The following day, Jiang Youbai spent the entire time at Lingyun Peak. In truth, there was nothing much he needed to prepare for the apprenticeship ceremony; yesterday, he had simply spoken that way in front of Shen Changchuan specifically to put Mu Jiyuan on the spot.
Just as the bell signaling the end of class rang, its crisp, pleasant chime echoing in everyone’s hearts, Man Shuosheng did not leave immediately as he usually did. Instead, he walked over to the corner where Jiang Youbai was sitting, gave a light cough, and said, “Regarding what you said last week about the Three Realms and demonic beasts, I thought about it carefully later on, and your words are not without reason. We can discuss it further another time so that my future lectures to the new disciples can be more comprehensive.”
Jiang Youbai raised his gaze to look at Man Shuosheng. Although the white-bearded old man was somewhat stubborn and fond of quoting rules, he was not the type of person who refused to be flexible when it came to academics. It was only natural that he would willingly and open-mindedly accept those insights.
The corners of his lips curved upward in a genuine smile. “Alright. I would be more than happy to debate matters concerning demonic beasts and the Three Realms with Man Shuosheng. I just worry that Man Shuosheng might get so angry he faints on the spot. At your advanced age, you really should take better care of yourself.”
Recognizing that Jiang Youbai was teasing him, Man Shuosheng chuckled and scolded him good-naturedly, “You brat, how dare you call me old!”
Jiang Youbai lazily propped his head up with one hand, smiling without another word.
After Man Shuosheng departed, taking advantage of the recess, Lin Shuang and the others gathered around. “Tomorrow is the apprenticeship ceremony. Why do I feel like I am already getting nervous?”
“All of us will be going to observe the ceremony. Xiaobai, are you nervous?”
Still lounging in the same relaxed posture, Jiang Youbai wore an amused smile, entirely devoid of any so-called nervousness. “I am not nervous at all. What on earth are you all stressing about?”
Mu Jiyuan chimed in from nearby, “For the First Seat of the Immortal Alliance to take on a disciple is a major event for the entire alliance. By then, the sect masters of other sects might even come to observe. It is best if Senior Brother Jiang can manage not to be nervous. If it were me, I would not even be able to smile right now.”
While these words sounded as though he were sympathizing with Jiang Youbai’s nerves, they covertly mocked him for failing to take the apprenticeship ceremony seriously, joking around at a time like this and showing complete disrespect toward Shen Changchuan and the other sect masters.
Hearing this clearly, Lin Shuang let out a scoff, turned to lower his voice, and told the other disciples, “I heard from the disciples of the Qian Hall that yesterday the Eldest Senior Brother led Mu Jiyuan to the disciples’ quarters. Although the Eldest Senior Brother and Mu Jiyuan stayed there together for a night, I recall there has never been a precedent of a personal disciple staying in the common quarters. Could it be that he is not actually a personal disciple after all?”
Though he spoke in a lowered voice intended for those beside him, the volume was easily audible to everyone in the vicinity, including Mu Jiyuan himself.
Mu Jiyuan glanced at him, then looked around at the unfriendly gazes directed his way, and turned to Jiang Youbai with a hurt expression. “Senior Brother Jiang, does everyone dislike me? But it seems I have not done anything wrong.”
“That is right! Junior Brother has not done a thing, so why are you people from the Kun Hall bullying others again?”
A figure was leaning over the window ledge. Jiang Youbai looked up and let out a light laugh. “I was wondering who it was. So it is Senior Brother Yang.”
Standing outside and speaking up on Mu Jiyuan’s behalf was none other than Yang Hua. Behind him stood several other disciples from the Qian Hall, all glaring at Jiang Youbai with hostile expressions.
Lin Shuang cast a look of disdain at Yang Hua and said to Jiang Youbai, “The day Mu Jiyuan arrived just happened to be when Yang Hua was sweeping the stone steps, which is how he spotted him and went to report to the Eldest Senior Brother. Afterward, Mu Jiyuan was taken in as the Sect Master’s disciple, so naturally Yang Hua’s punishment was waived. Now he is back in the Qian Hall, having to retake his coursework, and he cannot leave until he graduates.”
Jiang Youbai raised an eyebrow slightly. “So that is how it is.”
He turned to ask Mu Jiyuan, “Everyone in the Qian Hall seems to dote on you. Why on earth do you insist on staying in the Kun Hall?”
Lowering his head, Mu Jiyuan replied in a soft whisper, “I want to stay closer to Senior Brother Jiang.”
Jiang Youbai let out a quiet, ambiguous chuckle, then raised his gaze toward the people standing outside the window. “Did you all hear that? Junior Brother said he wants to stay close to me. Since he does not wish to go to the Qian Hall, the rest of you may leave.”
The complexions of the few individuals standing outside turned visibly ugly. Mu Jiyuan quickly chimed in, “I am fine. They are not bullying me. It is just that we are not familiar with each other yet. Once we get to know one another, it will be fine. You all do not need to worry.”
As soon as those words left his mouth, the disciples outside looked at Mu Jiyuan with aching sympathy. “If they ever bully you, come tell us immediately! We of the Qian Hall are not to be trifled with!”
Only then did Jiang Youbai’s gaze shift to the men standing behind Yang Hua. His eyes paused for a fraction of a second, the playfulness in his gaze instantly freezing into frost, laced with a chilling, lethal intent.
What a coincidence. He recognized every single one of these people. In his past life, they had been Mu Jiyuan’s clinging sycophants. To curry favor with Mu Jiyuan, they had smeared his name before the Eldest Senior Brother, and because they felt distressed over Mu Jiyuan being punished, they had repeatedly tracked him down to make trouble for him. After his identity as a beast was exposed, these same individuals had scrambled to hurl insults at him and join in the hunt just to show off in front of Mu Jiyuan.
“You are actually a beast! What purpose do you have coming to the Qingshang Sect?”
“No wonder you targeted Junior Brother at every turn and let those beasts escape, getting Junior Brother punished in the process! The truth is finally out, isn’t it? You are the mastermind behind all of it!”
“What is this? Are you trying to coordinate from the inside and outside to wipe out our Qingshang Sect? Using such despicable methods, you truly have no shame!”
“Do you think playing human in the Qingshang Sect is fun? A mere beast, and you actually fancy yourself a person?”
“You still want to compare yourself to Junior Brother? Junior Brother was born with divine bones and is destined to inherit the Sect Master’s mantle in the future. Are you even worthy?”
Pulled back from his memories, Jiang Youbai narrowed his eyes slightly, only to hear Yang Hua pointing an unresigned finger at him. “We still have an old score to settle between us anyway. Previously, I had already graduated, and as a senior brother, I worried people would accuse me of bullying you. But since we are both ordinary disciples now, why don’t we step outside for a spar? Let me see what extraordinary talents a personal disciple admitted to the sect through the Sect Master’s special exception actually possesses.”
Yang Hua had never forgotten a single moment of the humiliation he suffered while sweeping the steps, and he was eager to show off in front of Mu Jiyuan. Based on his observations, although Jiang Youbai held the status of a personal disciple, he apparently possessed no actual spiritual power. He had not tested the boy’s spiritual roots, but no matter how high one’s innate talent was, it was useless without spiritual power. If he sparred with him now, he would surely subject this person to thorough humiliation, preferably grinding him beneath his heel and forcing Jiang Youbai to grovel and beg for mercy.
Jiang Youbai could not help finding it amusing. “You were a senior brother before, but suddenly you are not anymore? Why on earth should I agree to a spar with a demoted student who has to repeat his classes?”
Yang Hua’s face darkened. He said in a deep voice, “What? Are you too cowardly to accept?”
Looking at the other man’s ugly expression, Jiang Youbai smiled. “A provocation tactic. How childish.”
Yang Hua: “…”
Never expecting that Jiang Youbai would refuse to take the bait, Yang Hua lost all remaining composure and sneered, “A personal disciple specially recruited by the Sect Master, only to turn out to be a useless piece of trash without even a shred of spiritual power. If I were you, I would certainly not dare to accept the challenge either.”
Behind him, several Qian Hall disciples chimed in with laughter. “So, he is just a powerless piece of trash! No wonder he kept targeting our Junior Brother. Is it because you are green with jealousy over Junior Brother’s divine bones?”
These humiliating insults were virtually identical to the ones from his past life. A smile still lingered on the corners of Jiang Youbai’s lips, but the ice in his eyes shattered like brittle glass.
Lin Shuang shouted angrily, “What nonsense are you spewing? When has Xiaobai ever been jealous of Mu Jiyuan? When did he ever target him? Which of your eyes saw that, spreading rumors like this?”
“Exactly! Xiaobai is the Sect Master’s personal disciple. By seniority alone, all of us should be addressing him as Senior Brother.”
Seeing this, the disciples of the Kun Hall also stepped forward one after another to speak up in Jiang Youbai’s defense.
A warm ripple stirred within Jiang Youbai’s heart. In his past life, not a single person had ever stood up to speak for him like this.
He raised his voice and addressed Yang Hua directly. “You want a spar? Very well. Let us sign a pact of life and death.”
An uproar swept through the crowd.
Spars between ordinary disciples usually emphasized stopping before a point was reached, and no one would genuinely take a fellow sect member’s life. However, signing a pact of life and death carried an entirely different weight; it ceased to be a simple spar and transformed into a mortal duel, something strictly forbidden by the rules of the Qingshang Sect.
Lin Shuang frowned and leaned over to whisper a dissuasion. “Xiaobai, regardless of the circumstances, even if you win a life-and-death duel, you will still be punished afterward.”
“Indeed, people fight with their lives on the line for no good reason. Xiaobai, do not pay him any mind.”
On the other side, however, the Kun Hall disciples began cheering in approval, assuming that given the obvious disparity in strength, Jiang Youbai had no possible way of defeating Yang Hua.
Even Yang Hua thought the exact same thing. A life-and-death pact suited his wishes perfectly, so he eagerly blurted out, “Fine!”
In a flurry of movements, he drew the talismanic script of a life-and-death pact in midair, signed his name, and shoved it toward Jiang Youbai as if terrified the other boy might back out.
Jiang Youbai gently patted Lin Shuang’s restraining hand and said softly, “It is fine. Do not worry.”
The moment the signature was finalized, Yang Hua smiled viciously. “Then please step up, Junior Brother.”
Watching Jiang Youbai walk out, and taking advantage of the moment everyone’s attention shifted, Lin Shuang hurriedly sent a voice transmission to Tang Ci.
As Jiang Youbai and Yang Hua stood upon the sparring platform, Yang Hua was already indulging in the pleasant daydream of trampling his opponent beneath his feet. “Jiang Youbai, your senior brother here will not hold back. If you wish to surrender now, it is still not too late. Just kowtow to me three times, offer an apology, and go sweep the mountain gates of the Qingshang Sect for a full year, and we can call our score settled. How about it?”
Wearing a look of utter innocence, Jiang Youbai asked, “I have never quite understood what grievances supposedly exist between you and me. Clearly, you lot were the ones who provoked me first.”
As Yang Hua stared into Jiang Youbai’s amber-hued eyes, he momentarily lost his focus. He had to admit that this person was truly stunning. Unlike Mu Jiyuan, whose gentle disposition made people instinctively want to protect him, Jiang Youbai inspired a dark desire to possess him, conquer him, and reduce him to tears.
Sneering coldly, Yang Hua warned, “Remember to beg for mercy prettily later on. Perhaps out of fellow-apprentice affection, I might spare you from severe injury.”
With those words, his figure surged forward, spiritual energy condensing in his palm as he lunged straight toward Jiang Youbai.
Watching anxiously from below, Lin Shuang muttered, “That Yang Hua has already reached the Core Formation stage, yet he is still bullying someone weaker while speaking so righteously, what a despicable villain!”
“Exactly! Such a person is not even fit to be our senior brother.”
“Moving at such speed, can Xiaobai possibly dodge it?”
Seeing Yang Hua charge forward like a reckless young brute, Jiang Youbai could not help bursting into laughter. Before the man’s palm-wind could sweep over him, he effortlessly sidestepped and dodged the attack with a single fluid motion.
Too slow.
In Jiang Youbai’s eyes, Yang Hua’s speed was far from adequate. After all, having experienced Shen Changchuan as the pinnacle benchmark, no one in this world could strike faster than Shen Changchuan.
If he could evade Shen Changchuan, a mere Core Formation practitioner like Yang Hua was nothing.
Yang Hua exhausted every trick in his arsenal yet failed to touch even a shred of Jiang Youbai’s robes. His complexion grew increasingly unsightly, and his attacks gradually lost all structural discipline, driven solely by the frantic urge to grab hold of his target.
After Jiang Youbai gracefully sidestepped yet another of Yang Hua’s palm strikes, his flowing robes fluttered to reveal the slender line of his waist, his footsteps seemingly tracing delicate arcs upon the ground. Finally, coming to a halt in place, he looked at Yang Hua and smiled as harmlessly as an innocent bystander. “It is over, Senior Brother.”
Yang Hua froze. “What do you mean it is over? I am going to catch you!”
Jiang Youbai let out a soft sigh and pointed down at the ground. Following the gesture, Yang Hua instinctively looked down and saw golden spiritual energy swirling beneath his feet, tracing intricate patterns that formed a complete array.
Yang Hua’s pupils constricted.
Down below, someone finally recognized the array Jiang Youbai had drawn: “It is the Spirit-Sealing Array!”
“Heavens! Jiang Youbai actually knows the Spirit-Sealing Array? Why would the Sect Master entrust such an important array to a disciple who has only been here for a few days?”
“Could it be that Yang Hua was lying to us? Does the Sect Master actually hold Jiang Youbai in exceptionally high favor?”
“I told you so! How could someone specially recruited into the Sect Master’s lineage possibly be a useless good-for-nothing?”
“But the Spirit-Sealing Array is the greatest lethal formation in the entire Qingshang Sect, as well as its grand protective barrier! To teach it to Jiang Youbai so casually, is Jiang Youbai really just an ordinary personal disciple in the eyes of the Sect Master?”