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“Did the people from the Red Cloud Sea really say that?”

“Yes. The people of the Red Cloud Sea publicly expelled my master and me from the Shanning Realm. The Lord of the Red Cloud Sea is arrogant and conceited, claiming that without the Red Cloud Sea’s Spirit Beast Mountain, no sect or school in the Spirit Mountain Realm would be able to awaken their spirits.”Over there, Master Xu Chengli and his disciple, having traveled for several days, finally returned to their sect. They now knelt in the main hall of Shanning Realm. “We implore the Sect Leader and the Elders to seek justice for Chengli.”

The Sect Master’s expression was enigmatic. “Yan Qi did not return with you.” 

“Junior Brother Yan Qi said… he no longer wishes to be a disciple of the Shanning Realm.”

“Junior Brother Yan Qi and I were at odds. I merely inquired about his Spirit-Awakenings, yet he struck me with a palm strike. He even joined forces with the people of the Red Cloud Sea to attack me.”

“…” Xu Chengli’s face was pale; he truly looked as if he had been injured.

The Sect Master looked at the two of them and suddenly asked, “Why did Yan Qi go to Qiling with the two of you? Mr. Li, you speak first.” The man addressed was none other than Xu Chengli’s master.

The moment the Sect Master spoke, the entire hall fell silent.

Chief Administrator Li’s expression shifted several times; finally, he bowed his head and said, “To answer the Sect Master, although Yan Qi is a junior disciple of the sect, his cultivation has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Logically speaking, he should have undertaken the Qiling ritual long ago. Taking him and Chengli on this trip was done out of my good intentions…”

“Was it out of goodwill?” The Sect Master’s tone was calm. “I had assumed that since Chengli is still young, it could be overlooked. But you, as one of the sect’s senior officials, have resorted to petty tricks and meddled in the rivalry between the younger generation. Senior Official Li, this is truly a breach of moral conduct.”

Suddenly accused of “a lack of moral integrity” in front of so many members of the sect, Administrator Li’s face flushed crimson. “Sect Leader, you’ve misunderstood. I brought the two of them along, of course, for the sake of the younger generation…”

By the end of his sentence, under the gaze of everyone present, Administrator Li could say no more. But upon reflection, he thought: for the sake of his disciple, what wrong had he done?

It was Yan Qi who had been rude first, relying on his extraordinary talent to disregard him, a Chief Clerk!

“It is Yan Qi who has defected now, and Chengli’s spirit beast was killed as a result. I implore you, Sect Master, to first seek justice for Chengli.” Administrator Li immediately changed the subject.

“I will personally write to the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea to inquire about what happened on Spirit Beast Mountain. You need not worry. If the Red Cloud Sea is indeed abusing its power, the Shanning Realm will certainly seek justice for you. But if not…” The Sect Master fixed his gaze on Chief Li. “You know, the Shanning Realm has no place for those with impure motives.”

Administrator Li’s heart skipped a beat, but he forced a composed expression. “Yes.”  

“Take Chengli down to recuperate,” the Sect Master said, waving his hand. Li and his disciple rose to their feet.

Before they had even stepped out of the reception hall, the Sect Master spoke again: “We’ve recently admitted a new inner-sect disciple. He’s already been registered in the records. His name is Lu Zhanyu, and he is currently the youngest disciple in the Shanning Realm. I hope you’ll keep him in mind, Mr. Li, and look after him.”

Chief Administrator Li paused.

Even Xu Chengli raised his head. Another new disciple?

“By the way, Zhanyu has been taken under my personal tutelage. From now on, Master Li need not concern himself with matters regarding his spiritual awakening.”

The Sect Master’s words were practically a slap in the face.

Yan Qi had been unlucky; he’d fallen into the his hands. Now, the new disciple was no longer his concern. Administrator Li seethed inwardly but dared not say a word, uttering only a single syllable: “Yes.”

He heard that the group that had gone to the Red Cloud Sea for the Spirit Awakening had returned. Zhanyu decided to take a stroll near the main hall. He didn’t run into Yan Qi, but he did hear about the matter involving Administrator Li and his disciple.

If he hadn’t met the Red Cloud Sea Lord—who was exceptionally skilled at farming—he would have truly believed the rumors to be true.

Shen Yun had a gentle and straightforward nature; it was simply hard to imagine him being the kind of bully described in the rumors.

Moreover, there were plenty of discerning people in Shanning Realm. Not to mention Zhanyu, who was new to the area, even senior disciples like Lin Ziyang were well aware of this Chief Li’s character.

This master and disciple were already notorious for their arrogance within the sect.

Xu Chengli’s failure to awaken his spirit this time had likely drawn the mockery of countless people behind his back. However, none of this concerned Zhanyu.

As long as Administrator Li and his disciple didn’t cross him, he had no intention of picking a fight with anyone.

Originally, Administrator Li and his disciple hadn’t given this newcomer a second thought. After all, it was common knowledge that Zhanyu lacked natural talent. Things were fine at first.

After a few days, they realized something was off.

This Lu Zhanyu wasn’t just good-looking. He had a pleasant personality, was well-liked, and even his insight and knowledge far surpassed those of many disciples in the Shanning Realm. Even those with higher cultivation levels often found themselves at a loss in his presence.

Aside from falling slightly short in natural talent, it seemed… he had no other flaws.

As a result, the name Lu Zhanyu quickly spread throughout the inner sect of Shanning Realm.

“I heard the Sect Master is looking for things to enhance Zhanyu’s natural talent. Yesterday, he summoned Junior Brother Zhanyu and gave him plenty of spiritual elixirs and fine medicines.”

Hearing these rumors, Xu Chengli felt as if a knife were slicing through his flesh.

After that man forcibly severed his spirit beast contract with the thunder lion beast; he was left severely weakened, yet the Sect Master had never sent anyone to bring him even a single pill. What gives this Lu Zhanyu the right…

Xu Chengli felt utterly resentful.

So, from then on, whenever Zhanyu was in class, he would accidentally break a desk or a beast-taming staff—in short, his luck had taken a turn for the worse.

Even the clothes he changed out of every day would “disappear” every so often.

After discovering yet again that his disciple’s robes, hanging out to dry in the courtyard, had been trampled with several footprints, Zhanyu smiled. He wasn’t sure whether to say these people were just bored out of their minds or simply immature.

Zhanyu cleared his throat twice.

Due to his physical condition, he had never gone out to train since childhood, nor had he ever joined a sect on his own, let alone had this kind of “experience.” It was quite novel.

It turned out that if he didn’t have to handle the affairs of the Main Immortal-Demon City or balance the various factions, this was exactly the kind of carefree life he should be living. With his sect to back him up in everything, pranks and teasing fellow disciples wouldn’t cause much trouble, and the senior masters in charge would always cover for him.

He also had his uncles to fall back on, but he didn’t like to trouble them or make them worry on his behalf.

“Junior Brother Zhanyu, this… this Xu Chengli is going too far,” said a fellow disciple of Zhanyu’s generation, annoyed at the sight. “How many times has this happened? Xu Chengli is really pushing it.”

Zhanyu chuckled softly. “It’s fine. His master is an administrator of the sect; I can endure it.” 

“Junior Brother Zhanyu…” The disciple stared at him in disbelief.

It was common for Xu Chengli to run roughshod over the younger generation. After all, wasn’t it his master that everyone truly feared? Not everyone was the Sect Leader’s disciple. Zhanyu was lucky… but he didn’t go and complain either.

If he didn’t complain, he’d just have to put up with it.

“Cough, cough…” Zhanyu picked up the small porcelain bottle sitting on the desk. Xu Chengli was probably just jealous of him. The Sect Master of Shanning Realm had given him plenty of medicine, but most of it was of a low grade and of little use to him.

These pills Uncle Wu gave him were far better. At least they could ease his cough for a while. Zhanyu opened the porcelain bottle, but then paused.

“Junior Brother Zhanyu?”

Zhanyu’s grip on the porcelain bottle tightened slowly. “Senior Brother, has someone tampered with my medicine?”

“Your medicine?” The disciple looked taken aback. “It couldn’t be that Xu Chengli…?”

Zhanyu looked at him, his tone growing deliberate. “Senior Brother, I’ve always kept these medicines on my person or in my room.” The disciple froze for a moment.

“Senior Brother, your act is a bit too clumsy.” Zhanyu sighed softly. 

“……” The disciple remained silent, merely pursing his lips.

“Why did you tamper with my medicine?” Lu Zhanyu cleared his throat twice. “Did Xu Chengli order you to do this? Or was it your own idea…?”

“Is there any point in asking?” Having been exposed, the disciple stopped beating around the bush and spoke bluntly. “Xu Chengli at least has some talent and a good master. But what gives you the right?”

Zhanyu fell silent and asked no more.

“I’m the one who switched the medicine. If you want, go ahead and report me to the Sect Leader. After all, Xu Chengli told me to do it—at worst, I’m just an accomplice.”

The way he spoke suggested he was certain Zhanyu couldn’t do anything to him.

Zhanyu emptied the fake pills from the porcelain bottle one by one.

“Give me back the medicine.”

“The medicine isn’t with me…” Suddenly, the disciple’s voice trailed off. He looked down at the dagger suspended at his dantian—the short blade radiating a golden glow. Its grade was impossible to discern, but piercing his dantian would likely be a breeze.

“The medicine… is with Xu Chengli.” His voice trembled slightly, yet Zhanyu’s grip on the dagger remained perfectly steady. But when had he made his move? He hadn’t noticed a thing…

Zhanyu calmly withdrew the dagger into his sleeve. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Lu Zhanyu… was he really this kind of person? Snapping out of his shock, he saw Zhanyu walking away without looking back. The senior brother called out resentfully, “Lu Zhanyu! You think you’re playing both sides, but how many people in the Shanning Realm truly regard you as a good junior brother? Everyone will betray you!”

“To me, Senior Brother, you’re just a nobody,” Zhanyu said, turning back. If someone is a nobody, then their betrayal doesn’t matter.

He didn’t want to kill anyone in the Shanning Realm because he intended to stay here to gather information about the World Tree—and, incidentally, to wait for his uncle and the village elder to come and fetch him.

Surely these people didn’t really think he was playing some game of brotherly harmony with them.

Between people, sincerity is always exchanged for sincerity.

Lu Zhanyu’s heart was narrow; he had to offer his sincerity first before he could expect sincerity in return. Zhanyu smiled, his hands clasped in front of his chest, and slowly made his way toward Xu Chengli’s residence.

To actually take his medicine.

A child’s prank should know its limits.