24: The new disciples were divided into five groups.

After absorbing the points, Zhou Yan didn't care what dangers might be waiting for him in that pillar of light; he activated his footwork and dove headfirst into it.

Meeting a hothead like Wang Yao was already enough to deal with. If he didn't leave and a Chen Yao or Li Yao showed up, Zhou Yan would be so annoyed he'd have to take medicine.

Not long after Wang Yao committed suicide and Zhou Yan entered the pillar, another person stepped into the tower.

“Heh, to think two people actually reached here before me?”

“Things are starting to get interesting.”

The man toyed with the token in his hand, his dark eyes filled with nonchalant certainty. His thin lips parted slightly: “The trial process has been lively enough, but as for the final Champion...” He tossed the token into the air, and it landed in his hand with a 'clack'. “Other than me, who else could it be?”

With that, he strode forward with his long legs, carrying an unmistakable dominance. His pace wasn't fast, yet it was extremely oppressive. His robes fluttered slightly with his movements, and every step he took seemed to land precisely on the heartstrings of others.

With such a domineering stride, he became the second person to walk into the light pillar after Zhou Yan.

“My dear brothers and sisters, I’m back.”

A teleportation portal opened, its other end connected to the Sect Master's Hall. In the center of the hall, behind the Sect Master's jade throne, the bruised and swollen Fifth Elder was tentatively trying to crawl out from behind the seat.

After being away for a long time, Immortal Master Sect Master finally finished venting his anger and returned to the high platform.

His sage-like, amiable face once again wore a smile, many times more friendly than usual. It was obvious that his hands had been itching since the Fourth Elder beat up the Fifth Elder a few days ago; he had taken this opportunity to fulfill that dream and release years of stress.

“How far has it developed?” Immortal Master Sect Master walked back to the Center Position, looking at the Secret Realm content before him with total ease.

“Most of the Disciples have completed the tasks in the Middle Circle and are heading toward the Inner Circle. Some have already reached the High Tower to begin the final trial,” the Sixth Elder answered, then added nonchalantly, “The Disciple Fourth Brother took in is quite good. He successfully passed the Middle Circle and found a shortcut, becoming one of the fastest Disciples to enter the High Tower.”

“In my opinion, rather than following Fourth Brother to hammer iron, that Disciple would be better off practicing Alchemy with me. After all, Fourth Brother only took him in out of spite, not out of a sincere heart. He has an affinity with me, so I’m willing to take him in sincerely.”

“You!” The Fourth Elder was about to explode when he heard the Sixth Elder's Sound Transmission.

“Fourth Brother, Second Brother didn't see the previous events, and the High Tower trial cannot be viewed through the light screen. This means he has no way of knowing Zhou Yan's true strength. You wouldn't want Second Brother to shamelessly snatch him away after finding out about Zhou Yan's potential, would you?”

“It’s better for the two of us to fight over him now than for him to interfere.”

Hearing this, the Fourth Elder became even more furious. But then he thought of the increasing potential Zhou Yan had shown—from that monster in the Fear Trial that even a Void Refining old monster like him had never seen, to the Divine Ability used to suppress Wang Yao by summoning an Immortal Tree.

Everything suggested he might truly be the Reincarnation of a powerhouse from the Immortal Realm and had already begun his Awakening.

With such Aptitude, he feared Old Second might even risk being folded into three by their Master just to forcibly alter the Disciple Registry.

Damn it, it’s better for us to fight than for Old Second to get involved!

“I...” Just as the Fourth Elder was about to speak, the Third Elder interrupted him.

“This kid is decent. Following two Elders to learn Alchemy and Artifact Refining would be too much of a delay for his Cultivation. He’d be better off coming to me to learn Talisman Drawing and Illusions. They’re easy to pick up and can be very useful in battle even if not mastered. He can use the remaining time to better improve his Cultivation. Isn't that more promising than following them?”

“You!” The Fourth Elder was about to lose it again when he heard the Third Elder's Sound Transmission.

“Old Fourth, Old Second didn't see the previous events, and the High Tower trial cannot be viewed through the light screen. This means he has no way of knowing Zhou Yan's true strength. You wouldn't want that bastard Old Second to shamelessly snatch him away after finding out about Zhou Yan's potential, would you?”

“With his personality, he’d definitely be capable of tearing up the Disciple Registry. It’s better for the three of us to fight over him now than for him to interfere.”

“I...” Just as the Fourth Elder was about to speak, the Grand Elder interrupted him again.

“I think Third Brother has a point. It’s a waste for him to learn the Hundred Arts of Cultivation. He should follow me and learn the Sword Dao. Mastering it helps Cultivation, and even a little knowledge provides self-defense. It's better than what Third Brother proposed.”

Just as the Grand Elder was thinking of sending a Sound Transmission to Old Fourth, he received an active Sound Transmission from him first.

“Eldest Brother, were you going to say that Second Brother didn't see the previous events, and the High Tower trial cannot be viewed through the light screen, so he has no way of knowing Zhou Yan's true strength, and I wouldn't want Second Brother to shamelessly snatch him away after finding out about Zhou Yan's potential?”

Grand Elder: “How did you know what I was thinking?”

“Were you also going to say that with his personality, he’d definitely be capable of tearing up the Disciple Registry, so it’s better for the four of us to fight over him now than for him to interfere, right?”

Grand Elder: “Um... of course not. What I wanted to say was that it’s better for the four of us to fight over him now than for him to interfere, because with his personality, he’d definitely be capable of tearing up the Disciple Registry. The order is different from what you said, hmph~.”

“Is it really necessary to be this competitive!”

The Fourth Elder was speechless looking at this reserved Eldest Brother. Originally, he only had to wait for Zhou Yan to come out to gain a beloved Disciple. Perhaps in the future, his status would rise because of his Disciple, and he could become a Grand Elder before Old Second to discuss seniority with their Master.

But with things like this, he now had to compete with four people. He once again regretted making that god-awful badge.

The four of them reached a consensus: for now, keep Old Second in the dark and deal with the rest later!

Immortal Master Sect Master looked at the four people in front of him, finding them more and more strange.

Having Cultivated to the Void Refining stage and served as Sect Master for so long, he was already a thousand-year-old fox.

He could tell there was definitely some secret between the four of them, but what they just said didn't seem fake. So, was there something special about this Zhou Yan that made all four of them interested in him?

Whatever, he would secure Long Tianxing first before considering Zhou Yan. He didn't understand Zhou Yan's talent, but he understood his brothers and sisters. If they liked him, then he would like him too.

As for Old Fourth already recording the Master-Disciple relationship? What a joke. He could just use the Sect Master Token to erase that page. Having Cultivated for so long, he had long since passed the age of caring about his face.

Jie jie jie, the reputation I've built up for so many years—isn't it meant to be spent in my old age?

Zhou Yan, who had already entered the interior of the light pillar, had fallen into a deep sleep.

In his sleep, he felt as if there was a light in front of him.

“Young man, open your eyes. I am Sha Fulin, a former Sect Master of Qingxu Grotto-Heaven.”

“If you go back now, you can pass directly. Continuing to participate will instead lower your performance.”

What? You can actively lower your points? Is there such a good thing?

Jie jie jie, sorry Brother Wang Yao, but since you gave your points to me, don't blame me for spending them on your behalf.

Zhou Yan could only barely open his eyes. Looking at the blurred silhouette in the light, he said righteously: “No, Sha Fulin, my points don't belong only to me. If I withdraw now, a Fellow Daoist outside the Secret Realm will be disappointed.”

“Young man, you have already put in a lot of effort to reach this place. He will understand.”

He dropped dead right at the entrance, and I only walked two steps; where is the 'lot of effort'?

Despite his internal complaints, Zhou Yan maintained his righteous response: “That Fellow Daoist is a true person Seeking the Dao. He entrusted his hopes to me. I must stay here and carry his share.”

“Good, good, good. I didn't expect you to have such Heart-Nature. Then I shall bring you two rewards; give the other one to him after you pass.”

I won. Everything is going according to plan! At this moment, Zhou Yan mentally checked off 'Plan Successfully Executed'.