Vol 1 Chapter 17 (1/2)

Volume 1, Chapter 17 – Heavenly Sect’s Contention at the Clear Sky Peak (Part 8)

Shen Jingyue quietly took a bottle of compounded pills out of his sleeve, swallowing a pill without any of his fellow disciples noticing, before he walked onto the stage.

The pill was called ‘Life Force Congregator’. The pill could stimulate one’s brain in a short period of time and maximize the brain’s power greatly. However, taking this drug was like putting a powerful poison time-bomb into anyone who took it. Such a drug could stimulate one’s potential and overdraft one’s potential for a short time, and even if it didn’t seem to cause any aftereffects in the future, it would actually reduce one’s own lifespan greatly.

However, since this third session was too important for the Vast Origin Sect, Shen Jingyue decided to choose to sacrifice his lifespan for a small chance of winning.

He sorted out his clothes and cupped his hands over to Wen Jun, “Brother, I will go!”

Wen Jun felt an ominous feeling hearing Shen Jingyue’s words. He couldn’t help but frown as he then comforted, “Brother, you don’t need to worry about anything, just give your best!”

Shen Jingyue let out a faint smile as he then slowly walked onto the stage.

He once again was facing Zhang Yan. There were no needless words to say anymore as he then greeted Zhang Yan with cupped hands.

Shen Jingyue was still standing motionlessly. He looked at Zhang Yan and spoke in a deep tone, “Junior brother Zhang, I truly underestimated you!” He faintly smiled, “However, I have to say, I still have to try my best!”

Zhang Yan also didn’t delay for long as he directly replied, “Senior Shen, please!”

Shen Jingyue calmly walked for several steps before he sat down on the previously arranged mat. His eyes quickly swept over the Star Stele. Previously, those texts were like messed up characters engraved on the stele. However now, he could see those characters clearly. Even if he didn’t use bamboo tokens to calculate to decipher the text, it was as if he could understand it with one glance.

He calmly spread the paper out, took up a pen, and started to write.

Uproar suddenly buzzed out from the audience under the stage. Previously, they were greatly shocked because they saw Zhang Yan deduce the Star Stele without the bamboo tokens’ aid. They didn’t expect that Shen Jingyue was also hiding his true ability as he unexpectedly did the same thing!

Zhang Yan frowned. He had calculated Shen Jingyue’s ability before. But, he never thought that this person was even more formidable than Mo Yuan.

However, he had expected that this third session would be a bitter struggle for him. Even if he wanted to whine, it would be useless. Moreover, the Vast Origin Sect surely had sent disciples who excelled in both martial arts and Eclipse codes’ interpretation. But, as long as he won this session, it meant he had total victory. He faintly smiled, held up his lower robe and quickly sat down. His sight then s.h.i.+fted to the third stele as he began to write.

Meanwhile, while the two people were busy interpreting the text, on the mountain pa.s.sageway not far from the stage, the Blue Ocean Sect’s Lower Court’s outer disciples were gathered there.

“This Zhang Yan, once he wins the showdown with those Vast Origin Sect’s disciples, it is likely that he will be promoted to an outer disciple. This… surely will hinder my plans and other important matters…”

A cold and cloudy expression flashed from Lin Yuan’s eyes as he then muttered a few words with a fierce expression on his face, “This person must be removed quickly!”

The Lower Court’s disciples had their own privileges and benefits. The Lower Court granted those disciples compounded pills, cultivation manuals, and other things. However, the amount of resources given to them depended on the quota set by the Upper Court. During the past decade, there were battles to compete over the resources within the Three Lake’s demons territory. The attacks and killings occurred constantly these past years and it became fiercer and frequent lately. This was why the quota given to the outer disciples was being reduced every year. The resources bestowed to the Lower Court were distributed to 28 disciples. If another disciple were to be promoted into their ranks, the already low resources they received would be reduced once again.

But this was not the key reason. Once Zhang Yan had crossed the threshold and his cultivation broke through into the higher realm, it was very likely that he would also be able to open his acupoints’ gates and directly become their rival. At that point, trying to suppress Zhang Yan would be almost impossible.

The way of how the resources were being distributed made these disciples formed small interest groups. Moreover, several families were also pulling their strings and arranging for their family members to be in this circle. If another person came and joined their ranks, the balance and those families’ arrangements would be disrupted, making the previous arrangement useless.

Lin Yuan looked at Chen Lan’s and Hu Shengyu’s complexion as he said, “What do the two younger brothers think about this?”

Chen Lan’s complexion was full of disbelief, “Will our Lower Court’s masters receive Zhang Yan as an outer disciple?” He was only a trivial novice disciple. He didn’t even come from a prominent family. Could the Lower Court’s masters rashly accept this kind of disciple?

Lin Yuan grunted, “You two also have seen this Zhang Yan’s abilities. He alone facing and suppressing the Vast Origin Sect’s disciples. How could it be that our masters would cast him aside?”

As if to add more persuasive power to his words, he went on, “Zhang Yan’s interpretation method is very mysterious and of unknown origins. He didn’t reveal it before at the mountain. But it seems that a certain master has taken a liking for him. But what really confuses me is that he didn’t even try to reveal his abilities even a bit before. And his actions today surely had garnered a lot of attention and reputation. Now, I want to ask you brothers, what we should we do about him?”

Chen Lan’s face turned fierce and cold. Lin Yuan’s reasoning was perhaps a little forced. However, when he carefully thought about it, it was indeed possible for Zhang Yan to be promoted into the Lower Court’s inner circle. So the most secure way to cope with this matter was to remove him as quickly as possible. With a fierce and hideous expression, Chen Lan replied, “If so, we must eliminate this Zhang Yan!”

“Good!” Lin Yuan was overjoyed. But he quickly turned his head and spoke to Hu Shengyu who was silent the whole time, “Senior brother Hu, what say you?”

Hu Shengyu replied in an indifferent tone, “He’s only a novice disciple. If we must kill him then kill him!” Zhang Yan was not an outer disciple. And relying on their families’ influence, even if they were to be found out as the murderer, the Blue Ocean Sect’s Lower Courts could do nothing to them.

Chen Lan suddenly thought about something and reminded, “The only hurdle is that Zhang Yan and Ai Zhongwen’s relation is very close. And Ai Zhongwen comes from the Ai Family, it would be very troublesome.”

Hun Shengyu replied coldly, “It’s easy, I’ll take care of him!”

“Since Senior brother Hu Shengyu has agreed to act, it will be alright.”

Hu Shengyu had always been arrogant and conceited. Since he had promised, then he absolutely will not back down. Lin Yuan immediately felt relieved, “At this rate, we must start quickly. If Zhang Yan wins this fight and is recruited, we could only desperately find another solution to expel him from the Blue Ocean Sect.”