Chapter Twenty-Two: The Ascent to the Heavens

“In my opinion, during this demon-expulsion mission, every disciple’s performance was commendable! In fact, we could clearly see which disciples are worthy of cultivation.” A certain elder spoke up, immediately prompting nods of agreement from many others. Indeed, through the images recorded in the crystal, they had witnessed the true states of their disciples—how each responded in the face of crisis.

“Of all these disciples, the one we should pay the most attention to is that new disciple in the blue robe!” Another elder, round-faced and imposing even in silence, spoke expressionlessly: “A newly admitted disciple, yet already assigned to a Black-level mission. This is highly unusual!” As he spoke, his gaze had already shifted to the elder of the Missions Hall.

Under that piercing look, the Missions Hall elder’s rotund form began to quiver. This elder was notorious throughout Azure Cloud Sect for his iron-fisted severity; not only the disciples, but even some elders feared him deeply.

The Missions Hall elder was among those present…

“It was Elder Bai who told me the newly recruited disciple must be included in the mission!” The portly elder stammered in panic.

Bai Yiran shot him a look of rage, not expecting him to betray her so resolutely and without hesitation!

Sensing a gaze settling on her, Bai Yiran felt her heart pounding with dread. The portly elder was afraid, but so was she! Unlike him, whose fear came later, she had lived under this elder’s shadow of terror from the very moment she entered Azure Cloud Sect!

Should she admit it? Bai Yiran hesitated. On the day of induction, she had been deceived by a disciple with no cultivation whatsoever! To bring this up would be far too humiliating; she could not bring herself to say it.

Yet under that relentless gaze, her psychological defenses began to crumble.

“To hell with it!” she thought, gritting her teeth. If she had to endure this scrutiny much longer, she would surely lose her mind!

“The new disciple was their protector…” Bai Yiran recounted everything that had transpired.

When she finished, the hall fell into brief silence.

“So what you’re saying is, as someone at the Spiritual Aspect stage, you actually misjudged an ordinary person!” The elder’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “You really are my prized disciple.”

At these words, Bai Yiran’s hair stood on end. She lowered her head and mumbled, “Disciple admits her mistake…”

Seeing her admit fault, the elder finally let out a heavy snort and withdrew his gaze, though a trace of melancholy flickered in his eyes, barely perceptible.

“All right, Elder Bai did not act with intent,” the sect master interjected. Only then did Elder Chang let out a soft huff: “Yes, senior sect master!”

The sect master nodded and continued, “But this newly admitted disciple intrigues me greatly!”

“In just a few days, he transformed from an ordinary person to possessing the power shown in the crystal. Truly unfathomable!”

“I’ll have his information sent immediately!” volunteered the elder responsible for Azure Cloud Sect’s disciple records.

In a short time, information on Shen Qingyun was placed before the elders.

To their astonishment, apart from his name and his spiritual root, everything else about Shen Qingyun was blank!

Even Azure Cloud Sect’s intelligence network could uncover nothing more about him.

But this was to be expected; if even Shen Qingyun’s identity could be uncovered, Azure Cloud Sect would hardly remain a mere vassal sect of the Celestial Wave Dynasty.

“Heh, no background—just that he arrived together with Elder Bai’s two Celestial Spiritual Root disciples, and seems quite caring toward them. No wonder Elder Bai was mistaken!” The sect master smiled faintly.

“A person of unknown origin is not someone Azure Cloud Sect needs!” declared an elder seated at the end of the hall, his expression as frigid as ancient ice, never changing.

“Elder Hong’s strict, impartial conduct never changes, no matter where he is!” another elder said with a smile.

Even the sect master nodded in agreement, then addressed Elder Hong: “Elder Hong, as chief of the Disciplinary Hall, your thoroughness and your character are not in question, but you cannot reject someone simply because his background is unknown.”

Elder Hong’s face remained expressionless as he replied, “Sect master, it is my duty to safeguard Azure Cloud Sect’s peace. Anyone of uncertain origin could pose a threat! We cannot lower our guard because he is but one person and his strength insignificant.”

Hearing this, many elders shook their heads in silence. In the entire sect, Elder Hong was likely the only one who would dare challenge the sect master so directly.

He was meticulous but inflexible—a stark contrast to Elder Chang. Both were infamous figures within the sect. Moreover, Elder Hong had a notorious trait: once he made up his mind, nothing could change it—not even the sect master’s intervention.

No doubt, as soon as this meeting adjourned, Elder Hong would begin investigating Shen Qingyun.

“I believe our focus should not be on his identity,” a voice spoke up. “In the crystal, we all saw him summon divine lightning and unleash that overwhelming sword technique. Especially that halberd he wielded—it seemed to surpass even spiritual artifacts, perhaps a magical weapon, or even something higher…”

Higher still—none dared to imagine.

Spirit, magic, treasure, divine. In the Divine Continent, the higher a weapon’s grade, the greater the aid it offers a cultivator!

With their keen eyes, the elders could tell Shen Qingyun was still at the Qi Refining stage. For him to display such awe-inspiring techniques could only be attributed to the halberd’s power.

“I believe that as disciples of Azure Cloud Sect, all possessions should be surrendered to the sect.”

“And if this disciple refuses?”

“Refuses?” The speaking elder’s lips curled into a cold smile. Slowly, he extended his right hand, splaying his fingers in the air before clenching them tightly.

“Enough!” snapped the sect master. “You are elders, yet harbor such thoughts, even turning them against your own disciples! If word of this got out, would we not become the laughingstock of the other four great sects? If the disciples learned of it, how could they not feel disheartened? For the sect and its elders, whom they so venerate, to act in such a manner…”

The sect master’s gaze swept coldly over those elders who had been tempted by the suggestion. “In any case, I do not wish to hear such talk a second time! Should I discover anyone discussing this behind my back, do not blame me for being merciless!”

Many elders bowed their heads in shame. At the right moment, Bai Yiran spoke up, “Sect master, how should the disciples be evaluated for this mission?”

The sect master pondered briefly, then said, “The rewards remain unchanged, but they are to be doubled! Furthermore, Shen Qingyun is to be placed at the top of the Inner Sect’s Merit and Points rankings.”

At this, many elders trembled. The significance of the Merit and Points rankings for Azure Cloud Sect disciples was no small matter, yet Shen Qingyun, a newly inducted Outer Sect disciple, would enjoy such an honor! It was evident how highly the sect master regarded him.

After a pause, the sect master continued, “The quota for the Outer Sect’s Ascent to Heaven trial—he shall have a place as well.”