Chapter 31: Apprenticed to Tongxuan

Standing outside the grand hall, Ye Feifan felt a moment of hesitation. The scene before him was rather peculiar, bearing no resemblance to the standard procedures for recruiting disciples.

According to the usual tropes, shouldn't he have been brought before the sect leader for an introduction? Why was he allowed to enter directly? Was there some hidden mystery within?

Out of caution, Ye Feifan carefully studied the hall, hoping to find a clue. The structure was ancient, exuding an aura of沧桑 (vicissitudes of time), and was covered in fine, intricate cracks. It would take at least ten thousand years to reach such a state—the Xun family possessed a stone lock that had been passed down for ten millennia, yet its cracks were far less pronounced than these.

"I can't see through it!"

Determined that he could discern nothing further, Ye Feifan shook his head and stepped slowly into the hall.

The moment he entered, the ambient light began to flicker between brightness and shadow. On the main seat sat a white-haired elder with his eyes closed, resembling a god in a dark realm, striking Ye Feifan with a profound sense of awe.

The elder opened his eyes; they were like a void of chaos, brimming with a compelling, chilling power. As the elder’s gaze locked onto him, Ye Feifan felt a tingling sensation across his scalp, as if all his secrets were being laid bare.

"Ye... Feifan..." The elder uttered his name with difficulty. He appeared frail and breathless, yet his eyes swept over Ye Feifan’s body, as if trying to discern something unique.

"Your physical shell has remarkable strength... it is extremely well-suited for the supreme arts of the Wufa Sect... Are you willing to..."

Ye Feifan didn't hesitate. Before the elder could finish his sentence, he dropped to his knees and knocked his head against the floor.

"Disciple greets Master!"

It had been a long time since anyone had peered through his thoughts. This disciple before him was quite interesting—to have guessed his intent so accurately brought a look of gratification to the elder's face.

Though the elder looked as if he might pass away at any moment, the results of Ye Feifan's system scan were shocking. The elder was merely a step away from ascending to the higher realms, suppressing his own aura through sheer, immense power. His aged body contained a surging vitality that could likely shatter the entire Tianzi City with a single palm.

Having encountered a backer of this caliber, Ye Feifan would certainly not let the opportunity slip. Rather than letting the elder assign him an unreliable master, it was far better to take the elder himself as his mentor; it would be much easier to reap the benefits.

"Since you have taken me as your master... I shall accept you. You are my first disciple... your Dao name shall be Feifan..."

The elder squinted, appearing satisfied with his new apprentice. The foundation of the Wufa Sect lay in the body; they relied on "entering the Dao through martial arts," dedicated to developing the body's potential. The more solid the foundation, the better.

With the elder's discerning eye, he could see that Ye Feifan’s strength had been cultivated solely through basic breathing techniques and that he had never practiced other arts. He was a piece of raw jade of the highest quality; as long as Ye Feifan remained persistent, he could become a terrifying powerhouse in the future.

Martial cultivators did not hold an advantage in the early stages, and their path to growth was arduous. While natural talent was paramount, endurance and courage were equally indispensable. The claim of being "invincible among one's peers" was no joke. A martial cultivator at the Mahayana stage could shatter heavenly tribulations with a single hand, and defending against divine artifacts with a mere physical body was an effortless feat.

The Wufa Sect did not recruit based on talent alone; they looked for the qualities inherent in true powerhouses. Everyone in the sect was a top-tier genius. At the current stage, it might not be obvious, but the future would validate their judgment. Even their outer-sect disciples possessed the potential to trade blows with absolute geniuses without falling behind.

That Ye Feifan had passed the five-thousand-step trial unscathed was itself a test of his qualifications. As long as he did not perish, his future achievements would be limitless.

After a moment of hesitation, the elder said, "I have forgotten my original name; my Dao name is Tongxuan. There are only two rules for entering my sect: first, do not kill your fellow disciples; second, do not betray the sect. Otherwise, even if it takes ten thousand years of effort, the sect will pursue you to the end of your days."

"This disciple will keep these words in his heart." Ye Feifan felt a chill. The rules were simple, yet he sensed an unshakeable resolve in the elder's tone. However, learning that he was the "first disciple" came as a bit of a surprise.

His aptitude must be quite good, he reasoned; otherwise, why would the head of a sect take him as a personal student?

"The most powerful supreme art of this sect is a secret technique. Go to the Scripture Pavilion and take a look. If you can find it, it is your fortune; if you cannot, then continue to cultivate with your breathing techniques."

It was unclear what had changed, but the elder’s speech became increasingly fluent, quickly reaching a point where communication was barrier-free.

"Disciple obeys." Ye Feifan felt a surge of excitement. That was a secret-tier technique! If he couldn't find it, he would be truly pathetic.

The breathing technique passed down by the Xun family in the past was utter trash, not even worthy of being called "White Grade." He had no idea who created it; he had practiced for years and remained stagnant, and the spiritual energy he cultivated wasn't even enough to feed his system.

Now that such an opportunity had presented itself, Ye Feifan would not let it go for anything.

"If there is nothing else, you may go."

"Disciple takes his leave."

After Ye Feifan left, the elder leaned back in his chair, remaining silent for a long time.

From the shadows, another voice spoke: "What do you think?"

"His physical body is strong. One can see that he has worked very hard."

"The Xun family will be furious if they find out. It is a pity that he reacted too quickly. My disciple, though..."

"Fate cannot be forced."

"Tongxuan, you have changed. You were not like this before..."

"People change, and you are no exception."

...

Stepping out of the hall, Ye Feifan saw Dong Guan waiting for him at a corner outside.

"Senior Brother, follow me." The person he had been calling "Senior Brother" just a moment ago had suddenly become his junior. Dong Guan's expression was stiff.

"I trouble you, Junior Brother." Ye Feifan’s reaction was quick; he changed his address in the blink of an eye. Having suddenly gained such high seniority, one had to admit that the status was quite powerful.

"That over there is the canteen; you can eat your three meals a day there."

"That is the Spirit Herb Garden, where you can cultivate your own spirit herbs."

"That is the Weapon Pavilion..."

"That is the Technique Pavilion..."

...

"Junior Brother, what is the name of our sect's strongest technique?"

"I heard the Senior Brothers mention it, it’s called 'Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Tribulation,' but no one has ever seen it."

"Not even the elders have seen it?"

"No. No one knows what that scroll looks like, only that it is hidden somewhere in the Technique Pavilion... We have arrived; this is it. Junior Brother, I shall take my leave..."

As they spoke, they reached the Technique Pavilion, and Dong Guan departed.

Entering the pavilion, Ye Feifan saw an elder sweeping away dust. The man looked ordinary, but one didn't need a system scan to know he was definitely a hidden expert.

Paying his silent respects to the elder, Ye Feifan headed straight to the second floor.

As the personal disciple of the Sect Master, he was qualified to browse the entire pavilion. Dong Guan had already briefed him on this, and Ye Feifan had kept every word in mind.

The elder watched silently as Ye Feifan went upstairs, a look of confusion in his eyes. He could not understand why the Sect Master had taken him as a disciple; the man’s strength appeared far too weak.

The Technique Pavilion had eight floors, corresponding to the seven grades of techniques and classics: Gatekeeper, Common, White, Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Imperial. The Sect Master had said the pavilion contained a secret technique. While others were somewhat skeptical, Ye Feifan believed it instantly.

A sect of this magnitude could not stand for so long without a foundational classic. The only possibility was a hidden power, and the secret technique was surely one of their trump cards. Having read many novels, Ye Feifan knew that legends circulating in sects that no one believed in were usually true; nine times out of ten, it was simply because they hadn't found the right method.

"Yellow Grade: Astonishing Dragon-Stinging Art!"

"Common Grade: Mighty Bull-Demon Fist!"

"Heaven Grade: Qi-Blood Heaven Technique!"

"Imperial Grade: Great Heaven Palm!"

"Earth Grade: Star-Fall Kill!"

"White Grade: Intercepting Finger!"

"Profound Grade: Lesser Azure Dragon Slashing!"

...

[PS: Prosperity, Democracy, Civility, Harmony, Freedom, Equality, Justice, Rule of Law, Patriotism, Dedication, Integrity, Friendliness.]