"...To prevent such a situation, it’s best for you to first make a name for yourself in the sect. For that reason, I’ve decided to give you two months’ time."
Grand Elder Jian held up his two fingers and stated as a matter of fact, "Become an Inner Sect Disciple in these two months, and no one will bat an eye if you become my personal disciple, as you would have earned it in everyone’s eyes."
"This..."
An expression of hesitation instantly formed on Yi Chen’s face when he heard this, as he said, "Grand Elder Jian... I’m still far away from reaching the Qi Absorption Stage...in two months...I don’t think I’ll be able to..."
From what Yi Chen knew, to become an Inner Sect Disciple, one has to enter the Qi Absorption Stage. It is only then that they can become an Inner Sect Disciple.
When Grand Elder Jian heard this, he chuckled lightly, "It is only natural that you won’t be aware of it. Apart from reaching the Qi Absorption Stage, there’s another way for one to become an Inner Sect Disciple."
"...Another way?"
Yi Chen asked with surprise and interest evident on his face.
"Indeed. It’s an unorthodox method, but there have been a few rare instances where people have resorted to this method to become an Inner Sect Disciple."
Grand Elder Jian explained, looking towards Yi Chen with an expectant expression, and continued, "The sect has created a ranking for all the Inner Sect Disciples based on their individual cultivation progress and combat proficiency called the Azure Blue Rankings.
The other way, which I had just mentioned, requires an Outer Sect Disciple to challenge an Inner Sect Disciple who’s at the bottom of the Azure Blue Ranking.
If the Outer Sect Disciple is able to beat the last-ranked disciple, then they will directly be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple right at that moment."
"This..."
Yi Chen’s eyes couldn’t help but light up when he heard this.
’So, such a method also existed...’ he thought to himself before suddenly asking an important question, "W-What’s the cultivation level of the Inner Sect Disciple who is at the bottom of this ranking?"
Even though he had guessed it in his mind, he still asked to be a hundred per cent certain.
"Naturally, they’ll be at the First Qi Absorption Stage." Grand Elder Jian answered with an amused expression while noticing Yi Chen’s visibly changing expression.
Meanwhile, a confident glimmer immediately appeared in Yi Chen’s eyes the moment he heard those words as he exclaimed inwardly with happiness, ’Hah! I was worried for nothing. This is going to be a piece of cake for me!’
He was just about to let his thoughts out in words when he heard Grand Elder Jian’s next set of words.
"However, while challenging this disciple, you must only rely purely on your swordsmanship and nothing else. You understand?"
"Ah...alright."
Yi Chen nodded in an understanding manner, but those words didn’t bring any shift in his earlier thoughts, ’So what? It will still be a piece of cake for me!’
A confident smirk spread across his face that very instant, but before it could fully bloom, Grand Elder Jian stated another restriction.
"There’s another thing..." Grand Elder Jian’s words rang out again, drawing Yi Chen’s attention once again. "You must not rely on your Qi blade or any other advanced concepts during the fight. Otherwise, your challenge won’t meet its expected results."
"...Okay, I understand."
Yi Chen nodded after hearing the condition.
’What does he mean by not meeting the expected results? Isn’t my task only to defeat them?’ Yi Chen thought with a subtle sense of annoyance before shaking those thoughts away. ’Whatever, it will just be a little more difficult. That’s all.’
The amused glint in Grand Elder Jian’s eyes only increased upon seeing Yi Chen’s expression as he forced Yi Chen out of his thoughts once again.
"Also...during the fight, you must only use three specific stances and techniques that I will be teaching you after dinner tonight. If you use anything else, then you’ll be disqualified, you understand?"
’Is he for real?!’
Yi Chen thought, with annoyance brimming in his heart, and the very next moment he asked with a forced smile, in a tone that clearly portrayed his inner turmoil, "Are there any other restrictions as well?"
He had just asked that question out of spite, as, from his perspective, the fight had already become as difficult as it possibly could for him because of the many restrictions he had to keep in mind while fighting his opponent.
However, Grand Elder Jian thought otherwise.
"Oh, it’s good that you asked. There’s actually another one which I was about to address." Grand Elder Jian stated with as harmless a smile as possible.
’...Fuck me.’
The moment Yi Chen heard this, his expression crumbled completely, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at his dismal fate as he started massaging the back of his head in annoyance and exhaustion.
Fully savouring Yi Chen’s vivid expressions, Grand Elder Jian finally stated the final restriction, "The final restriction is that while battling your opponent, you’ll only be allowed to use your right hand during the entire fight."
The moment Yi Chen heard this last condition, his expression froze.
The next instant, he looked right into Grand Elder Jian’s eyes and asked in a deflated tone, "Grand Elder Jian...could it be that you have something against me?"
"Hahaha..."
Hearing his words, Grand Elder Jian burst into laughter before finally answering Yi Chen, who was seething with frustration by now, "Yes, from your point of view, that’s exactly what it might appear to you. However, that’s not truly the case. The reason I’m doing this is for your own good."
’...for my own good? My ass!’
Yi Chen exclaimed inwardly the moment he heard him utter those senseless words.
The only thing preventing him from speaking his thoughts was the disparity between their cultivation. Otherwise, the entire room would be resonating with a flurry of abuses.
Meanwhile, clearly understanding that Yi Chen needed more explanation, Grand Elder Jian continued after a brief pause, "Look at it this way. If word spreads that an Outer Sect Disciple is challenging an Inner Sect Disciple with all these constraints, it is sure to pull in a horde of spectators.
At first, they’ll only be there to mock you and to relish in your defeat, clearly knowing that you’re going to lose."
Grand Elder Jian paused as the gaze with which he was looking at Yi Chen intensified.
"However, what if the complete opposite happens? What if the person they thought was going to lose rose above this dismal situation and claimed victory?
They’ll be shocked. They’ll be confused. It will naturally ignite the flame of passion that resides in their hearts and allow you to win all their admiration in the end.
Once that is achieved, then your being selected as a peak master’s personal disciple thereafter will only be considered a natural consequence and not an absurdity. Thus, maintaining the sect’s internal harmony."
Listening to Grand Elder Jian’s explanation, at first Yi Chen thought that he was just making things up, but the longer he heard him, the more he realised that that wasn’t the case.
"I see..."
Yi Chen nodded in understanding while muttering to himself, "...so I have no choice but to master fighting with only one hand."
"That indeed is the case. However, the techniques and stances I’m going to teach require only your right hand to execute properly."
Grand Elder Jian stated the next moment and continued with an encouraging tone, "Therefore, if you put your mind to it, then in the next two months, you’ll surely be able to achieve it, and while at it, also correct a few major problems with your fundamentals."
"Correct my fundamentals...?"
Yi Chen couldn’t help but stare at him with a confused expression the moment he heard this.
"That’s right. The mov-"
Grand Elder Jian was about to explain further, but just then Steward Chao arrived with a tray filled with plates of delicious dishes.
"Let’s discuss the rest after you have satiated your hunger then, shall we?" Grand Elder Jian asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Yi Chen instantly nodded his head, as the pangs of hunger he had been feeling all this while only intensified with the strong aroma from the spices which pervaded the air.
The food was soon served to the two of them by Steward Chao, and while at it, Grand Elder Jian stated, "Eat as much as you like. These are all demonic beast meat, which will help in filling your depleted Qi pool."
Yi Chen nodded with a bright expression after hearing those words and soon dove in the next moment.
Seeing this, Grand Elder Jian also took a small portion on his plate and started eating alongside him, not because he was hungry but simply to accompany Yi Chen.
A few minutes later, all the plates were swept clean, the majority of which was naturally Yi Chen’s doing.
Burp~
"Excuse me..." Yi Chen let out an embarrassed chuckle at the unexpected burp.
"Looks like you’re finished." Grand Elder Jian smirked when he saw this and, gesturing towards the door, stood up the next moment. "Let’s go outside and move our bodies a little bit then, shall we?"
"Y-Yes."
Yi Chen nodded and followed him to the manor’s backyard the next moment.
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