Chapter 2708 Joining the Ninth Peak

Before the Central Dao Palace, when Fang Daoping and the others arrived, all eyes turned toward them and quickly settled on Lin Xun. The atmosphere shifted subtly. Lin Xun sensed the change but remained unbothered.

“Everyone,” Fang Daoping said calmly, “these fourteen individuals have passed the assessment and become successors of our Origin Sect. I’m sure you’re all aware of this already. We will now begin the disciple recruitment ceremony. From among the Nine Peaks, you may choose any successor you wish and state your terms, but the final choice rests with the successors themselves.”

This was the long-established rule for taking disciples.

“Zhou Zhizhi, if you join the First Peak, I promise that within ten years you will become a core disciple and receive the resources to pursue immortality!” Yue Wuchou, master of the First Peak, spoke up without hesitation.

“Dugu Youran, the Sixth Peak has been waiting for you.”

“Qi Qingshi, Donghuang Shaowen, Mu Zunwu...the three of you are welcome in my Fourth Peak.”

Voices rang out in quick succession as the masters of the nine peaks extended offers, each setting out their own terms. The scene grew lively. Several invitations were also extended to Lin Xun, including from Yun Tianming of the Second Peak, Nan Bohong of the Third, and Mu Yunzhen of the Fourth.

On the surface, they were eager to take in such a dazzling supreme Emperor Ancestor, but what truly lay behind their smiles was known only to themselves.

Lin Xun took it all in quietly, without saying a word. He had already learned from Xiao Wenyuan that his arrival had stirred great discord within the Origin Sect. Even among these nine peaks, there were no doubt quite a few harbouring ulterior motives.

Thus, he chose not to respond to these invitations right away. Before long, after some contest, Zhou Zhizhi agreed to cultivate at the First Peak, bringing a broad smile to Yue Wuchou’s face.

Soon after, Dugu Youran accepted the Sixth Peak’s invitation. The Sixth Peak’s master, Wen Dongmian was the only woman among the nine peak masters. She was a gentle and dignified figure.

When she saw Dugu Youran accept, she couldn’t help but smile. After all, Dugu Youran’s granduncle was Dugu Yong, one of the deputy pavilion masters of the Origin Emptiness Pavilion.

The Origin Emptiness Pavilion oversaw the transmission of cultivation arts and safeguarded the sect’s inheritances. Its status was akin to that of a scripture repository. Having Dugu Youran join was a stroke of good fortune for the Sixth Peak.

Xiang Xiaoyuan joined the Seventh Peak. Many revealed expressions of mild surprise at the sight. These old foxes were anything but naive. They had long investigated Xiang Xiaoyuan’s background and they knew that she came from the Liuxiang Clan and possessed no other illustrious lineage.

Moreover, among the fourteen successors, her assessment results ranked in the lower-middle tier. These facts were hardly enough to raise any eyebrows. However,from the first round of assessment, it was clear to everyone that she and Lin Xun shared a close bond and were likely good friends. In addition, with such ties to Lin Xun, it naturally changed everything.

As a result, even an important figure like Yue Wuchou, the First Peak Master who had no wish to be caught up in Lin Xun’s affairs, had never even considered taking Xiang Xiaoyuan in.

However, who would have thought the Seventh Peak Master extended her an invitation! It was an intriguing move, enough to make Lin Xun pause and remember the Seventh Peak Master’s name: Tian Wucuo.

Soon after, the other successors made their choices one after another. For example Donghuang Shaowen and Mu Zunwu both joined the Fourth Peak. Qi Qingshi entered the Third Peak. Zhongli Feiyun entered the Second Peak.

In the end, only Lin Xun remained. All eyes turned toward him, each gaze carrying a different expression, all anticipating his decision.

“If you don’t know how to choose, I’ll help you.” At that moment, Fang Daoping suddenly spoke out.

His words made the expressions of many important figures shift subtly. Fang Daoping was the Deputy Pavilion Master of Origin Clarity Pavilion, what stance would he take now?

“Thank you for your kindness, Elder. I have already made my decision. I plan to go to the Ninth Peak,” Lin Xun replied.

His answer stunned everyone. Even the Ninth Peak Master, Qin Wuyu, froze in surprise. He hadn’t extended an invitation to Lin Xun throughout this entire time! What was going on?

However, Fang Daoping didn’t seem the least bit surprised. He turned to Qin Wuyu with a smile. “Congratulations, Peak Master Qin. With Lin Xun joining the Ninth Peak, its future ranking will surely improve greatly.”

The expressions in the hall grew rather peculiar. The corners of Qin Wuyu’s lips twitched before he forced out a hearty laugh. “It is a great honor for me, and a blessing for the Ninth Peak, to have young friend Lin Xun join us!”

Of course, it was plain to everyone that his words were spoken with reluctance. Even Lin Xun could tell that Qin Wuyu’s smile wasn’t sincere...

“It’s settled then,” Fang Daoping declared. “Three days from now, I will deliver the sect tokens of these fourteen people to each of the nine peaks. From today onward, these disciples will share in your glory...and your losses.”

The gathered leaders all gave slight nods. Then, each departed with their new successors.

“Let’s go.” Qin Wuyu cast Lin Xun a glance, let out a light sigh, and waved his sleeve. An auspicious cloud rose beneath them, carrying both away until they vanished from sight.

After watching them leave, Fang Daoping turned and walked alone into the Central Dao Palace. Inside, two figures sat cross-legged. One was a haggard, bony man clad in coarse sackcloth. He was Tang Qiu, a Deputy Pavilion Master of the Origin Clarity Pavilion.

The other one was rotund like a perfectly round ball, sitting there like a small hill of flesh. He was Yu Xing, another Deputy Pavilion Master of the Origin Clarity Pavilion.

Tang Qiu and Yu Xing, together with Fang Daoping, were the three Deputy Pavilion Masters of the Origin Clarity Pavilion.

In the years since the Pavilion Master, You Beihai, entered closed-door cultivation, the three had overseen all matters of the Origin Clarity Pavilion.

“Has the recruitment of successors been completed?” Seeing Fang Daoping come in, Yu Xing asked with a smile. His plump face was creased with squinting eyes, radiating an air of affable kindness.

Fang Daoping gave a brief nod, then turned his gaze toward Tang Qiu. “Pavilion Master Tang, were you the one who assigned the jade talisman that Li Zhongyuan carried during the second round of assessment?”

The thin and gaunt Tang Qiu slowly opened his eyes, his face expressionless. “Is there a problem?”

“Whether there’s a problem or not, you know better than anyone.” Fang Daoping, normally aloof and calm like drifting clouds, now spoke with unmistakable force. “In fact, Deputy Pavilion Master Tang, you should count yourself lucky that Lin Xun wasn’t eliminated this time. If the Origin Sky Pavilion who enforces the sect’s laws had decided to investigate, I’m afraid the consequences would have been dire.”

Tang Qiu’s brow furrowed, his gaze turning cold. “I have always acted in accordance with the rules and never done anything disgraceful. Why should I fear the Origin Sky Pavilion’s investigation?”

“Alright, alright, that’s enough. The assessment is over, what’s the point in arguing now?” Yu Xing said with a smile, stepping in to defuse the tension.

However, Fang Daoping stated evenly, “I could choose not to pursue this matter, but that battle has left Li Zhongyuan’s state of mind fractured. He is among the top ten supreme Emperor Ancestors of the nine peaks. As far back as hundreds of years ago, he already possessed the aptitude to prove the dao and attain immortality. Yet now, he has suffered such a calamity during the assessment. I fear...certain people will find it hard to let this pass without assigning blame.”

Tang Qiu responded coldly, “Is that so? Deputy Pavilion Master Fang, you were the one in charge of this assessment. Now that something like this has happened, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay out of it.”

At that moment, a clear voice sounded from outside the Central Dao Palace, “Deputy Pavilion Masters, word has come from the Origin Clarity Mountain. Pavilion Master You has invited the three of you to meet him."

Pavilion Master You!

It could only be You Beihei, the master of Origin Clarity Pavilion who had been in closed-door cultivation for years!

Fang Daoping, Tang Qiu, and Yu Xing were all visibly taken aback. Could this assessment have actually alarmed the pavilion master, forcing him to end his seclusion?

Without hesitation, the three immediately set off.

......

The Ninth Peak, also known as Lotus Peak, was located in the northwest of the Origin World. Like a lotus platform rising to the heavens, it exuded an air of elegance and spiritual vitality. Auspicious clouds carried Qin Wuyu and Lin Xun all the way to the Ninth Peak.

The peak master remained silent throughout the journey. His features were plain, the wrinkles between his brows forming the shape of the character ‘川’. His skin was dark and he wore a simple cloth robe. His entire appearance was unremarkable.

However, this inconspicuous man was a Nirvana Spirit Immortal! When the Ninth Peak came into view, Qin Wuyu hesitated, then came to a stop. “Lin Xun, since you are now a successor of the Ninth Peak, there are some things you should know in advance.”

Lin Xun bowed. “Please instruct me, Peak Master.”

Qin Wuyu said, “You are no ordinary disciple. I won’t hide this from you... Like Yue Wuchou, the master of the First Peak, I had no wish to be dragged into trouble. In truth, I was inwardly opposed to your arrival.”

Lin Xun was silent for a moment before saying, “In other words...I’ve put you in a difficult position, Peak Master.”

Qin Wuyu gave a faint sigh. “Not exactly difficult, but rather...a bit tricky.”

Immediately, he shook his head. “But there’s no point dwelling on it now. Since you are here and now a successor of the Ninth Peak, I will treat you as one of my own. As long as you don’t violate the sect’s rules, no matter what happens, I will stand behind you. But if you break those rules, I will not be able to shield you.”

His words were direct, candid and left no room for misunderstanding.

Lin Xun found himself warming to him because of this. He said in a serious voice, “I will remember your guidance, Peak Master. Please rest assured.”

Qin Wuyu nodded, said no more, and led Lin Xun straight to the Ninth Peak. This mountain was a place of breathtaking beauty and divine elegance, like a treasured land of the immortals.

Rolling seas of clouds surged, suffused with myriads of divine rays, while the dense and majestic essence of primordial chaos drifted over the lotus-shaped Ninth Peak, bathing it in resplendent light.

From a distance, the sight left Lin Xun awestruck. He recalled the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land, home of the Zhuang Clan. He had also been awestruck by its beauty, but compared with the Ninth Peak, it was nothing.

This was the Ninth Peak! Furthermore, it was just one of many wondrous sites within the Origin World! From this alone, one could see the depth and transcendent might of the Origin Sect, one of the Four Great Ancestral Courts.

No wonder even the Ten Immortal Giants of the Eighth Heaven Domain treated it with reverence! When Qin Wuyu and Lin Xun arrived at the summit, many figures were already waiting.

Everyone from the Ninth Peak had gathered, including true disciples, core disciples, and a host of elders. They had clearly been waiting for some time.

“Lin Xun?!”

“It’s him?”

The moment they saw that the successor Qin Wuyu had brought back was Lin Xun, a wave of surprise swept through the crowd.