Qingyun Main Hall.
“Sect Leader, I truly didn’t lie to you. This little junior brother of ours has heaven-defying talent in the Sword Dao.”
Su Changyu was like an ant on a hot pan as he explained to Daoist Taihua.
“Heaven-defying talent in the Sword Dao? How exactly is it heaven-defying?”
Daoist Taihua still didn’t believe him.
A disciple he had casually dragged in from outside was really a genius?
The odds were even lower than gold falling from the sky.
“Sect Leader, you know the sword art I practice is the Four Thunder Sword Art, right?”
Su Changyu asked.
“I know. I was the one who bought the sword manual, spent over two hundred taels of gold on it. I’d hoped you would practice the sword properly and bring glory to the sect, but…”
Daoist Taihua trailed off, afraid of striking a blow to Su Changyu’s confidence.
Su Changyu felt a little hurt, but he did not mind it and continued.
“Sect Leader, you should know what this Four Thunder Sword Art is like. The day before yesterday, I casually drew a sword mark for little junior brother and told him to go comprehend it at random. Do you know what level little junior brother comprehended it to?”
Su Changyu lowered his voice, appearing mysterious.
“He could comprehend something from that?” Daoist Taihua was slightly stunned. If Su Changyu could casually draw a sword mark and the boy could comprehend from it, then he really was a genius.
“Initial Glimpse of the Threshold?”
Daoist Taihua made a bold guess.
“Sect Leader, guess a little more boldly.”
Su Changyu shook his head.
“Mastery Through Practice?”
Daoist Taihua’s eyes widened, finding it unbelievable.
“Bolder still.”
Su Changyu continued.
“Damn it, Changyu, are you trying to swallow needles?”
Daoist Taihua did not answer.
Great Accomplishment and Perfection?
That was impossible.
He had once had the fortune to study the Four Thunder Sword Art a little as well, and he couldn’t learn it even with his feet, let alone reach Great Accomplishment and Perfection. If someone could cultivate the entire Four Thunder Sword Art to Initial Glimpse of the Threshold, he would already consider that person a genius.
Let alone Great Accomplishment and Perfection—in a single day, no less?
How was that a genius? That was the reincarnation of a Sword Immortal.
“Sect Leader, you might not believe it when I say it. Even I feel like I’m dreaming. This little junior brother of ours comprehended the Four Thunder Sword Art to Great Accomplishment and Perfection overnight, and even condensed a portion of sword momentum!”
After Su Changyu finished saying this, he no longer knew what else to say.
The entire Four Thunder Sword Art comprehended to Great Accomplishment and Perfection?
And he even condensed a portion of sword momentum?
Daoist Taihua was stunned.
He found it hard to imagine what sort of person could comprehend the Four Thunder Sword Art to Great Accomplishment and Perfection in a single night.
Daoist Taihua fell silent.
But after a while, his laughter rang out.
“Hahahaha! A dragon has emerged! A dragon has emerged! Our Qingyun Dao Sect has finally produced a dragon!”
Daoist Taihua clenched his fists in excitement, utterly thrilled.
Su Changyu, who stood to the side, was stunned.
What did that mean?
“Sect Leader, what do you mean by this?”
Su Changyu could not quite understand.
“What do I mean? Our Qingyun Dao Sect has produced a dragon. Shouldn’t you be happy? Why are you wearing such a bitter face?”
Daoist Taihua’s smile bloomed, his face flushed with joy.
“No, Sect Leader. Little junior brother is a genius, but the problem is, if our tiny sect keeps him here, wouldn’t we be delaying him? My conscience can’t get past that.”
Su Changyu spoke the truth in his heart.
Before, it was one thing not to know he was a genius. Now that he knew, his conscience was somewhat uneasy.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Daoist Taihua’s voice rang out.
“Changyu, you’re overthinking it. This little junior brother of yours attended the Immortal Ascension Assembly fifty times, and not a single sect wanted him. Yet I, your master, chose him out of that vast sea of people. To him, that is a blessing; to our Qingyun Dao Sect, it is also a good thing. Where is the problem?”
Daoist Taihua said seriously.
Hearing this, Su Changyu thought for a moment, then could not help saying, “But before, weren’t we also unaware that he was a genius? Now that we know, it’s different.”
Su Changyu said as much.
“How is it different?” Daoist Taihua said with a serious expression. “Do you mean we should now tell this little junior brother of yours, ‘You are a genius, hurry up and go to some other sect’? Changyu, let me ask you: if he goes to another sect, how will he prove he is a genius?”
“By directly displaying the Four Thunder Sword Art? Even if he succeeds, is there any sect within Qingzhou worthy of him?”
“Even if it were the Four Thunder Sword Sect, what troubles would he encounter after entering it? With talent so excellent, after the geniuses of the Four Thunder Sword Sect saw him, would they not grow jealous?”
“Furthermore, we cultivators place importance on fate. So many sects did not choose him, but our Qingyun Dao Sect did. This is fate.”
“Are you feeling guilty, thinking that our sect has nothing to offer and will delay his cultivation? But have you ever considered that if he went to some other sect, would he truly have anything he wanted?”
“And besides, great sects scheme against one another. In order to prevent another sect from developing, they might directly send assassins in secret. It isn’t as if such things have never happened. Changyu, do not be so saintly.”
Daoist Taihua was worthy of being the sect leader. Having lived for fifty or sixty years, every word he spoke was logical and well-founded.
It made Su Changyu suddenly see the light.
Thinking about it carefully, it really was true.
So what if he was a genius?
With an unknown background, would others dare accept him?
Even if they did accept him, was their sect lacking just one genius?
Moreover, there was another point. Were those great sects born great sects? They had also climbed up step by step from small sects, born through the hard work of one genius after another.
They had not appeared out of thin air.
For a moment, Su Changyu felt that he had indeed been somewhat saintly.
“Changyu, as long as we do these few things, then we can consider ourselves clear of conscience.”
“Teach him cultivation earnestly and truly. Give him all the resources of the sect. Then our Qingyun Dao Sect will have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Of course, there is one more point. Continue to create the bearing of lofty experts. We must keep him in the sect. Your master is not greedy. As long as the sect is promoted to second rank, I will tell him the truth. As for whether he leaves or stays at that time, that will be up to him. How does that sound?”
Daoist Taihua continued.
At once, Su Changyu nodded.
“Sect Leader’s words are reasonable.”
“As long as you understand. Changyu, in two days, come down the mountain with me. Since this little junior brother of yours is a genius, then your master will go buy two sword manuals and let him study them properly. Even if we have to exhaust the family fortune, we must not treat him poorly.”
“Go back and rest. Remember, do not tell anyone else. The more people who know, the easier it is for the matter to be exposed. Also, steady yourself, Changyu. Just imagine yourself as a true peerless expert. You absolutely must not give the game away.”
Daoist Taihua gave him a couple of reminders.
Su Changyu then left the main hall.
After Su Changyu left, Daoist Taihua could not help laughing again. However, he covered his mouth, not daring to laugh too loudly.
As for guilt?
To be honest, what was there to feel guilty about?
It was like in the mortal world: if someone bought a priceless antique for ten copper coins, how many people would be willing to return it to the seller?
Besides, there were thousand-li steeds, but Bo Les were rare.
After more than fifty Immortal Ascension Assemblies, several hundred immortal sects had failed to choose Ye Ping. Was his Qingyun Dao Sect not allowed to pick up a treasure?
But that was true as well. People who had not suffered much hardship simply loved persuading others to be kind.
Changyu would still need to be tempered properly in the future.
Before long, bursts of laughter would occasionally come from within the main hall, leaving several disciples utterly baffled.