218: Chapter 218 Tao Tao's Breakthrough

"Reporting to Revered Master, this is my newly recruited Disciple, named Xie Chen."

Seeing that Revered Master's gaze was on Lin Qing, Jin Wan stood up and answered.

Jin Wan's Revered Master was Manzhu, one of the five Divine Venerables from before. Lin Qing had never met these five people, so naturally, he could not recognize her.

As for Senior Sister Tao Tao saying that this Grand-Masters Aunt was Level 11 Peak, it was simply because the Divine Venerables had never publicly announced their own Realm.

In fact, it was not just Manzhu of Wanyan Spirit Pavilion who had not told her Disciples; the other four Divine Venerables had also not announced it publicly. Otherwise, the news that someone in this world had reached Level 12 would have spread long ago.

Hearing Jin Wan say that Lin Qing was a newly recruited Disciple, Manzhu immediately understood what had happened.

Her lineage had a rule: after a Disciple reached the Tenth Rank, they must take on five apprentices, no more and no less.

Jin Wan did not like teaching Disciples, yet she still took on so many, simply to follow the Sect rules.

Manzhu remembered that when she came out of seclusion fifty years ago, Jin Wan already had five apprentices. Now that she had recruited a new Disciple, it naturally meant that one of the previous Disciples had fallen.

She swept her gaze across behind Jin Wan, lingering on each person's face for a moment, as if confirming their identities.

"It is Yan Feng who has fallen. How did it happen?"

Yan Feng was that Senior Brother of Senior Sister Tao Tao. This Grand-Masters Aunt was truly as kind as Senior Sister Tao Tao had said; she actually remembered the appearances and information of her grand-apprentices, and even personally inquired when one had fallen.

"Reporting to Revered Master, previously Yan Feng and Senior Sister Tao Tao accepted a Sect mission and unfortunately fell in the Kunxu Secret Realm."

"Kunxu Secret Realm! Was it that Lin Qing who killed him?"

Manzhu's voice was very cold, but the air in the hall became increasingly scorching. Senior Sister Tao Tao hurriedly stood up.

"Reporting to Grand-Masters Aunt, it was not killed by Lin Qing. Senior Brother Yan Feng fell into a trap in the Kunxu Forbidden Ground while protecting me."

Senior Sister Tao Tao did not know what was wrong with herself. She seemed a bit afraid that her fellow Sect members would misunderstand Lin Qing. After hearing Manzhu involve Lin Qing in the matter, she stood up without much thought.

The restless Spiritual Qi in the air gradually calmed down, and Manzhu's voice also became gentle.

"It is Senior Sister Tao Tao. You should have met Lin Qing in the Kunxu Secret Realm, right? What do you think of him?"

"He is actually quite... handsome."

Senior Sister Tao Tao was not someone who cared too much about others' appearances. Manzhu's gentle tone made her relax, so she had wanted to say that Lin Qing was actually quite good without thinking too much. Halfway through, she realized that Lin Qing was now a wanted target by all factions in the Central Continent, so she hastily changed "quite good" to "quite handsome."

The hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone looked at Senior Sister Tao Tao speechlessly. Manzhu also covered her mouth and chuckled twice before saying:

"I was asking you about his talent, strength, and Heart-Nature. Who asked you about his appearance?"

Senior Sister Tao Tao gave a somewhat blank "Oh." Of course, she was pretending, but she managed to get away with it.

"His talent is naturally unique throughout the ages; he has already achieved the God Realm at just over twenty years old."

"His strength is unfathomable. Before becoming a god, he defeated the 9th Rank Peak Ren Wudi, and after becoming a god, he easily slaughtered a 9th Rank Peak Disciple of the Lingxiao Sword Sect."

What Senior Sister Tao Tao said were all the battle achievements that Lin Qing had already exposed. As for Lin Qing killing the other four 9th Rank Peak individuals, she did not mention it.

Only she and Ren Wudi knew about this, and she guessed that Ren Wudi would not speak of it either.

"As for his Heart-Nature, it is hard to evaluate, but he should not be a great villain. The reason he killed that 9th Rank Peak Disciple of the Lingxiao Sword Sect was entirely because the other party provoked him with words and attacked first. Afterward, Lin Qing did not take the initiative to attack anyone else."

Manzhu sat on the main seat, her fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. After a long while, she spoke again:

"Since that is the case, you eighth and ninth rank Disciples, if you encounter him outside, do not go and provoke him."

The banquet was soon halfway over. Manzhu began to test everyone's cultivation. Of course, she could see through everyone's strength at a glance, but she was just using the opportunity to let everyone step forward individually so she could give some guidance and rewards.

Manzhu conducted the test in the order of admission, starting with her eldest Disciple, then that Disciple's apprentices. Jin Wan was Manzhu's youngest Disciple, so her lineage was tested last.

The Disciples of the previous four Masters' generation were all Tenth Rank, and some of their own Disciples had even reached the Tenth Rank.

Soon it was Jin Wan's turn. She stepped forward and stood respectfully beside Manzhu. Manzhu held her hand and then said to the other four Masters:

"If you all don't work harder, your Junior Sister will surpass you."

The four of them were first happy for their Junior Sister's cultivation progress, but then a trace of embarrassment flashed across their faces. It seemed that these Disciples of Manzhu had a really good relationship.

"I don't have any guidance for you for the time being. Continue to maintain your current cultivation rhythm. You should be able to reach the Void Return Realm within ten years."

For Disciples of Jin Wan's generation, Manzhu only provided guidance on cultivation and no substantial rewards. After all, she herself was in seclusion all year round; how could she have so much time to collect so many treasures useful to Tenth Rank Cultivators?

Soon it was Senior Sister Tao Tao's turn to step forward. Manzhu held Senior Sister Tao Tao's hand as usual.

"Hmm?"

Manzhu first let out a sound of confusion, then placed her hand on Senior Sister Tao Tao's head.

"Revered Master!"

Jin Wan immediately let out an anxious sound. Even Lin Qing felt nervous for a moment. Could she be searching Senior Sister Tao Tao's soul?

The nervousness lasted only for an instant before being dispelled by Lin Qing. Senior Sister Tao Tao did not know much about Lin Qing anyway. Manzhu could at most obtain a little more information from her memory about Lin Qing killing the four 9th Rank Peak individuals, or information about subduing the stone Puppet. Even if the other party knew this information, it would have no impact on Lin Qing.

Manzhu waved her other hand, signaling Jin Wan to calm down. Just like that, Manzhu kept her hand on Senior Sister Tao Tao's head for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and then Senior Sister Tao Tao's body began to show double images.

Primordial Spirit!

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Manzhu could actually help someone achieve a Breakthrough to the God Realm. Of course, the root cause was that Senior Sister Tao Tao herself had already reached the threshold.

Another incense stick of time passed, and Senior Sister Tao Tao's Primordial Spirit solidified, her Realm completely stabilized at the God Realm.

"Thank you, Grand-Masters Aunt!"

After the Breakthrough ended, Senior Sister Tao Tao was overjoyed and immediately wanted to kneel. Performing a kowtow to an elder was a very normal thing, especially since the other party had given her such great help.

Manzhu waved her hand to stop her from kneeling and said:

"Alright, I won't give you anything else this time. Go down and properly consolidate your Realm."

Subsequently, Manzhu cast her gaze onto Lin Qing again.

"Xie Chen, you come over as well."