Chapter 18: The Disciple Ceremony, Blazing Bone Sect’s Provocation

Chapter 18: The Disciple Acceptance Ceremony — Blazing Bone Sect Provocation

Time passed, and before anyone knew it, the day of the Taiyi Sect's Disciple Acceptance Ceremony arrived.

The Supreme Elder had cultivated for a thousand years, having taken on three personal disciples back when he was at the Nascent Soul stage.

By now, all three disciples had grown into figures renowned throughout the cultivation world.

The eldest disciple, True Person Qingming, was the previous Sect Master of the Taiyi Sect, with talent unmatched in ancient or modern times—brilliant and extraordinary.

Before he even turned a hundred, he'd already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, a legend that countless cultivators looked up to.

Five hundred years ago, he ventured alone into an ancient secret realm seeking fortune, and vanished without a trace.

The second disciple, Sword Venerable Guhong, was an even more legendary figure, one who shook all three realms.

She attained the Dao through the sword—decisive, ruthless, and capable of sweeping through thousands of armies with her lone Guhong blade.

Back then, she single-handedly stormed the Demon Realm's great hall, carved a bloody path through a land swarming with ten thousand demons, and carried back a swaddled infant girl.

One sword shattered ten thousand demons, blood stained the sky crimson, and she quelled a century of chaos in the Demon Realm. Countless cultivators have sung her praises for generations.

After returning from the Demon Realm, Sword Venerable Guhong's temperament changed drastically. Not long after, she sealed herself away in the forbidden grounds behind the Taiyi Sect and never appeared again.

Rumors ran rampant across the cultivation world. Many speculated that the infant girl she brought back was her hidden blood relative, but the truth stayed secret—no one could confirm anything, leaving only endless tales to circulate.

Only the third disciple remained the most mysterious—no one knew his origins.

His mastery of poison arts was extraordinary. After earning fame in a battle against a Nascent Soul peak cultivator, countless high-level cultivators grew deeply wary and dared not provoke him lightly.

For a full seven hundred years, the Supreme Elder cultivated in seclusion. Despite countless pleas from across the world to take on disciples, he refused everyone, never granting his favor to a single soul.

As time passed, the world came to believe the Supreme Elder would never take a fourth personal disciple.

No one could have predicted that after five hundred years of silence, this venerable elder would once again open his doors to accept a disciple.

The news spread across the cultivation world, shaking every direction and drawing attention from all corners.

Countless sects and noble families rushed to the Taiyi Sect, eager to see with their own eyes what kind of extraordinarily talented person had become the Supreme Elder's youngest disciple.

Just as everyone waited for the rumored youth accepted as the Supreme Elder's disciple to appear, a pristine white figure descended slowly from the direction of the Profound Moon Peak high above, landing at the center of the altar.

Ling Xuance stood tall and straight as a pine, clad in the standard white robe of a Distinguished Guest Elder. His garments were untouched by even a speck of dust, and his features were refined and aloof.

No one could see Lin Yu anywhere—only Ling Xuance stood alone before the disciple-worshiping position.

Everyone could still tell the difference between a disciple's robe and an elder's robe.

After a brief silence, hushed murmurs arose from the observation seats—low but continuous.

"Isn't today the Supreme Elder's disciple acceptance ceremony? So why is the new disciple nowhere to be seen?"

"I heard the newly promoted Junior Grandmaster and this Elder Lin Che are Dao companions, and it's said the companion is performing the ceremony on his behalf."

"Unheard of! In a thousand years of cultivation world rituals, when has there ever been a rule allowing a companion to substitute? Absolutely unprecedented!"

All sorts of discussions intertwined, and every gaze was fixed on the white-clad figure at the center of the altar.

Ling Xuance paid them no heed, lifting his eyes to the highest seat of honor on the altar.

The Supreme Elder sat upon a cloud-patterned jade throne, robed in crane-white garments with snow-white hair. His bearing carried the accumulated aura of a thousand years, and his gaze was tranquil and far-reaching.

The ritual proceeded as usual, and celestial music began to play.

Ling Xuance stood tall and proper, then knelt with both knees upon the white jade altar, his voice reaching the ears of every observer.

"Your disciple Lin Che, on behalf of my Dao companion Lin Yu, formally enters the Supreme Elder's tutelage. From this day forward, I vow to cultivate the Dao with my master, uphold the sect's rules, protect the Taiyi Sect's legacy, and devote myself wholeheartedly to the Dao. Master above, please accept this disciple's bow."

As his words fell, he bowed low in prostration, his movements precise and reverent.

Upon the high platform, the Supreme Elder watched the respectfully kneeling figure below. When Ling Xuance completed the ritual, he used gentle spiritual power to lift him to his feet.

The next moment, two streams of light shot from his sleeves, spun in midair, and landed in Ling Xuance's palms.

They were two identical sets of sect entry tokens: a life-bound jade pendant carved with the Taiyi lotus pattern, and a scroll of ancient pure-heart Dao scripture treasured for a thousand years—both precious gifts reserved exclusively for the sect's personal disciples.

Seeing this, confusion rippled through the crowd:

"Two tokens? Wasn't the Supreme Elder only accepting one disciple today?"

"Could it be a spur-of-the-moment decision to take Elder Lin Che in as well?"

"But Elder Lin is already at the Nascent Soul stage, with high seniority and cultivation—why would he need to formally enter the sect?"

The Supreme Elder sat upon the high seat, his voice calm and far-reaching, resolving everyone's doubts:

"Yu'er is this seat's personal disciple, and his Dao companion naturally counts as half a disciple too. Hence, two gifts are bestowed today—one for Yu'er, one for Lin Che."

With those words, silence fell over the whole assembly.

In an instant, everyone understood, leaving nothing but shock and envy in their hearts.

Ling Xuance lowered his gaze to the two warm, weighty tokens in his palms.

"Thank you, Master, for your gifts."

Following the Supreme Elder's bestowal, the peak masters below rose one after another, holding the congratulatory gifts they had prepared in advance, all presented forward.

"Modest gifts, congratulating the Junior Grandmaster on entering the sect. We'd trouble Elder Lin to pass them along."

"A small token of respect—hoping Elder Lin won't decline."

Everyone in the sect knew the Junior Grandmaster wasn't receiving visitors, so they all entrusted their gifts to Ling Xuance to deliver, no one daring to show the slightest disrespect or negligence.

Ling Xuance acknowledged each with a nod of thanks, calmly accepting all the gifts.

The ceremony's atmosphere was solemn and smooth, warm and harmonious—a scene of perfect auspiciousness.

But at that very moment, a cold, sneering laugh abruptly tore through the warm atmosphere—jarring and harsh, shattering all the harmony.

From the western observation seats, an old man with a sinister, aged face and dressed in purple sect robes slowly rose to his feet.

This man was the Grand Elder of the Blazing Bone Sect, bearing deep grudges against the Taiyi Sect. The two sects held incompatible philosophies, and he had always delighted in undermining the Taiyi Sect's prestige.

"Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!"

"The grand disciple acceptance ceremony of the esteemed Taiyi Sect, and in the end, the new disciple's shadow can't even be seen? You have to rely on a Dao companion to go through the motions?"

"I heard the Supreme Elder accepted a brilliantly talented closed-door disciple—turns out he's just a coward hiding behind his companion! A timid, skulking wretch like this, in this old man's view, this ceremony is nothing short of the world's greatest joke!"

The Supreme Elder, who had been wearing a gentle and kind expression, now drew his brows together coldly. His warm smile faded instantly, and his face darkened.

The Sect Master Taiyi, seated nearby, also tensed, his brows knit in anger. His voice thundered across the mountain peak as he retorted directly:

"Old man of the Blazing Bone Sect, don't you dare act so insolent here!"

The Grand Elder of the Blazing Bone Sect, however, was utterly unafraid. His voice came out shrill and piercing.

"What? Is the Taiyi Sect going to fly into a rage just because I'm speaking the plain truth?"

"Our Blazing Bone Sect recently took in a new disciple with exceptional aptitude. At thirty-five, he has already reached the peak of Qi Refining, and within three years, he will surely break into the Foundation Establishment stage!"

At this point, he abruptly shifted his tone, his gaze sweeping sharply over the disciples beside the Sect Master of Taiyi, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"On the other hand, that precious little disciple of yours—is he still stuck at the basic level of Qi Refining, making no progress at all?"

At these words, all the guests turned their gazes in unison toward one spot.

In recent years, the Taiyi Sect's most celebrated young genius was Ming Qi. He had drawn qi into his body within three days, and at fifteen, he'd challenged and beaten a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator while only at Level 3. Back then, he was an undisputed prodigy.

Ming Qi sat among the crowd, countless eyes pressing down on him, making his skin crawl.

He knew full well that the Blazing Bone Sect was using this provocation to humiliate the sect through cultivation disparity. And he—once the standout of his generation, now stuck at Qi Refining for decades—had become the weapon aimed at the sect's heart.

Seeing this, the Sect Master stepped forward immediately, giving a slight sweep of his wide sleeve to block the prying gazes that had fallen upon Ming Qi.

His expression cold and stern, he shot back, his voice clear and cold.

"There's no shortcut on the path of cultivation that leads to the true way. Speed and slowness, high and low—these are just the vagaries of fate, with different karmic outcomes."

"Ming Qi's stagnation is certainly not due to lack of talent."

"As for your Blazing Bone Sect—always chasing quick progress, achieving Foundation Establishment in haste today, only to breed inner demons tomorrow. Who knows when your Dao heart will collapse, and you will perish in an instant, leaving nothing behind but a hollow void!"

The Grand Elder of the Blazing Bone Sect was so enraged by this rebuttal that his face twisted with fury, and dark spiritual energy roiled around him.

Having been publicly shamed, he couldn't hold back his urge to provoke. His gaze locked fiercely onto the Sect Master of Taiyi as he barked out a challenge.

"Since the Sect Master insists that my Blazing Bone Sect is impatient for quick results and built on shaky foundations, then I'll personally test the Taiyi Sect's so-called mastery!"

"Dare you face me in a public contest right here, right now!"

At these words, any discerning observer could see clearly—this was a blatant attempt to bully them with superior cultivation!

The Grand Elder of the Blazing Bone Sect had been stuck at the late Nascent Soul stage for many years, with a long cultivation history.

The Sect Master of Taiyi, by contrast, had been constantly bogged down in sect affairs, stuck at the Mid Nascent Soul stage for decades, unable to break through.

A late Nascent Soul against a mid Nascent Soul—this was a realm suppression from the get-go!

The Sect Master, fiery and protective by nature, couldn't stand any provocation or bullying. Hearing the deliberate challenge, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he raised his hand, ready to take the challenge.

"Then let it—"

The words had barely left his lips when a slender yet steady hand reached out and pressed down on his forearm.

Jin Ling stepped forward slowly, her gaze cool and composed, her expression calm and unruffled as she stood beside her master.

True Person Lianhua raised her eyes to look at the blustering Grand Elder of the Blazing Bone Sect, her tone gentle but carrying immense weight.

"My Sect Master carries the heavy burden of the Taiyi Sect, overseeing the rules and governance of the mountain. His status is noble—how could he be casually challenged by some elder from an outside sect?"

Without waiting for the other party to argue, True Person Lianhua stepped up to accept the challenge herself.

"If you want to test who's better, why bother the Sect Master? Since this is a spar between juniors, let me, a junior, cross moves with the elder."

Every cultivator present knew full well the vast gap in cultivation and age between the two.

True Person Lianhua was a true prodigy in the cultivation world, her talent eclipsing all her peers. She broke through to the Nascent Soul stage at three hundred years of age, and now, at just four hundred, her potential was limitless.

The Grand Elder of the Blazing Bone Sect, in contrast, had started cultivating over two hundred years before her and had been entrenched at the late Nascent Soul stage for ages.

In this contest, if True Person Lianhua lost, there'd be no shame—a junior taking on a senior, the weak against the strong, a loss that still brought honor.

But if she managed to win, it would be enough to make the Taiyi Sect hold their heads high in glory.