Chapter 391 - 146: Key Disciple Training (4)
Si Jiawen’s hand trembled slightly as she took the rice paper, a jolt running through her.
She knew full well this was no ordinary list.
This was the candidate list for disciples slated for special training, to be submitted to the sect. Once the sect approved it, the selected disciples would receive a vast amount of the sect’s resources.
Whether it was Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, or access to Training Rooms, these resources were far beyond what ordinary Inner Sect Disciples could hope for. The benefits were immense.
The veteran Inner Sect Disciples of Lingxi Peak who had heard the news were practically tearing each other apart for one of these few spots, even resorting to competing in private.
Logically, Yang Jing was just a newcomer recently promoted to the Inner Sect. In terms of seniority, he was far behind the Inner Strength Disciples who had been cultivating arduously on the peak for years.
In terms of performance, his only noteworthy achievement was passing the Dragon Gate’s martial trial. He had no other outstanding accomplishments and shouldn’t have been on this list at all.
She had only made an exception and added Yang Jing because she knew of her master’s bet with Qin Gang, the Peak Master of Zhenyue Peak. Thinking she could help Yang Jing secure some opportunities, she had placed his name at the very end, just to round out the numbers.
But she never imagined she had underestimated how highly her master thought of Yang Jing.
Her master actually wanted to place Yang Jing’s name at the top of the second row!
She knew that the order of the names on the list represented the official stance of all of Lingxi Peak.
The higher a name was on the list, the more importance the Peak Master placed on that person, and the lower the chance of being rejected during the sect’s review.
For a newly promoted disciple like Yang Jing to be ranked above a crowd of veteran Inner Strength Disciples would surely attract considerable controversy if word got out.
’This felt somewhat inappropriate,’ Si Jiawen thought. But looking into her master’s indifferent eyes, she knew her master’s mind was made up and her decision was not to be questioned.
She could only suppress her thoughts, bowing as she replied, "Yes. This disciple will move Yang Jing’s name to the top of the second row upon my return."
Bai Bing nodded lightly, her tone placid. "Once it’s properly arranged, send it directly to the Main Peak."
"As you command, Master." Si Jiawen bowed again. Then, cradling the rice paper, she tiptoed out of Lingxi Hall.
The heavy doors of the hall slowly swung shut, and silence once again descended upon Lingxi Hall. Only Bai Bing remained, sitting cross-legged on her cattail cushion.
Her gaze fell upon the doors, a thoughtful glint in her eyes.
She had already learned that Yang Jing had ultimately chosen the Mountain-Breaking Seal at the Talent Pavilion.
’That martial art is indeed formidable,’ she mused. ’Its power is comparable to a Top-grade True Skill, but the difficulty of cultivating it is astonishingly high, and its bottleneck is particularly unyielding. An ordinary disciple would likely be tormented by it for a long time without ever breaking through.’
’But Yang Jing is different. That boy may have poor spiritual roots, but his talent is extraordinary. He mastered three martial arts, including the Indestructible True Skill, to the point of transforming his strength in a short amount of time. How could he not have other talents?’
’His Cultivation speed far surpasses that of an ordinary person. Perhaps he can truly forge his own path.’
Bai Bing mused that if Yang Jing successfully joined the ranks of the sect’s specially trained disciples, then combined with the generous rewards from the Cyan Qilin Battle, his chances of breaking through to the Qi Eating Realm would increase significantly.
At that time, if she personally intervened to give him a helping hand, the boy’s chances of breaking through to the Qi Eating Realm would be even greater.
She wasn’t too concerned about her bet with Peak Master Zhenyue. What she truly valued was Yang Jing himself.
But if she could get a few treasures from Qin Gang in the process, well, that would be even better.
...
「Meanwhile.」
Si Jiawen was walking slowly out of Lingxi Hall.
Outside, the mist had not yet fully dissipated. It dampened the hem of her moon-white robe, leaving a cool, refreshing chill.
She smoothed the corner of her sleeve, already planning her next steps. ’I’ll adjust the special training candidate list as soon as I get back, moving Yang Jing’s name from the bottom of the second row to the top. Then I’ll send it to the Main Peak’s Steward Hall immediately. Best not to let things drag on.’
Beyond Lingxi Hall lay Lingxi Plaza, its bluestone pavers slick with morning dew and shimmering faintly in the light.
Just as Si Jiawen descended the White Jade Steps before the hall, she noticed a group of people gathered on the west side of the plaza. About a dozen Inner Sect Disciples were huddled together, murmuring about something, their discussion punctuated by occasional gasps of surprise.
"Oh?"
Si Jiawen raised an eyebrow and headed toward the crowd.
As she drew near, the disciples at the edge of the crowd were the first to spot her familiar, moon-white figure. They immediately fell silent, bowing in respect. "Greetings, Senior Sister!"
Hearing the commotion, the other disciples turned, bowed respectfully to Si Jiawen, and parted to form a path to the center of the circle.
Si Jiawen walked into the center of the crowd. Standing there was a slender young man with handsome, delicate features.
He wore the white robes of the Inner Sect and had an easy, familiar smile. Seeing Si Jiawen approach, he immediately bowed. "Disciple Lin Ziheng pays his respects to Senior Sister!"
Si Jiawen sized him up, her tone even. "Lin Ziheng. Judging by this crowd, I take it your Spirit Tide Dragon and Tiger List has been updated?"
The Spirit Tide Dragon and Tiger List was a power ranking for Lingxi Peak disciples below the Qi Eating Realm, specially compiled by Lin Ziheng, who called himself ’Bai Xiaosheng’.
Although he hadn’t yet broken through to the Qi Eating Realm and his Cultivation wasn’t considered top-tier among the Inner Sect Disciples, he came from the Lin Family—the most prominent family in Jintai Prefecture. He had been well-read and worldly since childhood and was exceptionally skilled at socializing and gathering information.
There was almost nothing he didn’t know about Lingxi Peak, from the most trivial gossip to the relative strengths of the disciples.
Because of his access to information and his unique insight, the Dragon and Tiger List he compiled was highly credible and well-respected among the Inner Sect Disciples. Every update drew a crowd of spectators and sparked lively discussion.
The smile on Lin Ziheng’s face widened. He quickly pulled a neatly folded sheet of yellow paper from his robes and presented it to Si Jiawen with both hands. "Senior Sister is as sharp-eyed as ever! I just finished updating it and was looking for a chance to show it to you."
Si Jiawen took the paper and unfolded it.
Rows of names were written neatly on the paper in black ink.
First: Zhang Hengyi.
Second: Chen Xuexiang.
Third: Qin Shouwang...
These were all veteran disciples of Lingxi Peak at the Inner Strength Level. Their Cultivation was profound and their power was formidable, so it was no surprise that they perennially occupied the top spots on the Dragon and Tiger List.
She gave the list a quick scan before casually tossing the yellow paper back to Lin Ziheng.
Lin Ziheng’s reflexes were sharp. He caught the list deftly, stuffed it back into his robes, and patted his chest as if afraid the precious document might get damaged.
A faint smile touched Si Jiawen’s eyes as she watched his antics. She then raised a hand and beckoned him closer.
Lin Ziheng understood immediately. He took a few steps closer, bowed slightly, and asked in a hushed voice, "Does Senior Sister have an order for me?"
Si Jiawen glanced at their surroundings.
Seeing this, the surrounding disciples tactfully took a few steps back, forming a wide semicircle and no longer trying to eavesdrop.
Si Jiawen leaned in and whispered in Lin Ziheng’s ear, "I know someone whose potential alone is enough to place him at the very top of your Spirit Tide Dragon and Tiger List."
"What?"
Lin Ziheng’s eyes flew open in surprise.
’The strength of Zhang Hengyi and the other two is already widely acknowledged on the peak,’ he thought. ’Who could possibly surpass them to claim the top spot?’
He paused, then quickly pressed, "Senior Sister, who are you talking about?"
Si Jiawen didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she gestured for him to come even closer.
Lin Ziheng scrambled closer, pressing in until he was nearly touching Si Jiawen’s side. He pricked up his ears, afraid he might miss a single word.
Si Jiawen tilted her head, her lips almost brushing his ear as she spoke two words.
Lin Ziheng froze. His pupils constricted, and his face was a mask of utter astonishment, as if he had just heard the most unbelievable story.
Si Jiawen clasped her hands behind her back and gave Lin Ziheng a cool glance. "You don’t believe me? Care to make a bet?"
"I believe you! I believe you! I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."