Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 344: Chapter 193: Taking a Master

A second batch of apprenticeship petitions?

Tie Fu was completely unconcerned. "Just leave them here," he said.

The truly good disciples had already been snapped up in the first round. The people submitting apprenticeship petitions in this second batch were only doing so because they’d been rejected before and were now just trying their luck.

"Master, two of the top three from this year’s Outer Sect Grand Competition are in there. The Peak Master requires you to choose at least one as your disciple," Zuo Mu reminded him.

"He chose a rare gem like the Young Master Marquis for himself, but he throws these mediocrities at me," Tie Fu complained.

To be in the top three of the Outer Sect Grand Competition meant being the best of hundreds, even thousands, of Outer Disciples.

But to someone of his stature, they were hardly rare geniuses. He already had more than one disciple who had once been ranked first among the Outer Sect’s Ten Heroes.

He didn’t think much of a mere top-three finish in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

"But we can’t just defy the Peak Master’s orders. Besides, both of them have undergone Marrow Cleansing. According to the sect rules, since this is their second petition, Li Fire Peak can’t refuse them," Zuo Mu said.

’He knew his master would have gladly accepted these two if they had petitioned him in the first round.’

’But they had tried and failed to study under someone else, only coming to Li Fire Peak as a last resort. With his master’s prideful nature, he was bound to give them the cold shoulder.’

"Who are these two? Which Peak did they petition before?" Tie Fu asked, setting down a handkerchief and straightening his clothes.

Zuo Mu cupped his hands. "It’s Xu Yang and Xiong Kun. They both petitioned Medicine King Peak first. By the way, Xiong Kun placed second in this year’s competition, and Xu Yang was third. They are ranked fifth and sixth among the Ten Heroes, respectively."

Xu Yang and Xiong Kun’s names were legendary in the Outer Sect, but he knew that such minor figures were not yet worthy of his master’s notice, so he quickly explained their situation.

"Ignorant whelps! This path of mine, the Forged Soldier, holds mysteries far beyond Alchemy."

Hearing that both had been rejected by Medicine King Peak only made Tie Fu more displeased. Li Fire Peak and Medicine King Peak had always been at odds; Pill Masters and Weapon Forgers mutually despised one another.

As far as Tie Fu was concerned, Xu Yang and Xiong Kun were like enemy defectors who had failed and were now crawling to Li Fire Peak. This made him view them with even greater disdain.

"I’ll take this Xiong Kun. Get the rest out of my sight!" Tie Fu said with a wave of his hand.

If the Peak Master hadn’t ordered it, he wouldn’t have even taken Xiong Kun.

"Yes!"

Zuo Mu didn’t dare say more. He knew his master, Tie Fu, most disliked people who only petitioned Li Fire Peak as a second choice.

The batch of petitions was briefly in Tie Fu’s possession, but he didn’t spare them a single glance before forwarding them to Elder Huoyun.

It was a good thing that petitions from the second round could be passed on to the next Elder after the first rejection. Otherwise, everyone except Xiong Kun would have had to start all over and write new petitions.

"Didn’t this kid want to study under Tie Fu? Why did his petition end up with me!" Elder Huoyun exclaimed, picking up the first one and seeing it was Xu Yang’s.

He remembered Xu Yang from this year’s Outer Sect Grand Competition.

"He first petitioned Medicine King Peak but was rejected by Elder Chang Chun. And you know Elder Tie Fu’s temper... It was only because the Peak Master ordered him that he reluctantly took Xiong Kun and rejected this one.

"The Peak Master has instructed that you are to accept him," Gao Lin explained.

’It was just as he had predicted for Xu Yang. Unable to get the master he wanted, he’d been rejected first by Elder Chang Chun of Medicine King Peak and then by Elder Tie Fu of Li Fire Peak.’

’Now he was being foisted onto his own master, Elder Huoyun, by the Peak Master. It would be hard for him to find favor here.’

"All he does is give orders! Why doesn’t he take him himself?" Elder Huoyun was fuming.

’The best one, Xiong Kun, was taken, leaving a lesser one like Xu Yang for me?’

"Master, Xu Yang is actually a good choice. He’s steady, hardworking, and his Comprehension is good. In fact, when I first met him, I thought he should study under you.

"Even if he hadn’t placed in the top three, I was hoping you would take him as your disciple."

Gao Lin said in a low voice, putting in a good word for Xu Yang.

He had a very good impression of Xu Yang and had intended to help him all along.

"Steady and hardworking? That’s just being timid and overly cautious! In three years, he hasn’t even dared to enter the Lianyun Ridge Mountain Range once! He doesn’t have a shred of a Martial Artist’s sharp, enterprising spirit."

Huoyun snorted. "You’re just tired of all the tasks I give you. I bet you want someone who won’t run off so you can unload some of your work on him."

Gao Lin hurriedly cupped his hands. "I wouldn’t dare."

"Alright, fine. He’s the one. The Peak Master has already given the order. Do you think I can actually defy him?"

Elder Huoyun picked out Xu Yang’s apprenticeship petition. He then looked at a few other petitions from those who had specifically requested to be his disciple. In the end, he selected a total of three, including Xu Yang, and waved for Gao Lin to leave.

...

「Three days passed in a flash.」

Xu Yang arrived at the foot of the Four Peaks. There weren’t as many people as last time.

After a short wait, disciples from the various peaks came down to announce the results.

"Xiong Kun, Xu Yang..."

Soon, a disciple from Li Fire Peak appeared, holding a register and beginning to call out names.

Those whose names were called looked overjoyed, while those left out appeared crestfallen.

Xu Yang stepped out from the crowd and stood beside the Inner Sect Disciple.

After the names were all called, no more petitions were collected this time. The disciple simply led Xu Yang and the few others towards Li Fire Peak.

Although Xu Yang had come to Li Fire Peak many times for missions, he had only ever gone as far as the fire fields halfway up the mountain and had never truly reached the summit.

Before long, a massive gate tower loomed before them, as grand as a palace. A plaque above it bore the two powerful words "Li Fire," which emitted a startling aura.

Xu Yang noticed that the others didn’t seem to feel this aura; only he felt a slight discomfort.

’It must be because my senses are sharp and my Heart Spirit is strong that I can feel the immense pressure contained within the calligraphy. The person who wrote this must have an incredibly high Cultivation Realm.’