Chapter 263 - 136: Upper Sect Selection: The Arrival of Zhang Su’s Token Stuns the Crowd

"When you meet the Yao Family’s Third Ancestor later, you must be respectful."

Along the way, Zhong Wangji was constantly reminding Zhang Su.

"I understand, Elder."

Zhang Su nodded.

Zhang Su already had a general idea of who this Yao Family’s Third Ancestor was.

The man’s name was Yao Yuanji, an Elder of Mixed Element Peak. As for his Cultivation, he was at the Innate Realm!

To become the Elder of a peak in an Upper Sect, one must be an Innate Grandmaster!

’An Innate Grandmaster...’

Many thoughts flashed through Zhang Su’s mind.

He knew that the Guiyuan Sect had one Innate Grandmaster.

But he had never seen him.

That was the Guiyuan Sect’s true Stabilizing Needle.

It was said that this Innate Grandmaster had been in secluded cultivation in the back mountains for decades, and even Sect Leader Meng Shouzhen rarely saw him.

And the Yao Family’s Third Ancestor was also such an Innate Grandmaster.

Perhaps even stronger!

And the Yao Family had far more than just one Innate Grandmaster like their Third Ancestor.

’No wonder Zhong Wangji is so deferential here in the Yao Family.’

’Their strength truly far surpasses that of the Guiyuan Sect.’

The two of them followed a small path for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, passed through a moon gate, and arrived before an even more tranquil courtyard.

The courtyard was not large. Its walls were made of blue-gray bricks and covered in ivy.

There were no guards at the entrance, only two old locust trees with thick trunks and lush foliage that blocked out most of the sunlight.

A thin layer of locust blossoms had fallen beneath the trees, and a faint, sweet fragrance filled the air.

"We’re here."

Zhong Wangji stopped and straightened his robes.

Zhang Su also came to a stop, his gaze falling upon the courtyard gate.

The gate was made of wood, its paint mottled and peeling, showing its age.

There was no plaque over the door, no identifying marks whatsoever. It was so plain it didn’t seem like the residence of an Innate Grandmaster.

But Zhang Su could feel an indescribable aura emanating from the courtyard.

The two respectfully called out from outside the gate, "Zhong Wangji and Zhang Su of the Guiyuan Sect have come to pay our respects to Elder Yao!"

"Come in."

An aged voice came from within.

Zhong Wangji then led Zhang Su inside.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, a small courtyard came into view.

The courtyard was paved with blue-gray bricks, with thin blades of green grass growing in the cracks.

In a corner of the wall, several orchids were planted, their leaves long, slender, and vibrantly green.

Despite his esteemed status as the Yao Family’s Third Ancestor and an Elder of Mixed Element Peak, the furnishings inside the house were very simple.

The floor was paved with gray stone slabs, and the walls were coated in white plaster, with no decorations whatsoever.

In the center of the room was a square table with two chairs, and a tea set sat on the table.

The first thing Zhang Su saw was an old man sitting on a meditation cushion.

This old man had white hair but a youthful face.

His hair was snow-white, combed meticulously, and tied up with a wooden hairpin.

His face had few wrinkles, his complexion was ruddy, and he looked much younger than his actual age.

His eyes were very bright, and his overall vitality was even stronger than Zhong Wangji’s.

Zhang Su recalled that Yao Yuanji had to be over eighty years old.

It was said that Innate Grandmasters could often live to be over 130, with some even reaching 150—roughly two or three times the lifespan of an ordinary person.

Among those in the Innate Realm, being in one’s eighties was not considered particularly old.

Yao Yuanji wore a gray robe and sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, emanating an aura of tranquility.

"Zhong Wangji, Zhang Su. The people from the Fifth Branch told me you wished to see me?"

Yao Yuanji spoke slowly.

His gaze swept over the two of them, his voice calm and unreadable.

"Elder Yao, we have come from the Guiyuan Sect to ask for a small favor. This is Zhang Su, a disciple from our sect. He cultivates the Pure Yang Nine Combinations Divine Skill and has already reached the Eight-in-One stage. He wishes to enter Mixed Element Peak; becoming a Named Disciple would be sufficient."

Zhong Wangji immediately stated their purpose.

"The Pure Yang Nine Combinations Divine Skill at the Eight-in-One stage?"

Yao Yuanji seemed a little surprised, his gaze falling upon Zhang Su.

Zhang Su immediately channeled his Pure Yang Gang Power.

With a thought, the Pure Yang Gang Power within him surged forth, covering his body in an invisible layer of Gang Force.

As the Pure Yang Gang Power covered his body, Yao Yuanji nodded.

"It is indeed the Pure Yang Nine Combinations Divine Skill. To reach the Eight-in-One stage in your Guiyuan Sect is no small feat. However, entering Mixed Element Peak is not so easy."

Yao Yuanji’s gaze shifted to Zhong Wangji.

The meaning was clear.

Even being relatives of the Lady of the Fifth Branch wasn’t enough to get someone into Mixed Element Peak as a Named Disciple with just a word.

After all, this was the Haojin Upper Sect!

Forget about a Named Disciple; even becoming a servant involved countless connections and wasn’t so easy.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Zhong Wangji took a deep breath, his expression turning even more solemn.

He took a box out from his robes.

The box was not large, only about the length of a palm and the width of two fingers.

It was made entirely of high-quality zitan wood, with silver threads inlaid at the corners, forming a cloud-like pattern.

The moment he took it out, a hint of coldness immediately filled the surroundings.

"Elder Yao, this is our Guiyuan Sect’s most treasured possession, a Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus! We are willing to offer this Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus in exchange for a single spot as a Named Disciple in Mixed Element Peak!"

Zhong Wangji presented the box with both hands.

His hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but because the item in the box was simply too precious.

The Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus was a treasure passed down through generations of Guiyuan Sect ancestors, their most prized possession.

Now, he was offering it up with his own hands.

To say his heart didn’t ache would be a lie.

But for the future of the Guiyuan Sect, he had to do it.

"Hm?"

"A Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus?"

For the first time, a flicker of emotion showed on Yao Yuanji’s face.