Chapter 120: Immortal Aptitude·Heaven-Swallowing Earth-Eating

Wei Zifeng instantly rose to his feet, one hand seizing Liu Yun's shoulder; terrified, Liu Yun nearly collapsed and hurriedly pleaded for mercy:

"Boss, boss, believe me, I really didn't break it!"

"It's you who broke it! Oh no.... hehe, what's that, you're Liu Yun, right? I'm Wei Zifeng; now I want you to come with me to the sect—don't worry, for you this is absolutely a huge blessing!!!"

Wei Zifeng's expression shifted from initial doubt to shock, then to overjoyed delight; for a moment those who didn't know thought he had gone mad.

Liu Yun looked pitifully at Yan Buji; Yan Buji probably also guessed the situation and smiled:

"Liu Yun, follow the boss for a trip. Your life's turning point has arrived."

Liu Yun looked bewildered, being half-carried by Wei Zifeng as he left the Hundred Treasures Shop directly.

Watching the two depart, Yan Buji took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

"Liu Yun, could his roots be Immortal Aptitude? Sigh."

"Comparing people makes one angry to death."

Seeing Wei Zifeng's contrasting attitude before and after, Yan Buji increasingly felt the importance of talent was self-evident; for a cultivator of his poor aptitude, this might be their last meeting in this lifetime.

"Forget it; since Wei Zifeng has returned, I'll discuss my trade plan with him later."

Soon after.

Wei Zifeng hurriedly brought the flustered Liu Yun to the mountain gate and charged straight in.

Huh?

The gatekeeper disciple didn't dare to stop them, merely wondering why Wei Zifeng would bring such a weak cultivator into the sect.

"Hehe, I heard they didn't recruit a single disciple on their mountain descent this time, and the only one with exceptional talent was snatched away by Xuan Kun Dao."

"I heard the elders are fuming in the hall, and no one knows what the Sect Master plans to do about this."

"If you ask me, with the Fire Bear Sect's disciples so scarce, why insist on recruiting only those with fire affinity? Loosen the requirements and hordes of cultivators will come rushing in."

"Who knows?"

Soon, Wei Zifeng personally led Liu Yun to the Fire Bear Sect Hall; Liu Yun saw for the first time in his life this towering palace over a hundred meters high standing among the clouds, cranes flying around, faintly hearing the clamor of powerful cultivators, and for a moment he was dazed.

"Disciple Wei Zifeng requests an audience with the Sect Master!!"

"Come in!"

"Yes."

Wei Zifeng brought Liu Yun into the hall; upon entering he saw the eldest senior sister and the often-quarreling Wang Quan kneeling inside, their faces pale, not daring to speak, merely seeing Liu Yun bring a weak loose cultivator, they also found it quite strange.

What does that mean?

Is Wei Zifeng just giving up and randomly pulling a loose cultivator to make up the numbers?

Isn't that adding fuel to the fire?!

"Wei Zifeng, you failed to recruit a single disciple on your mountain descent—do you know your crime?!" Elder Liu of the Law Enforcement Hall stepped forward; being a relative, Wei Zifeng also understood his meaning.

The sect's interior had been in an uproar for years due to the lack of new disciples; on one side, the conservative faction elders believed they should uphold the patriarch's teachings and not arbitrarily change recruitment criteria; on the other, the reformist faction elders focused on the sect's long‑term development believed absorbing fresh blood was essential for growth and that the doors should have been opened wide to accept disciples long ago.

Both sides held their own views, and the Sect Master Wei Jinhuo, who had only recently emerged from seclusion, also wanted to resolve this quickly and quell the sect's internal strife.

Elder Liu first raised the accusation, clearly intending to keep Wei Zifeng out of the elders' struggle; even though he is a relative with the Sect Master ahead, he should not forget that his own strength is still insufficient to intervene in such matters.

Wei Zifeng brought Liu Yun over, saw the elders around him also unafraid, and smiled: "Sect Master, I happened to discover this cultivator Liu Yun, who seems to possess Immortal Aptitude, down the mountain; I've brought him for you all and the Sect Master to examine."

"Immortal Aptitude?!"

"Impossible! In just a few decades our Fire Bear Sect actually has such fortune, and even gains an Immortal Aptitude disciple?!"

The elders were stunned, then immediately overjoyed.

Many elders doubted its authenticity, asking: "How do you know?"

"It's because the Aptitude Testing Orb shattered after passing through his hands, leading to this idea; Sect Master, please look!"

Wei Zifeng produced the shattered Aptitude Testing Orb, and many elders began to believe his words.

Hearing this, Sect Master Wei Jinhuo rose immediately, flew down to stand before the timid Liu Yun, and smiled:

"This young brother need not worry; you've probably heard that our Fire Bear Sect is not some heretical path and will do nothing to you."

"Ah...." Liu Yun stammered, not knowing what to say, feeling a little afraid of this unfamiliar environment and the Fire Bear Sect elders whose eyes glowed at him.

"Someone, fetch the Myriad Spirit Jade Disc!"

"Yes!"

Soon after, a cultivator emerged holding a round jade disc placed on an ebony stand, approaching Sect Master Wei Jinhuo's side.

Sect Master Wei Jinhuo held the jade disc, fingertips pressed together forming a seal: "Young brother, place your hand at the center of the disc."

"Oh...."

Liu Yun cautiously extended his hand and placed it at the disc's center.

In the blink of an eye, a terrifying aura burst forth; the surrounding elders widened their eyes and cheered:

"Truly Immortal Aptitude!!"

"Is this the Heaven‑Swallowing Earth‑Eating among the ten great Immortal Aptitudes?!"

"Good grief, our Fire Bear Sect can't afford to support this...."

Upon seeing the fluctuations on the jade disc, the elders instantly understood Liu Yun's background.

Even Sect Master Wei Jinhuo, with a troubled expression, retracted the jade disc and then gazed at Liu Yun with complex feelings.

"Heaven‑Swallowing Earth‑Eating, tsk, why of all things it had to be this...."

Wei Zifeng didn't care whether the sect could afford to raise Liu Yun; smiling, he clasped his hands: "Sect Master, see? Our mountain descent still yielded a gain—this fellow cultivator Liu Yun, if he grows, will surely become a great cultivator!"

Great cultivator?!

It is said that cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage can be called great cultivators.

Liu Yun, possessing Immortal Aptitude, as long as he survives and grows, at least reaching Nascent Soul poses no problem.

Sect Master Wei Jinhuo glanced at Wei Zifeng and nodded: "Indeed, if it weren't for Wei Zifeng this time, we might have missed such an Immortal Aptitude; I see the sect's population has dwindled in recent years—it's time to relax the conditions and recruit new disciples. What do you all think?"

The conservative faction elder's expression wasn't very good, but cultivators with immortal talent are one in ten thousand, and may not even be discovered....

And Wei Zifeng happened to bring Liu Yun at this time, so what else could they say?

The elders rose, clasped their fists, and said, "We will obey the Sect Master's orders!"

"Hahaha, alright, Wei Zifeng, you may go down first."

"Yes!"

Wei Zifeng smugly glanced at Wang Quan and the senior sister; both stared at him with complex expressions, having many questions but not yet able to speak.

After the three left, Wei Junhuo solemnly looked at Liu Yun and said, "Little Brother Liu Yun, although our Fire Bear Sect isn't a major power, we are now willing to first cultivate you to Foundation Establishment Stage and then send you to a greater power within the Wan Dao Mountain Range for further advancement. During this period, I will provide any resources you need within the sect; I only hope that once your cultivation bears fruit, you will not forget our Fire Bear Sect. What do you think?"

"I..."

Liu Yun froze, and countless thoughts instantly surfaced in his mind.

But he suddenly recalled Yan Buji's words.

The turning point has arrived!

Liu Yun immediately dropped to one knee, clasped his fists, and said, "Disciple is willing to join the Fire Bear Sect!"

"Alright, then stay by my side to cultivate; if anything comes up, just find me directly!" Wei Junhuo said with a satisfied smile.

Liu Yun's compliance also spared him many persuasive words.

The surrounding elders also wanted to form a master-disciple bond, but they thought the Sect Master would never allow it for them.

"Yes, thank you, Master!"