Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
"Sorry, Peak Master Jin, I… I don't really want to go to the First Peak."
Xu Taiping didn't hesitate much and directly refused the invitation from the master of the First Peak.
Upon hearing this, the corners of Jin Yue's mouth twitched, a flash of annoyance in his eyes quickly disappeared, but he immediately put on a smile and said to Xu Taiping:
"The choice of which peak to join is your freedom, Taiping, and it's also a rule of our Qingxuan Sect."
As he said this, he glanced unintentionally at Uncle Nine.
If it weren't for Uncle Nine's presence, he wouldn't have been so polite to Xu Taiping and probably would have left in a huff.
Seeing Xu Taiping's refusal of the First Peak, the masters of the other peaks perked up, looking at him with anticipation.
Xu Taiping felt the urge to scratch his head again.
"I…"
"Wait."
He was about to be straightforward with them, only wanting to go to the Seventh Peak, when he was interrupted by Uncle Nine.
"Kid, I'll give you another option."
Uncle Nine finished the wine in his gourd, wiped his mouth, and looked at Xu Taiping with a smile.
"Uncle… Great-Uncle Master, what do you mean?"
Xu Taiping was curious about what Uncle Nine had in mind.
"You, although your innate talent is a bit lacking and you're not as handsome as I was in my youth, considering your performance in today's Sword Inquiry, I can barely accept you as my last disciple."
Uncle Nine casually said, picking his ear with his little finger.
This casual remark set off a commotion both inside and outside the arena.
"What? Did I hear that right? The Great-Uncle Master is taking a disciple?"
"No way, the Great-Uncle Master hasn't taken a disciple in over a hundred years."
The crowd was abuzz with discussion.
At this point, Sect Master Zhou could no longer stand still.
"Little Uncle Master, are you really taking a disciple here?"
He stepped forward and asked Uncle Nine.
Though he tried to maintain his composure, his eyes betrayed his confusion and shock.
"Not allowed?"
Uncle Nine gave Sect Master Zhou a cold glance.
"This… isn't this a bit abrupt? Taking a disciple is a major event for our sect, it can't be treated so lightly."
Sect Master Zhou tried to persuade him.
Over the years, he had sent many disciples with decent talents to Uncle Nine, hoping they would inherit his swordsmanship, but none caught Uncle Nine's eye.
Among them was Ye Xuan, who was currently being supported by Jin Hezhi.
"Pfft!"
Hearing that Uncle Nine wanted to take Xu Taiping as a disciple, Ye Xuan, already agitated and unable to calm his blood, couldn't help but spit out blood in anger.
Jin Hezhi shook his head and promptly took him away from the platform.
"You think I'm joking?"
After hearing Sect Master Zhou's persuasion, Uncle Nine put down his wine gourd and stared at him quietly.
Just one look made Sect Master Zhou silent as a cicada in winter, breaking out in a cold sweat, not daring to utter another word.
"Kid, if you become my disciple, I can't guarantee anything else, but at least I'll impart all my life's learning to you."
Uncle Nine then smiled at Xu Taiping again.
These words made the hearts of the other peak masters tremble.
The phrase "impart all my life's learning" might not weigh much if said by someone else, but coming from Uncle Nine, it carried enough weight to make the long-established peak masters envious.
Who is Uncle Nine?
To the average person, he might just be a senior with a high status in the sect.
But to these seven, Uncle Nine was more than just a senior.
Uncle Nine, known as Sword Nine, Daoxuan, was the only one in the nine great immortal domains who dared to fight the Demon Lord and severely wounded him.
Even though that was something Uncle Nine did in his youth.
The seven who had witnessed it still believed that the sword in Uncle Nine's sheath could still slay demons.
So, one can imagine the significance of Uncle Nine's words "impart all my life's learning."
Seeing this, the seven peak masters all took a step back, no longer speaking.
In front of Uncle Nine, they had no chance of winning.
Seeing the peak masters of the Seventh Peak step back, the commotion in the arena quieted down, and all eyes once again turned to Xu Taiping.
Including Uncle Nine.
Including Zhao Linglong in the Cloud Pavilion.
In fact, like the seven peak masters, Zhao Linglong also felt that after Uncle Nine stepped forward, Xu Taiping's choice was obvious, but she still held a glimmer of hope.
"Um…"
Xu Taiping was indeed in a difficult position.
But his difficulty was not in making a choice, but in how to refuse Uncle Nine.
Indeed, for him, the decision of which peak to go to and whom to take as a master had been made long before he ascended the mountain.
"Great-Uncle Master, I stand here today thanks to Senior Brother Qingxiao and Senior Sister Linglong of the Seventh Peak who led me up the mountain years ago. Three years ago, I made a promise to them that after three years, I would become an official disciple through the Seventh Peak selection and ascend to the Seventh Peak."
After careful consideration, Xu Taiping solemnly replied to Uncle Nine.
His words once again caused an uproar.
No one expected Xu Taiping to actually refuse Uncle Nine.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Linglong was incredulous, standing still, then turned to Senior Sister Ziyan beside her for confirmation:
"Senior Sister Ziyan, did I hear that right?"
Xu Ziyan was also stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded:
"You heard right, Taiping said he's going to your Seventh Peak."
Standing next to Xu Taiping, Qingxiao was initially just as surprised, but then he quickly whispered to Xu Taiping: "Taiping, don't be foolish, the Great-Uncle Master willing to take you as a disciple is a great fortuity!"
Unlike Zhao Linglong, he was very aware of the significance of being Uncle Nine's successor.
"I…"
"Hahaha!…"
Xu Taiping was about to explain to Qingxiao, but was interrupted by Uncle Nine's hearty laughter.
"Kid, this was just a test I gave you, did you really think I, Lü Daoxuan, would want to take a mortal bone like you as my disciple?"
Uncle Nine gave Xu Taiping a look that said "you wish," then continued:
"However, your performance is commendable, you didn't lose your true self to external temptations. In the future, you should cultivate well on the Seventh Peak."
Saying this, he patted Xu Taiping's shoulder and then turned away nonchalantly.
But as he turned, he suddenly grimaced and muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear:
"Stinky kid, stinky kid, it's not easy for me to lower my pride and ask someone once, and you dare to refuse me? No, no, I can't lose face like this, just you wait, I'll make you come begging me to take you as a disciple!"