Chapter 917: Face

As the millennium deadline drew ever closer, Dongbo Xueying found himself growing increasingly at ease. Nearly all the talented cultivators who wished to visit had already come, and unless they made significant progress in their strength, there was little reason for them to return.

On this particular day, a lean and wiry man arrived outside Dongbo Xueying’s cave abode. The faint aura he exuded sent a shiver down the spines of the two guards stationed there. Though only a trace of his presence was revealed, the overwhelming killing intent that brushed against their minds left them trembling in fear. Having encountered countless Unity realm experts, the guards instantly recognized that this man was far, far beyond that level—likely a Chaos realm overlord. None dared show even the slightest disrespect.

“Inform Elder Dongbo that Bayun has come to visit,” the lean man said coldly.

“Yes, Senior. Please wait a moment,” one of the guards replied before swiftly heading inside to relay the message.

“Brother Bayun?”

Dongbo Xueying warmly stepped out to greet him.

The lean man’s icy demeanor melted away as he broke into a smile. “Haha, Brother Dongbo! I knew you were busy, so I waited until now to visit.”

“Brother Bayun, you’re welcome to see me anytime. Please, come in,” Dongbo Xueying said with even greater courtesy. His politeness was not without reason. While Palace Master Bayun was indeed a Chaos realm overlord, according to intelligence reports, his strength barely reached the seventh level of the Star Tower—only slightly surpassing Dongbo Xueying’s own. The true reason for his deference lay in the fact that Bayun was the sole disciple of the Black Emperor, who had once imparted invaluable teachings to Dongbo Xueying.

The two men took their seats, and Dongbo Xueying personally poured a rare vintage of fine wine for his guest.

“Brother Bayun, what brings you here today?” Dongbo Xueying asked with a smile. “If there’s anything you need, feel free to speak plainly.”

“Haha, I came because of the Star Conference,” Palace Master Bayun replied. “I have a junior who participated and performed quite well, ranking within the top 500. However, he’s uncertain whether he’ll be selected in the end, so he sought my help. I’ve taken a liking to the lad, so I’ve come to ask for your assistance.”

Hearing that the junior ranked within the top 500, Dongbo Xueying inwardly relaxed. He was not inflexible—if the candidate’s potential was sufficiently high, and the selection was borderline, he wouldn’t mind granting Palace Master Bayun this favor. After all, the evaluation of a junior’s potential was inherently subjective. Each mentor had their own criteria based on their experiences. A candidate Dongbo Xueying might rank around 150th could be placed at 100th by General Tianguang or 200th by Palace Master Jiangfu. There was always some variance, but none of them would be wildly off the mark.

As long as the candidate’s potential fell within the gray area of selection, Dongbo Xueying could justify choosing them without raising eyebrows. However, if the candidate’s potential was objectively ranked beyond the top thousand—even with differing evaluations—selecting them would be indefensible.

“If his potential is promising, I’ll naturally do my best to help,” Dongbo Xueying said with a smile.

“His potential is decent. I believe his future will be even brighter once he enters the sacred land,” Palace Master Bayun replied.

“May I ask his name?”

“His name is Tielu,” Palace Master Bayun said. “He ranked 406th in the Star Tower’s preliminary selection.”

Dongbo Xueying’s smile froze.

Tielu?

Tielu was a rogue cultivator who had trained for over 1.6 trillion years. More importantly, Dongbo Xueying had reviewed his battle recordings from the Star Tower. While 406th sounded impressive, the truth was that Tielu had failed to clear the third level. He was merely among the top performers on the second level—and even that was only because his body had been artificially enhanced.

Upon watching the recordings, Dongbo Xueying had immediately concluded: “This Tielu must possess numerous treasures. His actual comprehension is mediocre, barely at the first level of the Star Tower. But his body has been modified! Relying on its brute strength, he nearly cleared the third level. His cultivation focuses on devouring techniques, yet his enhancements are clearly the work of an external expert, likely a sorcerer.”

It was indeed possible to have one’s body enhanced by others. With enough Sourceworld Stones, one could even commission the Sorcerer Ancestor to forge a physique impervious to Chaos realm overlords. But the more extreme the modifications, the more exorbitant the cost—often making it more economical to simply purchase a powerful puppet.

Tielu had clearly undergone such modifications to boost his ranking in the Star Conference. Yet mentors like Dongbo Xueying and Palace Master Jiangfu were far too discerning. They could instantly tell that his performance was artificially inflated. Without the enhancements, his ranking would likely have been beyond the ten-thousandth mark. As a rogue cultivator with such an extensive training period, his potential was undeniably outside the top three thousand.

And now, Dongbo Xueying was being asked to select him?

He glanced at Palace Master Bayun, who maintained his smile. “Brother Dongbo, for a rogue cultivator to reach the top 400, his potential is quite commendable.”

“His ranking is due to external modifications,” Dongbo Xueying countered, shaking his head. “Our selection criteria are based on innate potential. Enhancements from others don’t count.”

“Brother Dongbo, you’re allowed to choose twenty candidates. And as for potential, each mentor’s perspective differs. If you recognize some unique quality in him, selecting him would be perfectly reasonable,” Palace Master Bayun pressed.

Dongbo Xueying frowned. Even after his explicit refusal, why was the Black Emperor’s disciple still pushing?

“I’ll do my best. But I have matters to attend to and must take my leave,” Dongbo Xueying said, rising to his feet.

“Brother Dongbo, I’d appreciate a definitive answer so I can set my mind at ease,” Palace Master Bayun insisted.

“I’ll do my best,” Dongbo Xueying repeated.

“Very well. If you select him, I’m willing to offer you 200 Sourceworld Stones,” Palace Master Bayun said with a smile. Tielu had indeed come into considerable wealth, enabling him to modify his body and research the five mentors’ preferences. He had paid Palace Master Bayun 100 stones upfront, promising another 500 upon success—a total of 600 stones just to secure a spot in the sacred land.

“Brother Bayun,” Dongbo Xueying said helplessly, “you must understand that my appointment as a mentor at the Unity realm was already controversial. I’m not just representing myself here—I represent the Tai Void Heavenly Palace. I can’t afford to tarnish its reputation. Your request is simply impossible. His potential is likely beyond the top three thousand.”

He laid out his reasoning plainly, hoping for understanding.

“Such a trivial matter hardly affects the dignity of the Tai Void Heavenly Palace,” Palace Master Bayun retorted, his brow furrowing. “Let’s not make our first meeting unpleasant. As a personal favor, just grant me this one selection. Consider it settled.”

Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened as he stood. “Brother Bayun, I have urgent matters to attend to. I must bid you farewell. Please see yourself out.”

Palace Master Bayun’s face turned icy. “You refuse?”

“It’s impossible,” Dongbo Xueying stated bluntly.

“Hmph.”

Palace Master Bayun let out a derisive laugh. “A mere Unity realm cultivator, benefiting from my master’s teachings, shows no gratitude. I came in person to ask for your help, yet you dare spurn me? And don’t call me ‘Brother Bayun’—you’re unworthy of addressing me as an equal.”

His fury was palpable. As a Chaos realm overlord and the Black Emperor’s sole disciple, he was accustomed to deference. He had always looked down on Dongbo Xueying inwardly. What did it matter if the latter had reached the sixth level of the Star Tower? History was littered with geniuses who stagnated at that stage, like the Thunderflame Tower Master or the long-fallen Dark Realm Sovereign.

To Palace Master Bayun, Dongbo Xueying was beneath him. He had only feigned camaraderie out of necessity. Yet this Unity realm upstart had the audacity to reject him—even refusing 200 Sourceworld Stones? Dongbo Xueying’s entire net worth likely didn’t exceed 1,000 stones. This was an outright insult.

“Unworthy of addressing you as an equal? It seems I overestimated our relationship,” Dongbo Xueying said coldly.

With the conversation at this point, there was no need for pretense.

“Attendants, escort our guest out,” Dongbo Xueying called.

A maidservant entered nervously but gestured firmly. “Please.”

Even Palace Master Bayun wouldn’t dare cause a scene within the Bladelord Citadel’s stronghold.

“Hmph. How bold,” he sneered.

“What, still here? Shall I have you thrown out?” Dongbo Xueying challenged.

“Fine. Very well.” With a final glare, Palace Master Bayun turned and strode away.

Dongbo Xueying snorted. So what if he was a Chaos realm overlord? His strength barely surpassed the seventh level of the Star Tower—only a hair’s breadth above Dongbo Xueying’s own. In a direct confrontation, Dongbo Xueying feared nothing. And once he broke through to the Chaos realm, he would easily surpass Bayun. His earlier courtesy had been solely out of respect for the Black Emperor.

But respecting the master didn’t mean groveling before the disciple.

If the man refused to take a graceful exit, then expulsion was the only option.