“What!” Wu Jia almost spat out the wine, his eyes bulging in shock.

Wang Kai smiled awkwardly as he continued explaining, “And now Ge Yifeng has been confined to the Cave of Silence for a full month.”

Wu Jia’s arm slumped down from the beautiful girl at his side and he placed it on his chin.

He squinted his eyes. “Just how is that possible? Did he use any kinds of tricks?”

“No, he just… beat him up. He had such thick skin that Ge Yifeng’s full power Ancestral Technique attack just ricocheted off him, and with just a few moves, he was defeated.”

Wu Jia blanked.

“Are you joking?”

“No.”

Suddenly, his face of surprise turned into a smirk.

“Hmph, there is no way for someone to gain heaven-defying strength overnight. He must’ve used a technique that sacrificed his lifespan or summoned a ghost to possess his body in exchange for his soul in the afterlife. Such forbidden techniques will leave him bedridden in just a few short months.”

Over a year ago, he had told Ge Yifeng to send out some people to rough Xing Yi up. And now a year later, he discovers that not only were they beat up, but so was Ge Yifeng!

There was a moment of silence as Wu Jia slung his arm back around the girl at his side. He proceeded to flirt with her, immediately forgetting the matter altogether. It was absolutely ridiculous, but Wu Jia didn’t feel threatened whatsoever. A mortal was always a mortal. No matter how strong he may get, he wouldn’t amount to anything.

Such a little bug posed him no threat whatsoever, regardless of whether or not he used forbidden techniques to gain strength in a short period of time.

----------------------------------------

A day later, Elder Yang, Xing Yi, and He Yazhu had arrived at a particular mountain. Upon it was a small palace. Green vines grew across its walls and its bright red tiles was like a long red dragon.

As soon as the three of them touched down, a loud hearty voice came from inside.

“Brother Yang! You look strangely happy for some reason! Has fellow brother encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity?”

Elder Yang had been smiling non-stop ever since he discovered his talent. His cheeks were a beat-red, several wrinkles forming at his eyes and cheeks.

“Hehe, Indeed!”

“Yi! We can discuss these matters inside then. Please come inside!”

A several-meter high arching door made out of white marble opened, allowing them entry inside.

With Xing Yi and He Yazhu at Elder Yang’s side, they arrived in a grand wooden hall. At the end of it was a raised plaza with a small stairway leading up to it at the front. On it was a low wooden table with silk cushions surrounding it.

Sitting upon two of them were two elderly men who were currently in the middle of what seemed like a boisterous and happy reunion.

Elder Yang pointed to two young men standing at attention in front of the plaza. “You two go over with them and wait. Don’t speak unless you are asked to.”

He Yazhu and Xing Yi nodded. They bowed before skittering away and joining them in line.

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Standing side by side with the other two people, he was able to get a better look of them. The closest to him was a tall, broad-shouldered young man with long-black hair and a calm expression on his face. His appearance instantly reminded him of someone.

It was Lou Zhou, the person who had been defeated by Wu Jia after an “accident” occurred.

Next to him was a handsome youth with short black hair. He had a gentle smile on his face, and his eyes reminded one of gentle ocean waves. They stood a meter apart from each other and silently eavesdropped into the conversation on the plaza.

For over an hour, the three elders smiled and laughed with each other over several matters until they finally got to the heart of the matter.

Elder Ye asked, “Brothers, the reason I have brought us together today is because I have noticed movement in the Western Forest.”

“Movement?” Elder Kun asked.

Elder Ye raised an eyebrow at this.

Xing Yi and the other three perked up when they heard this, listening intently.

Elder Ye nodded, “Yes, I have noticed that the Jialing Tribe have had erratic movement.”

The two elders gained interest.

“What of those half-bird, half-human scum?” Elder Kun asked.

“The Jialing Tribe inhabit a small, unnamed mountain range and has been their home for hundreds of years now. They are a weak tribe—only having a single member at core formation—but their human-like intellect and their lack of desire to take up territory beyond their small mountain range has allowed them to thrive for hundreds of years.”

“However recently, they have moved beyond their mountain range, which is something they have never done before. I haven’t done any investigating myself, but I suspect this is because a natural wind treasure has been born!”

The other elders were surprised.

“A natural born wind treasure? Such a thing couldn’t be any higher than grade-one. Otherwise, one of the Jialing would’ve absorbed it themselves. What is the point?” Elder Yang asked.

“Hehe, I do not gamble that the wind treasure is any higher than a grade-one at all Brother Yang, it would have no use on any of us, nor would it sell for a great amount. Our cultivation is too high for it to be of any use. But as for our disciples… that may not be the case. If they were to ever find themselves in a difficult situation, they could use it to fly away at speeds several times faster than any flying sword. They could protect themselves against a life-threatening attack with a barrier of wind, or split their enemy apart with a blade of wind.”

Elder Ye explained.

Hearing his explanation, the two other gained interest.

“Of course! This one was a fool for thinking that everything was about him! It is best to leave this for someone of the younger generation. Not only would this wind treasure act as a good reward, but it would allow them to experience the outside world and strengthen their martial spirit!”

“As one rises in cultivation, their martial spirit becomes more and more important to their progress. A strong martial spirit can be nurtured through life-and-death experiences in the outside world and strange encounters that test if they are worthy. Their qi will flow more naturally, and they will be in unison with the universe! Not just that, but they can break through crucial bottlenecks!” Elder Kun praised the idea, nodding.

At that last part, Elder Ye showed some slight pity and gave a sideways glance to Lou Zhou.

He sighed, “That would be best. This is also one of the reasons I also suggested the idea to Brother Kun. Your first disciple is quite pitiful to see like this. But I found out that-“

Suddenly, they switched to voice transmissions, causing the four disciples to be curious. Lou Zhou’s face however, darkened. Xing Yi was the only one to notice his hands scrunched up into tight balls.

A drop of red blood seeped from its grips, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

But the three elders’ voices soon returned and promptly called the four of them up.

When Xing Yi came up with them, Elder Kun and Elder Ye squinted their eyes in confusion. What was Xing Yi doing with Elder Yang. They held the question off until later and continued with their introductions.

“Introduce yourselves. Ye Hai, go first,” Elder Ye asked them.

“Yes!” The young man with short black hair took a step forward and bowed.

“Ye Hai pay his respects to esteemed elders! This disciple is seventeen years old and at the 7th layer of Vessel Cleansing! I practice talisman refining underneath Master Ye, and in the future, will take up my master’s stead!” Ye Hai said with enthusiasm.

He took a step back and the next person down the line came forward.

Following in the same fashion as Ye Hai but with less enthusiasm, He Yazhu introduced himself. “He Yazhu pays his respect to Elder Ye and Elder Kun! I am seventeen years old and at the 6th layer of Vessel Cleansing!”

Then came Lou Zhou.

“Lou Zhou, 8th layer of Vessel Cleansing, 18 years old. This humble disciple greets his wise elders.”

That was all.

At this short introduction, the elders felt almost insulted, but once they heard the final sentence, they were satisfied.

And then came Xing Yi.

“Greetings elder. This one’s name is Xing Yi. I am at the 9th layer of Meridian Cleansing of earthly cultivation and 14 years old. If I defeat Wu Jia, I am to become Elder Yang’s disciple!”

“What!” Elder Kun stood up from his seat in shock, unable to believe the words that the boy was spouting.

“Is this true?!” Elder Kun asked Elder Yang with wide eyes.