After we left the surrounding disciples started dispersing.
"Senior Brother Taojia why do I feel like this Sulan only has Level 1 cultivation?" A junior brother who'd just been recruited from the Immortal Selection Assembly a few days ago asked the question that newcomers were curious about but didn't dare voice. Many people around perked up their ears.
Long Taojia was some elder's direct grandson. Dressed in fine brocade with a scholarly bearing, every inch the young master. He crossed his arms and glared sharply at this junior brother. "Watch your words!"
The random junior was startled and shrank back.
Taojia gazed at my retreating figure. His eyes became unusually deep. After a long moment he finally spoke slowly.
"Little brother, do you know? I joined Celestial Gate the same year as Senior Brother Solan."
The junior nodded obediently.
"Back then I was young and arrogant. Among my peers I looked down on everyone."
At that time Taojia had been incredibly cocky. He had the background and he had the talent. He'd become his grandfather Elder Long's true disciple early on. He definitely had the qualifications to look down on his rivals.
"I once had the same thoughts as you. I thought that Senior Sulan became senior brother only because he was apprenticed to Master An Yana. I even considered challenging him to seize the senior brother position. But later in our second year I was fortunate enough to go on a mission with him to investigate some beast attacks in a village. We thought we'd just be dealing with a few animals but things went south. If Senior Sulan hadn't stepped up to save the day none of us from that group would have made it back."
Taojia paused here like a storyteller. He deliberately built suspense for a few breaths before continuing his tale.
Some impatient listeners nearly shouted "Get on with it!"
"That time we went deep into the forest and ran into a Level 3 Ghost King." Taojia seemed to have awakened some deep-seated fear. Even after all these years he still looked shaken. A thin layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. "That Ghost King let out a ghostly roar and released rolling toxic smoke. Even our Level 2 peak team leader couldn't handle it. Our whole group was scared senseless and lost the ability to fight back, we were just meat on the chopping block. But Senior Sulan stepped forward at that critical moment and turned the tide. He showed no fear whatsoever. Instead he strode forward boldly and finished off that Ghost King with just a few strikes. To defeat a Level 3 Ghost King while under the effects of a debuff you'd need at least equivalent realm strength. But don't forget, that was only our second year!"
His implication was clear: I had possessed Level 3 combat power in just my second year. Now over six years later I'd surely advanced much further.
It was too frightening to think about. The more you thought about it the more defeated you felt.
From that point on Taojia recognized his mistake and became one of Sulan's devoted fan. He worked his way up to vice president of his so-called "fan club" and followed his lead in everything.
"I… this junior has learned his lesson!" The random junior brother finally understood his own shallowness after hearing his Senior Brother's account.
Good thing he hadn't done anything stupid. Otherwise he would have quickly learned the tragic truth that "the clown was me all along."
"Senior Sulan is incredibly talented and powerful yet he stays low-key and treats everyone kindly. 'The highest good is like water which benefits all things and does not compete', I think that describes true prodigies like Senior Sulan. He is eternally awesome!" Taojia looked genuinely admiring as he praised.
Everyone around chimed in with agreement.
If only they knew I was just a fraud who'd gotten lucky that one time...
...
Meanwhile on Bamboo Peak two elders sat facing each other with an elegant tea set between them. Fragrant steam rose, quite refined.
One was surnamed Luo. A middle-aged man with a square face and an air of righteousness.
The other was surnamed Long. White hair and beard but a vigorous spirit. He fit the common image of an enlightened immortal.
"Elder Long have you heard? That Sulan from Heavenly Jade Peak brought back a little girl yesterday." The middle-aged man picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
"Probably An Yana's idea." The old man seemed to know Yana's character well and remained unfazed.
"Speaking of which your grandson Taojia once went on a mission with Sulan right?"
The old man nodded. "That was almost seven years ago."
"I happened to be in the Western Desert during that time. I heard they killed a Level 3 Ghost King back then, is that true?" The middle-aged man's tone carried some inquiry.
The old man gave him a meaningful look. "To be precise Sulan eliminated that Ghost King single-handedly."
Surprise flashed across the middle-aged man's eyes. "Level 3?"
"Level 3." The old man sighed. "I know my grandson better than anyone. I was worried he might be exaggerating so I personally investigated. The scene did indeed show spiritual energy fluctuations from Level 3 cultivation. But officially this matter was quietly dropped. Do you know why?"
The middle-aged man's expression became serious. "Less than two years after joining the sect he could single-handedly handle a Level 3 Ghost King. Terrifying."
Both men fell silent.
Although the current cultivation world hadn't erupted in large-scale conflicts the underlying competition continued to intensify. No one wanted to watch their rivals rise unchecked.
When the tree stands out in the forest the wind will destroy it. Sulan hadn't fully matured yet so he still needed to keep his edge hidden.
"I saw him from a distance once. His cultivation appeared to be Level 1... Hidden so perfectly that even I couldn't spot any flaws."
"This young man has both exceptional talent and character. With him here our sect is truly blessed!"
"Indeed. I believe that under his leadership in the future Celestial Gate will surely rise and join the ranks of the powerful sects."