“How dare you!”
A furious shout echoed from Elder Fang Shou of the Zhuyun Lineage, sleeves billowing as he moved to seize the violent criminal, heart filled with concern for his young disciple.
Such a heinous act of violence had never occurred in the promotion assessment in nearly a century—utter disregard for all rules!
Clang!
Before Yun Liu could even turn, a flying sword shot from Yan Bingling’s back, launching from her sword case with such speed it pointed straight at Fang Shou’s brow.
She couldn’t care less about the disputes of the younger generation, but if some old fool had no eyes, he couldn’t blame her sword for being blind.
Yet someone moved even faster—a petite figure stepped in front of Elder Fang in an instant, smiling as she raised her palm to signal everyone to halt.
Fang Shou swallowed, a chill running through his brow, unconsciously stepping back two paces, almost forgetting that there was an even more tyrannical madwoman on Tianxiang Peak.
What shocked everyone further was that the little girl who stepped forward made even the Five Peaks Elders frown, sensing something extraordinary.
The honored guest traveling with Mister Canghai was no ordinary disciple but a Shanhai Pavilion Deacon—a special existence whose status, while not as exalted as the Six Great Orthodox Leaders of the Heavenly Concord Alliance, could not be offended by either righteous or demonic paths.
“Miss You, what is… your intention?”
“Scram.”
Just one word from You, but it made Fang Shou’s face turn purple, yet he didn’t dare talk back.
Heaven knew how long this little deacon had been in the Shanhai Pavilion—anyway, back when Fang Shou was still cultivating on Xixu Peak three hundred years ago, Miss You had already been there, hosting generation after generation of Shenhua disciples.
The Grand Elder picked up his gourd, full of doubts, but with the calm of one who had seen many storms.
He flicked his finger, sending the white jade flying sword away, casting a resentful glance at Yan Bingling, as if blaming the Aunt Master for lowering herself to argue with an ignorant junior.
The Grand Elder then pulled aside his own Zhuyun Lineage disciples, thought for a moment, and spoke in a low voice:
“Trial ends. Fang Ting of Zhuyun Peak, as an Inner Disciple, failed to complete the assessment in time. Return the Cloud Robe and Sword Emblem immediately, go back to Xixu Peak, and retrain in the Six Arts until you complete Outer Sect cultivation again to regain Inner Sect status.”
“Grand Uncle!”
Fang Shou’s eyes widened, wanting to protest, but at just a glance from the Grand Elder, he shut his mouth, gritting his teeth as he picked up Fang Ting.
“As for Yun Liu, Chief Senior Disciple of Tianxiang Peak—your duty was to protect the trial disciples and maintain order. Regardless of reason, you should not have gravely injured a fellow disciple. Return to Tianxiang Peak and reflect for half a year. Do not take a single step outside during that time.”
The Shenhua Sect’s second-in-command was strict and impartial, without favoritism.
Compared to Fang Ting’s year of retraining in the Outer Sect, half a year of confinement meant little to a cultivator. In truth, this incident was caused by Yun Liu’s own provocations.
The expressions of the Five Peaks disciples were complex, some even wanting to laugh.
No one knew exactly what happened, only that someone made trouble out of nothing and ended up sent back to repeat Outer Sect studies, stripped of the golden Cloud Robe and returned to the status of an Outer Sect disciple.
All who had suffered through Xixu Peak’s hardships knew: if you performed poorly, came late or left early, your “sentence” could be extended.
Who could have imagined that the first Inner Disciple in centuries to be sent back to Xixu Peak was actually the son of Elder Fang Shou?
Yun Liu dug at his ear, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, fully prepared to step down with honor.
He hadn’t expected the punishment to be so light. Just as he was about to request resignation, his sleeve was pulled.
Yan Bingling lowered her head, eyes shut tight, gently shaking it, almost pleading.
“Don’t….”
“Don’t what?”
Yun Liu smiled. He was sure he heard Master say it herself.
Though it wouldn’t change the outcome, it was at least a straightforward first step.
“…”
Looking at his master’s uneasy appearance, Yun Liu couldn’t resist teasing again, gently freeing his hand.
“If you don’t say it, how will I know what you want? Just like that pile of junk you hide—I’ve thrown it all away. If you want it, just ask me. No matter what it is, I’ll give it to you. There’s no need to hide.”
“Eek!?”
At that moment, Yan Bingling’s lips turned pale and her body tensed, like a cat with its tail stepped on, overwhelmed with shame.
The Grand Elder cleared his throat, showing some mercy for the Aunt Master.
Given Tianxiang’s thin numbers, he didn’t dwell on someone’s negligence during the trial, simply expelling both brats from the Inner Sect together.
Having the Tianxiang Peak Chief safe and sound was, after all, a good thing.
“The youngsters’ mischief has made a laughingstock in front of the Immortal Master of Penglai Island.”
The Grand Elder gave a bitter smile, but Mister Canghai simply waved it off, finding the situation quite amusing.
The Dan Boy leaped off the auspicious cloud, circling Yun Liu twice to inspect him closely.
“Your handwork’s decent, but as for being a Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master… I don’t buy it!”
Dan Tong shook his finger, face challenging and words astonishing.
Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master?
The selection results had not yet been announced, and with matters still unsettled, everyone looked toward the youth in white, confused.
Why had Mister Canghai come here, and who in the Eastern Continent could prompt a Penglai Island Alchemy Master to come personally, or a Shanhai Pavilion Deacon to get involved?
The middle-aged man shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Li Su, don’t be rude to Mr. Yun.”
This disciple of his was excellent in every way, with soul and roots fit for an alchemist. In a hundred years, he would surpass his master, but with no fear of heaven or earth, he refused to accept anyone claimed to be more gifted.
“No need for you to believe it.”
Yun Liu waved a hand, wondering where this strange brat had appeared from, and was about to chat with Miss You.
A sharp divine sense thrust toward his face, piercing his mind in a test of strength.
“If you’re scared, just admit it! You won’t beat Penglai Island today—let my master take the sect leader’s seat!”
The Dan Boy, powder-carved and jade-sculpted, grinned with two sharp teeth—adorably cute, yet evidently here to challenge.
Yun Liu frowned at the middle-aged man, who only smiled bitterly.
Finding the situation absurd, Yun Liu then called out to the silly girl clutching a blood-soaked pork knuckle nearby:
“A guest from afar is still a guest. Shiyu, my child, show this Penglai Island brat what for on behalf of your father.”
“Huh?”
Ji Shiyu was still dazed. She’d just watched the annoying brat get thrashed and punished, ready to gloat, then learned that even the slippery one was disciplined.
Somehow, this didn’t seem like a time to start a meal.
“Who’s your child!”
She bared her teeth, face red, but her body obediently shouldered the pork leg, giving the arrogant brat a hostile stare, as if to say, “Serving the father as a soldier!”
Disciple versus disciple—very fair!
Yun Liu stroked his chin, seeing Ji Shiyu’s silly expression and her obvious reluctance to let go of her fresh ingredient, and burst out laughing.
“You?”
Dan Tong wagged his finger in disdain, releasing his divine sense toward Yun Liu’s shield in the blink of an eye.
“Ow!”
Ji Shiyu staggered, face pale and head aching, as if Ao Tian had pecked her skull with his mouth!
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