C11 Dongfang Menghuan

"The mountain gate is just ahead, and there are plenty of disciples along the way to ensure your safety. I'll leave you to it from here."

The Dust Taoist looked at Bai Yu with an itch in his teeth, fearing he might lose his temper.

To avoid any missteps, he proactively chose to depart.

Bai Yu understood that the elder had other matters to attend to and didn't object, so he agreed to part ways.

Upon reaching the mountain gate, they encountered a person causing quite a commotion at the entrance.

The Mountain Sect Disciples exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to allow entry for fear of trouble.

If the Dust Taoist were still present, he would have been the ideal person to deal with the situation.

"We've already informed you that our disciple selection and testing have concluded."

With no selection, there was no point in tests, and ascending the mountain would be futile.

"How dare you! To think that I, Princess Dongfang Menghuan of the Eastern Empire, would be turned away at your door!"

The patience of the Mountain Sect Disciples was wearing thin. "Please don't make this difficult for us."

Their sole purpose was to guard the gate; they didn't want to invite trouble.

Bai Yu approached from behind and overheard Dongfang Menghuan's request to be admitted to the sect.

"You've missed the deadline. You'll have to wait for the next opportunity."

The Dust Taoist had returned to the mountain gate, and Bai Yu intended to head back to the courtyard for some rest as soon as possible.

Even without a master, he was still expected to participate in the sect's training.

Dongfang Menghuan, seeing Bai Yu return from outside the mountain gate, mistakenly thought he was there to seek training as well.

"And who might you be? To address a princess in such a tone!"

In the Star Cloud Sect, there was no concept of rank; her royal title held no sway.

"I am a member of the Star Cloud Sect. If you think your status can intimidate us, you're sorely mistaken."

Bai Yu was unafraid, and the Mountain Sect Disciple before him was equally fearless.

Upon realizing Bai Yu was not intimidated, Dongfang Menghuan drew her sword in frustration.

The Mountain Sect Disciples, with grave expressions, readied their weapons in response.

"If you dare to trespass into the sect, you're on your own," Dongfang Menghuan said with a cold sneer, pointing at Bai Yu standing at the entrance.

"You're members of the Star Cloud Sect. I won't lay a hand on you. But he doesn't seem to be affiliated with you, does he?"

Before the Mountain Sect Disciple could respond, Dongfang Menghuan stomped on the ground and lunged forward in a straight line.

She had intended to return and study martial arts, but just how powerful could Dongfang Menghuan be?

With a swift motion, she trapped Dongfang Menghuan's sword blade between her fingers.

Unable to advance any further, Dongfang Menghuan's face flushed with fury as she pushed harder.

As the sword blade began to bend, Dongfang Menghuan seized the chance to close in, her left hand striking out with force.

They had expected Bai Yu to counter with a palm strike, but instead, he deftly sidestepped.

The sword blade straightened, and Dongfang Menghuan's palm slammed into the large tree behind her with a resounding "Bang!"

The tree trembled, the sword blade embedded deep within its trunk.

The Mountain Sect Disciples erupted in cheers: "Well done, well done!"

They stood their ground, knowing Dongfang Menghuan wouldn't dare attack them.

Her eyes blazed with fury, as if she wished she could summon her own forces to annihilate Bai Yu.

"I've already told you, the mountain gate has passed its test. Going up there is pointless."

The disciples had their masters; even if she ascended the mountain gate, no one would accept her.

"I don't care whether there's anyone in the mountain gate or not. You will pay the price."

She channeled her energy into the sword blade, causing it to quiver and split the tree trunk.

Stepping back, Bai Yu noticed Dongfang Menghuan was still intent on attacking him.

He had no choice but to confront her head-on.

"I've already spared your life once. If you insist on continuing this fight, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

The disciples were well aware that he possessed the golden Root, and they had no qualms about dealing with someone lacking any Root.

Still, they dispatched someone to the sect to request the presence of an elder.

And the one they believed could best resolve the situation was, of course, the Dust Taoist, who had returned to the sect.

The Dust Taoist was unaware of the recent events at the mountain gate; otherwise, they would never have departed under any circumstances.

Dongfang Menghuan unsheathed her weapon and let out a thunderous roar. Bai Yu's sword thrust forward as he deftly stepped back, his body continuously retreating. It was clear to any observer that Bai Yu was reluctant to confront the woman before him. Yet, as she pressed on, he had no choice but to defend himself.

"I already gave you a chance, which you chose to ignore," he said.

With a swift motion, he clamped down on the blade with both hands. Channeling his energy into the sword, it shattered, falling to the ground in pieces. Dongfang Menghuan, now weaponless, realized she was outmatched.

Her face a mix of shock and confusion, she knelt on the ground. "You... Are you an elder of the Star Cloud Sect?"

Bai Yu, as well as the Mountain Sect Disciples behind him, were taken aback. Without uttering a word, Dongfang Menghuan had mistaken him for a sect elder.

"You didn't stop him from descending the mountain. As a new disciple, he wouldn't have the chance, only elders could," she reasoned, kneeling before Bai Yu after considering various factors.

Bai Yu, seeing Dongfang Menghuan kneeling before him, was momentarily at a loss and quickly tried to assist her to her feet. He himself was without a master, and Chen Daoran was still missing. Somehow, he had inadvertently gained a disciple.

Regardless of the circumstances, Bai Yu could not possibly accept this.

The Mountain Sect Disciples exchanged puzzled glances, wondering how Bai Yu could have acquired a disciple so soon after descending the mountain.

"Do you think... he can take on a disciple?"

Bai Yu was an unusual case. The Grand Upper Elder had emerged from seclusion with the intention of taking Bai Yu away. The Star Cloud Sect disciples prostrated themselves, yet they failed to garner the Grand Upper Elder's favor.

"I'm just as clueless. With his golden Root, he's practically the future Sect Master. How am I supposed to respond?"

They all understood that if Bai Yu were to become the Sect Master, their chances of reaching elder status were slim.

Dongfang Menghuan watched Bai Yu with growing impatience, mistakenly believing that her servants' failure to kneel was the cause of his reluctance to respond. She whirled around and scolded, "What are you gawking at? Why don't you kneel in the presence of such a distinguished figure?"

The servants, tasked with attending to the princess's every need, were taken aback. In their eyes, Bai Yu was far too young to hold the esteemed position of an elder within the Star Cloud Sect. They believed that one's strength should correspond with their age, and Bai Yu clearly lacked the years they expected of someone with such authority.

The Mountain Sect Disciples had not openly acknowledged Bai Yu's status, leading Dongfang Menghuan to regard him with even greater reverence, as if he were a holy personage of the sect. After all, it was known that some cultivators could manipulate their appearance once their inner strength reached a certain level. Surely, those enlightened souls would be meticulous about their appearance; it was unthinkable that they wouldn't refine their looks.

Despite Bai Yu's youthful appearance, Dongfang Menghuan couldn't help but speculate that he might be an ancient, cunning entity. These were, of course, merely her conjectures. Little did she know that Bai Yu had only recently joined the Star Cloud Sect; one could only wonder how she would react upon learning the truth.