Chapter 270 - 137: Yu Hualong Gifts a Pill, Zhang Su Enters Mixed Element Peak

Zhang Su immediately replied, "Senior Brother Luo, my name is Zhang Su."

"Junior Brother Zhang, you’ve really got some pull. This Courtyard Eight is highly sought after. You think those Stewards would be kind enough to assign you here directly? Come on, spill it. Who did you go through?"

Luo Feng asked conspiratorially.

Zhang Su’s brow furrowed.

As the saying goes, it’s a grave mistake to speak intimately with a new acquaintance.

’This was the first time he’d ever met Luo Feng. Why would he reveal such a private matter to him?’

’Besides, his connection was the Yao Family, and it involved the Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus and the Guiyuan Sect. There was no way he could casually tell someone he’d just met about it.’

So, Zhang Su just smiled without answering.

"Junior Brother Zhang, no need to be so tense. Which of us Named Disciples didn’t get in by pulling strings or using connections? You’ll understand eventually."

Seeing that Zhang Su was unwilling to talk, Luo Feng didn’t press the issue.

"By the way, the other guys in Courtyard Eight aren’t as easygoing as me. Some are pretty arrogant. If you have any questions, you can come to me. I can’t promise much, but after hanging around Mixed Element Peak for a few years, I know it like the back of my hand."

Zhang Su was a little surprised.

’A Named Disciple for several years?’

’He still hasn’t become an Official Disciple? Is Luo Feng planning to be a Named Disciple forever?’

Of course, Zhang Su only thought these things to himself and didn’t say them out loud.

Luo Feng rambled on for a bit longer, telling Zhang Su some basic facts about Mixed Element Peak.

After he finished, he waved his hand and returned to his own room.

The sky gradually darkened.

The other four residents of Courtyard Eight returned one by one.

Zhang Su discovered that three of them were in the Postnatal Realm, yet they were also just Named Disciples.

He asked Luo Feng and learned that everyone below the Postnatal Realm could only be a Named Disciple.

As for those who reached the Postnatal Realm, if they weren’t outstanding enough, they too could only remain Named Disciples.

In other words, the status of a Named Disciple didn’t depend on one’s Cultivation, but solely on connections and background.

Those with connections and backing could get in even at the Huajin or Pill Force level.

Those without connections, even if they reached the Postnatal Realm through their Cultivation, would still just be Named Disciples.

The other four men also noticed Zhang Su in the courtyard.

But they weren’t as enthusiastic as Luo Feng.

They just gave him a simple glance and paid him no further mind.

Zhang Su understood. ’These must be the "arrogant" people Luo Feng had mentioned earlier.’

They were all Named Disciples, so Zhang Su wasn’t about to go out of his way to be friendly just to be snubbed.

Early the next morning, as dawn was breaking, Zhang Su got out of bed.

He washed up and put on the gray robes of a Named Disciple.

The robes were a bit large, hanging loosely on his frame.

Zhang Su looked at his reflection in the basin of water. He felt it looked a little awkward, but he had to make do.

He planned to go ask Luo Feng about how Named Disciples practiced their martial arts.

Just as Zhang Su stepped out of his room, he saw Luo Feng in a frantic hurry, about to head out.

Luo Feng had changed into a clean set of clothes today, and he looked much more energetic.

He was also carrying a food box, woven from bamboo and covered with a piece of red cloth.

Luo Feng’s eyes lit up when he saw Zhang Su.

"Junior Brother Zhang, quick, let’s go welcome Senior Brother Zhao Qi together. He’s one of the Official Disciples on Mixed Element Peak most likely to become a Direct Disciple! As long as we can get on Senior Brother Zhao’s good side, we’ll have it made once he’s promoted to Direct Disciple!"

Luo Feng grabbed Zhang Su and dragged him out of Courtyard Eight.

His grip was strong, and he pulled Zhang Su along so forcefully that Zhang Su didn’t even have a chance to refuse.

Along the way, Zhang Su noticed many other Named Disciples were also out and about.

Some carried food boxes, some held water flasks, and others carried nothing at all, simply walking at a brisk pace.

Every one of them wore an eager expression.

Luo Feng led Zhang Su to the Martial Arts Arena of Mixed Element Peak.

The Martial Arts Arena was vast, several acres in size, and surrounded by lush green pines.

On one side of the Martial Arts Arena was a row of weapon racks, displaying sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—all eighteen traditional types of weapons were present.

The sprawling Martial Arts Arena was filled with many disciples.

However, they were almost all Official Disciples practicing their Martial Arts or sparring with each other.

They wore the blue or cyan robes of Official Disciples, and every one of them was brimming with vigor.

As for the Named Disciples?

Not a single one was practicing martial arts.

They were all gathered around the Official Disciples, performing menial tasks like servants and doing everything in their power to curry favor.

Some Named Disciples were squatting on the ground, polishing the shoes of an Official Disciple who was practicing his swordsmanship.

Some held water flasks, standing by, ready to offer a drink at a moment’s notice.

Some held towels, instantly offering them up the moment an Official Disciple took a break.

Others carried food boxes containing delicate pastries and tea, which they carefully arranged on a nearby stone table.

Zhang Su fell silent.

He stood at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, watching the scene before him with an indescribable feeling in his heart.

’The Sect had let him enter Mixed Element Peak and told him to strive to become a Direct Disciple.’

’But what was this?’

’Was this how Named Disciples were supposed to "strive"?’

’Instead of training or studying Martial Arts, they just hovered around the Official Disciples, serving them like servants?’

Zhang Su took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.

He just watched quietly.

Luo Feng had already abandoned Zhang Su and gone to attend to that Official Disciple, Zhao Qi.

Zhang Su followed Luo Feng’s path with his eyes and saw a young man in blue robes practicing his swordsmanship in the middle of the Martial Arts Arena.

The young man looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, with a handsome face and a tall, slender figure.

His Swordsmanship was fast, the glint of his blade flashing as it left silvery-white afterimages in the air.

Every thrust was accompanied by a sharp, whistling sound as it cut through the air.

Luo Feng ran to Zhao Qi’s side and stood there respectfully, holding the food box with both hands, his back bent low in a deep bow.

He wore a fawning smile, his eyes full of anticipation.

Zhao Qi didn’t even spare him a glance and continued practicing his sword.

Zhang Su also spotted his other four housemates from Courtyard Eight.

They were also gathered around Official Disciples.

Some were handing out towels, some were wiping down weapons, and others were tidying up training clothes.

Every one of them wore a subservient expression.

This went on until the afternoon.

The Official Disciples left one after another.

The Martial Arts Arena gradually emptied.

Only then did a panting Luo Feng come over to Zhang Su’s side.

His forehead was covered in sweat, and the back of his gray robes was soaked through.

He still had a smile on his face, but it was a bit stiff.

"What, completely shocked? HA HA HA, I was the same way when I first joined Mixed Element Peak. But this is the only hope for us Named Disciples. As long as we can attach ourselves to an Official Disciple, we’ll rise to the heavens with them when they get promoted to Direct Disciple."

Luo Feng said with a laugh.

He had long since grown used to it.

Zhang Su couldn’t help but ask, "Named Disciples are Martial Artists too. We can cultivate, and many of us were considered geniuses in our respective factions. Can’t we just train hard and become Official Disciples step by step?"

Zhang Su looked at Luo Feng earnestly, awaiting his answer.

Luo Feng was taken aback for a moment.

Then, a strange expression appeared on his face.

"You can become an Official Disciple step by step through cultivation. And then what? Didn’t you see all those Official Disciples? Are they really that much different from us Named Disciples?"

Luo Feng shook his head and continued.

"In the Upper Sect, if you don’t become a Direct Disciple, everything else is meaningless. Don’t tell me you actually think you can become a Direct Disciple through hard work?"

"And why not?"

Zhang Su retorted.

SWISH.

As soon as he said this, the gazes of many Named Disciples in the Martial Arts Arena instantly fell upon Zhang Su.

Every one of them had a complicated look in their eyes.

Once, they had thought the same thing.

And they had been full of hope.

They had come to the Upper Sect from their own sects or families, believing their talent was exceptional and that they could make a name for themselves through hard work alone.

And then...

There was no "and then."

Luo Feng looked at Zhang Su and let out a long sigh.

"Junior Brother Zhang, which of us Named Disciples hasn’t thought that way before? But do you even know what a Direct Disciple is?"

"They should be the most outstanding Martial Artists in the Postnatal Realm, I suppose."

Zhang Su said.

"Correct. But do you know the specific standard used to measure that?"

Zhang Su shook his head. He really didn’t know.

Luo Feng then spoke, his voice low and heavy as he enunciated each word. "Actually, the standard to become a Direct Disciple is very simple: you just need to possess Innate Combat Power! If you can do that, then you’re a Direct Disciple!"

At these words, all the Named Disciples retracted their gazes.

’Innate Combat Power?’

That was an achievement they didn’t even dare to dream of.

The more they cultivated, the more they understood just how impossibly difficult that standard was.

No matter how breathtakingly talented you were.

If you couldn’t reach that standard, you could never hope to become a Direct Disciple of the Upper Sect!