Yao Song's face was filled with shock as he pointed at Xu Mu, saying, "How is that possible? With your strength, you took so long on the mountain path. How can you be an inner disciple right after entering?"
Xu Mu flicked his wrist, and the token disappeared into his sleeve. He looked at Yao Song calmly and retorted, "Why can't I be?"
"Not just an inner disciple, by seniority, I'm your ancestor!"
Xu Mu thought proudly to himself as he looked at Yao Song and Daoist Liu Ru.
In a way, he was also a disciple of Emperor Fuxi, and his seniority was far greater than these fellows who inherited their traditions from who-knew-where.
"Excuse me, senior who is responsible for guiding new disciples, where should I go now?" Xu Mu asked Yao Song again.
Yao Song slowly recovered from his shock.
He didn't want to answer this question, but his duty compelled him to. If Xu Mu were to report him to the Enforcement Hall for dereliction of duty, the consequences would be severe!
Yao Song's face was grim as he said, "According to regulations, those who become inner disciples upon entry are assigned to Xianyou Peak."
Xu Mu asked again, "Where is Xianyou Peak?"
Yao Song's face remained grim as he said, "Walk forward three hundred and twenty steps, pass the Bamboo Pond and the Water Bridge, and you will see Xianyou Peak."
Xu Mu nodded, cupped his fists, and chuckled, "Thank you."
With that, Xu Mu turned and disappeared down the mountain path without even glancing at Daoist Liu Ru, who was standing on the platform.
All that was left were the newly admitted disciples, forced to stay and listen to the lecture, staring at each other with shocked expressions in stunned silence.
After a long pause, someone finally came back to their senses.
"I would have never imagined that newcomer was an inner disciple. No wonder he acted so arrogantly. He clearly didn't take Elder Liu Ru seriously!"
"Indeed. He was taken into Xianyou Peak immediately upon entry, a place so many senior disciples dream of. He actually got in right away."
"So enviable..."
After Xu Mu left, the scene became chaotic. The recently admitted disciples whispered and chattered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with envy.
They envied Xu Mu, not for his status as an inner disciple, as it was still quite possible to enter the inner sect with diligent cultivation and decent talent.
What they envied was Xu Mu's identity within Xianyou Peak.
Xianyou Peak gathered the most talented individuals from generation after generation of Tianshi Mountain, a place where prodigies abounded, enjoying the most favorable resources and privileges.
For instance, these kinds of lectures, which were useless to listen to but a waste to ignore, were something disciples of Xianyou Peak did not need to attend. They would instead be taught by powerful and renowned masters.
That was why he didn't need to listen to Daoist Liu Ru.
That was why he left.
They also wanted to leave.
The atmosphere began to become uncontrollable, and many disciples started to stir, wanting to seize this opportunity to leave and stop listening to these pointless lectures.
Daoist Liu Ru, sensing the commotion below, felt as though he had been greatly humiliated. The arm holding the Six Principles True Scripture trembled violently. He suddenly channeled energy into his throat and roared, "Silence, all of you!"
His roar brought absolute silence to the world.
The disciples were startled and looked at Daoist Liu Ru with fear. Although the latter wasn't exceptionally powerful, compared to them, new disciples, a peak third-stage cultivator was someone who could arbitrarily decide their lives.
Even if Daoist Liu Ru didn't kill them, just a little trouble would make their lives on Biyun Peak incredibly difficult from then on.
Thus, everyone quieted down.
Daoist Liu Ru stood on the platform, his face ashen as he looked down at the disciples. Although they were silent, fear was evident on every face.
Not reverence.
This was not what a scholar wanted to see, nor was it the expression a teacher desired. When a teacher could only gain respect through force, it only proved their failure.
Everyone understood this.
Therefore, those eyes filled with fear seemed like mockery to Daoist Liu Ru.
He could no longer endure this humiliation, but he was unwilling to openly admit his failure. Thus, he could only attribute the reason for his failure to Yao Song.
"—Slap!"
With a crisp sound, Daoist Liu Ru slapped Yao Song's right cheek. Yao Song recoiled in horror, feeling the stinging pain, and asked in disbelief, "What are you doing!"
Daoist Liu Ru's face was livid as he pointed at him and scolded, "You are incompetent! Is it not permissible for me to slap you!"
"You won't get your share today!"
"If you cannot resolve this matter, do not come to me again. I will find someone else for student recruitment."
"Today's lecture is suspended, everyone dismissed!"
Daoist Liu Ru said emotionally, his spittle flying like cannonballs onto Yao Song's face. He then turned and left, giving Yao Song no chance to explain.
"Wow!"
Seeing this, the entire audience of disciples erupted in clamor, and some let out hearty laughs.
Yao Song had deceived them, and now he had finally received his punishment.
"That was satisfying!"
"Indeed! Class ended so early today, we can go play in Biyou Pool. What a wonderful day!"
"I wonder if class will be held tomorrow."
"Let's go, let's go! Don't waste this precious time!"
The disciples dispersed in a flurry.
Everyone looked at Yao Song with a hint of schadenfreude, amusement, and mockery in their eyes.
As the crowd gradually thinned, Yao Song stood rooted to the spot, still covering his face, his expression grim and terrified, unable to accept the fact that he had been publicly humiliated.
"Daoist Liu Ru."
"And that brat."
"I will definitely get my revenge!"
...
...
Descending Biyun Peak, walking through the water-soaked bamboo path, and admiring the beautiful scenery of mountains and clear waters, a smile involuntarily appeared on Xu Mu's face.
Zou Jing casually broke off a piece of bamboo, chewed on it, and then curiously asked Xu Mu, "Where was your original sect?"
Xu Mu walked at a leisurely pace, saying with a faint smile, "No sect, no affiliation."
Zou Jing asked again, "What is your realm then?"
Xu Mu replied, "What do you think?"
Zou Jing cautiously inquired, "Peak second stage?"
Xu Mu pondered for a moment and then chuckled, "Close enough."
Zou Jing nodded in silence. For someone as young as Xu Mu to cultivate to the peak second stage was already being a genius among geniuses. If his combat strength were even greater, he would have a place in the Ten Thousand Races Grand Assembly.
It was indeed normal for such a person to enter Xianyou Peak.
It was also normal for him to have some background.
"I haven't asked your name yet."
The words "Mu Xu" got stuck in Xu Mu's throat. He opened his mouth, scratched his head with an awkward grin, and then said with a dry laugh, "Senior, please just call me Xiao Xu."
Zou Jing raised an eyebrow, "Your surname is Xu?"
"That surname has been quite prominent recently. Could it be..."
Xu Mu nodded and said seriously, "That's right, I am that Xu Mu."
...