https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-650-The-Bottomless-Pit-of-the-Dragon-Tiger-Fruit-Position/12947129/
Chapter 651: Taking Disciples on Behalf of the Master
Chapter 651: Taking Disciples on Behalf of the Master
"Ahem!"
Besides Ye Lan, two other Monster Slayers from Juyang Prefecture had returned.
Ye Jing's face was pale, obviously severely injured. Meng Xiwen, on the other hand, seemed unaffected, holding a toothpick in his mouth with a rather unpleasant expression.
The three of them stepped into the mansion, and Ye Lan performed a Messaging Spell.
Soon, a hunched figure emerged from the ground.
"You're back. How's the situation?"
Min Zhiyan, leaning on a cane, glanced at Ye Jing and secretly sighed in his heart.
This young girl had reached the realm of True Immortal, and she was personally cultivated by General Yanlan. Her abilities were commendable, and even she had been caught off guard, indicating that this matter was more serious than expected.
Ye Lan led the group into the courtyard and nodded at Shen Yi. Then, she spoke softly, "The Divine Dynasty is furious, but the Seven Treasures Bodhisattva was well-prepared and managed to escape back to the sect. The Monster Slayer Bureau of the Seventeenth Prefecture is cooperating with the court to control the spread of the Lotus Platform Technique, but with little success..."
Although Ye Jing couldn't reveal her identity as a member of the Monster Slayer Bureau, she was still acting in coordination with the court.
However, they encountered resistance and were even severely injured.
This could only mean that many of the cultivators and demons who listened to the Bodhisattva's sermon had already lost their rationality. Enticed by the path of the Sixth Stage Lotus Walker, they were willing to defy the court to bring this technique back to their sects or tribes.
"The signs of chaos are beginning to show." Min Zhiyan furrowed his brows.
"This is just the beginning." Meng Xiwen discarded the toothpick in his mouth, and his eyes turned cold. "After obtaining the Lotus Platform Technique, do you think they'll calmly face their physical tribulations?"
It's not that the Divine Dynasty is petty. As long as the immortal sects and major teachings recruit disciples through normal channels, imparting techniques and guiding them on the path, the court has never interfered.
However, ever since cultivators discovered the path of Heart Tribulation, any cultivation technique above the Seventh Stage inherently shakes the foundation of the Divine Dynasty.
Fortunately, those who possess these techniques are mostly members of the Three Teachings or have close ties to them, and their numbers are scarce. Thus, the court has turned a blind eye.
But this time, the Seven Treasures Bodhisattva's abrupt action caught everyone off guard.
"Within a few months, there will likely be rampant worship and shrines everywhere."
Whether it's the Tri-Immortal Sect or the Bodhimanda Sect, the disciples within the teachings must follow a certain procedure to obtain Imperial Qi, serving the people of the Divine Continent and earning their cultivation in return.
However, those unrestrained wandering cultivators and even demons who obtain this treasure technique might not be so concerned about maintaining face when seizing Imperial Qi.
With such a large number of people, there will inevitably be some lucky ones who successfully reach the realm of the Sixth Stage Lotus Walker.
And at this level, what they aspire for is the Dharmic Fruit and the Great Sutra.
The Bodhimanda Sect doesn't need to exert any effort; they will spontaneously gain a large number of "disciples" who offer themselves. As a consequence, it is nearly impossible for the Divine Dynasty to maintain this peaceful era.
"What does the Immortal Court say about this? Are they just going to watch the Bodhimanda Sect run amok?" Meng Xiwen glanced at Min Zhiyan.
"The Immortal Court..." Min Zhiyan let out a bitter laugh and shook his head slightly. "If the Immortal Court wanted to intervene, the Seven Treasures Bodhisattva wouldn't have had the chance to reach He Shan."
This was precisely what puzzled the Earth God the most. The Immortal Court and the Divine Dynasty jointly governed the mortal world, so why would they allow such chaos?
"..."
Ye Lan's eyes flickered, clearly knowing something, but she didn't elaborate.
The matters between the Divine Dynasty and the Immortal Court were far removed from their concerns. For now, the more pressing issue was the trouble at hand.
They must act quickly, while the Bodhimanda Sect was still negotiating with the court, to cover up the matter of the Arhat Dharmic Fruit.
She walked slowly towards Shen Yi, "I'll have Meng Xiwen take care of Juyang Prefecture for now. If you have no other matters to attend to, come with me."
"Okay."
Shen Yi quietly listened to their conversation without interrupting.
Having experienced several major upheavals, he understood that in such a situation, the only effective way to protect oneself was to enhance one's strength.
"Tsk, tsk."
Meng Xiwen gently patted Shen Yi's shoulder and winked at him. This kid, the last time he pretended to be uninterested, and now, after just one trip, he has caught Ye Lan's attention.
Not bad at all.
Thinking of this, Meng Xiwen whispered, "With a little more effort, you can reach the Great Void..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Ye Lan glared at him with a frown.
General Yanlan was currently worried that Shen Yi might misunderstand something, thinking he had truly joined Shenvu Senior Ancestor's sect. In her current state, she wasn't qualified to impart any Dao Fruit to him.
"Let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll return."
Ye Lan didn't say more and directly led Shen Yi and Ye Jing out of the mansion.
The path of cultivation has always been one of freedom, akin to the untamed spirit of wild cranes and clouds.
Only sects like the Jade Dragon Sect or the White Cloud Cave, which rely on the protection of the Divine Dynasty, would place their disciples within the jurisdiction of the imperial court.
True cultivators shun constraints and prefer solitude, often establishing their abodes in remote mountains or vast seas.
Divine Void Mountain is located in the seas beyond the southern continent.
Surrounding the main peak are over three hundred smaller peaks, stretching as far as the eye can see. It resembles a grand formation crafted by heaven and earth, filled with ethereal immortal energy that rivals even the Heavenly Court.
Among the three hundred peaks, eight stand tallest, encircling the main peak.
It is only when one truly travels across mountains and seas, covering vast distances like traversing the Divine Continent, that the disparity in cultivation levels becomes glaringly apparent.
Ye Lan strides atop a sword's glow, embodying the saying, "Roaming the Northern Sea in the morning, and Cangwu in the evening."
Even with Ye Jing in tow, a Seventh Stage True Immortal like Shen Yi could never catch up to her.
Of course, Shen Yi could manifest a Fifth Stage Arhat Golden Body and travel on foot, ensuring he wouldn't be a burden, if not catching up to Ye Lan.
But that would draw too much attention, especially with a borrowed Dharmic Fruit position; it would be akin to seeking death.
Thus, the trio spent a full two months just traveling.
"Once we arrive, try to speak as little as possible and endure," Ye Lan instructed.
As Ye Lan gazed down at the numerous peaks below, her eyes momentarily held a hint of sorrow when they fell upon the fifth peak.
Divine Void Mountain had eight second-generation disciples under the Shenvu Senior Ancestor, each establishing their own lineage to carry on the heritage.
Currently, the fifth lineage still exists, but the founding master of that lineage has passed away, leaving behind only a single third-generation disciple. Thus, this disciple is addressed as Master Ye Lan.
"..."
Shen Yi nodded slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
If he recalled correctly, Ye Lan had once mentioned that her lineage was almost extinct.
Yet, the peak they were approaching was bustling with numerous disciples, their flowing lights creating a lively atmosphere.
The air was filled with the fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs, a delightful scent.
Ye Lan, accompanied by the other two, slowly descended and landed at the mountain's waist, feeling oddly out of place, like an outsider.
With a cold demeanor, she walked straight ahead without glancing sideways.
An elder cultivator, momentarily startled by their presence, eventually stopped and bowed, "Senior Sister Ye has returned."
Ye Lan merely nodded slightly and continued on her way.
"These are people from the sixth peak. Our lineage specializes in alchemy, but after the incident, the sixth peak's master sent people to take over this peak, including the alchemy and heavenly materials..."
Ye Jing, following quietly, whispered an explanation to Senior Uncle Shen Yi.
"Understood."
Shen Yi, also following Ye Lan, noticed the increasing stares from the disciples, prompting him to raise an eyebrow.
No wonder the elder cultivator had reacted with such an expression; they had clearly been taken advantage of.
It was hard to say how much influence Ye Lan still held in this lineage.
By the time the trio reached the small courtyard at the peak, news of their return had spread to several nearby peaks.
"Come in," Ye Lan said, pushing open the courtyard door, her cold demeanor softening slightly.
But upon seeing the ground devoid of fallen leaves, indicating regular cleaning, and the hot tea on the stone table with nearly tangible spiritual mist hovering above, her grip tightened.
The fifth peak had been taken over, and even this small remaining courtyard was occupied by others.
The furnishings, once familiar, had been altered beyond recognition.
"Huff—"
Ye Lan regulated her breathing, slowly releasing her grip, and stepped into the inner chamber.
Seeing the small statue of the founding master on the offering altar, her eyes turned cold.
"Senior Sister Ye, why didn't you inform us of your return beforehand?"
A disheveled yet handsome youth rushed in, leaning against the doorframe with a smile, "We, the disciples of the sixth peak, have been managing this place in your absence. Assuming you rarely return, we replaced the statue to facilitate our veneration of the founding master."
"There's truly no other reason, and Senior Sister shouldn't mind, right?"
"..."
Under the youth's gaze, Ye Lan remained unmoved, reaching out to take the statue and casually tossing it at the youth's feet.
Thud.
The statue rolled around, startling the youth, "Senior Sister! That's your senior uncle, you're being too disrespectful..."
Before he could finish, Ye Lan's cold voice interrupted him.
"Take your father and get out of here."
Ye Lan waved her hand with a hint of disdain, using her spiritual light to clean the offering altar.
She bent down and retrieved a dusty middle-aged man's statue from the corner beneath the altar. She carefully wiped it several times with her plain white sleeves and then solemnly placed it in the center of the altar.
Finally, she pinched a few half-burned incense sticks on the altar and lit new ones, inserting them into the incense burner with precision.
After completing these tasks, she slowly turned around, not even bothering to glance at the youth, and said to Shen Yi, "I have already sent messages to the other peaks. When the time comes, I will officially accept you as my disciple."
Technically, a third-generation disciple accepting an apprentice shouldn't be such a complicated affair.
But Ye Lan was different. Although she was a third-generation disciple within Shenxu Mountain, she held the position of Peak Master, equal in status to the other seven second-generation disciples.
As she spoke, several powerful auras suddenly enveloped the courtyard.
Even Shen Yi, who had personally experienced the fifth-rank fruit position, felt a sense of awe at their strength.
The next moment, three figures with immortal airs quietly descended into the courtyard. There was a black-bearded middle-aged man, an elderly man with a childlike face, and finally, a charming middle-aged woman.
Seven letters had been sent out, but only three people had arrived, and among them was not the man from the statue.
"Senior Masters, please take a look!"
The disheveled youth, frustrated and angry, pointed at the statue at his feet. He had been too scared to speak before, but now he almost spat out his words, recounting the previous events with a sense of grievance.
"Lan'er!" The black-bearded middle-aged man was the Peak Master of the Third Peak. His expression was stern as he said in a deep voice, "Muyang is your Senior Uncle. Even if you are dissatisfied, how could you be so disrespectful to your elders?"
In response to the black-bearded man's questioning, Ye Lan neither defended herself nor asked for someone to mediate. She simply said, "Senior Master Qianfeng, please call me Peak Master Ye."
This simple statement caused Qianfeng Daoist's face to freeze slightly. His outstretched finger curled inward, and he waved his sleeve angrily, "Fine, fine, Peak Master Ye, it seems I'm the one who doesn't know when to stop."
The other two Peak Masters exchanged glances but didn't intervene.
Ye Lan had already assumed the demeanor of a Peak Master, no longer considering herself a junior. With such a rigid attitude, it would be pointless to argue further.
Shen Yi silently observed the scene before him. As an outsider, he could only stand by like Ye Jing, quietly watching.
However, many things had become clear.
Although Qianfeng Daoist had come to reprimand Ye Lan, his presence here likely indicated that he was one of the more neutral Peak Masters among them.
As for the others who didn't show up, they probably didn't take Ye Lan seriously at all.
"The time has come."
Ye Lan showed no emotion throughout, as if she were simply following a procedure. Whether those people came or not was of no importance to her.
"Come here."
She pointed to the spot behind her.
After Shen Yi stood in place, Ye Lan turned to face the statue and lifted her skirt, kneeling directly on the ground. "Today, Ye Lan, as the Peak Master of the Fifth Peak, accepts a disciple on behalf of my master. I accept Shen Yi as a third-generation disciple under the Senior Ancestor of Shenxu Mountain. From this day forward, we are fellow disciples, and we will never abandon each other, even in life or death!"
When she finished speaking, she bowed respectfully towards the statue of the Senior Ancestor.
As she stood up, her expression returned to its usual indifference, and she turned to see the guests out.
The three Peak Masters had complex expressions on their faces as they simultaneously glanced at the black-robed youth.
The Fifth Peak had long been in name only, and Ye Lan, the only remaining member, had distanced herself from Shenxu Mountain due to a past incident. She had been traveling outside for many years, and no one knew what she had been up to.
Now that she had finally returned, it was to accept a disciple on behalf of her master.
Could it be that she intended to revive the Fifth Peak? After so many years, this girl's thoughts seemed rather naive. The resources of the Fifth Peak had long been firmly controlled by Junior Uncle Muyang, and it wouldn't be easy to take them back.
The title of Peak Master alone was far from sufficient.
The disheveled youth stood outside the door, holding the statue, his whole body in a state of shock.
He wasn't the Peak Master and hadn't received any messages. He had no idea why Ye Lan had returned.
Accept a disciple?
For whom? The Fifth Peak? Where is the Fifth Peak now? At this thought, his eyelids twitched, and he glared at the black-robed youth with a hostile expression. Then, he turned and headed towards the Sixth Peak.
He had worked hard to become a half-Peak Master, and he couldn't let this despicable woman cause any more trouble!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
