The Sect Master somewhat helplessly changed the subject, “Esteemed Lan Yue, how many of these disciples are you keeping an eye on this year?”

　　Esteemed Lan Yue raised his eyelids. “Not one of them entered my eyes.”

　　These words were really too arrogant.

　　Daoist Yi Dao smiled, “Open your dog eyes wide and look clearly. Two of them are reclusive family disciples who went outside to train. Right now, they’re only 16 years old, yet they’re already Hardened Body Stage cultivators. Don’t tell me that not even these two can enter your eyes?”

　　“Why should I think highly of them?” Esteemed Lan Yue asked expressionlessly, “When my little disciple was in his teens, he was already a Hardened Body Stage cultivator. What are those reclusive family disciples compared to him? It’s fine if others don’t know, but if even you, who’s been his master for more than ten years, don’t know this, then your dog eyes are really wasted on you.”

　　Daoist Yi Dao, “….”

　　Damn it, he should have known that this man would never suffer a loss, no matter the situation.

　　Daoist Yi Dao was suddenly speechless.

　　No one knew better than he did exactly how terrifying Lin Xuanzhi’s cultivation talent was before his injury. For him, rising in cultivation levels was as normal as eating meals and drinking water, though his speed still slowed down in the later years. But during the years when he just entered the sect, it wasn’t wrong to say that his cultivation level changed once every three days at an exceedingly fast pace. If it wasn’t for the fact that Daoist Yi Dao found that Lin Xuanzhi cultivated only the most ordinary techniques and didn’t touch the evil and crooked path at all after performing various kinds of inspections on Lin Xuanzhi, he would have thought that Lin Xuanzhi was a demonic cultivator.

　　Nothing was more terrifying than Lin Xuanzhi’s talent.

　　Daoist Yi Dao had lived for so many years, but he’d only seen one genius whose shocking talent bordered on monstrous, and that was Lin Xuanzhi.

　　Even the Sect Master could not help but sigh with emotion, saying that he was the first in the Five Continents for the past 500 years and for the 500 years to come.

　　To be honest, he was not willing to discard such a genius just like this either!

　　However, even if he was a talented disciple whose talent bordered on monstrous, he certainly still wasn’t as good as the benefits within hand’s reach.

　　Esteemed Qing Yun looked at Esteemed Lan Yue, “There are still many powerful disciples from distinguished families here. Won’t you consider accepting a few disciples from Lin Xuanzhi’s family into Profound Sky Sect?”

　　Esteemed Lan Yue swept him a glance, “I won’t consider; I’m not the kind of person who can’t distinguish between public and private affairs.”

　　Esteemed Qing Yun was stunned.

　　Esteemed Lan Yue then spoke to the Sect Master in a resolute voice, “I have chosen a Lin family pupil who was recommended internally by the family; I’m here to report this to the Sect Master.”

　　Esteemed Qing Yun suddenly had dark lines on his face, “…”

　　Didn’t you just say that you would distinguish between public and private matters?

　　The Sect Master raised his eyebrows, “Which Lin family disciple did you settle on?”

　　“Lin Zezhi,” Esteemed Lan Yue answered.

　　Esteemed Qing Yun let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly spoke, “I also took a fancy to a Lin family disciple named Lin Zhantian. I have already sent someone to contact him privately and he is also willing to come to my Breaking Sword Peak.”

　　This was the so-called “the one who strikes first gains the upper hand, while the one who strikes later suffers a calamity”. This was especially prominent when fighting over disciples.

　　The Sect Master smiled and shook his head. “Oh, you all…You can simply directly discuss this kind of matter with the disciples. I certainly won’t obstruct anything on my side.”

　　Esteemed Lan Yue raised his eyes, “Thank you, Sect Master. I still have other matters. I’ll be leaving first!”

　　Everyone sent Esteemed Lan Yue off with their gazes as he flew away, not leaving even a single cloud behind.

　　“So fucking arrogant.” Daoist Yi Dao gritted his teeth.

　　Esteemed Qing Yun, however, was calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos as he smiled, “Can’t help it. After all, who let him be so powerful that you’re not even his opponent?”

　　Daoist Yi Dao, “…”

　　Damn it!

　　Indeed, Esteemed Qing Yun was still the most annoying one!

　　Daoist Yi Dao originally didn’t intend to accept any Lin family disciple under his door, because he couldn’t bear seeing Lin Xuanzhi’s family members wandering about in front of him, but on second thought, Daoist Yi Dao changed his mind again.

　　Lin Xuanzhi had now become the Young Master of the Lin family and held a vigorous and resolute momentum. Presumably, many people would be quite critical of this Young Master. It wasn’t bad to accept such a person either.

　　Daoist Yi Dao recalled that the Lin family seemed to have a female cultivator who hadn’t been assigned to any peak yet and whose name he forgot. However, that female cultivator should be much easier to control than male cultivators.

　　Daoist Yi Dao felt a lot more comfortable when he thought of this. “Since your two peaks have already started to fight over people, then I might as well take someone too. That Lin family’s female cultivator, I’m planning to let him enter my peak. What do all of you think?”

　　Several elders who had good relations with him all nodded in approval.

　　Esteemed Qing Yun, on the other hand, was quite indifferent. In any case, his Breaking Sword Peak was famous for being a temple of monks. As far as the eye could see, the entire peak was full of male cultivators; there wasn’t a single female cultivator. From the beginning, he never intended to accept female cultivators onto the peak.

　　As for Esteemed Lan Yue, who had more thoughts and schemes than a hornet’s nest, he must have his own reasons for choosing Lin Zezhi.

　　The balance among the three peaks was one of Profound Sky Sect’s unwritten rules, which included a balance in the number of disciples for each peak, a balance in the number of elders, a balance in the family power and status of the peaks’ disciples, and a balance in the disciples’ cultivation levels.

　　Three people from the Lin family came; assigning one to each of the three peaks could also be considered a balance!

　　After the interlude, the people began to continue to look at the images on the sky mirror. It’s just that although the elders and the two peak masters seemed immovable and as steady as Mt. Tai sitting there, they had already secretly sent people to find Liu Zhaoyue and Jian Yunxi to show their good intentions.

　　Besides Lan Yue, this eccentric, who could truly not care about the talents and backgrounds of these two disciples?

　　Reclusive families; they were much bigger existences than sects, because out of the five celestial-level sects, only Sky Peak Sect occasionally had contact with the Upper Realm. The other celestial-level sects had never even seen a person from the Upper Realm before.

　　However, reclusive families were said to be apostles sent by the Upper Realm to guard the smaller realms.

　　Wouldn’t one obtain great benefits if one established a good relationship with them?

　　“Sinking Sword Peak has rules that prohibit outsiders from casually entering Sinking Sword Peak’s inner gate unless they have an invitation or unless they have urgent matters. Who are you looking for?” By the inner gate of Sinking Sword Peak, a youth was stopped by the inner-door disciple guarding the inner gate today.

　　“I’m looking for the Peak Master of Sinking Sword Peak, Esteemed Lan Yue.”

　　The young man had a quiet and exquisite appearance and wore a jade crown on his head. Dark lines forming an array were inscribed on his clothes; one could tell from first glance that it wasn’t an ordinary item. He wore magic treasures that could dazzle people from head to toe. One would know at first sight that he had a high social status.

　　The disciple guarding the gate asked, “Do you have an invitation?”

　　The youth glared with a pair of cat’s eyes, “Don’t you know who I am? I am a member of the main branch of the Liu family, a reclusive family. I have come to pay a visit to the Peak Master of Sinking Sword Peak. Hurry up and notify him.”

　　What he said was all superfluous. If he had an invitation, then how could he come here only now?

　　The disciple guarding the gate secretly twitched the corner of his lips while thinking in his heart, These reclusive family disciples really are different — they think themselves superior to others as soon as they open their mouth.

　　The gatekeeping disciple didn’t bat an eyelid and stuck to peak rules, “If there is no invitation, I’ll have to ask Young Master Liu to please leave.”

　　Liu Zhaoyue narrowed his eyes and seemed a little displeased. He spoke a little darkly, “Don’t tell me that you want me to personally challenge the mountain?”

　　The gatekeeping disciple immediately moved to guard against possible attacks and stared suspiciously at this handsome young man.

　　Liu Zhaoyue took out a sword that had not yet been drawn out of its sheath. “It’s good that you know to feel fear. You are only a Foundation Stage first layer disciple. As soon as I take a little action, you will be crippled.”

　　The gatekeeping disciple’s face turned slightly green. He was indeed no match for Liu Zhaoyue. The other party only had to do nothing but stand in front of him, yet he had already felt the great pressure from him.

　　The disciple’s teeth trembled a few times, and his heart felt like myriad mythical beasts were galloping through. He forced himself to reply, “Even so, you can’t enter. Even if you kill me, there will still be other senior and junior brothers rushing over to fight with you.”

　　Liu Zhaoyue narrowed his eyes, “You actually dare to threaten me?”

　　He was just about to knock this not very perceptive disciple out when he sensed a strong pressure that did not lose to his own. Liu Zhaoyue immediately turned around and crossed the scabbard horizontally before him to defend against the attack. The two swords clashed together with a clang. The sparks from the scabbards’ friction and the scattered Qi from the collision smashed the surrounding vegetation and boulders into pieces.

　　“My goodness–!” The gatekeeping disciple gasped and nearly sat on the ground, his legs turning to jelly.

　　Liu Zhaoyue saw the bastard who dared to attack him, and his expression became cold. A pair of long and narrow phoenix eyes narrowed and glared at the young man who was similar in figure to him but completely different in temperament. He gnashed his teeth, “Jian Yunxi, you really are clingy.”

　　Although Jian Yunxi was also 16 or 17 years old, he looked much more unflustered.

　　Jian Yunxi had a dark expression. “Liu Zhaoyue, you still dare to be so unbridled and arrogant inside the sect; you’re a disappointment and a disgrace. All the reclusive families would be ashamed of you!”

　　“Nonsense, since when did honourable me need your discipline?” Liu Zhaoyue sneered, “You’re trying to influence too much.”

　　Jian Yunxi replied sharply, “I have no obligation to discipline you. I’m only afraid that you will implicate my Jian family’s reputation and make people think that all reclusive family disciples are this kind of ignorant and uncultured bastards.”

　　Jian Yunxi was a handsome, bright, and fine young master with sword eyebrows, starry eyes, and extremely solid and upright facial features. When he spoke those words, he was even more imposing and had an inexplicable magnetism.

　　Especially that gatekeeping disciple, who was already prepared to receive a painful beating. He couldn’t help giving Jian Yunxi a grateful look.

　　Liu Zhaoyue was so irritated by Jian Yunxi that his tooth ached. To begin with, he and this lad were rivals who argued as soon as they met and would start fighting as soon as one party didn’t feel the other pleasing to the eye. He didn’t expect that this fellow would actually provoke him.

　　Liu Zhaoyue said fiercely, “Don’t you put on airs now. What kind of thing you are; you think I don’t know that? A good dog doesn’t block the road. Don’t look for trouble here!”

　　After all, Jian Yunxi was still a teenager and was not steady enough to hold back his anger. He even sarcastically remarked, “You’re the good dog that should get out of the way. I’ve come to pay a visit to Esteemed Lan Yue. Get out of my way.”

　　Liu Zhaoyue became alarmed, “Why are you looking for Esteemed Lan Yue? You’ve already been invited by Broken Sword Peak; why aren’t you hurrying up to grab Broken Sword Peak’s Peak Master’s thigh?”

　　Jian Yunxi nonchalantly answered, “Didn’t you also receive their invitation? Then, what are you doing here?”

　　Liu Zhaoyue was suddenly speechless. He stared at Jian Yunxi for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and suddenly spoke up, “What is the content of your coming of age test?”

　　Jian Yunxi’s expression changed, and a pair of black eyes exchanged gazes with Liu Zhaoyue. “This seems to have nothing to do with you.”

　　“You fucking…” Liu Zhaoyue wanted to curse him, but when he saw Jian Yunxi’s expression, which suddenly turned cold, he swallowed back the vulgar words he was about to say.

　　Liu Zhaoyue made a Tch sound and put away his sword. “Whatever you like. You’re right. It’s none of honourable me’s business!”

　　The contents of Jian Yunxi’s coming of age test indeed had nothing to do with Liu Zhaoyue, but both parties harbored great doubts — how come the location of his and my trials was exactly the same, and there was no difference in the person we had to visit either?

　　Could it be…that I have the same trial as this boy?

　　Jian Yunxi and Liu Zhaoyue looked at each other at the same time. For a while, flames intertwined and lightning flashed. They saw displeasure and suspicion reflected in each other’s eyes.

　　However, they did not continue to say anything.

　　Jian Yunxi moved his gaze away from him, bypassing Liu Zhaoyue and resting on the gatekeeping disciple. He took out a jade pendant engraved with a star map. “This is a keepsake left to my father by Esteemed Lan Yue. I’ll have to trouble this Senior Martial Brother to show it to Esteemed Lan Yue and say that the son of an old friend is visiting.”

　　The gatekeeping brother nodded repeatedly, received the jade pendant with both hands, and told Jian Yunxi, “I’ll have to ask Junior Martial Brother Jian to please wait a moment; I will deliver the keepsake right now.”

　　Liu Zhaoyue was so envious that his eyes reddened. He could not help but ask, “Hey, when did your father have dealings with Esteemed Lan Yue? How come I’ve never heard of it?”