Sword Gate Hall.
It was the Qing Jian Sect's primary hall for new Disciples.
The Hall Master, Sima Chaoqun, managed all affairs outside of the Nine Peaks.
However, Sima Chaoqun usually didn't handle daily trivial matters personally.
Aside from particularly important affairs, all matters were handled by his five Disciples who were at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
One day, Sima Chaoqun was meditating in his Hall when one of his Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples, his fifth Disciple Zheng Yang, suddenly arrived.
After listening to Zheng Yang state his purpose, Sima Chaoqun thought he had misheard and repeated, "Zheng Yang, are you sure he's just an ordinary Disciple at Qi Refining fifth level?"
Zheng Yang, who looked like a middle-aged scholar, immediately replied respectfully, "Replying to Master, he is indeed just a Disciple at Qi Refining fifth level."
"Mutated Dual Immortal Roots of Darkness and Lightning. It truly is a pity."
Sima Chaoqun said, stroking his long white beard that reached his abdomen, and a hint of interest seemed to flicker in his slightly narrowed eyes.
Zheng Yang respectfully said, "Master, Mutated Dual Immortal Roots are indeed very rare. Although it's secretly rumored in the current Cultivation World that such Immortal Root Aptitude cannot achieve Foundation Establishment at all, I thought of Zhang Shizu. He is a Dual Immortal Root, so what do you think...?"
Sima Chaoqun's slightly narrowed eyes suddenly opened wide, then he slowly stood up and paced back and forth within the Hall.
After a long period of contemplation, he nodded and said, "Then send him to Senior Uncle Zhang on the Fourth Peak. For someone with Mutated Dual Immortal Roots Aptitude to enter my Qing Jian Sect can be considered a special fate. If he can catch Senior Uncle Zhang's eye, then he will have a spot for this trip to the Mist Hidden Sea Inner Sea."
Zheng Yang's face lit up with joy upon hearing this. After respectfully assenting, he immediately took his leave.
Sima Chaoqun stroked his long beard, his eyes seemingly looking towards the Fourth Peak, and he murmured, "Senior Uncle Zhang, it's been so many years. I hope this child can become the catalyst for your change."
...
Yang Che waited uneasily in a side hall.
He didn't know if the Sect would agree to the condition he had proposed.
That condition was that if he could become one of the qualified assessment Disciples and enter the Mist Hidden Sea Inner Sea for training, he would help the Sect collect at least five thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine.
He had previously specifically entered the Sect's 'Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion' to look up various related materials on the Mist Hidden Sea, knowing that the most precious things in the Mist Hidden Sea were Spiritual Plant and Spirit Medicine over a thousand years old.
From past experience, these prospective Disciples who wished to become official Disciples of the Nine Peaks had to collect at least one thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine or Spiritual Plant.
Therefore, after asking Junior Martial Uncle Zheng Yang, Yang Che first stated to Junior Martial Uncle Zheng Yang that he only needed an opportunity to sign up and participate, and secondly, he stated that if he got this opportunity, he would collect five thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine and Spiritual Plant in the Inner Sea as a return to the Sect.
Yang Che had no other choice; he had no more time to wait.
Zheng Yang initially did not agree.
After all, the recruitment of Nine Peaks Disciples was very strict; how could it be a child's play?
There were many low-level Disciples who wanted to enter the Inner Sea for training. If they all proposed 'empty' conditions, would the Sect have to agree to them all?
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Zheng Yang, Yang Che sincerely and earnestly asked Junior Martial Uncle Zheng Yang if there was truly no way for someone with Mutated Dual Immortal Roots Aptitude to achieve Foundation Establishment.
This was Yang Che's genuine and sincere plea when he was truly at his wit's end.
As soon as Zheng Yang heard the words 'Mutated Dual Immortal Roots' and then confirmed that Yang Che indeed possessed Mutated Dual Immortal Roots Aptitude of Darkness and Lightning, his attitude changed drastically. He told Yang Che to wait there while he went to the main hall to ask the Hall Master for instructions.
Just as Yang Che was growing increasingly anxious, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng Yang returned.
"Junior Martial Uncle Zheng, how was it?"
Yang Che asked respectfully, both nervous and eager.
Zheng Yang's expression was serious. He carefully scrutinized Yang Che again and said solemnly, "Yang Che, the Hall Master said that given your special circumstances, he wants me to take you to the Fourth Peak. If you can catch the eye of the Fourth Peak's Peak Master, you will be qualified for a spot to train in the Mist Hidden Sea Inner Sea."
"Fourth Peak?"
Yang Che's face couldn't help but change upon hearing this.
"That's right. I presume you've heard of the Fourth Peak. It's the most special peak among the Nine Peaks. If you're afraid, you can always choose to give up."
Zheng Yang stared intently at Yang Che.
"Please, Junior Martial Uncle, take this Disciple there." How could Yang Che give up? No matter how difficult, he had to try.
Zheng Yang nodded and then led Yang Che to fly towards the Fourth Peak.
The Fourth Peak was also called Sword Four Peak.
It was named after the 'Immortal Sword' ranking.
Sword Four Peak was one of the nine main peaks of the Xuanqing Mountain Range, majestic and perilous, reaching straight into the clouds.
Zheng Yang led Yang Che to land on the massive Azure Stone Plaza at the peak.
The plaza was several hundred acres in size, surrounded by countless pavilions and towers, but eerily, it was silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
"Disciple Zheng Yang, the fifth from Sword Gate Hall, respectfully requests an audience with Zhang Shizu."
Zheng Yang, with his middle-aged appearance, was refined and gentle.
"Little Zheng Yang, if you can't give a suitable reason for coming here, this Old Man will kick you down the mountain."
An incredibly ancient voice of an Old Man, sounding quite displeased, came from a certain grand hall.
Zheng Yang said with extreme respect, "To be kicked down the mountain by Zhang Shizu, that would also be this Disciple's honor. Zhang Shizu, what do you think of this person beside me?"
"Not much. He's already over twenty, yet only at Qi Refining eleventh level. What's your intention in bringing him here? Don't tell me you want him to become my Disciple. Such a person cannot enter this Old Man's eye. If he's preparing to become a Disciple of my Fourth Peak, then don't waste your efforts."
The Old Man's voice was cold and very impolite. After speaking, he had already issued an eviction order.
"Qi Refining eleventh level?"
Zheng Yang looked at Yang Che, his face filled with confusion.
Yang Che, however, was inwardly shocked.
This Old Man was simply outrageous! He could actually see his true past cultivation level at a glance.
"Yang Che, what exactly happened? Did you conceal your cultivation?" Zheng Yang also became somewhat wary at this point.
Yang Che quickly waved his hand and immediately explained the reason to this Junior Martial Uncle.
He said that when he was at Qi Refining eleventh level, he was poisoned by a green poison, which caused his cultivation to continuously drop, and now he had only recovered to Qi Refining fifth level after re-cultivating.
"May I ask Zhang Shizu, is what this boy said true?" Zheng Yang dared not be careless; he had to confirm that what Yang Che said was true.
"Little Zheng Yang, this boy didn't lie. Hmph, if he had dared to utter a single lie just now, this Old Man would have already chopped off his head."
Although the Old Man's voice was still somewhat cold, it became a bit lazy. Yang Che shivered all over upon hearing it.
"Hurry up and leave. This Old Man needs to cultivate in peace."
The Old Man explicitly issued an eviction order.
Zheng Yang received a positive reply, and his wariness naturally dissipated. He suddenly smiled and said, "Zhang Shizu, then you Old Man must not regret it. It's not easy to encounter a Disciple with Mutated Dual Immortal Roots, and my Master immediately thought of you Old Man, so he specifically asked me to bring this boy here for you Old Man to take a look. Since you don't fancy him, I'll just have to take him away."
After Zheng Yang finished speaking, he even sighed regretfully, preparing to take Yang Che away.
At this moment, a ball of light suddenly flew out from a certain grand hall, transforming into the shape of a large foot, and directly kicked Zheng Yang on the butt, actually kicking Zheng Yang down the mountain. At the same time, Zheng Yang also received a voice transmission from Zhang Shizu, telling him to keep it strictly confidential.
Yang Che was dumbfounded.
He stood alone on the plaza, not knowing whether to leave or stay, momentarily caught in an awkward dilemma.
After a long time.
The ancient voice sounded again: "Why aren't you hurrying in here so this Old Man can take a good look? What are you doing standing there like a statue?"
Yang Che was startled and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes, I'm coming right away."
It seemed this Old Man had quite a bad temper.
Yang Che headed straight for the grand hall from which the voice had come.
Upon entering the grand hall, Yang Che immediately saw an Old Man with a youthful face and white hair sitting at the head of the hall.
The Old Man looked like an Immortal, ethereal and transcendent.
He had a golden wine gourd hanging from his waist, wore a gray-white long robe, and his face was clean-shaven, very neat and dashing.
"Senior... Grandmaster... Oh no, Old Ancestor, Disciple Yang Che pays his respects." Saying this, he immediately bowed respectfully with the etiquette of a Junior.
At this moment, Yang Che heard the Old Man curl his lips, saying somewhat disdainfully, "He really isn't much, quite ordinary-looking."