[Congratulations, Host. Successfully accepted Lin Feng as your disciple. Waste tie activated: 1/2.]
[1/2 Waste Tie Effect: The disciple receives a 100× cultivation boost. The disciple’s cultivation returns to the host at a 1,000× ratio. The host can manually toggle the disciple’s cultivation boost on or off.]
[Congratulations, Host. First-time activation of tie function. Reward: Host’s cultivation elevated directly to Star Profound Realm.]
[Congratulations, Host. First-time activation of 1/2 Waste Tie. Reward: Old Six Aura. Effect: No one can perceive the host’s cultivation fluctuations.]
[Congratulations, Host. First-time acquisition of cultivation. Reward: Heavenly Eye. Effect: Can see through anyone’s secrets at a glance.]
Hearing the system’s voice echo in his mind, Zhong Qing was ecstatic. The cultivation he had dreamed of had finally come true!
In his excitement, he felt a powerful surge of energy from heaven and earth rush into his limbs and bones, all without anyone noticing. “So this is the Star Profound Realm’s cultivation?” Zhong Qing marveled at the immense power coursing through his body, unable to suppress the smile rising on his face.
He never imagined the rewards would be so generous—he had directly jumped to the Star Profound Realm. In this world, the cultivation stages were: Body Refinement, Postnatal, Prenatal, Morning Star Realm, Star Profound Realm, Moon Profound Realm, Sun Profound Realm, Earth Profound Realm, Heaven Profound Realm.
Typically, someone at the Prenatal level was already seen as an immortal figure in the eyes of mortals, capable of flying through the sky. Reaching the Morning Star Realm meant one could serve as an elder of a sect—like the Peak Masters of the Azure Jade Sect’s various peaks, all of whom were only at the Morning Star Realm.
But he, Zhong Qing, had ascended in one leap—an entire major realm above them!
The system was truly not lying!
And this Old Six Aura and Heavenly Eye were incredible too. The former was a perfect skill for cunning survival, while the latter’s ability to uncover secrets needed no explanation.
Taking a deep breath, Zhong Qing glanced at the system panel again:
[Host: Zhong Qing]
[Cultivation: Star Profound Realm]
[Disciple: Lin Feng – Cultivation: None (100× boost available)]
[Activated Tie: Waste Tie 1/2]
[Physique Acquired: None]
[Special Skills Acquired: Old Six Aura, Heavenly Eye]
Truly impressive, Zhong Qing thought with admiration.
Meanwhile, the disciple selection process was coming to an end. Apart from those chosen as core disciples by the Peak Masters, the rest were free to join any peak as ordinary disciples. The square buzzed with motion.
All the peaks soon welcomed fresh new blood and bustled with energy—except Command Hall Peak. It remained cold and quiet. No one joined.
“So many want to enter my Divine Sword Peak again?” Duan Feng stood on the high platform with his hands behind his back. He glanced sideways at Zhong Qing and said meaningfully, “But our Divine Sword Peak already has too many disciples. Perhaps we should send a few to Command Hall Peak?”
The moment he said that, the disciples applying rushed to object.
“Peak Master Duan, please don’t! Let us join Divine Sword Peak! Don’t send us to Command Hall Peak—we’d be ruined!”
“Yeah! Even the Peak Master of Command Hall Peak can’t cultivate. How could we get anything out of joining them?”
“I’d rather be a servant disciple on another peak than join Command Hall Peak!”
“Command Hall Peak? Not even dogs would go there!”
Voices of desperation echoed across the square. The cultivation world was ruthless. Without power, you were nothing. No one respected the weak.
“If none of you want to join Command Hall Peak, I suppose Divine Sword Peak can make an exception and accept you all,” Duan Feng laughed heartily, shooting a cold glance at Zhong Qing.
This little waste had dared to talk back to him in public. As Peak Master, Duan Feng had all kinds of ways to make sure Zhong Qing never lifted his head again.
Zhong Qing, of course, saw right through Duan Feng’s mockery. Before, with no strength, he could only endure. But now, with the Star Profound Realm’s power—why should he endure?
“Barking like a dog all day long,” Zhong Qing said flatly.
Duan Feng’s face instantly darkened. “You little bastard, you court death!”
A flash of killing intent surged in his eyes. In the next moment, he unleashed his peak Morning Star Realm cultivation and struck at Zhong Qing with a palm!
The crowd erupted in shock. One, because Zhong Qing—a known waste—dared to speak to Duan Feng like that. Two, because Duan Feng actually attacked him directly, despite Zhong Qing’s special identity.
In the blink of an eye, the palm strike neared Zhong Qing’s head. Even Sect Master Xuanyuan Hong had no time to intervene. He could only shout anxiously, “Stop!” hoping to halt the strike with his voice.
But Duan Feng completely ignored Xuanyuan Hong. His face curled into a cold smile as he continued his attack.
The seven peaks of the Azure Jade Sect were not created randomly. Each peak held unique significance, and all were built over powerful formations. Cultivating at the core of these formations could double the results with half the effort.
But each peak had only a limited number of formation cores. Duan Feng had long coveted Command Hall Peak. If he could absorb it into Divine Sword Peak, his sect’s overall power would skyrocket—possibly even surpassing the main peak.
Because of Zhong Qing, that dream had been delayed. So Duan Feng had long wanted to get rid of him. However, Zhong Qing’s background meant he couldn’t act rashly.
Now, Zhong Qing had given him the perfect excuse. A waste dares to speak arrogantly to the Peak Master of Divine Sword Peak? That’s reason enough.
Even if the Sect Master questioned him afterward, he wouldn’t care.
Besides, he still hadn’t forgotten the humiliation he once suffered at Daoist Nai’s hands. So today, this Zhong Qing must die!
Under countless watching eyes, the palm neared Zhong Qing. Some sighed. Some pitied. Most thought—Zhong Qing deserved it.
But the next moment stunned everyone.
At the critical instant, Zhong Qing calmly raised his hand and threw a punch at Duan Feng.
In a flash—
Palm met fist.
A deafening blast echoed out. The sound of an explosion rang sharply in everyone’s ears as powerful profound energy surged in all directions.
And in that clash, Duan Feng—who struck first—was sent flying backwards. He slid across the ground, carving a deep trench before stabilizing himself.
Zhong Qing, in contrast, simply let his robe settle. He withdrew his fist and stood calmly with hands behind his back, as if nothing had happened.
The entire square fell silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
From ordinary disciples to Peak Masters, even Xuanyuan Hong, everyone stared in disbelief.
“Wasn’t he… a waste?”
“How did he just…”