Warrior’s Promise

Ling Chang was completely engrossed in her studies, but she could instantly perceive Su Mo’s arrival.

She opened her eyes slowly, the ethereal irises giving off a dreamlike feeling.

“You’ve made a breakthrough!” Ling Chang turned to face him, surprised.

“Yes, I’ve just come out of seclusion,” Su Mo nodded.

In the Dhamma Hall, many eyes fell on Su Mo and Ling Chang.

After all, Su Mo was now gaining popularity in the Palmy Branch, more so than some of the Elders.

“Have you been studying the Rule of Space here?” Su Mo asked her. Before heading to the Myriad Holy Mountain, he had come here with her.

“Yes, the Rule of Space was quite intricate. I’ll study for a little while more and get the basics right, then the teacher will give me further guidance in order to advance quicker!” Ling Chang nodded.

“It’s great to have a teacher!” Su Mo remarked secretly. The Rule of Space was indeed inscrutable, but the studies would be made easier with an accomplished teacher to provide instructions.

Su Mo could not help but sigh as he taught the power of the Rules. He would have to improve himself soon, otherwise the upgrades available for his training would be restricted.

If the enlightenment of the Rules got too low, his training would be blocked and he would not be able to go further.

However, he could devour other people’s Rules now, and use them too. He had yet to know whether doing so would have the same effect as studying the Rules for himself. This had yet to be explored.

“I heard that you rejected many Elders’ offers for apprenticeship,” Ling Chang continued. She might have been studying the whole time, but she had heard rumours of Su Mo’s battle with Xiao Yushu and news of him rejecting the Elders’ invitations.

“Yes. As the saying goes, a fine fowl perches only on a fine tree. A virtuous student like me would only fit a virtuous master!” Su Mo smirked.

“…” Ling Chang was rendered speechless.

Many in the Dhamma Hall glanced over at Su Mo. Their faces twitched when they heard his statement.

Pride! Arrogance!

This man was too full of himself!

To think that he was important enough for the Elders to care at all!

The jealousy in their minds undoubtedly expanded. They would have given anything to slap some senses into him.

In an alley outside the Dhamma Hall, Xiao Yushu, dressed in black, set his sights on the building.

“Vanity leads to self-destruction, Wu Shan. Your days will soon be over!” Xiao Yushu muttered. Two years had passed since the incident and he had recovered from his injuries.

He was no longer Reverend Jin Wu’s disciple now, merely a common disciple in the Palmy Branch.

Because he had been expelled by Reverend Jin Wu, no other Elder in the Palmy Branch had been willing to take him on as an apprentice.

So, all this time, he had been keeping a low profile, as though he had never existed in the Palmy Branch.

At present, he laid dormant as he strove to improve his skills, all while looking for a chance to redeem himself. And he might just find one soon.

…

“Wu Shan, there are hundreds of Elders in the Palmy Branch who have attained the Great Completion Supreme Realm, but only the two Chief Elders have the most experience with the strongest skills,” Ling Chang sighed. “Other than my teacher, Reverend Jin Wu, the other is Priest Tian Hua.”

“Right,” Su Mo nodded. It had been a while since he had arrived there, he knew that much. He was no stranger to Reverend Jin Wu, but he had never met Priest Tian Hua.

“If you seek mentorship, these two are your best choices,” said Ling Chang. As Chief Elders, not only did they have the strongest skills, they were also exclusively appointed by the alliance headquarters.

“I’ll consider it!” Su Mo sighed. He had that idea in mind, but it also depended on whether the two masters were willing to accept him. He could not possibly recommend himself.

He needed a motive.

Many in the Dhamma Hall snickered at him. So it seemed Wu Shan was hoping to get the Chief Elders as his mentor. What wishful thinking!

The Chief Elders would not accept disciples so easily, unless they were unbelievably talented.

In recent hundred years, only Reverend Jin Wu had accepted one Xuan Qing as an apprentice.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Just then, a tall, young man in purple robes walked all the way from the statue at the deepest end of the hall and approached Su Mo.

He was taller than Su Mo by a head, with long arms and a grim-looking face, emanating a sense of fortitude.

“Wu Shan, if you seek mentorship from the Chief Elders, you have to show your talent and potential!” the young man gazed directly at him. After that, he turned towards Ling Chang on the ground and greeted her with his fists balled together, “Junior Xuan Qing, I am Quan Ruhai, Priest Tian Hua’s disciple.”

Su Mo was surprised to hear that this man happened to be the other Chief Elder’s disciple. The man’s training had reached Ninth Grade, High Rank.

“Senior Quan!” Ling Chang got up and bowed to him politely. She had to show her courtesy.

“That’s alright, Junior Xuan Qing. I heard that Reverend Jin Wu has recently accepted a female student with unparalleled beauty and extraordinary talent. I have to see you for myself!” Quan Ruhai grinned. Actually, he had already realized she was studying the Rules here. He just had not had the chance to talk to her.

Su Mo peered at Quan Ruhai and thought darkly. That’s nonsense, isn’t it? How can you tell Ling Chang has extraordinary talent?

“You flatter me, Senior Quan!” said Ling Chang politely.

“I hear you two used to study under the same teacher. It seems the rumours are true,” Quan Ruhai grinned and added, “Wu Shan, if you seek mentorship, I have some ideas, but I have to see what you can do. How’s that?”

“Oh, and what idea is that?” Su Mo asked curiously.

Ling Chang was curious too. Actually, she had planned to recommend Su Mo to Reverend Jin Wu and tell him about Su Mo’s incredible talent, so that the teacher would take Su Mo as his disciple too.

But she would have to discuss it with Su Mo. After all, Su Mo had been through some rough patches with Xiao Yushu. They had to observe Reverend Jin Wu’s stance on the matter.

“There’s too many people. Let’s go to Tian Hua Mansion, shall we?” Quan Ruhai scanned their surroundings and found that there were people listening to their conversation. He refrained from spilling the details.

“Sure!” Su Mo nodded. He did not mind listening to suggestions.

Ling Chang nodded too.

And so, the three of them left the Dhamma Hall together and headed to Tian Hua Mansion.

“Quan Ruhai wants to help Wu Shan?”

“Wu Shan is so proud and arrogant. I wonder why Quan Ruhai wants to help him.”

“Maybe he wants to get the girl to like him!”

“But Wu Shan’s so presumptuous! If either of the two Chief Elders take him in, who knows what will happen!”

Once the trio had left, discussions sparked within the Dhamma Hall.. No one wanted Su Mo to become the Chief Elders’ disciple.