Chapter 72: The Three Supreme Disciples

Pang Yue took a sip of tea and asked, “Who are these three people?”

Luo Qingyuan’s expression grew solemn as she replied, “The first is Ning Daozhen from the Flame Demon Hall—you’re surely familiar with him. He’s now at the ninth tier of the Dao Foundation, skilled in the Great Flame Sparrow Formation and the Flame Talisman Sword Scripture, two of the seven great arts of the Flame Demon. He wields the true fires of Pure Yang and Departing Blaze, and his strength is on par with mine.”

Pang Yue nodded. “And the second?”

“Ping Taiyin from the Thunder Demon Hall. Aside from that one, he’s the most outstanding disciple of this generation in the Ping family and a true heir of the Thunder Demon Hall. He cultivates the true scriptures of the Thunder Demon, Wind Demon, and Flame Demon. His strength surpasses Ning Daozhen’s.”

“The third is He Miao from the True Demon Hall. Fifty years ago, he had already perfected his Dao Foundation, cultivating the five demon true scriptures concurrently. His depth is unfathomable, and he’s said to be half a step into the Golden Core realm.”

“He Miao is of the Sect Master’s own line, apprenticed to the Sect Master himself, and is currently one of the disciples of the Demon Talisman Sect most likely to break through to Golden Core. In the past, he dueled with Xu Wentian and won by a narrow margin, ranking fourth among the top ten true disciples of the Demon Talisman Sect.”

Pang Yue nodded again. “They all sound formidable.”

Luo Qingyuan shot him a glance and cautioned, “You mustn’t be careless. In the true disciple assessment, no magical treasures are allowed, and the entire process is supervised by Golden Core elders of the True Demon Hall. If you wish to earn these three’s acknowledgment, there’s only one way—defeat them utterly!”

Normally, the true disciple assessment doesn’t require a decisive victory; it’s enough to demonstrate strength worthy of a true disciple and gain their recognition. Luo Qingyuan’s initial arrangements were just that—she had found three true disciples friendly with the Luo family, intending for them to go through the motions.

Now, however, with the Ping family interfering, it was clear they wanted to block Pang Yue’s path to becoming a true disciple.

...

On Zhuoguang Mountain, in the cave residence of Hong Ren, a true disciple of the Wind Demon Hall.

Meng Zitiao’s face was alight with excitement. “Now this will be a spectacle worth watching!”

Hong Ren nodded and smiled. “They’ve all underestimated Xu—no, I mean, Fellow Daoist Pang’s strength. Only He Miao might be a variable.”

“Strong as He Miao is, we still haven’t seen Fellow Daoist Pang’s true ability!” Meng Zitiao recalled, “Back in the Absolute Heaven Ice Domain, Fellow Daoist Pang gave me a feeling reminiscent of standing before the Patriarch of my own family.”

“Brother Hong, you know, it was a faint yet unmistakable pressure—like the aura of a Golden Core cultivator...” Meng Zitiao enunciated each word as he looked at Hong Ren.

Hong Ren speculated, “Perhaps it’s due to that fourth-tier magical treasure?”

“Who’s to say? In any case, I’m placing my bet on Fellow Daoist Pang’s victory!” Meng Zitiao chuckled, then asked, “By the way, have they come to you recently, seeking information about him?”

Hong Ren let out a cold laugh. “Twice, but I told them nothing of substance.”

“Great minds think alike!”

Meng Zitiao gave Hong Ren a thumbs-up, laughing heartily.

Within the Demon Talisman Sect, only these two truly understood Pang Yue’s strength.

Ye Xue and Luo Qingyuan had only seen Pang Yue wield his fourth-tier magical treasure; they knew little of his combat ability when unarmed. Though the three of them had spent eighteen years together within the Mountains and Rivers Vessel, their understanding was only of another kind of Pang Yue’s “prowess.”

...

Inside Xu Wentian’s residence, the Xu family elders were all gathered.

“Patriarch, should we intervene in this matter?” one elder asked.

Before Xu Wentian could speak, another interjected, “Intervene? You overestimate the Xu family! Whether it’s the Ping family or the True Demon Hall, can we afford to provoke either?”

“If you ask me, since Xu Liming has changed his name, joined the Luo family, and severed ties with ours, we should stay out of it and just watch from afar!”

Elder Xu Lijian spoke gravely, “Enough, let’s hear what the Patriarch decides.”

Xu Wentian surveyed them all and sighed, “I’ll test his mettle myself. It’s best if he realizes the difficulty and withdraws—lest he suffers a crippling defeat.”

“My time is almost up. When I’m gone, he’ll be the Xu family’s only pillar...”

...

On Bright Lake Isle, a white-browed, bald elder in black robes arrived, treading upon floating clouds.

“Uncle, what brings you here?” Pang Yue and Luo Qingyuan soared up to greet him.

This was none other than the Xu family Patriarch, a true disciple of the Primordial Demon Hall—Xu Wentian.

“Greetings, Brother Xu,” Luo Qingyuan greeted him respectfully.

Xu Wentian was an elder true disciple of the Demon Talisman Sect, formidable and awe-inspiring, commanding respect from all the true disciples for a full century.

In this world, Dao Foundation cultivators could live three hundred years, or over four hundred with life-extending treasures.

Xu Wentian was now just past three hundred, and as he himself said, his days were numbered. Yet in Pang Yue’s eyes, his uncle’s cultivation seemed perfectly intact—vast and boundless, with no sign of decrepitude.

As for Pang Yue, thirty years had passed since his arrival in this world.

In those thirty short years, he had forced his cultivation from the third to the sixth, and perfected the Dao Foundation, a pace on par with the most gifted disciples of any sect.

Disciples like Xu Wentian, Luo Qingyuan, and Ye Xue cared little for minor stages within the Dao Foundation; to their eyes, the true chasm lay only in breaking through to Golden Core.

Even Xu Wentian, virtually invincible at the Dao Foundation level, remained trapped at the threshold of Golden Core, with no hope of breaking through in his lifetime.

At this moment, Xu Wentian appeared every bit the kindly elder—his beard and hair white as snow, his demeanor serene and detached, his gaze carrying the open-mindedness of one who has seen the world’s vicissitudes.

He smiled at the two of them. “I never expected you two would become Dao-companions—a happy occasion. I’m pleased for you both.”

After expressing their thanks, Pang Yue and Luo Qingyuan invited their uncle to the island.

Back in the Water Mirror Pavilion, after sipping a few cups of tea, Xu Wentian stated his purpose.

“I’m acquainted with an elder from the True Demon Hall. I could ask him to annul this assessment. The price: you would forfeit all future applications to become a true disciple.”

Luo Qingyuan’s eyes brightened, then she frowned. “If that’s truly possible, it’s the best course. But what of the Ping family...?”

Xu Wentian gave a faint smile. “The Ping family’s prodigy has gained the legacy of the Heavenly Demon Sect and may one day become a Primordial Spirit Lord. The sect’s upper echelons show him some deference, except for the elder I mentioned—because he and the Ping family have a blood feud. Anything that thwarts the Ping family, he’ll gladly do.”

Luo Qingyuan’s brow relaxed as she weighed the possibilities before clapping her hands in delight. “Brother Xu, wisdom truly comes with age! I’ve pulled every string I could in the Luo family, but never found a way out—little did I know you already had a plan!”

Xu Wentian glanced at her. “It’s a secret few know. I just happen to be aware.”

But Pang Yue shook his head. “Uncle, I won’t give up the chance to study the ‘Secret Canon of Chaotic Profound Demon Talismans.’ I appreciate your kindness.”

Xu Wentian’s sparse white brows rose, his gaze sharp as a blade as it landed on Pang Yue. “You truly won’t give up the pursuit of the Great Dao?”

His real purpose in coming was, after resolving the Ping family crisis, to discuss the issue of descendants with Pang Yue.

Though Pang Yue had joined the Luo family, there was no reason a child of his could not be left to the Xu family. With such a bond, the Xu family would have protection until a new generation of experts could arise and ensure the family’s survival.

He hadn’t expected Pang Yue to refuse.