Chapter 67 - 67

“Haha, it must be just a show he’s putting on!” said a man to the left of Luo Yaxuan, his words dripping with mockery.

When he said this, the other Direct Disciples present couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Luo Yaxuan paid no mind to their teasing, his gaze fixed on the four martial platforms where disciples were competing.

The Direct Disciples whispered among themselves.

The Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples behind them thought these senior brothers were getting along harmoniously, happily chatting away.

“Luo Yaxuan, acting all high and mighty, how about we go and have a match?” taunted the person to his left again.

“Senior brother, we are here to watch the junior brothers compete.

As for our own contest, there will be a chance in a few days; maybe then we’ll have the opportunity to face each other,” Luo Yaxuan replied calmly.

Luo Yaxuan didn’t take the bait from others.

Private fighting was punishable by the Sect, and he had no desire to face discipline from his master.

He was not one to seek out fights eagerly.

He could practice his spells in solitude but would not accept others’ challenges.

Jostling among fellow disciples at the Martial Platform was normal, but what mattered most now was the competition.

There were more important things to be done after it ended.

He had no desire to injure others or to be injured in return.

“Haha, thinking he’s all that, turns out he’s just a cowardly pushover,” said the man on the left once more.

“Senior brother, I can accept your challenge in a few days if we get paired up in the draw.

We’ll have our chance then.

Let’s leave these opportunities to others for now!” said Luo Yaxuan, unbothered by the ridicule.

Taught by his father, he was not a weakling but had learned patience and to keep a low profile.

An arrogant demeanor would only lead to a swift demise.

There were too many capable people in the Cultivation World; no one could afford to be arrogant.

Full of self-pride, one day they might not even know how they met their end.

“You…” The senior brother to his left wanted to say more but was held back by a companion.

Luo Yaxuan quietly observed the matches on the four martial platforms, noting that when a disciple used Fire Spells, their gestures reminded him of his own when casting electric spells.

Another disciple, using Ice Spells, had techniques that somehow resembled his own Wind Spellcasting.

Luo Yaxuan watched with interest.

It seemed these Servant Disciples were not fools—perhaps what they lacked were just resources.

Given time, any one of these individuals might stand at the pinnacle of the Path of Cultivation.

Yet that depended on luck and perseverance.

For cultivators, the road is long, and advancing even a single level would increase their lifespan.

Among these disciples, many were just children of mortals.

Once stepping onto the Path of Cultivation, they might distance themselves from their kin.

Their lifespans outstretched their relatives’, and as they grew old, they would witness their family’s natural cycle of life and death, powerless to help their mortal parents or loved ones.

As Luo Yaxuan watched the Servant Disciples competing, there were breaks for rest, and many people who had brought dry food began eating.

Some had cookies made from Spirit Valley, dried meats cured by Demonic Beasts, and others ate Spirit Supplement Pills to replenish their spiritual energy.

Luo Yaxuan hadn’t brought any dry food, but while sitting there, Servant Disciples brought him cookies and dried Demonic Beast meat.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Luo Yaxuan politely accepted with a smile, offering words of encouragement and cheering them on.

The Servant Disciples, encouraged by their senior brother, assured themselves they would strive hard to ensure his support wasn’t in vain.

The Direct Disciples seated to Luo Yaxuan’s left and right, many of whom had brought their own dry food—some not even eating—didn’t enjoy the same popularity.

The two senior brothers sitting on either side of Luo Yaxuan felt slighted.

Right there next to Luo Yaxuan, they saw the Servant Disciples ignoring them as if they were invisible, not even offering greetings or sharing food.

No wonder they remained Servant Disciples; with such lack of discernment, could they even hope to enter the Outer Sect?

Loading with cookies and meat, Luo Yaxuan didn’t hoard it all for himself but offered it to the fellow senior brothers sitting nearby:

“Senior brothers, it’s about time we ate something, right?

Haha, the junior brothers are so enthusiastic that it’s overwhelming me.

Please, forgive their oversight, let’s eat together!”

“Hmph, at least you have the courtesy.”

“Of course we’ll eat…”

Those seated near Luo Yaxuan grabbed the food unceremoniously, and luckily, Luo Yaxuan was quick enough to snag a bite for himself, or they wouldn’t have left any for him.

After consuming the fare from Luo Yaxuan’s hands, the expressions on the Direct Disciples seated beside him eased; their look was no longer full of disdain.

“Luo Yaxuan, although you’ve offered me this food, it’s like offering Buddha the borrowed flowers.

If we face each other on the Martial Platform in the future, I won’t go easy on you,” said the Direct Disciple to Luo Yaxuan’s right.

“Of course, during a contest, we should exert our true strength.

We shouldn’t hold back just because we’re brothers; let’s give it our all,” Luo Yaxuan said with a smile to the senior brother to his right.

“Let me introduce myself; I am Fan Dingding, a Direct Disciple of the Peak Master of Green Sea Peak.”

“Senior Brother Fan,”

“Luo Yaxuan, let me introduce you.

To your left, this is Bi Renchuan, a Direct Disciple of the Elder at the Refining Artifacts Peak.”

“Senior Brother Bi,”

“Do you really need to meddle and introduce me?

I can introduce myself.”

Bi Renchuan glanced disdainfully at Fan Dingding, annoyed that he introduced himself to others.

He didn’t like others mentioning his name.

Making it sound like ‘compelling,’ some people pronounced his name in that manner, which irritated him.

But Fan Dingding ignored Bi Renchuan’s response and continued to introduce Luo Yaxuan to the other Direct Disciples.

“Greetings, Senior Brothers!

Before, I did not know you all, as I focused solely on cultivating in my cave dwelling.

I’m truly ashamed and hope for your guidance in the future.”

However, Luo Yaxuan didn’t see the fellow disciples of the Sect as necessarily being enemies.

Although they competed in martial arts, outside, they needed to work together.

If a companion wasn’t friendly, how could they possibly face a formidable enemy together?

It only took half a day for those who were initially unfriendly towards Luo Yaxuan, the Direct Disciples, to start seeing him in a new light.

They watched the competition from behind, discussing spells together.

A day passed, and the Servant Disciple competition concluded, with the Elder on the high platform presenting awards to the disciples.

The spectators below felt a mix of envy and discontent…

Just as Luo Yaxuan and the Direct Disciples were about to depart, “Senior Brother, wait…”

The Servant Disciples who received awards on the platform had distinguished themselves as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and from then on, could be included in the ranks of the Outer Sect Disciples.

Upon hearing the call, Luo Yaxuan and his group of Direct Disciples instinctively halted their steps and turned around.

“Senior Brother, thank you.

With your cheering on, I finally overcame my fear and won first place in the contest,” the disciple said.

Seeing that the disciple was speaking to him so passionately, Luo Yaxuan really didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm, so he encouraged him, saying:

“Keep it up, you can do it.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” replied the disciple.

Then another disciple also came to express his gratitude: “Senior Brother, thank you for your encouragement and your guidance during the spellcasting, which led to my understanding of spell usage.

Thank you.

I achieved second place today, I’m not arrogant, I’m not intelligent, but I am deeply grateful, Senior Brother.”

“Hmm, you’re quite clever, but make sure you never use your intelligence for wrongful ways.

Given time, we might even fight side by side.”

Luo Yaxuan had different words for everyone.

He had noticed this disciple while on the platform and saw that he was indeed clever, able to use his spells so well, clearly a talent.

It was a pity that he himself was not yet qualified to take disciples.

Otherwise, such a person could be taken under his wing.

“Thank you, Senior Brother, I will work hard,” said the disciple.

The disciple, upon receiving praise from Luo Yaxuan, felt overjoyed, as if they had ingested a Spirit Supplement Pill, their mood surging with excitement.

“Senior Brother, what about me?” asked the disciple who took third place.

This disciple employed Wood Spells, different from the Fire Spells Luo Yaxuan used, but he also managed to gain insight from them.

“What is it you need?” Luo Yaxuan asked the disciple with a smile.

“Thank you for demonstrating the spells on the mountaintop for us to observe and learn from.

Even though I use different spells, I was able to attain enlightenment from them.”

“Oh, congratulations, keep it up,” Luo Yaxuan replied.

Luo Yaxuan felt that he, as a Direct Disciple, really wasn’t the most outstanding, despite being nurtured by a prominent family.

He needed to work even harder or soon he would be surpassed by these junior brothers, an embarrassing and regrettable situation.

Just half a day ago, the Direct Disciples didn’t show much fondness for Luo Yaxuan, partly because they were rivals.

But after half a day, standing beside Luo Yaxuan, they began to admire him, sensing a kind of leadership quality about him.

What kind of family or household could nurture such a character?

There are some people who are born leaders, possessing a magnetic charm.

They perform only what seems right, yet are respected and admired by others.

With that, Luo Yaxuan left with the Direct Disciples, each returning to their respective cave dwellings.

The next day was a rest day.

Luo Yaxuan was cultivating in his cave dwelling after reaching Foundation Establishment.

In truth, he didn’t need to eat every day, but refraining from eating could affect the body’s ability to absorb.

His body had not yet attained the state of an Immortal.

Three meals a day would be delivered to him, for cultivators ate Spirit Rice, vegetables imbued with spiritual energy, and meat.

“Senior Brother Luo, today’s meal includes first-grade pheasant meat and Spirit Vegetable Heart for you.”

“Hmm, the cook has done well with the presentation, and it smells delicious,” said Luo Yaxuan as he noticed the tenderness of the pheasant meat, which truly whetted his appetite.

“Senior Brother Luo, I’ve heard that the Servant Disciples outside admire you greatly.

They also said that they learned a lot during your spellcasting demonstration.

I’m quite envious,” said the Servant Disciple who was in charge of delivering Luo Yaxuan’s meals and attending to his daily dietary needs.

Although his job was somewhat leisurely, he hadn’t had the opportunity to go out and study spells. Sёarᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.