Chapter 214: Shi Hao Arrives at the Door

At that moment, in the main hall, the Sect Leaders of the God-Serving Sect and the Phantom Moon Sect were happily chatting with Mao Ping and others from the Azure Cloud Sect.

The main hall was decorated with elegance and solemnity; the thin blue smoke curling from the incense burner added a touch of harmony to the atmosphere.

Everyone sipped fragrant tea while chatting and laughing.

The topic of conversation was mostly about Shi Hao, this exceptionally gifted disciple.

Given Shi Hao's talent, he was very likely to place eighth in the upcoming competition.

And thereby gain the opportunity to pursue further studies at either the God-Serving Sect or the Phantom Moon Sect.

Everyone felt that no matter which sect Shi Hao ultimately joined, he was destined to rise to great prominence.

Having been suppressed for so long in the Azure Cloud Sect by the two monsters, Li Yilan and Ye Xiaojie, he was finally about to have his moment to outshine everyone.

All the elders felt genuine joy for Shi Hao.

They imagined Shi Hao shining brilliantly on his cultivation path, bringing glory to the Azure Cloud Sect.

Thus, every face was lit with a relieved smile.

Just then.

The gate guard rushed into the main hall in a panic, shouting as he ran.

"Grand Elder."

"Grand Elder, something serious has happened."

"Something serious has happened!"

The people, who had been smiling with delight, heard this urgent shout; their smiles froze instantly, and they inevitably felt a bit gloomy.

This sudden turn of events shattered the previously harmonious atmosphere.

Mao Ping furrowed his brow and asked, "What's the panic about? How improper!"

The gate guard, panting, ran up to everyone, struggled to steady his breath, and said.

"Grand Elder, Shi Hao is outside requesting an audience."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces broke into smiles again, and they all said, "Great, we've been waiting for this kid to come."

"Let him in quickly."

Everyone was eager to hurriedly inform Shi Hao of the invitations from the God-Serving Sect and the Phantom Moon Sect.

The gate guard saw that everyone still wore smiles.

He hesitated a moment.

His heart was filled with anxiety; he knew the words he was about to speak would surely shock and anger everyone.

But he had no choice but to speak.

In the end, he steeled himself and said, "Grand Elder."

"Shi Hao says..."

"He says to have you, this old fool, come out and see him."

"Me? This old fool? Go outside to see him?"

The Grand Elder's face filled with disbelief; he glanced at the crowd, then turned his gaze to the person delivering the report.

The young reporter nodded.

Upon seeing this, everyone was instantly stunned.

At that moment.

Shi Hao's master, Li Mu, leapt to his first, eyes wide open, full of disbelief, and roared loudly.

"What did you say?"

"Repeat what you just said!"

His voice, laden with endless shock and anger, seemed like a thunderclap exploding inside the hall.

The reporting gate guard's legs trembled uncontrollably; his whole body shook like a leaf in autumn wind.

He stammered and repeated Shi Hao's words: "Shi Hao says... he says to have you, this old fool, come out and see him."

Each word the gate guard uttered seemed squeezed from between his teeth, filled with deep fear.

"Impudent!"

That roar, like a volcanic eruption, instantly ignited the anger of all the Azure Cloud Sect elders.

The temperature of the whole hall seemed to spike sharply at that moment, the atmosphere growing so tense it was suffocating.

You see.

Just moments ago, the God-Serving Sect and the Phantom Moon Sect had consecutively released friendly signals.

That was an opportunity the Azure Cloud Sect had long sought but could not obtain.

Everyone was still filled with joy and anticipation, planning to give Shi Hao this rare chance to study at both sects.

Who could have imagined that this disciple, in whom such hopes were placed, would be so ungrateful.

He actually committed such a heinous act, outrageous enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Li Mu clenched his fists so tightly his joints turned white from the strain, veins bulging on his hands like angry little snakes.

He suppressed the fury that threatened to consume him and said, word by word, "Grand Elder, this rebellious disciple's conduct is outrageous."

"To offend you so is my failure in discipline."

"I will go seize him now; even if I have to bind him, I will drag him before you to make him kowtow and apologize."

Li Mu knew full well that Shi Hao had always resented the Grand Elder for not allowing him to participate in the Five Great Sects' invitation.

But even if he harbored immense resentment, he ought not to act so recklessly.

At this critical moment, openly humiliating the Grand Elder is tantamount to destroying his own future and has plunged the Azure Cloud Sect into an extremely awkward predicament.

He was anxious as if on fire, wishing he could instantly fly to Shi Hao's side to properly chastise this worthless disciple and make him see reason.

Having said that.

Li Mu lifted his foot and was about to rush out, his urgent appearance as if a flood and ferocious beast were chasing him from behind.

However.

The Grand Elder, however, spoke up to call him to a halt; his expression was solemn, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen a bit at that moment.

He slowly opened his mouth and said, "No need, I will go see this myself."

Shi Hao suddenly underwent a drastic change in temperament, doing such an astonishing act; the Grand Elder truly did not expect it.

He was filled with doubt, wondering why this disciple, in whom he had placed great hopes and whom he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, had become like this.

He decided to go himself to get to the bottom of it, to see what unknown secret lay hidden behind this.

Immediately.

The Grand Elder turned and greeted the Sect Master of the God-Master Sect, Jiang Shanhai, the Sect Master of the Illusory Moon Sect, Nangong Batian, and Nangong Lingling politely.

His tone carried a hint of helplessness and apology.

"I'm truly sorry to have let you all witness this."

"Our sect has encountered such an incident; I must go handle it first."

The Grand Elder then prepared to first deal with Shi Hao's matter.

The gatekeeper's report, naturally, was transmitted word for word into the ears of Jiang Shanhai and Nangong Batian.

The two exchanged a glance, secretly sizing each other up in their hearts.

If Shi Hao truly had a wicked character, then such a person could absolutely not be allowed to enter their sect for cultivation.

Otherwise, they would surely bring endless trouble to the sect.

Thus.

Jiang Shanhai wore a smile, but his tone left no room for doubt as he said, "It's fine; we have nothing to do here, so let's go take a look together."

The Grand Elder pondered for a few seconds, then instantly understood that the other party wanted to go inspect Shi Hao's character.

Although he was not keen on letting them see such an ugly affair within the sect.

But since the other party were honored guests, and this concerned the future relationship between the Azure Cloud Sect and the two great sects, it was also hard to refuse; he could only nod in agreement.

Soon, the group mightily arrived outside the villa's gate.

At a glance they saw Shi Hao, dressed in a white brocade robe whose sleeves fluttered lightly in the wind, looking spirited and vigorous, like a banished immortal descended to the mortal realm.

He also held in his hand a king-grade precious sword; though the sword was sheathed, threads of spiritual aura continually seeped out, making it extremely powerful.

This long sword, in everyone's eyes, flickered with a mysterious and alluring light.

Anyone who saw it could tell at a glance that it was certainly not an ordinary object.