Chapter 128: The Yongle Sect? Is It Really That Impressive?

Ye Yang could only watch helplessly as Yu Ming helped Su Fan, who had just climbed the last stone step before the main hall. He then looked at the sect master of the Mysterious Sect with a complex expression, as if questioning him.

Su Fan’s expression was dazed; he felt someone supporting him and pulling him in front of the gathered crowd. He looked at the unfamiliar faces and asked, “When is the contest?”

The sect master forced a smile and hastily replied, “That was the contest just now. You were the first to reach the top, so you will receive the best treatment. You may choose any one of the three late Nascent Soul elders of the Mysterious Sect to serve under, or even me, the sect master, is within your options.”

Ye Yang’s gaze darkened. This preemptive tactic was indeed cunning—they used such an enticing offer right from the start to lure in this naive youth. Perhaps, in a moment of confusion, Su Fan would join the Mysterious Sect. Then it would be even harder to retrieve him later.

Ye Yang’s figure flashed forward to Su Fan’s side. He took a pill from his sleeve, about to place it in Su Fan’s mouth. The pill emitted a strong, fragrant aroma—it was likely a restorative elixir.

Yu Ming abruptly blocked him and shouted angrily, “If you continue to be so disrespectful, I won’t hesitate to defy the sect’s orders and kill you.”

Though Yu Ming held some fear toward Ye Yang, even a famed genius in the entire Yongle Commandery, after several rebukes, his anger could no longer be contained. In an instant, the two were on the verge of a duel.

The sect master quickly waved his hand, signaling Yu Ming to step back, and calmly explained, “That’s a restorative pill. Ye Yang has no ill intent, so there’s no need to be so tense. Let’s wait for the other two to arrive first.”

Ye Yang cast a mocking glance at Yu Ming, testing his reaction, but suddenly realized that Yu Ming had never once looked at him throughout. The anger he had just suppressed nearly consumed him.

After taking the pill, Su Fan suddenly sensed some subtle movement from the jade pendant at his waist. A faint, barely perceptible spiritual energy circulated inside his body, flowing continuously.

Filled with joy, Su Fan’s pale cheeks gradually regained color. He looked up to find the person who had given him the pill and cupped his hands in thanks, “Thank you, senior brother, for the elixir.”

Seeing that Su Fan seemed to have a certain fondness for him, Ye Yang quickly smiled and leaned closer, “Young brother, may I ask your name? Perhaps someday we might be fellow disciples.”

Su Fan slowly lifted his lowered head again and scanned the person speaking. Suddenly, he noticed a very familiar object hanging from his waist—a jade pendant.

In his mind flashed the fiery paradise beyond the world, the simple villagers who had met tragic ends, the girl named Han Xiaoyue, the village chief, the cold blood-red creek.

Su Fan suddenly laughed aloud, “I am Su Fan. May I ask your name?”

He no longer addressed him as senior brother but used a more formal “you,” revealing no attempt to hide his displeasure and anger. For cultivators who killed commoners, he had no affection—perhaps because of something long past.

Ye Yang was taken aback, sensing this sudden change in Su Fan’s demeanor. He cautiously replied, “I am Ye Yang, disciple of the Yongle Sect.”

Su Fan still wore a mocking smile and continued, “And where is this place? The Yongle Sect?”

Ye Yang was stunned, wondering why such a change had occurred. Had he said something wrong? Made an inappropriate gesture? Or perhaps he had offended him before—but offending a mere mortal? Ye Yang thought that unlikely.

Yu Ming’s eyes gleamed with amusement, clearly pleased by Su Fan’s words. He said calmly, “This is the Mysterious Sect, not the Yongle Sect.”

Su Fan glanced at Yu Ming and added, “The sect master hasn’t spoken yet. Why is he so talkative?”

Ye Yang’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment and anger, “You young one, how ungrateful you are! I intended to grant you a great blessing, yet you show such attitude…”

Su Fan waved his hand to stop him and said casually, “A great blessing? How great? Can you make me the sect master of the Yongle Sect?”

Ye Yang paused, then sneered in anger, “I have no desire to waste words on you. I offer you two paths—one, come with me to the Yongle Sect and have a brilliant future; two, stay in this broken Mysterious Sect and never see the light of day.”

Su Fan raised an eyebrow, “The Yongle Sect? Is it that impressive?”

The sect master replied softly, “Indeed, it is.”

Hearing him praise another on his own turf, Ye Yang showed disdain. Then he looked proudly at Su Fan, waiting for the young man’s choice.

“But so what if it’s impressive?” the sect master added, prompting Ye Yang to glare fiercely at him before turning his attention back to Su Fan.

Su Fan casually pointed at Yu Ming and said, “I’ll follow this senior brother. Which elder does he serve under?”

Ye Yang shouted in surprise, “The Yongle Sect is the strongest sect in Yongle Commandery. There you’ll have endless elixirs, countless treasures, dual cultivation furnaces, ancient texts, and the protection of a powerful sect. Are you sure?”

Su Fan ignored Ye Yang’s words and quietly followed Yu Ming deeper into the hall. Ye Yang’s anger finally erupted; he summoned his flying sword to strike Su Fan down.

But as soon as the sword lifted, it froze midair and then melted into a puddle of molten iron. Ye Yang stopped his disciples from attacking and looked toward the black-robed old woman in front of Su Fan, then shifted his form and flew away.

Long after, the sect master entered the mist and brought out the two people inside, placing them on the dais. He ordered, “Send these two to the side chamber. Once they awaken, induct them into our sect.”

After everyone left the main hall, the sect master slowly entered, wiping the seat and murmuring, “The divination did appear, without the slightest deviation. Could it be that the hope of the Mysterious Sect lies in this ordinary youth?”

He sighed with a helpless smile, “I’ll entrust him to my junior sister. I feel more at ease than if I kept him here myself.”

Su Fan followed Yu Ming all the way to a lakeside pavilion. The pavilion stood in the center of the lake, with no bridge connecting it to the shore, but cultivators could fly, so no bridge was needed.

Yu Ming looked at Su Fan and asked, “Junior brother, do you know why there is no bridge to this pavilion?”

Su Fan smiled, “Legend says cultivators can fly, so there’s no need to build bridges.”

Yu Ming was silent for a moment before saying, “But if birds can fly, why do none of them land on the pavilion?”

Su Fan was startled. He suddenly realized that the entire lake was covered by countless threads invisible to the naked eye, forming a vast, intricate formation.

He casually guessed, “Could it be that the lake is protected by a formation?”

Yu Ming smiled appreciatively, “There is indeed a formation, but it’s not just on the lake’s surface.”