Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Too Talkative

The nights on Chang Baifeng are very cold. Although there isn’t any accumulated snow, the mountain winds howl. If one walks outside, they’ll instinctively tighten their robes, as if their faces are being scraped by knives.

Yet despite the chill of the night wind, aside from Chang Baifeng’s own people, most of those who came to observe the ceremony did not choose to rest. Everyone here is a cultivator. Those with higher cultivation have even reached the Profound Sea, most are in the Primordial Pill Realm, and those in the Gathering Spirit Realm are all the new disciples brought by various sects to join in the excitement. Not sleeping for a night is no issue at all.

This is a rare opportunity; gathering together to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones, and their cultivation gatherings never cease, even for a night.

However, beginning at dusk, nearly every cultivation gathering would intentionally or unintentionally mention the word "enlightenment." No matter their cultivation, everyone knows about this rare shortcut in cultivation. There was envy, jealousy, and curiosity—each in its own measure—but one name was remembered by all: Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, Shen Hao.

"I’m really curious about just what that Named Disciple from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute comprehended during that enlightenment."

"A Named Disciple? Tsk tsk, after experiencing enlightenment even once, one’s cultivation potential leaps forward by a great margin. I’d say advancing to the Middle Stage of the Primordial Core Realm shouldn’t be much of a problem for him, right? When he returns, he’ll surely be able to remove the ’Named’ status. Maybe he could even become an inner disciple under one of the sect’s experts."

"Speaking of which, Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute really is quite lucky. Back then, they recruited that genius Nie Yun, and now even bringing a Named Disciple along for some fun results in another enlightenment occurring. Isn’t this what they call the luck of a sect?"

"Hahaha, Brother Zhang, you are truly someone deeply versed in Divination Skill, so such thoughts are perfectly normal. But for my part, I don’t really believe in luck. It’s too vague—better to rely on human effort conquering the heavens."

"All right, all right, let’s not wander off topic. I’m planning to take advantage of the darkness to go try my luck at the Sword Washing Pool. Would any of you like to join me?"

"Join you? The Sword Washing Pool has already been sealed off by Chang Baifeng. No one is allowed in. They said there was an incident earlier; the carvings on the mountain wall have cracks, so they’re worried about potential accidents. Even if you want to go now, you can’t."

"Not necessarily. I just heard that Fairy Qing Wan of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Books is still in the Sword Washing Pool, comprehending Sword Intent, and she hasn’t been driven away by the people of Chang Baifeng. So you see, the face of a Super Sect is truly far greater."

"Brother Zhang, mind your words! Chang Baifeng had ancestors who once studied at the Mountain of Ten Thousand Books and share deep ties with them. Furthermore, Fairy Qing Wan was already inside the Sword Washing Pool waiting, so showing a little leniency is only reasonable, no?"

"... Brother Li, are you really that fond of Fairy Qing Wan? Don’t forget the rumors from the Sword Washing Pool—not long ago, the word was that Fairy Qing Wan reveres the strong above all. Brother Li, do you consider yourself a strong person?"

"Brother Zhang, I’m simply speaking objectively. What does it have to do with Fairy Qing Wan? It would be best not to slander the name of the Fairy!"

"Tsk tsk, forget it. Suit yourself."

A small cultivation gathering like this was just a microcosm of the many gatherings beneath the night and wind. Some people resented the arrogance of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Books, while others were displeased with Chang Baifeng’s blatant favoritism.

On the other hand, there were those doing their utmost to defend the reputation of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Books and Fairy Qing Wan, and who idolized this mighty sect of the present age.

The ceaseless gossip was not limited to cultivators of mid to low cultivation; it was the same among High-Tier Cultivators.

As the host, Chang Baifeng naturally had a finger on the pulse of all news—on one hand sending people to inspect the damage at the Sword Washing Pool, and on the other, verifying again whether the pool was still suitable to be opened to guests as a benefit. At the same time, they were discussing related topics internally.

"He’s just a Named Disciple, hasn’t officially taken a master. Can we poach him over? Otherwise, would we really allow Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute to benefit for nothing?"

"That Shen Hao is less than thirty years old, at Gathering Spirit Fourth Layer. Not bad, but quite average. But after this enlightenment, his Intent and cultivation potential must have been greatly developed. In the future, at the very least, he can reach the Middle Stage or even Late Stage of the Primordial Core Realm."

"That’s not all. That kid stayed in enlightenment for a full three hours! Have any of you ever heard of such a long enlightenment? His Soul Strength, thickness of Sea of Consciousness, even potential, are absolutely far from simple. I believe there’s a chance this kid’s future achievements won’t stop at just the Primordial Pill. I support at least trying to recruit him."

"Easy for you to say—recruit? How? Even if he’s just a Named Disciple, he still belongs to Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute. Shouldn’t we consider how they might feel? They may seem gentle most of the time and are much easier to deal with than the Celestial Toad Sect, but don’t forget the war years ago. In their bones, Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute is even more ruthless than the Celestial Toad Sect."

"I still support testing the waters first. If it works, all the better; the pressure from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute shouldn’t really crush us. If it doesn’t, we lose nothing."

"Then let’s move quickly. Senior Sister Xu, among us you seem the most approachable, and your temperament is far better than ours. This matter of probing Shen falls to you."

"Hmph, I knew this was coming."

Everyone present was a High-Tier Cultivator from Chang Baifeng. All the Elders were there. The one assigned this task was none other than Chang Baifeng’s Great Elder Xu Lingyan, who had recently gone to greet Yu Ao Feng.

Having the sect’s Great Elder personally test a mere Gathering Spirit Realm Junior Cultivator—this alone was enough to show just how highly Chang Baifeng regarded Shen Hao, this suddenly "enlightened" "Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute Named Disciple."

In truth, Chang Baifeng was not the only sect with this idea.

They were all second and third-tier sects, where even those at Late-stage Primordial Core Realm could become Elders. Now, in theory, Shen Hao already had the potential to reach the Primordial Pill Realm, and at least the Middle Stage. As for his upper limit, no one dared to speak with certainty.

However, there were those whose attention was not limited to this recent enlightenment.

On the main peak of Chang Baifeng, inside a secluded courtyard, Zhang Lin stood stiffly with his hands at his sides, facing upward toward the seated, short and portly, grim-faced Yu Ao Feng.

Ever since his most favored descendant, Yu Family’s great-grandson Yu Shengjue, had died unexpectedly, Yu Ao Feng’s mood had been foul. Combined with his notorious temper, even peers in the sect did not dare speak unnecessarily in his presence, much less someone like the junior disciple Zhang Lin, who had to tread very carefully for fear of offending.

"Is that Shen Hao really a Named Disciple of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, under Old Tree Peak?"

"Judging by the token Shen Hao carries and by Nie Yun’s word, he is indeed under Old Tree Peak of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, as a Named Disciple."

"There has never been any case of a sect letting their disciple go serve as an official in the mundane world. This concerns the balance between the sect and the Jingjiu Dynasty. Who would dare to break it lightly? Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute has always been stifled and old-fashioned—they would never do anything so conspicuous."

"So you mean Shen Hao isn’t really from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute? His identity is fake?"

"And besides, Nie Yun is known for being flighty within the sect. It’s not impossible for him to fabricate a ’fake identity’ for someone."