The Real Sneaky Player

Lu Renkuang nodded with unshakable confidence, his smile deepening.

"Exactly!"

"Guo the Divine Calculator once said that if we seize this opportunity, we’ll soar to unprecedented heights! Luo Pengfei relies on nothing more than a fifth-tier expert—hardly a top figure even in the Inner Islands. How could that compare to such a grand fate?"

"Those ungrateful fools are shortsighted and not worth mentioning!"

Seeing the sect leader forcing a smile, Elder Song also chimed in to console him.

"The heavens favor you, Sect Leader. You will surely rise again and recruit even greater talents!"

Lu Renkuang found the words pleasing, his lips curling slightly.

Gazing at the unwavering loyalty of the elder, his eyes shimmered with emotion and admiration.

"Elder Song, you are truly the pillar of our sect!"

As he spoke, he drew a manual from his sleeve.

"This is our sect’s secret legacy—the Six Forms of the Peerless Blade!"

"As an elder, you’ve already mastered the first three forms. This manual contains the remaining three, along with the blade insights of all our predecessors. Study it diligently, and your mastery of the blade will reach perfection!"

"The Six Forms of the Peerless Blade embody the supreme will of the blade. It is the foundation of our sect’s existence—never to be shared with outsiders!"

Elder Song received the manual with trembling hands, his eyes brimming with reverence.

"My deepest gratitude, Sect Leader!"

Lu Renkuang waved dismissively, his voice brimming with assurance.

"No need for such formality, Elder Song."

"I carry a great destiny, and I’ve seen your unwavering loyalty. Rest assured, I will never forget your devotion. When the time comes, both of us will ascend together!"

"By then, the Peerless Blade Sect will stand unshaken along the East Sea for eternity. With you and I at the helm, those traitors will rue the day they betrayed us!"

His domineering words resonated through the hall, leaving Elder Song utterly awed.

"This subordinate obeys! Thank you for your magnanimity, Sect Leader!"

Though the grand hall stood nearly empty, the unity and ambition within it surpassed even the sect’s most prosperous days.

Lu Renkuang remained composed, seated like an unshakable mountain, as if the desertion of the elders meant nothing to him—his confidence unbroken.

Two more days passed.

The sect’s routine assembly had been canceled due to the turmoil.

Lu Renkuang sat quietly in his study, personally reviewing the sect’s ledgers.

Suddenly, an inner disciple rushed in, panic-stricken.

Standing at the door, he clasped his fists in salute.

"Sect Leader, disaster has struck!"

Without lifting his eyes, Lu Renkuang continued flipping through the ledger.

"What is it?"

The disciple’s voice trembled as he reported.

"Today, another wave of stewards and guardians have defected! Nearly all our high-ranking members have abandoned us!"

Hearing this, Lu Renkuang remained as steady as ever.

Still perusing the ledger, he smirked with unshaken confidence.

"It matters not."

"They are nothing but blind fools. Let them go. We’ll recruit new talents in time. How could such weaklings shake the foundation of our Peerless Blade Sect?"

"I’ve noted this. From now on, report such matters to Elder Song. He will handle them."

Just as his calm words faded, the disciple urgently spoke again.

"Sect Leader… Elder Song has also defected!"

Swish!

Lu Renkuang’s hand froze mid-page, his eyes snapping up in shock.

"What did you say…?"

Faced with the disbelief in his leader’s voice, the disciple shrank further.

"R-reporting to the Sect Leader…"

"Elder Song has vanished today. The stewards and guardians… they left under his leadership!"

Lu Renkuang’s eyes widened, all interest in the ledger forgotten.

His glare burned with fury.

"Impossible!"

"Elder Song is the backbone of our sect, his loyalty beyond question! How could he betray us alongside those worthless rats?!"

The disciple nearly prostrated himself, forcing out the words through gritted teeth.

"Sect Leader, this is the truth!"

"Not only did Elder Song lead the defectors, but the sect’s treasury has also been looted! By now, he’s likely pledged allegiance elsewhere!"

"Rumors say…"

Before he could finish, Lu Renkuang’s face darkened, his mind reeling.

He couldn’t believe it.

The last loyal elder—a traitor too?

More deceitful than even the most cunning snake?

How could this be?!

Seeing the disciple hesitate, Lu Renkuang’s voice turned icy.

"Speak!"

The disciple shuddered.

"Rumors say… the earlier desertions were all orchestrated by Elder Song. Even the first to defect, the Sixth Elder, had secret meetings with him…"

"Word spreads that the entire wave of betrayals in our Peerless Blade Sect was his doing. He was the mastermind all along!"

BOOM!

The trembling words echoed in the study, striking Lu Renkuang like thunder.

The ever-loyal Elder Song—a traitor?

This entire catastrophe… was his scheme?

Had he been acting all this time?!

Lu Renkuang shot to his feet, his vision darkening.

He had been fooled…

Utterly fooled!

His voice now frantic, he demanded answers.

"Who remains in the sect now?!"

"What of the treasury’s losses?!"

The disciple dropped to his knees.

"R-reporting to the Sect Leader!"

"All high-ranking members have deserted! Only a handful of disciples remain. The treasury… it’s been emptied! Millennia of accumulated wealth—all stolen by Elder Song!"

People and treasures—both lost!

The Peerless Blade Sect’s ten-thousand-year legacy had crumbled in a single day.

The truth struck like a hammer. Lu Renkuang swayed, his ears ringing, his mind flooded with images of Elder Song’s loyal smiles…

The man he trusted most—a viper in disguise!

And the cruelest jest? He had rewarded the traitor with the sect’s most prized manual!

He’d been played for a fool, even helping the enemy count his spoils!

The irony burned like acid.

Lu Renkuang’s face flushed with humiliation, his emotions in turmoil—until a metallic sweetness surged up his throat.

"Pfft—!!!"

A mist of blood sprayed forth as his cultivation base wavered.

The disciple paled, rushing to support him.

"Sect Leader, please calm yourself!"

But Lu Renkuang was beyond reason. His hair wild, eyes bloodshot, his aura erupted in a tempest of rage.

"Song Yutai!"

"I swear—I will end you!"

His roar shook the sect, reverberating through the skies.

Far to the south, by Snow Lake…

The two sect leaders, now armed with fishing rods gifted by Master Yi, had regained some confidence as they cast their lines. A group of newly recruited elders stood respectfully nearby.

Before long, Xu Baichuan actually hooked a Dao-Infused Sturgeon!

Instantly, gasps of awe filled the air.

"Holy…"

"He really caught one!"

"It must be the rod Master Yi gave him—extraordinary!"

"The Sect Leader’s skill is unmatched!"

Amid the clamor, the old man beamed, unable to hide his delight.

Noticing Luo Pengfei’s envy, he puffed up even more, holding up the fish with a triumphant bow.

"My humble skills are hardly worth praise."

At the forefront of the crowd, Song Yutai clasped his hands in congratulations.

"The Sect Leader’s mastery of angling is profound—clearly blessed by Master Yi’s teachings. We are but unworthy spectators!"

True to his reputation as the former grand elder of the Peerless Blade Sect, Song Yutai’s words dripped with flattery—praising Xu Baichuan while subtly honoring Yi Feng. A double stroke of diplomacy.

Xu Baichuan stroked his beard, thoroughly pleased.

"You honor me too much, Elder Song, too much!"

"Ahahaha…"

Just as the joyous moment reached its peak, ripples of spatial distortion suddenly spread across the shore!

Lu Renkuang emerged in a furious rage!

Striding forward alone, devoid of the usual entourage that once accompanied him, he stood there with nothing but humiliation and anger burning in his eyes. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his hair was disheveled—hardly the dignified appearance one would expect from the Sect Master of the Second Heavenly Sect.

The scene fell into abrupt silence.

Xu Baichuan slowly turned his head, a mocking grin playing on his lips.

"Well, well?"

"If it isn’t Sect Master Lu! Could it be that you’ve heard of this old man catching a Dao-Transcending Sturgeon and came specifically to offer congratulations? How embarrassing, truly embarrassing!"

Lu Renkuang was already seething with fury.

Spotting Song Yutai standing nearby, he immediately erupted in curses!

"Congratulate your motherf—?!"

Midway through his outburst, his tone shifted to stunned disbelief.

For there, in Xu Baichuan’s hand, was indeed a genuine Dao-Transcending Sturgeon!