58 Chapter 58 – Misunderstanding

Wu Qian Ren asked "What is your name and which clan do you belong to in Caifu city?"

Zhu Xuan replied "Young master, I'm Shikong shen and just a rogue cultivator from Caifu city. We all make our living by collecting herbs and resources and selling it to Qinglu treasure pavilion, and sometimes escort cultivators from the clan for training."

Wu Qian Ren nodded and didn't say anything further. He also known rogue cultivators live by the same methods in many cities. Among the group, only Wu Qian Ren, Wu Shi Yun, younger brother of Wu Qian Ren and Wu Qing, his cousin acted and spoke to Zhu Xuan normally. The rest all despised him because of his status as a rogue cultivator and his low cultivation.

Zhu Xuan was not bothered by it and talked to Wu Shi Yun. Wu Shi Yun was a very open minded person and acted very friendly towards everyone. He learned from Wu Shi Yun that they are inner court disciples of the academy, and from the Wu family, one of the ten noble families of Lei Shu Kingdom.

He also learnt Wu Qian Ren, was one of the top ten disciples in the inner court who would have a higher chance to enter the main sanctuary as core disciple next year.

Once in every three year, a competition is held and the top ten students of the inner court will become the core disciple. Zhu Xuan was confused when he heard this because he was not sure how then Zhu Lang became core disciple while only in peak of body purification stage while Wu Qian Ren, at the Qi gathering late stage is still an inner disciple.

He probingly asked "Young master Shi Yun, you can become core disciple only by getting to the top ten in the inner court competition?"

Wu Shi Yun responded "Yes, one needs to reach top ten in the competition to become a core disciple."

Wu Qing who was listening cut off Wu Shi Yun and spoke eagerly "Young master Zhu Lang became a core disciple without even entering the inner court. How do you explain that brother Shi Yun?"

Wu Qing usually doesn't concern herself in these matters so she didn't know the reason behid it. Wu Shi Yun knew about this matter and answered "Because his condition was special. He hid himself deep and he earned the special condition to become a core disciple."

Looking at the puzzled expression of Zhu Xuan and Wu Qing, Wu Qian Ren is the one who answered "There are conditions to become inner court disciple and core disciple in Lei Shu academy. For one to become inner court disciple, first one need to reach Qi gathering stage and has to reach top thirty in the outer court competition held every year, and similarly one need to reach Qi Sea stage and reach top ten in the inner court competition held every two year to become a core disciple."

He paused and continued "But there are special occasions when one can ignore these conditions to become an inner court disciple or core disciple. For example, if one has three or more elemental roots, that disciple can become inner court disciple directly."

"Zhu Lang is considered a genius among genius because not only he has three elemental roots with one mid grade lightning elemental root, but he also showed he achieved sword Qi before reaching Qi gathering stage. From the creation of Lei Shu academy, there are many who achieved sword Qi, but there are less than thirty people who achieved sword Qi before reaching Qi gathering stage. He was immediately taken as a disciple by third elder of main sanctuary and also given instructions to not breakthrough to Qi gathering stage to further solidify his foundation."

Now Zhu Xuan finally understood why Zhu Lang was valued so much by the academy and why he didn't breakthrough to Qi gathering stage when he came back to Qinglu city.

They ended their conversation and moved again towards the peak.

They met another wolf pack, and Zhu Xuan volunteered to fight. He wanted to train his sword technique and this is the best place for him to train since he is protected by other members of the team. While he was fighting, Wen Xin, Wu Shi Yun's subordinate moved towards Wu Qian Ren and asked him in a low voice "Young master Qian Ren, why did you let him come along with us? He looks suspicious and we can't let him know what we are here for or where we are going."

Wu Qian Ren calmly replied "It's because he looked suspicious I let him join our team to observe him, instead of letting him go and inform someone about our location. I will make my decision before we reach our destination, you don't have to worry about it."

Wen Xin frowned after hearing the response, but he didn't say anything and simply nodded.

Two days passed by and they already crossed the peak and began to get down the mountain on the other side. In these two days, Zhu Xuan learned about Snowcape Demon Mountain a lot. He learned that there are two demon beasts at Qi Sea initial stage demon beasts which controlled the upper part of the mountain, one a snow demon ape and the silver horned howling wolf. But there was also some rumors there is a higher powered demon beast which is the king of the Snowcape Demon Mountain, which even elders of the academy afraid to confront.

He also tried to learn about his father but they are all younger generation in the noble family and didn't know any information regarding his father.

Zhu Xuan also became the cook for the entire team and earned their approval threw his cooking. But he also realized in these two days they are suspicious of him. They won't let him patrol the area in the night, and let him stay alone in the extra tent they provided him, and he also realised they are observing him all the time; but he wasn't bothered by it since he was planning to tell them that he will leave them the next day and descend the mountain to get back to Caifu city.

When he was thinking about it, he heard the voice he hadn't heard in a month. Shen Long's voice came from the pendant informing of the next mission. Zhu Xuan was frustrated about it because he was planning to reach Caifu city in the next three or four days, get some information and leave. But now, he will be delayed for a week.

But he could not do anything about it and could only accept the mission. He was also glad in a way because he could now leave without informing anyone and no one will found he left too. They definitely aren't going to search for him for seven days in here.

So he immediately accepted the mission and left through the portal.

The next morning everyone woke up and found Zhu Xuan missing. Wu Qian Ren's face became extremely serious; he still hasn't determined whether Zhu Xuan was sent by one of his rivals before but now since he is missing, he was sure that Zhu Xuan was sent by one of his rivals, and berated himself for not killing him earlier. He became vigilant and asked the rest of the team to be extra careful.

Wen Xin, who spoke about Zhu Xuan to Wu Qian Ren, also furrowed his brows with confusion and anger.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Zhu Xuan disappeared from the tent, he came out of the portal in front of a lake. He immediately asked Shen Long "Senior Long, I have some doubts I need to ask you that are very important."

Before he continue any further, Shen Long cut him off and said "I can guess what you want to ask. Finish the mission first and we will discuss after the mission."

Zhu Xuan sighed and could only reply "Alright Senior Long."

This time mission was also to destroy another bandit group called Sky Riders. He figured he should be able to find a clue around the lake about the bandit group. So he started moving around the lake until late night, but sighed in the end and stopped "Let's rest for the night and search tomorrow morning."

He sat by a rock near the edge of the lake and looked at the lake. It was a full moon night and he saw the reflection of the moon in the lake. The lake looked beautiful with the moon's reflection and forest background. Suddenly, there was slight disturbance and small waves spread across the lake possibly caused by some fish, and Zhu Xuan who was looking at the moon's reflection was disturbed by the small waves that distorted the moon's reflection a little.

But his eyes turned sharp suddenly and he looked at the reflection in a trance.

After observing for a while, he stood up, took out his sword and started practicing Flowing moon sword technique.