Chapter 393: Half-Saint Takes Disciples
Destined for Buddhism?
Applying to the Buddhist Department?
Chang Qiqi turned around and looked at the round, fat monk. Upon seeing him, he was immediately startled—what a massive figure. The bodies of the others only reached up to his thighs.
He was definitely not a normal human.
Moreover, his cultivation seemed unfathomably deep, making him completely unreadable.
After all, this was the Holy Academy, so encountering an expert was a perfectly normal occurrence.
To be honest, Chang Qiqi didn't really take him seriously. He himself had obtained the Golden Dragon's dragon blood and had climbed to the forty-fourth step of the Heavenly Ladder, making him a first-rate genius. Placed in the Demon Ridge, he would be a legendary figure in martial arts, a top-tier big shot.
Even if he wasn't as powerful as the big monk now, he could still surpass him in the future.
Chang Qiqi circled the big monk twice, let out a light, airy laugh, and said, "Monk, what's the difference between joining the Buddhist Department and becoming a monk? Who do you think you are? My senior brother and I are both proud sons of heaven. In the future, we'll drink wine, eat meat, and sleep with women. How could a mere Buddhist Department accommodate someone like us…"
Chang Qiqi wanted to continue, but Lei Jing grabbed him by the neck and pulled him back, barking a reprimand: "How dare you! Do you know who is standing before you?"
Chang Qiqi was startled by the powerful aura emanating from Lei Jing. The explosive shout Lei Jing had just let out was like a thunderclap crashing into his ears, making his scalp tingle.
"Who… who is it?"
Chang Qiqi was terrified. He had never seen Lei Jing, the Pavilion Master, look so stern.
Lei Jing knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully to the big monk, saying, "Student Lei Jing pays respects to Half-Saint A Lan."
"Half… Saint…"
Chang Qiqi's eyes nearly bulged out. He couldn't see how this big monk looked anything like a Half-Saint.
"Paying respects to the Half-Saint."
Zhang Ruochen, Luo Shuihan, Si Xingkong, Duanmu Xingling, Huang Yanchen, and Chen Xi'er immediately knelt on one knee and bowed to Half-Saint A Lan as well.
It was said that figures at the Half-Saint level could generally live over two hundred years, possessed vast knowledge, had immense life force, and possessed the combat power to wrestle with dragons and phoenixes. They could establish sacred temples and absorb the incense offerings of ten thousand households.
Those who could become Half-Saints were not merely powerful in strength; their understanding of the Sacred Path, martial arts, and the human path had reached a state of profound clarity.
To cultivate to the Half-Saint realm, it wasn't enough to just practice cultivation techniques. One also had to constantly contemplate life and the martial arts of a hundred schools, ultimately forming a sliver of one's own Dao.
Thus, those who reached the Half-Saint level were all extraordinary beings, each one a heroic figure who had cultivated martial arts and the Sacred Path to an extremely profound and mysterious realm. They deserved the respect, admiration, and even worship of all martial artists.
"Thump!"
Chang Qiqi's legs went weak, and he fell directly to his knees, pressing his face to the ground and sticking his rear end up. He stammered, "Monk… no… Half-Saint A Lan, Half-Saint Grandfather, I didn't mean to say that earlier. I really didn't know your esteemed identity. Please punish me."
Chang Qiqi felt like crying. He immediately set aside his pride and re-evaluated his position. In the Eastern Domain Sacred City, his meager cultivation was truly nothing in front of real big shots. From now on, he would have to be more humble.
"Haha! All of you, rise!"
Half-Saint A Lan appeared very amiable. He laughed, and with a slight raise of his arm, an invisible force lifted everyone up, making them stand straight again.
Half-Saint A Lan's gaze swept over the group, and he nodded. "If this humble monk is not mistaken, all of you have refined the Golden Dragon's dragon blood, correct?"
Before a Half-Saint, it was difficult to keep secrets, and everyone nodded.
Half-Saint A Lan took two steps forward, arriving before Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi. "The Golden Dragon was a sage of the Buddhist sect. It wasn't just powerful in strength; its wisdom and knowledge were the true treasure troves."
"The dragon blood within you two hasn't been fully refined yet. If you cultivate this humble monk's Buddhist teachings, you can stimulate part of the Golden Dragon's wisdom and knowledge. This will be greatly beneficial for your breakthrough to the Fish-Dragon Realm, and even for your future breakthrough to the Half-Saint Realm."
Before Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi could react, Lei Jing's eyes lit up. He understood Half-Saint A Lan's intention and immediately roared, "Half-Saint A Lan wishes to take you two as disciples. Why haven't you knelt down and kowtowed in thanks?"
Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi were both clever. After realizing what was happening, they were ecstatic. This was a Half-Saint! Countless people would vie to become a Half-Saint's successor.
"Greetings, Master."
Just as they were about to kneel and perform the ceremony again…
Half-Saint A Lan smiled and shook his head. "No rush, no rush. To become this humble monk's disciple, you must first pass three rounds of assessment. However, before that, you two must enroll in the Buddhist Department."
"No problem. My senior brother and I will go report to the Buddhist Department right now."
The opportunity to become a Half-Saint's successor was a huge stroke of luck, not to be missed.
Even if it meant becoming a monk, countless talented youths would fight for the chance. Of course, joining the Buddhist Department only made them lay disciples of the Buddhist sect, not actual monks.
Fearing that Half-Saint A Lan might suddenly change his mind, Chang Qiqi and Si Xingkong took their leave and immediately rushed to the Buddhist Department's registration office.
Zhang Ruochen was happy for them, being able to become a Half-Saint's disciple. From now on, they would have someone to protect them in the Eastern Domain Sacred City, a solid backing.
Half-Saint A Lan's gaze fixed deeply on Zhang Ruochen, and he said with a meaningful smile, "Little benefactor, you must have obtained the Golden Dragon's dragon pearl, correct?"
Zhang Ruochen didn't hide it. "That's right."
Half-Saint A Lan nodded and asked in a questioning tone, "Would you be willing to join the Buddhist Department?"
"Half-Saint A Lan, is it really appropriate for you to poach my junior brother like this?" a woman's voice rang out.
"Whoosh!"
A flash of red light streaked down and landed on Half-Saint A Lan's shoulder, transforming into a beautiful figure.
Zhang Ruochen looked closely. Standing on Half-Saint A Lan's left shoulder was a three-inch-tall woman in red robes. Though her body was extremely petite, her proportions were perfect, and she possessed a peerless beauty.
She carried a sword on her back, had a rather cold and proud demeanor, and stared at Zhang Ruochen. "Zhang Ruochen, your swordsmanship has reached the Sword Heart Illumination realm. You clearly should join the Sword Dao Department."
Lei Jing had never seen this woman before in the Holy Academy, so he didn't know her identity.
However, he could feel her power—the aura of a Half-Saint. He immediately bowed again. "Student Lei Jing pays respects to the Half-Saint."
Another Half-Saint?
Zhang Ruochen and the others also immediately followed suit in paying their respects.
"My name is Ling Shu."
Half-Saint Ling Shu introduced herself simply, then looked back at Zhang Ruochen. "I have come on behalf of my master to ask you: are you willing to become his disciple?"
A Half-Saint was already an incredibly impressive figure. How powerful must the master of a Half-Saint be?
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. "May I ask Half-Saint Ling Shu, what is the name of that senior?"
Half-Saint Ling Shu said proudly, "My master is one of the ten Academy Heads of the Holy Academy, the Venerable Xuanji. He is very interested in you and hopes you will enroll in the Sword Dao Department. He also wishes to take you as his disciple."
Hearing this, even Half-Saint A Lan became solemn and no longer dared to bring up the matter of taking disciples.
The person the Academy Head Xuanji had his eye on was not someone he could compete for.
Lei Jing was shocked and quickly said, "Zhang Ruochen, Academy Head Xuanji is known as one of the three Sword Saints of the Eastern Domain. His reputation is widespread. Among the ten Academy Heads of the Eastern Domain Holy Academy, his combat power ranks second, second only to the First Academy Head."
"In fact, the First Academy Head has long since stopped concerning himself with the affairs of the Holy Academy. He travels the world, contemplating the supreme Sacred Path. He is like a dragon that shows its head but not its tail, and in the last hundred years, he hasn't even appeared. So, Academy Head Xuanji can be considered the number one figure of the Eastern Domain Holy Academy."
Huang Yanchen was also very happy for Zhang Ruochen to have gained the favor of the Venerable Xuanji. She quickly tugged at Zhang Ruochen's sleeve. "Zhang Ruochen, what are you hesitating for? Agree quickly. If you become Academy Head Xuanji's disciple, even the four great Saint clans won't dare to touch you."
Urged on by everyone, Zhang Ruochen still had some concerns and worries.
He had too many secrets. Before an ordinary Half-Saint, he might be able to hide them.
But before a being like the Venerable Xuanji, could he still hide them? Zhang Ruochen had no confidence in that at all.
Half-Saint Ling Shu was also a bit speechless. If any other student had gained the appreciation of an Academy Head, they would have been ecstatic and knelt down to kowtow in thanks long ago.
But this kid was actually hesitating.
What was wrong with him?
Half-Saint Ling Shu thought Zhang Ruochen was worried that the Venerable Xuanji had ulterior motives for him, so she said, "My master already knows you've refined the Golden Dragon's dragon pearl. Rest assured, I have no interest in your dragon pearl, and my master has even less interest. If anyone dares to set their sights on you, even if my master doesn't step in, I, as your senior sister, will step in to help you deal with the trouble."
Half-Saint Ling Shu made her meaning very clear, afraid that Zhang Ruochen would have misgivings.
For an Academy Head of the Holy Academy, if they wanted to seize a treasure, they wouldn't use such a lowly method. The Holy Academy had developed from the Middle Ages to the present day precisely by passing down the torch of selecting the worthy and capable, enjoying a very high reputation in the Kunlun Realm.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Of course, I believe Half-Saint Ling Shu and Academy Head Xuanji. However, it seems a bit too early to pay respects to Academy Head Xuanji as my master before I've even passed the three rounds of assessment."
Half-Saint Ling Shu nodded. "Very well. After your three rounds of assessment, I will come to find you again."
After Half-Saint A Lan and Half-Saint Ling Shu left, several other Half-Saints appeared to discuss taking on disciples.
Those who had refined the Golden Dragon's dragon blood had obtained part of the Golden Dragon's inheritance. Such martial artists were naturally the targets Half-Saints competed for.
In the end, Chen Xi'er, Duanmu Xingling, and Huang Yanchen each reached agreements with one of the Half-Saints. Once they passed the three rounds of assessment, they would become disciples of that Half-Saint.
(There is still one more chapter.)