klisemfg Chapter 1897
Chapter 1897
The two took out their personal disciple tokens, which were engraved with intricate grotto-heaven runes. When they touched the barrier array, the light membrane rippled instantly, and the runes flowed across the membrane like stars. As they passed through, they carried a trace of cool spiritual energy, like a gentle rain.
The atmosphere changed drastically the moment one stepped into the third grotto-heaven. Although it was also a blessed land for cultivation, the number of core disciples was dozens of times that of the personal disciples, and each core disciple's territory was only a thousand miles in radius—small buildings with green tiles were squeezed among the rolling mountains, and the most extravagant ones occupied no more than half a mountain. The richness of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was also far inferior to that of the second grotto-heaven world.
Yu'er and her new disciples arrived late, and the truly beautiful and spiritually rich areas in the Third Grotto-Heaven had already been completely occupied by the older disciples.
When Chen Xuan followed the fluctuations of spiritual energy to find Yu'er's cave, he indeed saw that the patterns of the spirit-gathering array outside the cave were dim, and the spiritual energy was stagnant as if it had been covered with a thin layer of ice.
Zi Mo's cultivation place is even more remote, hidden deep in a mixed forest. Compared to the previous environment of the Northern Underworld Immortal Mansion, this place is even worse.
“The competition among core disciples is always this fierce,” Qiu Zixian said softly, her gaze sweeping over the disciples vying for spirit herbs in the distance. “If they find the resources lacking, they can challenge senior disciples every year and make a bet to seize territory—the sect has always tacitly approved of this.”
People at different levels naturally receive different treatment.
Chen Xuan and his companion walked side by side, the jade pendant of the personal disciple at their waist gleaming with a bright white light, attracting many senior disciples to stop and watch.
When someone recognized them as disciples who had become personal disciples at the "Reverse Void Realm", the disciples who had been casually leaning against the tree trunks quickly straightened up and stood by the roadside with their hands down.
The dark-faced disciple who had threatened to rob Yu'er's spirit mine yesterday was now huddled behind the crowd, sweat beading on his forehead, not even daring to look up—a disciple who had reached the Void Reversal Realm was a talent that only four people had produced in the entire sect across dozens of generations; how could they possibly provoke him?
Not to mention, the older disciples who had previously tried to suppress Yu'er were now trembling with fear upon learning that Yu'er's backers were two of her personal disciples.
It's incredibly easy for a direct disciple to control a core disciple—the trials in secret realms and lands of fallen gods are always led by direct disciples. If someone offends someone, they're either not qualified to participate, or if they do go, they'll only be able to do the most dangerous tasks and won't even get a taste of the spoils.
Although sect rules forbid personal disciples from killing formal disciples at will, the suppression of their status is enough to make it difficult for them to make progress on the path of cultivation.
When Chen Xuan led Qiu Zixian out of Yu'er's cave, more than ten senior disciples had already gathered around to pay their respects, their tone so respectful it was almost humble.
He merely nodded slightly, flicked his finger, and a pale golden light enveloped Yu'er and the other seven. With a swift movement, he teleported away with them—the moment the light flashed, even the spiritual energy in the air rippled.
Only after their figures had completely disappeared did the core disciples who had gathered in place dare to whisper among themselves.
Huang Daoji squeezed to the front of the crowd, and seeing the awe on their faces, he couldn't help but smile, twisting his sleeve.
"Do you know who those junior sisters were just now? They are all Senior Brother Chen Xuan's Daoist partners! Besides, my Senior Brother Chen Xuan and Senior Sister Qiu Zixian didn't even have to pass through the personal disciple corridor; they became personal disciples directly!"
"He didn't pass through the personal disciple corridor? How could he become a personal disciple?" The crowd immediately erupted in commotion. A disciple in a gray robe frowned, his eyes flashing with resentment. "Could it be that he used inside connections and pulled strings with the sect's higher-ups?"
"Of course! Otherwise, how could someone in the Void Reversal Realm skip the assessment?" A chorus of agreement rose and fell, filled with sour grapes.
Huang Daoji's face darkened, and his voice suddenly rose several decibels, causing the spirit leaves beside him to fall in a rustling sound: "Backdoor entry? You dare to question it? Senior Brother Chen Xuan and Senior Sister Qiu Zixian, during yesterday's assessment, each of them faced three personal disciples and swept them all away in a single move!"
"what?!"
"A prospective disciple wiped out a direct disciple in one move? How is that possible!"
In the crowd, a girl dressed in dark purple stepped forward. Her hem was embroidered with star patterns unique to the Void Clan. Her tone was disdainful. "Who were the ones in charge of the assessment yesterday? Were they deliberately letting us off easy?"
Huang Daoji glanced at the totem on her clothes and suddenly smiled, saying slowly, "What a coincidence, the three disciples who took the test yesterday were Senior Sister Cangyue, Senior Brother Guijian, and your clan's prodigy, 'Xukong Wendao'."
The girl's disdain froze instantly, her face turning deathly pale. Her knuckles gripping the sword hilt turned white, and she murmured unconsciously, "Impossible... Senior Brother Wen Dao is a genius that only appears once every hundred years in our clan, how could he..."
"Believe it or not, go to the sect and ask around." After saying this, Huang Daoji deliberately puffed out his chest and addressed them as "Senior Brother Chen Xuan" and "Senior Sister Qiu Zixian," as if he had a very deep friendship with the two of them.
These words truly shocked many people—if even the Void Inquiry Realm could be defeated in one move, the strength of these two personal disciples must be far beyond the Void Reversal Realm.
Privately, those older disciples who originally wanted to suppress Yu'er all quietly gave up their plans.
On the white jade plaza of the second cave heaven, a flash of inspiration appeared, and Chen Xuan led everyone out of the teleportation array of the Nine Heavens of Absolute Sorrow. As soon as Yu'er and the others landed, they couldn't help but take a deep breath—the spiritual energy here was so dense that it was almost tangible, more than ten times stronger than that of the third cave heaven.
Following Chen Xuan's gaze, everyone saw that several new immortal mansions had appeared next to Qiu Zixian's Nine Nether Immortal Mansion, with spiritual energy seeping in through the windows.
Sure enough, less than half an incense stick later, the elder guarding the cave arrived on a cloud. His gaze swept over Yu'er and the others, and his tone was somewhat serious: "Within the territory of the personal disciples, outsiders are not allowed to be received at will."
Chen Xuan stepped forward, a faint aura of the Heavenly Dao emanating from his body: "This disciple is willing to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao that Yu'er and the others are all my Daoist companions, and that I have absolutely no disloyal intentions."
As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of oath descended, but Chen Xuan did not die immediately—this was the most solemn oath of the Heavenly Dao in the cultivation world, and if it was violated, he would surely suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao.
Upon seeing this, the elder's expression softened slightly, and he nodded: "Since they have made an oath, I agree. However, they do not have a personal token of inheritance. Once they step out of your territory, the Great Array of Suppression will automatically suppress them. You should be aware of this."
Chen Xuan thanked the elder and waited for him to leave before turning to Yu'er and the others to explain: "The Great Array that guards the boundary of the Second Cave Heaven was set up in ancient times and only recognizes the token of personal transmission. You are free to cultivate within the territory, but if you wish to go out, you must inform me in advance."
Yu'er and the others nodded in agreement, but there was not a trace of dissatisfaction in their eyes—being able to cultivate in such rich spiritual energy was already an incredible opportunity.
They knew in their hearts that there was no such thing as getting something for nothing in the cultivation world: those disciples who were unwilling to become "attached Daoist partners" would rather fight tooth and nail in the Third Cave Heaven than be bound by such a bond. In the end, it was because each of them had their own ambitions and aspirations.
As the morning light grew stronger, it shone through the sea of clouds onto the white jade square. Chen Xuan looked at the smiling faces of the people around him, raised his hand, and summoned a ray of spiritual light: "The initiation ceremony is about to begin. We should head to the sect's main hall."