Sky Garden, Tiger Peak. Shortly after the opening speech, the relevant people got into their seats and started monitoring the trial.

  “Why did you guys push for me to give a speech?” Muchen compined when the image-capturing array stopped.

  The moment he entered the Sky Garden that overlooked the Heaven Rending valley, they handed him the mic and a script without warning. He had five seconds at most to memorize. And, they didn’t even give him enough time to change things around.

  “Well, Brother Chen won’t come out of his workshop. So…” Liu Zhi yawned in her chair, she didn’t even bother to get up and show her face in front of the disciples before.

  “He did write the script for you.” Huang Bai poured Muchen a cup of tea.

  “Still, it would’ve been better if the Grand Elder took the front on sect competitions, no?” Muchen turned to Li Xianquan, the man in the seat of honor.

  “I do that enough times, Brother. And, of course, we had our reasons to push for you.” Xianquan smiled.

  “Oh? I am interested in your big pn.” Muchen could see the teasing smiles of his younger brothers and sisters.

  But it wasn’t done with the intent to put him on the spot.

  “Because you are leading the team for the Eastern Martial Meet, we thought it would be better if you took the initiative,” Xianquan expined.

  “The already selected disciples have shown great joy upon learning of your participation. So, we thought of sharing that with the rest of the disciples too, and giving them another incentive to try harder.” Huang Bai added.

  “Also, we thought it might be funny to make you uncomfortable with a few cheesy lines from Chen Zhipeng. So, we had him prepare it in advance.” Liu Zhi ughed.

  “Senior Sister Liu, you ruined it all.” Xianquan sighed.

  “We almost convinced him it was for the good.” Huang Bai shook her head.

  “These punks…” Muchen sighed and sank into his seat.

  His eyes swept over the multiple smaller screens capturing the entrance to Heaven Rending Valley. In the middle of this was a rge map of the outer area of Heaven Rending Valley. The map had scattered dots of multiple colors. Some moved together, while others roamed alone. The names popped up if his eyes hovered over a dot for a second, and he could watch live footage from the valley because of the badge.

  Brother, can I talk with you for a moment? Xianquan’s voice rang into Muchen’s mind. A telepathy spell with the use of formations.

  Is it about Heaven’s Pond? Muchen didn’t show any change on his face.

  Yes. After reading your report, I went there alone because of how fascinating it was. Xianquan continued. I have to say, I haven’t felt that eager since I first learned about formations from you.

  That’s why I told you to check it out. Muchen took a sip of the hot tea. What’s your take on it?

  The best we can do is carry the pond water from there back. But we need a special container to store it. Xianquan said.

  What about copying the formation? Any progress?

  You are taking revenge for the mischief already, brother? Xianquan sighed. The formation had deteriorated far too much, the gap have become too rge for me fill. Well, I doubt there is a formation master out there who can do it. I found no clues or mentions even after overturning Master’s library. Unless we get a record, we have no chance of understanding the formation.

  I don’t know about the formation, but I did find a book in that pce. I’ll tell you if I find any leads after decrypting it. Muchen said.

  Ok, I’ll hold you to that. Xianquan’s face brightened.

  Muchen already expected these results. He only gave Xianquan time to investigate and form an opinion to get through the process. He already had the book decrypted and ready for the next step of the process.

  The book only has some information about the array and the writer’s understanding of the array, with clues on its origin. That much should be enough for Xianquan. Muchen pced the teacup on the table.

  “Why are you smiling ear to ear?” Liu Zhi squinted her eyes.

  “He must’ve had a good conversation with Senior Brother Li.” Huang Bai caught on.

  “Oh, they already discussed that? Such proficiency.” Getting her answer, she leaned into her chair and crossed her legs. “I could never.”

  “So, have you decided where to establish the new Heaven’s Pond? Such a treasure risks attack and will split our forces if we want to defend it.” Huang Bai ignored the useless comments from Liu Zhi.

  “I pn to bring it into the Inner sect. Even if we can’t grow the pond rger, we need powerful Qi veins to maintain it. We only have five of those in the sect.” Xianquan pinched his nose bridge.

  “We use mine for herb cultivation, so no.” Liu Zhi said.

  “We use ours for the high-quality training rooms for disciples and elders, it generates a lot of revenue.” Huang Bai sipped tea with a smile.

  “The one in Lotus Peak powers the sect’s formations, and the Heaven Rending Valley needs the one in Tiger Peak. That leaves us with…”

  Liu Zhi, Huang Bai, and Li Xianquan stared at the only one who stayed silent.

  “The Qi vein on my peak is important for me. But, for the betterment of the sect, I can offer the pce for a small fee.” Muchen showed a benevolent smile.

  “Well, Big Brother did find the pond, so it is only right we set it up on your peak. And it finally won’t look like a ghost mountain.” Xianquan smiled, and the other two only shrugged.

  Muchen knew they would choose his peak because of the constraints. But he had to stir things up a little for things to work faster.

  Xianquan does things well, but his methods give others room for wriggling around. Muchen gnced at the tables on the lower ptform where elders mingled, and saw a middle-aged man in white robes approach them.

  “The princess of Tiger Peak, Miss Hua Mei, has come.” The man with his sharp, bck beard led a child to the upper ptform.

  “Mei Mei came?” Liu Zhi jumped from her seat and scooped up the little kid in her arms. “I missed you so much!”

  “…Ugh, you reek!” Hua Mei pushed Liu Zhi’s lips away from her, but her pesky mouth closed in.

  “I just wuv you!” The scent of alcohol vanished from Liu Zhi, so Hua Mei had to brave through the kisses.

  “Why is our little princess here without a word?” Xianquan came over and pinched Hua Mei’s cheek.

  “You should already know.” Hua Mei harrumphed.

  “She won’t tell us unless we give her something sweet. How about we ask Elder Lu about it?” Muchen turned to the short and stocky guy still waiting for them.

  “Elder Lu, you can’t!” Hua Mei tried to stop him, but he could only shake his head.

  “I am sorry, Princess, but I can’t keep things when a Peak Master asks.” The elder, with the Lotus emblem, spoke with a genial smile. “Princess wanted to watch Peak Master Li’s students from a good spot, so I brought her here. The elders below are also interested in the topic.”

  “That’s interesting, I’d like to know more if you can stay,” Muchen said.

  “It’s nothing, Peak Master Li.” Elder Lu said.

  “Some elders considered pcing bets on who'd rank in the first ten to lighten the mood and introduce some competition. The names of Peak Master Li’s disciples came up often.” Elder Lu smiled. “Many elders have pced their bets on Sun Lingling, some even think she’ll rank in the first three. Many think she'd have pced first with ease if it wasn’t for her lower cultivation realm.”

  What a joke. You think I won’t pick up on subliminal insults if you mask them behind a smile? Muchen had been waiting for this moment. Now that he had heard the leaves rustle, he wanted to shake the entire tree.

  “A lower realm is the st thing she has to worry about.” With realized sword qi, there wasn’t anyone in the participating disciples who could face Sun Lingling. And, the monsters in the outer area would be like normal animals to her. But the problem came with the second one.

  “What about Wang Yang, you said both of my disciples were brought up, no?”

  “Well… about that…” Elder Lu gulped.

  “What? Did something happen?” Muchen leaned forward.

  Why is he talking so much today? He always sends the elders away after a polite greeting. What happened today? Elder Lu cursed his past self for coming up.

  “Why are you sweating, Elder Lu? I didn’t ask a difficult question, did I?” Muchen tilted his head.

  At this point, even the Peak Masters, Muchen’s junior brother and sisters, felt something off about him. They haven’t seen him talk this much with an elder since he assumed his position as a Peak Master.

  Heh. Uncle has already started. Only Hua Mei had a knowing smile, she came here with the elder in question because Muchen asked her to.

  “Why are you silent, Elder Lu?” Muchen got off his seat and stood in front of Elder Lu. “I thought you couldn’t keep things from a Peak Master.”

  The situation received the attention of the elders below too. They could only shift in their seats and cough. Elder Lu still stood there, white as a sheet of paper. However, one person came to his rescue.

  “Why are you pressuring an Elder like that, Muchen?” The old man in bck robes said.

  He sat at the head of the table on the lower floor. Using the metal cane with a dragon head, he moved his big, rotund body forward and arrived on the ptform.

  You finally showed yourself, Ling Chen. Muchen smiled at the limping old man.

  If Elder Lu gave in and spoke of elders that bet on Wang Yang’s failure, this Elder’s name would come up. So, he came up on his own.

  If Muchen had the senior position among the Peak Masters, this old man had the senior position among the elders of the sect. He founded the Disciplinary Hall and held immense sway among the elders of the sect, especially in the older ones.

  Everyone treated him like a senior because of his age and strength. In the Azure Sky Sect, only the Grand Elder and the Sect Master could stand above him in social ranking. He had even more political power than some Peak Masters of the sect.

  “Elder Ling, I wanted to know what kept Elder Lu silent when he should’ve answered.” Muchen faced Elder Ling. “Almost like he is afraid of getting someone in trouble.”

  “…” Elder Ling stood silent. He hadn’t expected such a direct statement.

  I know you hate me, so no need for me to be nice. Muchen had always seen Elder Ling as a strong defender of the sect and had ignored his schemes against him for the sect’s stability. However, the person turned out to be a traitorous snake. You wanted to take my position by putting doubts on my abilities as a Peak Master and a Teacher, right? Let’s see if you are capable of that.

  “…What do you mean, Muchen? It’s not him defending someone else, he didn’t want to upset you by talking about it.” Elder Ling smiled.

  “Is that the image people have of me?” Muchen patted Elder Lu's shoulder. “Don’t worry, Elder Lu, I am not a small man like that, so tell me.”

  “I-It’s just... some elders have bet that Wang Yang won’t qualify for the Eastern Martial Meet.” Elder Lu caved. He could sense many sharp eyes gathered on him, even the usually drunk Lui Zhi had her eyes wide open.

  “Oh, it’s like that? Well, people have opinions after all. But I expected more from our elders. Their judgment has dulled.” Muchen looked at the lower ptform.

  They don’t fear me, but the position I hold. But soon, they will. Muchen had id down his pieces; now the time for his opponent to move came.

  “It’s a trivial matter. You shouldn’t let some drunk talk get to you.” Elder Ling shook his head.

  “I found it funny, that’s all.” Muchen signaled Elder Lu to go and continued. “Since we are on the matter of fun, how about I participate in the betting too?”

  “If you want to. Who would you like to bet on? Sun Lingling? Lie Feng?” Elder Ling called the disciple in charge of taking notes.

  “I’ll bet on Wang Yang…” Muchen looked at Elder Ling in the eye and smiled. “…pcing first in the trial.”

  This wouldn’t even happen in a million years if the disciple in question was a normal one. However, Wang Yang never pyed by such common sense.

  He won the trial by a ndslide even after being trapped. No, it was because of that trap that he pced first. Using the event, Muchen pnned to stir the pot well and catch some flies.

  ...

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