58: Chapter 30: Father’s First Appointment 58: Chapter 30: Father’s First Appointment Li Ping’an had just received his master’s orders when a patrolling disciple came to his door, delivering the commands from Miaoyun Hall.
“He is an inner sect disciple who meets the criteria, so he must participate in this grand competition,” the patrolling disciple said.
Li Ping’an gave the patrolling disciple two spirit stones and asked about some basic information concerning the competition.
Although patrolling disciples were mostly from the outer sect, they were all well-informed.
Knowing that Li Ping’an came from a profound background, the disciple was forthcoming with answers.
A moment later, Li Ping’an slumped back into his recliner, worrying for quite a while.
Disciples are the future of a sect, the nascent Golden Crows of the cultivation world in the East Continent.
Those who were chosen to follow the immortals of Wanyun Sect as inner sect disciples were all individuals with exceptional talents.
Simply put, even the least talented among the inner sect disciples were the pride of their respective villages and towns.
—The disciple who had once crossed hands with him and Ningning Mu was not among them.
That person was more like a servant disciple within Elixir Dust Peak.
If the number of disciples chosen for the inner sect from Flowing Cloud Observatory over the last two decades were to be counted, fewer than a hundred would have been admitted.
But in reality, there were over two hundred who would be participating in the competition, half of them celestial children and youths found by Wanyun Sect Immortals on their travels, bypassing the selection at Flowing Cloud Observatory altogether.
The cultivation progress of these two hundred plus disciples varied vastly.
Those who were given priority training by various peaks had been cultivating for over a decade and reached the Void Refinement Realm, and a very small number had just broken through to the early stages of the Merge True Realm;
Disciples who had been accepted less than ten years ago were all not lower than the Glowing Light Realm, mostly in the late phase of that realm.
Li Ping’an and Ningning Mu were considered among the batch with the shortest time since their initiation.
To address this situation, the sect had considered the issue, dividing the competition into three lists: heavenly, earthly, and human.
Those who had been disciples for more than ten years would participate in the heavenly list competition; those who had been disciples for five to ten years in the earthly list competition; and those who had been disciples for less than five years in the human list competition.
Those who placed in the top three of the human list could participate in the earthly list competition, and the top ten from the earthly list could enter the rankings of the heavenly list.
‘Priestess sister Ningning has quite high aspirations and a strong character; if she doesn’t even achieve a top-three position on the human list, I’m afraid it will impact her Dao heart,’ Li Ping’an thought, unintentionally considering more on behalf of Ningning Mu.
Moreover, in these three years, he’d had too few opportunities for magical combat, which was a hidden concern; he needed to find a few suitable opponents for some trial sparring to assess his level.
As for Ningning Mu, Li Ping’an actually had a way to ensure she could make it into the top three of the human list.
As Li Ping’an was considering his options, he suddenly became aware that his master’s aura was rapidly approaching.
He turned his head to look, and saw his master had changed into a faded, stand-collar long dress, her hair simply tied into a ponytail.
The upper part of the long dress had a fitted design that showcased the beautiful figure of a woman, and the lower part was a pleated skirt with thin, cloud silk trousers worn underneath.
This seemed to be the attire of an inner sect disciple in the Immortal Realm of the sect.
“Follow me,” Qing Su said, “I’ll teach you how to engage in magical combat.”
Li Ping’an stood and followed behind Qing Su, a sense of joy bubbling in his heart.
Now that he had a master, he no longer had to blunder through everything on his own.
The Sect Leader gently picked up a teacup and took a sip.
On this day of discussions, two out of the three Vice Sect Leaders had arrived, sitting in the stone chairs to the left and right of the Sect Leader.
Nine out of the eighteen inner sect elders responsible for deliberations had come, also seated to the left and right, prepared to discuss how the upcoming competition among the sect’s inner disciples should be conducted.
The competition for new inner sect disciples took place every twenty years; it was one of the rare lively events of the sect, and one of the few occasions that required a joint discussion by the Sect Leader and the inner sect elders.
The current Sect Leader of the Wanyun Sect had maintained a middle-aged appearance and spoke with a voice that was quite gentle and warm, bearing the aura of a modest gentleman.
The Sect Leader said with a smile, “For this competition of the newly accepted disciples, have the elders prepared a set of rules?”
A burly, old Heavenly Immortal called out in a booming voice:
“What rules do we need when things have always been done the same way?
Set up a platform and let the disciples spar with each other.
It’s a good opportunity for everyone to get together and have some fun, share some drinks, and chat.
It’s simply delightful!”
“There is one issue this time,” an elder Heavenly Immortal, meticulous about official business, said after pondering for a moment:
“Should Dazhi uncle, who is an apprentice to our sect’s founding ancestor and has only been initiated for three to five years, participate in this competition?”
An elder couldn’t help but laugh: “You want Dazhi uncle to compete with those youngsters?
Dazhi uncle is already a Yuan Immortal now.”
“Hiss— Dazhi uncle’s talent is terrifying indeed!
It’s only been three years, right?”
“Talent is one aspect, the guidance of the founding ancestor is more important.
Of course, his supreme talent and great fortune accompanying him also play significant roles.”
“Speaking of this great fortune, even my own bottleneck has shown slight signs of loosening.
If Dazhi uncle truly can influence the fate of our entire Wanyun Sect, then we all owe Dazhi uncle a tremendous favor!”
“You can’t talk like that; we are all family here, there’s no owing or not…
But it’s true that uncle Dazhi is rather interesting to be around.
When I drink and have fun with him, he’s always full of tricks,” another elder said.
Seeing the elders drifting off-topic, the Sect Leader cleared his throat and said with a smile:
“Elders, our agenda today is to determine the competition rules, so let’s discuss the official business first.”
Vice Sect Leader Moyi glanced toward a certain elder in the corner, who, after a few moments of contemplative humming and a thoughtful look, deliberately drew the attention of the surrounding elders.
Then, in a slow voice, the elder said:
“If Dazhi uncle doesn’t participate in the competition, would it not be against sect rules?
Would uncle Dazhi feel resentful?”
An elder Heavenly Immortal laughed, “Uncle Dazhi probably isn’t interested in sparring with a bunch of young people, right?”
The elder continued, “That may be true, but we should still invite uncle Dazhi.
In my humble opinion, why not create an additional Mixed Yuan List beyond the three lists of heaven, earth, and human?
Let the top ten or top five who excel in the heavenly list join the Mixed Yuan List, and uncle Dazhi can be part of this list, perhaps engaging in just one or two battles?”