Martial Saint with Passives

”Also, Brother Jiang, don’t think that just because we’re riding this Flood Dragon, we’re already official disciples of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect and can just rest easy!”

”What do you mean?” Jiang Che asked.

Bao Da glanced around, then leaned closer to Jiang Che’s ear, his voice even lower:

”I heard some rumors from my family’s elders. Although we have a spot, it’s just a probationary one given by the Court.”

”After we get to the Sect, everyone has to face a real hurdle!”

”I heard... they’re going to make us start from scratch, cultivating the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect’s Entry Level Technique—the Basic Chapter of the legendary and incredibly esoteric ’Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao’!”

”The Sect will set a deadline. Only those who cultivate this Cultivation Technique to a certain level within the given time will pass the assessment and be officially accepted into the Inner Sect, enjoying the benefits of an Inner Sect Disciple!”

As he said this, Bao Da’s expression turned sour:

”As for those who don’t make the cut... heheh, they’re in for a miserable time. They’ll be sent straight to the Outer Sect! They’ll have to compete all over again for a chance to be promoted to the Inner Sect, right alongside those disciples who were already struggling in the Outer Sect!”

”For geniuses like us, who were praised to the heavens in our respective State Mansions, to end up as a mere Outer Disciple... that would be a huge loss of face!”

The few disciples nearby who overheard this instantly turned deathly pale.

They had thought they had already leaped the dragon gate, but it turned out this was only the beginning!

Jiang Che, however, wasn’t panicked after hearing this.

If he were afraid of this, he wouldn’t have chosen the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect!

He then cupped his fists toward Bao Da. ”Thank you for the information, Brother Bao. This news is indeed important.”

”Hey, we’re fellow disciples, we should look out for each other!” Bao Da waved his hand and chuckled. ”As long as you don’t forget to help a brother out once you’ve made it big, Brother Jiang!”

Jiang Che smiled without saying more and turned to look at the roiling sea of clouds ahead.

’No matter how many challenges lay ahead, no matter how strong those so-called Direct Disciples were.

As long as he had time to grind his ’Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao’...

He would even dare to challenge a top-tier Demon Fiend like Xiong Tong!’

...

「Cangzhou Prefecture.」

As the contingent led by Xu Qingshan, Yue Lingfeng, and the others returned to the Sect in a grand procession, the final results of the Celestial Strategy Guard selection swept through the entire Cangyun Sect—and indeed, all the streets and alleys of Cangzhou Prefecture—like a storm.

”Fourteenth place! Fourteenth in all of Great Chu!”

”He suppressed the prodigies from every state, even ranking higher than Qin Wuya of the Taiyuan Sect!”

”Our Cangyun Sect has produced a True Dragon this time!”

The entirety of Cangyun Mountain was in an uproar!

Countless disciples ran about, spreading the news, some so excited their eyes welled up with tears.

In these turbulent times, when they were being suppressed by the General’s Mansion to the point of suffocation, this news was undoubtedly a shot in the arm that made everyone stand a little taller!

...

「Chief Courtyard.」

At this moment, the courtyard that had once belonged to Jiang Che was filled with a warm and bustling atmosphere.

Jiang Dawu sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, holding the large, red announcement of good news delivered by the messenger disciple. He looked at it again and again, the wrinkles on his weathered face seeming to smooth out as he grinned from ear to ear.

”I don’t really understand all this official jargon, but does this mean... our Che’er is going to be a high-ranking official in a big place like the Capital City?” Jiang Dawu turned and asked his daughter beside him.

Jiang Ling was helping her mother sort through silk threads. Hearing his words, she smiled. ”Dad, it’s much more amazing than being an official! He’s gone to cultivate at the top Sect in all of Great Chu. It’s like he’s become a disciple of those old Immortals! If Brother succeeds in his cultivation, he’ll become a true Land Immortal!”

”Whoa! Our ancestral graves must be spouting green smoke!” Jiang Dawu exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in excitement, then immediately grew awkward. ”Then... then in a place like that, how much money will he need to get by?”

Nearby, Mrs. Zhou was using the daylight to sew a cloth shoe sole.

Hearing the conversation between father and daughter, she didn’t stop her work, but she couldn’t hide the smile in her eyes.

”Whether he’s becoming an Immortal or a great official, all I know is that he’s my Che’er,” Mrs. Zhou murmured as she pulled the thread tight. ”That child has had sweaty feet since he was little, and shoes from the outside aren’t breathable. I need to hurry and make him a few more pairs of these layered soles to send over.”

Hearing this, Jiang Dawu couldn’t help but say, ”You old woman, you worry for nothing. Che’er is a big shot now. He’ll be going in and out of Immortal Cave Mansions and treading on Immortal’s Magical Treasures! What kind of good shoes don’t they have there? Would he still need to wear these rustic cloth soles of yours? Aren’t you afraid his fellow disciples will laugh if you send them?”

SMACK!

Mrs. Zhou slapped the shoe sole in her hand against her leg, glared at her husband, and said irritably:

”What do you know! No matter how good shoes from the outside look, that’s for other people to see! Only the wearer knows if their feet are comfortable!”

She picked up her needle and thread again, muttering, ”Even if he becomes an Immortal in the heavens and flies as high as can be, he’s still the child that crawled out of my belly! I’m his mother! The shoes I make are the ones he’ll feel most grounded and comfortable in! I refuse to believe that Immortals aren’t allowed to wear shoes made by their mothers!”

Jiang Ling watched this scene from the side, then smiled and picked up a new ball of thread from the basket. ”Mom’s right! Dad, just leave it be. I’ll help too. We can make a few more sets of close-fitting clothes for Brother. The material they have over there might not be as comfortable against the skin as what we pick.”

Jiang Dawu opened his mouth, but in the end, he just chuckled sheepishly and scratched his head. ”Alright, alright, you two are right. Well then, I’ll... I’ll go offer a stick of incense to the ancestors and tell them the good news!”