Chapter 74: Immortal Crane Chengfeng

“Along the way here, I’m sure that Fellow Apprentice Brother Fang has already conducted spiritual root attribute tests for everyone. From now on, everyone should select their main peak based on their aptitude and cultivate independently. For those with fire elemental spiritual roots, we recommend Divine Fire Peak; for those with wood elemental spiritual roots, Yakwang Peak is suggested.”

After giving them a brief history lesson, Su Tianyao shifted the focus back to the new disciples.

“You won’t be apprenticed to anyone?”

Someone from within the crowd asked with confusion.

In their minds, immortal sects operated under a mentorship system where one would apprentice under a master, learn from elder siblings, then follow their teacher around to practice cultivation and seek enlightenment together.

“When you choose your main peak, you will automatically become apprenticed to its Peak Lord. As for imparting techniques and teachings, during the initial phase, each peak’s elders will personally instruct you for some time. Later, when cultivating specific techniques, the Disciple of Transmission will teach you. Given the level of proficiency among our Disciples of Transmission, they’re more than capable of addressing any issues you may encounter while cultivating.”

Su Tianyao had a very good temperament and answered all questions meticulously.

Several more disciples raised questions, which Su Tianyao also responded to one by one. By the end, he’d earned the favor of many new disciples, especially several female ones who were considering choosing the main peak where Su Tianyao worked.

“Elder Brother Chen, I plan to go to Tian Lu Peak.” Xie Shuang had already chosen her main peak for cultivation.

While she was still in the Yue Kingdom, Xie Shuang had studied under the tutelage of Goddess Jade Bamboo and learned to draw talismans. Now that she’d entered Tian Lu Peak, she could consider herself somewhat proficient, making her journey easier.

“Work diligently at your cultivation, lest you disappoint Uncle-Master Jade Bamboo’s efforts.”

Watching Xie Shuang, Chen Luo kindly reminded her.

Chen Luo’s impression of this Xie-shimei was quite favorable; he hoped she would continue her cultivation journey without disappointing the Goddess Jade Bamboo who had sent her here.

“Yes, Senior Brother, which peak did you choose?”

“I chose the Peak of Enlightenment.”

Chen Luo didn’t bother hiding it—the main focus of his chosen peak, the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, was cultivating one’s state of mind and spiritual path, and required much testing of a disciple’s enlightenment. With his external brain, Chen Luo was particularly confident in this aspect.

“The Peak of Enlightenment?” Xie Shuang looked bewildered. She had only been paying attention to the first few peaks earlier, not realizing there were more behind them.

“The path to immortality is boundless, but those who endure loneliness shall behold the wonders of the apex,” Chen Luo said as a parting remark before turning toward the Peak of Enlightenment.

Compared to the previous major peaks, the Peak of Enlightenment was much quieter and less crowded. Throughout their entire journey, Chen Luo hadn’t seen many people along the way.

“Excuse me, Senior Brother, how do I get to the Peak of Enlightenment?” A female voice sounded from beside him.

Chen Luo turned back to look and discovered it was some young disciples who had entered the sect with him, all of whom seemed prepared to apprentice under Peak of Enlightenment. Their aptitudes weren’t particularly high; the highest among them was the female disciple he’d spoken with earlier, whose four elemental spiritual roots were on par with his own. The rest all had five or six elemental spiritual roots, at best.

“Just up ahead.”

When the flying boat flew past Peak of Enlightenment, Elder Brother Fang’s booklet had already described its location, but these few disciples clearly hadn’t read it carefully enough.

“Many thanks, Senior Brother,” they said solemnly before hurrying off toward Peak of Enlightenment.

Chen Luo followed along.

After passing through the crossroads, the area around Peak of Enlightenment became noticeably quieter. A simple green stone path led from the foot of the mountain all the way up, mossy stones piled upon each other like ancient ruins. It was impossible to tell when this place last received maintenance, as no one dared venture here due to the difficulty of cultivation. Among the ten great peaks, Peak of Enlightenment boasted relatively few disciples.

The group proceeded along the path until they reached the midway point of the mountain, whereupon the road suddenly vanished.

Separated from the next leg of the journey by a cliff face, down below lay a miasmic chasm so deep it disappeared from sight. On the opposite platform across, there was a distance of at least three hundred meters. With such a vast expanse between them, it would be absolutely impossible to traverse this obstacle solely relying on qinggong.

This scene left the disciples who had come to seek apprenticeship dumbstruck, unsure what to do.

“Senior Brother?” One of them cautiously asked Chen Luo, who had walked with them thus far, “I’m also here to apprentice.”

“So you’re new too,” one of the others said awkwardly, offering him a smile.

Chen Luo nodded silently and stood quietly at the edge of the stone platform, waiting.

Not long after, a long cry echoed from below the canyon. Under the eyes of the few onlookers, an immortal crane with golden wings flew down through the clouds and landed upon the stone platform at the lip of the cliff, scanning the group with sky-blue eyes.

“You newcomers?”

The crane surveyed them briefly before speaking. His voice was very young, akin to that of a three-year-old child’s. However, when they saw the crane speak, all those present were startled.

“I am Immortal Crane Chengfeng, second-generation disciple of the Peak of Enlightenment, responsible for welcoming newcomers like yourselves.” The crane combed his own feathers as he calmly introduced himself.

“Greetings, Senior Chengfeng.”

Chen Luo bowed respectfully toward the crane. At his example, the others gathered around quickly recovered their senses and followed suit, bowing to Immortal Crane Chengfeng in turn.

The immortal crane was slightly surprised; he glanced at Chen Luo and found himself impressed by how quickly this new disciple had recovered his senses.

The display of force earlier was not something an ordinary newcomer could withstand. Although Chen Luo cultivated on the Peak of Enlightenment, he was still fundamentally a demon beast. Before he transformed, any cultivator who saw him would be affected by his demonic qi, and the greater their cultivation gap, the stronger the influence.

“Very good, very good,” Immortal Crane Chengfeng nodded approvingly. “What is your name?”

“This disciple’s name is Chen Luo.”

“Go ahead.”

Without another word, Immortal Crane Chengfeng flapped his wings, and two iron chains emerged from either side of the broken cliff face where they connected together, forming an iron chain bridge in the blink of an eye. Though it looked perilous, it was now safe to cross.

After offering his respects, Chen Luo controlled the spiritual energy within his body, activating the immortal script beneath his feet. He stepped onto the iron bridge like a wisp of smoke, soaring across with ease.

The rest of the disciples were envious.

This person’s mental state is truly remarkable.

The female disciple who had spoken earlier paled as she looked down, fear creeping into her heart.

It was the edge of a thousand-foot cliff! Falling would mean certain death.

The others felt similarly; the demonic energy on either side and the precarious iron bridge beneath their feet made for quite a dangerous scene. This path to becoming an immortal disciple was far different from what they’d imagined.

I shouldn’t have chosen the Peak of Enlightenment. Some disciples regretted their decision.

“If you’re regretting your choice, feel free to turn back,” Immortal Crane Chengfeng, standing nearby, spoke up, his voice echoing the thoughts in everyone’s minds. “I don’t accept fools at the Peak of Enlightenment.”

After he spoke, two disciples turned around hesitantly and descended the mountain.

Already few, the group became even smaller.

As the two disciples chose to descend, Immortal Crane Chengfeng’s eyes flashed with disdain.