As soon as Ye Zhengwei finished speaking, the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others exchanged wry smiles. Who would have known that Li Xuan could comprehend the three great physical divine abilities of the Ancestral Master, which were scattered across eighteen thousand books and jade slips?
*Whoosh!*
At that moment, accompanied by a whistling sound that broke through the air, Li Xuan's figure appeared before the seven of them.
"Disciple Li Xuan pays respects to the Sect Master, and to the six masters," Li Xuan said, quickly stepping forward to bow. Upon seeing Ye Zhengwei and the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain, the seven of them, he immediately bowed.
"Li Xuan, you can't call us masters anymore from now on," said the Peak Lord of Shen Mountain with a wry smile.
Li Xuan was stunned. What was going on?
Seeing Li Xuan's surprised expression, the Peak Lord of Shen Mountain slowly began to explain. After listening to the explanation, Li Xuan finally understood.
It turned out that the founding Ancestral Master of the Body Sect had scattered the three great physical divine abilities among the books and jade slips they left behind. Only those with fortune could find and comprehend them. Those who could comprehend them, regardless of their status, would be promoted to the sect's high leadership.
Being able to comprehend these three great physical divine abilities was akin to inheriting the mantle of the founding Ancestral Master. Naturally, they were also disciples of the founding Ancestral Master. Ye Zhengwei and the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain were all like this. Li Xuan, therefore, naturally became their junior brother.
Although Ye Zhengwei and the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain were already considered disciples of the founding Ancestral Master, they still held the Ancestral Master in the highest regard. Thus, all seven of them did not address him as master, but their status as disciples was indeed real.
Li Xuan looked at Ye Zhengwei and the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain with some helplessness. He was their disciple just a moment ago, and after entering the Scripture Pavilion, he had become their junior brother. Such a change would surely shock the entire Body Sect.
"Junior Brother, can you tell us if you have mastered the sword art divine ability?" asked Peak Lord Mo Xian.
As soon as Peak Lord Mo Xian finished speaking, the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others also looked at Li Xuan with curiosity. Although Li Xuan had been promoted from their disciple status to their junior brother, they were not people who had never seen major events, so their initial discomfort quickly dissipated.
Li Xuan nodded and said, "I have mastered it, but this 'Shadow Kill Sword' only has about one-third of the cultivation method. After my deduction, I can only push it to fifty percent."
"You can even deduce it?" Ye Zhengwei looked at Li Xuan with some surprise. Ye Zhengwei had also seen the 'Shadow Kill Sword' back then, but first, he was not a sword cultivator, so he didn't feel much. Second, Ye Zhengwei cultivated the orthodox path of the physical body, so he hadn't paid much attention to it.
Li Xuan nodded and said, "This 'Shadow Kill Sword' has many similarities with a sword art I've mastered, so I was able to deduce some of it. Otherwise, I would only be able to cultivate it to that one-third level."
Ye Zhengwei nodded slightly and said, "This is already very good. I heard that the Ancestral Master had deeply explored this technique back then, but the results were always inconclusive. If the Ancestral Master knew about this, he would surely be comforted."
Li Xuan scratched his head and then asked Ye Zhengwei, "Sect Master, is this Ancestral Master still alive?"
Ye Zhengwei and the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain chuckled and said, "Of course, he is alive. Otherwise, how could our Body Sect have stood firm for tens of thousands of years? It's just that our Ancestral Master left the Star Cloud Continent ten thousand years ago, and we have no idea where he is now."
Li Xuan nodded. As one's strength increased, the lifespan of a spiritual master also increased infinitely. Even Saints could live for several hundred years. With the strength of the founding Ancestral Master of the Body Sect, he had likely surpassed the Life and Death Realm.
"Junior Brother, what are your plans now?" asked the Peak Lord of Shen Mountain.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment and then shook his head, "I don't have any specific plans yet, but I want to improve my sword path cultivation and level."
The Peak Lord of Shen Mountain nodded and said, "There is one matter we need to discuss with you. Of course, the decision is entirely up to you."
Li Xuan immediately nodded and said, "Senior Brother, please speak."
The Peak Lord of Shen Mountain nodded and then said, "Originally, our plan was to have you participate in this disciple competition. At that time, you would have been stronger than our Body Sect disciples in both physical body and other aspects. Moreover, your performance and progress in the past few years have satisfied us. But now..."
Li Xuan immediately understood. It was because he had comprehended the three great physical divine abilities left by the founding Ancestral Master and become his disciple that the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others had become hesitant. However, Li Xuan was still somewhat curious about the disciple competition.
As Li Xuan inquired, the Peak Lord of Shen Mountain began to explain.
"Junior Brother, to be frank, although our Body Sect is still ranked among the Three Sects and One Palace, we have been at the bottom for fifty consecutive years. If this continues, what face will our Body Sect have? But given the situation, there's nothing we can do."
The Peak Lord of Shen Mountain paused and continued, "Now that you have become the Ancestral Master's disciple, you are considered part of the high leadership in our Body Sect. If you participate, it will inevitably lead to gossip. Moreover, the disciple competition also carries certain risks. Now, we find it difficult to make a decision."
Li Xuan nodded slightly. In fact, Li Xuan had considered this issue long before joining the Body Sect. The disciples of the Body Sect had stronger physical bodies than disciples of other sects, but when it came to offensive methods, they were undoubtedly much weaker.
Of course, Li Xuan did not deny the strength of the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others. When the physical body reached a certain level of power, it could indeed ignore many flashy attacks. But this required a process, a process of growth. And the eighteen core disciples of the Body Sect now still had a long way to go to reach the level of the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others.
From the very beginning, the Body Sect did not have an advantage in the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace. Apart from resilience, there were no other advantages.
As for Li Xuan himself, he had no such worries. Moreover, Li Xuan understood the reasons why the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others had chosen him before. Although it was for the sake of the Body Sect, it was still considered good treatment for him.
"Sect Master, Senior Brothers and Sisters, I think we should do this. My identity will officially remain as your disciple. I will participate in this disciple competition," Li Xuan said after a moment of thought.
Although the disciple competition carried some risks, Li Xuan was not a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse. Furthermore, Li Xuan had left the Vast Continent to improve himself, so how could he miss such an opportunity? Even if the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others did not allow him to participate, Li Xuan would probably find a way to do so.
The Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others were delighted, but their eyes still turned to Ye Zhengwei.
Ye Zhengwei was silent for a moment, then looked at Li Xuan and said, "Junior Brother, I am very gratified by your intention. However, the weakest participant in the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace is at the Initial Yuan Realm."
The Peak Lords of Shen Mountain and the others were stunned. Li Xuan was currently only at the peak of the Martial God Realm. He was still two whole levels away from the Initial Yuan Realm.
Li Xuan smiled and said, "This is very easy to solve."
Ye Zhengwei and the seven others frowned. Even if they helped, they could only help Li Xuan reach the Saint level. The Initial Yuan Realm was not so easy to break through. However, seeing Li Xuan's confident expression, the seven of them became somewhat confused.
Seeing this, Li Xuan smiled and said, "Sect Master, Senior Brothers and Sisters, how much time is left until the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace?"
"There are still seven months left," said the Peak Lord of Shen Mountain.
"Seven months." Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "That's enough time. Sect Master, Senior Brothers and Sisters, I need to go into seclusion for this period. When I come out of seclusion, I will be able to reach the Initial Yuan Realm."
"Junior Brother, you can't be reckless. Even if our Body Sect is at the bottom this time, you cannot ruin your future," Peak Lord Mo Xian said with a frown.
Li Xuan felt a warmth in his heart. He didn't say anything but produced a spiritual sword. In the next moment, in the eyes of Ye Zhengwei and the Peak Lords of Shen Mountain, the sword was inserted into his Dantian.
*Hum.*
As a surge of sword intent erupted, Li Xuan's aura instantly climbed.
Initial Stage Martial Saint!