Chapter 343 (1/2)
”How can this be… Is that the sacred lightning aurora and that color… golden?”
A group of Martial Grandmasters was looking up to the sky. From a certain side peak of this Thunderball Hall, something magnificent was happening. They could feel it, someone was taking their first real step into becoming a true cultivator.
People in this empire were only really considered full-fledged cultivators when they achieved the Martial Master realm. The Inner Aura realm was considered a baby step in the right direction but going further would cement them as a real master.
They were all looking at a particular phenomenon. The heavens were dancing, the clouds gathered and lightning energy crackled as a new Martial Master was born. This was truly a cheerful day for this sect as it was one of their own.
”Who could it be… was there someone from the outer sect disciples that was this exceptional or perhaps it was one of the new recruits?”
While some senior members and elders started discussing, some of them headed for that mountain peak. The direction this spiritual energy was coming from was where the trial disciples went through their training, it had to be one of them.
Elder Yusheng was one of the first ones to arrive. He was responsible for this batch of trial disciples and was quite ecstatic to see who was advancing their cultivation. Two other elders arrived soon after but were halted by Yusheng.
All three of them were standing on flying boats as none of them had achieved the Martial Saint realm.
”Stop, we must not disturb the junior disciple from advancing into the next realm!”
The two elders looked at this Yusheng and then at the person that was radiating the strange Qi. These two elders just like this one were responsible for different batches of trial disciples. The three depending on how the trial disciples did would receive better cultivation resources from the sect as well as more prestige.
Yusheng knew this, he had to protect the trial disciple while he was the most vulnerable. Even though they were all from the same sect, this didn't mean that others would use underhanded methods to gain more power for themselves.
If these two were left along with his disciple he knew that they would try to make him join their sides. Then if he refused they might act rashly, even doing something that would be otherwise forbidden.
”Who is that young man?”
”Did you give some forbidden techniques to people from outside the sect before they joined?”
Another hooked-nosed elder commented while looking at the youth that was transcending into the Martial Master realm.
”What are you babbling about you old fart? You did that a few years ago and got caught by the sect, now you are trying to accuse me with no evidence!”
Yusheng furrowed his eyebrows. The elders here were highly competitive, they did sometimes sponsor some good prospects in hopes of them achieving higher status later in life.
The sect mostly frowned upon such things as most of those youths grew up with a shaky foundation. Their rise was fast but they quickly found themselves at a bottleneck that they could not easily break.
When one used secret items and many pills to quickly reach new heights without any restraint it would mostly backfire. Thus these two were suspecting foul play and the youth before them just being another tiger with rotting teeth.
To them, it seemed that this elder Yusheng gave the youth some treasure or pill. With this cultivation phenomenon now being out in the open, the boy would garner attention. If he advanced further and became an inner disciple, Yusheng would garner more rewards.
”You want evidence? Do you really think we were born yesterday, how could this youth without a name produce the secret aurora without any help?”
”Yes, hand him over, we will check if he achieved this feat by his own merit!”
Yusheng's face contorted from bewilderment into a rage. He knew that if he handed the youth over he could end up crippled or even worse, he might get bought out by one of these two idiots.
”You think I was born yesterday? The disciple stays here, if you don't like that he is under my watch, go discuss it with the high elders!”
The high elders in question were people at the very top of the Martial Grandmaster level and ones even above them. The disciples could not be handpicked by these elders, they were all assigned by higher parts of the sect and these two knew it as well.
”The high elders…”
The two flinched a bit as they knew that they would achieve nothing when talking with the top members of the sect. The two stared glaring at Yusheng while down below the glow started to fade.
”He is done… he truly achieved the Martial Master level and he is not even twenty years of age!”
Yusheng turned around to make his way down to the youth that just achieved the breakthrough. He knew that the two idiots behind him were up to no good but they would not do something stupid while so many people were watching.
”Make way.”
He swished his sleeve as people looked up. The Trial disciples and the instructor were standing around this youth that achieved the breakthrough.
The youths parted to the sides while clasping their hands. By the robe that Yusheng was wearing all of them knew that he was an elder from the sect.
”Young man… state your name.”
The young man before him looked up, there was a small pause but soon a very soft-spoken voice followed suit.
”Dai Rong, Elder.”
He slowly rose from his spot and performed the usual small bow while clasping his hands. Yusheng felt that something was off, he was the superior here but for some reason, he felt that this person before him outranked him.
”Ahh… disciple Dai Rong, I must congratulate you on your breakthrough, may I check for any faults?”