Martial Saint with Passives

Qi Yun Pavilion.

Within the main hall, only Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi and the recently returned Xu Qingshan were present.

After listening to Xu Qingshan’s detailed report on the selection process, a sharp light burst from Xu Zhouzi’s world-weary eyes as he nodded repeatedly.

”Excellent! What a find Jiang Che is! To think he could perform so well. That boy is truly a piece of uncarved jade!”

Xu Zhouzi stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, appearing quite excited.

But soon, he stopped, and his expression grew solemn.

”Qingshan.”

”I am here, Master,” Xu Qingshan replied respectfully.

”Although Jiang Che has entered the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, this is only the beginning.” Xu Zhouzi sighed, his tone profound. ”The brutality of the internal competition within a top-tier major sect like that is far beyond our imagination. The greatest talents from all over the world gather there. While resources are plentiful, the price to compete for them is immense.”

”Wealth, companionship, techniques, and location—wealth comes first. He’s in an unfamiliar place with no family to back him. He’ll need money for everything, for smoothing things over at every turn. If he’s short on funds, he’ll find it impossible to move an inch. He might even be looked down upon, which will affect his cultivation!”

At this, Xu Zhouzi turned and looked at Xu Qingshan with grave solemnity.

”Go to the warehouse and pull together some of our Sect’s valuable resources and High Tier Elixir Pills.”

”Master, this...” Xu Qingshan hesitated. After all, the Sect was not wealthy at the moment.

”Say no more!” Xu Zhouzi waved his hand, his voice firm as iron. ”This is for the future of the Sect! Find a way to get these things to Jiang Che! Tell him not to be frugal. The Sect is his backing! Have him focus solely on his cultivation, and don’t let him be distracted by worldly possessions!”

”Yes! Your disciple obeys!” Xu Qingshan’s eyes grew hot as he cupped his fist solemnly.

After Xu Qingshan accepted the order and left, silence once again descended upon the main hall.

Alone, Xu Zhouzi slowly walked to a hidden compartment in the depths of the hall.

He traced a Talisman Seal in the air with his hand, and the compartment slid open without a sound.

Within it lay a simple, ancient, and mysterious token—

The Celestial Heart Order.

Xu Zhouzi took it out, gently rubbing the intricate patterns on the token’s surface and sensing the faint, almost imperceptible rhythm of the Great Dao contained within.

His gaze grew deep and distant.

’The Celestial Heart Order... belongs to one who is fated...’

’I have studied it my entire life and only scratched the surface. But this Jiang Che... his Comprehension is astonishing, his karmic fortune is profound, and he even received the inheritance of True Intent from True Master Bai Yi’s grotto...’

’If it’s him... perhaps it’s truly possible...’

Xu Zhouzi muttered to himself, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly shook his head and placed the Celestial Heart Order back into the hidden compartment.

’But not yet.’

’His strength is still too weak. Premature contact with this object would only invite a fatal disaster. Let him temper himself in the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect. When he has truly grown, when he truly possesses the power to protect himself...’

’Let’s wait... just a little longer.’

...

General’s Mansion.

Inside the study, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Qin Fuhu sat upright behind a large desk, holding a newly delivered urgent report.

It contained the final results and a detailed record of the Celestial Strategy Guard selection.

”Qin Xuange, selected for the Prajna Zen Sect, ranked sixty-third.”

”Qin Wuya, selected for the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, ranked seventy-eighth.”

”Jiang Che... selected for the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, ranked fourteenth. Astonishing combat performance, placing third in the final combat stage...”

As he read this, the hand Qin Fuhu used to hold the report paused slightly.

”Third...”

He slowly lowered the report. A flash of disbelief crossed his hawk-like eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by a deep gloom.

He had long known Jiang Che was no simple character, but he never imagined the boy could climb so high on a stage that gathered all the finest talents in the world!

The word ”genius” was no longer enough to describe him!

”My lord.”

From the shadows, his trusted general, Long Xiang, spoke in a low voice laced with killing intent. ”This Jiang Che is growing too fast. Now that he’s entered the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, he’s bound to become a major threat in the future. Should we...”

He made a throat-slitting gesture. ”While he hasn’t truly matured yet, should we send someone to intercept and kill him on the road?”

Qin Fuhu was silent for a long time.

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, making a soft TAP, TAP sound.

After a long while, he shook his head.

”Forget it.”

”My lord?” Long Xiang was confused.

”Now is not the time to act.” Qin Fuhu stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the gloomy sky outside. ”The Celestial Strategy Guard selection has just ended, a time when both the Court and the Three Major Sects are paying closest attention. To make a move now would be to walk straight into the line of fire, bringing a catastrophic disaster upon the entire Qilin Army.”

He paused, a cold sneer forming on his lips.

”Besides... do you really think getting into one of the Three Top Sects is a ticket to heaven?”

”That place is the true Xiuluo Scene!”

”All the Demon Fiends in the world gather there. The competition is a hundred times more brutal than in Cangzhou!

Jiang Che might be a dragon here, but over there, it’s anyone’s guess whether he can even survive, let alone carve a bloody path out from that pack of monsters!”

”Even someone like Xuange has to learn to keep a low profile there. So what if a rootless commoner like Jiang Che ranked high? With no resources and no background, a single misstep inside a behemoth like that will get him pulverized!”