Chapter 40: The Peaks Compete (Part 1)

"Alright, we're here."

After walking for half an hour, Chu Jianqiu followed Zuoqiu Lianzhu to a mountain peak.

This mountain peak had many pavilions and buildings, but the entire peak was sparsely populated, appearing rather desolate, completely unlike the bustling outer gate.

The fourth peak had many grand halls, and the highest one was where his master Cui Yayun resided.

"There are quite a few halls and buildings here. You can wander around as you like. You can stay here." Zuoqiu Lianzhu led Chu Jianqiu to a hall halfway up the mountain, pushed open a room, and led him inside.

Chu Jianqiu looked at the room's decor and couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious. Although the room was elegantly arranged, it still had a very obvious feminine touch.

"Am I going to live here?" Chu Jianqiu asked, pointing inside the room.

"Of course. Where else would you want to live? Do you want to live with Master!" Zuoqiu Lianzhu said with a smile.

Sweat appeared on Chu Jianqiu's forehead, and he quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I'll stay here."

"By the way, I live in the hall next door. If you need anything, you can find me anytime." Zuoqiu Lianzhu pointed to the adjacent hall and said, "For the next few days, you can familiarize yourself with the environment. You can wander around the outer gate. Also, you can attend some of the courses offered there. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be going now."

With that, Zuoqiu Lianzhu's figure flickered and disappeared.

Chu Jianqiu vaguely felt something was off, as if Zuoqiu Lianzhu had been eager to leave ever since they entered the hall.

Chu Jianqiu walked around the hall and found that, apart from the slightly feminine decor, everything else was elegant and refined, with nothing particularly wrong.

Although Chu Jianqiu was a bit puzzled by the room's decor, which seemed like a girl's boudoir, he thought it was normal since the fourth peak was inhabited by women.

Chu Jianqiu shook his head and stopped his suspicions.

No matter what, he would stay here for now.

Zuoqiu Lianzhu ran out of the hall and stood in a pavilion not far away, looking at the hall with a cunning smile on her delicate face.

...

Xuanjian Sect's main peak, the council hall.

All the peak leaders of Xuanjian Sect were gathered, except for the leader of the sixth peak.

Although the recruitment of new disciples involved only low-level martial artists, it was still a major event for the sect that occurred once every ten years. Except for the sixth peak leader, Changsun Yuanbai, who was away on business, all the other peak leaders were present.

Listening to the reports from the various recruitment elders, the third peak leader, Tang Yushan, felt somewhat drowsy. This batch of disciples had no outstanding qualities, not even as good as the previous batch.

The previous batch at least had a martial artist with a Rank D bloodline, but the best in this batch was only a Rank C bloodline.

After the elder responsible for recruitment in the eight counties finished his report, the peak leaders were about to disperse. This batch of recruits had no outstanding qualities, and no particularly exceptional martial artists caught their attention.

Since the first eight counties had no outstanding candidates, the last county, Tianshui County, was even less likely to have any.

Tianshui County, a remote and small county with a small population and scarce resources, had always been the worst of the counties, with little to offer.

Luo Xiuyong stepped forward, glancing nervously at the black-robed beauty but still spoke up.

Wei Peng

Peng glanced at Luo Xiuyong with a hint of disdain. He had seen the recruits from Tianshui County on the cloud boat, and there were only five martial artists at the True Qi Realm, making it the worst batch in recent years.

Although a martial artist's potential cannot be determined solely by their realm, at the same age, a higher realm generally indicates better potential, as better potential means faster cultivation.

"This batch of Tianshui County recruits includes five martial artists at the First Level of the True Qi Realm and thirteen at the Ninth Level of the Body Tempering Realm."

As soon as Luo Xiuyong spoke, Tang Yushan yawned and prepared to leave. As expected, the recruits from Tianshui County had nothing to offer, and this batch seemed to be the worst in nearly a hundred years.

In previous batches, Tianshui County usually had at least one or two martial artists at the Second Level of the True Qi Realm, and at least half were at the True Qi Realm. This batch, however, had only five martial artists at the True Qi Realm, less than half, which was truly disappointing.

"However, there is one named Chu Jianqiu, a martial artist with a Rank A bloodline."

"What!"

The peak leaders, who had been drowsy, stood up simultaneously, their eyes wide open.

Even the sect leader of Xuanjian Sect, Zuoqiu Wen, was somewhat unsettled.

It had been a hundred years since Xuanjian Sect had a martial artist with a Rank A bloodline.

"This doesn't make sense. How can a martial artist with a Rank A bloodline only be at the First Level of the True Qi Realm?" The fifth peak leader, Gong Haorang, asked with some confusion.

A martial artist with a Rank A bloodline, even without any cultivation resources, would have a cultivation speed far surpassing that of ordinary martial artists due to their extraordinary potential.

"He is not at the First Level of the True Qi Realm; he is at the Ninth Level of the Body Tempering Realm." Luo Xiuyong corrected.

"How is that possible? A martial artist with a Rank A bloodline, even if they lay around all day, should have a higher realm than this. Are you sure he is a martial artist with a Rank A bloodline?" Even the usually silent second peak leader, Li Yuanqing, couldn't help but speak up, as this was a matter of great importance that couldn't be taken lightly.

"He has unblocked nineteen meridians." Luo Xiuyong answered, still feeling somewhat shocked even though he already knew the result.

"What, nineteen meridians unblocked!" This time, almost all the peak leaders, except for the fourth peak leader, Cui Yayun, jumped up, and even Zuoqiu Wen stood up from his chair.

Unblocking nineteen meridians was even more shocking than hearing about a Rank A bloodline.

Although Xuanjian Sect hadn't seen a Rank A bloodline in a hundred years, it still existed. However, unblocking nineteen meridians was something that hadn't happened in Xuanjian Sect for over a thousand years.

Even Zuoqiu Wen, who was a prodigy in his time, only unblocked seventeen meridians, and he was also a martial artist with a Rank A bloodline.

As for the other peak leaders, it was even more unlikely.

"I haven't taken any disciples in the third peak for ten years. This disciple will join my third peak." Tang Yushan immediately said, now fully alert, with no trace of drowsiness.

"Ha, you haven't taken any disciples in ten years because you're lazy. A genius like this should join my second peak to receive the best cultivation." Li Yuanqing coldly snorted.

"No, no, Brother Li, you already have many disciples and are quite busy. My fifth peak should take on the responsibility of nurturing talent for Xuanjian Sect." Gong Haorang quickly said.

"Stop arguing. A disciple like this should join the first peak of Xuanjian Sect. I, the sect leader, happen to be in need of a closed-door disciple. Besides, in terms of cultivation, who among you is higher than me?" Zuoqiu Wen waved his hand.

The peak leaders were stunned, looking at Zuoqiu Wen in disbelief. When did this old man become so shameless?