Chapter 202: How Could Someone So Young Be a Nascent Soul Cultivator
Mei Haihe felt a twinge of unease in his heart.
But seeing Shen Mo's confidence, he followed him.
After all, Shen Mo was a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Even if the Jade Cauldron Sect had rules, they'd surely give some respect to a Nascent Soul cultivator, right?
"Stop!"
Two Foundation Establishment cultivators stood guard at the entrance to Jade Sea Hall.
Seeing Shen Mo approach confidently, they immediately raised their hands to block him.
"Only members of the three main sects may enter! If you have business, say it outside!"
Their eyes drifted past Shen Mo and landed on Mei Haihe.
"It's you again? Here for another task, right? Wait outside!" the guard on the right said dismissively.
Mei Haihe instinctively nodded. "Yes, yes, of course."
Shen Mo chuckled softly.
Interesting.
A sect's Foundation Establishment disciples could command even a Core Formation cultivator like Mei Haihe to bow his head.
It seemed the three main sects of Yuzhou were indeed powerful forces; he had come to the right place.
With a casual wave of his hand, a small token appeared in Shen Mo's palm.
It bore the character "Ten."
The expressions of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately shifted.
They fell to one knee, their voices trembling with respect. "Forgive us, Elder of the Tenth Peak. We did not recognize you!"
Shen Mo said calmly, "No harm done. May I enter now?"
"Of course!"
"I also have a follower. What about him?"
"As the elder's servant, he may enter as well."
"Who is the hall master here?"
"Hall Master He Tianchou is currently in the study. Do you wish to see him, Elder? Please, follow me."
Mei Haihe, thoroughly bewildered, followed Shen Mo into Jade Sea Hall.
The inside of Jade Sea Hall was entirely different from the exterior.
From the outside, it looked modest and understated, like an ordinary teahouse.
But once inside, it was clear that it held hidden wonders.
Precious artifacts and rare plants adorned every corner and desk.
Just inhaling the air within brought a sense of clarity and vitality.
Every detail reflected the grandeur of one of Yuzhou's three major sects.
Since entering Jade Sea Hall, Mei Haihe's eyes had been wide with awe.
"You look like you've never been here before. Weren't you saying how familiar you were with this place?" Shen Mo teased.
Mei Haihe scratched his head, "I do come here often, but only to wait outside and receive the tasks Jade Sea Hall assigns to rogue cultivators."
"I've never actually been inside Jade Sea Hall before."
A short while later, the Foundation Establishment guard led Shen Mo and Mei Haihe to a quiet study.
He knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Hall Master, a sect elder is here to see you."
"Understood. Come in."
The door opened.
Shen Mo took in the sight of a study filled with the scent of books.
A middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and piercing eyes was levitating in midair, immersed in cultivation.
The man glanced at Shen Mo and Mei Haihe, then focused on Mei Haihe, "This elder looks unfamiliar. How is it that I haven't met you before?"
Shen Mo couldn't help but chuckle.
Mei Haihe was older and had a dignified appearance.
It was no wonder He Tianchou mistook him for a sect elder.
Mei Haihe awkwardly smiled, "Hall Master He, there's been a misunderstanding. The elder here is actually my master. I'm only his follower."
He Tianchou paused, looking over at Shen Mo.
With one glance, he discerned that Shen Mo's youthful appearance was no disguise.
Someone so young couldn't possibly be a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Typically, Nascent Soul cultivators were over two hundred years old.
They often appeared to be in their forties or fifties.
Frowning, He Tianchou said, "Young man, I don't know how you managed to deceive the two disciples at the entrance, but if you think you can use the same trick on me, you're mistaken."
"Leave. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll pretend this never happened and overlook your breach of protocol."
With that, he prepared to close his eyes and resume his cultivation.
Shen Mo said calmly, "Hall Master He, do you recognize this item?"
He took out the small pearl.
He Tianchou opened his eyes with some impatience, but when he saw the pearl, he froze.
"This is… the pearl of an Elder from the Tenth Peak. How did it come into your possession?"
"Did you perhaps attack an Elder of our Jade Cauldron Sect's Tenth Peak and steal it?"
He Tianchou's gaze turned dangerous.
Shen Mo shook his head.
How stubborn this man is, he thought.
"Shen Mo, from Xuanjiang Prefecture. I reached Nascent Soul half a month ago, and Elder Lü Dongxuan recruited me."
He Tianchou showed little reaction to the first part of this explanation.
But as soon as he heard Lü Dongxuan's name, he jumped up as if his tail had been set on fire.
"Lü… Lü Dongxuan?!"
"Oh, heavens, now I remember!"
"You're the Shen Mo Elder Lü specifically recruited!"
"Please, sit, please sit!"
"I apologize for my lack of respect!"
He Tianchou quickly gestured for Shen Mo to sit down and called for tea to be served.
His attitude had completely transformed, now full of respect.
Watching this dramatic change, Mei Haihe could hardly believe his eyes.
"Elder Lü contacted me through a voice-transmitting jade and informed me that a sect elder he had recruited would arrive soon."
"But Elder Lü didn't mention a name, and I certainly didn't expect that the new elder would be someone as young as yourself."
He Tianchou gave an embarrassed laugh, eager to excuse himself.
Shen Mo sipped his tea calmly, his expression serene. "I'm not yet an official elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect."
He Tianchou quickly replied, "Not to worry! I'll report to the sect immediately!"
"At most, within a day, the official confirmation will come down."
"Once that happens, I'll personally escort you to the mountain gate!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
One day… that's efficient enough.
"Elder Shen, you must be tired from your journey. I'll arrange accommodations and meals immediately."
"I'll make sure your follower is looked after as well," He Tianchou added eagerly.
"Good. I appreciate it, Hall Master He." Shen Mo rose.
Mei Haihe swallowed nervously.
As a rogue cultivator who normally wouldn't even be allowed inside Jade Sea Hall, he was now going to stay here and eat their food?
He looked at Shen Mo with newfound admiration.
It seems I've truly latched onto a powerful benefactor this time!
Once Shen Mo and Mei Haihe had left, He Tianchou wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"No wonder that pearl looked so familiar. It belonged to Lü Dongxuan…"
"Thank goodness I didn't say anything offensive, or Lü Dongxuan would've been after me, stealing my wine."
"But who exactly is this Shen Mo? To have reached Nascent Soul at such a young age?"
He Tianchou was both astonished and puzzled. "If that's true, he must be an extraordinary genius."
"But… it's difficult for a sect to accommodate two supreme talents."
"Shen Mo will inevitably compete with Ye Yan for resources in the future."
"And with Lü Dongxuan recruiting him, it means Shen Mo will likely belong to the Tenth Peak. Although Tenth Peak has few people, every one of them is a powerhouse…"
"I'd rather not offend either side… This is going to be tricky…"
He Tianchou held his head, looking quite troubled.
The next morning.
Shortly after Shen Mo woke up, a disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect delivered freshly steamed fish to him.
The fragrance filled the air, tempting anyone nearby.
After taking a few bites, Shen Mo felt an indescribable satisfaction, as if he'd swallowed a whole block of ice on a sweltering day.
Mei Haihe, fortunate enough to share in Shen Mo's meal, was wide-eyed with amazement.
Damn, this is delicious!
So this is the treatment an elder of the Jade Cauldron Sect receives!
"Elder Shen, the response from the sect has arrived. I'll accompany you to the mountain gate right away!" He Tianchou said, striding in with a pleased expression.
"Very well. Let's go. Mei Haihe, wait here for me," Shen Mo said casually.
"Yes, of course!" Mei Haihe nodded respectfully.
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Chapter 203: The Tenth Peak – Known for Their Gambling
To the north of Jade Sea City lies the Heng Tai Mountain Range.
The most famous peak in this range is Tai Mountain.
The entire Heng Tai Mountain Range serves as the mountain gate of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Blessed with abundant spiritual energy and inhabited by rare and exotic creatures, it is the place every cultivator in Tai Mountain Prefecture dreams of entering.
However, the Jade Cauldron Sect is extremely selective in recruiting disciples.
Those with weaker constitutions have no chance of ever entering the sect.
Even Core Formation rogue cultivators can only hope to attain an ordinary steward position within the sect.
Throughout Tai Mountain Prefecture, from south to north, east to west, from mortals to cultivators, everyone reveres the Jade Cauldron Sect as a holy land.
Along the journey, Shen Mo occasionally inquired about the current state of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and He Tianchou answered every question.
This conversation provided Shen Mo with valuable insights into the sect.
After two days of flying together, Shen Mo and He Tianchou finally reached the Heng Tai Mountain Range.
"Elder Shen, we've arrived."
He Tianchou gestured toward the expansive, lush mountain range ahead with a smile.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
The spiritual energy here was indeed the densest in all of Tai Mountain Prefecture.
Just breathing it in made him feel invigorated, as if he'd become a decade younger.
Swish! Swish!
The two descended swiftly, landing on the Jade Cauldron Sect's training grounds.
The training grounds alone were larger than the entire mountain gate of Qingxuan Sect.
The ground was paved with remarkably durable stone bricks.
When Shen Mo tapped his foot, he sensed a formation embedded within the stones.
With such a formation, even a Nascent Soul cultivator's attack wouldn't easily damage the stone bricks.
Disciples and stewards bustled about the training grounds.
The presence of Shen Mo and He Tianchou, both Nascent Soul cultivators, caught the attention of many disciples.
They all bowed respectfully as the two passed by.
A Core Formation steward noticed them and quickly jogged over.
"Hall Master He, I didn't expect to see you back at the sect. Why aren't you at Jade Sea Hall?" He greeted them with a respectful bow before asking.
He Tianchou gestured to Shen Mo. "This is Elder Shen, newly recruited into the sect by Elder Lü Dongxuan."
"I've brought Elder Shen here to complete the formalities, and we'll be on our way shortly."
The steward nodded repeatedly. "Please follow me. I'll take you to the Elder Hall."
With the steward leading the way, Shen Mo and He Tianchou proceeded forward.
Along the way, Shen Mo observed numerous pavilions and towers nestled amid lush greenery.
White cranes and black tigers rested peacefully, seemingly unbothered by the presence of cultivators around them.
"Hall Master He, why are we headed to the Elder Hall?" Shen Mo asked casually.
He Tianchou quickly explained, "Elder Shen, according to protocol, all new elders must first report to the Elder Hall."
"From there, they are assigned to one of the ten peaks, under the First Elder, Second Elder, or any of the other elders up to the Tenth Elder."
"Afterward, each elder is assigned to oversee specific regions of Tai Mountain Prefecture, either guarding cities or managing sect assets, depending on their talents and abilities."
"The Elder Hall is usually overseen by one of the First to Fifth Elders, who rotate monthly."
"Currently, the… um…"
He Tianchou paused, unable to recall who was on duty, so he asked the steward, "Who's currently overseeing the Elder Hall?"
The steward promptly replied, "The Second Elder."
At the mention of the "Second Elder," He Tianchou's expression turned a bit uneasy.
"What's wrong, Hall Master?" Shen Mo asked.
He Tianchou gave an awkward smile. "Elder Shen, from what I've shared with you over the past days, you might understand my concerns."
"I'd rather not say too much."
"That building up ahead is the Elder Hall. I'll leave you here."
He coughed lightly, "I haven't visited the sect in quite some time, so I'll go pay respects to my master at the Third Peak."
"Elder Shen, until we meet again."
With that, he waved and bid Shen Mo farewell.
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
"Elder Shen, we're here," the steward said respectfully.
Shen Mo looked up to see a grand, imposing building before him.
Above the entrance, three majestic characters were inscribed in a calligraphy style that exuded power:
Elder Hall!
The sword intent in these characters was so sharp that staring at them too long made his eyes sting.
Shen Mo's expression grew contemplative.
He estimated that this plaque must have been written by at least a Soul Transformation stage sword cultivator.
If the conditions of time, place, and people align in the future, perhaps just staring at this plaque could lead one to enlightenment.
"Elder Shen, the Second Elder is waiting for you," the steward called from up ahead.
Shen Mo nodded and followed.
On the second floor, he encountered an elderly man with snowy white hair.
The man had a hooked nose, a gaze as sharp and cold as ice, and a broad, muscular frame.
If not for his white hair, many would likely mistake him for a robust, vigorous middle-aged man.
A powerful and dangerous aura radiated from him.
Clearly, this was a Soul Transformation stage cultivator.
"So, you are Shen Mo?"
The Second Elder looked Shen Mo over with a neutral expression, showing no hint of emotion.
It seemed he was simply evaluating him.
Shen Mo nodded. "Yes."
"Since Lü Dongxuan recruited you, you'll be assigned to the Tenth Peak."
The Second Elder continued indifferently, "Our Jade Cauldron Sect has extensive assets, spanning artifact crafting, alchemy, and beast taming."
"The beast-taming division is currently in need of revitalization. So, you will go to Dragon Snake Mountain outside Jade Sea City to oversee those operations."
Without asking Shen Mo's opinion or if he even wanted the assignment, the Second Elder waved his hand, dismissing him.
The steward beside him whispered, "Second Elder, according to tradition, Elder Shen also needs a set of elder's robes."
Only then did the Second Elder look up, offering a forced smile, "Ah, right, I almost forgot."
He retrieved a set of pristine white elder's robes from his storage ring and handed it to the steward, who accepted it with both hands.
"Now, go do what you need to do. Don't get involved with the wrong people, and don't meddle in affairs that don't concern you."
The Second Elder sat back down, resuming his tasks, clearly uninterested in further conversation.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. He simply bowed and turned to leave.
Outside the Elder Hall, the steward handed the robes to Shen Mo, his hands shaking slightly.
"Farewell, Elder Shen. If I'd known you were connected to the Tenth Peak, I wouldn't have dared to guide you here."
He gave a wry smile before quickly departing.
Judging by his hurried steps, he was clearly anxious.
Shen Mo's expression remained calm.
The Second Elder's last words were clearly a warning to the steward.
"It seems my guess was correct. There's tension between the factions of the Second Elder and the Tenth Elder."
"He Tianchou and this steward clearly want no part of it."
Shen Mo shook his head.
He hadn't expected to be caught up in factional strife as soon as he entered the Jade Cauldron Sect.
"Wherever there are people, there are factions. No matter, let's check out the Tenth Peak first."
"I wonder what kind of person the Tenth Elder is, and what kind of figures Lü Dongxuan's fellow disciples are."
After asking for directions to the Tenth Peak, Shen Mo took to the air.
A short flight later, he found himself before a towering mountain that seemed to pierce the heavens.
The other peaks, rich in spiritual energy, had houses scattered from the base to the summit.
The Tenth Peak, however, had shockingly few structures.
Looking closely, Shen Mo could see only a few buildings situated near the summit.
He descended directly onto the mountaintop.
Before he saw anyone, he heard voices.
"Bet big, bet small, make your call!"
"Um… bet small, I'll go with small! My last bottle of Infant Transformation Elixir is on the line!"
"Alright… three, five, five—big! You lose! That elixir is mine now!"
"Aaaah! That was my last bottle of Infant Transformation Elixir!!"
Shen Mo's mouth twitched.
What's going on here? Gambling as soon as I arrive.
Is this all the mighty Tenth Peak does every day?
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