Chapter 101: An Appeal to the Hierarchs (1)
"Just as long as I qualify to reside in the Upper Courtyard," Wu Yuan laughed.
Shake the heavens? Wu Yuan didn't care whether the heavens were shaken or not.
The Skystride Pavilion was just a trial ground for third-rate Adepts looking to challenge themselves. Was it a big deal whether or not he broke a record? He just wanted a place where he could cultivate in peace.
Besides, he couldn't keep his true strength concealed forever. Wu Yuan knew what to do to maintain the image of a genius: grab the attention of the Cloudstride Sect’s higher echelons and compel them to invest resources into his growth, all while maintaining a reasonable pace of progress.
"Did Sect Elder Tian say anything to you?" Zhao Baifan asked.
"He didn't say much," Wu Yuan shook his head, "After I passed the trial, Sect Elder Tian asked for my age and my name since he was unfamiliar with me."
"Mm." Zhao Baifan nodded, "Sect Elder Tian is a sect elder of the Instruction Hall and he cares deeply about his juniors. I can tell he holds you in high regard."
Wu Yuan nodded slightly, "Sect Elder Tian is a good person."
"Are you tired?" Zhao Baifan asked.
"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.
Remembering to maintain his raw strength at around 15,000 catties and restrict the Power Surge technique to the twofold level, all while pretending to be pushed to his limits while battling Sect Elder Tian was truly exhausting!
Even more exhausting than going all out!
"Junior Brother Si, are you still determined to have your disciple spar with Wu Yuan?" Zhao Baifan suddenly turned to Si Longliang, who was preparing to depart.
Wang Haisheng's expression stiffened slightly. No matter how confident he was, he didn't believe he could defeat a third-rate Adept. A competition? He would just be humiliating himself.
"There is no need." Si Longliang glanced at Wang Haisheng, then turned to Zhao Baifan, his voice calm and his smile steady. “Senior Sister has found a good disciple. Make sure you don't let him down."
"Wu Yuan, work hard." Si Longliang's gaze rested on Wu Yuan as he spoke with a sigh. "I can't say if you'll ever reach the heights of Grandmaster Fang Xia, but for now, your talent surpasses his. Don't grow complacent; I anticipate the day our sect produces its next Grandmaster."
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Si." Wu Yuan said, no longer intentionally addressing him as Instructor Si.
Perhaps there were some minor conflicts between Si Longliang and Zhao Baifan, but such disagreements were commonplace. Where there were people, there were disputes. It was clear that their conflict was merely a trivial spat over pride, and Wu Yuan sensed the sincerity behind Si Longliang's words.
"Good lad, I was beginning to think you didn't know the proper way to address me," Si Longliang feigned annoyance before breaking into laughter. "Just wait till practical combat class; I'll discipline you then." With that said, he didn't linger any longer.
"Let's go." Si Longliang strode away, closely followed by Wang Haisheng. Soon, the two vanished from sight.
"Instructor Zhao, may I go select my house now?" Wu Yuan asked with a smile.
"Are you that keen on having your own place?" Zhao Baifan responded with a helpless smile.
"Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—these are the essentials," Wu Yuan stated seriously.
"Let's go."
The two promptly departed from the Skystride Pavilion, leaving the three disciples staring at each other in bewilderment.
"The record set by Grandmaster Fang Xia! It’s been displayed outside the Skystride Pavilion for over 200 years."
"It actually got broken?"
"Wu Yuan? Where did he come from? Seems like a special recruitment disciple."
"Unbelievable, a third-rate Adept who isn't even fifteen? How does he cultivate?" The three disciples whispered excitedly among themselves.
"Let's go! This is sensational news, the martial academy is about to get lively." The three disciples swiftly departed, spreading this groundbreaking news.
Shortly thereafter, another disciple arrived at the Skystride Pavilion. After a casual glance at the stone wall, his eyes widened, and he left in a hurry, hardly able to hide his astonishment.
...
The Cloud Martial Hall's top disciples from the senior and junior academies each had their own independent courtyard houses, fully equipped with all kinds of facilities.
Situated at the highest point of the martial academy was a single courtyard house. From here, one could overlook the entirety of the Cloud Martial Hall.
The outdoor training ground, spanning 600 square feet, was paved with a special material capable of withstanding a battle between first-rate Adepts.
At this moment, there was only one young man in white robes on the training ground, holding a long sword.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Sword lights shone as a succession of silhouettes flickered.
With graceful fluidity, the young man executed a sword technique, seemingly appearing everywhere in the spacious training ground at once. It was a sight that would make any second-rate Adept's heart tremble.
Just as he was wholeheartedly practicing his sword technique, an urgent voice called out.
"Senior Brother Xu, something horrible has happened! It's horrible!"
Swoosh! A brawny figure in academy disciple attire vaulted over the courtyard wall, stopping at the edge of the training ground.
"Senior Brother Xu, please stop, I have something important to tell you!" The brawny young man of about twenty years old called out.
Several strokes of sword light swept through like a raging wind. As they converged into one, a youth in white robes materialized. He was none other than the top Cloud Heir of the Cloud Martial Hall, Xu Hui!
He was recognized as the leading figure among the young generation of the Cloudstride Sect, as well as the entire Jiang Continent, ranking first on the Jiang Continent's Genius Rankings. At the age of 24, he was already a first-rate Adept.
“Junior Brother Ge, what's the matter?” Xu Hui asked. Sword held nonchalantly in one hand, his robes fluttering in the wind, his gaze emanating a piercing sharpness. One could aptly describe him as a 'dashing young master'.
“Senior Brother, the first record on the stone tablet at the Skystride Pavilion has been broken,” Junior Brother Ge stated.
“Oh?” A trace of surprise flickered in Xu Hui's eyes, which soon spread into a smile. “It's only natural that my record has been broken. Throughout the history of our sect, there have been many stronger than me.”
“A new powerful junior has emerged from the junior academy, stronger than I was back then, that's all. It's normal,” Xu Hui said indifferently, without a care.
He set the previous current record for level one of the Skystride Pavilion eight years ago. Why would he care about such a trifling matter?
“Senior Brother, it's not your record. It's Ancestor Fang Xia’s historical record!” Junior Brother Ge emphasized, “It's broken! Broken.”
“The ancestor's historical record?” Xu Hui's pupils contracted slightly, finding it hard to believe. He reflexively asked, “Who?”
“Wu Yuan,” Junior Brother Ge answered.
“Wu Yuan?” A hint of confusion flashed across Xu Hui's eyes. Although he had little interest in the martial academy's internal competition, he couldn't have been unaware of the emergence of such a formidable junior.
“He's a disciple that just joined the sect today, a special recruit,” Junior Brother Ge continued, swiftly filling Xu Hui in on the details he had gathered.
“He's only fourteen years and seven months old, and yet has already passed the first level of the Skystride Pavilion?” Despite his numerous experiences, Xu Hui was stunned upon hearing the news. He knew what this implied.
"Remarkable!" Xu Hui lauded with deep admiration. "This Junior Brother Wu, he is indeed a prodigy blessed by the heavens. One can only wonder how far he will go in the future."
"Senior Brother, aren't you concerned?" Junior Brother Ge couldn't help but ask.
"What’s there to be worried about?" Xu Hui replied with a faint smile, "A fourteen-year-old third-rate Adept. As long as he doesn't consume any forbidden substances that would deplete his physical potential, I presume he would become a first-rate Adept before he turns twenty."
"It is indeed our sect's fortune to have recruited such a genius,” Xu Hui chuckled, "My only worry is that he may not reach his full potential."
"Senior Brother," Junior Brother Ge hesitated before continuing, "Wu Yuan is still young and not as accomplished as you. But if he continues to grow, twenty, or maybe thirty, years later, he could pose a huge threat to your position."
"When the time comes for the nomination of the next sect leader.." Junior Brother Ge said in a low voice.
"Foolish! Ignorant! Ge Feng, never speak of such matters to me again," Xu Hui shook his head. "Remember, we are martial artists."
"Whether it be the role of hall master or sect leader, it is as transient as fleeting clouds. Only one's own strength holds any real value."
"I care naught for status," A glimmer of ambition sparkled in Xu Hui's eyes. "My heart yearns solely for the path of martial arts!"
"One ought to live as Ancestor Fang Xia did. Fang Xia harbored no desire for power, yet his overwhelming strength compelled the Chu-Jiang Empire to willingly bestow him with a fief," Xu Hui declared.
"The feeble rely on status. Becoming a Land Ranker is in itself a mark of status," Xu Hui solemnly proclaimed.
Ge Feng couldn't help but grimace. Though he didn’t say another word, he grumbled discontentedly in his heart. A Land Ranker? Is it that easy to become a Grandmaster?
"Senior Brother, you may not want to compete with him, but Wu Yuan might want to compete with you in the future," Ge Feng suddenly said.
"He’s more talented than me, that's certain," Xu Hui responded with a slight smile, "But if his aspirations are confined to vying for the position of hall master or sect leader, he won't achieve much in the end."
"Only those who are completely focused have the qualifications to reach the pinnacle of martial arts!"
Ge Feng kept silent. All he could think of was that his cousin was too idealistic for his own good.
"Ge Feng, broaden your perspective, don't limit yourself to your tiny world," Xu Hui said in a soft voice. "You must understand. The Battle of Hillstride and the tragic demise of Hierarch Xia Heng are events that have left our Cloudstride Sect in dire straits. We face an unprecedented crisis, and if we fail to produce a new Grandmaster within the next two decades, our fate is sealed."
Ge Feng's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t thought that far ahead.
"The entire sect looks to me as their beacon of hope," Xu Hui shook his head, "If Wu Yuan can help share my burden, I gladly welcome it. Even if there were ten more Wu Yuans, it would only be a blessing for the sect."
"Alright, Ge Feng, go back and focus on your cultivation. Otherwise, forget reaching the first-rate Adept level, even becoming a second-rate Adept will be difficult for you."
With a dismissive wave, Xu Hui turned his attention back to his sword practice.
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