Chapter Nine: Supreme Dao Embryo

Clack, clack...

On the silent Supreme Celestial Platform, only the steady sound of footsteps echoed as Qin Yi slowly ascended the dais. At that moment, every eye on the platform was fixed intently upon him, each with their own distinct expression.

Some looked on in anticipation, hoping he would become another prodigy beneath the Supreme Celestial Mountain. Others prayed quietly, wishing he would not become another traitor to the human race from these very slopes.

When Qin Yi reached the top, Gu Beishan tossed him a purple-gold lotus. Qin Yi caught it and held it in his palm. In the next instant, the lotus bloomed resplendently, unfolding eighty-one petals all at once.

This spectacle immediately caused an uproar on the Supreme Celestial Platform.

“What did I just see? Am I hallucinating?”

“You saw right. It just blossomed with eighty-one petals in one go.”

“You’re really something…” Zhang Chen’s lips twitched uncontrollably beneath the dais, but in the end, all he could utter were those three words.

“Elder Rui, if I recall correctly, this Qin Yi is also from Fish Dragon Fort, isn’t he? It seems we need to pay special attention to that place,” Wang Yuncheng’s eyes flashed with keen light as he spoke calmly to Wang Rui beside him.

“Yes, young master.” Wang Rui’s tone was grave. If this small place had produced only one prodigious youth, the Wang Clan of East Ridge would not have paid excessive heed—after all, there are always some risks in such matters. But if it produced two, then they could hardly afford to ignore it.

Among the leaders seated high above, the elders of Supreme Celestial Mountain could barely contain their restlessness. The only one who remained inexplicably calm—so calm it was almost frightening—was Xue Songmei.

Qin Yi, seeing the purple-gold lotus bloom with eighty-one petals in his hand, showed neither joy nor sorrow. He lowered his hand slowly and gazed up at the dignitaries.

“Master, I find this young man to possess a spiritual aura and a certain affinity with my Jade Spirit Peak. Why not allow him to become my disciple?” Li Ding could not help but speak first, though he had not thought through his words and hastily resorted to commenting on the boy’s looks.

“Master, I see in him extraordinary talent. Should he join my sect and study the ancient ‘Celestial Ascent Scripture,’ I am certain he will bring it to new heights,” Qing Fuzi said helplessly, ultimately invoking the ancient text to make his case. His cheeks tinged with embarrassment, knowing he had just accepted Zhang Chen as a disciple moments earlier.

“Senior Brother Qing Fuzi, wasn’t Zhang Chen enough for you? I believe this young man should come to my Sword Cliff Peak to cultivate swordsmanship,” Chen Yuxuan quickly retorted as soon as Qing Fuzi finished.

“Master, if he enters my tutelage, I will certainly groom him as the future head of Nanhua Peak.” Finally, Gu Beishan, for the first time, vied openly for a disciple—and his words shocked the assembly. After all, the position of Peak Master was no trivial matter.

Throughout this commotion, the headmaster, the Grandmaster Lingxu, remained motionless, quietly observing Qin Yi as if weighing a decision. Just as Lingxu was mulling over his thoughts, Qin Yi spoke from the dais, “Honored elders of Supreme Celestial Mountain, I would like to make my own choice.”

The moment these words were uttered, all eyes turned to Qin Yi, waiting for his decision. Before anyone could speak up to persuade him, Lingxu interrupted, “Very well. Since you wish to choose for yourself, you may.”

All attention in the plaza was now focused on Qin Yi atop the platform, awaiting his choice.

“Honored elders, I would like to enter Snowdrift Peak.” Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Qin Yi grinned mischievously, his answer both expected and unexpected.

“This rascal! Doesn’t he know Snowdrift Peak only accepts female disciples?”

“Damn it, why didn’t I think of that?” Zhang Chen below was stunned by Qin Yi’s move, a look of deep regret on his face, wishing desperately he could turn back time. Yet before Qin Yi’s words had fully settled, he felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. With difficulty, he raised his head towards the high seat—indeed, Xue Songmei was fixing him with a cold, piercing gaze, as if to say, “Are you courting death?”

After a brief exchange of glances, Qin Yi lowered his head and hunched his shoulders, thinking to himself that Jiang Yao’s master was still as terrifying as ever.

High above, the disciples of Snowdrift Peak, seeing Xue Songmei’s icy look, could not help but feel a twinge of regret. Such a handsome and talented young man—why must their master be so strict?

After being shot down by Xue Songmei’s glare, Qin Yi finally offered his true answer, once again astonishing everyone present.

“Honored elders, I wish to become a disciple of Master Zixuan.”

“Yet another who, blooming with eighty-one petals, wishes to join Master Zixuan? Is Zixuan truly so remarkable?”

“Anyone capable of teaching a prodigy like Qin Yi must have some skill. But wasn’t Qin Yi accused of being a traitor to his own kind?”

“Wang Yuncheng wants to follow Master Zixuan, and now Qin ‘Unrighteous’ wants the same,” Zhang Chen remarked in confusion. He was well aware of Master Zixuan’s reputation in Ridge Province—famed, but polarizing.

“Heh…” Wang Yuncheng merely chuckled coldly. Although Qin Yi’s results surpassed his own, he did not believe the latter could lure Master Zixuan from Cloudsoar Isle. Perhaps a hint of resentment colored his thoughts.

The dignitaries fell silent until, at last, Grandmaster Lingxu spoke. “Since you wish to take my junior as your master, then you must know what you must do.”

“Yes!” Qin Yi responded, then turned toward Cloudsoar Isle and called out loudly, “Master Zixuan, I, Qin Yi of Fish Dragon Fort, wish to become your disciple!”

As expected, after a long pause, there was no response from Cloudsoar Isle.

The headmaster and all the various peak lords exchanged knowing smiles.

“So Master is still as aloof as ever!” Qin Yi, seeing no response from Cloudsoar Isle, forced a bitter smile and brought out the purple-gold lotus once more. Focusing the residual energy left from his previous test, he poured it all into the lotus.

He had thought that announcing his name would at least bring his master over, but it seemed he would have to demonstrate some real ability. Qin Yi let the lotus hover in his palm, and in the next moment, the entire Supreme Celestial Platform was bathed in a radiant azure light emanating from the flower.

The blue radiance seemed to flow from the very source of the Dao, inexhaustible and ever-renewing, swirling and weaving around the platform in a dazzling display.

The sudden occurrence, as expected, set off a huge commotion.

“What… what is that? Why is it so blinding?”

“I have no idea! How did it suddenly become like this?”

“Wow! Qin ‘Unrighteous’, what are you up to now?” Zhang Chen exclaimed, scarcely able to believe his eyes.

“Elder Rui, what is this?” Wang Yuncheng asked, baffled despite his considerable experience.

“I am not very familiar with the purple-gold lotus either, nor do I know why this phenomenon is happening. But I doubt it is anything simple,” Wang Rui replied, eyes narrowed in speculation.

All the dignitaries above stared in disbelief at the source of the azure radiance. They exchanged glances and spoke in unison: “Peerless Dao Embryo!”

“Peerless Dao Embryo… Hmph… Qin Yi, you dare return!” Gu Beishan, too, was stunned at first. Then, regaining his composure, he snorted coldly and, in a flash of blue light, appeared before Qin Yi, his luminous hand reaching out to seize him.

Qin Yi saw the glowing hand closing in but stood his ground, unmoving, making no attempt to dodge. Of course, with his current abilities, evading Gu Beishan’s grasp was out of the question.

The blue-glowing hand, moving with Gu Beishan’s full speed, was now only a hair’s breadth from Qin Yi. On the platform, Qin Yi was about to be firmly caught in its grip.