Under the previous shocking Mutation, the North Mountain had been nearly shattered and in ruins, but at this moment, it was visibly recovering at a remarkable speed.
The collapsed peaks were being reshaped, the scattered stones were reassembling into completeness, and the fierce cracks in the earth were healing. Time seemed to flow backward at this moment. The only constant was Fang Chen, who stood silently in the Servants' Area, holding a Blood-red Longsword, his eyes blank and unmoving.
The purple gale that swept through the heavens and earth had dissipated into nothingness, and the mysterious power that enveloped the entire Ziyang Sect was slowly fading away. Within the Ziyang Sect, bodies that had been frozen along with their souls began to tremble lightly.
This trembling did not last long; with a slight sound, pairs of eyes filled with confusion began to scan their surroundings.
When they saw the Dao Sovereign Realm Expert hovering high above, surrounded by a brilliant Purple Radiance, waves of awe-filled exclamations erupted from various places within the Ziyang Sect.
“Salute to the Ancestor!”
If one were to look down from above at this moment, they would see numerous figures within the Ziyang Sect bowing deeply towards the Dao Sovereign Realm Expert, their expressions filled with reverence and a hint of fervor.
The Ziyang Ancestor was the true pillar of support within the Ziyang Sect. As long as this person was present, no one could offend Ziyang! He was the spiritual support for all disciples of the Ziyang Sect, even for the elders.
Casting his gaze over the Ziyang Sect below, the Ziyang Ancestor nodded slightly. Then, from within that dazzling Purple Radiance, his faint voice resonated.
“From today onwards, Ziyang will add one more True Disciple.”
As these words fell, there was an instant silence in heaven and earth. Within the Ziyang Sect, countless faces looking up at the figure of the Ziyang Ancestor suddenly displayed expressions of astonishment.
A True Disciple was not an ordinary disciple but one regarded as a beacon of hope for the future of Ziyang Sect Heritage. Such disciples were nurtured with utmost effort by the sect, and their significance was self-evident.
Due to their special importance, becoming a True Disciple was incredibly difficult—akin to reaching for the heavens. The assessment for a True Disciple was so challenging that even elders from the Heavenly Realm might not pass it. Moreover, one could only aspire to become a True Disciple before breaking through to the Heavenly Realm.
All these factors combined meant that there would be no more than a handful of True Disciples within the entire Ziyang Sect. Yet today, another one was to be added!
Recently, there had been no reports of any Inner Sect Disciples challenging for the status of a True Disciple. Could it be...
In an instant, some martial artists ranked highly among the Inner Sect Disciples turned red-faced, their breathing becoming somewhat hurried as they trembled with excitement.
Since no one had successfully passed the assessment, it must mean that the Ancestor intended to directly promote someone to a True Disciple. Among those eligible for such an exceptional promotion, who would be most likely? Undoubtedly, it would be those at the forefront of the Inner Sect Disciples, as they ranked at the pinnacle among all disciples in terms of strength and other factors, aside from those who were already True Disciples.
For a moment, both those who knew Fang Chen and several renowned Inner Sect Disciples were extremely excited.
They understood clearly that the difference between a True Disciple and an Inner Sect Disciple seemed to be just one level. However, this single level was like the difference between heaven and earth. If Inner Sect Disciples were merely disciples with some status within Ziyang Sect, then True Disciples were the true treasures of Ziyang Sect, even elders had to curry favor with them.
At that moment, some figures who believed they had a chance were filled with excitement. They clenched their fists, their expressions invigorated, just waiting for the Ziyang Ancestor to speak again. The faint voice that resonated throughout Ziyang Sect echoed once more amidst everyone's anticipation.
"This person, Fang Chen!"
Four words rang out in the void!
Crack!
A sound of shattered hearts seemed to suddenly come from within Ziyang Sect at that moment. Those who had been filled with hope now wore expressions of shock and deep disbelief.
"Fang Chen... that guy who only has Body Refinement Realm..."
"How is that possible... How could he be a True Disciple..."
"This... impossible..."
These were the thoughts of those who knew Fang Chen.
For the vast majority within Ziyang Sect, however, the name Fang Chen was extremely unfamiliar. After all, the shocking memory of the mutation that occurred in Beishan had been forcefully erased by the Ziyang Ancestor. Thus, the name Fang Chen held little significance in their minds.
"Who is Fang Chen?"
"I haven't heard of such a figure among the Inner Sect Disciples. Could he be an Outer Sect Disciple?"
In an instant, all conversations within Ziyang Sect revolved around the name Fang Chen.
"Fang Chen, how could it be! How could it be him!"
Outside Beishan, Song Donglai, who had previously been somewhat confused and didn't understand why he was now here instead of on Beishan, suddenly trembled. His eyes glinted with a cold light, filled with disbelief.
His own arch-nemesis, the one with whom he had an unending feud, suddenly became a True Disciple.
Oh my, that is far superior to an Inner Sect Disciple!
Even though Fang Chen's current cultivation level was not apparent, as long as he held such a title, no one in Ziyang Sect would dare to offend him. In fact, even if the other party did not take action personally, just a word from him could make it impossible for Fang Chen to move within Ziyang Sect, or even lead to his untimely demise in some remote place.
All of this was simply because he was a direct disciple, a True Disciple whom all other disciples and many elders needed to curry favor with!
Not only Song Donglai, but after their memories were erased, Song Nanfeng and others who originally harbored some thoughts or hostility towards Fang Chen also experienced another shock.
"Disperse," said Ziyang Ancestor lightly from mid-air.
As soon as these words fell, the previously bustling discussions in Ziyang Sect fell silent. One by one, figures with incredulous expressions bowed towards the sky and began to retreat slowly as instructed.
The discussions ceased, and the crowd dispersed, but the shock in everyone's hearts clearly could not be easily erased. The name Fang Chen would undoubtedly resonate throughout Ziyang Sect due to today's events.
What they did not know was that at this moment, Fang Chen, who had been appointed as a True Disciple by Ziyang Ancestor, felt a shock within himself that was no less than theirs—perhaps even greater. This shock was not merely due to his promotion to True Inheritor; it stemmed from a voice, a voice that was both strange and familiar to him!
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