Chapter Seventy-Four: The Guardian of the Pavilion, Elder Elm

As soon as Tianming stepped into the Celestial Pavilion, a soothing sensation washed over him, as if he were diving into a boundless sea of knowledge. Looking around, he saw no end in sight. To his left, row upon row of shelves overflowed with countless techniques and mystical arts, while to the right, innumerable weapons—blades, swords, fans, whips, spears—were displayed in dazzling array.

What was even more remarkable was that every shelf was organized according to rank: Heaven, Earth, Human, and Mortal. Beneath each rank, grades stretched from first to tenth, echoing the structure of cultivation realms. Yet, in this grand hall, Tianming only saw techniques and weapons of the Human and Mortal ranks; the coveted Heaven and Earth ranks were nowhere to be found. He surmised they must be hidden in more secretive places.

“No wonder this sect is counted among the great ones; its foundation is truly profound!” Tianming murmured to himself, rubbing his eyes in awe.

It seemed his muttering caught the attention of Hengcheng, whose curious gaze fell upon him.

“Hengcheng, let’s go,” Tianming said with a smile, reaching out as if to drape an arm around his companion’s shoulders.

But just then, a figure appeared before them at astonishing speed, blocking their path in the blink of an eye.

“Show your tokens!” A voice rang out, brooking no argument.

A master! The abrupt interruption startled Tianming. Though his own cultivation was only at the tenth grade of Foundation Establishment, he had met his share of experts. To appear before him so effortlessly—there could be only a handful capable of such a feat. Tianming scrutinized the newcomer closely.

The man leaned on a broom, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies, with an ordinary face and an unremarkable demeanor. Were it not for his earlier display, Tianming would never have linked him to a true master. Clearly, this was someone who delighted in keeping a low profile.

“Tianming!” Hengcheng tugged at his sleeve, breaking Tianming’s train of thought.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Tianming handed his token to the old man, noticing a flicker of displeasure cross the latter’s face, perhaps at the earlier slight.

“Hengcheng, Inner Sect disciple—you may proceed to the second floor. Tianming... hm? Tianming?” The old man casually took Tianming’s token, but as he read the name, his expression shifted to one of utter astonishment, repeating the name twice in disbelief.

“Elder, is something wrong with my token?” Tianming asked, puzzled.

Though his token was indeed unique, he doubted anyone else could discern the difference. As Tianming pondered, the old man regarded him with a look of appreciation, as though he were admiring a rare piece of art. The atmosphere grew tense and awkward until the elder broke the silence.

“Perfect, just perfect! Young man, you may call me Elder Yu.” The old man beamed at Tianming, his former displeasure evaporating in an instant. Had Tianming not been present, he would have thought this was the old man’s twin; the change in attitude was that swift.

“Yes, Elder Yu.” Tianming gave a polite bow before voicing his lingering doubt. “Since there’s nothing wrong with my token, may I ask why you were so surprised?”

Hengcheng, too, looked on in confusion, unwilling to leave without Tianming.

“Let me ask you, when you entered, did you linger at the entrance for a long while?” Elder Yu inquired, his tone warm and affectionate, like a grandfather speaking to his grandson. The geniality disarmed Tianming, making him feel a strange urge to confide in the old man, and drawing him closer in spirit.

“It’s just as you said! Yet I was puzzled at the time—it felt like only a few dozen seconds to me. Hengcheng can vouch for this,” Tianming replied honestly, though he did not mention the prize he had received.

“Then there’s no mistake! After all these years, I’ve finally found you!” Elder Yu exclaimed, grabbing Tianming’s hand in excitement. “Tell me, whatever you desire, choose as you please—everything here is yours.”

Tianming stared in astonishment as Elder Yu’s tone grew even more emphatic.

“I can’t possibly accept such generosity,” Tianming protested, embarrassed by Hengcheng’s envious gaze. He was tempted, to be sure, but it would be reckless to accept without understanding the reason. He knew better than to accept something for nothing; caution was wise.

“Oh?” Elder Yu’s eyes widened. “Young man, among these treasures are techniques and mystical arts of the Heaven and Earth ranks—even semi-divine artifacts. All free for you! And you refuse?” He clapped Tianming on the shoulder, his manner turning stern.

The old man’s displeasure returned, reminiscent of Tianming’s first arrival.

“Tianming, why don’t you accept?” Hengcheng whispered anxiously. To him, this was an opportunity not to be missed, and he could not fathom why Tianming would risk offending the elder by declining.

Elder Yu watched Tianming with keen interest.

“To be honest, I very much desire these things. But I haven’t earned the right to claim them. These treasures were painstakingly gathered by our forebears. Without merit, how could I dare take them?” Tianming shook his head in refusal.

He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

“Good lad! I must see you in a new light. To possess such wisdom and resist temptation—you have truly impressed me!” Elder Yu nodded repeatedly, then changed tack. “Tianming, would you be willing to become my disciple?”

“This...” For a moment, Tianming was at a loss. To become this old man’s disciple—he felt awkward. After all, he possessed the versatile Doraemon, and had little need of guidance in cultivation. Yet to reject Elder Yu outright might provoke the old man’s ire.

“Wait!”

Just as Tianming hesitated, an anxious, weathered voice sounded from outside.

Elder Yu’s face instantly darkened, as if he resented the interruption.

“Yu, you old fox, are you taking a disciple behind my back?”

Before the person even entered, their thunderous voice echoed through the Celestial Pavilion, leaving Tianming and Hengcheng momentarily dazed.

“Hmph!” Elder Yu snorted, dispersing the echo. “You dawdled, so why shouldn’t I act first?”