Even the strongest youths of the sect—who usually stood proudly and untouchable—felt a ripple of tension.

Competing against the entire sect… and the surrounding sects…

for the position of direct disciple?

This was no simple event.

Tian Lei continued:

"The rules will be announced later. But one thing is certain…"

His eyes swept across Su Mingyue, and the others.

"Strength decides everything."

A deep pressure filled the hall for a moment, as if the air itself bowed.

More than a few disciples swallowed nervously.

Fang Qin stepped forward again.

"Sect Master, this is truly a grand decision. But… is there a reason you want three direct disciples at once?"

Tian Lei rested his chin on his hand.

"There is."

The elders leaned forward slightly.

"I'm bored."

Elders: "..."

Disciples: "..."

Everyone fell silent. But they all knew exactly what kind of Sect Master they had, so no one dared to comment. They simply looked at each other helplessly while waiting for him to continue.

"Okay, now go on and make the preparations," Tian Lei said, waving his hand lazily. "Go make the invitations and send them to the other sects."

The elders stiffened, but no one argued.

"And as for the current True Disciples—stay here. I'll be personally guiding you from now on," he added, his voice calm but final.

It was a normal occurrence; after every grand assembly, he would guide the True Disciples. That was also the main reason everyone desperately wanted to become one—his guidance was priceless.

As the elders bowed and left the hall, only Tian Lei and the ten True Disciples remained.

The moment the doors closed, the disciples straightened their backs, their earlier calm replaced by barely restrained excitement.

"Master," one of them stepped forward first, cupping his fists, "I've been stuck at the third layer of the Heaven Vein Realm. My qi circulation feels sluggish whenever I reach the final cycle. I don't know what I'm missing."

Another quickly followed.

"Master, my sword intent is beginning to take shape, but it feels… unstable. I don't know how to ground it properly."

A third spoke up.

"Master, I've been trying to perfect the sect's signature formation, but no matter what I do, the fourth node collapses."

Soon, the hall became filled with voices—each True Disciple asking about their bottlenecks, their flawed techniques, their stuck realms, their incomplete arts.

None of these were issues they could resolve on their own.

And they all knew Tian Lei preferred this—students asking openly rather than pretending to be geniuses.

Tian Lei sighed dramatically, waving his hand.

"One at a time… You brats will make me old."

But there was a faint smile tugging at his lips as he stood up, spiritual pressure rising gently like warm sunlight.

"Alright. Come. Let's fix your foundations before I regret taking you in."

The ten True Disciples instantly formed a half-circle around him, their expressions turning solemn. Even Su Mingyue—usually calm and aloof—leaned forward slightly, her eyes bright with anticipation.

Tian Lei walked toward the center of the hall, each step sending faint ripples through the surrounding qi. A soft hum passed through the air as spiritual threads coiled around him like obedient dragons.

He pointed lazily at the first disciple who had spoken.

"You. The one stuck at Heaven Vein third layer. Come here."

The young man stepped forward nervously.

Tian Lei flicked a finger.

Pop.

A sharp, invisible force struck the disciple's chest—not painful, but shockingly precise. His meridians trembled, and a burst of stagnant qi surged out of him like smoke escaping a sealed jar.

The disciple choked and suddenly felt his entire cultivation loosen.

"Master…! This—this is—!"

"You've been accumulating impurities in your lower dantian," Tian Lei said with mild annoyance. "Who told you to force the final cycle instead of letting it form naturally?"

The disciple's face flushed. "I—I thought it would save time…"

Tian Lei narrowed his eyes.

"Save time? You almost saved yourself into an early grave."

The other disciples quickly straightened their backs, silently swearing they would never take shortcuts again.

Next, Tian Lei pointed at the girl with unstable sword intent.

"You. Draw your sword."

She obeyed instantly. The moment her blade left its sheath, a faint wisp of sword intent quivered—sharp, bright… and trembling violently.

Tian Lei didn't speak. He simply extended a finger and lightly tapped the edge of her sword.

Clang.

The entire hall seemed to resonate as a wave of pure, steady sword intent exploded outward, pushing the girl back a full step.

She stared at her weapon, stunned. The trembling was gone. The intent felt anchored—solid like a mountain, sharp like a blade forged under lightning.

"Your problem wasn't instability," Tian Lei said. "Your problem was fear."

She froze.

"You were afraid of your own sword," he continued. "Whatever shadow is in your heart—remove it. Or you will never reach Sword Intent Perfection."

The disciple bowed deeply, her eyes trembling. "Thank you, Master."

Next came the formation student.

"Fourth node, is it?" Tian Lei asked lazily.

He raised his palm.

A formation diagram—intricate, luminous—manifested in the air. The disciple gasped.

"This… this is the complete Heaven-Sealing Array!"

Tian Lei clicked his tongue.

"No. This is the corrected Heaven-Sealing Array. Whoever taught you the original version forgot two runes and misplaced a junction. No wonder the fourth node keeps collapsing."

He snapped his fingers.

The formation condensed into pure light and shot into the disciple's forehead.

The boy staggered, overwhelmed, then dropped to his knees, trembling with gratitude.

"Master… this… this is a lifetime of enlightenment…"

"Then stop kneeling and start using it properly," Tian Lei muttered.

He looked at the remaining disciples.

"Next."

One by one, they stepped forward—each receiving a correction, a breakthrough, a push, or a scolding so sharp it became enlightenment.

Hours passed as the hall filled with the glow of circulating qi, phantom swords, shifting formations, and surging breakthroughs.

Finally—after the tenth disciple's issue was resolved—Tian Lei stretched lazily and cracked his shoulders.

"Alright, we're done."

The True Disciples knelt as one, bowing deeply.

"Thank you, Master!"

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