"Dao Yi, is this the young man you spoke of, the one with exceptional talent?" Elder Qingxuan of the Beast Peak glanced over the crowd and, with great interest, fixed his gaze on Lin Tian.
"Although the boy is only at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, he has managed to control over a hundred double-tailed spirit cats by himself. Such talent, if nurtured within the Beast Peak, could very well lead him to become the next Peak Master." Dao Yi praised Lin Tian without reservation.
"The Peak Master of the Beast Peak? You're overestimating this kid," Elder Qingxuan sneered. As the master of the Beast Peak, Qingxuan was surprised by Lin Tian's ability to control so many double-tailed spirit cats, but becoming the peak master required more than just controlling spirit beasts; it also demanded significant personal strength.
Currently, Lin Tian was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement—by far the weakest among the outer disciples of the Xuanwu Sect. With such abilities, aspiring to become the Beast Peak Master was nothing short of a wild fantasy.
"Lin Tian, the Qi Refining Peak is ranked last among all the peaks of the Xuanwu Sect. Even if you don't wish to join the Beast Peak, you certainly cannot join the Qi Refining Peak," Du Yuejiao said earnestly.
The seven peaks of the Xuanwu Sect each held a large competition once every year, and the peak that ranked the lowest had the fewest resources. Moreover, the craft of artifact forging was considered a lowly profession on the entire Xuanwu Continent. To join the Qi Refining Peak was seen as the least promising choice. Lin Tian, who had been the top performer in the Xiangye Mountain trial, had the privilege to choose a peak, but Du Yuejiao felt his decision to join the Qi Refining Peak was unwise.
"Yuejiao, don't worry. I have my reasons for choosing the Qi Refining Peak," Lin Tian replied with a faint smile, offering no further explanation.
Du Yuejiao could only shake her head in resignation. Since Lin Tian had made up his mind, there was little she could do to change it.
At that moment, the other disciples began to choose which peak they wished to join. As the top performer in the Xiangye Mountain trial, Lin Tian was ranked tenth.
When Dao Yi saw Lin Tian, his eyes flickered with a hint of peculiar interest. Though Elder Qingxuan doubted Lin Tian's potential, Dao Yi had already made up his mind to take Lin Tian as his disciple.
Watching Lin Tian move forward, Dao Yi almost felt compelled to step forward and seize him, but the rules of the Xuanwu Sect required that disciples choose their own peak.
"Well, since this kid has so clearly rejected you, it's likely he plans to go to Dan Peak," Qingxuan remarked, noticing Dao Yi's agitation.
"Every person has their own aspirations. Alchemists hold high status on the continent, so it's understandable if he wishes to join Dan Peak," Dao Yi replied, his tone begrudging. Though he said so, his heart was far from pleased.
However, when Lin Tian passed Dan Peak without even a glance, Dao Yi's eyes widened in surprise.
Then, as Lin Tian passed the Medicine Peak, it seemed as though he was heading toward the Beast Peak.
Seeing this, Dao Yi's eyes sparkled with joy. Could it be that the boy had changed his mind and decided to join the Beast Peak after all?
But when Lin Tian reached the Beast Peak, he merely flashed Dao Yi a faint smile and continued walking past.
Dao Yi was left utterly confused. Although the Beast Peak was not as prestigious as the Dan or Medicine Peaks, it was still one of the top three peaks within the Xuanwu Sect. Yet here, Lin Tian was turning them all down. Was he aiming for another peak?
His eyes fixed on Lin Tian, watching him slowly pass by. Only when Lin Tian reached the Qi Refining Peak did he stop. Dao Yi's eyes were filled with disbelief.
While Dao Yi could accept Lin Tian's rejection of him, he could never accept Lin Tian's choice of the Qi Refining Peak. Was the Beast Peak truly worse than the Qi Refining Peak?
"I choose the Qi Refining Peak," Lin Tian stated firmly.
Hearing this, Elder Qingxuan leapt forward, landing before Lin Tian, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Lin Tian, is it? What does the Beast Peak lack compared to the Qi Refining Peak?" Qingxuan's voice was sharp. In the Xuanwu Sect, he valued his reputation above all. Just moments ago, Dao Yi had made a public show of favoring Lin Tian, and now, if Lin Tian had chosen the Dan Peak or the Medicine Peak, he might have understood. But to choose the lowest-ranked peak in the entire sect—did this mean Lin Tian considered the Beast Peak inferior to the Qi Refining Peak?
"The Beast Peak is one of the top peaks of the Xuanwu Sect. How could it possibly be worse than the Qi Refining Peak?" Lin Tian was taken aback, not expecting Qingxuan to be so impulsive.
"Then why did you reject the invitation of the Beast Peak's elder?" Qingxuan's face darkened as he pressed the question.
"Old fool Qingxuan, it's up to each disciple to choose their peak. What are you meddling in? Besides, the Beast Peak's methods are no match for our artifact forging techniques, which are far more challenging. It's only natural that he'd turn you down." At that moment, the master of the Qi Refining Peak, Zhong Wukui, arrogantly stepped in.
Although the Qi Refining Peak had always been ranked lowest among the seven peaks, it did not mean it was a target for bullying. Now that Qingxuan was blatantly trying to steal Lin Tian, Zhong Wukui had no choice but to step in. If he did not, people might start to think that the Beast Peak was above all others.
"Well, since you think taming spirit beasts is easy, I'll give you one hour. If you can tame this spirit beast within that time, I will drop the matter," Qingxuan said, his expression cold.
Lin Tian's face darkened. This wasn't his idea at all. And taming a spirit beast? He had never attempted such a thing! How could he possibly tame one within an hour?
Before he could explain, a disciple from the Beast Peak brought up a double-tailed spirit cat.
"Please, go ahead," Qingxuan sneered, signaling for Lin Tian to begin.
Lin Tian looked at the spirit cat before him, his face filled with helplessness. But under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could only step forward, crouch down, and speak sincerely to the double-tailed spirit cat: "Would you be willing to become my spirit beast?"