Chapter 207: Chapter 206: Repeated Face-Slapping

After finding the exit, Yi Tianyun stepped through it. He emerged into an exceptionally beautiful environment. The decorative rockeries and meticulously planted trees were all arranged with great care, creating a harmonious and pleasing whole.

This was the Celestial Pattern Pavilion, a place dedicated to the cultivation of Divine Runes. This was the advantage of a large sect; with so many disciples, different skill levels naturally emerged, making it easy for them to form their own factions.

If only one person knew how to inscribe Divine Runes, it would obviously be impossible to form a separate division for them. That would be too much of a waste of resources.

"Are you new here? Please present your Identity Token."

The guards at the gate were momentarily stunned when they saw Yi Tianyun; he looked a bit too young. However, they wouldn’t turn him away. Everything was done by the book—as long as he presented an Identity Token, it didn’t matter if he was a familiar face or a stranger.

"An Identity Token? This is my token." Yi Tianyun took out the token He Qianhan had given him. "This is it. Will this do?"

"This isn’t a disciple’s token. It’s a Recommendation Token... It looks like one from Steward He."

"Huh? Wait a second, something’s off about this token. It doesn’t look like a Recommendation Token..."

Just as the guards were about to take a closer look, several figures emerged from the Maze Forest, drawing their attention.

"You—how are you here?!"

Feng Yulong and his group had just emerged themselves. Seeing Yi Tianyun standing before them, they were all stunned speechless. Yang Xixue, who followed right behind them, was also dumbfounded at the sight.

His speed was simply too fast, far quicker than their own. They traversed this path frequently, but the Maze Array shifted slightly each time they entered, so their completion times always varied. It was a form of training.

’To think that Yi Tianyun, on his very first try, was faster than all of them... Isn’t he a prodigy?!’

"The exit is right here. Why shouldn’t I be? Did you expect me to take a detour?" Yi Tianyun looked at Liao Wen indifferently. "Speaking of which, you’ll have to walk on your head from now on. I look forward to seeing you bring that particular branch of Martial Arts to new heights."

’It was the same old story. He didn’t mind putting them in their place. If they were going to run their mouths, they should be prepared to eat their words!’

"Th-that’s impossible! You... you must have cheated!" Liao Wen refused to believe it. He had never seen a first-timer get through so quickly.

"Then tell me, how did I cheat?" Yi Tianyun’s eyes narrowed, curious to hear what kind of accusation he would come up with.

Yi Tianyun watched Liao Wen with great interest, eager to hear how he had supposedly cheated.

"You... you’ve been here before!" Liao Wen blurted out after a moment of thought.

"Is that so? I’ve been here before? Funny, I don’t recall that," Yi Tianyun said nonchalantly. "Why not just claim I’m already a disciple of the Celestial Pattern Pavilion? Your head really is just for walking on, isn’t it?"

Liao Wen’s face flushed red. He pointed a finger at Yi Tianyun, seething with rage but unable to find the words to retort. They knew every disciple in the Celestial Pattern Pavilion, and the guards would have certainly recognized anyone who had been here before. Simply put, Liao Wen was just unwilling to accept reality.

Yi Tianyun had really made it through, and a fair bit faster than them at that. Now, Liao Wen would have to walk on his head.

"Are you saying this is his first time here, and he was faster than you?" one of the guards chimed in, having grasped the situation. He was shocked by the claim. ’Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?’

’To be faster than Yang Xixue’s group on his first try... They’re some of the higher-ranking disciples here. To surpass them like that is practically unheard of. And he looks so young, too. It’s terrifying.’

"Yes, he was faster than us." Yang Xixue looked at Yi Tianyun with a complicated expression and remarked, "It seems the person Steward He recommended this time isn’t as hopeless as the previous ones who couldn’t even get through the Maze Array."

The Maze Forest assessment tested one’s Spiritual Power and perception. While not incredibly difficult, it certainly wasn’t simple. At the very least, it wasn’t the kind of trial one could just stroll through; it required real effort. That Yi Tianyun had passed so quickly far exceeded their expectations.

"So, does this mean I passed the assessment?" Yi Tianyun asked with a faint smile.

"Of course." Yang Xixue smiled. "In fact, your performance was outstanding. Welcome to the Celestial Pattern Pavilion!"

’The first time she came here, it had taken her several hours to get through. Now, Yi Tianyun had aced it in a fraction of the time. The difference in their abilities was just too great.’

"He has some skill, but he’s far too arrogant." Feng Yulong snorted, then turned to leave with Liao Wen. As he passed Yi Tianyun, he said coldly, "In the Celestial Pattern Pavilion, a little talent like that is nothing. You’d better watch yourself... and don’t touch things you’re not supposed to. I’ll make you regret it for the rest of your life!" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He was warning Yi Tianyun not to get too close to Yang Xixue, or else he would personally deal with him.

Yi Tianyun had no interest in her, but the threat still annoyed him. ’Who the hell does this guy think he is?’

"Hold on. You haven’t started walking backward, and you haven’t started walking on your head. It’s time to fulfill your promises." Yi Tianyun had no qualms about calling them out on the bets they’d made, which now seemed to be nothing but hot air.

"Do you have a death wish?" Feng Yulong’s gaze turned ice-cold. He had merely looked down on Yi Tianyun before, but who could have imagined he would actually get out within an hour—and much faster than them, no less.

"Feng Yulong, can’t you even be a graceful loser? Besides, you’re the ones who made those bets in the first place!" Yang Xixue said, displeased to see Feng Yulong threatening Yi Tianyun.

She had no connection to Yi Tianyun, but she couldn’t stand Feng Yulong’s arrogance. This was exactly why she disliked him: he was conceited, knew no restraint, and was extremely possessive and competitive. He wouldn’t rest until he had utterly crushed anyone who offended him.

"Oh, so you’re defending this piece of trash now?" Feng Yulong shook his head, his eyes blazing with fury as he sneered, "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to him. This is the Celestial Pattern Pavilion, not some backwater village. We can’t just duel whenever we please. I know what I’m doing."

’These words made Yi Tianyun frown. The internal situation of the sect seemed dire. It looked like disciples from other families had joined, and with such a lack of unity, the entire sect had no future to speak of!’

"Don’t you know there are some things you should say and some you shouldn’t?" Yi Tianyun stared at him, his gaze ice-cold. ’How dare he act so arrogant in front of me?’