Chapter 63: Red Talon Hall of Drizzle Peak
Outside the Academy Great Forest, Teng Lianhua smiled.
"All five winners have been decided," Teng Lianhua boasted, his chest rising high with pride.
Chen Ming immediately counted on his fingers. "Chen Ming... Chi Fenglian... Lin Yuan... Teng Haoran... Xiao Yanrui..."
"You placed yourself first." Lin Yuan grumbled, a calm smile appearing on his face.
"Because I won first," Chen Ming mocked, patting on his back.
"And because I pushed you outside," Lin Yuan sneered, squinting his eyes. "History remembers results."
Lin Yuan stared at him silently, and Chen Ming grinned.
"Hahaha!"
Teng Lianhua shook his head.
Snap!
He snapped his fingers, the loud sound lingered across the exits.
All five exits of the Academy Great Forest opened simultaneously, and the translucent barriers disappeared. The remaining disciples slowly began walking out. They looked exhausted, furious and disappointed.
Huo Ren emerged with a bruised face, and Lin Yuan stared at him.
"What happened to you?" Chen Ming mumbled, strolling toward Huo Ren.
Huo Ren didn’t answer.
"Did a beast punch you repeatedly?"
"Shut up!" Huo Ren yelled at Chen Ming.
"Which beast?"
"I said shut up!" Huo Ren bellowed, clicking his tongue.
Chi Ruyan and Huo Luo Ren emerged next. Then Yun He and Lian Mei Lin slowly walked forward. Gu Fang Xin walked out with Ying Yue and Chen Yu Ming, their faces frowned and twitched in anger.
The moment Gu Fang Xin saw Lin Yuan, he immediately looked away. Chen Ming noticed the expression of Gu Fang Xin.
"Why is he avoiding you?" Chen Ming asked, his eyes darting toward Lin Yuan.
"I told you," Lin Yuan calmly smiled. "I just asked politely."
Chen Ming’s suspicion increased. Soon, Xiao Lanxue and Lian Nichang emerged from the final exit. All fifteen disciples gathered before Teng Lianhua, and he slowly walked before them.
"Some of you are happy. Some of you are disappointed," Teng Lianhua stopped speaking for a second, his eyes moving toward Huo Ren’s face. "And some appear to have fought something outrageous."
A few disciples chuckled slightly, and Huo Ren lowered his head.
"Today’s Peak Endurance Trial was never about finding a crystal," Teng Lianhua continued, his voice sharp and calm. And the laughter disappeared. "It was about decision-making. When to fight... When to retreat... When to cooperate... When to observe, and when to frighten others."
Gu Fang Xin’s eyes darted onto Lin Yuan instantly, listening to the words ’frighten’.
Lin Yuan’s smile froze, and Chen Ming’s head slowly turned. "You fucking liar."
"I don’t know what Master is talking about.." Lin Yuan smiled, rubbing his head back.
Teng Lianhua ignored him.
"The five winners of today’s Peak Endurance Trial are..." Teng Lianhua said, raising his hand high. "Chen Ming!"
As the words came out from Teng Lianhua’s mouth, Chen Ming grinned.
"Chi Fenglian!"
Chi Fenglian proudly raised his head.
"Lin Yuan!"
Lin Yuan remained calm and sturdy.
"Teng Haoran!"
Teng Haoran cupped his fists.
"And Xiao Yanrui!"
Xiao Yanrui stood with indifferent expression.
"Your reward will not be beast essence stones," Teng Lianhua looked at the five disciples. The winning disciples became curious. "Your reward is an opportunity."
The disciples frowned, their faces filled with disdain and contempt.
"I shall personally submit the names of these five disciples to Headmaster Lin Cangxuan," Teng Lianhua continued, waving his sleeve once. "And the Headmaster will recommend all five of you to the Red Talon Hall."
"What?!"
The disciples screamed simultaneously. Chen Ming’s mouth fell open, even Lin Yuan’s expression changed slightly. The Red Talon Hall was a famous sect in the Qinglin continent.
"Do not misunderstand," Teng Lianhua’s voice became serious. "A recommendation is not acceptance. You are still weak, and pathetically weak."
Chen Ming’s excitement immediately plummeted.
"But..." Teng Lianhua continued, a faint glint lingering in his eyes, "having your name reach the ears of a great sect is already a magnificent gift."
’A sect...’ Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed, thinking that he may have a chance to find about multiple beast hidden scrolls or information.
’Interesting,’ The Turtle Beast’s voice echoed inside his mind, but Lin Yuan remained silent.
"Return home, and rest," Teng Lianhua dismissed the disciples shortly afterward. "Tomorrow’s training will continue normally."
Huo Ren’s expression weeped. "Normally?"
"Yes."
"Master, my face—"
"Will recover."
"My ribs—"
"Will recover."
"I don’t care about any excuses," Teng Lianhua boasted, waving his wrist against Huo Ren.
The disciples laughed before slowly dispersing. Lin Yuan walked away from the academy with Chen Ming. The sun had already begun descending toward the horizon. Neither of them knew that in the academy, Lin Cangxuan was already preparing to leave.
Neighhh!
A magnificent Wind Type Spirit Horses’ caravan galloped away from Green Hollow City. Lin Cangxuan sat calmly upon its back, his long black hair fluttered violently behind him while a small scroll remained hidden within his robe. It has five names of the young disciples. The journey toward the Red Talon Hall took nearly half a day.
The roads slowly became narrower than before. And the nearby villages also disappeared. As the evening approached, the sky painted in vibrant purple, birds gliding in pleasant patterns.
A gentle drizzle began to fall across the area.
Lin Cangxuan raised his head, before him stood an enormous mountain. It was Drizzle Peak, the mountain skewered through the clouds like a spear thrusted into the heavens.
The canopy of red trees covered its slopes, their leaves rattling beneath the elegant drizzle that gave the mountain its name. Many waterfalls descended from the cliffs, disappearing into the mist below. But, the most magnificent sight rested at the peak. It was the Red Talon Hall, with enormous crimson halls standing upon the mountain ridges. The shimmering bridges connected the distant cliffs.
Thousands of stone steps spiraled upward toward the main sect gate, the red lanterns’ light shimmered the stone pathway. Above the entrance there was an enormous sculpture of a phoenix talon, its claws appeared to grasp the mountain itself.
Lin Cangxuan descended from the caravan, and he began climbing. The pressure became heavier with every hundred steps. The disciples wearing dark-red robes moved through the sect grounds, some of them practiced sword techniques beneath the rain, some of them meditated under waterfalls, and few other disciples trained alongside their beasts upon enormous stone platforms.
After a few glances and greetings, Lin Cangxuan reached the highest hall. There are two enormous doors towering before him.
A guard cupped his fists, bowing in respectful way.
"Headmaster Lin Cangxuan of Green Hollow Cultivation Academy requests an audience."
Howl!
A calm gust rustled across the doors.
"Let him enter," a high-pitched voice emerged from the sect.
The doors cranked open sluggishly.
Lin Cangxuan walked inside, at the far end of the enormous hall sat a man dressed in dark crimson robes. It was Xue Hongzhao — Sect Master of the Red Talon Hall, his black hair contained a few crimson strands, while his eyes shimmered with crimson fire. Behind his throne there was an enormous carving of a Phoenix spreading its wings widely.
Xue Hongzhao was a formidable cultivation master whose aperture stood at the Divine Beast Realm — Lower Stage. He was also a mighty wielder of a Phoenix Beast. He was one of the strongest cultivators Lin Cangxuan had ever met.
"Cangxuan," Xue Hongzhao called out, smiling faintly. "It has been several years."
"Long time no see," Lin Cangxuan cupped his fists, and bowed slightly. "Sect Master Xue!"
"Still acting formal?" Xue Hongzhao mumbled, raising his eyebrows.
"You are still terrifying as usual," Lin Cangxuan muttered, a faint smile lingering on his face.
"Hahaha!" Xue Hongzhao’s laughter echoed throughout the hall. "Sit, my friend."
Lin Cangxuan sat opposite to the Sect Master. A servant quietly arrived, offering a cup and pouring tea in it. Xue Hongzhao lifted the cup for cheers in the air.
"What brings the fox of Green Hollow City to the drizzle?" Xue Hongzhao chuckled, sipping the tea.
"Five children," Lin Cangxuan cheered in the air, and his eyes shimmered in anxiety. "I came to recommend five academy disciples."
"Oh?" Xue Hongzhao’s eyes sharpened slightly. "You personally travelled half a day for five children?"
"Yes."
"Interesting!" Xue Hongzhao boasted, his voice booming across the main hall. "I guess those five disciples are truly magnificent."
Lin Cangxuan took out the scroll, and placed it upon the table. Xue Hongzhao opened it, and his eyes skimmed across the names.
Chen Ming.
Chi Fenglian.
Lin Yuan.
Teng Haoran.
Xiao Yanrui.
"Every disciple is from different clans," Xue Hongzhao muttered, a faint smile escaping his lips. "You are becoming generous, Cangxuan."
"I am an academy headmaster," Lin Cangxuan murmured, sipping the tea, "not a Qing Clan servant."
"Is Lin Yuan your grandson?" Xue Hongzhao smiled. "And which one is the best?"
Lin Cangxuan became silent, his eyes glinted once.
"Cangxuan," Xue Hongzhao called out, looking over the scroll. "I asked a simple question."
"Humph~ he is my grandnephew," Lin Cangxuan slowly lifted his tea. "You want to know about who is talented?"
"Yes!" Xue Hongzhao immediately replied, a calm linger of excitement brushed away on his face.
"Perhaps Xiao Yanrui, and Teng Haoran!" Lin Cangxuan boasted.
"The strongest?" Xue Hongzhao nodded, and asked another question.
"Currently, Lin Yuan."
"Hahaha, your grandson is rising," Xue Hongzhao giggled, closing the scroll. "Is he a Spirit Beast Realm, lower-stage or mid-stage cultivator? And who is most trustworthy?"
"Hahaha!! Humph... He is a Mid-stage cultivator!" Lin Cangxuan laughed, waving his hand once.
"What is so funny?" Xue Hongzhao raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Lin Cangxuan continued, drinking his tea. "Do not trust any talented child completely."
"Now..." Xue Hongzhao’s lips curved upward. "It’s getting interesting!"
"Give them an opportunity," Lin Cangxuan placed his cup down. "I am not asking you to accept them. Just allow them to stand before the Red Talon Hall’s entrance examination when the time arrives."
Xue Hongzhao looked toward the five names once more, his finger stopped above Lin Yuan’s name. "And you recommend Lin Yuan personally?"
"I recommend all five personally." Lin Cangxuan sneered, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Xue Hongzhao stared at him for a few breaths, and then laughed.
"Fine!" Xue Hongzhao beamed, his voice echoing throughout the hall. "When the next examination begins, send them. Let’s see my friend’s grandnephew’s power!"
Lin Cangxuan smiled; he didn’t reply.
"By the way... Cangxuan," Xue Hongzhao stood up, walking toward Lin Cangxuan. "What was his beast? Is it a legendary beast or a divine beast?"
"He was a turtle beast holder," Lin Cangxuan answered, standing up.
Xue Hongzhao stopped suddenly, his eyes twitching frantically once, and became normal.
’Turtle...’ Xue Hongzhao thought, walking near the hall entrance with Lin Cangxuan. ’Does it mean...? Nahh... it’s just my overthinking!’
Outside the hall, thunder rumbled across Drizzle Peak. The heavenly rain continued dripping upon the crimson roofs of the Red Talon Hall. At that same moment, far away from Drizzle Peak, at the gate of Green Hollow City, three strange figures silently walked beneath the city pathway.
The first figure wore a wide bamboo hat, and the second figure carried an enormous object wrapped wholly in black cloth upon his back. The third figure was unusually short, looking like a child.
"Please stop!" The city guards glanced toward them. "Your names please?"
The man beneath the bamboo hat slowly raised his head, a straight scar crawled down on his face and slicing through his closed right eye.
"We are just travelers," the man with a bamboo hat muttered, a faint smile curling on his lips.
"Purpose of visit?" The city guard immediately frowned, stepping forward once.
The stranger looked beyond the gate, toward the distant silhouette of the Cultivation Academy, and his smile widened.
"We are looking for something that does not belong here," the man with a bamboo hat bragged, waving his sleeve.
"What?" The guard’s face twitched in confusion.
The stranger walked past him, and the other two followed. The three strange figures disappeared into the crowded streets of Green Hollow City.
Above them, a single black feather slowly descended from the evening sky.
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