âElder, is there anything wrong here?â
Song Xi hurriedly picked up the scroll as he asked with inconcealable panic in his eyes.
âWhy is Chu Feng not in there?â Li Boyi asked.
âThis...â
A conflicted expression appeared on Song Xiâs face upon hearing those words. Hei Yao and the others also dared not to say anything much. They could sense that Elder Li Boyi had come for Chu Feng, for he would usually not interfere in matters that had already been entrusted to Song Xi.
âElder, in truth, Senior Song has already invited me. Itâs just that... I feel that my qualification is still lacking, so I turned him down.â
Not wanting to put Song Xi in a spot, Chu Feng stood forward and clarified the matter.
However, everyone present knew that Chu Fengâs clarification was a lie. Even the elders were aware that Chu Feng was just covering up for Song Xi.
Nevertheless, Elder Li Boyi didnât lose his temper at Chu Feng. Instead, he looked at Chu Feng with a bitter smile as he said, âYou feel that your qualification is lacking? Someone who had god aptitude is considered to be lacking in qualification?â
Those words verified the crowdâs suspicion that the elders were here for Chu Feng. They had already known about Chu Fengâs talent, and they believed that it was real.
This was queer because the majority of the people thought that there was something amiss with the test and refused to acknowledge that a disciple in the North Tortoise Hall had god aptitude. They couldnât be blamed for thinking that way as all they had heard were rumors, and even those who had witnessed the situation in person like Song Xi reserved some doubts about the matter too.
In any case, most people refused to acknowledge this matter.
This was also the reason why they were shocked when Elder Li Boyi and the others believed in the matter.
âChu Feng, you should participate in this trial,â Li Boyi said.
âThank you for your concern, elder, but my aptitude doesnât determine my true future. Besides, my qualification is indeed lacking as Iâve only just joined the North Tortoise Hall,â Chu Feng rejected the offer once more.
He was doing it so as to not put Song Xi in the spot.
âChu Feng, youâre too humble. Aptitude is a key to a cultivatorâs progress. There are many cultivators who have trained for countless years, only to never step into Utmost Exalted level. On the other hand, despite your young age, your cultivation and spirit power have already reached an incredible height.
âIâve already heard of your affairs. You even turned down East Dragon Hall to come to our North Tortoise Hall; itâs our honor to have you here. Since you chose us, our North Tortoise Hall shanât let you down.â
After saying his piece, Li Boyi turned to look at Song Xi.
âSong Xi, I donât care what you do, but I expect to see Chu Feng in the Snowy Heavenly Peak this time around. If you canât come to a decision, Iâll do it instead... But of course, if you arenât capable of at least handling this much work, you need not interfere in future matters concerning trials anymore,â Li Boyi said.
âElder, please be assured. Iâll handle this properly.â
Song Xi had a nervous expression when he said those words. It could be seen that he was very afraid of Elder Li Boyi.
âDo it right now,â Li Boyi urged.
âHei Zong, you have yet to fully recover from your injuries. Chu Feng shall take your place in the trial this time around,â Song Xi quickly said.
âHei Zong will listen to Senior Songâs instructions.â
Hei Zong was reluctant to give up his slot, but he knew that he couldnât possibly turn down this âorderâ right now.
âHei Zong, allow me to make some corrections here. Chu Feng isnât taking your place here; heâs simply more qualified than you,â Li Boyi said.
Those words were no different from trampling down on Hei Zong to raise Chu Fengâs standing. It showed just how highly Li Boyi viewed Chu Feng right now.
âChu Feng, the Snowy Heavenly Peak canât do much to help your cultivation right now, but itâs still quite a formidable cultivation place within the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect. Itâll be good for you to take a look around,â Li Boyi said.
âChu Feng, you must make sure to cultivate earnestly. Youâre someone with god aptitude, and thereâs a chance you might even be able to break Lord Dugu Lingtianâs record in the future,â Dao Qinian added with a smile.
Those words were actually spoken as a joke, but it ended up piquing Chu Fengâs curiosity.
âElder Dao, what are the records you speak of?â Chu Feng asked.
âIn truth, the cultivation places in the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect all have records, but the record holder are all the same peopleâLord Dugu Lingtian. What I said earlier was just a joke, so please donât enter the trials with the intention to break Lord Dugu Lingtianâs records.
âItâs good to have goals, but getting too fixated on the records might become an impediment to you. The records set by Lord Dugu Lingtian are simply unbreakable. Even our incumbent sectmaster is unable to do so,â Dao Qinian said.
âIf I may ask, who is Lord Dugu Lingtian?â Chu Feng asked in curiosity.
He had been quite interested in Dugu Lingtian for some time now, and his interest only further intensified after learning that Dugu Lingtian was the holder of every single record in the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect, such that even the incumbent sectmaster couldnât best him.
Putting aside the Hidden Dragon Martial Sectâs sectmaster, even the mysterious existence he had seen in the Hidden Dragon Selection Formation was already an unfathomably powerful individual. Yet, based on what Elder Dao Qinian said, Dugu Lingtianâs strength seemed to surpass even that of the sectmaster.
It was hard to Chu Feng to fathom just how formidable Dugu Lingtian was.
Dao Qinian began recounting Dugu Lingtianâs affairs to him without hiding anything.
âI never thought that the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect would have such an incredible person.â
Chu Feng was deeply impressed after hearing Dugu Lingtianâs affairs, but at the same time, he couldnât help but heave a regretful sigh too.
Dugu Lingtian was from the same generation as the sectmaster and vice sectmaster of the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect. His extraordinary talent placed him in the limelight, and even at a very young age, the previous sectmaster had already chosen him as his successor. In fact, there were many people who felt that Dugu Lingtian would eventually surpass the sectâs founder.
Unfortunately, despite Dugu Lingtianâs great talent and swift growth, he was still just a junior. Once, while he was on a mission, he encountered an enemy and ended up passing away just like that...
Despite his death, Dugu Lingtian still remained a legend within the sect.
Most people hadnât met him in person before, but that didnât hinder both elders and disciples from carrying deep respect and admiration for him.