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Chapter 4: Chapter Four: Innate Realm

"It can't be. They're just on the platform to ask their masters for the Forbidden Pill. They will definitely come back," Master Zhong reassured himself repeatedly.

However, after the three grand disciples ascended to the platform, they stood behind their respective masters without saying a word. Their masters, too, remained indifferent, waiting for their junior disciples to arrive.

Sure enough, when everyone gathered on the platform and the senior disciples brought their newly recruited disciples, they departed on their flying swords.

Seeing Zhong Xixu's departure, the last thread of hope in Master Zhong's heart shattered.

"Ungrateful traitors! How could they?!" Master Zhong inwardly screamed, but years of self-restraint made him suppress his emotions. He closed his eyes gently, feeling a wave of sorrow washing over him.

Zhong Di and Zhong Xuan behaved similarly, standing behind their masters, waiting for their junior brothers' disciples to be recruited before departing together. During this time, they didn't even spare a glance in Master Zhong's direction.

The eldest disciple couldn't bear witnessing this betrayal any longer.

"What are you two doing, Zhong Di, Zhong Xuan?" Zhong Tian roared in anger.

His shout drew the attention of almost everyone. The disciples of the immortal sects furrowed their brows and ignored him, while others paid little heed.

But Zhong Di and Zhong Xuan, after casting a glance in Zhong Tian's direction, flashed a hint of disdain in their eyes.

"Who sheltered you, former beggars, and granted you wealth and luxury? It was our master! And this is how you repay him?" Zhong Tian shouted furiously.

"You despicable creatures! Have you no conscience? Even if you could cultivate immortality, you'd only become demons!" Zhong Tian's rage thundered through the air.

Zhong Di seemed to whisper something to his master.

His master's eyes widened, and he quickly gestured with his hands, unleashing a spell.

"Boom~~~"

Before Zhong Tian, a large pit, three meters deep, appeared suddenly. Obviously, Zhong Di's master intended to silence Zhong Tian without killing him. Otherwise, Zhong Tian would have been dead already.

To everyone witnessing this scene, it was not difficult to guess that Zhong Di must have said something obedient to his master.

Zhong Tian was filled with hot blood at this moment. He had been raised by his foster father since childhood, and his life was bestowed upon him by his foster father. Therefore, Zhong Tian vowed to serve his foster father well. But now, several junior brothers had acted like beasts. Zhong Tian couldn't bear it. Were they even persuading their masters to warn him for just one Forbidden Pill? Was it so difficult? Or was it that in their eyes, he and his foster father were already worthless, like ants?

Seeing his foster father's somewhat sighing expression, Zhong Tian couldn't help but pick up a large stone from the ground and fiercely hurl it towards Zhong Di's location.

"Whoosh~~~"

The large stone flew into the air, swiftly heading towards Zhong Di's platform. Although Zhong Tian's cultivation level was not high, he possessed immense strength in his arms, reaching the level of some cultivators in the Early Stage of the Innate Realm.

The large stone rapidly descended towards the platform.

At this moment, almost everyone was stunned. Was this person seeking death? How dare he go and attack a disciple of the immortal sect?

"Seeking death~~~" Zhong Di's master roared angrily.

Zhong Di, as the master, effortlessly summoned a shining silver flying sword, which swiftly shot towards the large stone.

"Boom~~~"

The large stone exploded into pieces, and the flying sword continued its terrifying speed, aiming directly at Zhong Tian.

Seeing this, Zhong Lao Ye was startled. He swung his dragon-headed cane, attempting to intercept the flying sword. However, the sword was too fast, and in the blink of an eye, it reached Zhong Tian, who stood fearlessly.

"Buzz~~~"

Suddenly, a golden sphere appeared in front of Zhong Tian, and with a flash of golden light, the flying sword was deflected back.

At the same time, a bald-headed monk from the upper platform flew over to Zhong Tian. With a simple gesture, the golden sphere transformed into a Buddhist bead and landed in his hand.

The monk looked at Zhong Tian with a hint of joy on his face.

"Innate divine strength?" The monk looked at Zhong Tian in amazement.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Tian was stunned, and Zhong Lao Ye, who was about to raise his dragon-headed cane, lowered it slightly, furrowing his brow.

"Are you willing to be my disciple?" The monk suddenly smiled.

Upon hearing this, the people below were filled with astonishment. Could this rough man have found fortune in misfortune?

The person who had previously launched the flying sword frowned upon seeing the monk's arrival but refrained from attacking further. After all, the monk was from the upper platform, representing the higher sect.

Zhong Tian looked at the monk in a daze, but Zhong Lao Ye's temperament remained calm. He nudged Zhong Tian, prompting him to come to his senses.

"Disciple Zhong Tian pays respects to Master." Zhong Tian immediately knelt down and bowed three times in quick succession.

"Rise, and come with me to the mountain," the monk said with a smile.

However, Zhong Tian did not get up but remained kneeling on the ground, saying to the monk, "Master, I have a request."

"Oh?" The monk looked somewhat surprised but remained patient as he gazed at Zhong Tian.

"Disciple respectfully requests Master to grant me a Breaking Barrier Pill," Zhong Tian said while kneeling.

Upon hearing Zhong Tian's request, the monk was momentarily taken aback, while Zhong Lao Ye let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed like the tension he had been feeling earlier had suddenly dissipated. At the same time, he looked at the monk expectantly.

The monk looked at Zhong Tian with surprise and then glanced meaningfully at Zhong Lao Ye, quickly discerning the situation. He smiled knowingly and nodded.

"A Breaking Barrier Pill is too low-level for me to have, but as my disciple said, of course, I will help you find one, considering your master," the monk chuckled.

"Thank you, Master," Zhong Tian exclaimed excitedly, bowing repeatedly.

"Alright, get up, don't bump your head too hard," the monk said.

"Yes," Zhong Tian immediately stood up, his eyes filled with excitement as he looked at both his foster father and the monk.

At that moment, the monk suddenly flipped his hand and produced a golden dragon-eye-sized pill.

As soon as the pill appeared, Zhong Lao Ye caught a whiff of an exceptionally divine fragrance. Just a whiff made it feel as if all his pores had opened up.

"Friends, if anyone has a Breaking Barrier Pill, I am willing to exchange it for an Infant Transformation Pill," the monk announced loudly.

Upon hearing this, almost everyone's gaze fell on the pill in the monk's hand. An Infant Transformation Pill? Wasn't that an extraordinary pill? A Breaking Barrier Pill was considered mediocre, yet it could be exchanged for an Infant Transformation Pill?

Almost all the disciples of the sects rummaged through their bags, but none could find a Breaking Barrier Pill. However, one disciple from the lower sect suddenly found one in his storage pouch, a purple Breaking Barrier Pill.

Excitedly, he rode his flying sword towards the valley. "Master, I have one here. Do you need it?" he exclaimed eagerly.

"Here you go." The monk tossed the Infant Transformation Pill and, with a flip of his hand, caught the Breaking Barrier Pill.

"Thank you, Master," the disciple exclaimed excitedly as he accepted the Infant Transformation Pill. Amidst the envious gazes of almost everyone, he flew back.

"Here," the monk handed the pill to Zhong Tian.

"Thank you, Master," Zhong Tian said excitedly. He then turned and handed the Breaking Barrier Pill to Zhong Lao Ye.

At that moment, almost all the ordinary people below looked on with envy at the Breaking Barrier Pill. To them, possessing such a pill meant reaching the Innate Realm in an instant.

Seeing Zhong Tian handing over the Breaking Barrier Pill, Zhong Lao Ye was filled with excitement. He carefully took out the pill, glanced around, and, amidst the numerous prying eyes, swallowed it without hesitation. He then closed his eyes and began to meditate.

Zhong Lao Ye understood the situation very well. If he didn't swallow the pill now, he would never be able to leave this valley after all the disciples of the sects had left. The Breaking Barrier Pill would be snatched away.

Innate Realm, this was the Innate Realm. The ordinary people below looked on with extreme envy, while the disciples of the sects showed disdainful expressions.

In the sky, the disciples of the sects began to leave, each taking their disciples back to their respective mountain gates. They were somewhat surprised by Zhong Lao Ye's breakthrough, but they didn't pay too much attention. Innate Realm? Achieving the Innate Realm by using Breaking Barrier Pills? Perhaps they would remain at the same level for the rest of their lives. There was nothing impressive about it.

On the upper platform, most of the disciples from the higher sects had also left. Only two remained—one was Zhong Tian's master, waiting for him, and the other was the woman in the purple robe, a stunningly beautiful woman with cold eyes. She glanced around and, finding nothing of interest in this Dragon Gate Assembly, left without another word, disappearing on the spot.

As the true energy circulated for the thirty-sixth time, it completely transformed into purple-gold color. Zhong Lao Ye stopped his cultivation, feeling the incredible energy surging throughout his body. His eyes opened, emitting a brilliant light.

Seeing Zhong Tian's worried expression, Zhong Lao Ye let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly.

"Father, did it work?" Zhong Tian asked eagerly.

"Thanks to your blessings," Zhong Lao Ye said softly as he stood up.

"I owe my life to you, Father. It's only right." Zhong Tian sighed. "But from now on, I will be going to the sect, and I won't be able to serve you anymore."

Watching his foster son, Zhong Lao Ye sighed and nodded. "Focus on your cultivation from now on. Go."

Seeing that Zhong Lao Ye didn't push for more favors, the monk nodded approvingly.

"Disciple, let's go," the monk said.

"Yes, Master," Zhong Tian replied.

"Father, I'm leaving," Zhong Tian said to Zhong Lao Ye.

With a nod from Zhong Lao Ye, the monk waved his hand, summoning a white cloud. With Zhong Tian, he flew towards the upper platform, joining the other monks to leave the Dragon Gate Valley.

As for Zhong Lao Ye, at this moment, his pupils contracted as he watched the white cloud carrying Zhong Tian.

"Tian'er, you've found a good master," Zhong Lao Ye nodded.