Cangxuan had given Xiao Chen a Spiritual Essence Pill during their very first meeting, a clear sign of how highly he regarded him.
He told Qing Yao and Qingluo he would be in seclusion for a few days and that everything would have to wait until he emerged.
The two women readily agreed.
Sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion in his room, Xiao Chen first calmed his mind and focused his spirit, adjusting his state to its peak before swallowing the Spiritual Essence Pill in one gulp.
As the pill entered his stomach, its gentle and pure medicinal energy dissolved instantly.
Refined Spiritual Power surged through his limbs and meridians.
With the pill’s help, his cultivation—already at the peak of the introductory stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm—finally touched the threshold of Small Success.
Xiao Chen intended to use the Spiritual Essence Pill to break through to Small Success in the Yellow Extreme Realm in one fell swoop.
He had been at the introductory stage for several months, and his cultivation base was completely stable.
Breaking through wouldn’t be difficult; it was merely a matter of time.
While Xiao Chen was in seclusion, news that Cangxuan intended to take him as a closed-door disciple spread rapidly through the Outer Sect.
Just one day later, the upper echelons of the East Sword Pavilion made an official announcement: Xiao Chen’s apprenticeship ceremony would be held in ten days.
With the Sword Pavilion’s leadership having spoken, the matter was officially confirmed.
In an instant, Xiao Chen’s name echoed throughout the entire East Sword Pavilion; even the Inner Sect Disciples and Core Disciples had heard of him.
Not only was he becoming Cangxuan’s disciple, but he was to be his closed-door disciple.
This meant Xiao Chen would be Cangxuan’s final student; from this day forward, Cangxuan would accept no others.
The entire East Sword Pavilion was in an uproar.
While some, like Mo Jie and Qin Shuirou, were happy for Xiao Chen, others were consumed by jealousy and began to secretly resent him.
Countless people in the East Sword Pavilion dreamed of becoming Cangxuan’s disciple, yet he had never shown interest in any of them.
For a brand-new Outer Disciple to suddenly be accepted—how could they not be jealous?
Core Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, and Outer Disciples alike—there was no shortage of people jealous of Xiao Chen.
Some even publicly declared that Xiao Chen was unworthy of becoming Cangxuan’s disciple.
For a while, the entire East Sword Pavilion was embroiled in controversy.
In the First Courtyard of the Outer Sect, in an elegant courtyard not far from Xiao Chen’s Wuchen Residence, a young man in a purple robe sat upright.
Li Yang stood respectfully to the side, speaking with a deferential look on his face.
“Senior Brother, that Xiao Chen is just unbelievably lucky to be noticed by the Courtyard Head.
He may have comprehended Sword Qi, but so have you!
Even you never received the Courtyard Head’s favor, so what makes that kid so special?
It’s an injustice to you, Senior Brother…”
“Shut up.” The young man cut him off with an angry shout before Li Yang could finish.
Li Yang didn’t dare show the slightest hint of displeasure and immediately clamped his mouth shut.
The young man’s name was Wang Hu, one of the three prodigies of the First Courtyard and, by extension, the entire Outer Courtyard.
At twenty-three years old, his cultivation had reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection, only a single step away from the Xuanyuan Realm.
Furthermore, just like Xiao Chen, he had achieved Extreme Foundation Establishment and comprehended Sword Qi.
Wang Hu was naturally irritated by all the recent buzz surrounding Xiao Chen.
He considered himself in no way inferior.
‘So why,’ he wondered, ‘did Cangxuan choose Xiao Chen?’
‘I am one of the three great prodigies of the Outer Courtyard, yet Cangxuan has never shown the slightest appreciation for my talent.
But Xiao Chen?
He was accepted as a disciple after a single meeting.’
A cold glint flashed in his eyes as Wang Hu hissed, “If even I, Wang Hu, couldn’t become the Courtyard Head’s disciple, what makes you worthy, Xiao Chen?
I’d like to see for myself what makes you so special.
If you’re just a paper tiger, I’ll make sure you lose all face at the apprenticeship ceremony.”
Wang Hu’s jealousy had already led him to view Xiao Chen as an enemy.
A similar scene played out with the other two prodigies of the Outer Sect.
All three of them deeply resented Xiao Chen, believing he was unworthy of becoming Cangxuan’s closed-door disciple.
The outside world was in an uproar over his apprenticeship, but Xiao Chen remained completely unaware.
After three days of seclusion, on the fourth day, he finally broke through to Small Success in the Yellow Extreme Realm.
Xiao Chen was in high spirits after his cultivation breakthrough.
He emerged from seclusion and summoned Qing Yao and Qingluo to ask if anything had happened over the past few days.
The two women recounted the events of the past few days, the most important of which was that his apprenticeship ceremony had been set for six days from now.
After explaining the details of the ceremony, Qing Yao added with a worried look, “Young Master, we’ve heard a lot of rumors…
Many people are unhappy about this and are planning to humiliate you at the ceremony…”
‘I knew it would come to this,’ Xiao Chen thought.
‘A new disciple like me suddenly becomes the Master’s closed-door disciple.
It’d be stranger if they weren’t jealous.’
“It’s nothing,” Xiao Chen said calmly, unconcerned.
“I’ll handle whatever comes my way.
I fear no one at the same cultivation realm.
As for the Inner Sect and Core Disciples, they won’t stoop to dealing with me personally.
And if they did, I doubt the Master would just stand by and watch.”
He had barely finished speaking when Mo Jie and his friends arrived outside Wuchen Residence.
They had visited many times over the past few days, only to find him in seclusion.
Seeing that Xiao Chen was finally out, Mo Jie stepped forward with a broad smile to congratulate him.
“Junior Brother, you really caught us all by surprise!
One minute you’re one of us, and the next you’re the Courtyard Head’s closed-door disciple.
I guess from now on, I’ll be the one relying on you, eh?”
Xiao Chen was delighted that their attitudes hadn’t changed one bit despite his new status.
In fact, if Mo Jie and the others had started acting all formal and respectful, he would have found it unsettling.
He stood and gave them a small smile, inviting them to sit.
“You’re teasing me, Senior Brother,” Xiao Chen said with a laugh.
“Who knows how many people are secretly furious with me right now.
Sigh, I’m afraid this apprenticeship ceremony won’t be a simple affair.”
Qin Shuirou chimed in with a light laugh.
“That’s true, but I’m sure you’ll be fine, Junior Brother.
As long as you remain undefeated against opponents at your level, the Courtyard Head will handle everything else.
The Inner Sect and Core Disciples would never stoop to dealing with you themselves.
So you have to do your best!
Once you’re the Courtyard Head’s disciple, we can all ride your coattails!
Hehe.”
“Mm, Junior Sister is right,” Mo Jie added.
“Really, Junior Brother, you just need to watch out for the three prodigies of the Outer Courtyard.
They’re the ones most likely to challenge you and pose the greatest threat.
If you can handle them, you should be in the clear…”
Everyone had been following Xiao Chen’s situation closely over the past few days, and their concern was palpable.
After some discussion, Xiao Chen played host, and they all drank heartily in Wuchen Residence, celebrating their successful entry into the East Sword Pavilion as Outer Disciples.
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