Stopping his cultivation, Ling Xiao stepped out of the training room.
Outside, dawn was breaking, a red sun slowly rising above the horizon.
“Young Master, you’ve finally emerged!” Leng Mei, leaning against the corridor, beamed with joy upon seeing him.
“Your cultivation has reached the peak of seventh-layer Martial Vein. Impressive,” Ling Xiao noted.
Leng Mei’s potential was immense; she’d only lacked proper conditions before. Now, as Master Baiyun’s entry disciple, her progress was remarkable.
“It’s nothing. Shi Lei, Sister Yixue, Die Wu, Zhu Hua, and Fei Yu have all reached early eighth-layer. Dai Yuling is at late eighth-layer. Zuo Leng hit early ninth-layer, and Ming Tian reached late ninth-layer. They’re all stronger,” Leng Mei said with a wry smile.
“No rush. Your starting point was lower. You’ll catch up,” Ling Xiao reassured.
“Young Master, don’t worry. I won’t lose heart,” Leng Mei smiled.
“Good. But you’re waiting here for a reason, right?”
“Yes. Master said to head to True Spirit Hall immediately after you emerge. With just over a month until the Hidden Sect’s recruitment, he’s likely choosing the three recommended candidates,” Leng Mei replied.
“Let’s go together.”
Ling Xiao nodded, and they hurried to True Spirit Hall.
In the hall, everyone except Leng Mei and Ling Xiao was already present.
“Hmph, what arrogance! Master calls a meeting, and you dare arrive late?” Fei Yu, fresh off breaking through to eighth-layer, saw his chance for revenge.
He sensed delaying further would be futile; Ling Xiao would soon surpass him, leaving no opportunity. Today, he aimed to provoke Ling Xiao into attacking first, justifying a duel on Life-and-Death Cliff.
But Ling Xiao ignored him, bowing to Master Baiyun. “Disciple just learned of your summons.”
“No matter. Sit,” Master Baiyun waved, unperturbed.
The meeting was delayed because several disciples were in seclusion. He’d sensed everyone would emerge today, though Ling Xiao was slightly late. Scolding him for that was pointless.
“Thank you, Master!” Ling Xiao sat cross-legged.
“Now that everyone’s here, let’s get to business,” Master Baiyun said, glancing fondly at Ming Tian and Zuo Leng.
Undoubtedly, they were his prized disciples, and they hadn’t disappointed.
Both broke through to ninth-layer at sixteen—a rare feat.
Though Ming Tian was only at late ninth-layer, his strength was nearly unmatched within that realm, surpassing Lin Ze, Baiyun Temple’s head, and Wan Ben.
Zuo Leng, newly at ninth-layer, could already contend with Lin Ze and others.
Such was genius, their progress far outpacing ordinary cultivators.
“In just over a month, Yuehua Sect’s disciple selection begins. Are you confident in passing their assessment?” Master Baiyun’s tone brimmed with expectation.
“Master, rest assured. I’ll not only pass but become Yuehua Sect’s top disciple, never shaming you!” Ming Tian declared.
“I won’t lag behind Ming Tian,” Zuo Leng added.
Before others could speak, Master Baiyun laughed heartily. “Good, good! You’re truly my finest disciples. I trust your words completely!”
Clearly, he believed only these two could pass, sidelining the other disciples.
After a moment, he continued, “You know I have three recommendation slots. Two go to Ming Tian and Zuo Leng. Any objections?”
Ling Xiao frowned.
Though expected, Master Baiyun’s casual allocation of two slots to Ming Tian and Zuo Leng without any test irked him.
Such favoritism wasn’t new, but it stung.
With one slot remaining, he stayed silent. Among the others, none matched his strength or potential.
If he didn’t object, the others dared not.
“Good. That’s today’s business. Return to your training,” Master Baiyun said, waving them off as the ten remaining disciples awaited the third slot’s decision.
“Master, what about the third slot?” Dai Yuling, unable to hold back, asked.
She was the highest-cultivated after Ming Tian and Zuo Leng—excluding Ling Xiao—and was deeply invested in the third slot.
“The third slot is already assigned. Giving it to you would be wasteful. This recruitment is a once-in-millennia event, possibly not recurring for years. Failing the assessment would squander it,” Master Baiyun said impassively.
What!
His words stunned the ten disciples.
Giving two slots to Ming Tian and Zuo Leng was one thing, but assigning the last to an outsider was outrageous.
“I object!” Dai Yuling, a true disciple, couldn’t accept it.
“Object?” Master Baiyun stared at her. “The third candidate’s potential rivals Ming Tian and Zuo Leng, with strength equal to Zuo Leng. Think you can compete?”
He continued, “Enough. You’re still my true disciple. I’ll train you fully. It won’t match joining a sect, but reaching the mortal realm is possible.”
Dai Yuling sat back, pale and dazed.
“Master, I also object!” Ling Xiao stood slowly, facing Master Baiyun calmly.
He could stay silent no longer. He had to fight for a Yuehua Sect slot—a chance to open new horizons, perhaps his only one.
“You object?” Master Baiyun frowned. “You think you’re better than Ming Tian and Zuo Leng?”
“Yes,” Ling Xiao replied evenly.
“Hahaha!” Ming Tian laughed unrestrainedly.
Zuo Leng smirked with disdain.
They’d seen overconfidence, but this was absurd.
Master Baiyun mocked, “Fine, fine. Let’s see how much skill Lin Ze’s chosen genius has. Let’s see if I’ll regret this!”
“Master, why waste time? Expel him,” Ming Tian said.
“Indeed, Master. He disrespects you. Why keep him?” Zuo Leng added.
“That would make me seem petty. Ling Xiao, I’ll give you a chance,” Master Baiyun said with a faint smile.
