Chapter 358: Who Else But You

Lu Ping looked at the creek in silence, suddenly, his body quivered and split into eighteen Lu Pings that scattered and fled in different directions. In just an instant, these eighteen Lu Pings disappeared entirely from the vicinity.

Another moment later, a stream of water flowed up from the creek and Lu Ping walked out of the water. He reached out to trace the eighteen water clones and smiled in satisfaction.

Who knew this mini water escape divine ability would have such a high similarity to the [Sea Crossing Concealment Art]? I can use it to enhance my concealment art to the level of a mini divine ability. This will be an important card in ensuring my survival.

The creek turned back to normal after he successfully cultivated its mini water escape divine ability. This allowed him to do what he wanted at first—to wash his face with the creek.

While he cleaned his face, a thought suddenly occurred in his mind.

If he were to leave a heritage in the Flying Cloud Minor World, wouldn't this creek be the perfect vessel for his heritage? With the enhanced concealment art, he could even conceal his heritage deeper beneath the mini water escape divine ability originally in the creek.

This way, only the best of the best—added with a stroke of luck—would be able to discover his heritage and learn it.

In truth, it wasn't Lu Ping's intentions to set the threshold so high, but the heritage he was about to leave behind required a certain level of understanding in the art of water and also swordsmanship.

Without these two prerequisites, any future successors wouldn't be able to comprehend the heritage even if it was openly accessible to the public. In the cultivation world, insights were always prioritized by quality over quantity. Thus, teachers always tested their disciples before accepting them.

Lu Ping nodded softly and made up his mind.

Immediately, the creek began to quiver as if in resonance with something. Then, a third of the creek water gradually formed into 1,296 water swords, which later merged together into a giant water sword hovering above the surface.

Lu Ping's divine revelation wrapped around the giant water sword and engraved the cultivation sword art for [True Origin One Essence Sword Art] together with his insights. After a moment's thought, he left a warning message at the end of the heritage.

"The [True Origin One Essence Sword Art] is suspected to be from the Koi race residing in Central Plain's Jade Lily River. It is likely the foundation sword art for the race's great sword divine ability [True Spirit Heavenly Gate]. Be wary of the Koi race or any carp monsters in general when using this sword art."

Lu Ping, who was enjoying this moment of being a senior, nodded his head in satisfaction. Then, the giant water sword was dismissed and splashed back down into the creek.

In his divine revelation, there was now a negligible trace of sword intent hidden deep inside the creek and covered underneath the mini water escape divine ability. Only pure water-element cultivators with a deep understanding of swordsmanship would be able to notice this sword intent and discover the sword heritage.

Another month later, Lu Ping's disciple token suddenly flew out of his interspatial ring on its own. Glowing brightly, it wrapped him in a silver light. A moment later, Lu Ping was teleported out of the Flying Cloud Minor World and back to the secret room.

In the secret room, Miao-Xuan seemed to know exactly when Lu Ping would return and was already waiting for him. Spotting Lu Ping, he asked, "Was the trip fruitful?"

Lu Ping answered excitedly, "Immensely! The Flying Cloud Minor World is worthy of its name, it's a pity that I didn't have more time."

Xuan-Miao smiled happily. "Many opportunities lie ahead of you. I only worry that in the future, the heritages in Flying Cloud Minor World won't be able to satisfy you anymore."

Lu Ping smiled but didn't answer.

Xuan-Miao paid this no mind, and he asked again, "With your current prowess and reputation, it's time you start your own tutelage and accept some disciples. The sect's triennial disciple acceptance ceremony is happening soon, do you have any names in mind, or do you wish to test the general disciples during the ceremony?"

Lu Ping knew Xuan-Miao was in charge of the ceremony and had a list of Mid Blood Condensation Realm disciples that were seeking a teacher. The Enlightened Masters could then choose from this list.

However, Lu Ping had no intention of accepting disciples at the moment, nor did he wish to aimlessly search for one in the ceremony. Hence, he rejected Xuan-Miao's suggestions. "This junior has no plans to accept any disciples at the moment."

Xuan-Miao was slightly disappointed. "Pity. There are many Mid Blood Condensation Realm disciples recently, but the Core Forging Realm martial siblings and juniors often choose not to expand their tutelage. Now there are a large number of disciples who have yet to find a teacher. In time, this will become a major problem for the sect's future."

Lu Ping didn't know how to respond and could only comfort him, "From another perspective, this is also a sign that the sect's next generation is more talented."

After some pleasantries, Lu Ping excused himself and left Tian Ling Palace. However, on his way to the Pavilion of Smithery, he was caught and held back by Shi Lingling.

Lu Ping was surprised to see her and asked, "Senior Sister Shi, what instructions do you have for me?"

Shi Lingling looked at his serious expression and suddenly chuckled, "Instruct you? Who within the Zhen Ling Sect could instruct you now? "

Lu Ping smiled awkwardly. "Senior Sister, please don't make fun of me!"

Shi Lingling laughed happily at his reply, then turned solemn and said, "I'm here to ask for your help. The side hall competition is coming up and as an outstanding former side hall disciple, one of the strongest and wealthiest of our generation, of course I'm here to seek your help."

Lu Ping was puzzled and asked, "Senior Sister Shi has taken on the role of Master Immortal of the side hall? Since when did they need Enlightened Masters as Master Immortals?"

The Zhen Ling Side Hall only had one Enlightened Master, which was its dean. Usually, the dean was an Early Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master, one who had exhausted their potential to advance further. After Enlightened Master Xuan-Yong's death, this role was taken up by Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan.

With Shi Lingling's cultivation base, future potential, and background, she was least likely to be assigned to become the dean. Hence, she must be a Master Immortal instead.

Shi Lingling nodded. "After the human-monster war started, the side hall's teachings have also changed. The leading Master Immortals are still Mid Blood Condensation Realm disciples, but they're only in charge of the side hall disciples' cultivation in the Blood Refining Realm.

"And for those who have advanced to the Blood Condensation Realm, there is now a mandatory one-year training period for them to study selectively. The teachings are done by the Enlightened Masters assigned by the sect. Every half month, I will go to the side hall to teach the disciples everything about cultivation, while Senior Sister Hu teaches array formations. Other than the two of us, there is also Yao Yong, Du Feng, Chen Lian, Zhong Jian, Ma Yu, and the rest who will also teach from time to time."

Shi Lingling's words left Lu Ping a bit dumbfounded.

Zhen Ling Side Hall was the biggest academy and the most important source of reserve cultivators to the Sect. Hence, in order to keep the side hall's neutral status within the sect, there were strict requirements when it came to assigning the deans and Master Immortals. Their personal stances would not be allowed to influence the side hall disciples.

In the case of deans, they were required to be in the Early Core Forging Realm with no hope of further advancement. This ensured that the deans weren't dragged into politics within the sect.

In the case of Master Immortals, they would have to be in the Mid Blood Condensation Realm, those who weren't too weak to teach, nor powerful enough to influence the side hall disciples.

The Enlightened Masters in the sect also knew about this, so for a long time, there was a tacit agreement that they wouldn't interfere with the side hall's affairs. But now, it appeared that this tacit agreement had been broken.

Shi Lingling looked at Lu Ping's expression and guessed his thoughts, so she explained helplessly, "It's unavoidable. The war caught everyone off guard, we weren't prepared enough for it. And now, the situation has just intensified.

"The prowess that Zhen Ling Sect displayed during Senior Aunty Tian-Ling's Avatar Forum has not only ruined the monster race's plan, but also the period of peace between us and the other sects.

"Right now, the monster race has become increasingly aggressive towards our sect; we're already seeing Enlightened Masters fighting at the border. And now the other sects have also started to keep a distance from us."

Lu Ping frowned, understanding what she meant.

In order to prevent Xuan Ling Sect from monopolizing the North Ocean Alliance, the sects had tacitly divided themselves into two equally powerful factions within the alliance. Naturally, Xuan Ling Sect led the first and strongest faction, while Zhen Ling Sect rose to power and became the leader of the second faction.

For many years, this arrangement had worked well and satisfied the positions of all involved. Taking Fei Ling Sect's annihilation as an example, Xuan Ling Sect knew it couldn't stand against all the sects on its own, so it allowed the sects to present it as a rival. This way, at least half of the sects would still be on its side, rather than having everyone on opposing ends.

As long as Xuan Ling Sect retained its overwhelming prowess and dominance, it would still be the number one sect in the North Ocean and the leader of North Ocean Alliance. Predictably, this was exactly the case in the eyes of the other sects.

However, after what occurred during Great Ancestor Liu Tian-Ling's Avatar Forum, the North Ocean sects were shocked to find that Zhen Ling Sect's prowess had unknowingly grown, to the point where it could challenge Xuan Ling Sect's supremacy.

Even though the sects had unanimously banded together to declare the rivalries, this discovery didn't please them at all. It meant that they had helped to create a second Xuan Ling Sect, another supremacy above them.

Naturally, the sects were now singing a different tune—they regarded Zhen Ling Sect with the same status as Xuan Ling Sect and were gradually distancing themselves.

Meanwhile, the monster race had quickly acknowledged Zhen Ling Sect's prowess and naturally strengthened its attacks against the sect.

Now, Zhen Ling Sect was in a difficult position where internal and external pressures were gradually building up. The sect urgently needed the growth of their reserve cultivators to help alleviate the burden, but also worried that too much overstimulation might lead to deadly flaws in their individual cultivations.

Hence, the side hall imposed a new rule, for all disciples to partake in a mandatory one-year training period after their Blood Condensation Realm advancement. This way, they would have another year to consolidate their cultivation and sharpen their skills before heading out to fight in the cultivation world.

Lu Ping nodded softly, then recalling Shi Lingling's suggestion, he asked, "Senior Sister, what do you need from me?"

Hearing this, Shi Lingling knew that Lu Ping had already agreed to her request, so she said joyfully, "The rewards for the Blood Refining Realm competition will naturally be Blood Condensation Pellets.

"But instead of requesting them directly from the sect, Junior Uncle Xuan-Yuan has come up with a different idea. He applied for a batch of spirit herbs used to make Blood Condensation Pellets and is looking for an alchemist to concoct the pellets on the spot. This will greatly stimulate the disciples' interest in alchemy and also widen their horizons.

"Junior Uncle Xuan-Yong said that all of the Blood Condensation Pellets concocted will be used as rewards in the competition. Naturally, we must select the best of the best, which can be no one else but you!"

Lu Ping laughed awkwardly. "Senior Sister, you must be joking. The sect has five Master Alchemists and one Grandmaster Alchemist, all with much more experience. How am I the best?"

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