A large number of young third-generation disciples gathered in front of the Jyuyuan Building.

The disciples crowded together, chatting and laughing, showing no pressure on their faces, looking very relaxed. Anyone familiar with the cultivation world could easily tell that they were simply gathering to discuss something.

Even an ordinary person unfamiliar with the cultivation world could see the smiles and ease on their faces, the kind of feeling like...

Like getting paid at the end of each month.

For ordinary people, it might just seem like a group of young disciples waiting for the sect to distribute the monthly salary, but if other cultivators came here and took a look, they'd probably be scared out of their wits.

All monsters.

It's not referring to any one of them in particular, but the more than a hundred people gathered in front of the Jyuyuan Building are all monsters.

Among them are faces that immediately show they are young people, yet have already reached the Nascent Soul stage.

There are also those who look under twenty, a few probably are not even quite adults yet but have already successfully formed a Core.

And there are those who look plain and unremarkable but are actually in their thirties, yet stuck at the Peak of Core Formation, ready to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage at any moment.

The small area in front of the Jyuyuan Building could be said to gather the entire Purple Cloud Palace's future hopes, or the elite disciples of the entire sect. Even in front of these hundred people, they could directly sweep through some ordinary sects, but here the truly outstanding figures are a varied bunch.

Three young people who look under forty stand at the front of the line, chatting and laughing. They are also the three with the highest cultivation realm in the entire group.

"Hahaha, look at you, all bruised and swollen. I heard Master Liu spent two hours whopping you at Dragon Head Peak the other day, even your butt got swollen, is that true?"

"You…"

His blood pressure rose.

Anyone being so bluntly exposed might feel annoyed and embarrassed, but Gu Miyun's expression was more of helplessness, as if he had mentally prepared for it.

When he finished the final move in the clash with Jiang Feng and saw Master Liu dragging his disciple and standing in the distance watching him, he knew the outcome and that there was no avoiding the beating.

It felt like sneaking around bullying the younger brother when your parents weren't home, only to get caught red-handed when they came back.

Seeing the other guy taking a hit, Chen Shan laughed even more happily. When Jiang Feng first joined the mountain, it was him and Qingxia Peak who personally received this junior brother into the sect. Initially, they thought they could recruit him to their mountain gate, but it turned out he was the apprentice chosen by Liu Tangxi.

Later on, there was quite frequent communication between the two groups, and Chen Shan took good care of Jiang Feng. Previously, Jiang Feng used the sect's rules to find a way to bring his fellow townsman, Qiao Yuan, into Qingxia Peak alongside him.

Although Qiao Yuan usually kept a low profile, after joining, she frequently visited Swordmaster Peak. Whether for Jiang Feng, who had shown her kindness, or Lin Jiangxian, with whom she got along well, they interacted quite a bit. So despite Mr. Jiang having a bit of a bad reputation within the sect, mostly for being a playboy, his network of connections wasn't bad at all.

"You, you've really grown bold, haven't seen your skills or cultivation level improve over the years outside, but your guts seem to be bigger than before. Of all people, you chose to provoke that Jiang Feng lad."

"That's the apprentice Master Liu chose, who just a few months ago, killed Xuan Yinzi in front of Elder Jiu He of Xuanyin Sect. Do you think Master Liu wouldn't take it seriously?"

"Besides, how long has he been cultivating? A little over three years. And you? Bullied someone who's been cultivating three years when you've been at it for thirty, not ashamed at all, huh?"

"If you bully your own junior brother, fine, but to end up in such a state after a beating, tsk tsk, using up all your trump cards, can't even come out on top…"

He was laughing wildly.

Chen Shan, Gu Miyun, and Wei Jie were all disciples from the same batch of recruits, who had once participated in sect assessments together, executed missions together, and even been beaten up together. Although they competed with each other, their bond remained strong.

The feeling of being mocked by a good brother made Gu Miyun's forehead involuntarily break out in a few veins, and he clenched his fists.

The many disciples present were still waiting, while a few elders and seniors of the sect were standing in front of the pavilion discussing something.

Logically, after the Nine Peaks Martial Arts Competition ended, there should've been immediate awarding of prizes the same day or the next, since after that, they'd move into task assignment and outward training. But this time, the delay was noticeably longer.

However, anyone slightly smart would know why the awards weren't given until today—there was someone bedridden for a few days, and the key was that he ranked quite high, couldn't let him pick from the leftovers.

"You say my skills and realm haven't improved? Who was beaten like a dog running everywhere during the finals? That boy Jiang Feng almost got himself killed but at least could break my Hidden Sound Pure World Art. And you?"

Could not bear anymore, was utterly exasperated.

But Chen Shan's expression didn't change, he casually leaned against a lush green tree, leisurely saying, "If Sect Master were willing to give me the Hidden Sound Pure World Art and Purple Gold Alms Bowl, it wouldn't take me half an hour to beat you, besides."

"I'm not as thick-skinned as you."

"Since we agreed on sparring within the same sect, what's the use of employing the sect-rewarded magic treasures or even mountain gate legacies? If you're really itching for a beating, I might as well ask our ancestor to lend me his Jade Bow, and see how many hits your Purple Gold Alms Bowl can take."

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