Chapter 475: Outsiders Predict Failure? The Second Slot Opens! Breakthrough to the Fifth Layer

Chapter 475: Chapter 242: Outsiders Predict Failure? The Second Slot Opens! Breakthrough to the Fifth Layer

Spirit Void Peak.

Clouds and mist swirled, and the soughing of pines filled the air.

Inside a quaint, ancient pavilion, Daoist Wu Wei was playing Go against himself.

On the board, the black and white stones were locked in a fierce, inseparable battle, seeming to contain the profoundest principles of heaven and earth.

“Master.”

A respectful voice broke the tranquility of the place.

Elder Xuan Cheng approached the pavilion at a slow pace. He did not step inside, but remained at the bottom of the stairs, bowing deeply in greeting.

Daoist Wu Wei did not look up. He simply picked up a black stone, placed it gently on a corner of the board, and said calmly:

“Ah, Xuan Cheng. The new disciples have been with the Sect for a month. Today was their first assessment, wasn’t it? How did it go?”

Elder Xuan Cheng straightened, his expression solemn as he reported:

“Reporting to Master, the assessment is complete. This class of disciples shows decent potential.”

“Long Yu’er from Penglai Island and Liu Yunfei from the Central State Liu Family have both reached the third layer. Their foundations are solid and their comprehension is superb. They are the clear standouts in this group.”

“Oh? The third layer in a single month?”

Daoist Wu Wei nodded slightly, a faint smile touching his lips. “Not bad at all. They live up to their reputations as prodigies.”

He paused, toying with a stone between his fingers, and asked casually:

“And what of Jiang Che? How is he faring?”

Upon hearing that name, a peculiar expression crossed Elder Xuan Cheng’s face. He hesitated for a moment before answering truthfully:

“Well… Jiang Che… is currently only at the first layer. And judging by his aura, it seems he only just achieved it recently. His foundation is still shallow.”

“The first layer?”

Daoist Wu Wei’s brow furrowed, and his hand stilled. “Are you certain you saw correctly?”

“I verified it myself. There is no doubt.”

Elder Xuan Cheng gave a wry smile and couldn’t help but add, “Master, while the boy is strong in combat, his comprehension and Dao Heart… they seem…”

Elder Xuan Cheng didn’t state it plainly, but his meaning was perfectly clear.

In his view, someone his Master held in high regard—one who had shone so brilliantly in the Celestial Strategy Guard selection—should at least be in the top three, even if he wasn’t vying for first place.

This last-place performance was simply staggering.

A brief silence fell within the pavilion.

CLICK.

Daoist Wu Wei placed a stone on the board and said slowly,

“Xuan Cheng, you are caught up in appearances.”

“The path of cultivation is like this game of Go. A fast start does not guarantee a win in the end.”

“This Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao places the utmost importance on one’s foundation, and it is the greatest test of temperament. Rushing for speed at the cost of a shallow foundation is the inferior path.”

“Jiang Che has a tenacious temperament. Perhaps… he is intentionally suppressing his Realm to temper his foundation?”

At this, Daoist Wu Wei gave Xuan Cheng a meaningful look.

“As the saying goes, ‘sharpening your axe doesn’t delay chopping firewood.’ Sometimes, slow is fast.”

Hearing this, though doubts still lingered in his heart, Elder Xuan Cheng could only bow and accept the lesson.

“You are right to correct me, Master. I was too impatient.”

“Go now. Continue to observe them, and don’t look down on anyone because of their current standing.”

“Yes. I will take my leave.”

Elder Xuan Cheng’s figure disappeared at the edge of the sea of clouds.

The serene expression on Daoist Wu Wei’s face finally faded away.

He frowned, his fingers tapping gently on the stone table, his eyes filled with doubt.

‘Something’s not right…’

‘Judging by his performance with the Celestial Strategy Guard, there’s no way he should be this slow-witted.’

‘Besides, I even had someone send him an Elemental Fusion Vein Protection Pill…’

‘Could it be… that I’ve truly misjudged him this time?’

‘Or is… this kid playing some kind of trick?’

The mountain wind blew past, rustling a few fallen leaves.

Daoist Wu Wei shook his head, then picked up another stone and placed it firmly on the board.

‘So be it. The truth will reveal itself when the year is up.’

…

…

…

For most new disciples, life on Chuyang Peak was an ordeal, fraught with pressure.

They had to rack their brains and give their all just to convert a sliver of True Qi or earn a couple of Sect points.

However, for the occupant of the East Wing in C Seventy-Two Courtyard, these days were entirely different.

Jiang Che became a regular at the Scripture Pavilion on Duobao Peak.

Like a tireless worker bee, he frantically collected all the unpopular Low Tier weapon-based Cultivation Techniques.

Meteor Hammer Technique, Eight Trigrams Saber, Soul-Seeking Sword, Double Halberd Thirteen Techniques…

He mastered a motley assortment of weapon Cultivation Techniques, one after another. And one by one, whether strong or weak, the resulting Two-Character Talents were continuously fed into [True Nine Li Commander].

…

Time flew by in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed.

It was a pleasant, sunny afternoon.

Jiang Che had just finished a round of cultivation and stepped out into the courtyard.

Bao Da happened to be there as well, sitting by the stone table. He held a teacup in his hands, but his face was a mask of misery.

C Seventy-Two Courtyard was no longer as lively as it had been when the four of them first moved in.

The doors to the southern and northern wing rooms were tightly shut, making the place feel rather desolate.

“Brother Jiang!”

Seeing Jiang Che, Bao Da forced a smile. “Come, have some tea,” he said.

Jiang Che sat down, accepted the cup, and asked casually, “How come you’re the only one here? Where are Lin Xiao and Su Xiaoxiao?”

At the mention of their names, Bao Da’s thick eyebrows knitted together, and he let out a heavy sigh.

“Don’t even ask.”

He gestured toward Lin Xiao’s room. “Lin Xiao joined a small group that does nothing but grind missions. She’s out early and back late every day, working herself to the bone. I hear she’s saved up a lot of points and even bought some nice things. Her standards are higher now. She barely even nods at me anymore, let alone speaks.”

Jiang Che nodded slightly, his expression calm.

“As for Su Xiaoxiao…” Bao Da sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “She’s managed to latch onto a higher branch recently!”

“How so?”

“You know Liu Yunfei, right? The Central State Noble Son who’s ranked tenth among our batch.” Bao Da snorted. “Su Xiaoxiao has been orbiting Liu Yunfei’s clique every day. She probably figures the people in this courtyard have no prospects and wants to run with a better crowd.”