Although Hidden Peak had long existed within the Wen Dao Sect, most of the Disciples were completely unaware of the situation of Gu Bu Lao and his four Disciples on Hidden Peak.
The Asking Dao Five Peaks were often mentioned, yet few spoke of a sixth peak. Therefore, among the Disciples, Hidden Peak was simply mysterious, with nothing particularly special about it.
However, ever since Jiang Yun arrived at the Wen Dao Sect and was brought into Hidden Peak by Dongfang Bo, Hidden Peak's reputation steadily rose with Jiang Yun's increasingly astonishing performances.
Especially Gu Bu Lao, who was extremely protective of his own, yet whose strength and identity were so mysterious that even the Sect Master and the Five Peaks Masters clearly feared him, completely changed everyone's perception of Hidden Peak.
But even so, upon hearing Dao Tianyou's words, everyone was still greatly shocked.
The other Five Peaks Masters had never caused such a stir when taking Disciples; at most, there would be a small celebration within their respective peaks. Yet now, for Gu Bu Lao's Disciple-taking ceremony, the Sect Master actually wanted all Disciples to attend.
Despite their shock, everyone was naturally willing to go, because they all knew that the Disciple Gu Bu Lao was taking was Jiang Yun!
While this completely extinguished the hopes of the other Dongtian cultivators who had wanted to take Jiang Yun as their Disciple, it also made many Disciples even more eager to see just how much Jiang Yun would grow under Gu Bu Lao's tutelage!
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, all the Disciples surged towards Hidden Peak, a place they normally could not enter.
Hidden Peak's area was simply too small, and with so many Disciples pouring in, the entire Hidden Peak was practically packed to the brim, with only the peak of Hidden Peak remaining untouched.
In the very center of the peak sat Gu Bu Lao, dressed as a child, with Dongfang Bo and the other two standing behind him. To his left and right were Sect Master Dao Tianyou, and the various Peak Masters and other Dongtian cultivators, excluding Wan Hongbo.
Even Wei Zhengyang had no choice but to come, though his face showed no expression whatsoever.
Standing directly in front of Gu Bu Lao, Jiang Yun looked a little nervous. He had never expected his apprenticeship ceremony to be such a grand affair.
At this moment, looking at Jiang Yun before him, Gu Bu Lao's youthful, childlike face showed a rare expression of contentment. As for Dongfang Bo and the other two behind him, they were even more excited.
Although they had long regarded Jiang Yun as their Junior Brother, it had not been with Gu Bu Lao's permission. After today, Jiang Yun would truly become their youngest Junior Brother and their Master's fourth Disciple.
Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Dao Tianyou stood up and said with a smile, “Today is Hidden Peak Master Gu Bu Lao’s Disciple-taking ceremony. We have specially invited everyone to attend. It’s getting late, so let’s begin!”
After he finished speaking, Dao Tianyou and everyone else's gaze turned to Jiang Yun. At this moment, Jiang Yun was so nervous that he stood there dazed and at a loss, until Dongfang Bo couldn't help but transmit a message to him, “What are you standing there for? Hurry and kneel to perform the three kowtows!”
“Oh, oh, oh!”
After a moment of stunned, Jiang Yun came back to his senses and quickly knelt down in front of Gu Bu Lao with a “thump,” respectfully performing three consecutive kowtows.
“Disciple Jiang Yun, greets Master!”
Gu Bu Lao also reined in his smile, sitting upright and solemnly, accepting Jiang Yun's apprenticeship ritual.
As Jiang Yun raised his head, Gu Bu Lao's face once again broke into a smile and he said, “From today onwards, you are my fourth Disciple, Gu Bu Lao. However, because your Dao does not align with my Dao, for now, I can only accept you as an Outer Dao Disciple!”
Outer Dao Disciple!
Upon hearing these four words, even Dongfang Bo and the other two were slightly stunned. Everyone else was even more puzzled. Only Dao Tianyou cast a deep glance at Gu Bu Lao but did not speak.
Although Jiang Yun was also bewildered, he didn't overthink it, because whether it was Outer Dao or Inner Dao, these things were not important to him. What was important was that he had finally become his Master's Disciple.
“Yes, Master!”
“Rise!”
Gu Bu Lao waved his large sleeve, helping Jiang Yun to his feet, and said, “Since you have already acknowledged me as your Master, then as your Master, I naturally must give you an apprenticeship gift!”
As his voice fell, Gu Bu Lao's gaze suddenly turned to Dao Tianyou.
The latter, clearly already aware, stepped forward, his expression solemn, and looked directly at Jiang Yun, saying, “Jiang Yun, this gift is indeed given to you by your Master, but it is also one of the greatest foundations of my Wen Dao Sect!”
“Therefore, once you accept it, no matter where you go in the future, no matter how powerful an existence you become, you must forever remember that you, Jiang Yun, are a member of my Wen Dao Sect; you, Jiang Yun, are a Disciple of my Wen Dao Sect!”
“If you encounter danger, the Sect will protect you at all costs, and if the Sect is in trouble, even if you are thousands of mountains and rivers away, you must rush back to rescue it!”
“From now on, as long as the Wen Dao Sect exists, you exist; if the Wen Dao Sect perishes, you die!”
“Jiang Yun, can you do it?!”
Dao Tianyou's voice grew louder and louder, especially his last sentence, which thundered like lightning, resounding not only in Jiang Yun's heart but also in the hearts of all Wen Dao Sect members!
These words filled Jiang Yun's heart with a deep sense of solemnity and responsibility, so much so that he did not immediately answer, but instead pondered seriously.
But for the other Disciples, although these words also brought them a shock, it was far less intense than what Jiang Yun felt.
And when they calmed down and reflected on these words, they felt even more perplexed.
Because Gu Bu Lao was already part of the Wen Dao Sect, then since Jiang Yun had acknowledged Gu Bu Lao as his Master, he was naturally also a member of the Wen Dao Sect. But why did Dao Tianyou specifically point this out and emphasize it again?
Only a few Dongtian cultivators, especially Wei Zhengyang, showed a profound look on their faces. Only they knew what kind of apprenticeship gift Jiang Yun was about to receive.
And once accepted, it meant that Jiang Yun's identity within the Wen Dao Sect would be neither a servant nor an Inner or Outer Sect Disciple, but rather – a Legacy Disciple!
A Legacy Disciple who inherits the essence of the Sect, inherits the Dao of the Sect, vows to protect the Sect unto death, and even has the qualification to become the Sect Master!
Finally, Jiang Yun raised his head, clasped his fists, and with a solemn expression, bowed deeply to Dao Tianyou, saying, “Disciple Jiang Yun respectfully obeys the Sect Master’s teachings. From this day forward, alive, I am a person of the Wen Dao Sect; dead, I am a ghost of the Wen Dao Sect!”
Dao Tianyou suddenly burst into laughter, “Hahahaha, good! Open the Scripture Pavilion, eighth floor!”
Amidst Dao Tianyou’s laughter, the seven-story Scripture Pavilion located beneath Sword Dao Peak suddenly vibrated violently, and under everyone’s gaze, it rumbled and lifted from the ground, slowly flying into the sky!
This scene left all the Disciples dumbfounded and awestruck, even the Inner Sect Disciples were no exception.
Clearly, this was the first time they had witnessed such a miraculous sight.
This Scripture Pavilion, which usually stood beneath Sword Dao Peak and was accessible to every Disciple, could actually fly into the sky.
As for the Dongtian cultivators who clearly knew this secret, their faces now showed an added solemnity and reverence.
However, after their shock, many Disciples fell into great confusion, for they remembered Dao Tianyou's words.
Scripture Pavilion, eighth floor!
The Scripture Pavilion housed all the Cultivation Techniques, Spells, and Secret Manuals of the Wen Dao Sect, and was open to all Disciples according to their status. Therefore, every Disciple knew that the Scripture Pavilion only had seven floors.
But now, Dao Tianyou actually said he was going to open the eighth floor.
Where was this eighth floor, and what exactly did it contain?