Yun Yichen shifted his gaze to Yue Chi and then slowly spoke, "Let's hear it."
"Jiang Ling, the Chief Disciple of Yibai Peak. I've heard this girl possesses a clear and pure sword heart, bearing a striking resemblance to the style of Su Hongzhen, the First Sword Immortal of Chenping Continent who fell seven thousand years ago. Furthermore, Zhang Daoyuan, the Sword Master Elder of Yibai Peak, has already bestowed the Yibai Sword upon her," Yue Chi declared loudly.
Yun Yichen tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair twice. "Your assessment?"
"Humph, this disciple believes it is not suitable," Lin Qifeng, standing to the side, snorted coldly.
"Explain," Yun Yichen said.
"Although Jiang Ling, Chief Disciple of Yibai Peak, possesses unparalleled talent, she is still too young, merely fourteen years old. Moreover, her cultivation has only just reached the early stage of the Martial Spring Realm. If she rashly participates in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry and suffers defeat, her sword heart may become tarnished, which could be detrimental to her future path," Lin Qifeng explained.
Yun Yichen nodded, clearly agreeing with what Lin Qifeng had said. "Next candidate."
"Lin Xinyang, a disciple of Yuanhua Mountain. He is the personal disciple of He Furen, the Dignity Elder of Yuanhua. Although his temperament is slightly inferior to that of Li Haowen, the Chief Disciple of Yuanhua, this disciple believes his natural talent may not be beneath Li Haowen's. His current cultivation realm is also at the late stage of the Martial Spring Realm. This disciple believes Lin Xinyang is also a good candidate," Yue Chi continued introducing.
"Not acceptable!" Lin Qifeng immediately voiced his objection again. "This boy's character is weak and cowardly, unfit for important tasks. Although his cultivation realm and talent are among the best of this generation of disciples within the sect, he is not adept at combat with others. During the previous sect competition, this disciple lost a bet on Lin Xinyang... *cough, cough*... In short, this disciple does not recommend selecting Lin Xinyang as a candidate for the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry."
The corner of Yue Chi's mouth twitched slightly. This elder of the Alchemy Hall from Kongyuan Mountain, clad in a Bagua Daoist robe, was now visibly beginning to show displeasure in his eyes and brows. "Huang Cheng, from Linwu Mountain!"
"Not acceptable. A blockhead, relying solely on brute true energy."
"Wang Chenfeng, from Mingxiao Peak!"
"Not acceptable. This boy's appearance is unseemly, damaging the dignity of our Kongshan Sect."
"Zhao Wuduan, from Yunyin Peak!"
"Not accepta—"
"Lin Qifeng!" Yue Chi roared angrily, his innate true energy vibrating within the great hall, causing Chen Yan, who stood beside him, to feel a tightness in his chest.
"Where does Senior Brother get such a fiery temper from?" Lin Qifeng shot back without a hint of fear.
"Since you look down on everyone, then why don't you recommend two candidates for me to see!" Yue Chi said sharply.
"Qifeng does not know who should be recommended. I only feel that the candidates Senior Brother just mentioned all fall somewhat short of the mark."
"Then who on earth is capable?"
As he spoke, Yue Chi glanced sideways at Chen Yan standing beside him. "Could it be you want your own disciple to go instead?"
As these words were spoken, the gazes of everyone in the hall locked onto Chen Yan, who stood beside Yue Chi.
Although Chen Yan had started to feel that something was amiss the moment Yue Chi stepped forward, when this moment truly arrived, he still couldn't help clicking his tongue.
These two old coots, putting on a well-rehearsed act, setting up a scheme to corner me.
Chen Yan grumbled inwardly.
"That won't do. Even though Yan'er is now the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain, and even though Kongyuan Mountain has no one participating in this Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, he is still merely a Qi Circulation Realm cultivator. He does not meet the registration requirements for the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry," Lin Qifeng shook his head repeatedly.
Yan'er?
How utterly nauseating.
Chen Yan silently cursed in his heart.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Yin's brow furrowed slightly. After pondering for a moment, he cupped his hands towards Yun Yichen's direction and spoke, "Master, Kongyuan Mountain is the direct lineage of Kongshan Sect. Furthermore, in every past Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, disciples from Kongyuan Mountain have never been absent. Should we not consider this a bit more?"
Indeed, since the establishment of the Chenping Continent Dao Inquiry Assembly, disciples from Kongyuan Mountain have never missed a single representative spot for Kongshan Sect.
The last participant in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry was Zhao Bin. The representative from Kongyuan Mountain before that was Liu Yantang.
"Master, but Kongyuan Mountain currently indeed has no suitable disciple capable of representing the sect in battle," Yue Chi hurriedly said.
This was also true. The talent of this generation of Kongyuan Mountain disciples could almost be said to be the worst in history. Among disciples under twenty years old, not a single one had reached the Martial Spring Realm. Otherwise, last year, Qi Yadong, who was at the peak of the Qi Circulation Realm, would not have become the strongest contender for the position of Kongyuan Mountain Chief Disciple.
"Unless..." Yue Chi stole another glance in Chen Yan's direction, "...Chen Yan can break through to the Martial Spring Realm within one month."
"Impossible! Even if Yan'er could break through to the Martial Spring Realm within a month, he would at most reach the early stage of the Martial Spring Realm. How could he possibly..."
"No one expects Chen Yan to achieve outstanding results at the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry. Moreover, Qin Qingyu of the Star Heaven Sect is currently at the peak of his momentum and is determined to secure the champion position this time!" Yue Chi declared loudly. "Master, Kongyuan Mountain is the direct lineage of Kongshan Sect. If Kongyuan Mountain sends no one to participate in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, how will the world view our Kongyuan Mountain?"
"This cannot be allowed, Master!" Lin Qifeng, standing to the side, hastily dissuaded. "Although Kongyuan Mountain having no one participate in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry might make our Kongyuan Mountain disciples unable to hold their heads up in front of disciples from other peaks and lineages in the future... but what cannot be done, simply cannot be done!"
"Furthermore, based on the foundation of the Kongshan Art, Chen Yan created the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art. This level of achievement—who in the entire contemporary generation of Chenping Continent can match it? For this reason alone, he deserves a spot at the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry!" Having said that, Yue Chi took another step forward and performed a proper, formal bow towards Yun Yichen. "I beg Master to make the final decision!"
Seeing this, Lin Qifeng also hurriedly stepped forward, performing an equally proper bow. "I beg Master to consider this carefully!"
Liu Yantang, standing to the side, blinked her eyes, wearing a charming and coquettish expression. She first looked at Yue Chi, who was full of righteous indignation, then glanced at Lin Qifeng, who appeared "anxious and uneasy," and finally settled her gaze on Chen Yan, whose face was the picture of resignation. She then let out a soft, muffled laugh.
This is truly amusing.
In fact, everyone present was well aware of the game Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng were playing.
But no one exposed it.
Because what they said was indeed a real issue.
From ancient times to the present, Kongyuan Mountain had never missed a single Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
Was Chen Yan qualified to get a spot?
The answer was yes, provided he could break through to the Martial Spring Realm before the start of the Chenping Continent Dao Inquiry Assembly.
Based solely on his achievement of creating the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art, if he wanted to go to the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry to broaden his horizons, there could be no opposition within the sect.
And outside the sect, who would dare mock a prodigy capable of improving a top-tier world cultivation method?
Therefore, Yun Yichen quickly made his final decision.
"One month's time," Yun Yichen spoke. "Within one month, if Chen Yan breaks through to the Martial Spring Realm, the final spot for the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry will be his. If he does not, then let Yuanhua Mountain's Lin Xinyang go."
"This disciple understands!"
This time, Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng didn't continue their act. They both spoke in unison, cupping their hands in salute.
The corner of Chen Yan's mouth twitched slightly again.
Does no one want to ask for my opinion?