Chapter 183
Thousand Peak Mountain, Gui Ji Peak.
Immortal Master Mu Jue sat cross-legged at the center of a ten-thousand-year-old icy pool, white robes trailing the ground, his expression utterly serene.
The intent of the Supreme Void Sword took form as a faint golden halo, circling around him and emanating an awe-inspiring sword pressure. Though it was the height of summer, the air around him was frozen into frost and snow, specks of which settled gently upon his brows.
…What kind of person is this, like a banished immortal from legend?
The head steward couldn’t help but marvel silently in his heart.
He had started cultivating Qi at three years old, built his foundation at five, and became a sword cultivator whose blade could chill fourteen provinces in a single strike. His cultivation speed was unmatched—within a mere century, he had already reached the peak of the Great Ascension Stage, a feat unparalleled in the entire cultivation world.
Originally, the head steward had been quite determined to ask the Immortal Master to step in and mediate the dispute between the four pavilion lords.
But just before stepping through the barrier of Gui Ji Peak, seeing the immortal not far away—his presence as cold as frost and snow, exuding a powerful pressure—the steward suddenly hesitated.
“Is it really worth troubling the Immortal Master with such a petty, trivial matter? Isn’t that just… overkill?” he muttered internally.
But just then, a thunderous explosion erupted in the distance.
BOOM!
—Accompanied by the deafening blast, a blood-red mushroom cloud rose into the sky: the telltale sign of Pavilion Lord Lie Feng’s ultimate move—Heaven-Shattering Void Rend!
This was a move capable of shifting mountains and draining seas, one he would only unleash when truly enraged!
The steward was instantly horrified, cold sweat breaking out down his back.
Before he could process what was happening, a second deafening explosion echoed through the sky as another mushroom cloud—this one glowing an eerie green—rose into view.
—It was Pavilion Lord Dan Ling’s ultimate forbidden technique, Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Formation!
This spell could resurrect the dead or open the gates to the underworld—it was Dan Ling Pavilion’s deadliest taboo!
These two devastating techniques, while not quite apocalyptic, were more than enough to wipe out an entire nation!
The steward’s face turned ghostly pale. His knees nearly gave out.
W-Why are these two powerhouses suddenly going berserk? Could there be some deep-seated grudge? Surely not… over that roujiamo, right??
As the echoes of the blasts rang out, two furious roars drifted in from afar:
“You little brat! Give me back my roujiamo!!”
“You’re full of crap! That roujiamo was MINE!!!”
The steward: “……”
Well. Case closed.
It was about the roujiamo.
After hearing those two shouts, the steward dared not hesitate any longer. If this fight continued, they might really blow Thousand Peaks Mountain off the map. He made a snap decision and stepped through the barrier into Gui Ji Peak.
The scenery before his eyes shifted instantly.
Whoosh!
A sharp sword sliced through the air.
“……”
The temperature plummeted. The steward broke out in goosebumps all over.
Immortal Master Mu Jue still sat composed above the icy pool, his phoenix eyes half-lidded, his face calm as still water, leaking not a trace of killing intent. However…
The steward slowly, very slowly, lowered his head—to see the silver tip of the famed sword Supreme Void, glowing coldly, pressed against his throat. Just one inch further, and his life would be over in an instant.
“Who goes there?” came a voice cold as frost.
Every inch of Gui Ji Peak was covered by the immortal’s divine sense.
This was the first cultivator of the world—half a step from ascension.
…The steward instantly broke down, tears and sweat pouring down together, legs buckling, as he cried out at the top of his lungs: “Aaaaaaaaah I’m just a humble worker please don’t kill meeeee!!!”
Mu Jue: “……”
The steward wailed pitifully for a while. After a pause, the sword tip finally pulled back half an inch, as if losing its patience.
“What is it?” Mu Jue asked, voice icy.
Having narrowly escaped death, the steward continued sobbing for a while. Only when the sword moved a bit further away did he finally manage to stammer out through his tears:
“Immortal Master, please hear me out… it’s like this…
“Pavilion Lord Lie Feng and Pavilion Lord Dan Ling are fighting!!”
“……”
One incense stick’s time (~15 minutes) later.
Mu Jue, face like thunder, flew sword-bound toward the direction of Jade Hidden Hall.
Today was the sect’s grand disciple selection, but Mu Jue had originally intended to stay out of it, trusting the four pavilion lords to handle things.
Besides, while Lie Feng and Dan Ling might not match his strength, both were still peak-stage cultivators of the Great Ascension Realm and the pride of Thousand Peak Sect. If not for Mu Jue himself, either one could easily lead a top-tier sect on their own.
Lie Feng might be hot-tempered and Dan Ling a bit lazy, but when it counted, both knew the importance of restraint. Over the years, they’d gotten along decently well—some squabbles here and there, but never a real fallout.
…And yet the steward had said—they started fighting… over a new disciple?
Not only were they fighting, they even used ultimate killing moves like Heaven-Shattering Void Rend and Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Formation?!
Mu Jue simply couldn’t fathom—just what kind of astonishing prodigy could be worth that kind of all-out battle between the two?
At this thought, his expression darkened slightly, and despite himself, his curiosity was piqued.
In fact, his mind unconsciously began painting a vivid scene—
A solemn and dignified sect selection.
All was silent, mist curling between the ancient stone pavilions beneath a lone blue sky. Sword shadows flickered in the air.
Everyone present—from Pavilion Lords to trial participants—wore calm, serious expressions, until that one moment…
A peerless prodigy suddenly emerged, stunning the crowd!
A heaven-tier spiritual root, a matchless sword intent.
He broke the silence like the light of dawn, his clothes old and worn, but unable to hide the brilliance of his sword aura—like a dusty, unpolished gem that still outshines all others.
Both Pavilion Lord Lie Feng and Pavilion Lord Dan Ling were moved. They both wanted to take him as their disciple and personally nurture him. At first, they just had a small argument… but unable to restrain their eagerness, they erupted into full-blown conflict, clashing fiercely to claim this once-in-a-millennium genius…
Yes, that would make sense.
Mu Jue, lost in thought, couldn’t help but nod to himself.
This only made him more curious—and perhaps, just a little tempted.
What kind of genius could provoke such a fierce reaction from the two Pavilion Lords?
Mu Jue was already at the peak of the Great Ascension Realm. He could transcend the tribulation and ascend at any moment if he wished. But before that… he had long considered taking on a disciple—someone to whom he could pass down all of his life’s cultivation and knowledge.
He didn’t even mind bringing this disciple with him past the Heavenly Gate—to see what the world beyond might be like.
And if the disciple really was as brilliant as he imagined… then perhaps…
Mu Jue thought: I have to see them with my own eyes.
As he was still musing, the steward beside him interrupted his thoughts.
The steward wiped his sweat, cupped his hands in salute, and beamed as he pointed ahead:
“Immortal Master, there! That’s the disciple the two Pavilion Lords are fighting over!”
Mu Jue’s phoenix-like eyes lit up with interest.
What kind of figure could it be?
A hidden swordsman dressed in fluttering white, exuding elegance and mystery?
A proud prodigy, bold and domineering, with a sword aura sharp enough to pierce the heavens?
Or a simple, humble figure in plain robes—appearing ordinary, but in truth hiding immeasurable power and sword intent vast enough to devour the cosmos…
With countless imaginative expectations, Mu Jue lifted his gaze to where the steward was pointing—
And what he saw was… a food stall.
More accurately, not even a proper food stall—just a handsome young man with a huge pack strapped to his back, smiling brightly and cheerfully calling out to customers, taking coins, and handing over steaming roujiamo from his pack.
And those “customers”…
The selection grounds of the sect—Jade Hidden Hall—were supposed to be dignified and solemn, but now they were instead bustling with noise and chaos. The air was filled with chatter, and people were packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
Even more bizarre—this mass of “customers” had somehow formed a very neat, orderly line. Among those queued were trial participants, inner disciples, stewards… and even Pavilion Lords Ming Kong and Bi Yan, disguised and hunched over, trying to blend in.
The people in line were chatting excitedly:
“I’ve had roujiamo before back home—they were just average street food! Why are these so insanely good?”
“I heard there are two types of filling: soy-braised pork and pork knuckle. Which one are you getting?!”
“I’m getting both.”
“You can’t get both. There’s a strict one-bun-per-person limit!”
“What??? That’s torture!!! How can I choose?!”
“……”
Mu Jue silently rubbed his eyes.
After a pause… he rubbed them again.
His gaze swept up and down, left and right, over and over.
That peerless prodigy, the one so brilliant he drove two Pavilion Lords to blows… Where was he?
High in the sky, Pavilion Lords Lie Feng and Dan Ling were still engaged in combat—swords clashing, deadly techniques flying, earth-shaking explosions splitting the heavens.
Meanwhile, the other two, Pavilion Lords Ming Kong and Bi Yan, were hunched in line at the makeshift meat bun stall, trying not to be recognized.
The grand, solemn sect selection ground had somehow devolved into a chaotic street market.
Even the trial participants had completely lost interest in their trials. They were too busy drooling and lining up for roujiamo. The scene had descended into total mayhem—a portrait straight out of hell itself.
What kind of disgraceful mess is this?!
Mu Jue frowned deeply, turning to the steward. His voice dropped below freezing, now tinged with genuine anger. The sword pressure surrounding him grew so heavy it was suffocating.
“Where is this so-called prodigy? Why don’t I see him anywhere? Or is it that…”
“You have the audacity to fabricate lies—to make a fool of me?!”
The pressure from a peak Great Ascension stage cultivator was no different from that of an Ascended Golden Immortal.
Immortal Master Mu Jue’s aura spread out completely, like piercing snow and ice.
Under the crushing weight of that furious spiritual pressure, the steward trembled like a leaf in a storm. His knees gave out instantly, and he collapsed to the ground, stammering for ages before he finally managed to choke out, practically in tears:
“I-I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Immortal Master! I swear, it’s really that disciple! The one selling the roujiamo is the reason the Pavilion Lords are fighting!”
He pointed with a trembling finger to the young man at the front of the line, who was manning the makeshift meat bun stall.
Handsome, sure—but… where was the heaven-grade spiritual root? The matchless sword intent?!
This guy couldn’t be any more different from the image Mu Jue had in mind. Or maybe… he was hiding his true power, pretending to be weak—a tiger in sheep’s clothing? And the two Pavilion Lords, with their discerning eyes, had seen through the disguise and were now battling to claim him?
That wasn’t impossible.
Mu Jue: “…”
Mu Jue’s brows furrowed as he focused.
The vast divine sense of a Spiritual Realm Immortal Master instantly swept outward—countless strands of it stretching like invisible threads, weaving toward the young man at the front of the line…
And the meat bun in his hand.
