Chapter 253: Seeing Yu Hualong Again

Sect Leader Meng Shouzhen was alone in the cave residence.

He sat on a cushion, a slight smile forming on his face as Zhang Su entered.

“Disciple greets the Sect Leader.”

Zhang Su bowed respectfully to the Sect Leader.

“There’s no need for formalities. Come, have a seat.”

Meng Shouzhen gestured toward the cushion opposite him.

Zhang Su sat down.

“Sect Leader, you sent for this disciple. Do you have any instructions?”

Zhang Su asked.

Meng Shouzhen did not answer directly. Instead, he picked up a list from the table and handed it to Zhang Su.

“Here, take a look at this.”

Zhang Su took the list and opened it.

It contained a series of names, and next to each was their Cultivation and age.

The very first person listed was the Celestial Pride, Yu Hualong.

Then there were other names that Zhang Su did not recognize.

Nine of them were True Disciples at the Postnatal Realm.

Only Zhang Su, despite being a Celestial Pride, had “Gang Force” written in the column for his Cultivation.

Eleven people: ten at the Postnatal Realm, and one at Gang Force.

Zhang Su’s name stuck out like a sore thumb.

“Sect Leader, this is…”

Zhang Su looked at the Sect Leader, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Zhang Su, you should be aware of the Guiyuan Sect’s current situation, shouldn’t you?”

Meng Shouzhen lifted his teacup, took a sip, then set it down, his gaze fixed on Zhang Su’s face.

Zhang Su nodded.

‘Of course, I know. The Jingyuan Sect is marching south in force, and the Three Sects Alliance has been repeatedly defeated—five losses, with disastrous casualties. In the battle of Celestial Prides, the three champions from our Three Sects joined forces and were still defeated by a single Celestial Pride from the Jingyuan Sect. The Three Sects Alliance is now paying thirty percent of its revenue to the Jingyuan Sect as tribute, buying a temporary respite. But these are all just stopgap measures. The Jingyuan Sect won’t stop; they’re just biding their time and gathering their strength. Once they’re ready, they’ll march south again. When that time comes, how long can the Three Sects Alliance possibly hold out?’

“In your opinion, what can we do to get the Guiyuan Sect out of this perilous situation?”

Meng Shouzhen asked again.

Zhang Su’s brow furrowed.

He thought carefully for a moment before speaking. “Have someone break through to the Innate Realm?”

Meng Shouzhen nodded.

“Producing an Innate Realm expert is one way. But the Jingyuan Sect has four Innate Realm experts, while our Three Sects Alliance only has three in total. Even if we had another, we would only be equal in number, not necessarily in combat power.”

There was a hint of helplessness in Meng Shouzhen’s tone.

“That would only serve to boost the Sect’s morale. In reality, even if another Innate expert were to appear right now, it wouldn’t change the grand scheme of things. Not unless that new Innate could fight three opponents at once.”

Zhang Su understood.

‘From the looks of it, isn’t the annihilation of the Three Sects Alliance by the Jingyuan Sect just a matter of time?’

His heart sank.

‘The Guiyuan Sect is my home. My master is here, my friends are here. If the Guiyuan Sect were destroyed, what would happen to them?’

“Sect Leader, is there another way?”

Zhang Su asked.

“There is. If someone from our Guiyuan Sect can become a Direct Disciple of the Upper Sect, then the Jingyuan Sect wouldn’t dare touch the Guiyuan Sect, even if they had ten Innate experts, let alone four.”

“So, the people on this list are the ones we are preparing to send to the Upper Sect to try and become Direct Disciples.”

As Meng Shouzhen said this, his gaze fell upon Zhang Su.

“An Upper Sect’s Direct Disciple…”

Zhang Su murmured to himself.

He was beginning to understand the Sect Leader’s intentions.

“The Upper Sect recruits disciples once every three years, and the minimum requirement is the Postnatal Realm. As a vassal of the Upper Sect, our Guiyuan Sect has a quota and can send disciples to participate in the selection trials.”

Meng Shouzhen paused, then lifted his teacup and took another sip.

“But for a full hundred years, not a single Martial Artist from the Three Sects Alliance has been chosen by the Upper Sect to become a Direct Disciple.”

Zhang Su frowned.

‘That’s not right. If the Upper Sect requires Postnatal Realm Martial Artists, I’m only at the Gang Force level. How did my name end up on this list? The Sect Leader summoned me personally. It can’t be a mistake. There must be some other reason.’

“This disciple’s Cultivation is insufficient to participate in the Upper Sect’s selection trials. May I ask the Sect Leader, do you have other arrangements for me?”

Zhang Su asked.

His gaze was fixed on Meng Shouzhen, a probing look in his eyes.

“Correct. With your Cultivation only at the Gang Force level, you cannot participate in the Upper Sect’s selection. However, you can go to the Upper Sect and find the Yao Family. I have a daughter who married into the Yao Family, and they have an Elder in the Upper Sect’s Mixed Element Peak.”

Meng Shouzhen’s tone became grave.

“Through this connection, you can meet the Yao Family’s Elder. The Sect Elders have unanimously agreed to gift a Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus to the Master of Mixed Element Peak in exchange for a position as a Named Disciple of Mixed Element Peak. And that position is for you.”

“Although the status of a Named Disciple is low, it will at least allow you to remain in the Upper Sect.”

“With your talent, you might be able to advance from a Named Disciple to an Official Disciple, and perhaps one day even become a Direct Disciple. As long as you can become a Direct Disciple, the Jingyuan Sect won’t dare to do anything to our Guiyuan Sect.”

“Furthermore, for as long as you are on Mixed Element Peak, the Guiyuan Sect will fully support your Cultivation. Don’t mind all the names on that list. In truth, the Guiyuan Sect’s only real hope rests with you.”

After speaking, Meng Shouzhen stared intently at Zhang Su.

His eyes held a hint of expectation.

In that instant, Zhang Su understood everything.

The Guiyuan Sect was pinning all its hopes on him. They wanted him to go to the Upper Sect, to strive to become a Direct Disciple, and then use that status to protect the Guiyuan Sect. They had even gone so far as to offer up the Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus.

Zhang Su did not know what an Ice Lotus was.

But he understood the value of a three-thousand-year-old natural treasure.

It could be considered the ultimate treasure of the Guiyuan Sect.