Seven days later, Chen Jingzhai’s disciple token flashed.
He stood up, waved his hand to deactivate the formation, and flew out of the residence without hesitation.
Fuyunzi was already waiting for him outside. Chen Jingzhai saluted his senior brother before he flew up to join him in the cloud.
“The battle of genius talents will start in the Battle Hall.”
“The Battle Hall is located on the fifth peak of the sixth atavistic leyline; basically all the disciples will be named here.”
“If there is any combat mission, the Battle Hall will be the first to answer the call.”
“Junior sister Su used to have her name here in the Battle Hall as well. She had hoped to cultivate by battles.”
Fuyunzi explained softly.
He had known about Chen Jingzhai and Su Qinghuang for a while now.
Cultivators of the clan were free to do what they wished. He couldn’t interfere, but he didn’t care for it either.
“How is the senior sister?”
“Is she still in retreat?”
When Chen Jingzhai heard him mentioning Su Qinghuang, he couldn’t help but ask immediately.
“How many days have you been away?”
“Today is very important, so don’t be distracted.”
Fuyunzi laughed and shook his head, exhorting him very seriously.
“I know.”
“Senior brother hasn’t said anything about the rewards yet!”
“I need more resources to create the Golden Core passage.”
“I really have no idea how to go about it right now!”
Chen Jingzhai complained while looking at him expectantly.
“The first place in the battle of genius talents will be able to cultivate as a true disciple.”
“The Archive Pavilion will be open to the winner unconditionally, but the winner may only peruse the method one level higher than the current cultivation level.”
“The winner can receive one free spell every year.”
“The winner may receive a high-quality cave residence or a villa.”
“The winner may ask Alchemy Temple to produce a spiritual treasure and the true artifact one time each, free of charge.”
“The winner may ask the Elixir Temple to produce a spiritual elixir and the true elixir one time each, free of charge.”
“The winner may receive ten acres of Spirit Plant Garden in the peak, free of charge.”
“The winner may receive a guardian of the True Venerable Spirit Plane.”
“The winner will enjoy a treatment that is higher than that of inner disciples, but lower than that of direct disciples.”
“Are these enough?” Fuyunzi said with a smile.
Luo Tian Immortal Faction’s background was profound; they didn’t mind cultivating disciples who were gifted, they just didn’t want these efforts to go to waste.
That was the reason for the battle of genius talents. Although the side lineages were the ones who pushed it forward, it was what everyone wanted.
“Acceptable!” Chen Jingzhai nodded.
He was already a direct disciple at the Luo Sheng Sword School and enjoyed first-class treatment.
But at Luo Tian Immortal Faction, he didn’t even have a cave residence that he could call his own.
This kind of difference in treatment would have affected the mentality of ordinary cultivators.
But to Chen Jingzhai, as long as there was an opportunity to be had, he didn’t care about anything else.
What he most valued was the ability to access the Archive Pavilion.
With millions of years of history, Luo Tian Immortal Faction, which had gone through three eras, must have accrued a rich collection of volumes.
As long as he could read them, and it did not even have to be all of them, just one-tenth of the collection would ensure his ability to create his own techniques.
“Then, don’t let this opportunity slip away!”
“In addition to prizes awarded to the individuals, the battle of genius talents is also good for the branches.”
“You are new to the clan. If you can succeed in this battle, you will gain many supporters.”
“Then, when the time comes, if I give you some preferential treatment, no one will be able to say anything,” Fuyunzi said thoughtfully.
Chen Jingzhai had made his incense offering at the ninth lineage and was recognized by many elders.
He was now a bona fide junior brother. And, as the junior brother of the officer-at-large of the ninth lineage, of course, he could not be someone mediocre.
If he didn’t win first place this time, Chen Jingzhai would still enjoy some preferential treatment, but he would not be as comfortable.
Fuyunzi would probably be affected to some extent as well, although not by much.
While the two were talking, the cloud had already carried them to the fifth peak of the sixth atavistic leyline.
This peak was called the Fifth Battle Peak. The Battle Hall was set on the mountain top, but the cloud fell on the mountainside.
On the mountainside, there was a gigantic plaza, which was already sparsely filled with some people at this time.
Fuyunzi brought Chen Jingzhai down, and they immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
“Elder Fuyunzi, is this Master-Uncle Chen?”
A middle-aged man with vertical lines on his forehead stepped forward and asked.
“Just addressing him as junior brother is enough,” Fuyunzi nodded with a smile, “Although Jingzhai is my junior brother, he started late, and he was not taught by any master yet. According to the rules of the clan, it is enough to address him as a junior brother.”
“Junior brother Chen, then,” the middle-aged man said with a smile. “My name is Chen Lei, nice to make your acquaintance.”
“Senior brother Chen, we share the same last name,” Chen Jingzhai said with a smile.
Chen Lei laughed and then took Chen Jingzhai to meet the other two from the main lineages.
The genius talent of the eleventh lineage, Zhao Hao, had an indestructible body.
This man looked youthful, almost like a teenager. But he had a coldness in his demeanor, and he didn’t seem to like to speak much.
But when he bowed to Chen Jingzhai in salute, there was no sense of insubordination.
The genius talent from the twelfth lineage was Li Yueli of the Hundred Flower Body.
This woman was just as described in the legend. Not only did she emit the scent of many flowers, but her beauty was also truly second to none. So far, only Su Qinghuang could be compared with her. Of course, the demon fox did not count.
She was very enthusiastic and address Chen Jingzhai as a junior brother in a straightforward manner.
As for the three members from the side lineages, Chen Jingzhai also got to know them a little bit, mainly from the introductions made by senior brother Chen Lei.
None of them expressed any intention of going over. And senior brother Chen Lei did not express any desire to take Chen Jingzhai over to get to know them either.
Ye Changyi, metal attribute heaven spirit root.
He came from the third side lineage of the Ye celestial family and was the disciple from the third side branch of the family. After his talent had been tested, he was kept hidden by the Ye family, saving him for the battle of genius talents.
Hu Shouyang, Body of All Methods.
He came from the seventh side lineage, the Hu celestial family; he was born into the direct line of the family. After his talent was tested, he was taken under the wings of a Spirit Plane Grand Elder who guided his cultivation. His cultivation had been suppressed without breaking through.
Pei Donger, Body of Ice Core.
She came from the Xue celestial family, the first side lineage. She was an apprentice taken in by the elders of the family from the outside. They thought she had the ice attribute heaven spirit root at first, but it turned out to be the Body of Ice Core.
All three of them stood with their own respective families, silently watching Chen Jingzhai.
Chen Jingzhai and the three nodded to one another, but none of them spoke.
After all, he was the cultivator from the ninth lineage. Even if there was no battle of genius talents, he was still an inner disciple.
Under the circumstance, he needed to be careful in his words and deeds, otherwise, there might be considerable trouble.
Looking at the behaviors of this group of genius talents, he could only imagine the depth of conflict between the side lineages and the main lineages.
But it was inevitable. Even if there were many serious problems, it was fine for now, as long as they didn’t erupt into open war.
Chen Jingzhai was new to all this and didn’t have the time to ponder too much about the future of the clan.
Senior brother Chen Lei was very talkative.
He took Chen Jingzhai to stand next to Li Yueli and kept talking to Chen Jingzhai.
He was talking about the places within the clan, as well as the thirteen celestial cities.
As for this battle between genius talents, senior Brother Chen Lei didn’t seem to care much. According to what he told everyone, if it wasn’t for his master’s insistence for him to participate, he would have been enjoying himself in the celestial city right now.
Chen Jingzhai was happy enough to listen to him. However, more people had arrived at this time.
“Little Master-Uncle, Jiang Liuyun here to make you acquaintance.” A white figure landed and began walking towards Chen Jingzhai. He smiled and said to Chen Jingzhai, “I am a disciple of Spot Star Sword Branch, and now an inner disciple of Iron Swords Lineage. I have heard many of your deeds, and this time, I am sure the Master-Uncle will win the top spot.”
“Thank you for these auspicious words,” Chen Jingzhai raised a brow as he responded with a smile.
He knew who Jiang Liuyun was. He was the champion of the previous battle forum, and the most outstanding eldest senior brother of Spot Star Sword Branch. Chen Jingzhai was not surprised by Jiang Liuyun’s presence.
“Zeng Wangbei has a mission at the Formation Hall right now and cannot come over. Most of the disciples from Daoxuan Peak are at the Formation Hall, including the eldest disciple of Peak Master Yang. If you have a chance, you can visit the Formation Hall. Although we have joined various lineages, we are always disciples of the hidden branch.” Jiang Liuyun was still communicating via voice transmission. He didn’t say much, but it seemed that there was hidden meaning in what he did say.
Chen Jingzhai looked at him, smiled, but did not say anything more.
During the seven-day retreat, he had successively received communication jade slips from the disciples of Daoxuan Peak. He knew that most of them were in the Formation Hall, most of them as casual disciples, and few of them, as inner disciples.
Like other halls, the Formation Hall had stricter assessment requirements. Cultivators who were new to the Golden Core Plane, like Zeng Wangbei, could only be a casual disciple for now. They had lots of missions every year. Not only did they have no time to come over, but they also weren’t even eligible to watch the battle of genius talents at the Fifth Battle Peak, on account that they had no masters yet.
By contrast, the eldest disciple of Peak Master Yang at Daoxuan Peak was listed as an inner disciple, who actually was traveling outside; not even Jiang Liuyun knew about this. Chen Jingzhai, on the other hand, not only knew it, but he also knew that after Jiang Liuyun joined the Iron Sword Lineage, his purpose of coming over today was not only to watch the battle but more for winning him over.
The Iron Sword Lineage had only been established for about 20,000 years, and was now in charge of Luo Tian Immortal Faction. Naturally, it required more supporters. Someone like Chen Jingzhai, a genius talent from the hidden branch, was especially worth of winning over.