Chapter 2 Heart of the Innocent

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Boom!

A vast and oppressive force descended upon the main peak of Mount Shu, silencing the incessantly noisy crowd in front of the hall as well as the Mount Shu elders and disciples within.

The entire main peak of Mount Shu trembled slightly, as clouds churned and a purple aura swept in from three thousand miles away!

Some outsiders who had never witnessed such a sight were trembling in their souls.

A figure appeared out of thin air at the main seat of the grand hall of Mount Shu, with hair and beard flecked with gray, an aura of a sage about him, clothed in a Daoist robe adorned with the Taiji Yin-Yang symbols, and his profound eyes reminiscent of the vast starry sky.

The elder waved his sleeve, and the terrifying pressure that enveloped Mount Shu's main peak was swallowed up like by a whale, vanishing in an instant.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Mount Shu's many highly cultivated elders were all respectful and reverent, performing salutations to the elder seated in the main seat.

He was the twenty-seventh Sect Leader of Mount Shu, the Taiyuan True Person, the overtly strongest fighter of Mount Shu, who, three thousand years ago, had already reached the Dao Palace Realm!

"Changye, during my seclusion, has there been any disturbance in Xia State?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, all is calm in Xia State. However, there seems to be some unrest in Huang State, which has had a slight impact on us... I will report the details to the Sect Leader afterward."

"Hmm. Changsheng, it's been a hundred years since we last met; your cultivation has improved a great deal, but cultivators should be wary of isolated cultivation; it is a grave taboo. It's good that you've managed to overcome your inner demons and emerge from seclusion."

Taiyuan True Person's piercing gaze swept over him, completely perceiving Lu Changsheng's level of cultivation.

However, even with Taiyuan True Person's level of cultivation, he didn't know that his disciple's soul had already been replaced by someone else.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the elders, Taiyuan True Person slowly said, "Since all the elders, except those in seclusion, are present, let's begin the Disciple Apprenticeship Ceremony."

"Yes."

"By the Sect Leader's command, the Disciple Apprenticeship Ceremony begins!"

Li Changye's voice, loud as thunder, echoed throughout the main peak of Mount Shu, and the myriad mortals waiting to have their talents tested were all solemn.

A cultivator with Great Accomplishment in the Dao Palace Realm is someone they would look up to for their entire lives.

A large mirror flew out from the grand hall, growing larger in the wind and floating above the square, emitting an astonishing spiritual energy.

"This is Mount Shu's low-grade Immortal Artifact—the Gallbladder Mirror!"

"This object can assess physique, comprehension, and qi destiny; it's truly marvellous. The reason why each generation of Mount Shu is brimming with talent is due to the Gallbladder Mirror's merit."

"Mount Shu's foundations are indeed unfathomably deep."

Some old servants who had followed their young masters to Mount Shu, worldly and well-informed, cried out in amazement.

A low-grade Immortal Artifact is not something that mortals, let alone cultivators, could see even once in their lifetimes.

Mount Shu's outer sect disciples maintained order, dividing the crowd into groups of ten, who went in turn to stand in front of the Gallbladder Mirror to test their qualifications.

Every one of them was nervous; becoming a disciple of Mount Shu, especially an inner sect disciple, would set them on the path of cultivation, changing their encounters in life, no longer remaining as mere mortals.

Among the crowd were the children of prestigious families, princes, princesses, and loose cultivators.

"Cai Zhiyin, Root Bone mediocre, Comprehension poor, Qi Destiny poor, cultivation at the third layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, unqualified."

"Lin Chunping, Root Bone high-grade, Comprehension mediocre, Qi Destiny mediocre, cultivation at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, qualified."

"Chen Ruyi, Root Bone low-grade, Comprehension high-grade, Qi Destiny high-grade, cultivation at sixth layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, qualified."

…

The Gallbladder Mirror displayed everyone's qualifications, and anyone with two low-grade aspects was deemed unworthy of the way of the immortals.

Those who were qualified could become the outer sect disciples of Mount Shu, whilst only those taken as disciples by the Sect Leader or elders could become inner sect disciples.

Lu Changsheng activated the search function of the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator; his invisible divine sense covered the whole of Mount Shu's main peak, revealing the qualifications of everyone except for the Sect Leader, Taiyuan True Person.

It was not only Root Bone, Comprehension, and Qi Destiny that Lu Changsheng could see, but also things that even the Gallbladder Mirror couldn't.

Looking towards his senior brother, Li Changye, a brilliant golden light burst from the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator in his Sea of Consciousness, and Li Changye's information appeared in Lu Changsheng's mind.

[Li Changye]

[Talent: Eternal Wilderness Body, Fire Spirit Root, Cursed with Gambling]

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[Cultivation: Ninth Layer of Dao Palace Realm]

[Dao Bone: 500 years]

As expected of the most valued direct disciple of the Sect Leader of Mount Shu, Taiyuan Zhenren, with just 500 years of cultivation, he has reached the ninth layer of the Dao Palace Realm, only half a step away from the Void Refinement Realm.

"Senior Brother actually has a special physique, the Eternal Wilderness Body... But such a person who possesses such cultivation always loses in gambling; it seems his Qi Destiny is lacking..."

Lu Changsheng secretly scrutinized his senior brother Li Changye's talents. Li Changye was extraordinarily gifted, but it was impossible for Lu Changsheng to accept him as a disciple.

Lu Changsheng shook his head, his Divine Sense scanning over the mortals below being tested, looking for a suitable candidate for discipleship.

The higher a disciple's cultivation rises, the more generous the rewards from the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator.

Training a disciple in the Nascent Soul Realm is far more valuable than training a hundred disciples in the Qi Transformation Realm. The higher the disciple's talents, the faster the cultivation speed, which is why quality should not be sacrificed for quantity.

"Bamboo Shuangshu, Root Bone of medium grade, Comprehension of lower grade, Qi Destiny of lower grade, no special physique. Not good, not good."

"Chu Feiyan, Root Bone of high grade, Comprehension of high grade, Qi Destiny of high grade, no special physique, definitely can become an outer sect disciple, even with Elders willing to take them as inner sect disciples."

"Li Gang, damn, Heavenly Slaughter Lone Star?!"

Lu Changsheng saw a mortal named Li Gang whose talent was actually "Heavenly Slaughter Lone Star."

The fate of the Heavenly Slaughter Lone Star doesn't affect the person themselves but is extremely harmful to those around them.

Having such a disciple might mean not living to see next year.

"Xiao Xiangdao, Root Bone of supreme grade, Comprehension of supreme grade, Qi Destiny of high grade, cultivation in the third layer of the Qi Transformation Realm, possesses a special physique - the Spirit Sword Physique!"

The Mount Shu Elders who were selecting disciples suddenly burst into excitement.

The Gallbladder Mirror shook violently, displaying three golden ancient seal characters: "Spirit Sword Physique!"

Even Taiyuan Zhenren was moved by this.

A special physique indicates extremely high talent.

The eldest Senior Brother, Li Changye, was almost unmatched within the same realm thanks to the Eternal Wilderness Body.

"This is the third Prince of Liang Kingdom, Xiao Xiangdao!"

"Who would've thought that the royal family of Liang Kingdom would produce someone with the Spirit Sword Physique!"

"Indeed, Mount Shu's fortune is waxing strong. With a disciple having the Spirit Sword Physique, in a thousand years, this person will surely become a pillar of Mount Shu!"

The crowd waiting for the talent test was in an uproar.

A special physique, one in a million.

"Without a sword in hand but one in the heart, the comprehension of the Sword Dao by someone with the Spirit Sword Physique is as simple as eating and drinking water for a mortal."

Li Changye, hands behind his back, looked towards Xiao Xiangdao with apparent appreciation for this youth.

Many Mount Shu Elders had eager eyes; they all wanted to take Xiao Xiangdao as a disciple, a rare gem that could be encountered only once in a millennium.

Yet, no one dared to openly accept Xiao Xiangdao as a disciple.

The reason was simple: with a rough jade, an unskilled craftsman dare not carve, lest it becomes a waste of heaven-sent talents.

Everyone turned their gazes unanimously towards Taiyuan Zhenren, for here, the only one capable of nurturing the Spirit Sword Physique seemed to be Taiyuan Zhenren himself.

"I have fortuitously attained some insight recently and must go into seclusion for some time. The affairs of Mount Shu will be handled by you, the Eldest Senior Brother, in my stead. As for this Xiao Xiangdao, Changye, you may accept him as your disciple."

"Me?"

"The Eldest Senior Brother is indeed the most suitable."

"Yes, yes."

The many Mount Shu Elders were all convinced by the Eldest Senior Brother Li Changye's abilities, so they had no objections to Taiyuan Zhenren's decision.

Other than Taiyuan Zhenren and the reclusive old monsters on the back mountain, here, only the Eldest Senior Brother Li Changye was qualified to take the Spirit Sword Physique as a disciple.

While everyone's attention was drawn to the rare Spirit Sword Physique that appeared once in a thousand years, Lu Changsheng's Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator had found a plain and unremarkable youth in the crowd.

"Talent, Heart of the Innocent!!"