105: Chapter 105 Peak Masters Compete for Lin Tian

Not long after, the guard surnamed Wang walked quickly out of the "Guest Reception Hall" and said to Lin Tian, who was waiting outside: "Junior Brother Lin, Elder Li requests your presence. Follow me."

The form of address had quietly changed from "you" to "Junior Brother Lin"; clearly, the weight of the letter of recommendation was not light.

Lin Tian nodded and followed him into the hall. The hall was spacious and bright, with simple and ancient furnishings. In the center hung a huge painting of colorful clouds, with the Dao rhythm circulating.

An old man wearing a moon-white Daoist robe, with a refined face and three long strands of beard flowing on his chest, sat squarely on a large sandalwood chair on the left. He was holding the mysterious black recommendation letter. Seeing Lin Tian enter, his gaze was like lightning, sweeping over him with an underlying scrutiny.

"Disciple Lin Tian pays respects to Elder Li." Lin Tian stepped forward, neither humble nor pushy, and bowed.

He could feel that this Elder Li's Aura was as deep as the sea, far beyond what a Rank 3 Martial Artist could compare to; he was likely an existence who had already touched the threshold of "Dark Qi" or even a higher Realm.

"Hmm." Elder Li nodded slightly, put down the letter in his hand, and spoke in a voice that was calm yet carried inherent majesty: "Lin Tian, recommended by Centurion Shen Lian of the Imperial Guard in Heishan City. According to the letter, you are not yet twenty, have already entered Rank 3, and have even killed an old-school Martial Artist of the same rank in battle. Is this true?"

"Reporting to Elder, what is said in the letter is not exaggerated." Lin Tian replied calmly.

Elder Li's gaze lingered on Lin Tian for a moment, as if sensing his blood-Qi Foundation, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

This child's blood-Qi was vigorous and refined, far exceeding that of an ordinary person who had just entered Rank 3. What was even rarer was that his Aura was calm and his sharpness was restrained. He was indeed good material; no wonder that arrogant fellow Centurion Shen Lian would personally write a letter of recommendation.

"Centurion Shen has some connection with our Sect, so the Sect naturally values his recommendation." Elder Li said slowly, "With your talent and strength, there is no need to participate in the ten-thousand-person preliminary examination at the foot of the mountain. You may be temporarily listed as a reserve Disciple of this Sect and settle within the Sect first. Wait until I report your situation to the Sect Master and the various Peak Masters so they can decide which of the seven branches you will be assigned to for cultivation. Do you have any objections?"

"This Disciple has no objections and will leave it entirely to the arrangements of the Elder and the Sect." Lin Tian bowed again. Being able to skip the complex assessment and enter the Sect directly was already an unexpected joy.

"Good. Junior Nephew Wang, take Lin Tian to 'Cuiwei Residence' for temporary lodging, and provide all daily necessities according to the reserve Inner Sect Disciple standard." Elder Li instructed the guard.

"Yes, Elder." The guard surnamed Wang acknowledged and made a gesture for Lin Tian to follow.

Lin Tian thanked Elder Li and followed the guard out of the Guest Reception Hall to "Cuiwei Residence," the temporary residence arranged by the Sect. It was an independent small courtyard located halfway up the mountain, quiet and elegant, with abundant Spiritual Qi, far superior to the foot of the mountain.

Lin Tian settled down there and waited quietly for news.

In the core area of the Qixia Sect, at the peak of the main peak, "Xiaoguang Peak," inside the towering and magnificent "Qixia Hall."

Sect Master Ling Canghai sat on the cloud bed at the head of the hall, wearing a black Daoist robe embroidered with colorful flowing clouds. He looked middle-aged, his gaze gentle and peaceful, yet he possessed a supreme majesty of governing the seven branches and holding the Sect.

Below him on both sides sat the seven Peak Masters, each with a majestic Aura—some fiery, some sharp, some ethereal, some condensed—making the hall look magnificent.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall was not solemn, but rather vaguely... tense.

"This time when opening the mountain to accept Disciples, there were seven people who came with letters of recommendation from influential people in various places or forces with old ties to our Sect." Ling Canghai's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every Peak Master.

"After verification, these seven people are all exceptionally talented, around twenty years old, have reached Rank 3, and have each achieved amazing battle records. According to the old rules of the Sect, they can be directly accepted, exempting them from the outer Sect assessment. Today I summoned you all to discuss how these seven people should be distributed to each branch."

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the seven Peak Masters below brightened, as if they had discovered a rare treasure.

A Genius who could get a recommendation and enter Rank 3 before the age of twenty was rare even in the entire Yun Prefecture. Their future achievements would be limitless, and they were excellent seeds for the Legacy and strengthening of each branch!

Who wouldn't want to accept them as a Disciple?

Ling Canghai's gaze swept over the crowd and continued: "The first one, Lin Tian. Nineteen years old, from Heishan City on the border of Yun Prefecture, recommended by local Imperial Guard Centurion Shen Lian. The letter states that when he was in the Early Stage of Rank 3, he killed a Genius of the same rank with two slashes on an open arena. A month ago, in a melee, he seized the opportunity to kill an old-school Rank 3 Martial Artist, Hall Master Lie Fentian of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, with one punch. He is skilled in blade techniques, his movement technique is also extremely outstanding, and his Heart-Nature is steady, decisive in killing."

Before the voice fell—

"Boom!"

A hot and violent Aura rose suddenly!

Sitting in the first seat on the left, with red hair like fire and a rough face, the Chixia Peak Master Yan Lie slammed his chair armrest, his voice like a bell: "Good boy! Decisive in killing, killing someone of the same rank head-on! This suits my Chixia Peak's appetite! This child, my Chixia Peak wants him! No one is allowed to fight with me!"

"Senior Brother Yan, that is not right." Opposite him, a woman dressed in purple, with a cold and beautiful face, carrying an ancient sword on her back, Peak Master Su Hanyan of Zixia Peak, opened her red lips slightly. Her voice was like ice beads falling on a jade plate, carrying a sharp chill. "The letter says he is skilled in blade techniques and has even practiced that famous 'Wind-Facing Slash' of the Imperial Guard. Although blades and swords are different, his ability to practice this ultimate move to the point of instantly killing someone of the same rank in the Early Stage of Rank 3 shows his talent and Comprehension Ability in the way of weapons. My Zixia Peak's sword Dao needs such a successor with excellent Comprehension Ability who can understand the meaning of speed and sharpness in killing. This child should belong to my Zixia Peak."

"Bullshit!" Yan Lie glared, "Decisive in killing means strong close-quarters attack! He should come to my Chixia Peak to practice fire-element Cultivation Techniques! Playing with blades and swords is a minor path!"

"Senior Brother Yan, please mind your language." Su Hanyan's Phoenix eyes were filled with malice, and Sword Qi was faintly lingering around her.

"Powerful blade techniques? Then he should come to my Jinxia Peak!" A burly man like an iron tower, holding a giant scabbard-less blade, with a face full of flesh, the Jinxia Peak Master Dao Kuang, spoke in a muffled voice, his voice like metal rubbing against metal. "My Jinxia Peak is the authentic blade Dao of the world! What Imperial Guard blade technique, just a wild path! Only by coming to me can his blade Dao talent be truly developed! This kid, I have decided to take him!"

"Heh, movement technique is also extremely outstanding?" Another Peak Master, dressed in green, with a thin face, who seemed to disappear into the wind at any time, Qingxia Peak Master Feng Wuying, chuckled, his voice flickering. "Being able to seize the fleeting opportunity in a melee and kill with one blow, this grasp of timing and the agility of movement technique is probably the key to his victory. Such a good talent and quality, if he doesn't enter my Qingxia Peak to practice the supreme movement technique, wouldn't it be a waste of natural resources? I think it is most appropriate to come to my Qingxia Peak."

"Enough, all of you stop!" Seeing the Peak Masters arguing more and more fiercely, their Auras surging, and the sound of wind and thunder faintly in the hall, Sect Master Ling Canghai, who was sitting at the head, frowned slightly. A vast, sea-like, yet upright and peaceful pressure quietly permeated, instantly suppressing the momentum of several people.

"Look at you, what kind of system is this? Fighting for a Disciple, almost starting a fight in my Qixia Hall?" Ling Canghai's voice was flat, but carried unquestionable majesty. "This child's talent is indeed outstanding, and it is reasonable for you to fight for him. However, the Sect has its own rules. Distributing Disciples requires comprehensive consideration of their talent, strengths, Heart-Nature, and aspirations, and also requires balancing each branch."

His gaze swept over the Peak Masters who were arguing the most fiercely, and finally stopped on Zixia Peak Master Su Hanyan, and said slowly: "Lin Tian, this child, shall be accepted by Zixia Peak."

"Sect Master!" Yan Lie and Dao Kuang spoke almost at the same time, their faces full of dissatisfaction.

Ling Canghai raised his hand to stop them, and explained: "Among the previous generation of Disciples of Zixia Peak, the one personally taught by Junior Sister Su died accidentally while going out for training three years ago, causing a fault in the top Disciples of Zixia Peak. Junior Sister Su has always been depressed. This time, Lin Tian does have bright spots in blade technique and practical combat Comprehension Ability, so it counts as some compensation for Zixia Peak. You two, do not have any more objections."

Hearing this, Yan Lie and Dao Kuang opened their mouths, finally snorted coldly, and turned their heads away. Although they were still dissatisfied, they did not refute anymore.

They naturally knew about the balance within the Sect.

Zixia Peak did indeed lose a Genius who was expected to inherit the position of Peak Master last time, and it was understandable for the Sect Master to tilt slightly this time.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Sect Head!" A rare, genuine smile appeared on Su Hanyan's cold and beautiful face, and she stood up and bowed to Ling Canghai.

Being able to get such a Disciple with amazing potential was of great significance to making up for the fault of Zixia Peak and reviving its prestige.

Ling Canghai nodded slightly, and sent the recommendation letter and materials about Lin Tian to Su Hanyan with a gentle force.

Su Hanyan took it, her jade fingers gently stroking the words "Lin Tian" on the recommendation letter, and her beautiful eyes were filled with different colors. "To be so highly praised by someone like Centurion Shen Lian, and to have the power to kill an old-school Rank 3 at the age of only nineteen... Little guy, don't let me down."

She thought to herself, having made up her mind to go to "Cuiwei Residence" to see this new Disciple later. If it was really as the recommendation letter said, taking him as a personal Disciple and cultivating him carefully was not impossible.

"Alright, Lin Tian's belonging is decided. Next, discuss the distribution of the other six people." Ling Canghai stopped entanglement in this matter and led the topic away.

In the hall, the fight for other Geniuses unfolded again, with lips and tongues like swords, and the atmosphere was warm. Only Zixia Peak Master Su Hanyan was already satisfied, holding the recommendation letter in her slender hand, her thoughts seemingly drifting to that quiet small courtyard named "Cuiwei Residence," starting to think about how to polish this "unpolished jade" that she had unexpectedly obtained.