The woman leading the Yuqing lineage actually cast sidelong glances at a youth, studying him repeatedly. This surprised many, prompting them to turn and look as well.
"He seems to be called Qin Ming, from Chixia City," someone whispered.
Many came to an understanding. They were well-acquainted with the great metropolises of the world, and Chixia City was certainly not among them; it seemed rather remote. Qin Ming smiled and nodded. Regardless of whether she responded, fulfilling proper etiquette was enough on his part.
The woman was radiant. Smiling faintly, dazzlingly bright, she also nodded in greeting toward him. The onlookers around were surprised and murmured among themselves.
Were the two of them old acquaintances, or was that youth from a small place so extraordinary that he had caught the eye of the leading woman of the Yuqing lineage?
Her name was Lu Yuzhi, a mutant. Two years ago, she had defeated numerous experts with terrifying strength, though someone had minimized the public fallout of her exploits.
"Does this senior sister have a great reputation?"
"Mm. A female mutant who stunned the four directions. Rumor has it someone injured her friend and provoked her, so she went on a challenging spree, severely injuring multiple seed-level experts from the outer realms, esoteric sects, and elsewhere."
Only a few present knew of this, because her battle record had been intentionally concealed by the millennium-old Lu clan, who preferred Lu Yuzhi not draw excessive attention.
Qin Ming was very surprised; he hadn't expected to see her here. He and Lu Yuzhi were hardly close—they had only met a few times. Having heard she possessed "divine wisdom," he had assumed she would join an esoteric sect, not expecting her to become a disciple of the Yuqing lineage. Soon, however, Qin Ming understood.
Qingtian, Six Imperials, Yuqing, and others each possessed legendary heavenly light force. Along the path of the Newborn, they were among the few lineages feared even by the outer realms and esoteric sects.
Although disciples of these ancestral courts would ultimately face slow cultivation, bleak late stages, and the need to endure and grind through time, in the early stages they were indeed formidable.
Qin Ming guessed that Lu Yuzhi intended to use Yuqing force as her method of Dao protection while simultaneously walking the esoteric sects' path to godhood.
With her rich divine wisdom, entering those esoteric sects was not difficult. The Yuqing lineage was extremely strict in selecting disciples; without mutant aptitude, obtaining the true heritage was exceedingly difficult. Since she possessed the qualifications, she naturally did not want to miss the opportunity.
Lu Yuzhi walked toward Cao Wuji. Dressed in splendid silk garments, with brows like a painting and a faint smile on her face, she radiated confidence and charm, her grace exceptionally prominent.
Cao Wuji had earlier been surrounded by the crowd like the moon embraced by stars, an absolute focal point. But seeing this woman who seemed to glow, he immediately stepped forward of his own accord, low-key and humble.
Because he knew who she was, his own identity as a mutant was no longer exceptional.
"Would you like to join the Yuqing lineage?" Lu Yuzhi asked with a smile.
She originated from a millennium-old clan, was a top disciple of Yuqing, and walked the path of the esoteric sects as well. Though her smile was gentle, she possessed an imposing aura.
Facing her now, Cao Wuji held no advantage in any aspect. Thus, he immediately addressed her as Senior Sister and expressed his willingness to enter Yuqing.
He was a decisive person who did not hesitate, agreeing with clean finality.
Around them, the representatives from the Pure Yang Camp, Wenxin Academy, and the Five Elements Palace could only stare helplessly. However much they wanted to recruit this mutant, could they compete with the Yuqing lineage?
Moreover, they were no match for that woman; even if they all rushed her together, they would likely be crushed.
After a brief silence, many went over to congratulate Cao Wuji. Lu Yuzhi's expression was gentle as she informed him, "I must explain beforehand that after you go to Yuqing, you will still need to pass certain trials."
Cao Wuji nodded in understanding. How could learning the legendary heavenly light force be so easy? Even mutants had to be scrutinized!
Within the Purple Bamboo Forest, the atmosphere grew lively.
Many gathered around the two mutants. Some congratulated Cao Wuji, while others hoped to join the Yuqing lineage and wanted to learn about the qualification requirements.
Cao Wuji was exceptionally handsome and quite conversational, earning the favor of the few young Yuqing lineage members present. Lu Yuzhi was radiant and lovely, smiling and nodding with a good impression of him.
Some nearby fell into contemplation. For the Yuqing lineage to descend the mountain voluntarily to take disciples was exceedingly rare. A small number realized that the Era of Great Pioneering might truly not be far off—even ancient lineages like Yuqing were beginning to expand, actively recruiting top disciples.
Lu Yuzhi walked toward Qin Ming, instantly drawing people's attention once more.
"Quite a surprise; I didn't expect to see you here." The spring breeze brushed past, fluttering Lu Yuzhi's garments.
Slender and tall, with her fine hair lifting slightly, she was dazzling. She was not only a noble daughter of an ancient clan but also a disciple of Yuqing and a practitioner of dual paths; she appeared even more brilliant and radiant than in the past.
"Miss Lu, it has been a long time. Your grace surpasses the past," Qin Ming said.
The purple bamboos swayed gently in the wind, shimmering with a faint jade luster; the scenery here was superb.
Lu Yuzhi's brows were like distant mountains. Smiling, she asked, "Did you come here hoping to join a dojo?"
Qin Ming nodded. "Indeed. I am toiling and running about for my future, having traveled all the way from a remote place to Jinrui City."
Lu Yuzhi said, "If you wish to join the Yuqing lineage, you must undergo various assessments. Would you like to sign up?"
Qin Ming was very interested in the Yuqing lineage and asked, "What conditions are required to join, and how long before one can cultivate the legendary Yuqing force?"
Lu Yuzhi smiled and replied, "Yuqing's assessments are very strict. The first step is to become a registered disciple, which requires a certain level of comprehension."
She chatted briefly with Qin Ming, informing him of several particulars, before walking toward her fellow disciples.
"Brother, you know Miss Lu?" Someone came over. Earlier, he had intended to cultivate Qin Ming as a connection, but upon learning he hailed from a remote place, he had immediately lost interest; now he had returned.
"Senior Brother, are you very familiar with Miss Lu?" The girl in purple appeared as well, greeting him with a beaming smile.
Qin Ming was surrounded, but he was straightforward, telling them he had only met Lu Yuzhi a few times, and even if he wanted to join the Yuqing lineage, he would have to start from the test for registered disciples.
Only after fifteen minutes did the people around him disperse, convinced that he truly came from the remote Chixia City and was not particularly close to the core Yuqing disciple Lu Yuzhi.
After a brief exchange with prodigies from the great metropolises, Lu Yuzhi announced, "How about this: anyone wishing to sign up for Yuqing can take an on-site test right now."
She took out a stack of scripture sheets, handed them out, and said, "Recorded upon these is a type of heavenly light force created extemporaneously by an elder of my sect. Whoever can comprehend it and make it burst into four-colored radiance will pass."
Qin Ming also took a sheet. Since it was heavenly light force, he naturally wanted to experience it.
Before long, he had mastered it, sensing that more than just four colors of heavenly light intertwined; there should be even more force flowing within.
Sure enough, an even more dazzling glow surfaced across his palm. The expressions of those around him instantly shifted. Looking closely to count, they discovered it had reached eight colors—and he was still attempting to surge forth light mist!
"Xiao Qin, it's time for us to leave." Meng Xinghai appeared in the distance, calling for Qin Ming to depart.
"Alright!" Qin Ming nodded. The light in his palm went out, and he strode off into the distance.
Within the purple bamboo grove, cries of surprise erupted. "I passed! I brought out four colors!"
Afterward, a small number succeeded with five colors, immediately stirring up quite a clamor.
People turned their attention to Cao Wuji and found that he had actually produced seven colors, instantly sparking a sensation.
In his palm, it seemed as if a rainbow flowed, mist steaming sacred and serene, the brilliant glow exceptionally eye-catching.
"To be this absurd—he exceeded the requirements!"
"Is this a mutant? The gap between us and him is truly this vast!"
For a time, gasps of admiration echoed continuously throughout the Purple Bamboo Forest.
Many could only sigh; people simply couldn't be compared. This visible chasm in talent truly couldn't be bridged—the difference was simply too great.
Cao Wuji was calm and detached. What did this amount to?
Still, after pondering it, the process of parsing the technique was rather interesting.
"This has nothing to do with a mutant's physical endowment; this test only examines comprehension. In truth, one more color can be manifested." Lu Yuzhi smiled as she spoke. In her jade-white palm, eight colors appeared, flowing like a miniature celestial river, brilliantly dazzling.
Cao Wuji was deeply surprised. Another color could actually be added? Lu Yuzhi was in fact already very satisfied with him, smiling as she consoled him, "To be able to evolve seven colors at your stage is already remarkable. The eighth color still requires a unique understanding of fusing heavenly light; after all, you haven't learned that much yet..."
"I just saw someone who seemed to emit eight colors as well..." someone spoke softly.
"What are you saying?" people nearby questioned. Others in the area looked over as well.
"What happened?" Lu Yuzhi asked.
The girl in purple was somewhat nervous, but spoke frankly nonetheless: "I just saw someone emit eight colors!"
"Impossible!"
"At our stage, how could anyone's understanding of heavenly light reach such a level?"
"Who was it? Where is he?" A crowd of people refused to believe it. Cao Wuji furrowed his brows and looked toward them.
A young prodigy from a great metropolis spoke up: "I think I saw it too. Eight colors appeared in his palm—it was that Qin Ming from the remote place. Someone called him away."
Immediately, an uproar erupted. Someone had truly surpassed the mutant Cao Wuji? Setting aside root bones and constitution, was his comprehension this formidable?
Cao Wuji was stunned. Someone in the same age group had done better than him?
"This has nothing to do with a mutant's skeletal constitution," someone tried to console him, flattering him, only to realize the flattery had backfired.
Cao Wuji was expressionless, but waves churned in his heart. In terms of comprehension, someone was actually superior to him!
Lu Yuzhi also wore a look of shock, gazing toward the direction outside the Purple Bamboo Forest where that back had vanished. Did he truly possess such comprehension? It far exceeded her expectations.
The next day, Cui He received some news and couldn't help but frown. "He went to Jinrui City and met with people from lineages like Yuqing and Pure Yang? Is he preparing to join the ancestral court of some major sect?"
"It seems so. And there was also an interlude—his comprehension is astonishingly formidable..."
That same day, Cui He received another report: Qin Ming was very interested in the Six Imperials force and was suspected of wanting to join that lineage! Upon learning this, Cui Shuning's face darkened, and she said, "He's a mutant, and his comprehension is so extraordinary—isn't this going to squeeze out Chongxuan's spot as a core disciple? He is full of malice!"
Most critically, an acquaintance tipped them off: Qin Ming had already won nineteen consecutive matches, just one match away from entering the Six Imperials directly to undergo the assessment arranged by an elder, passing which he would become a core disciple!
Immediately, Cui He and Cui Shuning felt as though the heavens had collapsed. Were they being intercepted and undercut like this? There was actually such a rule allowing one to go straight to the Six Imperials mountain gate to meet an elder!
"Hurry and stop him! We cannot let him win the twentieth match!"
"Where is that young powerhouse we found earlier? Have him take the field!"
"The boy has quite a background; getting him to step forward won't be easy!"
Meng Xinghai remained leisurely, turning down matches others proactively proposed and beginning to play hard to get, claiming that with only one match remaining, there was no rush.
Over the past two days, Lu Yuzhi found that several acquaintances were inquiring with her one after another about Qin Ming's comprehension—all old friends, children of noble clans.
"Hey, haven't you heard? The person the Cui clan cast aside has high natural aptitude and shows signs of rising."
"I heard there'll be a great match to watch soon. Want to go together? Yeah, that's right, a mysterious young powerhouse is going to intercept that Qin Ming."
Four days later, everything was settled, agreed upon by all relevant parties. A duel without large-scale publicity, yet drawing great interest from many, was properly arranged.
Meng Xinghai was thoroughly satisfied. Though he had known from early on that obtaining the complete World-Abiding Scripture was unlikely, in the end he had negotiated a remnant fragment in addition to the Yimu Scripture—this was plenty.
The wager this time included not only the Yimu Scripture, but also six pages of the World-Abiding Scripture, far exceeding expectations!
Cui He was in a foul mood. In hindsight, he realized he had been led by the nose by Meng Xinghai, moving entirely to the other man's rhythm.
Cui Shuning was also very unhappy, as she already knew that this duel, which they had wanted to keep low-key, would be attended by a small circle of acquaintances, all from noble clans.
Although this wouldn't be reported in the papers, the appearance of these familiar faces still left her thoroughly embarrassed. Were they here to watch them make fools of themselves?
Her expression was frigid. Most infuriating of all, Meng Xinghai and certain people from the secluded Li clan were protecting Qin Ming. Even now, Fifth Master Huo was still keeping Li Qingyun company "drinking"—just how many days had passed by now?!
Two days later, some acquaintances appeared in Chixia City. Members of the Li clan arrived, immediately infuriating Cui He and Cui Shuning.
Members of the Wang clan appeared expressionless, leaving them somewhat helpless.
"What is a little brat like you doing here?" Cui He finally caught someone he could vent on, and swung a slap across.
Zheng Maoze was somewhat dazed and indignant, dearly wishing he could beat him back, but he genuinely couldn't win the fight. He had merely heard the news and come to spectate—why had he taken a slap out of nowhere?
"And you lot! A bunch of greenhorns doing nothing productive, what are you crowding around for?!" Cui He flared up. Slap, slap!
The group of youths were all furious!
"Lu Yuzhi came too—why don't you dare touch her?" someone protested indignantly.
In the deep night, outside Chixia City, heavy fog blanketed the area. The world was pitch-black, as if drenched in ink; nothing could be seen. Qin Ming stood quietly. From the dense night mist opposite him, a youth walked slowly forward!
Chapter 134