“Disciple did not witness Wu Yuan conquering the Skystride Pavilion, and I am unaware of how Clan Elder Tian evaluated Wu Yuan,” Zhao Baifan began. “However, I sparred with Wu Yuan earlier, and I only have five words to describe him.”
“Which five words?” the black-robed elderly man curious asked.
“Prodigy blessed by the heavens,” Zhao Baifan uttered.
The old man lightly tapped his finger on the armrest, lost in contemplation. After a brief silence, he spoke softly, “Very well, I shall consult with Elder Huan.”
“Hall Master…” Zhao Baifan wanted to add something.
“Baifan,” the elderly man in the black robe sighed lightly, “Wu Yuan indeed possesses incredible talent, but The Rain Hierarch is currently absent from the sect. As for The Sword Hierarch? You know his personality.”
Zhao Baifan fell silent, understanding his words instantly.
The sect had two hierarchs. The fiery-tempered Rain Hierarch was known for her immense strength and deep concern for every member of the sect, often intervening in both minor and major matters.
And the Sword Hierarch? To put it nicely, he was fond of solitude. In blunt terms, one might call him apathetic. The sect leader, hall masters, and other members of the sect rarely saw him around.
“In that case, I must trouble you, Hall Master,” Zhao Baifan said politely.
The elderly man in the black robes smiled warmly. “It’s no trouble. We are truly lucky to have such a prodigy in our ranks. The entire sect should unite and do everything possible to foster his growth. You may leave now.”
“Yes.” Zhao Baifan swiftly exited the grand hall, leaving the old man alone in the hall.
“Unexpectedly, that youngster Gao Yu was right,” the old man murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. “After the defeat at Hillstride, Xu Hui’s talent blossomed brilliantly, and now Wu Yuan has joined our ranks. Haha, it seems the heavens are casting their favor upon our Cloudstride Sect.”
He disappeared from the main hall in the blink of an eye, devoid of any semblance of a man nearing 100 years of age.
Among the eight sides of Cloudhill, one was a lofty cliff face that stretched high into the sky, as if cleaved asunder by an unparalleled expert’s hand. Thus, it was aptly named Razor’s Edge Cliff!
Atop the cliff, a gargantuan cave rested. The area within a kilometer radius of this mountain cliff was a forbidden zone of the Cloudstride Sect, guarded meticulously by a dedicated group of soldiers. Ordinary disciples were forbidden to approach without explicit permission.
A figure in purple robes swiftly approached the cliff along the main path, finally halting in front of the last house perched on the edge.
He was obese, with the appearance of a 50-year-old. Several horizontal creases folded across his face, lending him an air of fierceness and intimidation, dissuading any notion of trifling with him.
“Sect Elder Huan,” the guards greeted, bowing respectfully.
“How is the hierarch faring lately?” queried the rotund elder in purple robes. His voice, surprisingly gentle, contradicted his menacing visage.
“Sect Elder Huan, the hierarch has been faring as per usual, only coming here every few days for food,” a soldier reported dutifully.
They were all familiar with the rotund man in purple. Despite his high rank, he was known to be affable and never condescending.
“Mm.” The rotund man in purple nodded in acknowledgment. “I shall pay the hierarch a visit.”
The soldiers bowed in response.
Whoosh! The rotund man in purple crossed several hundred meters in a few nimble leaps. Despite his hefty build, he was extremely agile, moving with ease along the steep cliff face. In just a few steps, he descended nearly a hundred meters down the cliff.
In a flash, he darted into the cave. The cave was incredibly vast, bearing signs of human excavation. One could only imagine the herculean effort required to carve such a structure into the cliff face.
“Father,” the rotund man in purple kneeled, his voice echoing throughout the cave, “Your son is here to see you and pay his respects. How have you been lately?”
His voice was loud and resonant, reverberating throughout the cave before being carried away by the wind.
For a moment, there was only silence. The man in purple robes couldn’t help but lift his head, only to realize with a start that at some point in time, a gaunt, middle-aged man was already standing behind him.
He was thin with a well-proportioned physique outlined under his white robe. At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary man without any martial training. However, his unusually large hands, unkempt appearance, and flowing beard painted him as anything but ordinary.
He emanated an air of eccentricity, while his tranquil gaze appeared capable of piercing through the dust of the mortal world.
If Wu Yuan were present, he would instantly conjure up a specific image in his mind—a Taoist priest! And not just any priest, but a genuine ascetic!
“Father.” The man in purple robes quickly rose to his feet, joyfully exclaiming, “Father, your cultivation seems to have improved considerably!”
“It’s only been half a year since we last met, your weight has swelled impressively too,” the middle-aged man in white robes responded drily.
The purple-robed man rubbed his head sheepishly.
“I’ve told you before. Eat less, live simply, and focus on cultivation. That will lead to longevity,” the white-robed man shook his head ever so slightly. “You’re almost twenty years younger than me, but just look at yourself! You’re a second-grade martial artist, yet after two decades of my tutelage, you’ve ended up cultivating a body of fat.”
“I fear I may be the one to send you off to the afterlife,” the man in white robes shook his head.
The man in purple robes laughed, “Father, fret not. I will go on a diet when I return.”
“Each time I reprimand you, you seem to derive pleasure from it,” the man in white robes walked to the cliff’s edge, peering down at the vast land below.
“I am over 70 but still have a father to chastise me. That is a great blessing, how can I not laugh?” The man in purple robes chuckled, “Each time I visit and see you in good health, Father, my worries are eased.”
“You rascal.” The man in white robes shook his head in amusement, “Speak then, what brings you to me this time?”
“I am here on behalf of a disciple.” The plump man in purple robes continued, “This disciple is named Wu Yuan, and he’s only fourteen…”
The purple-robed man narrated Wu Yuan’s general situation and handed over a stack of documents, “Please take a look, father.”
“At fourteen years and seven months, he completed level one of the Skystride Pavilion, breaking Grandmaster Fang Xia’s historical record?” The middle-aged man’s interest was piqued, and he quickly skimmed through the documents.
“Interesting, he must have opened his upper dantian lobe. If he cultivates diligently with unwavering persistence, there is a high probability of him becoming a Grandmaster.”
The white-robed man’s tone turned matter-of-fact, “Your management of the sect is commendable, you’ve even unearthed such a prodigy. Once he grows up, reclaiming the Hillstride Province will be within our grasp.”
“Thank you for your praise, father,” the purple-robed man replied. “However, we feel it may be difficult to properly educate such a prodigy. So, I would like to make a request. Father, would you be willing to personally mentor this child?”
“Are you suggesting that I take on a disciple?” The middle-aged man in a white robe grinned sardonically.
“Father, please understand.” The purple-robed man bowed his head, his heart filled with unease.
“I know you mean well, so I won’t hold it against you,” the middle-aged man sighed, his expression returning to normal. “Indeed, this Wu Yuan is a rare gem, but you know my disposition. I don’t take on disciples. If you weren’t my own son, I wouldn’t have taught you either.”
“Father.” The purple-robed man tried to persuade him.
“No need to persuade me.” The middle-aged man frowned, “You should know me by now. I wish to distance myself from the chaos of the world. My sole aspiration is to ascend the Heavenly Rankings and tread the path to immortality!”