Damned Healer-Chapter 736: The Sect’s Future
Darian didn't know anything about this Golden Celestial Lake, but seeing Pyreus's immense excitement, he figured it really was an extremely rare opportunity.
Chrysos added, "The Sect Leader must choose one disciple and devote everything to him, because the Celestial tournament that happens once every ten generations will take place in a few years. According to the rumors… this year's reward will be absurdly beneficial for all races descended from the Chromaraics."
Pyreus became euphoric. In the last three times, the biggest rewards had gone to Demons and Beasts; finally, the humanoids' turn had arrived!
"Master, who do you think the sect leader is most likely to choose? Will it be Lord Herion or Lazaro?" Pyreus couldn't help asking, showing great curiosity. This was also the doubt everyone in the sect had had over the past few years.
The chosen person could only be one of those two. There hadn't been any other disciples qualified enough to compare with them for more than thirty years; that was the general consensus of the entire sect.
"We'll know in seven days," Chrysos replied. "But I believe Herion has an 80% chance of being chosen. The vast majority also believes this."
Pyreus was surprised. "Why? Lazaro reached the fifth level in the Golden Crow Canon, something only Palace Masters can achieve… I thought he had better chances."
"Lazaro inherited the Golden Crow bloodline at birth," Chrysos explained lightly. "His level being higher than Herion's is simply due to the advantage of his bloodline. If it weren't for that, Herion wouldn't be much weaker than Lazaro. Upon becoming a direct disciple, one receives a complete drop of origin blood, so it doesn't matter whether the person possesses the bloodline from birth or not. For my brother, the most important factors are innate talent and overall capability regarding the fire element."
After speaking, he took a deep breath. "However, Herion has another much greater advantage… because more people want him to become the direct disciple."
"His temperament is gentle and elegant. He deeply respects his elders and is never arrogant toward his fellow sect members. If he happens to encounter any injustice, he will always do his best to help. As a result, he has an excellent reputation and prestige within the sect. In fact, his reputation has even spread outside the sect. As for Lazaro, he only devotes himself body and soul to cultivation. He rarely goes out and, even among the Golden Crow Hall disciples, few have seen him before. Therefore, Herion is better regarded by the general public."
Darian gave a faint, ironic smile. One of them was a natural politician, clearly buying favors from everyone and likely trying to stand out and draw as much attention as possible.
The other was someone pursuing inner strength, without caring about the outside world. They were opposites… but indeed, the more well-liked one was naturally favored in situations like this.
"Anyway, don't waste time and prepare properly. Your bodies must be in the best condition to absorb the maximum from the Golden Celestial Lake. Darian, in that place you can easily…!"
Suddenly, Chrysos froze, and his eyes nearly popped out. He sensed Darian's current cultivation, completely incredulous.
How could he rise so fast? Was this a dream?
Darian sighed. "That place seems to be the type that increases someone's affinity with fire, correct?"
"Yes! That's right, it's an incredible place with that effect. And it also helps absorb Celestial power, making cultivation easier for those below the Celestial Tribulation Realm," Pyreus replied to Darian, excited.
At that moment, Chrysos managed to calm his heart. Then he spoke, trying to sound as composed as possible: "You may go. That place is beneficial for everyone in the sect, even for Palace Masters with high cultivation."
"Yes, Master!" Pyreus roared.
The two left. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
As for Chrysos, he stood there for a long time before slowly turning to look in the direction where Darian's figure had disappeared. A deep complexity shone in his eyes.
It was simply impossible for an ordinary body to cultivate that fast. Yet, although Darian had been born in the Mortal Planes, his body and soul displayed a peculiarity he had never seen; even his intelligence and aura seemed like someone absurdly experienced.
He had personally witnessed Darian's instant eruption of power before. He had also become an Alchemy Emperor completely out of nowhere. Now, with this cultivation speed…
He definitely seemed like one of the legendary anomalies that had appeared in this universe.
"Seems I really need to tell my brother everything…" Chrysos murmured. Then his figure flickered and disappeared.
***
Time passed silently across all the Palaces of the Golden Crow Sect.
It was far quieter than normal. All the Golden Crow Hall disciples who had been chosen for this entered a meditative state for the extremely rare opportunity, one that might never repeat again, which would arrive in seven days.
On the day the Golden Celestial Lake opened, the entire atmosphere of the sect seemed exceptionally heavy and serious.
That was because today was the day the Sect Leader would choose a direct disciple. Once someone became a direct disciple, not only would their status rise drastically, but their cultivation would also expand exponentially. On top of that, they would even receive a drop of pure Golden Crow blood.
The Golden Celestial Lake wasn't located within the sect's main region, but in a sealed and distant place on the same planet. It was exactly the core of the great planetary inscription, which gathered the power of the Celestial Yang Sun from the entire solar system.
In the skies of the planet's northernmost region, a flying boat sliced through the incandescent wind at high speed. Darian and Pyreus stood upright at the sides of the boat, while Chrysos, his robes fluttering in the wind, was at the front.
"I really didn't think I'd be able to enter the Golden Celestial Lake. These past few days have felt like a dream to me; I was afraid I'd suddenly wake up while in the cultivation room."
Even after many days, Pyreus was still immersed in intense excitement and emotion. The other disciples probably felt the same. After all, those who could enter that place were only the Palace Masters. Moreover, Pyreus and many of the same generation would finally gain the Golden Crow Bloodline.
The temperature, which was already hot, suddenly rose drastically. The further they advanced, the more unbearable it became. At the same time, it was as if the entire world had become even more still and silent.
Obviously, the area where the Golden Celestial Lake was located was the hottest place in the entire sect.
"This is the first time in the sect's history that the Golden Celestial Lake has been opened to the public on such a scale. Not only will the Sect Leader personally attend, but all the high-ranking members of the Sect will be present," Chrysos spoke solemnly.
"There is an age limit to participate. As for the Sect Leader, he has ordered that only five thousand five hundred disciples will be sent for this selection. Even so, such a number is unprecedented, and these five thousand five hundred disciples entering the Golden Celestial Lake today will dictate the sect's future."
Chrysos's words were by no means exaggerated. That was because the most outstanding members of the Sect's new generation would now gain such an absurd boost that they would easily surpass the previous three generations. Certainly, from today's group, all the Palace Masters and the next Sect Leader would emerge.
"Of course, today's event is not trivial. The gravity of its importance is incalculable, because if someone from the sect performs well in the Celestial Tournament, the sect may rise to the top of the entire universe. Therefore, once you enter the Golden Celestial Lake, you must focus to the utmost and cannot step out of line," Chrysos continued seriously.
The words were clearly directed at Darian. If any major problem occurred, not even he would be able to save him. As for his brother, he could not act against the rules to rescue his disciple.
"When you enter, you must follow me closely. You must agree with everything I say and cannot say or do anything different. You must obey all my orders."
Chrysos rarely showed such an extremely solemn expression. That was because he felt Darian's ability to cause trouble was supreme.
He turned to him and repeatedly warned, "Darian, your temperament is too relaxed. Although that isn't necessarily a bad thing, today is an extraordinary occasion, and you must not cross the line. Especially... because the Sect Leader's temperament is the opposite of mine."
"Don't worry, I'm not the type to deliberately provoke anyone. I will firmly follow the Palace Master," Darian replied with an ironic smile on his face.
Chrysos nodded with a sigh. At the same time, he prayed that no one would be crazy enough to provoke him.
The atmosphere grew increasingly hotter. Pyreus had already begun releasing his cultivation to protect himself. His body had also shrunk slightly.
In these two years, Pyreus had managed to raise his cultivation by three levels and was now at the eighth level of the Celestial Origin Realm. He was excited because there was a great chance of breaking through to the Celestial Soul Realm inside the lake, and even going beyond.
"We've arrived." The flying boat's speed slowed, but the intensity of the hot air had already reached an extremely cruel level.
For those with cultivation in the Celestial Nascent Realm, the sensation would be like falling into hell. Even if they tried their best, they wouldn't be able to take a single step. But even those in the Celestial Tribulation Realm would still suffer and have to protect themselves.
Although Chrysos didn't look back, he could still feel that Darian's aura was as stable as ever, without the slightest trace of his cultivation power protecting his body.
Just what level of fire affinity did he have to not feel anything?
Darian's gaze was fixed straight ahead. There was an enormous red barrier in front of them. Fire runes circulated across the barrier like countless twinkling stars.
