Chapter 267 Within the Outer Sect
Just as Chen Chang'an joyfully became an outer sect disciple, in the great hall of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land, Xiao Chen was discussing the results of this sect assessment with Ji Lingxiu and Li Hanzhou.
Xiao Chen tapped his finger lightly on a jade slip, and a spiritual light outlined clear numbers in the air:
"Among the one thousand one hundred assessors, there are six inner sect disciples, forty-three Immortal Spirit Guards, and one hundred fourteen outer sect disciples."
Not only Xiao Chen and Ji Lingxiu, but even a rare hint of satisfaction appeared on Li Hanzhou's cold and stern face.
"Especially those six inner sect disciples." Ji Lingxiu gently waved her round fan, a smile in her phoenix-like eyes. "There was a little girl who broke my 'Seven Tribulations of Emotions' in the illusion array, which was quite a surprise to me."
Hearing this, Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow: "Are you thinking of taking a disciple?"
"Not just me." Ji Lingxiu closed her fan and tapped it lightly against her palm. "In a few more days, I wish to ask Master to permit the four of us to accept disciples."
For a moment, the hall was silent.
Li Hanzhou's gaze shifted slightly; he was clearly also considering it.
Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "It is indeed time to establish true inheritance."
Over the years, although the Immortal Spirit Holy Land recruited disciples widely, the highest rank it established was inner sect disciple.
Everyone knew full well that Xiao Chen and the other three would eventually accept personal disciples. Therefore, the inner sect seemed calm, but undercurrents were surging.
"That girl who broke your Seven Tribulations of Emotions..." Li Hanzhou rarely took the initiative to speak.
Ji Lingxiu smiled without saying a word, her fan "shua" sound as it opened, concealing half of her pretty face: "Let her train in the inner sect for a while longer first."
Xiao Chen looked toward the outside of the hall.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.
The inner sect disciples were all cultivating in seclusion.
In the distance, on the outer sect training ground, the newly entered disciples were drilling, and their vigorous shouts of exertion carried on the wind.
"Let's wait until Master comes out of seclusion, then we will ask for instructions together."
The two exchanged a knowing glance.
Each of them already had a candidate in mind.
This silent competition might be more interesting than imagined.
After Ji Lingxiu and Li Hanzhou left, Xiao Chen departed from the great hall, intending to see the few new inner sect disciples. He was also a little curious about the little girl Ji Lingxiu had mentioned. After all, youth is a time of many emotions and desires, yet she could break the 'Seven Tribulations of Emotions' in an illusion. This could no longer be described as simply a good seedling.
But he had not gone far when he suddenly noticed an unexpected figure.
Zhou Xuanxiao stood alone under an old pine tree, his brow furrowed, clutching a messaging jade slip in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
"Brother Zhou?" Xiao Chen called out, "What are you doing here?"
Startled, Zhou Xuanxiao quickly turned and bowed: "Sect Master." He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Although I have left the Tianyun Sect, several old friends still send messages to inform me of the sect's recent situation..."
Xiao Chen nodded in understanding. It was a place where he grew up, so it was normal to have some attachments.
"Something happened to the Tianyun Sect?"
Zhou Xuanxiao's expression was complex. He first nodded, then shook his head: "Not exactly... it's that person who has gone missing." He gave a bitter smile, "Now my Master and several senior sisters are frantic with worry, even sending messages to question if I have hidden the person."
Xiao Chen's brow twitched with interest as he asked: "Was it really your doing?"
"How could it be!" Zhou Xuanxiao's voice suddenly rose, then realizing his loss of composure, he lowered it again, "Since I have joined the Immortal Spirit Holy Land, I no longer wish to have any entanglements with them."
Xiao Chen patted his shoulder. His tone was light but carried an unquestionable confidence: "Since you have entered my Immortal Spirit Holy Land, you are one of my people. If the Tianyun Sect dares to cause trouble—" he gave a light laugh, "They might as well weigh their options first."
A look of gratitude flashed in Zhou Xuanxiao's eyes as he bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Sect Master."
Watching Zhou Xuanxiao leave, Xiao Chen thoughtfully stroked his chin.
That person had deliberately schemed to drive Zhou Xuanxiao away, giving himself a chance at the Holy Son position, yet he turned around and played at disappearing. What was he plotting?
However, this thought only remained in his mind for a moment. Right now, he was more interested in that little girl who could break the 'Seven Tribulations of Emotions'.
As twilight deepened, on the bluestone paths of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land's outer sect, disciples in twos and threes were ending a day of cultivation and gradually returning to their quarters.
The outer sect covered a vast area, with its houses stretching out like a chessboard. Though not as exquisite as the inner sect, it was neat and orderly—this was naturally the handiwork of "King Yama" Li Hanzhou. This outer sect elder, known for his strictness, had managed to keep hundreds of outer sect disciples in perfect order, to the point that even the clothes drying under the eaves were uniformly aligned.
"Creak—"
Guo Fugui pushed open the door to Dormitory Bing-6 and collapsed onto the bed, dragging his exhausted body with him. As one of the 114 new outer sect disciples this year, he was assigned to the sixth class. The room was simply furnished: six beds surrounded a central cushion area, and on the wall hung the "Heart-Purifying Art," personally written by Elder Li.
"It's finally over..."
The round-faced youth let out a long breath. During today's basic sword art drill, he had been punished with two extra hours of practice for his non-standard movements, and even his fingers were still trembling. Thinking of Ye Fan, who had entered the inner sect from the same assessment, and Wei Wu, who had joined the Immortal Spirit Guards, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Old Guo, Senior Sister said you shouldn't lie down immediately after cultivating."
A clear voice came from the doorway. Xiao Yun stood leaning on his sword, a heroic air about his features. Although he wore only the standard outer sect disciple's attire, his every move carried a certain nobility of a noble scion.
"Yes, yes, yes." Guo Fugui sat up with a carp flip, "It's just that I'm used to being lazy..."
He sneakily glanced at this new friend he had made. It was rumored that Xiao Yuanshan was a clansman of the Sect Master, Xiao Chen, but the youth himself always faintly denied it: "We just happen to share the same surname." This was believable—if he were truly a direct descendant of the Xiao family, how could he still be assigned to the outer sect with a cultivation at the Tongxuan Realm?
Xiao Yun walked to the window, the sunset casting a long shadow behind him. In the distance, the melodious sound of a bell came from the clock tower, signaling the end of the evening lessons for the inner sect disciples.
"I heard only six people were accepted into the inner sect this time." he suddenly said.
Guo Fugui scratched his head: "Isn't that the truth! I heard some little girl even broke Elder Ji's 'Seven Tribulations of Emotions'..."
As they were talking—
"Hahaha, you guys should have seen the expression on Fatty Wang at the dining hall today..."
Four teenagers pushed the door open while laughing, interrupting Xiao Yun and Guo Fugui's conversation.
One of them was thin, with a scholarly air about his eyes and brows, and was being clapped on the shoulder by a companion as they joked.
Xiao Yun's gaze sharpened, and he unconsciously stared at the thin youth.
"Old Xiao," Guo Fugui nudged him with his elbow and said in a low voice, "You've been staring at him since he came in. Don't tell me you're... you know?"
"Smack!"
Xiao Yun gave him a smack on the back of the head: "You're the one who's 'you know'!" He frowned and whispered, "I just feel like this person looks inexplicably familiar."
Guo Fugui rubbed his head and pouted: "Him? I heard he didn't participate in the sect assessment but accidentally wandered into the inner sect testing grounds. Elder Li happened to see him, thought his aptitude was good, and made an exception to recruit him into the outer sect." he added sourly, "What a lucky dog..."
Before he could finish, the door was pushed open again.
"Is everyone here?"
A woman in her early twenties stood leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed and a smile in her apricot eyes.
She wore a simple cyan tunic cinched at the waist, with only a wooden hairpin in her hair. She was their class's supervising senior sister, Yu Wanru.
"Oh no!" Guo Fugui's face changed as he frantically searched for his jade slip, "She must be here to check our evening lesson notes!"
The room immediately descended into chaos.
Yu Wanru watched the six youths panicking and couldn't help but recall her own embarrassment when she first entered the outer sect last year, almost laughing out loud.
"The third section of the 'Mind-Cleansing Chant'," she said with a straight face, checking each one, "Whoever gets it wrong will practice for two extra hours."
When she walked to the window, she suddenly heard a clear voice in her mind: [Senior Sister Yu is so beautiful and cool.]
"Huh?" Yu Wanru snapped her head around, "What was that sound?"
The six youths looked up blankly, and the room was silent.
Yu Wanru's ears turned slightly red. She quickly closed the last jade slip: "A-All of you passed! Assemble at the training ground at Chen hour tomorrow!" With that, she left as if fleeing.
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