The other elders fell silent upon hearing this. In the next moment, all the elders'' eyes gleamed green as they stared at Lu Yi.


    Who wouldn''t want a disciple with such talent?!


    Liu Ningshuang was an exception—they couldn''t dare fight the peak master to take her as a disciple. But now…


    Lu Yi, this treasure, hadn''t been noticed by the peak master yet. This was their chance!


    For a moment, they glanced at each other and saw the same thoughts reflected in their eyes.


    They all sneered simultaneously, their auras slowly surging. A terrifying pressure began to spread within the hall.


    Dong Wanglian gently brushed his jade flute and said, "Heh, come on then. Let''s see who''s more qualified to teach Lu Yi!"


    The alluring female elder chuckled and produced a red ribbon in her hand. "I couldn''t agree more!"


    "Come on, who''s afraid of whom?!"


    "Lu Yi is destined to be my disciple!"


    In the distance, the disciples who witnessed the normally aloof Nascent Soul elders almost fighting broke out in envy as they looked at Lu Yi.


    "Have the elders gone crazy? Aren''t they afraid the peak master will punish them for causing such a commotion? The peak master hates disturbances in the peak," said a Golden Core stage youth, whose scalp tingled at the thought of Peak Master Ling Luo''s wrath.


    Nangong Moyu shrugged and said, "What can they do? Who told this new junior brother to be so talented?"


    "That''s true… Setting everything else aside, just his comprehension ability alone might rival Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang."


    "Looks like we''ll have to get along well with this junior brother in the future."


    Everyone nodded.


    Lu Yi looked at the elders, who were about to draw their swords, and couldn''t help but feel a bit speechless.


    Was his earlier display too flashy?


    He felt a little regretful. If he had known, he would have held back a bit longer.


    However, he also heard the elders'' comments. His displayed comprehension ability was even stronger than Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang''s?


    Not bad. That made him a little happy.


    Beside him, Deacon Xiao saw the elders'' tense standoff and also felt a headache coming.


    He braced himself and said, "Ahem… Elders, Lu Yi hasn''t finished the assessment yet. Shouldn''t we discuss discipleship after the test?"


    Hearing this, the elders snapped out of their daze, remembering that the combat test hadn''t been conducted yet.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Lu Yi''s performance in the comprehension test was so shocking that even these seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators had been rattled.


    "Ahem, indeed, we should finish the test first."


    "Then let''s proceed with the combat assessment."


    "If you ask me, Lu Yi''s performance in the outer sect competition already speaks volumes. Even Jiang Fan at Qi Refining Level 10 couldn''t beat him. Isn''t that enough?" said a fiery-tempered elder.


    "Facts are facts, but rules are rules. The process can''t be skipped."


    A white-haired elder said, looking at Deacon Xiao. "Xiao, let''s start the combat assessment."


    Deacon Xiao nodded. "Yes!"


    He turned to Lu Yi and smiled. "Lu Yi, your opponent will be me. Typically, the standard for this test is to defeat an opponent one small realm above your own. However, in your case… I''ll fight you with Qi Refining Level 10. Is that okay?"


    Lu Yi smiled. "Of course, no problem."


    Deacon Xiao nodded. "Then let''s move to the outer square."


    Lu Yi nodded and followed Deacon Xiao out of the hall. The elders trailed along.


    Lu Yi glanced at the observing disciples and sensed their powerful auras. He couldn''t help but sigh inwardly—Ling Luo Peak''s disciples were indeed strong.


    As the disciples saw them step outside, they quickly cleared space, leaving plenty of room for the match.


    Lu Yi and Deacon Xiao stood facing each other. Deacon Xiao drew a long sword, and his aura surged with Qi Refining Level 10 spiritual energy.


    He smiled at Lu Yi and said, "Ready?"


    Lu Yi''s spiritual energy also began to flow. He drew his sword and smiled. "Ready."


    Deacon Xiao''s eyes gleamed, and the next moment, his sword swept forward with sharp sword energy toward Lu Yi.


    He used the Flowing Wind Sword Technique, showcasing the strength of a typical Qi Refining Level 10 disciple—slightly weaker than Li Yun.


    For Lu Yi, this was no threat, but for most Qi Refining Level 9 cultivators, this was insurmountable.


    Lu Yi''s expression remained calm. His sword carried sharp sword intent, and clouds of sword energy formed around his blade as he slashed toward Deacon Xiao.


    The sword energy almost instantly reached Deacon Xiao. Sensing its sharpness, Deacon Xiao''s pupils contracted. If he were truly at Qi Refining Level 10, this strike might have killed him.


    Instinctively, he released his Foundation Establishment aura and struck to disperse the sword energy.


    As the energy dissipated, Deacon Xiao exhaled deeply, still looking slightly shaken. "Combat test passed."


    The disciples and elders, still gazing at the fading sword clouds, were equally shocked.


    "Perfection-level White Cloud Sword Technique, combined with sword intent… Junior Brother Lu Yi is indeed impressive."


    "Heh… Junior Brother Lu Yi is still young. Do you think he might become the next Liu Ningshuang?"


    "Impossible. Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang is an Innate Ice Spirit Body. No matter how talented Lu Yi''s comprehension is, he can''t match her talent in cultivation."


    "Regardless, with Junior Brother Lu Yi joining Ling Luo Peak, we might have another pillar of strength."


    "That''ll be decades from now. Let’s wait until he reaches Golden Core first."


    "Hahaha, true. Before that, we senior brothers and sisters should take good care of Junior Brother Lu Yi."


    "No need to say that."


    "Quiet, it''s starting!" Nangong Moyu said, noticing the restless elders and adopting a spectator''s demeanor.


    The disciples also perked up, eager to watch the show.


    With the combat test over, Deacon Xiao smiled and said, "Lu Yi, you''ve passed the entrance exam. Are you sure you want to join Ling Luo Peak?"


    Lu Yi smiled and nodded. "Of course."


    Deacon Xiao grinned. "From today onward, you''re officially a disciple of Ling Luo Peak. You can join an elder''s sect or cultivate independently. If you face any difficulties, you can seek guidance from the elders, though that requires sect points."


    Lu Yi nodded. "Understood."


    At that moment, the elders'' spiritual energy flared as they quickly surrounded Lu Yi.


    "Lu Yi! Join my sect! I''ll make you my direct disciple and ensure you have endless cultivation resources!"


    "Young man, join my sect! I''ll teach you my unique divine technique, a Nascent Soul-level method!"


    "Kid, I see you''ve grasped sword intent. Join my sect, and I''ll impart all my swordsmanship insights to help you refine your intent!"


    Lu Yi felt like he was in a market, bombarded by voices. His head began to ache.


    What to do when you''re too popular?


    Just then, a crisp voice rang out. "Elders, the peak master wishes to see this disciple!"


    The elders, who had been clamoring moments ago, instantly fell silent as if someone had pressed a mute button.