Qingyang High School.
In the VIP room.
A pair of senior brother and sister from the Sun and Moon Bright Sect were communicating via video, reporting to the Sect Leader.
In the past two days, Ji Roufeng and Zhang Ziqian have hardly closed their eyes, continuously and diligently compiling the students' data.
Though the current strength of these people might seem inadequate to them now, given a chance, they all could become the backbone of the Sect in the future.
Therefore, Ji Roufeng and Zhang Ziqian are meticulously compiling the past achievements of these two people, not daring to make a single mistake.
"Master, I have sorted all the student materials from Qingyang High School!"
Facing the Sect Elder.
Ji Roufeng tidied her robes with a serious face, knelt slightly, showing her slender and soft waist, her poetic posture resembling a jade beauty stepping out from a painting.
She respectfully said: "Qingyang High School has a total of twenty-seven Body Tempering Ninth Rank students, of which four are unwilling to join the Sun and Moon Bright Sect, and another seven are structurally pre-set, making them unsuitable for entry. Currently, sixteen Body Tempering Ninth Rank students are interested in our Sun and Moon Bright Sect. The information of these sixteen prospective disciples has already been transmitted back to the Sect for your decision, Master!"
On the opposite side of the video.
Liu Peiyun, the wise and kind-hearted head of Yunxia Peak, chuckled softly, despite her age, still charming and undoubtedly a beauty in her youth.
Looking at her most beloved disciple, she smiled and said: "You've worked hard, Xiaofeng'er, next up you still have to find a way to select five candidates from these sixteen, so there's more work ahead for you."
She paused and said: "Moreover, our Great Xia Empire promotes universal martial arts practice, naturally increasing the chances of prodigies arising from the large base population. Unfortunately, with many numbers, specific targeted teachings aren't possible, these Body Tempering Ninth Rank students, fear they are far from matching our sect's Ninth Rank disciples, don't you think?"
Ji Roufeng replied: "You are wise, Master, indeed it is so."
"Remember, we do not seek garbage, both strength and temperament must be exceptional, narrow-minded people are not for us either. The disaster of the Sun and Moon Bright Sect of old, outsiders do not know, you should. Allowing a narrow-minded, vengeful person to gain power, you understand what a dreadful thing that would be."
"Yes, disciple understands."
Ji Roufeng paused, her delicate face showing slight embarrassment.
She softly asked: "Just that, Master, disciple has one immodest request, hopes to ask for Master's permission."
Liu Peiyun's eyes showed a curious expression, looking at this normally gentle and charming disciple, it was rare to see such an awkward display.
She smiled and asked: "Speak."
"It's like this, Qingyang High School has a student, recently at Body Tempering Eighth Rank, but disciple observes his extraordinary potential, is it possible to make an exception for him and add him to the sixteen prospective candidates?"
As she spoke, Ji Roufeng's fair face had involuntarily turned a bit red, recalling the impact he had on her that day, leaving her completely unable to withstand.
She is a True Transformation Realm martial artist, and he is merely Body Tempering...the gap between them is enormous, yet under his impact, she was too weak to stand firm.
If not extraordinary potential, then what?
Liu Peiyun indeed showed an interested expression and asked: "Oh? Who is it?"
Ji Roufeng said: "A high school junior at Qingyang High School, seventeen years old, height 1.81 meters, weight 65 KG, no parents at home, but he has always strived hard in cultivation, working his way through school, quite inspirational."
Beside her, Zhang Ziqian couldn't help but smirk.
He might say that his senior sister had finished all the student work in the middle of the night.
Then kept checking this guy's information, even teary-eyed halfway as if pitying his past.
Isn't it just because he's a bit handsome, besides being handsome, what else does he have?
Is he worth such fond remembrance and yearning from senior sister?
"But being inspirational alone is not enough, does he have any other remarkable aspects?"
Ji Roufeng thought for a moment and seriously said: "He and disciple have destiny."
Liu Peiyun gazed steadily at the determined look on Ji Roufeng's face, helplessly shook her head, and sighed: "Feng'er, you should know our Ming Sect's lowest criteria for accepting disciples, seventeen years old at Body Refining Eighth Stage is not bad potential, but not excellent either. I roughly understand your intentions, young hearts naturally flutter, but you're different, I aim to nurture you into the future head of Yunxia Peak, you mustn't have blemishes."
"But Master..."
"Do you truly believe including this moderately potential boy into the Sun and Moon Bright Sect is correct?"
Liu Peiyun gently said: "Feng'er, you should know what kind of people are in our Sun and Moon Bright Sect. That boy's potential would only put him at the bottom, subject to disdain and bullying, that's not necessarily good, the sun hangs high above the sky, the larks sing between willow shades. Forcing a lark to soar to the skies or insisting the mighty sun falls, neither would end well, be it for public or private reasons, it's inappropriate."
Master spoke very earnestly, very gracefully, even very care-considerate of her feelings.
But her meaning...
"Yes, disciple understands."
Ji Roufeng tightly clutched that individual profile in her palm, apologetically said: "It's disciple's fault, mixing personal and public matters, seeking Master's forgiveness."
"No matter, youngsters making errors is only human, take it as life's experience."
Liu Peiyun smiled and said: "Right now focus on this task, the reward from the Sect upon completion is significant, the Frost Snow Jade Marrow reward will greatly assist your breakthrough in your current realm!"
"Yes, thank you, Master."
Ji Roufeng nodded, but her eyes were filled with a sense of loss.
"Remember, do not report his name."
Liu Peiyun softly said: "I know you might genuinely have feelings for him, but understand, you are destined to soar among the nine skies as a phoenix, should not associate with mundane larks. Your future life views, values will vastly differ, so much so that love cannot bridge the rift between you and him, he cannot fill that void within you, understand?"
"Yes, disciple overstepped."
Ji Roufeng lowered her head and eyes, softly said, carefully not letting Master see the look of despondency in her eyes.
In the blink of an eye.
Three days passed.
In these three days, Xu Lingjun excused himself from almost all cultural classes, after all, his cultural instructor was his fiancée, wasn't it up to him to decide?
The Martial Arts Instructor Zhou Qing was also easygoing.
Especially in these days, Xu Lingjun helped Zhou Qing with some chores during class breaks, freeing Zhou Qing some time otherwise busy with additional tutoring for those Body Tempering Ninth Rank disciples.
Making Zhou Qing can't help but admire Xu Lingjun's maturity and feel grateful.
Little knowing Xu Lingjun was taking advantage, pulling trick after trick for profit.
Looking at the 425 points of Source Value before him, he was indeed delighted.
And more time was spent on practicing martial skills.
The Flame Killing Fist is extremely powerful, though not world-destroying, but not a martial skill that he could originally practice at this realm, thanks to the "Infinite Divine Demon Body Refining Technique" allowing easy training and experiencing many subtleties within.
Thus he was almost enchanted by it, hard to extricate himself.
When tired, he would take a Blood Supplement Capsule, instantly replenishing his stamina.
And he could simultaneously refine his "Infinite Divine Demon Body Refining Technique."
In just a few days, his physique was noticeably more resilient than before, visibly showing skin that seemed supple and delicate.
Recently, Wang Qingya seemed to look at Xu Lingjun differently.
Aside from borrowing Xu Lingjun's toothbrush and towel that day, afterward, they used separate personal grooming products...yet now, she started monopolizing Xu Lingjun's men's body wash and shampoo.
His skin might even be better than hers.
Was there some special facial cleanser…
So stingy, using good facial cleanser without sharing, my face isn't big, just a bit would cover it all, how much could it cost you?
Seeing no results after a few days, Wang Qingya's resentment towards Xu Lingjun only grew heavier.