Chapter 48: Entering the Circle of Peak Masters

"Take a look at this document." Sect Leader Gu took out a list of disciples. "Currently, Hidden Peak has 438 Golden Core elders or disciples, 4,000 Foundation Establishment deacons or disciples, and 12,000 Qi Refining disciples. The proportion above Foundation Establishment is relatively high, mainly because the admission requirements for Hidden Peak disciples aren't low. Those who reach Nascent Soul from Hidden Peak automatically join the main peaks. However, after you take over Hidden Peak in the future, Nascent Soul elders promoted from there will also belong to Hidden Peak." Sect Leader Gu briefly introduced the situation of Hidden Peak. Su Yuan was secretly astonished. In the outside world, Foundation Establishment cultivators could establish sizable cultivation families and secure a position in cultivation cities. Golden Core Immortals were practically the rulers of entire regions, possibly governing small countries. Yet such powerful figures existed in such numbers on just one Hidden Peak - a testament to the Seven Extremes Sect's strength. And now he was being entrusted with leading such a massive force. Was this really appropriate? Su Yuan hesitated, "Isn't it too hasty for me to become a Peak Master just like this?" "This is Supreme Elder Nan Gong's order," Sect Leader Gu said. Su Yuan's pupils contracted - was this the old man who had instantly boosted his reputation value by five hundred points? So that's how it was! Suddenly understanding, Su Yuan nodded, "I see!" "So, what name do you want for your peak? You can refer to the names of other peaks," Sect Leader Gu suggested. After a moment's thought, Su Yuan said, "Let's call it Three Extremes Peak!" "Three?" Sect Leader Gu looked puzzled. "Is there any particular meaning behind this?" Casually quoting, Su Yuan replied, "The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things." Sect Leader Gu was momentarily stunned, seemingly surprised that Su Yuan could produce such profound words so effortlessly. He silently committed the phrase to memory before saying, "Very well. Since you didn't choose randomly, we'll settle on this! First, let me formally introduce you to the other Peak Masters." "Agreed!" Sect Leader Gu immediately rang the bell to summon all Peak Masters. As the bell tolled, Peak Masters handling affairs or meditating in their respective peaks all showed expressions of surprise. This formal summoning bell for Peak Masters was rarely rung - when it sounded, it invariably meant something significant had occurred. Seven streaks of light rose from various peaks, converging toward the main peak. Soon, in the sect's grand hall. All seven Peak Masters had arrived. Wang Siming spotted Su Yuan and said with a laugh, "Kid, long time no see! How was your confinement? Not pleasant, was it? Regret going to the main peak? Come back to my Mysterious Extremes Peak - I can teach you an extraordinary secret technique!" Su Yuan smiled and pointed at the darkening expression on the sect leader's face. Gu Qingzhu snorted coldly, "Silence! I have important announcements to make!" Wang Siming immediately straightened up, then shot a puzzled look at Su Yuan. If there were important announcements, why was this kid still here? Gu Qingzhu calmly declared, "From today onward, our Seven Extremes Sect gains another peak - named Three Extremes Peak!" The seven Peak Masters' expressions changed simultaneously! They all looked at Sect Leader Gu in shock. Wang Siming was the first to comprehend, his eyes practically bulging from their sockets as he whipped his head between Su Yuan and Sect Leader Gu, his face overflowing with unwillingness. Ignoring him, Sect Leader Gu directly pointed at Su Yuan and announced, "This is the first Peak Master of Three Extremes Peak - Su Yuan! He already possesses Golden Core strength and will henceforth hold equal status with all of you. Let's welcome him!" Sect Leader Gu began clapping. But no one joined in, as all the Peak Masters remained in a state of utter bewilderment. Unfazed, Sect Leader Gu began introductions: "This robust-looking middle-aged man is the Peak Master of Artifact Extremes Peak - Shi Jian!" Su Yuan quickly cupped his hands toward Shi Jian. "Su Yuan pays his respects to Peak Master Shi." Coming to his senses, Shi Jian nodded with a complex expression. "Peak Master Su, now that we're all fellow Peak Masters, if you have any needs regarding magical artifacts, feel free to approach me." "Many thanks, Peak Master Shi!" Sect Leader Gu then pointed to an elegant woman. "This is the Peak Master of Pill Extremes Peak - Tao Yaoyao. You can call her Sister Tao!" Su Yuan was momentarily taken aback before nodding. "Greetings, Sister Tao!" The Pill Extremes Peak Master sighed. "No need for such formality. I might need your help in the future, Peak Master Su. If you require any pills, you can always come to me!" Su Yuan expressed his gratitude. Sect Leader Gu introduced another female Peak Master: "This is Peak Master You Chunli of Divine Extremes Peak. She has exceptional expertise in spiritual sense techniques. Since your moves have some characteristics in this area, you could learn from Sister Li!" Su Yuan also addressed her as "Sister Li!" You Chunli chuckled. "No need to talk about learning - we can exchange experiences." Next, Sect Leader Gu introduced Thunder Extremes Peak Master Lei Ming, Technique Extremes Peak Master Qin Rong, and Spiritual Extremes Peak Master Huang Shanbo, finally concluding with Mysterious Extremes Peak Master Wang Siming, officially announcing Su Yuan's entry into the sect's upper echelons. Addressing the group, Sect Leader Gu said, "You should all understand what a new Peak Master signifies. Although our sect is currently thriving, powerful enemies still surround us externally. The demonic sects' desire to eliminate us remains undiminished. We must continue acting with caution. During this period, refrain from seclusion and pay attention to your disciples. Deal with any problematic signs early!" His tone carried gravity. "Understood!" The Peak Masters all nodded solemnly. Su Yuan realized Sect Leader Gu intended to purge the sect of any potential threats to him, eliminating all problematic elements! What might have been overlooked before would no longer be tolerated. After the announcements, Sect Leader Gu dismissed the Peak Masters. Wang Siming lingered and transmitted, "Kid Su, come visit my Mysterious Extremes Peak later." "I will!" Su Yuan transmitted back. Once everyone had left, Sect Leader Gu took Su Yuan to Hidden Peak's location. This peak was essentially no different from the others in appearance. Ignoring the protective formations, Sect Leader Gu brought him directly to the mountaintop hall's formation core with a single step. "Place your hand here. From now on, you'll control this peak's formation core. Normally, the sect's protective formation spirit will assist with management - you won't need manual control. However, you should know that this formation spirit is... somewhat lacking here." Sect Leader Gu tapped his temple. Just then, a voice came from the formation core. "Sect Leader, my formation core is fully operational. Please rest assured. Now, please produce the Sect Leader Token for identity verification to proceed with authority transfer!" The formation spirit's emotionless voice sounded. "See what I mean?" Gu Qingzhu sighed, taking out the Sect Leader Token for verification. Su Yuan smiled wryly - it wasn't unintelligent, just rigid. But such rigidity also prevented many potential issues, having both pros and cons. With that, Su Yuan obtained Peak Master authority, taking command of the peak! "That's about it. The Immortal Seed Valley won't open for another two months - you'll preside over it then," Gu Qingzhu said. "I understand!" Su Yuan nodded. After some final instructions, Sect Leader Gu departed. Only Su Yuan remained. Entering the Peak Master's cave abode, Su Yuan found the spiritual energy sufficiently dense but the interior completely bare. Shaking his head, he left Three Extremes Peak and returned to his cave dwelling on the main peak, immediately collapsing into sleep. Su Yuan slept. But the ripples caused by his appointment gradually manifested. Disciplinary disciples mobilized across peaks, arresting certain disciples who found their explanations useless - taken into custody first, questions later. Guard forces around the sect increased substantially. Nascent Soul cultivators not in seclusion emerged to oversee various sect nodes, while wandering Nascent Soul experts and even Soul Transformation grandmasters were secretly recalled. Within Hidden Peak - now Three Extremes Peak - some Golden Core elders learned about the new Peak Master. Those unaware of Hidden Peak's secrets immediately grew resentful, rushing to the Peak Master's cave to assess his qualifications. Others who guessed the situation came to offer congratulations, only to find the new Peak Master absent. Significant changes were underway, yet among Foundation Establishment and lower-level disciples, everything appeared calm. Su Yuan slept for three full days and nights. Upon waking, a system notification chimed in his ears. [Ding, Level Up] "What?" Instantly alert, Su Yuan checked his system panel: [Name]: Su Yuan [Region]: Green Vine Continent [Level]: Widely Known (13,872/100,000) [Realm]: Early Foundation Establishment (30/100) [Trait 1]: Balance Between Work and Rest: Current rest time 3.5 days [Trait 2]: The Dao Follows What is Natural [Trait 3]: Seven Stars Shine Brightly [Trait 4]: Awaiting Selection His reputation had increased by over four thousand points upon waking! The reason was obvious - the various impacts of his Peak Master appointment. This came as no surprise. Eagerly, he mentally selected Trait 4, and three descriptions appeared before his eyes: [Thunderous Reputation]: Your fame is immense. Creatures harboring malice toward you who hear your name will suffer mental shock and receive a thunderous ear cleansing. [Wolfish Reputation]: Your fame is immense. When your reputation spreads among wolf-kind, it automatically converts to lupine renown, naturally becoming their ruler who can command wolf packs. [Mind Echo]: Your fame is immense. Whenever creatures sincerely chant your name, you can sense it and perceive the surroundings within a certain range of the target. Su Yuan scratched his head. This trait selection involved additional effects of reputation. The first option was incredible - direct area damage! Just announcing his name on a battlefield might potentially wipe out the opposition! "Speak my name and tremble!" Thus, Su Yuan categorized this first trait as offensive, keeping it as an option. The second trait made Su Yuan's expression turn peculiar. While seemingly comical, its effects weren't bad! Wolf-kind were extremely common creatures worldwide. Once his fame spread across the continent, it meant his "network" would blanket the entire land! There were surely powerful beings among wolf-kind, meaning he'd never lack subordinates. He classified this trait as intelligence-gathering and command-type - also quite good. As for the third trait, it resembled some form of remote viewing, similar to supernatural abilities like clairaudience or clairvoyance! "Wait, supernatural abilities? These three traits seem like supernatural abilities!" The realization dawned on Su Yuan. The more he studied the descriptions, the more certain he became - these were indeed three types of supernatural abilities!