Zhang Xuan Frowns and Steps Behind the Crowd 3: Chapter 3: The Fallen Plan?
Zhang Xuan Frowns and Steps Behind the Crowd The moment Zhang Xuan and Guyue Fangzheng arrived at Azure Cloud Sect’s main plaza, they immediately drew numerous gazes.
There was nothing for it — Guyue Fangzheng’s peak Foundation Building cultivation was simply too radiant to ignore.
Even the Azure Cloud Sect elders standing at the front of the plaza turned their attention their way.
“Esteemed sir, my name is Wang Tiezhu.
May I ask yours, sir?” “Young master, this humble maiden is Tian Erniu.
Might I have your name, young master?” “This humble one is Wang Gang.
Young master, shall we…?” Before long, a crowd of men and women had surrounded Guyue Fangzheng so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through, pushing Zhang Xuan right out of the circle.
In everyone’s eyes, Guyue Fangzheng with his peak Foundation Building realm was essentially guaranteed to join Azure Cloud Sect.
Getting to know each other now would mean having connections once inside the sect.
And some were thinking even further ahead.
A family capable of producing such a young peak Foundation Building cultivator must be no ordinary cultivation clan.
Befriending him was certainly the right move.
As for Zhang Xuan… Everyone assumed he was merely Guyue Fangzheng’s servant.
No one paid him the slightest attention.
Angry, trembling, cold — a bunch of shallow people who only care about cultivation level?
With a god-tier specimen like me standing right here, and not a single person notices?
Zhang Xuan was exasperated.
Watching Guyue Fangzheng chat amiably with the crowd while cutting such a dashing figure, he gave a cold snort.
He just said he’d stop stealing the spotlight.
This kid is hopeless!
As for the inexplicable familiarity he had felt with the Spirit Testing Stele earlier, Zhang Xuan dismissed it.
All Spirit Testing Steles looked the same.
Of course one might feel familiar.
So Zhang Xuan simply stood to the side, watching Guyue Fangzheng hold court with the crowd, his eyes filled with disdain.
“Forget it.
I can’t be bothered to compete for attention with a bunch of juniors.” Just as the crowd around Guyue Fangzheng was about to grow even larger, a middle-aged man appeared at the front of the plaza and called out in a resonant voice: “Silence!” His voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear with perfect clarity, causing many to snap to attention.
“A Nascent Soul cultivator!” “As expected of Azure Cloud Sect — they even have a Nascent Soul ancestor presiding over a mere recruitment ceremony.
In other sects, that would be an ancestor-level figure!” “Do you think there’s a chance an elder might take a liking to me and accept me as a disciple?” The crowd fell quiet at once, their faces filled with reverence as they looked upon the middle-aged man.
Zhang Xuan, however, gazed toward the deeper reaches of the sect beyond the plaza, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Though he was now merely a mortal, ninety-nine lifetimes of experience had sharpened his perception.
There were definitely more powerhouses lurking deep within the sect, watching this place.
He could feel it like needles prickling his back.
Nervous, of course not.
He had heard that Azure Cloud Sect’s strongest expert, the Sect Master, was only at the Tribulation Transcendence realm.
In any of his past lives, such cultivators had surrounded him in droves.
He turned to look at Guyue Fangzheng and found the other doing the same — peering toward the sect’s depths.
It seemed this fellow had noticed them too.
“Sharp perception, as expected of an Eternal Family disciple.” Zhang Xuan gave a silent nod of approval, a hint of reminiscence flickering in his eyes.
He recalled that in one of his past lives, he had also been born into an Eternal Family… At the front of the plaza, after the Nascent Soul elder announced the beginning of the talent testing, people lined up to be assessed.
Zhang Xuan joined the queue as well.
Guyue Fangzheng followed suit, apparently quite interested in the proceedings.
Zhang Xuan paid him no mind, already calculating in his mind how he should go about dying to protect the sect after joining.
“Joining shouldn’t be too difficult.
Even though this life’s talent is garbage, that’s actually a good thing — it won’t attract attention, and I won’t have to overthink things.” “All I need to do is silently die when the sect faces a crisis.” “Mm, perfect!” Zhang Xuan’s thoughts raced as he formulated the perfect plan.
His plan even specified what level of enemy he would face, how he would be beaten to death, and in what pose he would lie at the end.
He just needed to pass the test, join the sect, and the mission would be half complete.
It had to be said — having terrible talent in this life was actually advantageous.
Though this did not align with Zhang Xuan’s long-standing philosophy of living large, acting big, and making an entrance wherever he went.
But since this was the last mission, he might as well finish it quickly and transcend.
Once he did, he could properly enjoy himself!
Zhang Xuan felt that giving him the identity of a menial disciple would be ideal.
That way, he could run into some bully who insulted the sect, then heroically sacrifice himself defending its honor.
Cliché, yes.
But it was convenient, fast, and reliable!
Perfect!
“Three Elements Mid-grade Spirit Root, next!” “Four Elements High-grade Spirit Root, next!” “…!” “Your turn!” Zhang Xuan was deep in thought when the Azure Cloud Sect outer disciple at the front called out, looking toward him and Guyue Fangzheng.
Whoosh!
In an instant, all eyes in the vicinity fell upon them — or more precisely, upon Guyue Fangzheng.
Even the Nascent Soul elder keeping watch nearby turned to look.
As the person with the highest cultivation among those present, everyone was intensely curious about Guyue Fangzheng’s talent.
Zhang Xuan’s heart sank.
Because he was standing right in front of Guyue Fangzheng.
He knew his own situation.
Five Elements Low-grade Spirit Root — the worst possible talent.
To be tested under such intense scrutiny and reveal such pathetic talent would be utterly humiliating.
Not being able to show off in this life was one thing, but having to embarrass himself too?
He absolutely could not allow that to happen!
Especially as he drew closer to the Spirit Testing Stele.
A subtle sense of unease stirred in his heart.
“Could there really be something wrong?” So Zhang Xuan frowned and stepped back behind Guyue Fangzheng.
“Brother Guyue, please go ahead!” At this, many onlookers’ expressions shifted.
Some elders even looked at Zhang Xuan approvingly.
This one knows his manners!
Guyue Fangzheng saw no reason to refuse — it was only a difference of one spot.
“Brother Zhang, then I shall go test first!” Zhang Xuan nodded and watched Guyue Fangzheng walk toward the Spirit Testing Stele with a sense of relief.
Let this guy try it out first.
Guyue Fangzheng approached the stele and slowly reached out his hand toward its surface.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed upon the stele.
Even the elders stared intently.
Deep within the sect, Azure Cloud Sect’s inner elders, those lofty figures seated among the clouds, were watching this place as well.
Hummm!
In the next instant, a column of blue-purple light erupted from the Spirit Testing Stele, soaring skyward.
A sacred aura surged outward in all directions like crashing waves, parting the clouds above.
In the blink of an eye, the clouds within a radius of dozens of miles above Azure Cloud Sect were blown clean away.
Disciples with weaker cultivation felt a sudden, inexplicable palpitation.
Everyone stared in shock, while the Azure Cloud Sect elders’ pupils contracted sharply.
“A Wind Thunder Dual Variant Spirit Root!” But it was not over yet.
Following the blue-purple radiance, a golden light burst forth from within it, rising even higher and suppressing the blue-purple glow entirely.
The clouds within a hundred miles were scattered.
“A Wind Thunder Sacred Body?” Yet in the face of this phenomenon, Guyue Fangzheng remained utterly composed.
He turned to look at Zhang Xuan.
“Brother Zhang, it’s your turn.”