Chapter 497

"Thank you both for your favor, but I shall not hide it from you: I am originally from the Jin Dan sect Sihang Sect in the southern land of Wu Kingdom, and even became a disciple of my sect’s elder ancestor. However, after our sect was invaded by demonic cultivators, I was inadvertently cast into the Chaos Spirit Domain." After some thought, Wang Yu revealed his origins at Sihang Sect without reservation to the two Golden Core experts before him.

After all, Bishui Palace was an Nascent Soul-level sect; if they truly wished to investigate someone’s identity, he did not believe they could be unaware of even minor information about the cultivation world of Wu Kingdom.

"Oh, are you worried that Bishui Palace might suspect you due to your past affiliation and former master, and thus doubt your sincerity in joining?" Chai Hefeng asked in return.

The brocade-robed man, seeing this, also showed a faint smile.

"I dare not think so; I merely feared you two might not yet know of this matter," Wang Yu replied without hesitation.

"Hah! Young fellow, rest easy. Bishui Palace does not care whether you previously belonged to another faction or took another master, as long as you are not a demonic cultivator or demon race member, and meet our admission criteria, we treat all equally. Of course, since you already possess Foundation Establishment cultivation, you must still undergo our soul-artifact inspection and swear the sect’s grand oath before becoming a true disciple." The brocade-robed man laughed as he explained.

"Then I have no further concerns—Bishui Palace is a Nascent Soul-level great sect, and I naturally wish to join." Upon hearing the Golden Core cultivator’s personal assurance, Wang Yu finally relaxed and bowed deeply to both again.

"Wang Yu, do you intend to join my Lingfa Peak, or Master Yan’s Jinghuo Peak?"

Although my personal disciple quota is full, Lingfa Peak still has one vice-peak master—a Golden Core cultivator at the early stage—with an open personal disciple slot.

If you wish to join Lingfa Peak, I guarantee you the status of a personal disciple."

These words caused Wang Yu to hesitate slightly.

"Sister Chai, are you referring to Brother Wei? His main cultivation art is ice-elemental, the exact opposite of fire-elemental—hardly suitable for Wang Yu."

Moreover, Brother Wei has always been arrogant and haughty, and has never taken a disciple. Even if you suggest it, he may still refuse."

I am different. Although Jinghuo Peak has two Golden Core peak masters, I am the official head. To be honest, our peak has few outstanding disciples. If you become my personal disciple, the benefits you receive will surpass those of personal disciples on other peaks—think carefully."

"Wang Yu, I observe your fire-elemental cultivation art is quite strong—you could reach the Golden Core realm. Thus, the elemental nature of your master’s art is not particularly important."

Rather, your magical aptitude is the highest I have ever seen. Lingfa Peak is the peak within Bishui Palace with the greatest collection of magical scriptures and talent-enhancing spiritual items. If you join our peak, your growth in the path of magic will be immeasurable." Chai Hefeng shot Yan Tu a glare, then turned to Wang Yu again.

"Heh, Sister, you’re mistaken. I still say this: no matter how many spells you learn, how can they compare to advancing your own cultivation art? Having a Golden Core cultivator who practices the same elemental art as you to guide you is crucial—I believe Wang Yu understands this well."

Of course, if you have no ambition for the Golden Core realm and merely wish to remain a Foundation Establishment cultivator, then ignore what I just said." Yan Tu chuckled, his expression unchanged as he urged Wang Yu.

Upon hearing this, Chai Hefeng’s expression subtly changed.

At this moment, Wang Yu finally made up his mind. He bowed deeply to the brocade-robed man and said respectfully:

"I wish to become your disciple and join Jinghuo Peak."

"Hah! Good, good! From today on, you are a disciple of Jinghuo Peak!" Yan Tu beamed, immediately lifting Wang Yu up and laughing heartily.

"Congratulations, Brother Yan, on acquiring such a talented disciple. It seems this young fellow was never meant for Lingfa Peak."

Seeing this, Chai Hefeng, in her coarse linen dress, showed a hint of helplessness. Her figure flickered, transforming into a blue light that pierced the air and vanished. In a few flashes, she disappeared entirely at the hall’s entrance.

"Good disciple, I shall first take you to our Wenxin Hall. Once you swear the sect’s grand oath before the soul-artifact, you shall officially be my personal disciple." Yan Tu showed no concern for the woman’s departure; instead, he seized Wang Yu’s wrist and exclaimed excitedly.

Then, the brocade-robed man shook his sleeve, and a crimson light aura swept both of them up, transforming into a crimson streak that shot skyward, circled once, and streaked toward the hall’s entrance.

A cup of tea later.

In a grand hall atop a towering peak within Bishui Cave Heaven.

Wang Yu knelt half-bowed before a large, floating, pale-blue disc as wide as a water jar, holding an opened silver scroll, solemnly reciting its text.

A blue light radiated from the center of the pale-blue disc, completely enveloping the kneeling Wang Yu.

Each time Wang Yu recited a line, several faint spirit-mark shadows appeared on the disc, as if verifying and recording something.

"...Should I ever break the above oaths, I willingly accept the punishment of five thunderbolts striking my crown and my soul shattering." After reciting the final line of the silver scroll, Wang Yu bit his finger and smeared his true name in blood at the scroll’s bottom.

The instant he finished the final stroke of his name, the silver scroll vibrated and flew from his hand, vanishing in a flash into the blue disc.

The disc began rotating slowly, each revolution causing countless spirit-mark shadows to flash across its surface, dazzling the eye.

Beside the disc stood two others.

One was the brocade-robed man, Yan Tu; the other, an elderly Daoist priest in a tattered robe.

Both now stared at the turning blue disc.

After a full meal’s time, the blue disc gradually slowed and finally halted, its surface still glowing faintly blue, showing no anomaly.

Seeing this, the elderly Daoist nodded expressionlessly, saying nothing.

Beside him, Yan Tu beamed with joy.

"Disciple, your sect oath has passed the soul-artifact’s inspection. You are now officially my third personal disciple. Come, come—your master shall give you a welcome gift."

As soon as he spoke, Yan Tu pulled out a red gourd from his robe and tossed it toward Wang Yu.

Wang Yu caught it, rose quickly, and bowed in thanks.

"Thank you, Master, for this gift."

"Brother Yan, quite the generous gesture. If I recall correctly, that gourd of Fire Cloud Miasma took you half a year to painstakingly gather from the Fire Lungs." The elderly Daoist’s expression shifted slightly as he spoke.