The Eerie Sect Meeting

Early the next morning, sandalwood incense curled through the main hall of the Qingxuan Sect as the masters of the seven main peaks and the core elders gathered together.

Xuanyangzi sat upright in the seat of honor and cleared his throat.

"Senior and junior brothers, I have summoned you all today to announce a matter of great importance."

The hall instantly fell silent, and dozens of gazes uniformly landed on him.

Xuanyangzi did not beat around the bush and spoke straightforwardly.

"I have decided that the sect competition, originally scheduled for three months from now, will be moved up to next month."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a brief silence in the hall was followed by a low murmur of commotion.

"Moved up? Why so hasty?"

An elder frowned. "I fear the disciples won't have enough time to prepare."

"Indeed, the cultivation schedules for each peak are already planned out until the end of the year..."

Another elder chimed in.

Just then, Shi Wanshan suddenly spoke up in a gruff voice, "I think moving it up is great! The brats at Qingyue Peak have been itching for a fight for a long time. This is the perfect chance for them to get some practice!"

Before everyone could recover from their surprise, Li Muran stroked his beard and spoke, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Senior Brother Shi is right. Danding Peak recently refined a batch of new pills, which perfectly allows the disciples to test their efficacy before the competition. I agree."

Ye Guying followed closely behind, concise and to the point: "I agree."

"Seconded."

"We will follow the Sect Master's arrangements."

The six great peak masters spoke in unison, their tones revealing a rare, tacit understanding.

Seeing this scene of unanimous agreement, Xuanyangzi secretly curled his fingertips under the desk and hummed triumphantly in his heart.

Heh, this trick really worked! A few Marrow-Cleansing Pills were all it took to make these old fellows, who usually argued until their faces turned red and their necks grew thick, as docile as sheep.

In the past, they could argue for half a day just to adjust the time of a match. Today, it was as if they had colluded in advance. How satisfying!

Now it was the elders' turn to be completely dumbfounded.

One must know that in previous years, let alone moving the competition up, even tweaking the rules would have the peak masters arguing until they were red in the face.

Yet today, as if they had been cursed, not a single person objected?

Not only were the elders confused, but even the peak masters themselves were slightly taken aback.

Right after Shi Wanshan agreed, Li Muran took the floor. Turning his head to see Ye Guying also nodding, the flesh on Shi Wanshan's round face stiffened for half a second.

He had spoken hastily, originally intending to gain the upper hand before others could object. He never expected that these guys, who usually opposed each other at every turn, would follow suit so quickly.

At this moment, the hall was so quiet that only the soft crackle of burning sandalwood could be heard. The six peak masters looked at one another, none of them speaking first.

In their hearts, however, they were all wondering: Could it be that these old foxes also received some benefits?

Afterward, everyone began to discuss the rewards and details of the competition.

When Xuanyangzi announced that the first-place winner of this competition would receive a Heaven-grade weapon, the hall once again fell into silence. The elders' faces were filled with astonishment, and even a few peak masters raised their eyebrows slightly.

Heaven-grade weapons had always been the peak-guarding treasures in the Qingxuan Sect. For the Sect Master to be willing to offer one as a reward showed just how much importance he placed on this competition.

Xuanyangzi suppressed the smile in his eyes and looked around at the crowd with feigned seriousness.

"Since the peak masters have no objections, then this matter is settled. After you return, prepare well and ensure that the disciples go all out."

As the meeting dispersed, the elders looked at each other in dismay, gathering in twos and threes to whisper:

"Something's wrong, something's very wrong... Peak Master Shi actually didn't argue with the Sect Master today?"

"That's not all. Look at Peak Master Li. The way he looked at the Sect Master just now was like looking at his own blood brother..."

"Could something have happened last night? Why are the six peak masters suddenly of one mind?"

...

A bell tolled, piercing through the clouds and mist of the Qingxuan Sect, as Xuanyangzi's voice, amplified by spiritual energy, echoed across the seven peaks.

"Listen well, disciples. The sect competition has been moved up to one month from now. All sect disciples are eligible to participate!"

The disciples doing their morning exercises in the plaza instantly erupted into an uproar. Someone's spear clattered to the ground, while another rubbed their ears, thinking they had misheard.

There were still three or four months until the originally scheduled competition. Why was it suddenly moved up?

"The purpose of this competition is to select outstanding disciples in advance for focused training, in order to prepare for next year's Seven Sects Tournament."

"Please prepare well, disciples. By the way, the rewards for this year's competition are far more generous than in previous years."

"Work hard, youths!"

Before his words even faded, deafening cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Last year's first-place prize was a low-tier Earth-grade weapon. If this year is more generous, could a mid-tier Earth-grade treasure appear?"

A disciple couldn't help but speculate.

"I heard it's more than that. Yesterday, I vaguely heard the Peak Master say there's more than one mid-tier Earth-grade treasure. Rumor has it that the first-place reward is very mysterious."

"Hiss, could it be a high-tier Earth-grade treasure..."

Many disciples discussed among themselves.

Not to mention the mysterious first-place reward, just a mid-tier Earth-grade treasure held an immense attraction for the disciples.

The grades of treasures, from lowest to highest, are: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, King, Saint...

Ordinary disciples only possessed Yellow-grade weapons.

Only the personal disciples of the peak masters and major geniuses had the possibility of owning Profound-grade weapons.

As for Earth-grade treasures, they were already exceedingly rare.

Even some elders in the Purple Mansion Realm or the Cave Heaven Realm did not possess Earth-grade weapons.

This alone showed just how alluring Earth-grade treasures were to the disciples.

A youth wearing outer sect robes clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

"I'm going all out! Even if I have to skin myself alive, I'll break into the top three!"

"Stop dreaming. Lu Chenyu from Zhenyue Peak reached the Core Condensation Realm ages ago, and you've only just reached Foundation Establishment..."

"So what? Maybe I can create a miracle!"

Amidst the waves of discussion, the disciples of the various peaks became red-eyed with determination. What was originally a relaxed morning exercise turned into frantic, bitter cultivation.

Some practiced their punches while hugging massive boulders, while others meditated facing waterfalls.

Even the usually laziest handyman disciples of Danding Peak grabbed their medicine baskets and ran toward the spirit fields, hoping to hoard a few more Body Tempering Pills.

For a time, the core disciples of the major peaks rubbed their hands in eagerness, fighting to secure a spot for themselves in the top three.

On Qingyue Peak, Shi Wanshan dragged Lin Mochen and Shi Jingxian in front of him: "I don't expect you brats to get first place. Taking second and third will do."

Lin Mochen was taken aback. "Master, why?"

"Why?"

Shi Wanshan knocked him on the head.

"Do you know why I've always made you hide your cultivation at the early stage of the Core Condensation Realm?

The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be destroyed by the wind!

Haven't you seen that old fox from Qingyun Peak running to Zizhu Peak every other day? Who knows what realm that brat Li Xuanfeng is at right now. We won't fight for first place."

He paused, a calculating smile curling the corner of his mouth.

"But you must secure second and third place for me! Don't let my effort of hanging from the trees at Zizhu Peak with you for a whole night go to waste."

As soon as these words came out, both Shi Jingxian and Lin Mochen couldn't help but laugh.

Recalling the day they were hung from the bamboo branches by Spirit-Binding Vines, although it was a sorry sight, they had obtained an earth-shattering opportunity at Zizhu Peak. How could disciples from other peaks ever encounter such an opportunity?

Even if they were told to hang there for another three days and three nights, they would be willing.

"Remember," Shi Wanshan's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not expose your true cultivation. Once you get your hands on the prizes, I'll take you to Zizhu Peak to thank the master—and while we're at it, we can mooch some more good tea."

The last sentence was spoken very softly, but it made his two disciples' eyes light up.

The medicinal fragrance of Danding Peak was now mixed with the scent of gunpowder.

Li Muran toyed with the pill furnace in his hands, speaking at a leisurely pace, "During the Grand Competition, all medicinal pills of Pill Cauldron Peak will be supplied without restriction."

The disciples surrounding him were just about to cheer when his tone suddenly shifted.

"However, there is one condition. If anyone dares to embarrass Pill Cauldron Peak during the duels, do not even think about taking a single step into the alchemy chambers for the next three years."

With a flick of his finger, three lustrous white pills appeared.

"Xiaowan, we alchemists do not excel at combat. If you can reach the top five, I will save these three Purple Flame Pills for you to use when you break through to the Purple Prefecture Realm in the future."

The young girl, wearing her hair in twin buns, had a spark in her eyes as she bowed respectfully. "Your disciple will definitely not fail you!"

Meanwhile, in the bamboo forest of Sword Howl Peak, Mu Chenyu drew his sword from its scabbard. His sword qi instantly cleaved a massive boulder ten zhang away in half.

Ye Guying walked over. "Chenyu, you have now reached the middle stage of the Core Formation Realm, but you are still missing the final stance of your Flowing Cloud Sword Art. Do your best to comprehend it before the Grand Competition, and secure a spot in the top three for your master."

Mu Chenyu sheathed his longsword, radiating an indomitable aura. "Your disciple will never disappoint Master's commands!"