciple named Chen Yao was a disciple of an unnamed Supreme Elder of Mount Shu.

The Supreme Elders of Mount Shu, being of the same generation as the Sect Leader, were old monsters with inscrutable cultivation levels. They mostly spent their time in seclusion, focusing on their own cultivation, preparing for the Heavenly Tribulation, and seldom took on disciples lightly.

Unless the other party had a monstrous aptitude or fortuitous encounter, only then might they be taken in as a disciple by a Supreme Elder.

[The Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator is assessing the opponent's qualifications…]

[Name: Chen Yao]

[Race: Human]

[Talent: Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Physique, Thunder Spiritual Root, Formation Grandmaster]

[Cultivation: Golden Core Realm, Third Layer]

[Dao Bone: 19 years]

As expected, the disciple chosen by a Mount Shu Supreme Elder was astonishingly gifted.

This girl, slightly older than Lin Qingzhi, should be considered Lin Qingzhi's senior sister.

Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Physique?

According to the "Records of Special Physiques Through the Ages," the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Physique has appeared twice, solely in female cultivators. However, the record is vague about the peculiarities of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Physique.

A Formation Grandmaster is someone with an exceptional talent in setting up heavenly and earthly formations.

Some cultivators are adept at using formations to defeat their enemies.

The Great Demon Sects also have many elders proficient in array formations. There was once a Demon Sect Elder who, in order to improve his own cultivation, used a Blood Formation to refine an entire city, sacrificing the lives of hundreds of thousands.

"Qingzhi, your master permits you to use the cultivation level of the second layer of the Golden Core Realm."

Lu Changsheng knew that Chen Yao would be extremely troublesome for his eldest disciple. If he only used the cultivation level of the Qi Transformation Realm, Chen Yao would defeat him in no time.

It's better to allow Lin Qingzhi to accumulate experience battling a genius during this opportunity.

"However, in this battle, you must intentionally hold back and be content with stopping at the top eight," he instructed.

"Even if you achieve first place, Mount Shu's rewards won't be better than what your master has given you. There's no need to draw attention to yourself for the sake of coming first."

Lu Changsheng communicated secretly with Lin Qingzhi.

Among the remaining eight disciples, there were apprentices of the Sect Leader Li Changye and disciples of the Supreme Elders. Defeating them would likely cause an earthquake throughout Mount Shu.

Cultivation isn't about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social etiquette.

Chen Yao's cultivation level was very high, so it was only logical for Lin Qingzhi to "naturally" lose to her.

"Disciple understands."

Lin Qingzhi, having no desire to stand out, suppressed his power to the second layer of the Golden Core Realm, drew his longsword, and faced Chen Yao.

"I am Lin Qingzhi of Qingyun Peak, please instruct me, senior sister."

"I am Chen Yao of Bimoon Peak, please enlighten me."

Chen Yao's voice was melodious; she stood upright and regulated her breathing.

She needed to defeat only three more opponents to fulfill her master's expectations.

In nine years, she went from a mortal with no cultivation base to a disciple of Mount Shu at the third layer of the Golden Core Realm, thanks to the sacrifices of the Supreme Elder who gave up time from his seclusion to guide her cultivation.

The elder who accepted her as a disciple felt that there was no hope for him to survive his Tribulation, and with little time left in his life, he gave up continuing his secluded cultivation to focus on teaching her.

The reason the human race has continued to thrive lies in passing on the torch from one generation to the next.

"I must not fail my master's expectations."

Chen Yao's right hand made a motion, and a deep blue radiance gradually appeared behind her longsword.

"This is the Skywave Sword of Bimoon Peak, an Acquired Spirit Treasure of medium quality!"

"Worthy of being a disciple recruited by a Supreme Elder, to have such a spiritual treasure in the Golden Core Realm!"

"With her current cultivation level, she still cannot unleash the full power of this spiritual treasure."

"Even so, Elder Lu's disciple is in for a tough fight."

Many Mount Shu elders were taken aback, and they all looked favorably upon the disciple recruited by the Supreme Elder.

Until now, Lin Qingzhi had only shown the highest cultivation level of the ninth layer of the Qi Transformation Realm, and he had been fortunate enough not to face any Golden Core Realm opponents.

There was no doubt about Chen Yao's current cultivation level being in the Golden Core Realm, and with a medium quality Acquired Spirit Treasure, the outcome seemed clear.

Lu Changsheng remained calm and collected. He had intentionally had Lin Qingzhi lower his realm to let him try fighting across different cultivation ranks.

Cultivators are not always able to suppress their enemies with their cultivation levels, sometimes they might encounter demons with higher ranks.

To defeat or escape unharmed from an opponent of a higher rank, while being lower in rank yourself, is what makes a truly formidable person.

Therefore, this served as "pressure resistance training" for Lin Qingzhi.

"Rise!"

Chen Yao's face turned serious as she pinched a sword spell with her left hand and pulled with two fingers of her right, the Skywave Sword emitted a clear ringing sound as it soared into the sky, its light shining for miles!

"Slash!"

As Chen Yao's sword technique changed, the Skywave Sword carried a momentum that seemed to split mountains and part seas as it slashed towards Lin Qingzhi!

She intended to defeat Lin Qingzhi in one move!

Compared to the medium quality Acquired Spirit Treasure "Skywave Sword," the superior quality Spiritual Artifact "Green Abyss Sword" seemed dull and lackluster.

"Elder Lu's first disciple has shown a cultivation level only up to the Qi Transformation Realm, it seems he will be defeated in one move."

"The opponent is a closed-door disciple recruited by a Supreme Elder, losing to her is no shame."

"Lin Qingzhi's entrance into the top eight already marks him as an elite disciple."

Seeing Chen Yao exert her full strength with the first move, many Mount Shu elders believed Lin Qingzhi wouldn't withstand a single sword strike, so they began to comfort Lu Changsheng in advance.

Lu Changsheng, an Elder of the Dao Palace Realm with two such outstanding disciples, should have no regrets.