Chapter 366: The Aftermath

Soon after Lu Ping left, and after his overwhelming aura dispersed from their surroundings, the disciples rushed in and occupied the seventh platform.

Some of the more acute and quick-witted ones were already carefully studying the sword marks left behind on the seventh platform, hoping that they might learn a thing or two as well.

Although the seventh platform was crowded with people, the majority left the six disciples as they were, taking care not to disturb them while shooting envious looks. These were the six lucky ones who had received the heritage of the mysterious Enlightened Master.

At this time, a flash of light landed on Zhao Yang Summit. This person's arrival silenced the crowd and had them bowing to greet him, "Dean Xuan-Yuan!"

Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan first looked at the six disciples, including Wang Qi who had already passed out at this time. He glanced at the empty sky, and then looked at the sword marks on the seventh platform.

The disciples were observing Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan, weird looks crossing their faces as they thought, Is the Dean going to take advantage of the platform again? But that's not surprising, the seventh platform is now effectively a vessel of sword heritage, no one can stop him from collecting fees to study the sword marks here!

However, to their surprise, the Enlightened Master only looked at them and said calmly, "The seventh platform needs to be refurbished now."

Many were shocked and puzzled—there was no way the sect would allow a sword heritage to be scrapped off just like that, so why would the Enlightened Master want to refurbish the seventh platform?

But there were also some quick-witted disciples who quickly understood Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan's meaning, and they immediately turned to study the sword marks as much as they could.

After that, Xuan-Yuan ordered the few Blood Condensation Realm disciples that came with him to send the six disciples back to the side hall, before departing as well.

After Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan left, many disciples also dispersed. There were too many people here, so it wasn't possible to study the sword marks in peace. Hence, they shared the thought of coming back another day. After all, the seventh platform wasn't going to run away on its own, right?

When Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan returned to Zhen Ling Side Hall, Hu Lili was already at his doorstep waiting for him.

Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan knew about the relationship between these two lovebirds, so he laughed wryly and said, "Your boy is such a troublemaker. He makes a mess early in the morning, pats his sleeves and disappears just like that, and here I am, forced to clean up after him."

Hu Lili chuckled playfully, then took out six jade bottles and said with a grin, "Junior Uncle, he asked me to pass these to the six disciples. He is still going through sudden enlightenment and has entered closed-door cultivation."

Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan checked the contents of the jade bottles and his eyes brightened. "Good stuff, and quite lucky for them. They already saw and partially received Junior Nephew Lu's sword heritage, and now coupled with these pellets, tsk tsk... Does this mean he has decided to take them as disciples?"

Hu Lili shook her head. "Not yet, and even if he is, he won't accept all six at once."

Enlightened Master Xuan-Yuan also shook his head in regret. "What a pity!"

...

Meanwhile, on the summit of Tian Ling Mountain.

"That is your ninth disciple?"

"Yes, Junior Uncle."

"Not bad, neither you nor Tian-Lin were better than him during that cultivation layer."

"This disciple is good, but acted too recklessly this time."

"It is not called sudden enlightenment for no reason. No matter the time or location, I believe no cultivator would let such a rare chance slip past them. The fastest way to lose your spirit is by thinking too much and restricting yourself from being the best 'you' that you can be. Real strength comes from within—cultivation was never about one's exterior appearance."

"Uncle's lesson is enlightening."

"Tell Xuan-Shan to move the platform tomorrow. The sword heritage of a great sword divine ability is worthy of being placed inside the sect's true place of inheritance. The disciples are not ready for it, and they will comprehend little at this stage. Furthermore, its mere presence alone will inevitably invite others from outside the sect."

"Yes, Junior Uncle."

...

Despite the commotion in the early morning, the side hall competition continued as usual that day.

However, Lu Ping no longer went to the side hall. Shortly following his disappearance, Leng Qian, Yuan Zhan, and Lin Sheng arrived. They were welcomed by the side hall disciples who didn't know about the affairs between them and Lu Ping.

As usual, after every round, Enlightened Masters would be invited to conduct a session on their expertise. During Hu Lili's session, she showed her mastery in seal-breaking techniques.

Chen Lian forged three mid-grade mystic instruments on the spot, which Junior Uncle Xuan-Yuan promptly announced would be the prizes for the top-three winners of the side hall competition. As disciples in the Blood Refining Realm, they were overjoyed and excited; a mid-grade mystic instrument was often wielded by Mid Blood Condensation Realm disciples.

Ji Xuan-Xuan showed his puppet technique; Ma Yu and Zhong Jian showed their dual-men sword art. Every Enlightened Master had their own specialty that sparked the interest of the disciples and expanded their horizons.

In fact, not only the disciples, but the other Enlightened Masters were also listening carefully to each session, using each other's knowledge and insights to improve themselves. It was like attending a forum where they could exchange their own opinions; there was a general consensus that attending the side hall competition had definitely been worth the trip this time.

As the competition progressed, the outstanding talents among the disciples began to stand out. Many Enlightened Masters grew interested in accepting them as their disciples. It was said that Yao Yong had already taken in five registered disciples. If it weren't a requirement that official disciples had to be in the Mid Blood Condensation Realm, he would've accepted them all already.

And then there were those that hadn't been accepted by Lu Ping, so they switched their target to Hu Lili. However, much like Lu Ping, Hu Lili also wasn't planning to accept any disciples in the meantime.

Today was the last day of the side hall competition. Most disciples were saddened, having lost their round in the competition, but they were also overjoyed and excited to see the final winners.

On top of that, it was said that the mysterious Enlightened Master, Lu Xuan-Ping the Water Sword Immortal, would also be thereto conduct an alchemy session together with the sect's other alchemical genius, Enlightened Master Tao Xuan-Fang.

Dean Xuan-Yuan had applied for three cauldrons of spirit herbs to make the Blood Condensing Pellets. The total amount to be rewarded in the competition would depend on how many the two alchemists could concoct. In theory, a maximum of thirty pellets would be concocted.

One must know, during Lu Ping's time, only the top eight of the competition were rewarded with a Blood Condensing Pellet each. Compared to then, the reward had increased more than threefold.

However, because of Lu Ping's status as a Master Alchemist, Tao Xuan-Fang who was just an Alchemist would inevitably be overlooked.

As a prideful alchemical genius, Tao Xuan-Fang naturally didn't want to attend as soon as he learned that Lu Ping would also be doing alchemy. He didn't want to be compared, not when it wasn't possible to defeat Lu Ping in alchemy.

However, it was then, his Senior Uncle Xuan-Yan looked him in the eyes, sneered coldly and said, "Are you willing to live under his shadow for the rest of your life? You want to be afraid? Run away from reality? Then do as you please. But know that once you do, I suggest that you never stop running, because such doubts will keep chasing you for the rest of your life. There is no dishonor in losing. Everyone loses and there is no way around it; there is only dishonor in avoiding the fight because you are afraid to lose."

Enlightened Master Tao Xuan-Fang recalled this conversation, then he looked down at the disciples under the podium. A moment later, he breathed deeply then solemnly took out a cauldron.

Immediately, there were exclamations from the crowd, "A high-grade cauldron!"

Tao Xuan-Fang smiled proudly—his senior martial uncle has loaned him this high-grade cauldron just for this occasion. One must know, there were only six high-grade cauldrons in the sect. The four Master Alchemists were assigned one each, and the remaining two were stored in the Pavilion of Alchemy.

Initially, the sect would assign one of the two remaining high-grade cauldrons to Lu Ping after he became a Master Alchemist, but for some reason, he didn't ask for one. Hence, Xuan-Yan assumed that Lu Ping already owned a personal cauldron.

Aside from the cauldron, Tao Xuan-Fang was also fully prepared with a spirit fire. As he let loose his true energy, a mini fire emerged in his palm and released a heatwave that forced the disciples to step back.

This was the Earth's Core Infernal Fire, a Mystic-class mid-grade wonder fire!

The disciples cheered loudly, their excitement rising upon seeing the wonder fire.

Next to the podium, Chen Lian looked at Hu Lili and whispered softly, "Isn't this what Junior Brother Lu found on Fei Ling Island and submitted to the sect?"

Hu Lili nodded in reply. "It is, how did it end up in his hands?"

Although they lowered their voices, the Enlightened Masters still heard them. Raising their brows, they didn't say anything.