27: Joined Yuyang Sect and became Xuanlun's disciple

The fierce winds whistled past his ears as True Man Xuanlun’s wide sleeves billowed, his profound True Essence enveloping Xiao Zhuo and Gao Mengxia as they soared into the sky.

The boy’s clothes were pulled taut by the airflow, the rustling sounds mixing with the cold, biting air that drilled into his nostrils.

Originally, Wu Qianning also wanted to return, but Wu Longqing called her back.

The Wu Family indeed had many affairs these past few days, and the Wei Family had also sent people to discuss compensation.

Wu Qianning had to oversee many matters; after all, though she had a younger brother, he was still a child, and she, as the eldest daughter, was the only one in the family who could share her father’s burdens.

Above the clouds, a translucent light shield glowed around Xiao Zhuo and Gao Mengxia.

The fierce winds scraped against the barrier, producing a sound like metal clashing, piercing people’s eardrums.

The mountains and rivers below receded rapidly, and in a flash, they swept past the hundred-zhang Sect gate inscribed with the characters “Yuyang.”

“Revered Master?” Gao Mengxia exclaimed, looking at the outline of Zhenyang Peak, “Are we not going to Wuzhen Peak?”

The silver bells on her wrist jingled with her movements, sounding exceptionally clear in the wind.

“Since Xiao Zhuo Cultivates the Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art, he is not suitable for our Wuzhen Peak, so naturally, only the Sect Master can decide,” True Man Xuanlun said indifferently without turning his head, urging his True Essence to carry the two towards Zhenyang Peak.

With True Man Xuanlun, an Inner Sect Elder, leading the way, the trio proceeded unimpeded, and Disciples along the way bowed in greeting.

Soon, they arrived at a grand hall named Zhenyang Hall, but at this time, the hall was empty. The Disciples guarding the entrance informed them that the Sect Master was in the back hall.

True Man Xuanlun then led the two around a corridor towards the back hall.

The three walked in the back hall for about a quarter of an hour. Xiao Zhuo saw many stone carvings in the corridor, including birds, beasts, insects, fish, human figures, and landscapes. Each carving was exquisitely lifelike and very expressive, making him look at them several times.

There were many rooms in the back hall, and True Man Xuanlun led the two directly to the innermost one.

As they approached the last room, Xiao Zhuo heard “clank, clank, clank” sounds of chiseling.

When the three entered the room, Xiao Zhuo saw a long-bearded old man with a youthful complexion and white hair, holding a chisel and carving a huge white stone. Above the white stone, a giant eagle with outstretched wings was already carved.

The old man was carving the final eagle claws. The profound iron chisel collided with the white stone, sending out sparks, and fragments rustled down, covering his moon-white robe.

“Oh! Junior Sister Xuan Lun, what a rare guest! Why do you deign to visit your Senior Brother today?” Seeing True Man Xuanlun enter, the old man grinned, without the slightest pretense.

“I came to find you, not to look at your broken stones!” True Man Xuanlun showed no surprise at the old man’s behavior, retorted in an exasperated tone, and then said, “Look at this child!”

The old man pouted at these words and looked at Xiao Zhuo, who was following behind True Man Xuanlun.

With that glance, the old man couldn't take his eyes off him.

The old man put down his tools, and a blur flashed as he appeared in front of Xiao Zhuo, one hand already resting on his wrist.

Xiao Zhuo was so startled that he involuntarily took half a step back, almost assuming an attacking stance.

“Eighteen years old? Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art, fourth layer, ninth revolution? How is this possible?” The old man released his wrist, circled Xiao Zhuo, examining him carefully, muttering to himself, then looked at Xuan Lun, “Junior Sister, which True Inheritance Disciple from Xuanyuan Peak is this?”

As soon as he asked, he immediately dismissed the idea, “No, no! I’ve seen those brats from Xuanyuan Peak, none of them are such freaks!”

A few black lines instantly appeared on Xiao Zhuo’s forehead, but this was the Sect Master of the Yuyang Sect, a genuine Senior Revered Master, and he dared not act presumptuously.

True Man Xuanlun, as if having anticipated this, said, “Senior Brother, this is the peerless Prodigy my Disciple found for you. As for how to arrange him, you decide!”

After speaking, True Man Xuanlun had Gao Mengxia explain Xiao Zhuo’s background.

The Yuyang Sect Revered Master was instantly dumbfounded. An eighteen-year-old True Essence Realm ninth-level Peak was one thing, but he also Cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art, and most importantly, this boy had been Cultivating the Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art for less than a month?

No matter how much of a Genius this boy was, this was absolutely impossible.

This boy had a secret!

However, having a secret wasn't scary; everyone had secrets. It was just that this boy’s secret was a bit too exaggerated.

If he hadn't thoroughly investigated Xiao Zhuo several times, confirming that his bone age was indeed eighteen and his Soul was perfectly integrated with his Physical Body, he would have almost thought this was an old monster who had undergone Possession.

The Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art was not a Cultivation Technique that emphasized Epiphanies; it was a genuine, painstaking Cultivation Technique.

If this method succeeded, his Foundation would be incredibly solid in the future. This was truly a peerless Prodigy. Although the Yuyang Sect Revered Master had doubts, he was absolutely unwilling to let such a Prodigy escape.

This might just be the hope for the Yuyang Sect to return to its Peak.

“Call Junior Brother Xuan Lun here!” After much thought, the Yuyang Sect Revered Master still decided to summon True Man Xuanlun, the Peak Revered Master of Xuanyuan Peak.

Xuan Lun nodded and instructed Gao Mengxia to go to Xuanyuan Peak to find True Man Xuanlun.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a tall, thin Daoist walked in.

As soon as True Man Xuanlun entered, his eyes locked onto Xiao Zhuo and didn’t move. His gaze wasn’t like he was looking at a person, but rather a rare treasure.

“Cough, cough!” The Yuyang Sect Revered Master coughed twice upon seeing this, moved his body between Xiao Zhuo and Xuan Lun, and softly said, “Junior Brother, Junior Niece Gao must have told you about the matter on the way, right?”

Xuan Lun then had no choice but to retract his gaze and look at the Yuyang Sect Revered Master, saying impatiently, “Senior Brother, you’ve seen how our Xuanyuan Peak has fared these past few years. You must give this person to me!”

“Junior Brother, I called you over naturally with the intention of giving him to you, but you must promise me to teach him well!” The Yuyang Sect Revered Master naturally saw Xuan Lun’s eagerness and smiled contentedly before speaking.

“Don’t worry, Senior Brother. With this boy, it’ll be hard for my Xuanyuan Peak to be at the bottom in the future! Maybe… Hehehe…” True Man Xuanlun grew more and more pleased as he spoke, finally laughing lewdly.

Xiao Zhuo, watching from the side, felt the hairs on his back stand on end.

The Yuyang Sect Revered Master’s face also darkened slightly, suddenly regretting his decision.

However, he was ultimately the Sect Master of a Sect, and finally turned to Xiao Zhuo, saying solemnly, “Xiao Zhuo, are you willing to join my Yuyang Sect and abide by my Yuyang Sect’s rules?”

Xiao Zhuo had come for this very reason, so he naturally wouldn’t go back on his word. He nodded and said, “This Disciple is willing.”

“Good! Since you are willing to join, then follow Peak Revered Master Xuan Lun to Xuanyuan Peak. After performing the Revered Master-apprentice ceremony, you will be a Disciple of my Yuyang Sect.” After the Yuyang Sect Revered Master finished speaking, he waved his hand, signaling the already impatient Xuan Lun to take the person away.

Xuan Lun chuckled and grabbed with a large hand. Xiao Zhuo was effortlessly caught by a True Essence large hand and directly flew out of the Zhenyang Hall with Xuan Lun.

“Hmph! This Xuan Lun, at such an old age, is still so impetuous.” The Yuyang Sect Revered Master pouted, showing great disdain for Xuan Lun.

True Man Xuanlun, who had been observing the entire process from the side, couldn’t help but glance at the unseemly Sect Master, the meaning in her eyes self-evident.

Gao Mengxia, standing behind her, felt an inexplicable urge to laugh, but dared not.

On the other side, Xiao Zhuo, held by the large hand, was swiftly breaking through the air with True Man Xuanlun, and in an instant, landed on a mountain Peak only four or five li from Zhenyang Peak. Presumably, this was Xuanyuan Peak.

Xuanyuan Peak was the shortest of the Yuyang Five Peaks. Compared to the scene when Xiao Zhuo arrived at Zhenyang Peak a few days ago, Xuanyuan Peak seemed sparsely populated.

Xiao Zhuo walked with True Man Xuanlun all the way, yet didn't see a single Soul.

He had previously inquired with Gao Mengxia that the Yuyang Five Peaks had approximately eight hundred Inner Sect Disciples, meaning each Peak should have at least one hundred to one hundred and something people.

But this Xuanyuan Peak indeed looked a bit desolate.

There was also a hall on Xuanyuan Peak, named Xuan Yuan Hall, which enshrined the spirit tablets of the Yuyang Sect’s Old Ancestor, True Monarch Yuyang, and the successive Peak Revered Masters of Xuanyuan Peak, as well as past Seniors and worthies.

True Man Xuanlun’s expression was solemn. He pulled out a golden-yellow booklet from who knows where and had Xiao Zhuo kneel before the spirit tablets of the successive Ancestral Masters to pay homage. Afterwards, he explained some of the Yuyang Sect’s Revered Master-apprentice procedures to him.

Originally, these procedures should have been explained by Xuanyuan Peak’s Senior Brother to the new Disciple, but since the Senior Brother was nowhere to be seen, True Man Xuanlun personally taught Xiao Zhuo how to kneel and offer tea to him later… Xiao Zhuo listened with a speechless expression.

He suddenly felt that this Yuyang Sect was not very reliable.

It wasn’t until all the fuss was over, and Xiao Zhuo had formally acknowledged Xuan Lun as his Revered Master, that it was already noon.

Finally, there was some movement outside the hall.