Chương 210: Chapter 99: Becoming Disciple to the Manifest Saint, Famous Across the World (1)

Mu Yunshen's expression turned remarkably solemn. Standing up to his full height, his commanding voice echoed across the square.

"Since the elders have thoroughly verified the tally without error, this Patriarch shall now announce the final results!"

"In this excursion to the Mu Family Trial Realm, a total of one hundred and eleven cultivators representing the various sects of the Eight Provinces entered. As of today, exactly seventy remain alive, while forty-one have perished!"

"In accordance with the decree of our Mu Family Ancestor, anyone who gathered at least half of the total Mu Jade Swords is granted the privilege to cultivate by his side for three years. In addition, they shall be rewarded with one High-rank Earth-grade cultivation technique and one Mid-rank Earth-grade divine ability!"

"As for the one who acquired all of the Mu Jade Swords..." Speaking to this point, Mu Yunshen suddenly paused. His posture shifted as he slightly bowed his head, assuming an attentive stance as if listening to a voice only he could hear. An overwhelming look of profound reverence instantly swept across his face. Seeing the Patriarch of the Mu Family—a powerful master at the Late-stage Golden Core realm—abruptly react with such submissive reverence, the surrounding cultivators froze in momentary shock.

But in the next second, realization struck them like a thunderclap. The sitting Mu Family elders immediately straightened up, their expressions turning intensely somber and respectful as they hastily rose from their seats and bowed low toward the empty air. The crowds of young cultivators gathered within the broad square fell dead silent, terrified into complete stillness.

They held their breaths, suppressing even the faintest whisper of air through their teeth, terrified of making the slightest sound that might offend the divine presence. For a figure as exalted as the Patriarch of the Mu Family, a Late-stage Golden Core titan, to act with such trembling deference, the identity of the mysterious voice needed no explanation. It could only be the venerable ancestor of the Mu Family, Mu Daguang—the sole Nascent Soul This Seat and supreme almighty cultivator in the entire Zhao Kingdom!

After a brief moment, the solemn strain melted from Mu Yunshen's face. He waved a hand casually toward the crowd and spoke in a steady tone, "The Ancestor has departed. There is no need for you all to remain so tense." As he spoke, his eyes subtly locked with several senior elders beside him, giving them a slight shake of his head—a silent signal that hidden secrets were at play, unfit to be disclosed in public.

Though curiosity burned fiercely within the hearts of the Mu Family elders, they were seasoned veterans who understood propriety. They quickly restrained themselves, yet the glances they directed toward Reyn grew increasingly strange and complex. After all, for the grand Ancestor to suddenly project his divine sense here, nine times out of ten, it was directly connected to this young man. Mu Yunshen cast a deep, penetrating look at Reyn before raising his voice to trumpet across the entire field.

"Just now, the Ancestor passed down his divine decree! The one who gathered every single Mu Jade Sword from the Trial Realm shall automatically become his personal True Inheritance Disciple! Furthermore, he shall be bestowed with one Low-rank Heaven-grade technique, one Origin-Consolidating Life-Extension Pill, and the status of a Mu Family Core Disciple!" Infused with potent spiritual energy, his voice rolled like thunder across the grand expanse of the square, echoing endlessly against the stone pillars.

But what truly sent shockwaves through the hearts of every onlooker was the profound significance concealed behind those rewards. Cultivation techniques were divided into four great ranks: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. A Heaven-grade technique—even if only Low-rank—possessed a speed of cultivation and raw power several times greater than any High-rank Earth-grade manual!

If such a coveted prize were ever leaked into the mortal world, it would inevitably ignite a bloodbath of unimaginable proportions, driving countless cultivators across the Zhao Kingdom into a violent frenzy to claim it! And the Origin-Consolidating Life-Extension Pill was a legendary Grade 4 High-rank elixir. Upon ingestion, the consumer's blood and vital energy would surge and expand exponentially over three years.

Once the body fully refined and absorbed its medicinal potency, it would bestow a full fifty additional years of lifespan out of thin air! To become a Mu Family Core Disciple was equivalent to holding the highest, most revered disciple rank within a major sect. Such a status placed one's authority and prestige firmly on par with, if not superior to, an ordinary sect elder!

"Decreeing a divine mandate, taking him as a personal disciple, bestowing priceless treasure, granting a life-extending pill, and assigning him Core Disciple status... Could the Mu Family Ancestor intend to nurture Reyn into a true Protector Disciple?!" A uniform thought flared up in the minds of everyone present.

"Just how monstrous is this boy's cultivation talent to be held in such absurdly high regard by a mighty Nascent Soul This Seat? The Ancestor is sparing no expense, pouring supreme resources into keeping him close, all to forge him into the future guardian of the Mu Family!" When the crowd looked back at Reyn, their eyes shifted to absolute shock, mingled with waves of envy, jealousy, and deep-seated awe! Even Reyn felt a sharp jolt in his chest upon hearing this.

Such an astronomical display of generosity from the Mu Family Ancestor was completely beyond his wildest expectations.

'Did the Mu Family Ancestor truly take a liking to my innate talent and want me as his disciple? Is that why he showed me such endless leniency inside the Trial Realm?' Although this explanation made logical sense, a subtle, cold unease crept quietly into his heart. It felt as though an invisible, colossal web had silently drifted over him, encompassing him in a trap without his knowledge. Before he could ponder further, Mu Yunshen's eyes flashed like lightning.

Fixing a sharp, heavy gaze on him, the Patriarch roared, "Reyn! Are you willing?!" Snapped back to reality by the thunderous voice, Reyn deliberated for a brief second. Under the focused gaze of thousands of onlookers, he took a firm step forward, dropped onto one knee in an impeccable martial bow, and declared with calm composure, "Reyn is willing!" Indeed, he was willing! Though an ominous premonition lingered in his mind, he could not deny that this was an unbelievable stroke of fortune.

Not only would his impending Foundation Establishment dilemma be effortlessly solved, but his future path of cultivation would also be spared countless treacherous detours. Besides, the road to immortality was inherently paved with lethal hazards and boundless perils. If a man shrank back in fear at every shadow, how could he ever hope to tread the Grand Dao, command supreme power, and enjoy eternal life?

"Good! Good! Good!" Mu Yunshen threw his head back and laughed aloud, pure satisfaction beaming across his face. He swept his sleeve in a grandiose arc and bellowed, "Dispatch messages thousands of miles out! Inform every major sect across all eight provinces of our Zhao Kingdom! Reyn, a disciple of the Xuanxiao Sect from North Yue State, possesses profound cultivation and matchless divine abilities, having suppressed every cultivator across the eight provinces.

He shall be recognized as the undisputed number one among the younger generation of the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world! As of today, he has entered the lineage of our Ancestor, the Manifest Saint, holding the status of a Mu Family Core Disciple! Let this decree be proclaimed across the entire realm starting today!" In Quanzhou, the Donglin Sect was recognized as a sect of moderate standing and influence. Within its ranks, the sect harbored three distinguished Golden Core Stage cultivators.

Aside from the Sect Leader, Master Huoyu, whose realm had reached the formidable height of Late Golden Core, the remaining two elders were both seasoned experts at the Mid-Golden Core stage. The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Inside the grand main hall of the Donglin Sect, an aura of quiet solemnity hung heavy in the air.

The three Golden Core Sovereigns sat atop elevated thrones, while over twenty core elders possessing actual authority within the sect sat in structured rows along both flanks. Standing rigidly in the center of the grand hall were more than a dozen select younger disciples. Every single one of them bore striking, refined features and an imposing posture, their spiritual auras surging with impressive vitality.

The lead disciple, a tall young man standing proudly at the front, radiated a powerful pressure that barely touched the threshold of Peak Early-Foundation Establishment. Gazing down from his high throne at the young talents of his sect, Master Huoyu could not suppress the look of deep satisfaction that emerged on his face. These dozen or so disciples possessed talent that placed them firmly among the elite tier.

If the sect showered them with resources and painstaking cultivation, it was by no means impossible that several Golden Core experts would emerge from their ranks in the decades to come—an outcome that would elevate the overall foundation and strength of the Donglin Sect to unprecedented heights.

"The reason I have summoned you all here today," Master Huoyu began, his deep, resonant voice echoing through the lofty pillars of the hall, "is that after careful deliberation with your two Grand-Martial Uncles, we have decided to open the trial grounds in the rear mountains ahead of schedule. You shall be permitted to enter those dangerous grounds to engage in blood-soaked combat against wild demon beasts.

Those among you who deliver exceptional performances shall be granted substantial rewards from the sect's treasury!" Master Huoyu then shifted his gaze toward the lead disciple, his tone softening slightly as he gave specific instructions.

"Sun Ke, given that your cultivation has already reached Peak Early-Foundation Establishment, the common demon beasts residing in the outer perimeter of the mountain trial grounds no longer pose any true threat to you. You are permitted to venture a hundred li deeper into the core region, entering the domain of Tier 2 Demon Beasts. However, you must exercise extreme vigilance and caution at all times—under no circumstances are you to grow arrogant or careless!"

Hearing his master's address, the young lead disciple, Sun Ke, flashed a haughty, arrogant expression across his features. Stepping forward with a sweeping motion of his sleeves, he spoke in a clear, ringing voice: "Sect Master, please rest assured! This disciple knows his own limits and possesses ample discretion. Mere Tier 2 Demon Beasts are utterly incapable of posing any genuine threat to me!"

The boundless confidence in his voice suggested he possessed hidden trump cards, proving his actual combat capability far exceeded his base Early-Foundation Establishment cultivation. Master Huoyu chuckled approvingly and nodded his head. Although Sun Ke was not his personal direct disciple, he was intimately familiar with the young man's formidable array of martial skills and secret techniques.

Even if Sun Ke were to run into a seasoned Late Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would still possess more than enough prowess to make a clean escape unscathed.

"Indeed," Master Huoyu sighed gently, a tinge of regret creeping into his expression.

"With your current strength, participating in a mere mountain trial yields very limited benefits for your growth. Truth be told, when the Holy Land opened under the Mu Family's decree, I relinquished our sect's rights over the lucrative East Mountain Crystal Vein to the Purple Mist Sect in exchange for a precious entry spot. They originally had four core disciples qualified to attend, so they gladly went along with the trade and transferred the slot to us.

Yet, to my absolute fury, an obscure sect called the Xuanxiao Sect from that barren backwater of North Yue State suddenly barged into the picture, brazenly snatching away the very spot that rightfully belonged to our Donglin Sect! It is utterly abominable!"

"I had originally made all the necessary arrangements for you to enter the Holy Land to undergo temper, cultivate, and seek your fortune. Yet in the end, that grand plan was utterly ruined." As Master Huoyu spoke, a dark, gloomy haze swept over his countenance, revealing the deep, burning resentment festering within his heart.

"Hmph!" sneered Master Huozhi, the second Golden Core elder seated to the left, his voice laced with cold malice.

"That paltry Xuanxiao Sect possesses laughable strength! Their entire sect harbors a mere two Golden Core cultivators, with the strongest among them stuck at the Mid-Golden Core Great Circle stage! Compared to our Donglin Sect, their foundation is as insignificant as an ant beneath an elephant's foot. In my opinion, we should find an opportunity to order the Earth Fiend Sect to teach them a bloody lesson. That old fellow Ancestor Bai Sha owes me a heavy favor; he certainly won't refuse.

When the time comes, we can secretly lend him a hand from the shadows, ensuring that a tiny, insignificant sect like the Xuanxiao Sect suffers consequences so dire they will regret ever existing!" Master Huoyu's expression flickered between light and dark as he pondered the ruthless suggestion, a murderous gleam gradually coalescing within his eyes. Yet right at that pivotal second, a sharp whistle tore through the skies above!

A transmission jade slip shaped like a pristine leaf, glowing with ancient cyan luminescence, ripped through the atmospheric barriers and instantly materialized high above the center of the hall. The moment Master Huoyu and the other elders caught sight of the leaf-shaped artifact and its distinct aura, their faces paled instantly.

"A message transmission jade slip from the Holy Land's Mu Family!" Master Huoyu gasped in sheer horror. Not daring to show even a single thread of disrespect, the three Golden Core Sovereigns hastily rose from their elevated thrones, bowing deeply toward the hovering slip with looks of profound terror and reverence etched onto their faces. The very instant their heads bowed low, the leaf-shaped jade slip shattered into a cloud of shimmering light, giving rise to a towering, blurred silhouette.

Though the phantom figure was ethereal and translucent, the overwhelming, mountain-crushing pressure radiating from even a fraction of its presence instantly froze the blood of everyone inside the grand hall, forcing their bodies flat onto the cold stone floor in utter submission.

The spectral projection swept its majestic, indifferent gaze across the cowering figures in the hall before issuing a booming decree that vibrated through their very souls: "Disciple Reyn of the Xuanxiao Sect in North Yue State possesses peerless natural genius and staggering cultivation prowess!

In the Trial Realm, he single-handedly crushed all young cultivators across the eight provinces and successfully gathered all eight Mu Jade Swords, proving himself beyond doubt as the undisputed peerless genius of the Zhao Kingdom's younger generation! Today, he is officially accepted into my personal lineage, granted the full status and privileges of a Mu Family Core Disciple! By this decree, let it be known to all under Heaven!"

The moment the grand announcement concluded, the colossal phantom dissipated into specks of fading light, vanishing into nothingness. A long while passed before the final traces of suffocating, soul-crushing pressure fully melted away from the air. Master Huoyu and the elders hauled themselves up from the cold floor, drenching in cold sweat that soaked their robes. As they locked eyes with one another, their gazes were filled with intense lingering terror and immense relief.

Had they foolishly acted on their impulses and launched an attack against the Xuanxiao Sect, the catastrophic retaliation from the Mu Family would have utterly erased their Donglin Sect from existence! Master Huoyu's face turned pale and dark in rapid succession. Suddenly, he whirled around and bellowed in a fierce, terrified tone: "Everything discussed in this grand hall today is strictly forbidden from leaking out!

Anyone who utters a single word shall be executed under the full severity of sect law without mercy!"

"Furthermore," Master Huoyu swallowed hard, turning toward his fellow elder, "Junior Brother Huozhi, I must trouble you to prepare a lavish, magnificent gift and personally travel to the Xuanxiao Sect. From this day forth, that sect is destined to soar beyond the clouds!" In Youzhou, within the headquarters of the Tonghai Gang... Faction Leader Master Longyun stood with an extraordinarily grave expression, staring solemnly at the fading remnants of the spectral projection.

Deep within the depths of his eyes, an overwhelming wave of shock still lingered. Only after a prolonged silence did he mutter in a low, trembling voice: "For the Mu Family Ancestor to personally expend a Ten-Thousand-Li Transmission Jade Slip just to proclaim this news to the entire world... it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt the paramount importance this youth holds in the patriarch's heart!"

"Just what kind of terrifying talent and cultivation does this Reyn possess to earn such high praise and favor from a supreme Nascent Soul Grand Sovereign? Regardless of the specifics, his future accomplishments are bound to be boundless and limitless. It is imperative that I thoroughly investigate everything regarding his background as quickly as possible."

Pausing in thought for a moment, he turned toward an elder standing beside him and barked in a heavy voice: "Second Junior Brother, I will trouble you to make a trip to North Yue State. Your primary mission is to deliver our congratulations, but you must also thoroughly investigate every single detail regarding this Reyn!"

"Understood, Senior Brother Faction Leader! I shall go make the preparations at once," the elder responded sternly, swiftly bowing before hurrying out of the hall. Master Longyun looked out toward the distant sky, whispering under his breath: "It seems... North Yue State is poised to rise once again, all because of this single young man..."