Qing Yun cast a glance at Shen Yanye, then smiled, "Beastmaster Sect?"
He seemed to have some secret technique that allowed him to see beneath the surface. Just one look, and he exposed Shen Yanye's background.
Beastmaster Sect?
Yue Zhao and the others were visibly startled.
The Beastmaster Sect of the Four Great Holy Lands?
Why would someone from a Holy Land be here?
Being called out so directly, Shen Yanye's expression turned serious. He gave a respectful bow and said, "This junior, Shen Yanye, is indeed a disciple of the Beastmaster Sect."
Qing Yun nodded casually. "No need to stand on ceremony. Find a seat, make yourself at home."
He acted as if this were his own place.
Yue Zhao and the others looked a bit awkward.
Shen Yanye quickly found a seat and sat down.
Qing Yun asked, "Judging by your cultivation, you must hold a decent position in the Beastmaster Sect. So, what are you doing here at a mere mid-tier sect?"
"I came to visit a friend," Shen Yanye replied immediately.
"Oh?" Qing Yun looked at Ling Fei and chuckled, "Then your friendship must be quite deep."
The immortal path is devoid of emotion.
If the gap in cultivation is too wide, even the closest friends will eventually drift apart.
Ling Fei nodded nervously. "Brother Shen and I were friends even before stepping onto the path of cultivation."
Qing Yun smiled. "That's rare indeed."
After a brief hesitation, Shen Yanye cautiously asked, "Senior, may I ask your purpose for coming here?"
Seeing through his thoughts, Qing Yun replied, "What, are you worried I'll make a move against the juniors here? Relax, I only came to ask someone a few questions. After that, I have other matters to attend to."
Shen Yanye let out a breath of relief.
He was here to recruit Yun Jin as his disciple. If this mysterious senior bore any grudge against Tianjian Peak, he would need to find a way to smooth things over.
But looking at the situation, it didn't seem like there was any grudge at all. If there were, one thought from this senior could erase Tianjian Peak from existence. Who would still be sitting here drinking tea and chatting?
Shen Yanye asked curiously, "Senior, who is it that you wish to speak with?"
He glanced at Yue Zhao and the others. Was there something special about them?
Qing Yun didn't try to hide it. "I'm looking for someone named Yun Jin."
Yun Jin?!
Shen Yanye was visibly shocked.
Qing Yun narrowed his eyes. "What, you know her?"
Shen Yanye quickly nodded. "To be honest, Senior, there is another reason I've stayed in the Tianxing Sect. Yun Jin passed my test and proved to be an extremely rare beastmaster talent. I intended to take her as my disciple, so I've been waiting here."
"A beastmaster genius?" Qing Yun was slightly surprised.
The Canglan Kingdom was relatively remote on the continent. The entire country had only one super sect, and even that was at the bottom among super sects. Tianxing Sect, in comparison, was just a mid-tier sect.
And yet a beastmaster prodigy had emerged here?
And she was exactly the one he was looking for?
Yue Zhao and the others were dumbfounded.
Their little junior sister had only contracted that Gun Gun, right? When did she become a beastmaster genius?
Even more frightening—
They were only slightly surprised. Not a single person thought it was unbelievable. Because she was the little junior sister. Even if she suddenly said she was the reincarnation of a Mahayana cultivator, they'd probably believe it on the spot.
"She's currently in seclusion. When she emerges, I'll accompany Senior to speak with her," Shen Yanye said.
Qing Yun gave him a look, amused. "You're worried I might harm her? Don't worry. As long as she answers properly, I won't do anything to her."
Shen Yanye was slightly reassured.
The two of them sipped their tea leisurely.
Qing Yun couldn't help boasting, "Finding a beastmaster prodigy in a place like this is indeed rare. But compared to the disciple I'm about to take, she still falls short."
"Oh? Senior is also here to take a disciple?" Shen Yanye was intrigued.
Qing Yun couldn't hide his pride. "My disciple has an alchemy talent that's nothing short of dazzling. Once I formally take her in and guide her carefully, this continent will have a new alchemy genius. Give it a few centuries, and she might even reach ninth-grade alchemist. Then it'll be one sect, two ninth grades. Even my name, Qing Yun, will go down in history."
That single statement revealed a lot.
Everyone was stunned.
The man before them was not only an alchemist, but a ninth-grade alchemist!
Shen Yanye was shaken. Someone of Qing Yun's level even surpassed the leaders of the Holy Lands. He was truly a peak figure. But when it came to disciple potential, Shen Yanye was unconvinced.
He couldn't help boasting back, "My disciple is even more impressive. When she awakened her talent, a myriad of divine beast phantoms appeared behind her. Once she returns with me to the Beastmaster Sect, she's guaranteed to become a top-tier expert in the future!"
"Heh. Beastmaster? That's just a minor path," Qing Yun said with clear disdain.
Shen Yanye's face changed instantly.
What?!
Beastmaster… a minor path?
He admitted Qing Yun was strong, but this was going too far.
Shen Yanye retorted, "The beastmaster path is vast and profound, harnessing the spirit beasts of the world. That's a true grand path!"
Qing Yun shook his head. "Alchemy is the real grand path. It embraces all and nurtures everything."
"You are mistaken…"
The two began debating on the spot.
Eventually—
Shen Yanye refused to back down. "I admit, I'm no match for you, Senior. But in a hundred years, shall we let our disciples compete?"
"Why not?" Qing Yun responded without hesitation.
Ling Fei: "…"
"Wait. Neither of you have actually taken in a disciple yet, right? Isn't this getting a bit ahead of yourselves?"
Yue Zhao and the others were speechless.
What is this?
The person you're both talking about… isn't that the same one?
Are you seriously going to make the little junior sister compete with herself?
Everyone looked on in exasperation, but Qing Yun and Shen Yanye seemed quite pleased with their wager.
After all—
There was no way their disciples could possibly lose.
Yue Zhao glanced at the two and felt a strange sense of unease.
Such overwhelming talent… could also be a headache.
Now there were two masters?
She couldn't possibly take both of them, right?
Originally it was just Qing Yun and Qi Yu waiting here, but now Shen Yanye had joined and wasn't planning to leave either. They all intended to wait until Yun Jin emerged from seclusion.
Yue Zhao couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.
Once little junior sister stepped out… it would be a full-blown Shura field.
Meanwhile, in the Tianxing Sect—
Elder Jian was anxiously waiting.
He had received word from the sect: the Kunlun Sword Sect was sending someone to personally escort Yun Jin!
With Kunlun Sword Sect involved, the matter of the contract would no longer be an issue. Elder Jian had received the message days ago, but he hadn't told anyone yet. Better to let the girl be pleasantly surprised later. He was also curious. Who would the sect send this time?
After all—
The higher the escort's status, the more importance the sect placed on Yun Jin. Her talent was outstanding. This time, they should at least send a formal disciple, right?
Elder Jian was still full of hope when a voice suddenly dropped from above.
A cold, detached tone echoed, "Yang Yuan."
It was Elder Jian's secular name.
He looked up and saw the distant, emotionless figure of Cang Li.
His heart trembled.
This… this wasn't just a formal disciple.
He knew Cang Li.
This was the personal disciple of the Sect Master. If not for lacking a innate sword body, he would have been the undisputed next successor!