2284 In-name Disciple

The Sect Master of the Academy's expression did not change when he heard that voice, as though he was not surprised.

The Sect Master's gaze was still fixed on Su Zimo. He did not lower his head to look at Old Xuan and asked with a voice transmission with his spirit consciousness expressionlessly, "Why not?"

"Heh, even for the matter of taking in disciples, there has to be an order to things."

Old Xuan sent a voice transmission, "I took a liking to this lad first. You were a step too late!"

"You want him to inherit your legacy?"

The Sect Master asked again.

"That's right."

Old Xuan said, "This lad's Dao Heart is unprecedentedly strong. Only such a Dao Heart can shoulder the responsibility of my lineage!"

The Sect Master said indifferently, "To be fair, given his endowment and talent, coupled with his resolute and powerful Dao Heart, it's a waste for him to inherit your legacy."

"Cut the crap."

Old Xuan was a little displeased. "Ever since Heaven and Earth Academy was established, my lineage has a huge responsibility and it concerns the future of the academy. How is it a waste?"

"Actually, in my opinion, there's no meaning to your lineage to begin with."

The Sect Master replied, "Hundreds of thousands of years ago, I took over as the Sect Master and you inherited the position of Elder Ten of the Academy. However, after so many years, you have had nothing to do with the development of the academy."

"To be precise, ever since Heaven and Earth Academy was established, the position of Elder Ten has never been of any use all these years."

Old Xuan was silent.

He knew in his heart that due to his special identity, he could not interfere in the affairs of the academy as Elder Ten.

In fact, even his identity was a top secret in Heaven and Earth Academy!

After a moment of silence, Old Xuan said, "No matter what, this was the rule set up by the previous Sect Master. You're the one in the open while I stay in the dark. How can we call it off so easily?"

"That's right. Apart from the Grand Elder, even the other eight elders don't know your true identity since you're in the dark."

The Sect Master sighed and asked instead, "Do you want Su Zimo to accept your legacy and be like you, only able to hide everything and live in the dark from now on?"

"He's still young. Isn't it way too cruel to hand such a heavy burden to him?"

Old Xuan fell silent once more with his head lowered.

The Sect Master continued, "If he joins me, I'll guide and protect him. Given his talent and endowment, he'll definitely be able to become famous in the Nine Firmament Immortal Domain in the future and lead a carefree life. What's bad about that?"

"I can understand your love for talent."

"However, isn't it a little selfish for you to place all the burden on him for the sake of the legacy of your lineage?"

"Heh!"

After a long silence, Old Xuan suddenly gave a strange laugh. "I'm not like you who have already taken in six disciples! My lineage will only have a single disciple. It's not easy for me to meet someone good, I won't let this go!"

"However, I've already appeared here and said that I wanted to take him in as a disciple. How can I renege on my words in front of so many disciples?"

The Sect Master smiled bitterly in exasperation.

"I don't care!"

Old Xuan rolled his eyes.

When the Sect Master of the Academy saw that Old Xuan refused to back down, he could not help but sigh gently. The melancholy in his eyes seemed to have intensified.

"How about this? Let's both compromise."

A moment later, the Sect Master said, "I've already said that I want to take him in as a disciple. Naturally, I can't go back on my words. I can accept him as an in-name disciple first."

"Once he enters the Perfected One realm and becomes a Perfected Immortal, he can choose for himself to join me or to inherit your legacy. How about that?"

"Yes… that's fairer."

Old Xuan's eyes darted around. "This can be considered as respect for his wishes. No matter who he joins, it's his choice."

"Furthermore, he's only a Heaven Immortal and his cultivation realm is too low. It might not be a good thing for him to be pushed to the position of a legacy disciple right away."

Pausing for a moment, Old Xuan continued, "After you accept him as an in-name disciple, let him train and cultivate in the inner sect first. Ifhe's thrown to the legacy ground right away and is surrounded by Perfected Immortal experts, his days won't be easy."

Right then, the tenth stone step beneath Su Zimo's feet was fully condensed!

Su Zimo stood on the tenth stone step and closed his eyes for a long time, reminiscing about the tempering of the nine Dao Heart wills. The Dao Hearts of his two true bodies became increasingly perfect and indestructible!

The flames of war on the Dao Hearts of the two true bodies were extinguished after the tenth stone step was formed.

The tenth stone step was named the Martial Dao Step.

Su Zimo left the willpower of his two true bodies on it.

Anyone who stepped onto the tenth stone step would have to endure the impact of the Martial Dao Will. That was an unimaginable power that burned like fire and could incinerate all living beings!

Those with weak Dao Hearts would even incinerate their Dao Heart upon reaching the tenth stone step!

A long time later, Su Zimo opened his eyes slowly.

The surroundings were strangely silent.

Sensing something, Su Zimo looked up instinctively and saw nine old men surrounding the Dao Heart Stairs, watching him.

There was a myriad of gazes—cold, benevolent, friendly, admiration…

Su Zimo's gaze swept past the nine old men rapidly and landed on another Confucian-robed man.

Their gazes met gently in midair.

A bang sounded in Su Zimo's mind as he recalled the countless strange runes that appeared on the Wisdom Step.

In the eyes of the Confucian-robed man, Su Zimo seemed to be able to see the endless starry skies, the dark and boundless deep sea, countless astronomical calendars and secret skills…

It was as though all the secrets in the world could not be hidden from those eyes!

"You're impressive."

The Confucian-robed man spoke in a deep and magnetic voice.

Su Zimo's heart skipped a beat and he woke up.

He exchanged glances with the Confucian-robed man and realized that the person before him was the Sect Master of Heaven and Earth Academy who had condensed the ninth stone step of the Dao Heart Stairs!

"Greetings, Sect Master."

Su Zimo bowed.

Even he did not realize that the Sect Master of the Academy was alarmed when he condensed the tenth stone step of the Dao Heart Stairs!

"You might have to change the way you address me from now on."

The Sect Master smiled gently.

"Huh?"

Su Zimo was slightly stunned.

Previously, he was immersed in condensing the tenth stone step and did not know what was happening outside.

The Sect Master surveyed his surroundings. "When you ascended to the ninth step of the Dao Heart Stairs, the Nine Great Elders of the Academy appeared at the same time and wanted to take you in as their disciples."

"When you condensed the tenth stone step later on, even I was tempted."

At that point, the Sect Master smiled. "However, your cultivation realm is insufficient. If I take you in as a legacy disciple directly, wouldn't it be unfair to the other legacy disciples?"

"I'll take you in as an in-name disciple first. If there's a day when you can advance to the Perfected One realm and become a Perfected Immortal, it won't be too late for you to join me."

Pausing for a moment, the Sect Master swept his gaze across Old Xuan on the sacrificial platform inadvertently and continued, "Of course, when you become a Perfected Immortal, it's up to you if you want to join the other elders as well."