<h4>Chapter 18: Prodigy!</h4>


    Jiuxian Mountain, the main peak of the Wenxian Sect, the Sect Leader''s residence.


    "Reporting to the Sect Leader, Ling Feng from Little Bamboo Peak does hold the token of our Wenxian Sect Leader!" The Guardian Elder, his face still pale, disyed a hand with a piercing wound, enveloped in lingering sword intent. This vividly showcased the dominating power of Duanmu Qingshan''s sword qi.


    At the forefront of the grand hall, on the throne of the Sect Leader, sat a middle-aged figure adorned in a blue robe. His gaze was sharp and keen, brimming with vitality.


    This person is none other than Lin Canng, the current Sect Leader of the Wenxian Sect.


    With a slight narrowing of his gaze, Lin Canng directed his attention to Elder Li Liang, responsible for allocating inner sect disciples. In a somber tone, he inquired, "Elder Li, didn''t I instruct you to assign a disciple with exceptionally poor aptitude to Little Bamboo Peak each year? Why, then, did you send Ling Feng there?"


    "This..." Li Liang trembled, aware that the news of Ling Feng''s decisive victory over Shi Tailong had already circted, making it impossible to conceal from the Sect Leader.


    Shi Tailong wasn''t an ordinary neer to the inner sect; his cultivation had reached the fifth stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, cing him in the mid-stage of Qi Condensation.


    If a disciple, having been in the inner sect for less than a month, already exhibits the prowess to defeat someone like Shi Tailong, then unquestionably, that disciple can be deemed a genius!


    And yet, Li Liang actually handed over such a genius to Duanmu Qingshan!


    "Sect Leader, when Ling Feng initially entered the inner sect, I conducted assessments on his aptitude and physique. Both were deemed subpar, and at the age of eighteen, he had just attained the first stage of Qi Condensation," Li Liang exined.


    Unbeknownst to Li Liang, Ling Feng''s inherent aptitude might be unimpressive, yet all of his talents were concentrated in the <i>Emperor''s Eye</i>. Opening the Human Dao Eye significantly elerated his cultivation speed, and activating the Heavenly Dao Eye allowed him to learn andprehend instantly.


    As the Emperor''s Eye continues to umte more divine inscriptions, it will be increasingly extraordinary.


    "Enough." Lin Canng said, raising his hand slightly to signal Li Liang to be quiet. "Elder Li, with your usual wisdom, I assume you''ve already formted a strategy."


    "Yes," Li Liang breathed a sigh of relief as he observed the Sect Leader showing no inclination to press further. "In truth, Sect Leader, Ling Feng''s remarkable abilities and earning the favor of Duanmu Qingshan might turn out to be a positive development."


    A faint smile appeared on Lin Canng''s lips. Holding the position of Sect Leader, he naturally possessed greater wisdom than Yang Wei. Amongst intelligent individuals, there was no need for explicit statements; a mere hint sufficed.


    "Indeed, it might not be a bad thing," Lin Canng said with a faint smile. "While Ling Feng has recently joined Duanmu Qingshan''s disciples, dispatch someone to summon him. Inform him that I, as the Sect Leader, would like to meet him. Remember, handle this matter discreetly; there''s no need to cause a stir at Little Bamboo Peak."


    "Sect Leader, rest assured. I know exactly how to handle this," Li Liang chuckled. "Those who grasp the situation are considered wise. I''m sure that youngster understand this principle as well."


    ...


    Sunset Slope, this is the unavoidable passage to Little Bamboo Peak.


    The moment Ling Feng appeared, a crowd quickly gathered around, murmuring amongst themselves and pointing fingers.


    "Is he the one that the elders assigned to Little Bamboo Peak?"


    "While the disciples from the previous lineage were left battered and bruised within a few days, unable to endure it, and fled to the outer sect, this guy seems to be an exception!"


    "More than just formidable, you might not even be aware that he crippled Senior Brother Shi Tailong!"


    A wave of gasps swept through the crowd. Who is Shi Tailong?


    It''s not just a novice who recently joined; it''s a seasoned veteran with several years in the inner sect. Despite not having remarkable talent, he''s still someone that ordinary inner sect disciples wouldn''t dare to provoke.


    In just a few days since entering, Ling Feng has managed to defeat Shi Tailong!


    "Disregarding Shi Tailong, why does it seem like even Senior Brother Xiao Qingfeng is waiting for this guy here?"


    Numerous female disciples gazed in the direction of Xiao Qingfeng with starry-eyed admiration on their faces.


    Upon spotting Ling Feng, Xiao Qingfeng approached him without much courtesy, demanding in a cold tone, "Hand over the fist manual!"


    "What fist manual? Who are you?"


    Rolling his eyes, Ling Feng realized that his journey out of Little Bamboo Peak wouldn''t be a smooth one. However, he hadn''t anticipated the troubles to unfold one after another.


    "You fool, you can''t even recognize Xiao Qingfeng, Senior Brother Xiao!" dered a supporter of Xiao Qingfeng in a nonchnt manner.


    "Whether it''s Xiao Seventh Peak or Xiao Eighth Peak, ever heard the wise saying, A good dog doesn''t block the way?"


    Ling Feng''s gaze turned cold as he fixed his eyes on the young man in the green robe across from him. In a calm and indifferent tone, he said,


    "Arrogant!"


    A crystalline howl resonated, and with an oppressive coldness, a streak of snow-white radiance, reminiscent of a dying sun in the silver gxy, shot like an otherworldly meteor towards Ling Feng at an inconceivable speed.


    Even before the sword reached its target, the razor-sharp qi had elicited a subtle, tingling difort on the skin.


    Stepping forward with the Cloud-Chasing Technique, Ling Feng hastily unsheathed his sword. With a swift block, he countered with a sweeping horizontal strike.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    As the twin swords collided, they produced a series of three resounding shes. The mingling of gold and iron reverberated, sending shockwaves through the surroundings and sparking tiny bursts of fire.


    In the intricate dance of sword shadows, they swapped positions andnded firmly on the ground. Yet, on Ling Feng''s precision-crafted steel de, three unmistakable notches had suddenly manifested!


    Ling Feng''s eyelid twitched slightly. This person was far from ordinary!