Chapter 45: Two Realms Mountain
Chapter 45: Two Realms Mountain
After several days of intense cultivation, Lu Hangzhi finally broke through from “One Thought, Three Actions” to “One Thought, Four Actions,” and all three of his Flying Swords had reached the state of “where the mind goes, the sword follows.” However, the cost was that he became the “tycoon junior brother” in the mouths of his senior brothers and sister.
That day, Master Chen Ji rarely gathered his disciples in the main hall.
When Lu Hangzhi arrived, Sister Jun Nangong Jun and Senior Brother Lü Liang, who had been promoted to a True Disciple, had already been chatting and laughing with Master for a while. Hearing footsteps, they all turned to look.
“See, I said Master is biased. Junior Brother has only been here for less than half a year, and I can’t even see how deep his cultivation is now.”
The one speaking was Nangong Jun. Lü Liang smiled and agreed beside her.
“They all say the youngest is the most loved. But when I only had Sister Nangong Jun, I never got such treatment.”
Chen Ji’s forehead sprouted three black lines, and he sneered, “Well, your wings have hardened, and you know how to mock your Master now.”
“This disciple wouldn’t dare.”
“It’s clearly just acting cute, okay?” Nangong Jun very seriously corrected Master’s poor choice of words.
Lu Hangzhi quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.
“Hangzhi pays respects to Master, greetings to Sister Jun, greetings to Senior Brother Lü Liang.”
Only then did the three of them change the subject.
But Nangong Jun was still very interested in Lu Hangzhi’s cultivation level. “Hangzhi, I heard long ago that you broke through to the Fifth Grade. What level are you at now? Mid-stage or late-stage?”
How could it be that fast? I only broke through a few days ago.
Lu Hangzhi was caught between laughter and tears and said,
“Please don’t make fun of me, Sister. Hangzhi is still at the early stage of Fifth Grade.”
“It’s good that it’s still early stage Fifth Grade, otherwise I’d definitely be laughed to death as your senior brother.” Lü Liang muttered quietly beside them, relieved.
“Less than half a year after entering, he already got fourteen Flying Swords and started cultivating high-grade Art Techniques. In four months, he achieved what took me three years. Now, when practicing Sword Control Art, he even uses Essence Spirit Fruit as targets… Does he want to crush us senior brothers into the sand ahead?”
Chen Ji tried very hard to maintain his stern expression as a Master.
Nangong Jun looked at her junior brother with a smile, covering her mouth.
Lu Hangzhi smiled wryly, speechless.
“Senior Brother, please spare me. It was just a sudden inspiration, and I didn’t have anything suitable around, so I splurged once. How about this, I’ll send you several dozen boxes of Spirit Fruit every month from now on.”
“Been waiting for you to say that, Junior Brother.”
Lü Liang successfully achieved his goal and beamed with joy. “It’s a deal then. Now I understand why Sister Jun cultivates so fiercely in seclusion every day. Being a True Disciple is really no joke. Every day, I don’t know how many True Disciples come to spar. I almost ended up slaughtering those Spirit Beasts to entertain guests. Hmm, make sure to save plenty of Spirit Fruit for your senior brother from now on.”
“…Is it really that terrifying?”
Lu Hangzhi was a bit skeptical.
Then, Chen Ji’s expression turned serious, and he said gravely,
“Hangzhi, don’t underestimate the title of True Disciple. In the cultivation world, with great power comes great responsibility! Moreover, for thousands of miles around, our Xuanxin Sect is second to none, a leading force! The True Disciples of Xuanxin Sect are the pillars and supports of the Xuanxin Sect in the future. They not only face competition within the Inner Sect but also deal with many Monster Beasts and demonic creatures that come from the Demon Realm and the Abyss… Many problems that smaller sects can’t handle are handed over to True Disciples to resolve. For example, last time with the Yellow Spring Demon, only our Xuanxin Sect could stand against it.”
Lu Hangzhi slowly put away his joking expression.
“Your Sister Jun, and the many True Disciples of Xuanxin Sect, each has experienced many fierce battles and has the ability to handle responsibilities independently. When you have time in the future, you should learn well from your senior sister and senior brothers.”
“Yes.”
Lu Hangzhi said.
“Hangzhi.”
Chen Ji smiled slightly, his tone softening a bit. “Your talent is indeed good. You’re clever, and what’s even rarer is your willingness to endure hardship. Your conduct and interactions with others are also very good. As your Master, I believe that, given your current progress, you might even become a True Disciple of Xuanxin Sect faster than your Senior Brother Xiong Qi. When that time comes, you’ll understand what the title ‘True Disciple’ truly means.”
What?
Although Nangong Jun and Lü Liang both thought highly of their junior brother and believed he would become a True Disciple sooner or later, they couldn’t help showing surprise upon hearing Master’s latter remark.
Xiong Qi!
Half a year ago, he was already at the late stage of Fifth Grade. Now, he had consolidated his cultivation to the peak of Fifth Grade, just a step away from Sixth Grade. In this upcoming Sect Grand Competition, all the Elders believed his promotion to True Disciple was a sure thing…
Master’s words clearly indicated that Lu Hangzhi might qualify as a True Disciple in this Sect Grand Competition!
Heavens!
Thinking of this, the looks Nangong Jun and Lü Liang gave Lu Hangzhi instantly became exceptionally intense.
“How long has Junior Brother been in the sect?”
“Less than half a year. He rose from Outer Sect Disciple to Inner Sect Disciple, and now he’s about to be promoted to True Disciple. Isn’t that speed a bit too fast?”
“It took me three years to go from Inner Sect Disciple to True Disciple.” Nangong Jun wore a deeply stricken expression.
“Jun’er, your talent is good, but you’re too playful. If you cut down your frequency of going out for training by one-third, would it have taken you three years to become a True Disciple?” Chen Ji didn’t hesitate to expose his eldest disciple’s weakness.
Then, he turned his criticism toward Lü Liang:
“You too, spending all day with Spirit Beasts! Those who know say you’re my disciple; those who don’t would think you’re from the Spirit Beast Hall! And you dyed your hair white, really…”
Lü Liang promptly shut his mouth meekly.
“The one at the door, are you planning to loiter there and not come in?”
Following the gloating expressions of his senior sister and senior brothers, Lu Hangzhi happened to see Senior Brother Xiong Qi timidly poking his head in from outside the door. He walked in with a simple, honest smile. “Xiong Qi pays respects to Master.”
“Your senior sister, senior brothers, and junior brother have all been here for a long time. You… what were you doing?”
Chen Ji asked with a dark face.
Xiong Qi awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Well, there happened to be a Spiritual Artifact I hadn’t finished yet…”
“Refining this and refining that all day long, you’re going to be the death of me!” Chen Ji finally lost his composure and started yelling. “If you don’t get promoted to True Disciple this time, I’ll confine you to the sect for half a year. Get out of the Golden Jade Hall’s Artifact Refining room and stay put!”
Lu Hangzhi couldn’t bear to watch any longer and timidly whispered,
“Master, please calm down. Senior Brother Xiong will definitely become a True Disciple this time.”
“Definitely, my foot.”
Chen Ji, still angry, revealed some news:
“Three months ago, the Yellow Spring Demon destroyed over a dozen cultivator Marketplaces. After that, our Xuanxin Sect opened its doors wide, taking in a large number of Outer Sect Disciples and also over a dozen Inner Sect Disciples with good talent who had already reached Fifth Grade. Among them, two stand out: one is the second son of the ancient Xuan Yuan family, with extraordinary natural talent, once seen as the hope for restoring the Xuan Yuan family; the other also has a significant background—he’s the only son of the Guyue Trading Company’s boss. Piled with countless resources, he reached the peak of Fifth Grade at a young age. The Art Techniques he learned are diverse and obscure, and he possesses countless Spiritual Artifacts. It’s said he once easily challenged and defeated a Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast…”
Hearing this, Lu Hangzhi’s heart tightened involuntarily.
Not to mention the originally fierce competition within Xuanxin Sect, there was also “Wang Feng,” a peak Fifth Grade disciple who unexpectedly failed in the last grand competition. Now, with two more evenly matched competitors—none of them easy to deal with—it was hard to say whether Senior Brother Xiong Qi would successfully get promoted to True Disciple.
Lu Hangzhi, on the other hand, wasn’t very worried about himself…
It wasn’t that he had absolute confidence in himself, but rather that he simply wasn’t in a hurry to be promoted to True Disciple.
Subconsciously, he always felt he had just entered Xuanxin Sect; he was a fresh, tender newbie waiting for the affection of his senior brothers and sister.
True Disciple and such should be the goals of those monstrous senior brothers and sisters who had cultivated for many years and had exceptional talent.
I’m not a monster.
Lu Hangzhi didn’t take Master’s words meant to spur Xiong Qi seriously.
When Xiong Qi heard his Master’s severe tone and the threat of confinement, he shuddered and repeatedly promised that for the remaining two months, he would go all out and not bring shame to the Golden Jade Hall or his Master.
Only then did Chen Ji let it go and return to the main topic.
“I called you here this time to announce something important to you.”
“…”
The Sect Grand Competition wasn’t important enough?
The four of them exchanged glances, all showing solemn expressions. They straightened their postures and pricked up their ears attentively.
Chen Ji spoke leisurely:
“After the Sect Grand Competition, it will be the three-year rotation of the cultivation world’s defense. Many disciples stationed at Two Realms Mountain will return. This year, who knows how many will come back alive.”
Mentioning Two Realms Mountain, even the usually carefree Senior Sister Nangong Jun, the joke-loving and sarcasm-prone Senior Brother Lü Liang, and the honest and bold Senior Brother Xiong Qi all changed their expressions. The atmosphere in the main hall instantly became heavy.
Only Lu Hangzhi was completely lost, blankly looking at his three senior brothers and sister, not understanding what kind of terrifying place Two Realms Mountain was.
In the main hall, only Master Chen Ji’s voice continued to drift.
“Every sect, its True Disciples are not only the important pillars for passing on the torch but also a line of flesh and blood defense for us human Cultivators.”
Hearing this, Lu Hangzhi’s eyelids twitched.
True Disciples? A line of flesh and blood defense?
“Last year, out of the ten True Disciples our sect sent, only two returned—one injured and one disabled. Both were affected by the lingering poison of the Two Realms Mountain warfare, their skin like crane’s and hair white, and they are still recuperating in the Elder’s Court and the Scripture Library.”
“Last year, our Golden Jade Hall didn’t send anyone. This year, my name is probably on the list of ten.”
Nangong Jun interjected.
Lu Hangzhi noticed that Xiong Qi and Lü Liang’s breathing suddenly became rapid, their heartbeats speeding up.
The atmosphere in the main hall grew even more tense.
Chen Ji didn’t speak, just silently nodded.
“Are you afraid?”
“This disciple has no fear.”
Nangong Jun let out a long breath and said,
“Two Realms Mountain lies between the Human and Demon Realms. Sects like our Xuanxin Sect number in the thousands. Every year, they send a corresponding number of True Disciples to protect a territory of millions of miles. This is both our responsibility and our duty.”
“Correct.”
Chen Ji nodded appreciatively.
“Major sects occupy the few Spiritual Peaks and cultivation resources. These resources are the foundation for establishing our sect and expanding its branches. Since we possess these Spiritual Peaks, we must pay the corresponding price and fulfill our corresponding obligations! Otherwise, the Human Race would rise up against us, and the Spiritual Peaks would be replaced by new sects.”
“But you don’t need to worry too much. Since the founding of Xuanxin Sect, nearly a thousand True Disciples have been sent out, and many have returned. Moreover, those who return mostly take up Elder positions, and some have even gone out to establish their own sects. It’s just that starting three years ago, the Monster Beast invasions have become somewhat more intense.”
Here, Chen Ji’s tone shifted decisively.
“As your Master, starting tomorrow, I will enter seclusion to personally refine a set of powerful Magical Artifacts for you! To improve your chances of survival at Two Realms Mountain.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Nangong Jun knelt in gratitude.