Chapter 36: The Lecture Hall and Information Broker Ding Yun

The lecture hall stood near the center of the sect, built into a broad stone terrace overlooking the surrounding peaks. Unlike an ordinary hall, it had no walls at the front. A wide open platform faced the rows of seats, allowing spiritual energy from the surrounding formations to flow freely through the chamber.

Hundreds of stone seats were arranged in a sweeping arc, each row rising slightly higher than the one before it so every disciple could clearly see the platform. Faint formation patterns were carved into the floor and along the edges of the seats, keeping the spiritual energy stable within the hall.

When Yu Liang arrived, the lecture had not yet begun, but the hall was already filling with disciples. Groups of outer sect disciples entered from the surrounding paths, some discussing cultivation, while others quietly searched for a suitable seat.

Yu Liang stopped at the door and observed his surroundings. The lecture room was much bigger than what he had anticipated.

Although there were a lot of disciples inside, people were still coming into the room through the entrance.

From the looks of things, almost all of the seats were going to be taken up by the time the lecture started. Yu Liang hadn’t thought so many outer sect disciples would turn up for the lecture; he had thought it would be quite empty.

He went inside. Walked along the edge of the room to avoid the crowded area. There were stone steps between the rows which was helpful.

As he was climbing up to the rows, he heard some disciples talking.

"I heard Elder Wan is giving the lecture today. He’s strict, but his explanations are always clear."

"That doesn’t matter if you can’t understand what he’s teaching in the first place."

"Of course it is. I don’t want to seat in this lecture of Elder Wan."

"Shhh! Don’t say that too loudly. What if he hears you?"

"Did you notice the front rows? They’re still empty, just like always."

Yu Liangs attention picked up when he heard that comment. He looked towards the rows and noticed something he had not seen before.

The first two rows of seats were completely empty. Not a single disciple was sitting there even though all the other seats were taken. The seats themselves looked like all the others. But they were clearly saved for someone.

He slowed down his pace to listen what the disciples were saying.

"Front rows again huh?" one disciple said. "They always keep those seats for themselves."

Another disciple laughed. "Ofcourse they do. They are the strongest in the sect. Nobody is going to challenge them for it."

"It still seems arrogant though. Half of them do not even show up for the lectures."

"That’s because they don’t need to. When you’re that strong, the basics don’t matter anymore."

Yu Liang remembered what he had heard. The ten seats at the front were reserved for the ten strongest outer disciples.

It was almost like a reminder of who stood at the top.

He sat down in the fourth row, well out of sight but close enough to hear clearly. As he was sitting there, someone from the other side nodded at him.

"A first timer?" the young man asked. He seemed around Yu Liang’s age with slender build and a friendly face.

"Yes " Yu Liang said.

"Thought so. I haven’t seen your face before." The disciple extended a hand. "I’m Zhou Ran. Third layer of Qi Condensation."

Yu Liang shook his hand. "I am Yu Liang. I am at the First layer."

Zhou Ran did not seem surprised. "You just got promoted?"

"Yes, recently."

Zhou Ran welcomed Yu Liang to the sect. "Lectures can be good or bad but Elder Wan is usually worth listening to." He pointed to the front rows. "Do not even think about sitting there by the way. Those seats are saved."

"I heard that," Yu Liang said. "Those are meant for the top ten disciples."

"That’s right," replied Zhou Ran. "Many of them have such powerful Qi that they’re almost at the peak stage of the Qi Condensation stage. Even a couple of them are very close to advancing to the next stage." There was a tone of admiration as well as some jealousy in Zhou Ran’s voice. "They don’t really mingle with us."

Before Yu Liang could say anything, another disciple leaned over from the row behind them.

"Seven of them are pretty nice though " the disciple said. "They will spar with you if requested properly and they will even give you advice if you are respectful. There are the three who believe themselves to be superior to everybody else."

Zhou Ran shrugged. "You can not really blame them. When you are that strong everyone else probably seems weak to you."

Yu Liang listened quietly thinking, being strong what matters, like everywhere else. The only difference is how strong you are.

More disciples came in and the noise level got louder.

Then a loud and cheerful voice cut through all the noise.

"Yu Liang! There you are!"

Yu Liang turned around in surprise. A short and heavyset disciple was making his way up the steps waving at him. The disciple had a chubby face and was breathing hard from climbing the stairs. His outer sect robe was tight across his belly, he had his hair tied loosely on top of his head.

Despite how he looked, the disciple had a lot of energy as he climbed up quickly.

He sat down next to Yu Liang with a satisfied sigh and the stone bench creaked a little under his weight.

"Finally found you," the disciple said, grinning. "I have been looking around for the new genius that everyone is talking about."

Yu Liang blinked. "I am sorry, do we know each other?"

"Not yet, but we are about to become friend," the disciple said as he held out a hand. "I am Ding Yun. I am at the Third layer of Qi Condensation and I like to gather information and make connections."

Yu Liang shook his hand. "You gather information?"

Ding Yun leaned back. Folded his arms across his belly. "I like to know things.. Lately the most interesting thing I heard was about a former handyman disciple who learned how to use force during a life or death battle."

Yu Liangs face did not change. "I am not sure where you heard that."

Ding Yun waved his hand. "Take it easy. I am not here to interrogate you. I just love meeting people who have some potential, and you definitely have that. So, here I am."

Yu Liang studied him carefully. Ding Yun’s tone was casual, almost lazy, but his eyes were sharp. This wasn’t someone to underestimate.

"You seem to know a lot." Yu Liang said carefully.

Ding Yun grinned. "I have connections with seven of the ten strongest disciples in the outer sect. They keep me informed on things and I help them out in return. It’s a win-win situation."

"Seven out of ten?" Yu Liang asked.

Ding Yun laughed. "The other three think they are too good for connections. They think that being strong is all that matters and that relying on others is weak." He waved his hand. "They are wrong. In this world having connections is everything. Being strong is not enough if you do not know how to use it."

Yu Liang found himself relaxing somewhat. There was something about Ding Yun’s straightforwardness. No pretense, no manners. Just simple selfishness.

"So," Ding Yun said, leaning in a little, "I am curious. why is it that your story isn’t more famous? Your ability of using the force should have spread like wildfire by now. I only got a little bit wind of it. Is there anyone trying to suppress that?"

Yu Liang thought back to the talk in the hall with the Elder Yao. Their discussion was short but his tone was grave. ’Do not make yourself known. Not yet.’

He kept his face neutral. "I do not know. I have not talked about it."

Ding Yun looked at him for a moment then nodded. "That is probably for the best anyway. Getting much attention too quickly can be dangerous."

Yu Liang found himself liking Ding Yun’s straightforwardness. This man wasn’t pretending to be anything other than what he is. Someone who gathers information and used it to make connections.

Preety Intresting.

Before Yu Liang could say anything, the crowd suddenly changed.

Conversations were paused mid-sentence. Heads were turned toward the door.

Yu Liang followed their gazes and saw several figures entering the hall. Their presence alone drew attention. Even without seeing their faces clearly, it was obvious that they were important.

Ding Yun grinned."Here they come. The top ten strongest disciples."

The strongest disciples of the Outer Sect made their entrance.