Jun Moxie was dead. Even his exceptional aptitude was a thing of the past, but this brat before them, in terms of talent, surely had no equal in the current age! How could Cao Guofeng allow such a talent to slip through his fingers? This was the future foremost master!

"Cao Guofeng, you truly push things too far! On what grounds do you claim that talent in my hands is wasted, old man?" Zhan Mubai put on an enraged front. "Today, no matter what, you must give me an explanation!" He had already made up his mind; he would seize any opportunity, snatch the boy, and leave. Let the niceties be damned; as long as he could secure this heaven-defying junior, everything would be worth it. At worst, he could abandon the Hidden Immortal Palace, perhaps even the entire Zhan family, find some secluded spot to bury himself, and focus entirely on training an apprentice. This was a matter of eternal glory; any sacrifice would be worthwhile...

The other six present also held considerable interest, but Cao Guofeng remained the undisputed leader of the Misty Illusion Manor's contingent, and it was unlikely they would truly fight him to the bitter end. Ultimately, the real competition was solely between himself and Cao Guofeng.

First come, first served!

"Um, respected Elders, might this junior be permitted to say a few words?" A faint voice drifted over. It was Young Master Jun. While the powerful figures argued, Young Master Jun's eyes had been constantly darting about, never still, yet he was precisely calculating how to extricate himself from this awkward situation, perhaps even to gain an advantage or benefit.

"Speak!" Cao Guofeng and Zhan Mubai spoke simultaneously, each eager to secure a favorable impression in the eyes of their potential future disciple.

"Uh... my Master once solemnly warned me that to be a teacher, one must first possess astonishing martial attainment. Why must both seniors engage in ceaseless bickering? In any case, I am right here, I cannot run away. It's inevitable that I will join either your sect or his. Since I must choose a master, naturally, I should select the more formidable one... Why don't the two of you... engage in a brief sparring match right here? The superior and inferior will be instantly clear, and surely the loser will have no further recourse?" Jun Moxie mumbled, shrinking slightly.

"Hmm?!" Hearing this, both men were immediately moved. The logic was sound—how could the loser claim any further stake in the competition? Their fighting spirit flared instantly. They exchanged glances, each seeing in the other's eyes an unyielding resolve to win!

"Not bad, not bad! Winner takes all, the victor decides, and the loser accepts the result. This is truly an excellent way to resolve this dispute!" The other six chimed in, voicing their support. They were supremely confident in Cao Guofeng; he was a genuine Level Three Saint Emperor, whereas Zhan Mubai, though certainly not weak, was only at the Level Two Saint Emperor stage! This was a considerable gap! Deciding the ownership of the disciple through martial contest effectively placed Cao Guofeng in an unassailable position!

Sweat beaded on Zhan Mubai's brow. Gritting his teeth, the words "Fight, then fight!" caught in his throat, stubbornly refusing to come out. If a fight truly broke out, he was guaranteed to lose, and the relationship between the Three Great Sacred Lands and Cao Guofeng's faction would be annihilated as a result...

"Perhaps this matter needn't be rushed just yet," Zhan Mubai said, his cunning nature kicking in. "Brother Cao, there is still some time before your deadline to return to the Illusion Manor. Why don't we use this interval to observe this young man's receptivity, as a form of assessment? If this lad merely has the aptitude but lacks the corresponding comprehension, it would all be for naught... As for who takes him as a disciple, that can be discussed later, how about it?" Zhan Mubai, being shrewd and experienced, offered a thoroughly reasonable justification.

"Very well!" Cao Guofeng understood that it was unwise to completely alienate Zhan Mubai at this moment. If there were absolutely no room for negotiation, a fight would commence. But since Zhan Mubai had softened his tone first, pressing further would put Cao on the wrong side of righteousness. He reluctantly agreed. However, as he consented, he immediately considered that upon returning, Zhan Mubai would surely contact other Saint Emperors from the Three Great Sacred Lands to exert pressure on him. Standing alone, he would be at a disadvantage; the longer the delay, the worse it would become for him.

His mind racing, he devised a plan. Turning back, he addressed the six Saint Emperor experts who had accompanied him with grave seriousness. "Six brothers, we came out together, and upon witnessing such superlative quality, it would be improper for me alone to reap such an immense benefit. I know you all regard this youth highly. How about this... If I, Cao, am fortunate enough to take this child as my disciple in the future, then while he will be my direct successor, he must also render the respect due to a disciple to the six of you brothers. In other words... this child will not just be my heir, but the joint disciple of all seven of us! Brothers, what are your thoughts?"

This proposition simultaneously established his dominance and bestowed an immense favor upon the six men—a move that achieved multiple goals in one stroke. Moreover, he was certain none of them would refuse! This was, after all, the master of the future world's number one expert... Even being a nominal master held immeasurable achievement and glory!

Indeed, the six men, seeing the confrontation between the two elders escalate to a boiling point, had all been hoping to withdraw and adopt a detached 'not my business' stance. Now, hearing Cao Guofeng's proposal, the situation took a miraculous turn, moving from gloom to sudden light. They were overjoyed beyond measure.

"Brother Cao, do you mean what you say?"

"Is there any doubt about it? Do you truly think I'm willing to share such a fine disciple with others?..." Cao Guofeng let out a wry smile. "Given the current situation, if we do not join forces, this disciple will likely be snatched away by the Three Great Sacred Lands. This is ultimately their territory; a strong dragon cannot suppress a local serpent. If they succeed, in at most one or two hundred years, the transcendent status of our Misty Illusion Manor will be forfeit! For the sake of our legacy and the Manor, all seven of us must escort this prodigy back to the Misty Illusion Manor! Though I still desire sole possession, I am, after all, a member of the Manor, and I must contribute to its future!"

He paused. "A man of honor does not go back on his word. Since I said he will be the joint disciple of the seven of us, that will never change! My only condition is that, nominally, this child is my direct heir. That is my sole request; please agree!"

By stating this, he displayed absolute sincerity, and the six others felt a pang of shame, realizing they had indeed overlooked the larger picture. Although the disciple would carry Cao Guofeng's lineage title, he would also be their own disciple. This was vastly superior to the previous situation where they had no claim at all. They readily agreed: "Brother Cao's requirement is no issue at all, you can rest assured. Since he is our seven's joint disciple, if the Three Great Sacred Lands try to snatch him away, we brothers are not made of clay!"

Zhan Mubai inwardly groaned. Cao Guofeng’s maneuver was brilliantly executed, instantly gaining six exceptionally strong, steadfast allies. This multiplied the difficulty of Zhan Mubai's plan by an exponential factor. With this combined strength, even if any single one of the Three Great Sacred Lands mobilized its entire force, they might not be able to prevail.

But Zhan Mubai would not let go either. If the Misty Illusion Manor feared the Sacred Lands using this child to overpower the Manor in a century, Zhan Mubai certainly hoped to use this child as a foundation to free the Three Great Sacred Lands from the shadow of the Misty Illusion Manor!

The Ethereal Body Constitution... the physique of the Ninth Nether First Young Master... the accomplishments of the Ninth Nether First Young Master back then... Thinking of this, Zhan Mubai's chest almost exploded with excitement. He absolutely refused to give up!

The decision made, the elders even skipped dinner. They paid their dues and departed for the Chen Residence.

As for Jun Moxie, he was escorted by the seven Saint Emperors of the Misty Illusion Manor, surrounded by them like the moon among stars, followed by a throng of attendants.

Saint Emperors leading the way, Saint Emperors bringing up the rear, and Saint Emperors acting as bodyguards on either side...

The level of favor and treatment Young Master Jun was currently receiving, even the Ninth Nether First Young Master ten thousand years ago would have to admit inferiority...

Yet, unbeknownst to them, all eight Saint Emperors, including Zhan Mubai, were secretly observing the youth.

The eight masters watched as the youth, enveloped by the aura of the eight of them, remained composed despite not fully understanding the situation. His movements and demeanor betrayed no panic or loss of composure. Under the guiding influence of the eight Saint Emperors' spiritual energy, he settled down, appearing steady and reserved.

Truly extraordinary! Worthy of the Ethereal Body Constitution! The evaluation of Young Master Jun by the Great Saint Emperors rose several notches!

It must be noted that the combined aura of eight Saint Emperors, even within the Heavenly Punishment Forest, was enough to send all beasts scattering. How powerful was that? Even though they were not overtly applying malicious suppression now, this sheer, magnificent pressure was something few ordinary people could withstand!

The eight returned to the Chen family mansion, each harboring their own agenda. Jun Moxie, the counterfeit "Super Tang Monk's Flesh," was settled into the central room of a small courtyard specially prepared by the Chen family for the Saint Emperors of the Misty Illusion Manor.

Cao Guofeng lodged in the adjacent room.

Saint Emperor Cao was clearly impatient to begin his mentorship. But upon noticing the subtle flicker of apprehension in Jun Moxie’s expression—even though he subsequently forced himself to appear steady—the slight, lingering helplessness could not be concealed. Cao Guofeng felt a surge of pity: Alas, he is still a mortal living in the mundane world, too young, lacking experience of the grand world, and lacking sufficient backbone. Seeing the splendor of the Chen family has already unsettled his mood...

He must be allowed time to adapt. Tomorrow, the old man will first summon the Chen family head and others to pay their respects. This will serve two purposes: first, to display his supreme status, and second, to alleviate the youth's insecurity and fear. He is to be the future disciple of the seven of us; the mere Chen family is nothing; letting them offer hospitality is granting them immense face...

After careful consideration, he offered Young Master Jun a few words of comfort, chatted familiarly for a while, acting entirely amiable and kind, making Jun Moxie feel as if he were basking in a spring breeze. Furthermore, he subtly employed his supreme divine art to generate a unique field, helping Jun Moxie settle his 'apprehensive' state of mind...

Once everything was concluded and seeing Jun Moxie's emotions significantly stabilized, the seven great Saint Emperors retired to their rooms to meditate and practice their skills. At their level of attainment, sleep had long become an insignificant matter.

Moreover, the seven men were undoubtedly more agitated than Jun Moxie himself!

They failed to notice that immediately after they left, a sliver of cunning, along with a shade of conspiratorial brilliance, flashed across the eyes of this "prospective disciple"... This was truly a heaven-sent opportunity for sowing discord... What if this disciple-to-be suddenly died...?

Jun Moshie looked forward to it with anticipation...

The seven Saint Emperors, while ostensibly retreating to their respective rooms for solitary meditation, secretly initiated a secret, telepathic group chat. The more they talked, the more excited they became. They even began discussing how, upon returning to the Illusion Manor, they should first establish the foundation for this precious disciple, which spiritual medicine to administer first, and then, after the foundation was laid, based on the unique characteristics of the seven of them, which one would begin the instruction, which would follow up, which would reinforce, and which would solidify...

They even planned what methods to use for advancement once he reached a certain level, discussing employing the Seven-Colored Fruit, a supreme treasure of the Misty Illusion Manor, for a marrow-cleansing and body-refining session during a specific period... all to forge an unparalleled master in the shortest possible time!

After all, the higher the disciple's cultivation and the sooner he graduates, the greater the resulting glory!

With this disciple, they were certain that the Misty Illusion Manor would have absolutely no problem completely surpassing the Three Great Sacred Lands; striving to match or even surpass their ancestors was no longer a mere fantasy. The true goal should be striving toward the level of the original Ninth Nether First Young Master—that, too, was not an impossible feat...

The seven grew increasingly elated as they talked, each sketching out magnificent blueprints. Thinking of the future glory, they couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

In the martial world, while a young person with great aptitude seeking a worthy master requires fate, it is an even rarer occurrence for a supreme master to find a disciple who perfectly meets their standards!

Perhaps these Saint Emperors did not know, or could not confirm, how many people in this world truly possessed the Ethereal Body Constitution, or how many there were. But Jun Moxie knew that the so-called Ethereal Body Constitution had appeared more than just once since the era of the Ninth Nether First Young Master ten thousand years ago!

How many geniuses had this world buried throughout history? No one truly knew. If all were counted, it would surely amount to more than a million strong army! How many geniuses lacked opportunity, becoming farmers, merchants, or dying in poverty...

A Bó Lè (master judge of horses) is rare, but how often is a thousand-mile horse truly present? The true meaning of both is that neither can be dispensed with!

Time quietly slipped away.

The sky was moonless and starless, now entering the darkest period just before dawn. In perhaps half an hour, the sun would rise.

The true darkness before the dawn is also the darkest moment before the light appears!

It was precisely at this moment that Cao Guofeng and the other six simultaneously sensed something amiss.

It must be understood that although these seven were engaged in secret discussion, each of them had kept their nerves tightly strung. This was the legendary "Ethereal Body Constitution"! Since Zhan Mubai coveted it so fiercely, how could he accept such a great loss willingly?

He might very well resort to trickery.

Therefore, while conversing, the seven maintained constant vigilance. As the night was about to end and the dawn approached, just as they were about to relax, that was when the anomaly arrived...

A trace of wind, subtle to the extreme—even listening carefully, one would dismiss it as natural air movement. But these seven had spent the entire night monitoring the slightest external disturbance to an unparalleled degree. This seemingly 'natural' gust of wind passing by immediately revealed itself as jarring, and... it was already inside the courtyard!

The speed was truly astonishing!

For any ordinary person, such an intrusion would never escape the notice of a Saint Emperor expert! Let alone reaching the courtyard nearby, they would have been detected from a hundred yards away!

This person's cultivation level was definitely no less than any of the seven great Saint Emperors! Zhan Mubai!

You old rogue have truly come!