237: Chapter 236 The Grand Master of the Temple

Just as Xia Jin and the others were still drinking their celebratory wine,

above the Third Heaven of the Divine Temple, there existed a hidden space.

There was no wind, no clouds, no sun, moon, or stars here; only a soft, eternal light filled the area, as if this place were a Small World of its own.

This space was not large, measuring only about one hundred zhang in circumference.

In the very center of the space stood a white jade statue.

The statue was about a zhang tall, and from its appearance, it seemed to be an old man.

Second Hall Master Zhan Tiangang's figure had appeared in this space at some unknown moment.

He walked to a spot three feet in front of the statue and stopped, straightened his robes, clasped his hands in a salute, and his expression became extremely serious.

"Great Hall Master! Second Hall Master Zhan Tiangang requests an audience."

After his words fell, a brief silence ensued, but the Second Hall Master did not move, maintaining his bowing posture, perfectly still.

He felt not a shred of impatience, for he knew that what he had just said could be heard by their Great Hall Master.

Sure enough, after a few breaths, a faint layer of light appeared on the surface of the statue. The light grew brighter and denser, as if a sun were slowly rising within the statue.

"It is coming!" The Second Hall Master seemed to sense something; his eyes lifted slightly, staring fixedly at the statue before him.

At this moment, the statue's eyes slowly opened.

In those eyes, there was no joy or anger, no sorrow or happiness, only a detachment that had seen through all things in the world. Merely these eyes made a powerhouse like the Second Hall Master feel a trace of pressure; it was suppression from a higher level, an absolute crushing of Realm.

A phantom figure walked out from the statue.

The phantom looked at the bowing Second Hall Master, and a ripple finally appeared in those calm eyes.

"Tiangang."

"You are not presiding over affairs at the Divine Temple, so why have you come to me?"

His brows furrowed slightly, and after looking the Second Hall Master up and down, his tone carried a hint of hidden worry: "Could it be... that our Divine Temple has lost again in this battle against the alien race?"

As these words were spoken, the phantom's gaze became sharp, causing the Second Hall Master to involuntarily feel his body grow heavier.

"Great Hall Master, you have misunderstood." The Second Hall Master straightened his body, a trace of a smile appearing on his face, and his voice carried a rare lightness.

"We did not lose this time. On the contrary, our Divine Temple has achieved a complete victory."

"Oh!?" As soon as these words were spoken, the phantom's eyes suddenly narrowed.

From those eyes erupted two brilliant rays of light, like two stars exploding simultaneously.

That invisible pressure surged several times over in an instant, and the entire secret space began to shake continuously, as if it might be torn apart at any moment.

The Second Hall Master withstood this pressure without changing his expression, and the smile on his face did not vanish in the slightest.

The phantom fell silent.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes staring straight at Second Hall Master Zhan Tiangang, as if trying to discern the truth from his face.

"Is what you say true?"

After a long while, the phantom spoke again, his voice carrying a trace of excitement.

"Of course, Great Hall Master." The Second Hall Master nodded. "How would this old man dare to speak nonsense about such a matter?"

"Good." He said the word softly, his voice filled with a trace of gratification. "It seems this batch of Hun-class Disciples possesses excellent talent and strength!"

"By the way, Great Hall Master, I have come today with another request." Seeing the gratified smile on the Great Hall Master's face, the Second Hall Master hurriedly struck while the iron was hot, took a step forward, and clasped his hands.

The phantom glanced at him: "Speak your mind."

"I hope the Great Hall Master will grant permission for these few Hun-class Disciples of the Divine Temple to head to the Shenyun Realm."

"In this battle against the alien race, these Disciples performed exceptionally well. In particular, one Disciple named Xia Jin is both wise and courageous, and can be said to have turned the entire battle situation around single-handedly. Such talent would truly be wasted if kept confined to this world."

"The Shenyun Realm is full of infinite possibilities and countless Opportunities. If they could go there to train, in time, they would surely become great assets! For our Human Race, this would also be a great help!"

After the Second Hall Master finished speaking, he bowed again, waiting for the phantom's reply.

However, after hearing the Second Hall Master's words, the phantom did not answer immediately.

He turned around, back to the Second Hall Master, facing the chaotic gray-white light curtain, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke.

"It is not impossible for them to enter the Shenyun Realm."

"However, I still need to personally take a look at these so-called Hun-class Disciples you speak of."

He turned around, his gaze like lightning, shooting straight at Second Hall Master Zhan Tiangang.

"Bring them to me tomorrow so I can see them for myself. If their talent is insufficient and their strength lacking, even if they reach the Shenyun Realm, they will only end up as the lowest of existences, bullied by others, and slaughtered at will. That outcome would be even more terrifying than not going at all."

"You should understand this principle."

The Second Hall Master felt a jolt in his heart and hurriedly nodded.

"The Great Hall Master speaks the truth! This old man understands!"

He also secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He knew that since the Great Hall Master had loosened his stance, there was already a seventy or eighty percent chance of success.

The remaining twenty or thirty percent would depend on the performance of Marquis Chu and the others tomorrow.

"Then this old man shall take his leave!"

The Second Hall Master bowed again.

The phantom said nothing more; his figure began to blur and gradually dissipated. The light on the surface of the white jade statue also dimmed accordingly.

The Second Hall Master straightened up, glanced at the white jade statue, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. Then, he turned and strode out of this hidden space.

In less than half a cup of tea's time, he had already arrived at the small courtyard where Marquis Chu and the others were holding their victory banquet.

"Greetings, Second Hall Master!" As soon as he appeared, Marquis Chu and the others immediately stood up and bowed to the Second Hall Master, and even the lingering scent of alcohol from just moments ago vanished in an instant.

"Hmm." He responded indifferently, acknowledging them.

Everyone felt that invisible pressure; even the usually unserious Fourth Senior Brother stood straight and obediently, not daring to show the slightest slack.

After Second Hall Master Zhan Tiangang sat down in the foremost seat, his gaze swept over everyone, and after a moment of silence, he spoke:

"Alright, you have finished your wine, so all of you go back and tidy yourselves up, and adjust your states. Tomorrow morning, accompany me to meet the Great Hall Master."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall instantly went quiet.

"The Great Hall Master!?" Marquis Chu's eyes widened suddenly, as if he had heard something incredible.

And the others were the same.