Chapter 7: Such a disciple is not wanted

  "Congratulations to both of you..."

  "What the fuck!? Which direction is this demon from?!"

  The sudden voice behind him startled Wang Lu, but when he jumped up and turned around, he found that two young men in blue and white robes had appeared behind him at some point. They were about twenty-five or six years old, and although the color of their robes was different, the style was similar to that of the black and white masters of the Luojin Bridge, and they should be disciples of the Lingjian Sect.

  Two disciples had expressionless faces, and the slightly older one saluted Wang Lu and Bookworm with a bow: "Ling Jian Sect's Xiao Yao Peak disciple, I am Zhang Ying, this is Lü Ming."

  Wang Lu hummed in agreement.

  "Congratulations to both of you for climbing all the way here on the Golden Bridge. According to our school's rules, you can return to the mountain gate with us two fellow disciples and cultivate at the Carefree Peak."

  Wang Lu furrowed his brow and remained silent.

  Zhang Ying didn't urge him either, silently waiting for Wang Lu's response.

  After a moment, Wang Lu remained silent, but Xiao Shu Tong opened his mouth lightly: "This immortal, your esteemed sect... means that we... have already been taken in by your honorable sect?"

  Zhang Ying nodded: "Not bad, exactly so."

  Lv Ming added, "The Golden Bridge of Ascension is personally crafted by the sect leader to assess the qualifications of cultivators. The better one's qualifications, the farther they can walk on the bridge. Being able to reach this point means you've met the standard for entering the sect."

  Shu Tong was stunned for a moment, overjoyed: "Is, is this true?"

  "It is absolutely true."

  "Master! Did you hear that? We succeeded! We've been accepted as disciples of the Ling Jian Sect!"

  Wang Lu shook his head: "Excuse me, what about those two who fell off the Golden Bridge earlier...?"

  Zhang Ying's face was slightly unnatural: "Them? They are the senior brothers of Lianxu Peak."

  "What's the difference between Lingbo Peak and Xiao Yao Peak?"

  Zhang Ying's face fell: "What's with all these questions?"

  Lü Ming sighed and said, "Elder brother, there's nothing to be ashamed of admitting this... From the outside, Lingjian Mountain appears to be just a single peak, but in reality, it has many peaks. What is known as Xiao Yao Peak is actually the outer gate of Lingjian Mountain, while Lianlian Peak is where the inner gate is located. Those two elder brothers and us are not on the same level."

  Wang Lu smiled: "I told you, those two black and white ones are obviously much bigger than your two blue and white ones." Then he looked a bit suspicious, "But the Ling Jian Sect recruits new people, just relying on that one Golden Bridge? Walking to here is just entering the outer gate, then what? If one can walk all the way to the end in one breath, can they enter the inner gate?"

  Lü Ming said, "Of course it's impossible. The inner sect selection of the Lingjian Sect is extremely strict. Talent, temperament, and spiritual roots all have to be above standard. Otherwise, relying solely on talent, even if one has a top-grade spiritual root, they probably wouldn't catch the eye of the master of Xuanxian Peak."

  Wang Lu: "Day."

  "Huh?"

  Wang Lu smiled: "Nothing much, so for us newcomers, what's the fuss about entering the inner circle?"

  Zhang Ying snorted: "Want to enter the Misty Peak? That's easy, just go straight from here and you'll reach the Misty Peak. If you can make it there, the peak master will naturally accept you."

  Wang Lu followed Zhang Ying's pointing direction and looked ahead. In front of the long mountain valley, another mass of cloud and mist blocked their way.

  "How much further?"

  "Then it's up to fate," Lü Ming smiled. "Perhaps it's very far away, or perhaps it's right before our eyes. The path to ascension is unpredictable."

  Zhang Ying asked: "What are you planning to do? Are you going back with us to Xiangyang Peak or continue on this Immortal Ascension Road? Let me make it clear, once we pass this village, there won't be any more shops like this."

  Wang Lu said: "That is to say, if you choose to continue, there is only one way to go to the top of the mountain?"

  Zhang Ying sneered, "That's right. Either you go all the way to Lingjian Peak and enter the inner door of the spiritual sword, or your path to ascension ends here and you return to your mundane world. Since you look down on us Xianyao Peak, don't expect to use us as a backup either. Although Xianyao Peak is an outer peak, we won't be treated like chewed-up sugarcane."

  "Do you have to put it that way? I didn't think of you as third-rate citizens, useless and neither high nor low."

  "What did you say?!"

  Wang Lu shrugged: "In short, since I've come, and clearly the road to ascension is not yet complete, of course I'll see it through to the end in one breath."

  "Hmph, don't think that just because Mount Penglai is an outer sect, it's inferior... My senior brother from Mount Penglai isn't much worse than a true disciple. Among the thousand of you, only one in ten can make it this far, so cherish your own opportunities."

  At this time, Shu Tong also nodded and replied: "Young master, otherwise... let's go to the Carefree Peak?"

  "If you want to go, just go, no need to ask for my consent."

  "Ah......" Shu Tong's face suddenly turned sour, "Young Master, I was specially sent by the Old Master to take care of you, how can I leave you alone......"

  Wang Lu smiled and looked at Shu Tong's scrunched up face, opened his mouth, but ultimately shook his head and said: "In any case, I'm moving forward, if you want to follow, then just keep up."

  Zhang Ying glanced at the two of them.

  "You two, don't regret it later, I'm reminding you now. The difficulty of the second half of the Immortal Ascension path far exceeds your imagination. In the past 300 years, there hasn't been a single successful case. The previous Immortal Ascension conferences only recruited disciples up to the Xianyao Peak. The Lingjian Sect recruits inner door disciples by having elder members go out and travel in search of fated ones. Maybe it takes ten years or maybe a hundred years to find one good seedling. But the path of Immortal Ascension is almost impassable."

  "It doesn't matter, I've been a professional adventurer for decades, nicknamed 'Ascension and Opening the Locks', what's there to worry about with just some difficulties and dangers?"

  Zhang Ying snorted: "…Hmph, I've said all I need to say, you can take care of yourself!"

  Wang Lu laughed and waved goodbye to Lü Ming: "Well, then, Brother Lü Ming, I look forward to meeting you again within the sect in the future."

  Lü Ming also smiled: "I've seen a few newcomers before, but none of them are as familiar with you. Well, I'll say one more thing, the path to ascension is unpredictable, and every grass and tree has its own fate."

  "Is this sarcasm about being overly sympathetic towards someone?"

  "Haha, figure it out yourself, if I say more I'll be punished by Master, good luck to you!"

  "Alright, I've had enough of this... It seems like the next wave is coming, let's get ready to meet them."

  Two people were talking while stretching out their hands to tear off the mountain fog wrapped around their ankles, and then slowly flew away from the valley, hiding their figures.

  In the valley, Wang Lu and Wang Zhong, master and servant, stood face to face.

  "Master, is it really okay to give up like this?"

  "Of course not, who said I'd give up!? The checkpoint behind the carefree peak has left all the talents in the world helpless for over 300 years. If you don't witness it with your own eyes, how can you be at peace?"

  The young book boy nodded very reluctantly: "Heart willing, extremely heart willing! Young master, you can walk to this step, I didn't even dream of it. At that time, you said you wanted to come and participate in the Lingjian Sect's Ascension Conference, the villagers all thought you were crazy. Before I left, my old master told me that if I was eliminated and came back, I could go with young master to a nearby big city to relax, who would have thought that young master actually... really walked to this step?"

  "Which step? The real road to ascension has just begun, hasn't it?"

  Looking at Shu Tong's puzzled gaze, Wang Lu made an exception and began to explain his own strategic insights.

  "There are three key points. Firstly, as the two blue and white ones just said, the path to ascension tests multiple elements, including innate talent, temperament, and opportunity. Now we've only just passed the test of innate talent, no, not even a real test of innate talent, but merely stepped over a necessary threshold. You also have the nerve to say that you've reached this point on the path to ascension?"

  "But..."

  "But isn't Xīyáng Peak already open? Don't be foolish, the second key point is that Lánbái just said that the senior brother of Xīyáng Peak is not much worse than a true disciple. Even if there's some exaggeration, he should still be an outstanding talent. But why would such an excellent senior brother still remain at Xīyáng Peak? Why isn't he at Liǔliǔ Peak?"

  "For what? Why...?"

  "Just like those who think they're impressive just by making it here, and consider joining the Carefree Peak as the greatest honor... because their limit is right here. You chose easy mode, so don't complain that you can't see the hidden plot."

  "Huh?"

  "Never mind, you won't understand anyway. Moving on to the third point..."

  Wang Lu raised his head, and his eyes became deep and profound in the misty clouds. However, it seemed as if there were flames burning within his pupils.

  "As a conqueror, one should have the momentum to pierce through the clouds and sky, breaking through all difficulties!"

  "Ah?!"

  "In short, I must continue on my way, whether or not you follow me. In any case, those two blue and white ones have already slapped their buttocks and left, haha! You can't turn back even if you want to!"

  Wang Lu said, picked up his luggage again and strode forward.

  "Also, Wang Zhong, the journey ahead will probably be super long, so get ready."

  "How long will it take?" asked Wang Zhong, who was already somewhat tired.

  "If I were to compare it to a novel, it would be around 70-80 thousand characters."

  "...it really is, so long."

  ——

  "The path of drifting may be easy to walk, but it's not as good as having a spiritual sword and a golden bridge."

  On the vast sea of clouds, a white-haired old man gently stroked his beard and said with a deep sigh.

  "Twelve years ago, the master's elder brother set today's appointment, and the world's talents gathered together, indeed extraordinary. Just walking through the Golden Bridge for four-fifths of the way, there are nearly a hundred people, all of whom can enter the Carefree Peak with just their spiritual roots and attributes."

  A young Taoist in a black and white robe beside him smiled and said, "Master, have you already set your mind on someone?"

  The old man sneered: "Hmph, passing the Golden Bridge only shows that your spiritual root is decent, but wanting to enter my Misty Peak isn't that easy. Out of these hundred people, if ten are left in the end, it's already not bad."

  As they spoke, another voice suddenly appeared behind them.

  "Sigh, no need to be so strict about it."

  In the cloud, two monks, one old and one young, were both startled, and when they turned their heads around, their terror was even greater.

  "Brother Palm, Brother Palm, Master's senior disciple!?"

  Suddenly appearing behind him was none other than the number one of the Ling Jian Sect, Feng Yin Zhen Ren.

  "Hey, don't be so tense." Feng Yin Zhenren chuckled and waved his hand, "I just came to take a look. Behind the Golden Bridge is Liu Xian Shidi's Xiao Yan Peak, which is one of our sect's main strongholds."

  Liu Xian's face was stern, and he bowed his head in response: "In those years, my senior brother entrusted me with the heavy responsibility, Liu Xian dare not be even slightly negligent."

  "It's been tough on you all these years. Looking at the grand scene of Lianyun Peak today, it's really hard to imagine what it was like back then... However, since we've specially organized this conference, there's no need to be too demanding of newcomers. If there are any suitable ones, just take them in."

  Liu Xian was somewhat embarrassed: "Senior brother, that's not in line with the rules."

  "Hmm, rules are made to be broken, aren't they? The Ling Jian Sect has been too quiet for too long, don't you think it's time to liven things up?"

  "To be honest, I don't think so, having one Fifth Sister is already lively enough."

  "...Don't even mention her, I asked her to help design the Ascension Conference, and she messed it up big time. My head has been about to explode these past few days... Hmm? I remember this kid, pretty good talent, worth paying close attention to."

  As he spoke, Zhenren pointed at the cloud layer, and two small people made of cloud mist appeared vividly, who were exactly the master and servant from Wangjia Village.

  Liu Xian was shocked: "Brother, you think highly of them? Hmm, these two people's performance on the Golden Bridge is indeed not bad..."

  "Hmm, Golden Bridge is just a casual little thing I did, no need to take it too seriously."

  "Senior brother is being modest, the Golden Bridge of Ascension can accurately control the intake of innate spiritual energy. The higher the quality of the spiritual root, the easier it is to naturally obtain spiritual energy replenishment, and walking on the bridge becomes effortless. However, the farther one walks, the stronger the resistance becomes. When the resistance equals the assistance, one can determine a person's optimal position... Although it is also possible to overexert oneself and forcibly continue walking, consuming too much physical energy on the Golden Bridge would make the rest of the journey unnecessary. The principle may be simple, but the design is truly ingenious, making it perfect for initially assessing aptitude. With these two people's results, senior brother should indeed look at them with new eyes."

  "Uh, actually it's not me, but Xiaoling thinks highly of one of them... Apparently, they cracked the task chain that was haunting everyone. Their qualifications are about the same as what I saw before, around 3rd or 4th rank, which is pretty good."

  "So..."

  "It doesn't matter, just follow the rules of Mount Lingyun, and see how far he can go with his skills..."

  As they spoke, a burning sword symbol suddenly appeared, almost setting the sect leader's beard on fire.

  "Huh? Who is this? Nothing better to do, using the Lingjian Tiānfú to find me... It's really you! What are you doing? Is it the end of the law era?! Has the demon tribe invaded?! What? Overtime pay? You want overtime pay for holding a ascension conference, don't you have any shame?! Forget it, let's talk in person! Ahhh, I'm so angry, my primordial spirit is about to collapse..."

  Feng Yin spent a few breaths calming down his anger, but when he turned around, the clear sky within his line of sight was thousands of miles wide, and the clouds and mist surrounding the mountains had been dispersed completely!

  The young Ling Jian cultivator's face was shocked, while Liu Xian revealed a sincere and admiring expression: "The sect leader's cultivation is unparalleled in the world. A single thread of excess energy has broken through the Clouds and Mist Great Array of Lianyun Peak... I am deeply convinced and impressed, younger brother."

  "It's just the first layer, and what's more, a mere Nascent Soul is nothing in the Nine Provinces Continent. Heh heh, ten years ago when I attended the meeting at the Myriad Immortals Alliance, several of the standing committee members were already at the Combined Body stage."

  "Hmm, a demonstration?"

  "Whatever, I slept from head to toe anyway...... Never mind, let's not talk nonsense, I'll leave first, or else my junior sister will burn a few more heavenly tokens and I'll go bankrupt...... Junior brother, the Ascension Conference is up to you now, don't mind what I said, just follow the rules."

  As soon as the master finished speaking, he disappeared in a flash of light. Liu Xian let out a sigh and gazed through the clouds and mist below the peak, seeing the two masters and servants walking in the valley.

  Favored by both the sect leader and Xiao Ling'er? Although the sect leader said everything would be done according to the rules, this kind of treatment itself has already broken the rules.

  "Let's focus on those two for now, hoping they won't disappoint me... and then, let's get ready to do a good job with the logistics!"

  The black and white monk nodded and was about to leave...

  "Oh, right. Tell your junior brothers to bring the spiritual stone and sword manual... Sigh, bring Mahjong too, this ascension conference is probably going to take a long time, don't get too bored..."

  "Uh... Master?"

  "Hehe, remember to invite your Master Zhou Ming this time. Last time they won more than a dozen precious artifacts from us at Tongming Peak, now let's see if I can help you guys win them back."

  "Master?"

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