214: Senior Brother, your disciple is here again?

Chu Xuanjin was cracking melon seeds.

He watched the scene in the Shadow Recording Immortal Crystal with great relish.

Several Personal Disciples sat in a circle.

The atmosphere, however, was somewhat subtle.

Everyone's gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifted toward Sixth Junior Brother Ye Wushang in the corner.

He still wore his eternally unchanging poker face.

But just now.

When the Demon Race girl with small horns on her head appeared in the image.

In his stagnant, dead-water-like eyes.

For the first time, a ripple appeared.

"Sixth Junior Brother."

Su Linger spoke softly, carrying a hint of worry.

"Do you know her?"

Ye Wushang slowly shook his head.

His gaze remained fixed on the thin figure in the image.

Wang Duojin stroked his chin, his merchant nature kicking in.

"A Demon Race member, ah, this is a rare species."

"Our Sect embraces all, having one more Demon Race Junior Sister wouldn't be bad."

"I just wonder if she has any special talents that could bring new growth points to our Sect's businesses."

Chu Xuanjin looked toward Ye Chenfeng.

"Dust Wind, what do you think?"

Ye Chenfeng's gaze was calm.

He was also looking at the Demon Race girl.

"A very pure Dao Heart."

He only said four words.

A Demon Race member, yet possessing a purer Dao Heart than many Human Race Cultivators.

This in itself explained a lot of things.

In the image.

The girl called Little Demoness had already stepped onto the Heaven Ladder.

Her illusion contained no clanging weapons or overwhelming seas of blood.

Only a magnificent yet icy palace.

An authoritative voice echoed in her ear.

"You are the daughter of the Demon Emperor; you were born to enter into a political marriage for the glory of our race."

"This is your destiny. To resist is to betray!"

Countless beautiful garments and precious jewels submerged her.

That was not a gift.

It was a shackle.

The girl's eyes went from confusion to fear, finally settling into stubbornness.

She tore apart the magnificent silk dress she was wearing.

She pushed away the mountain of treasures piled before her.

She spoke in a very small, yet very clear voice.

"I don't want this."

"I just want to go see the outside world."

"I want to decide for myself which path to take."

The illusion shattered inch by inch.

She stood on the steps, her body swaying, but ultimately she did not fall.

Ye Wushang's hand, resting on his knee, had quietly clenched without him noticing... At the same time.

Below the Heaven Ladder.

Following Xiao Zhan, Yue Qinghan, and Mo Yan.

Several more powerful Prodigies stepped onto the Path to Heaven.

Among them were successors from Body Refining Holy Lands, whose Physical Bodies were mighty, allowing them to resist the pressure head-on.

There were also Disciples of the Buddhist Sect walking the world, chanting Buddhist mantras, their appearances solemn and magnificent.

These people were all Dragons among men and Phoenixes among people.

They all successfully withstood the test of "Original Heart" on the first hundred steps.

Forming a far-leading first echelon on the Heaven Ladder.

"Look! That's Li Changge, the Saint of the Great Evolution Holy Land!"

Exclamations erupted in the crowd.

They saw a white-robed youth, holding a Jade Flute, looking graceful and refined.

He walked slowly, yet with exceptional ease.

With every step he took, it was as if dao rhymes flowed beneath his feet.

He even had the leisure to turn back and glance at the dense crowd below.

His eyes carried a faint, innate arrogance.

Above the Divine Mountain.

The Myriad Dao Divine Hall.

Grand Elder Moyuan and several Core Elders were also watching the scene on the Heaven Ladder.

"This Li Changge is not bad."

Transmission Elder Shi Potian stroked his beard and nodded.

"Excellent Root Bone, top-tier Comprehension Ability, and a stable Dao Heart. He's a good prospect."

Law Enforcement Elder Enforcement Elder pouted.

"He's good, but too arrogant."

"This kind of person is used to smooth sailing; I fear he can't withstand setbacks."

"If he enters my Law Enforcement Hall, the Discipline Sword will first have to loosen his bones for him."

Elder Shen Qingyan of the Alchemy Hall covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"Elder Feng is still the same."

"However, the quality of the Disciples who came to Seek the Dao this time is indeed much higher than during the last Mountain Opening in the Eastern Barrens and Central Continent."

Moyuan's gaze swept over every face in the image.

He was not just looking at those dazzling Prodigies.

He was paying more attention to the ordinary Cultivators who were struggling to climb in the back but never gave up.

For example, the youth named Shen Nanxi.

He had already reached the twentieth step.

His entire body was covered in blood, and his consciousness was somewhat blurred.

But he was still moving upward, step by step.

A hint of approval flashed in Moyuan's eyes.

Talent is certainly important.

But what determines how far a person can go.

Is always that indomitable Heart Seeking the Dao... The Divine Mountain Small Courtyard.

Wang Duojin's attention had shifted from the Demon Race girl to the Prodigies.

"Revered Master, that Li Changge clearly looks like a child from a wealthy family."

"When such a person enters the Sect, their spending power is definitely strong!"

"We can target customers like him and launch paid programs such as 'Personal Disciple One-on-One Tutoring' and 'Elder Private Lessons'!"

Chu Xuanjin rolled his eyes.

"Get lost."

"Are you planning to launch a 'Sect Master Chat Service' too?"

Wang Duojin chuckled.

"This Disciple wouldn't dare, this Disciple wouldn't dare."

Bai Jinnian, meanwhile, fanned himself and looked at the Scholar Mo Yan in the image.

"This Fellow Daoist Mo Yan seems to have a connection with me."

"'Reading ten thousand volumes is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' This child is truly good."

Just as everyone was discussing animatedly.

Ye Chenfeng, who had been silent, fixed his gaze on a figure in the middle section of the Heaven Ladder.

That was also a youth.

He looked about sixteen or seventeen, his cultivation wasn't high, only at the Golden Core Stage.

He didn't possess Xiao Zhan's overt dominance, nor Li Changge's graceful composure.

He was even somewhat disheveled.

His illusion seemed to be a never-ending battle.

His opponents were endless Yao Beasts.

He had no exquisite sword techniques, no magnificent Divine Abilities.

He only had a rusty Iron Sword.

And a desperate ferocity.

He bit and fought using the most primitive and savage methods.

Like a lone wolf driven into a corner.

Ye Chenfeng's eyes moved slightly.

He seemed to see himself from many years ago.

He also saw the Disciple who had moved him with the same kind of ferocity during the Sect Grand Competition.

After taking Ye Chengshan as a Disciple, he had barely taught him anything.

He just threw him onto the Divine Mountain and let him learn on his own.

He always felt that he only knew how to kill people, not how to teach them.

He was afraid that he would turn a perfectly good Uncut Jade into a murderous weapon.

Just like himself.

But at this moment.

Looking at the youth fighting like a wild dog in the image.

His Sword Heart, which had been as still as an ancient well, actually rippled slightly.

This youth was very suitable for walking his path.

But was he truly suitable to be a Master?

He was a little conflicted.

Just then.

Above the Heaven Ladder, a sudden change occurred.

Li Changge, the Saint of the Great Evolution Holy Land, who had always appeared light and breezy.

Stiffened abruptly upon stepping onto the one hundred and eightieth step.

The arrogance in his eyes was instantly replaced by terror.

"No! Impossible!"

"I am the Son of Destiny! How could I possibly lose!"

He let out a desperate roar, and the Spiritual Power around his body violently surged!

Boom!

An invisible force descended from the Heaven Ladder.

Li Changge's body was violently flung out like a kite with a broken string.

Mid-air, he spat out a stream of blood and lost consciousness.

Another Prodigy had fallen.

Below the Heaven Ladder, the entire area was in an uproar.

In the small courtyard, Wang Duojin gloated.

"See? Show-offs get struck by lightning."

Chu Xuanjin smiled and looked at Ye Chenfeng.

"Did you see that?"

"A sword that is too sharp is easily broken."

"Sometimes, you need a scabbard."

"And you also need someone who can help smooth out your edges."

Ye Chenfeng's body trembled.

He suddenly looked up at his Revered Master.

He understood.

Teaching someone is not about turning them into another version of yourself.

It is about guiding them onto the path that suits them best.

And perhaps he could become the one to point the way for him.