Halting his cultivation, Ling Xiao stepped out of the Practice Room’s door.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and a red sun slowly rose above the horizon.
"Young Master, you’ve finally come out."
Leng Mei leaned against the corridor outside the door, and on seeing Ling Xiao, her face lit up with ecstatic joy.
"Hmm? Your cultivation level has actually advanced to the Martial Vein Seventh Layer Peak, not bad at all."
Leng Mei’s physical potential was also very high; it was just that she didn’t have good conditions before. Now that she has become an entry-level disciple of Master Baiyun, her cultivation speed naturally skyrocketed.
"Mine is nothing. Shi Lei, Sister Yi Xue, Butterfly Dance, Zhu Hua, and Fei Yu have all advanced to the early stages of Martial Vein Eighth Layer cultivation. Dai Yuling has even reached the late stage of Martial Vein Eighth Layer cultivation. Zuo Leng has advanced to the early stages of the Martial Pulse Ninth Level, and Ming Tian to the late stages of the Martial Pulse Ninth Level. They are all stronger than me."
Leng Mei said with a wry smile.
"Don’t worry. You just had a lower cultivation level before. You will catch up."
"Young Master, don’t worry; Leng Mei won’t be discouraged."
Leng Mei said with a smile.
"That’s good, but you must be waiting here for a reason, right?"
"Yes, the master said that as soon as you come out, go straight to the True Spirit Hall. There’s just over a month left before the Hidden World Sect begins recruiting disciples. He must be getting ready to select three recommendation spots."
Ling Xiao nodded, and then the two of them quickly made their way to the True Spirit Hall.
Inside the True Spirit Hall, besides Leng Mei and Ling Xiao, everyone else had already arrived.
"Humph, such a big show-off, daring to be late when the master has called a meeting?"
Fei Yu, having just broken through to the Eighth Layer Cultivation of Martial Veins, felt his chance for revenge had come.
He seemed to realize as well that he couldn’t delay the matter of revenge any longer. If he kept dragging it out, sooner or later, Ling Xiao would surpass him, and then he would have no chance left.
Upon seeing Ling Xiao today, he had the intention of deliberately provoking him.
By getting Ling Xiao to strike first, he could then propose a duel at the Cliff of Life and Death, thus making his revenge seamless.
It was just unfortunate for him that Ling Xiao did not even pay him any attention and instead bowed to Master Baiyun, saying, "Disciple has just learned of the Master’s summons!"
"Never mind, sit down."
Master Baiyun waved his hand and did not blame Ling Xiao.
In reality, the reason the meeting was delayed until today was because several disciples were in closed-door cultivation, and he had estimated that today, they would all come out based on the aura of each Practice Room.
It was only that Ling Xiao came out slightly later, and there was no point in blaming him for that.
Ling Xiao sat down cross-legged.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, let’s get down to business."
As he said this, Master Baiyun looked somewhat indulgently at Ming Tian and Zuo Leng.
Without a doubt, these two were the disciples he valued most, and they had not disappointed him.
Both had broken through to the Martial Pulse Ninth Level by the age of sixteen, which was incredibly rare.
Moreover, although Ming Tian’s cultivation was only at the Martial Pulse Ninth Level late stage for now, his strength was nearly unbeatable within the Ninth Level.
Even Lin Ze, the White Cloud Sect Leader, and Wan Ben were left behind by him.
Zuo Leng, having just broken through to the Martial Pulse Ninth Level, also possessed the power to battle on equal terms with people like Lin Ze.
That’s what geniuses are—a breed apart from ordinary people.
The progress of a genius is several times, even tens of times more than that of an ordinary person.
"In just over a month, the Moon Hua Sect’s disciple recruitment ceremony will begin. Are you confident about passing the Moon Hua Sect’s examination?"
Master Baiyun’s tone was full of expectation.
"Master, rest assured, not only will your disciple pass the examination, but he will also become the most outstanding disciple of the Moon Hua Sect. He will certainly not disgrace you!"
"I will not be outdone by Ming Tian either,"
Ming Tian and Zuo Leng said in succession.
Before the others could speak, Master Baiyun already burst into hearty laughter, "Haha, good, very good! You are indeed the most outstanding disciples of your master. I absolutely believe you!"
It seemed that in Master Baiyun’s eyes, only these two people were worthy enough to pass the assessment; he thus neglected the rest of the disciples and pushed them aside without concern.
A moment later, he continued, "You all know that I have three recommendation spots. Two of them I’ve given to Ming Tian and Zuo Leng. None of you have any objections, right?"
Ling Xiao couldn’t help but frown.
Although he had expected this outcome, the fact that Master Baiyun so readily awarded two spots to Ming Tian and Zuo Leng without any assessment still made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
This show of favoritism by a master was a bit too much, and it wasn’t the first or second time.
However, since there was still one spot left, he didn’t say anything.
After all, here, aside from Ming Tian and Zuo Leng, none of the other disciples were a match for him, both in terms of strength and potential.
If he kept silent, the others were even less inclined to speak up.
"Alright, the reason I called you here today is this matter. Now, return to your cultivation," the master said.
Just as the remaining ten disciples were waiting for Master Baiyun to decide the owner of the third spot, he waved his hand, indicating that everyone should return to their training.
"Master, isn’t there still one spot left?" Dai Yuling couldn’t resist asking.
Aside from Ming Tian and Zuo Leng, she was the one with the highest cultivation level.
Of course, Ling Xiao was an exception.
Therefore, she was very concerned about this third spot.
"The third spot has already been decided by me for someone else. Giving it to you would be too wasteful. After all, the expansion of recruitments hasn’t happened for over ten thousand years and may only occur once every few years. If you fail the assessment, it’s a complete waste," Master Baiyun said expressionlessly.
His words left the rest of the ten completely dumbfounded.
It was already bad enough that he’d given two spots to Ming Tian and Zuo Leng, but to give the remaining one to someone else was just too much.
"Disciple disagrees!" Dai Yuling couldn’t accept this. After all, she was a true disciple of Master Baiyun.
"You disagree? I can tell you that the recipient of the other spot has potential no less than Ming Tian and Zuo Leng, and their strength is on par with Zuo Leng. Do you think you stand a chance?" Master Baiyun scrutinized Dai Yuling. "Enough, don’t make a scene. You are, after all, a true disciple of mine. I will nurture you fully in the future. Although it won’t be as good as joining the sect, it is still possible for you to advance to the Transcendent Realm."
Dai Yuling sat back down, her face turning somewhat pale.
"Master, I too disagree!" Ling Xiao slowly stood up, his expression calm as he looked at Master Baiyun.
He could no longer stay silent at this point. No matter what, he had to fight for a spot to enter the Moon Hua Sect, which was an opportunity to open up a new world, perhaps even the only chance.
"You too disagree?" Master Baiyun frowned. "Do you really think that you are better than Ming Tian and Zuo Leng?"
"Indeed!" Ling Xiao answered indifferently.
"Hahaha." Over there, Ming Tian laughed unrestrainedly.
Zuo Leng also showed a disdainful cold smirk.
They had seen people overestimating themselves, but never someone as delusional as this.
Master Baiyun mocked as well, "Very well, I am curious to see just how capable a ’genius’ favored by Lin Ze is, and whether I will regret it!"
"Master, why bother listening to this kid’s nonsense? Just expel him from the sect," Ming Tian said.
"Indeed, Master, this person has betrayed and insulted their lineage. There is no need to keep them," Zuo Leng added.
"To do so would make me seem narrow-minded. Alright, Ling Xiao, I’ll give you a chance," Master Baiyun said with a faint smile.