Chapter 468: Xuanji Elder, Issuing the Sacred Edict
Within three years, enter the top ten of the Heavenly Ranking.
Even Ao Xinyan, who was very confident in her own strength, dared not claim she could achieve this in three years.
For others, it was naturally even more impossible.
Too difficult!
Lingshu Half-Saint swept her gaze around and said, "Since none of you are willing to take the position of leader for the first group, then I will appoint someone. Zhang Ruochen, do you have the confidence to enter the top ten of the Heavenly Ranking within three years?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Yes."
Lingshu Half-Saint nodded and said, "Good. In that case, from now on, you are the leader of the first group. When I am not here, all the saint disciples of the first group will be under your management. Of course, as the leader, you must also urge everyone to cultivate diligently, guide their training, and truly set an example."
Hearing Lingshu Half-Saint's words, many among those saint disciples showed expressions of dissatisfaction.
They all felt quite aggrieved.
Who did Zhang Ruochen think he was? Just a country bumpkin with slightly stronger strength, how could he compare to their noble status?
But Lingshu Half-Saint had already asked them earlier, and none of them dared to take the position of leader for the first group. Now that Lingshu Half-Saint had appointed Zhang Ruochen as the leader, if they raised objections, they would surely displease Lingshu Half-Saint.
Thus, those saint disciples who harbored discontent toward Zhang Ruochen all held back.
Lingshu Half-Saint said, "Zhang Ruochen, come with me. The rest of you, dismiss yourselves. You can first familiarize yourselves with the Holy Academy's environment, or go to the Scripture Pavilion to browse cultivation manuals."
Zhang Ruochen followed behind Lingshu Half-Saint, heading toward the depths of the Holy Academy.
After Lingshu Half-Saint and Zhang Ruochen left, the crowd began to discuss.
"How infuriating. From now on, we have to take orders from Zhang Ruochen. Isn't he just a hick from Demon Ridge? What's so great about him?" said a descendant of a saintly clan, quite unwilling, in a cold and sharp tone.
His name was Zuo Qiuling, a descendant of the Zuo Saint Clan, with a cultivation level at the Heavenly Extreme Stage Great Extreme Position. He ranked seventeenth in overall strength within the first group, considered a peerless hero.
At the same time, he was also a suitor of Xi Yunxi, so he harbored considerable hostility toward Zhang Ruochen.
Xi Yunxi stared at Zhang Ruochen's back and said, "I think Teacher Lingshu wants to take him as a disciple, which is why she appointed him as leader."
"That must be it," Zuo Qiuling said.
Present, only Duanmu Xingling, who had remained silent all along, knew that the one who wanted to take Zhang Ruochen as a disciple was not Lingshu Half-Saint, but the Second Academy Master, Xuanji Elder.
Now, Lingshu Half-Saint was probably taking Zhang Ruochen to meet Xuanji Elder.
Lingshu Half-Saint led Zhang Ruochen to the depths of the Holy Academy, to the Sacred Mountain.
Looking from afar, the Sacred Mountain resembled a dark green dragon, lying horizontally on the horizon. The mountain's elevation reached up to eight thousand meters, with countless strange peaks standing tall within. The mountain top was covered in white snow, shrouded in mist and clouds, like a place where immortals dwelled in seclusion.
Before even entering the Sacred Mountain, Zhang Ruochen felt an exceptionally rich spiritual energy rushing toward him.
"Ahead is the Sacred Mountain. Only those who have reached the Half-Saint realm can carve out a cave dwelling within it, allowing them to cultivate here year-round," Lingshu Half-Saint explained to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Legend has it that at the bottom of the Sacred Mountain lies a sacred vein that has been deposited for over a hundred million years. This sacred vein can release thin sacred qi. If a Heavenly Extreme Stage martial artist cultivates in the Sacred Mountain, their cultivation speed can reach ten times the normal rate."
"That's right. There is indeed a sacred vein at the bottom of the Sacred Mountain. A tenfold cultivation speed seems a bit exaggerated, but a fivefold or more speed is achievable."
Lingshu Half-Saint glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Actually, saint disciples of the Holy Academy can enter the Sacred Mountain to cultivate for one day once they accumulate ten thousand merit points."
"Merit points can be exchanged for military merit points. So, Zhang Ruochen, I still recommend you spend some time training on the Ruins Realm battlefield, striving to break through to the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Heavenly Extreme Stage."
"Although the Ruins Realm battlefield is extremely dangerous, it is also a good place to temper yourself. Even if you can't reach the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Heavenly Extreme Stage, more training time will bring endless benefits when you later break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Lingshu."
"Don't call me teacher. Soon, you might have to call me senior sister. Come on, follow me to see Academy Master Xuanji."
Under Lingshu Half-Saint's lead, Zhang Ruochen entered the Sacred Mountain and arrived at a secluded valley full of pear trees.
In the forest, pear blossoms were in full bloom, their petals pure white and flawless, emitting a faint fragrance.
The ground was also covered with a thick layer of petals, like snow.
Zhang Ruochen channeled his true qi to the leg meridians, stepping on a wave of air as he walked, not crushing a single petal. At the same time, he observed the surrounding pear trees, growing more astonished, and asked, "Could these pear trees in this garden be the legendary Spiritual Crane Pears?"
Lingshu Half-Saint looked at Zhang Ruochen with some surprise and smiled, "You have some insight. Yes, this garden is called the Spiritual Crane Pear Garden, and it grows three thousand six hundred Spiritual Crane Pear trees."
"Spiritual Crane Pear trees bloom for three hundred years, bear fruit for three hundred years, and ripen for three hundred years. Eating one Spiritual Crane Pear not only enhances cultivation and opens spiritual wisdom but also increases a cultivator's lifespan by thirty years. When I broke through to the Half-Saint realm, my master gave me one Spiritual Crane Pear."
Zhang Ruochen nodded, marveling inwardly.
He thought to himself, the Holy Academy actually grows so many Spiritual Crane Pears. The Martial Market Bank's foundation is indeed unmatched by other sects and clans.
Passing through the pear garden, a steep black cliff appeared ahead. On the cliff, a waterfall cascaded down, like a thousand-foot white silk flying down from the nine heavens.
Below the cliff, on an irregular stone platform, sat an old man with white hair, white beard, and white robes. His aged hand, covered in wrinkles, held a bronze brush, writing something on a piece of green silk.
Lingshu Half-Saint knelt on one knee, bowing to the old man, and said, "Disciple Lingshu pays respects to Master."
"So, he is the renowned Xuanji Elder, one of the three Sword Saints of the Eastern Domain."
Zhang Ruochen also quickly knelt, clasped his fists in salute, not daring any disrespect.
"Haha! Both of you, rise!"
Xuanji Elder let out a hearty laugh, stopping his hand and setting down the brush.
Without any visible technique, Zhang Ruochen and Lingshu Half-Saint automatically stood up.
"Swish——"
The moment the brush stopped, the piece of silk on the stone platform immediately emitted a dazzling light, transforming into a sacred edict.
This was a true sacred edict, containing the sacred power of a saint, representing the saint's will and decision.
Xuanji Elder glanced at Zhang Ruochen, nodded with a smile, and said, "Not bad, truly not bad. Your sword dao realm should be nearing the middle stage of Sword Heart Illumination."
Lingshu Half-Saint knew Xuanji Elder well, understanding that he rarely praised his disciples easily. Yet today, he had uttered two "not bads" in succession. This showed that Zhang Ruochen's talent was truly remarkable.
Zhang Ruochen just stood aside, listening quietly.
Xuanji Elder's expression turned serious, and he said, "I have taken five disciples in total. Even the one with the most cultivation, Lingshu, has now stepped into the Half-Saint realm. Zhang Ruochen, are you willing to become my sixth disciple?"
"Junior is willing."
Zhang Ruochen did not refuse, kneeling again and bowing his head in salute: "Disciple pays respects to Master."
Xuanji Elder stood up, let out a loud laugh, and said, "In that case, receive the edict!"
With a gentle flick of his arm, the green sacred edict flew from Xuanji Elder's hand and landed before Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen extended both hands, caught the sacred edict, and held it in his palms.
The text written on the sacred edict recorded the content of taking Zhang Ruochen as a disciple. Every character shone with golden light, containing the will of a saint.
A saint taking a disciple was not a simple act of apprenticeship; it was a very significant decision for a saint, requiring the issuance of a sacred edict to affirm the disciple's identity.
Thus, only cultivators holding a sacred edict could be called "Saint's Heirs."
The sacred edict proved their identity.
Xuanji Elder smiled and said, "That sacred edict contains a portion of my sacred power. If you encounter a danger you cannot handle, just unfold the sacred edict, and the sacred qi will carry you instantly to a place ten thousand miles away, allowing you to escape the calamity."
"Of course, once the sacred qi on the edict is exhausted, it will lose its effect. So, unless absolutely necessary, you should still rely on your own strength to overcome difficulties."
"Disciple will heed Master's teachings," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xuanji Elder said, "Before you reach the Half-Saint realm, your fifth senior sister, Lingshu, will teach you cultivation methods on my behalf. What do you think?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Lingshu Half-Saint and said, "Fifth senior sister's cultivation is profound, and her sword dao realm far surpasses mine. Disciple will certainly learn much from her."
Xuanji Elder nodded and said, "In that case, you may withdraw now. If you have urgent matters, you can come to the Sacred Mountain with the sacred edict to find me; no one will stop you."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred, feeling that Xuanji Elder's words were hinting at something.
"Right! He said that holding the sacred edict allows unimpeded entry into the Sacred Mountain. Isn't he telling me that I can freely enter the Sacred Mountain to cultivate?"
Zhang Ruochen felt a surge of joy, suddenly realizing that becoming Xuanji Elder's disciple was indeed very worthwhile.
Other saint disciples needed to accumulate ten thousand merit points to enter the Sacred Mountain for one day of cultivation. But he, without any merit points, could enter the Sacred Mountain to cultivate. What a huge gain!
Seeing the change in Zhang Ruochen's expression, Xuanji Elder knew that Zhang Ruochen had understood the meaning behind his words. It seemed he was indeed a clever young man, worthy of teaching.
"Lingshu, stay. I have some matters to discuss with you."
Xuanji Elder kept Lingshu Half-Saint behind, while Zhang Ruochen left the Spiritual Crane Pear Garden first, heading out of the Sacred Mountain.
Just as he exited the Sacred Mountain, Zhang Ruochen once again encountered the proud daughter of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan, Ao Xinyan.
Ao Xinyan had been taken as a disciple by a Half-Saint and was also walking out of the Sacred Mountain.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, she immediately quickened her pace to catch up, calling out from afar, "Zhang Ruochen, fight me! Today, we must decide the victor!"
(Feitian Yu's WeChat public account: 5.)