24 rows of worshippers
On the several trial platforms at Qixia Peak, spiritual energy rolled like smoke rising amid the flashes of swords and shadows, and pairs of disciples took the stage to decide the winner.
The most eye-catching thing is the duel between the two characters, one black and one white, on the big stage in the center.
Every move of the man in black was extremely tricky. Every time when everyone thought that the man in white was about to be knocked off the stage, he would be able to neutralize the dangerous move and swirl around with his sword extremely nimbly. The two men had a huge difference in cultivation level, but this man had mastered the art of avoiding the strong and attacking the weak to the extreme. He could walk around the stage without even his clothes getting messed up.
The spiritual energies of the two collided, and immediately a gust of extremely cold wind blew out. The disciples in the front row who were watching the fight touched their eyebrows and hair, and found that they were covered with frost.
The man in black is Wang Moqi, a direct disciple of Zhixia Peak, and the man in white is a new outer disciple named Xie Hanjing.
Mo Jinghong also paused. As the two exchanged moves, he noticed a subtle sign that Xie's disciple was gaining the upper hand. He couldn't help but exclaim with satisfaction, "This kid is truly a promising talent! Not only is his aptitude exceptional, but his control of his spiritual energy and execution of his moves are also fluid and precise. Such talent is probably rare even in Zhongzhou."
Ming Jinshu nodded in agreement, "The fact that he could cross levels and fight against Mo Qi is enough to show how talented he is."
Mo Jinghong stared at it for a while longer, then suddenly said, "Jinshu, I'd like to give him to your junior brother Murong. What do you think?"
Ming Jinshu was very surprised to hear this. Mo Jinghong had never interfered in matters of becoming a disciple in previous years, so why did he seem to be interested in this today?
She could only dissuade him, "Master, children nowadays don't like to be assigned by fate. For something as important as becoming a disciple, we should let them choose for themselves."
Mo Jinghong disagreed, "Could it be that he still dares to look down on this brat Murong He?"
After he finished speaking, he turned around to look for Murong He, and finally saw Murong He standing far away in the corner, like a cold hill.
When Murong He saw Mo Jinghong looking at him, he turned around and left his back to him.
Mo Jinghong: ...
Mo Jinghong was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. He immediately turned around and ordered the young disciple beside him to bring Murong He over.
Ming Jinshu refused to give up and said, "This isn't a question of whether or not I like her. She already has someone she likes. Master, are you trying to break them up?"
Mo Jinghong said, "What do you mean by 'preferred' or not? Your Junior Brother Murong lost a direct disciple named Pan Yu not long ago, and now there's a vacancy in his sect. This kid has good talent, so he's the perfect candidate."
Ming Jinshu wanted to persuade them, but before he could finish his words, the noise from the audience suddenly became noisy, attracting the attention of several people.
The cheers rose like waves. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that in just a few short words, Xie Hanjing had defeated Wang Moqi.
"Thank you."
He stood on the stage and saluted, and for a moment, everyone's attention was attracted to him.
Mo Jinghong was immediately overjoyed and said with a delighted expression, "Great, great! He's truly excellent! I wasn't wrong!"
Mo Jinghong's voice was clearly heard by everyone.
This young man has gained the attention of the leader, so he must have a bright future.
"I'm so envious. He will definitely be able to become a disciple of the Peak Master. Unlike me, I am just an ordinary disciple after passing the inner sect exam."
"With their talent, cultivation is as easy as eating and drinking water. How can they be compared with us?"
"I don't know which peak he will join. It would be great if he came to our Zhixia Peak. I don't want to face the bitter faces of my fellow apprentices all day long."
Mo Jinghong couldn't wait to walk towards Xie Hanjing.
He looked at Xie Hanjing who was still calm in front of him and couldn't help but praise him, "He is neither arrogant nor impatient, and his character is also good."
"Let me ask you, are you willing to become Master Murong Feng's disciple and train with him from now on?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the place fell silent, and everyone looked at each other in surprise.
"Why is it him? Isn't it said that the Sect Master and Master Murong have always been at odds with each other?"
"What's the discord? What good things does the Sect Leader have? Aren't they all tied to Murong He? I guess, Master Murong Feng is the future Sect Leader of Qinglai, and this is paving the way for him!"
"According to what you said, if Peak Master Murong inherits Qinglai in the future, wouldn't he still have a chance to become Peak Master!"
Murong He, who was forced to become the focus of the crowd, strode over. He frowned and wanted to say something, but he couldn't make a sound. He could only glare at Mo Jinghong.
“!”
Mo Jinghong knew Murong He very well, and he knew what he was going to say at a glance, so he said angrily, "What do you know, you ungrateful brat? Don't force me to beat you in public."
Murong He stared at him like a stubborn donkey. His body shape, which made others feel intimidated, coupled with his eyes, instantly gave people the feeling that the master and disciple were about to fight at any second.
Mo Jinghong suppressed his anger and ignored him. He turned to Xie Hanjing and continued, "Today, I will collect it on his behalf..."
Before he could finish his words, Xie Hanjing knelt down. His posture remained upright, and he said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Master, I don't want to."
Everyone was shocked and thought they had heard it wrong.
Mo Jinghong also thought he had misheard, "What did you just say?"
Xie Han lowered his eyes in shock and repeated, "I only wish to be an ordinary disciple and do not wish to become a disciple of Master Murong Feng. I hope the Master will grant my wish."
Every word is extremely clear.
Everyone was baffled. The Sect Master personally invited him to become a disciple of Murong He, who was expected to inherit Qinglai, and he actually refused?!
Mo Jinghong's face darkened.
Being rejected by that brat Murong He was fine, as he always went against him in everything. He was used to it. But this little outer disciple actually dared to disobey him!
What's more, didn't Ming Jinshu just say that this kid has a master in mind? Why does he want to be an ordinary disciple now?
Mo Jinghong, "Even if you're dissatisfied with my arrangement, why say such angry words! Since you don't want to be Murong He's disciple, then tell me, who would you like to be his disciple?"
Under Mo Jinghong's intimidating questioning, Xie Hanjing's gaze swept across the people on the stage with different expressions. Just when Mo Jinghong thought he was about to say someone's name, he fell completely silent.
The place was eerily quiet.
"All those who are qualified to accept disciples from Qinglai are here today. Since you can't explain it, are you deliberately making excuses to evade me?"
Xie Han stared at the ground in shock and said stubbornly, "Master, please take back your order."
Mo Jinghong's patience ran out. He pointed at the Master-Disciple Seal and said, "You must choose a master today. Murong He is your best choice!"
"etc!"
A voice pierced through the crowd, as clear as the sound of shattering jade, and promptly distracted attention from the farce.
"It's Junior Master. I'm accepting a disciple today. What are you doing here?"
"Yes, the selection was advanced. Since she hasn't taken the position of Peak Master yet, why is she here?"
Mo Jinghong paused slightly, signaled everyone to be quiet, and watched Hua Lang leap lightly onto the stage.
Hua Lang first bowed to Mo Jinghong and said, "Master, I have eliminated the demon king on Fanhong Mountain."
After saying that, she spread out her palms.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a vast winding mountain range composed of spiritual energy emerged. On the top of the largest mountain, an ominous red light gradually dimmed like the embers extinguished in a furnace.
The tiny red dots that flickered on several nearby mountains also faded away.
Now there was no more silence, and everyone burst into loud boos.
"Junior Master really passed the assessment. Does this mean Qinglai has another Peak Master?!"
"Can I withdraw my apprenticeship? I want to be Junior Master, no, Master Hua Feng's first disciple!"
"Wow, wow, if I had known, I wouldn't have become your disciple so early."
Mo Jinghong couldn't help feeling relieved when he looked at Hua Lang, whose eyes were slightly dark under his eyes but bright and clearly had gained a lot from this trip.
"The Demon King of Fanhong Mountain has been wreaking havoc on both the immortal and mortal realms for a long time. Xiaoqi, you've done well, but why did you barge into the palace so recklessly? What's the urgent matter?"
Hua Lang raised his finger, pointed at Xie Han who was kneeling beside him and said in surprise, "Disciple would like to take him as his disciple, Master, please grant my permission!"
She stood straight, her eyes determined.
His clothes were slightly disheveled, as if he had changed them in a hurry. On the back of his clenched hands, there was a streak of gray that had come from somewhere and had not been wiped clean in time.
Xie Hanjing withdrew his gaze and bowed his head, saying, "I beg for your help, Master."
Mo Jinghong was so angry that he almost laughed. He finally understood what Ming Jinshu meant. "I see, that's how it is. It was me who was ignorant and separated the two of you!"
Hua Lang felt that what he said was strange. To be more precise, she felt that the atmosphere was very strange from the moment she entered.
But the most important thing at the moment is to snatch the male lead back from Murong He.
Hua Lang knelt down and said, "During the initiation trial, I already formed a master-disciple relationship with this disciple named Xie. I hope Master will help us."
Mo Jinghong's gaze lingered on Hua Lang for a long time, and he finally waved his sleeves and sighed.
Seeing that Mo Jinghong was showing signs of wavering, Ming Jinshu took the opportunity to say, "Master, this child is extremely talented. Wouldn't it be perfect for me to let him be my junior sister's first disciple? If you want to accept a few disciples for Junior Brother Murong, I see a few promising youngsters have emerged on the stage over there, and they are also very talented."
"Forget it, if you want to take it, then take it. How can I, the master, stop you?"
Ming Jinshu smiled and asked someone to bring the disciples over. He also reminded Mo Jinghong, "Master, don't forget your junior sister's seal. If you don't give it to her, she won't be able to accept any disciples."
Mo Jinghong raised his hand helplessly, and a jade seal appeared on his fingertips. The four sides of the jade seal were engraved with green bamboos, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to be converging on this jade.
He said sternly, "My disciple Hua Lang, from today on, you will be the Peak Master of Qingzhu Peak. I hope you will take on the responsibilities of Peak Master from now on and do not let me down!"
Hua Lang lowered his head and held up the jade seal with both hands.
A warm current flowed into her palm, and the jade seal disappeared in her hand. In an instant, a mountain emerged in her perception. Every tree and every blade of grass on it was known to her heart. Hua Lang closed her eyes and felt carefully. She could even see every feather on the white crane playing in the cold stream.
"Hua Lang will definitely live up to Master's trust."
*
After Mo Jinghong left, the atmosphere relaxed.
Hua Lang stood up and chatted with Ming Jinshu for a few words. When he turned around, Xie Hanjing was still kneeling.
She subconsciously wanted to pull him up, but Xie Han shook his head in shock.
"I haven't done the apprenticeship ceremony to Junior Master."
A gift for becoming a disciple? Neither she nor Mo Jinghong had ever done that before.
The young man knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, his movements were extremely standard and strict. He bowed deeply, his expression serious.
Hua Lang didn't dare to look directly into Xie Hanjing's eyes the whole time. The male protagonist was so sincere in becoming his disciple, but she knew -
Their relationship as master and disciple lasted only a month or so!
Xie Hanjing had no idea what she was thinking, and he performed the ceremony in a very proper manner. His words were like the sound of strings being struck, each one pleasing to the ear.
"Disciple Xie Hanjing, I pay my respects to Master. I will obey Master's orders for the rest of my life."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
