Recently, Yunxia Sect had been exceptionally lively.
Almost all the disciples were discussing the insane and shocking events that had occurred in the trial grounds a few days prior.
Sweeping through the Chief Disciples of the Twelve Courtyards, shattering Li Zheng's Color Spirit Guardian with a single kick, a mighty roar that paralyzed the top chief disciple, Mu Zibai, three slaps that crippled the esteemed Outer Sect Elder Li Ziheng on the spot, and angrily rebuking the assembled Elders on the trial platform...
Everyone knew that Gu Qingfeng's physical body had mutated due to his Foundation Establishment failure. However, no one knew his body would be so formidably powerful, and even less did they know the true extent of its might.
Just as everyone was buzzing with discussion, Elder Rende announced another earth-shattering piece of news.
In a few days, Gu Qingfeng, in his capacity as the top Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards, would challenge the Trial Array.
Every disciple of Yunxia Sect knew that challenging the Trial Array meant Gu Qingfeng would qualify to participate in the Nine Halls assessment.
Some said that since Gu Qingfeng could cripple Li Ziheng with just a few slaps, passing the Trial Array shouldn't be difficult for him.
Others argued that even if he passed the Trial Array, whether he could be promoted was still unknown. He would still have to pass the assessment by the Elders of the Council Hall, which tested comprehension, willpower, temperament, character, and more...
After all, the status of a Nine Halls Direct Disciple was far too important, involving the future of Yunxia Sect, and was naturally extremely strict. Just consider that a genius like Mu Zibai, who had established a colored foundation, had held the top chief disciple position for three consecutive years and still hadn't passed the assessment. One could imagine how difficult the evaluation truly was.
Furthermore, even passing the assessment didn't guarantee becoming a Nine Halls Direct Disciple.
The so-called Nine Halls Direct Disciples meant one direct disciple per hall—only nine positions. In other words, anyone who wanted to become a Nine Halls Direct Disciple had to defeat one of the current holders and take their place.
Do not doubt it; such were the rules of Yunxia Sect, and this rule had persisted for over a thousand years since the sect's founding.
Therefore, securing a position as a Nine Halls Direct Disciple was no easy feat. For instance, the late Guangyuan True Being was once a Nine Halls Direct Disciple but was later replaced. Once one's cultivation stagnated, they might be supplanted by younger, talented disciples. Similarly, Fei Xue True Being was also a Nine Halls Direct Disciple who was later replaced by a younger disciple.
Although Yunxia Sect's promotion and elimination system was cruel, it ensured the 'quality' of the nine direct disciples.
And indeed, the facts bore this out. The current nine direct disciples of Yunxia Sect were without exception geniuses among geniuses.
Their cultivation had all established their True Forms, and some had even cultivated to the second stage of the True Being realm, opening their Violet Palaces.
Was that all?
No.
These nine direct disciples either had colored foundations or established colored True Forms—at least one of the two, some possessed both, and there were even those who shared a bloodline with Ouyang Ye.
Their cultivation levels surpassed one another, their comprehension surpassed one another, and their foundational immortal arts were either at Minor Perfection or Major Perfection. Some mastered two, others three...
Their strength could be described as exceptionally formidable.
Ordinary True Beings like Li Ziheng were no match for these Nine Halls disciples. With their colored foundations and colored True Forms, these direct disciples feared nothing, not even opponents a full realm higher in cultivation. They could casually take on four or five True Beings who had established their True Forms.
That night.
The moon was dark, and the wind high.
Inside a hall within Yunxia Sect sat quite a few managing Elders, including Fei Xue True Being.
Seated in the center was a slightly plump old man. His expression was deep, sitting in his chair with his eyes slightly closed as if resting. This old man was none other than Yunxia Sect's Council Elder, Shuide.
The managing Elders present were also his trusted confidants cultivated over the years.
"It seems now..." As Shuide spoke, the hall instantly fell silent. He did not open his eyes, merely stating in a heavy voice, "That fellow surnamed Gu must be someone Huode found to contend for the Heir Apparent Position."
Everyone nodded. Huode had shielded that fellow against all opposition, and today, after Rende announced that Gu Qingfeng would soon challenge the Trial Array, they had already guessed that Gu Qingfeng was undoubtedly Huode's candidate for the Heir Apparent struggle.
"Do we know what identity that fellow surnamed Gu holds?"
They looked at each other, none knowing, then all turned their gazes to Fei Xue True Being. They all knew Gu Qingfeng had been brought by Ouyang Ye, and Ouyang Ye was Fei Xue True Being's disciple.
"I questioned Yeye carefully. She only said she met that fellow surnamed Gu on the road, that they weren't acquainted before, and she doesn't know his identity either."
"Fei Xue True Being, is that fellow surnamed Gu the Crimson Flame Young Master that little girl Ouyang fell in love with at first sight?"
Fei Xue True Being pondered for a moment, then shook her head in response. "Although Yeye has consistently denied it, in my view, she's probably protecting that fellow surnamed Gu, which is why she hasn't admitted it. But is this question important? Whether he is or isn't, what does it matter? I have long since ordered Yeye to sever all ties with him."
"Fei Xue True Being speaks wisely. What relationship that fellow surnamed Gu has with your disciple is no longer important. What matters is, what is his actual situation? If his body mutated from a Foundation Establishment failure, it absolutely shouldn't be that powerful."
"A month ago, Mude personally inspected him. He is indeed a mutated body caused by Foundation Establishment failure. As for his powerful physical body... perhaps... it's related to Huode. He often researches formations. It's possible he used some bizarre formation to make that fellow surnamed Gu's body incredibly formidable."
That was a possibility.
Anyone familiar with Huode knew the old man had always liked researching strange and bizarre formations. Using a formation to alter someone's physical body was something Huode had succeeded in before.
"What worries us now is that with that fellow surnamed Gu's body being so powerful, passing the Trial Array likely won't be difficult for him. At that time... if..." Before the speaker could finish, Shuide snorted coldly, disdainfully saying, "No matter who that brat is, no matter how powerful his body, I will never allow him to be promoted to Nine Halls Direct Disciple. Huode is becoming more and more muddle-headed. To find someone to contend for the Heir Apparent Disciple position only at this late hour is sheer wishful thinking!"
Standing up, Shuide opened his eyes. "Set aside the matter of that fellow surnamed Gu for now. I won't let him be promoted, and Jinde certainly won't either. Our greatest enemy remains Jinde."
"Elder Shuide, what is the intention of the Nine-Hua Alliance..." "The Alliance's intention is for us to wait a while longer."
"Wait longer? We are determined to seize the Heir Apparent position. Even if Jinde rebels when the time comes, can't the Alliance suppress him?"
"After all, Jinde has the support of many clans and factions behind him. Moreover, I've heard that to contend for the Heir Apparent position, he's recently been inviting the Green Toad Ancestor to assist. When it comes down to it, the Alliance is still an alliance; they can't openly help us seize the Heir Apparent position. We must proceed with caution in everything."
As they were speaking, a handsome, upright man walked in.
This man was tall and striking, with an extraordinary bearing. Upon entering, he gave a slight bow and addressed Shuide as "Master."
Shuide's face lit up with pleasant surprise. "Good disciple! When did you emerge from seclusion?"
"Reporting to Master, your disciple has just emerged from seclusion."
Everyone present knew this man. His name was Zhong Tianying, a Nine Halls Direct Disciple. He had the aptitude, he had the comprehension, hailed as a dragon among men. Not only did he possess a colored foundation, but he had also established a colored True Form—a so-called dual-color guardian. Most importantly, his cultivation was outstanding, having already cultivated to the ninth level of the True Form realm, just a step away from opening his Violet Palace.
"How is your cultivation of the Great Luo Raging Elephant Art progressing?"
"I have not failed Master's high expectations. Your disciple has cultivated the Great Luo Raging Elephant Art to the Three-Nine Minor Achievement realm."
Hearing that he had cultivated the Great Luo Raging Elephant Art to the Three-Nine Minor Achievement realm, everyone present couldn't help but show expressions of shock.
The Great Luo Raging Elephant Art was a martial art, and moreover, a Yellow-grade martial art.
Any martial art that could enter the Yellow-grade was naturally more profound and wondrous than foundational martial arts, and its power far surpassed them.
Similarly, the difficulty of cultivating Yellow-grade martial arts was also much greater.
Although Yellow-grade martial arts also contained at least ninety-nine profound mysteries, the profundities within Yellow-grade martial arts were far beyond what foundational martial arts could compare to. It was no exaggeration to say that comprehending a single profound mystery within a Yellow-grade martial art was more difficult than cultivating a foundational martial art to Minor Perfection.
With foundational martial arts, diligent and bitter practice would eventually lead to Major Perfection. But with Yellow-grade arts, it wasn't a matter of effort, but of comprehension. If one's comprehension was lacking, even ten or a hundred years of bitter training might yield no insight.
Among the managing Elders present, many had also cultivated the Great Luo Raging Elephant Art. Some had practiced for decades, others even over a hundred years, and to this day had only comprehended eight or nine profound mysteries at most. This could only be considered the One-Nine Entry realm.
Yet Zhong Tianying had already cultivated the Great Luo Raging Elephant Art to the Three-Nine Minor Achievement realm. How could this not shock everyone?