Rebirth of the Peak Young Master
Chapter 137: Three Kneels and Nine Kowtows

Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Three Kneels and Nine Kowtows

The path through Sichuan is as treacherous as ascending the heavens!

This phrase aptly describes the arduous journey of traveling from the Central Plains into Sichuan.

However, the mountain trails of West Flow Mountain are scarcely any easier than Sichuan’s paths.

Ever since Ye Fei agreed to join the journey, the Hee Family’s entourage officially began their mountain ascent.

It took an entire day and night to barely reach halfway up the mountain.

Of course, for cultivators like Ye Fei and Su Miaoling, such mere mountain roads were hardly worth mentioning. But for the pampered siblings of the Hee Family, it felt as insurmountable as the heavens themselves.

Thus, the two siblings were carried up the mountain in sedan chairs by their servants.

Seeing himself seated comfortably while Ye Fei and Su Miaoling walked on foot, Hee Yuanliang—who had originally hoped to grow closer to Su Miaoling during their journey—immediately smiled and said, "Brother Ye, Miss Su, such an endless mountain trail... who knows how long it will take to reach the top? Why not hop on and take a seat with us?"

"No need!" Su Miaoling flatly rejected him without hesitation.

From Hee Yuanliang’s words throughout the journey, Su Miaoling had already discerned that the Hee siblings had learned of the path to True Essence Sect through an old connection between their family elders and the sect.

But the fact that they would dare to ascend the mountain in sedan chairs, even while seeking discipleship, was something Su Miaoling absolutely could not tolerate.

After all, True Essence Sect was nothing short of a sacred place to her. If not for the pressing presence of their true enemy, Ye Fei, she might have already taken action to drive the two down the mountain!

Ye Fei, however, gave an indifferent shrug.

His focus was instead on using his Divine Sense to investigate the situation within True Essence Sect. Since his goal was to seize Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, he needed to at least figure out where they were located.

Hee Yuanliang, seeing both of them reject his invitation, felt a twinge of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Hee Ziqi, standing off to the side, muttered disdainfully under her breath, "Low-class people are just low-class people. If they insist on suffering, why bother inviting them?"

"But... sigh..."

Hee Yuanliang, upon hearing Hee Ziqi’s remark, abandoned any thought of joining Su Miaoling on foot.

Thus, the journey continued in silence, and the group finally reached the mountain gate of True Essence Sect by the afternoon of the following day.

At the sight of the grand mountain gate, Su Miaoling was filled with excitement.

But before she could step forward, Hee Yuanliang had already descended from his sedan chair and loudly announced, "Hee Yuanliang of Silver Radiance Hee Family pays respects to the Immortal Masters!"

Whoosh whoosh!

Following Hee Yuanliang’s call, two figures suddenly flickered at the mountain gate before gradually emerging.

They were two young men.

Both wore white long robes, exuding a sense of ancient elegance. The only distinction was their hairstyles—modern in fashion rather than crowned with traditional long hair.

Among them, one young man, his face full of arrogance, looked down upon Hee Yuanliang and said, "What business do you have here, daring to disturb our True Essence Sect?"

"Immortal Master, I am the eldest son of Silver Radiance Hee Family, Hee Yuanliang. This is my cousin!"

Hee Yuanliang hurriedly stepped forward with a respectful bow and said, "Years ago, my family built a connection with Immortal Master Gu of your sect, who guided my father to ensure that my cousin and I, upon turning eighteen, would journey here to seek discipleship. Here is the token of proof!"

As he spoke, Hee Yuanliang presented a jade pendant in his hand.

Seeing this, Hee Ziqi imitated his action and offered her own pendant, not forgetting to throw a contemptuous glance toward Ye Fei.

When Elder Gu had given them these jade pendants, he had mentioned that the siblings possessed exceptional talent and that, should they succeed in discipleship, they would become members of the Immortal Sect.

Hee Ziqi couldn’t imagine someone like Ye Fei sharing the same fortune, let alone catching the eye of any Immortal Master.

In her view, Ye Fei had nothing more than blind luck when he discovered True Essence Sect’s whereabouts.

She was certain he would be sent down the mountain soon enough.

"Ye Fei, this is the difference between your kind and ours—people of a higher class." Hee Ziqi scornfully thought to herself. "I’ve said before that you’re destined for a life of dependence, and I wasn’t wrong! Ha! Thinking you can latch onto some good fortune and be like us? Dream on!"

With that thought, Hee Ziqi chose to ignore Ye Fei altogether.

After all, once she entered True Essence Sect, she would become a figure akin to the Immortal Masters.

Someone like Ye Fei, on a completely different plane of existence, wasn’t worth her attention.

The young man of True Essence Sect glanced at the tokens briefly before nodding. "Indeed, these are Immortal Master Gu’s tokens. Very well, you may ascend!"

"Thank you!" Hee Yuanliang immediately prepared to lead Hee Ziqi up the steps.

But suddenly, the young man barked sharply, "What do you think you’re doing?"

"Didn’t... didn’t the Immortal Master just permit us to ascend?" Hee Yuanliang asked, utterly perplexed.

The young man sneered and said, "I told you to ascend, but I never said to walk up!"

"Not walk up?"

Hee Yuanliang was even more bewildered. "If we don’t walk up, how are we supposed to ascend?"

"By crawling! And with the ritual of three kneels and nine kowtows!"

The young man chuckled coldly. "True Essence Sect is not just any sect. Its members are akin to immortals. Even with Immortal Master Gu’s tokens, you must perform the three kneels and nine kowtows. Only then are you worthy of entering our sect!"

"Crawl? And perform three kneels and nine kowtows?"

Hee Yuanliang felt a surge of rage upon hearing this.

As the eldest son of Silver Radiance Hee Family, he had never been subjected to such humiliation. Clearly, the young man was intentionally making things difficult.

But as he recalled the awe-inspiring skills of Immortal Master Gu in years past, and then considered the dazzling future that awaited him within True Essence Sect, Hee Yuanliang took a deep breath, slowly bent his knees, and knelt before the young man.

Hee Ziqi, seeing this and then taking note of the distance between the mountain gate and the grand hall—still separated by a considerable stretch of stairs—frowned and asked, "Brother, are we really going to..."

"Crawl! And perform the three kneels and nine kowtows! It is a sign of respect toward our future sect!" Hee Yuanliang gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Hearing this, Hee Ziqi had no choice but to follow suit and kneel.

But as she knelt, her gaze drifted toward Ye Fei.

What she saw enraged her to no end!

Ye Fei was smiling!

The man she deemed a bumbling fool dared laugh at her?

Infuriated, Hee Ziqi pointed at Ye Fei and shouted, "Ye Fei, what are you laughing at?"

"I laugh at what is worth laughing at," Ye Fei replied indifferently.

Was this not laughable?

A mere sect of magic users, demanding its disciples-to-be crawl and perform ritualistic kowtows to reach the grand hall?

Was this recruitment of disciples—or of slaves?

Did they truly think themselves emperors?

Hee Ziqi, hearing Ye Fei’s words, was about to lash out. But suddenly, an idea seemed to strike her, and she sneered, "Low-class people are just low-class people. You don’t even have the qualification to perform three kneels and nine kowtows here, yet you dare laugh at us!"

At these words, the two young men from True Essence Sect turned their attention to Ye Fei and Su Miaoling.

Their expressions made it evident: neither seemed to recognize Su Miaoling’s identity. Instead, they merely looked at Ye Fei coldly and said, "What do you think you are? How dare you utter nonsense here at True Essence Sect!"