Chapter 51: Taking a Master!

"Very well, then. For the sake of this little rascal here, follow me!" that disciple said slowly.

"What is that supposed to mean? Who are you looking down on?" Yufan demanded.

"Heh!" the disciple replied.

"Yufan, do not be impolite. We must trouble this brother," Fang Yu said slowly.

Afterward, the three of them stepped through the grand gates.

Crossing the threshold, Xingchenzi's eyes were instantly struck by the sight before him, and he couldn't help but exclaim in wonder, "Whoa! This is beyond imagination, simply magnificent!" He halted, his gaze sweeping slowly across the surroundings as if trying to deeply engrave this breathtaking scene into the bottom of his heart.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, bathing every inch of Longwu Mountain and casting a faint golden radiance over this ancient and mystical sect.

To the right, a winding stone staircase coiled upward like a dormant dragon, every step bearing the marks of passing time. At the summit of the stairs stood a solemn, archaic memorial arch, upon which the three grand characters "Talisman Sect" were inscribed with the fluid strength of a soaring dragon and a startled snake, exuding an extraordinary aura. One could almost hear the low chanting of talismans and the surging of spiritual energy.

To the left, echoing the majestic stone staircase on the right, lay a scene of an entirely different character.

A more covert and narrow flight of stairs, resembling a shadow-shrouded leopard, silently clung to the cliffside.

On either side of the steps, exotic flora and wondrous grasses swayed in the gentle breeze, emitting faint, ethereal radiances that added a touch of mystery and danger to the path.

At the end of the staircase, an ancient archway half-concealed by creeping vines came into view. Upon it, the three characters "Assassination Sect" were carved with sharp, incisive strokes, each character seemingly imbued with a biting chill that involuntarily stirred fear in the hearts of beholders.

Beneath the archway, dark figures could occasionally be seen flashing past, moving with such blinding speed that they nearly merged with the twilight. These were disciples of the Assassination Sect undergoing their unique training, filling the air with a tense, thrilling pressure.

Straight ahead, a wide and straight staircase rose imposingly like a heavenly ladder reaching directly into the clouds. Clouds and mist billowed on either side of the steps, appearing and disappearing, endowing the "Heaven and Earth Sect" with an ethereal, otherworldly fairy aura.

Flanking the stairs were towering ancient trees whose intertwined branches formed verdant archways. Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled, shifting shadows that fell like scattered stardust upon the bluestone steps, turning every footfall into an echo of time itself.

Embedded in the center of the staircase were pieces of jade emitting a gentle glow, seemingly connected to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Whenever someone stepped upon them, they stirred delicate ripples that radiated outward like gentle water breezes brushing across a tranquil lake.

The air was laden with the faint fragrance of medicinal herbs and fresh pine, refreshing the mind and spirit to the point where even breathing felt exceptionally smooth.

---

Beneath the archway of the Talisman Sect, a disciple strode forward swiftly, a spring-like smile gracing his face and a proud gleam of devotion to his sect sparkling in his eyes.

He was dressed in the cyan and blue robes of a Talisman Sect disciple, the lapels fluttering lightly in the wind while several faintly glowing talismans hung from his waist. Every step he took was both light and powerful.

"Friends who have journeyed from afar, welcome to the gates of the Talisman Sect! I am the guiding disciple here, Li Chenfeng of the Talisman Sect. Are you here to seek apprenticeship? Enter our sect, and I guarantee you will master martial arts and achieve widespread fame in no time!" He cupped his hands in a greeting, his voice clear and resonant, capable of piercing through the clouds and reaching straight into people's hearts.

"Our Talisman Sect not only excels in the crafting of all kinds of talismans, but is also adept at channeling the power of heaven and earth through talismans to protect peace in our realm. By entering our sect, you will learn the most exquisite talismanic arts and master that miraculous power capable of overturning clouds, summoning rain, and repelling evil."

Beside the secluded stairway of the Assassination Sect, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps rang out. Following closely, a disciple clad in tight black garments and a thin veil across his face leaped lightly from the side stairs like a phantom, aiming straight for the opposite side. Unexpectedly, upon landing, his foot caught on an imperceptible patch of slippery green moss, causing him to instantly lose his balance and tumble to the ground in a somewhat disheveled posture. The short blade in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp.

"Ao!" he uttered a low cry, swiftly steadying his stance and spinning up into a fluid, upright position. A trace of embarrassment, yet undiminished sharpness, flashed through his eyes.

Above the veil, his gaze seemed capable of piercing human hearts, gleaming with a formidable light. "Hold on, you few!" he said in a low, magnetic voice that carried through the mask, tinged with unquestionable authority. "If you enter our sect, you will enjoy unparalleled training, resources, welfare, and conditions that other sects simply cannot match.

"My humble self is named Li, courtesy name Chunfeng. Though I suffered a minor misstep, the way of assassination prizes precision and decisiveness; the occasional accident is merely a tempering for growth."

"You Assassination Sect people, why are you so utterly shameless? You try to snatch everything from me!" Li Chenfeng said, his voice brimming with intense aversion toward Li Chunfeng.

"Li—haha! How could I dare? So what if I snatched them, Li Chenfeng? Let's throw down and fight!" Li Chunfeng retorted slowly.

"I say, you two, what on earth are you doing? Talk things out properly! Don't resort to blows at every turn," Yufan urged.

"Right, right! Fight it out—no, wait, I misspoke! Don't fight, negotiate properly!" Xingchenzi chimed in.

As the dissuading voices of Yufan and Xingchenzi faded, the atmosphere seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds, casting mottled rays onto the somewhat tense clearing and lending a dramatic interplay of light and shadow to this abrupt confrontation.

Li Chenfeng and Li Chunfeng stood facing each other: the former in his cyan-blue Talisman Sect robes, radiating refined elegance mingled with a hint of arrogance; the latter clad in tight black with a veil masking his face, his gaze sharp as a hawk's and his entire body radiating an inviolable, lethal aura.

Scarcely a few paces separated the two, yet they seemed worlds apart, and the air was thick with the scent of gunpowder.

At that moment, a breeze swept past, bringing with it the unique freshness and tranquility of the mountains as if attempting to quell the impending conflict.

Li Chenfeng took a deep breath, a faint smile curving the corners of his lips as the sharp edge in his gaze gradually receded. He stepped forward slowly, his voice gentle yet firm: "Li Chunfeng, as fellow sect brothers, we ought to support one another rather than bickering endlessly here.

"Our sect is vast enough to accommodate both our dreams and pursuits; why must we harbor petty rivalries and harm our harmony?"

"To hell with you, Li Chenfeng! Last time, when you used that half-baked talisman of yours—*bang!*—it blew a hole right through our sect's facade. And just as Master came out, you ran off in such a hurry that Master assumed I was the one who smashed the gates! Back then, my backside was beaten to a flowering mess!" Li Chunfeng shouted angrily.

---

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, Senior Brother Li," Li Chenfeng said.

Hearing this, Li Chunfeng's complexion turned ashen, his eyes widening so fiercely they seemed to spew fire. He swept his arm outward, and the surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly in response. "You call it a misunderstanding? That was the darkest day of my life!"

Gritting his teeth, his voice squeezed out as if from between clenched jaws, he continued, "That out-of-control talisman of yours not only shattered the sect's doorway, it shattered my dignity! Master's look of profound disappointment, followed by that unforgettable, bone-deep punishment—I remember it vividly to this day.

"Li Chenfeng, I am going to settle this score with you today!"

With that, his body shifted slightly like a crouching leopard ready to pounce, and his aura instantly turned razor-sharp and perilous.

The sunlight traced a golden outline along the edges of his clenched fists, forming a stark contrast with his black attire and adding an extra layer of murderous intent.

Seeing this, Li Chenfeng instinctively retreated half a step. The faint smile on his face had long since vanished, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He knew all too well that if today's matter were not properly resolved, it would likely leave an unhealable rift between the two factions.

Beside them, the disciple stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the two men, and said, "Senior Brother Li Chenfeng, Senior Brother Li Chunfeng, I will escort them to the Grand Patriarch's quarters for the qualification assessment first."

The two men slowly returned the bow and answered, "Very well."

The disciple, wearing a simple Daoist robe and possessing delicate facial features, executed another respectful bow before turning toward the newcomers who had just set foot into this mystical domain. He spoke in a soft voice: "Please follow me, everyone. The Grand Patriarch is waiting in the quiet chamber. We shall proceed with the entrance qualification assessment."

His voice was gentle and clear like a mountain spring, instantly pacifying their minds.

Guided by him, the group slowly walked down a winding path. Towering ancient trees flanked the path, their interlocking branches allowing sunlight to filter through and cast mottled shadows, adding an air of mystery and solemnity to the ritual.

The path was carpeted with fallen leaves, producing a soft rustling sound with every step that blended with the occasional distant chirping of birds to compose a natural symphony.