Chapter 419: The Decision of the Higher-Ups
The Heaven Martial Continent. The Wuji Sect. Chen Pingping. Three Saint Realm powerhouses. A sect that had once birthed an Emperor Realm expert.
Since the crusading army retreated, these pieces of news swept through the entire Southern Diaspora like a tidal wave.
Many restless forces also fell silent at this moment.
Several young geniuses, upon hearing the news, showed interest. I wonder what the strength of this sect’s younger generation is like?
"Isn’t there a guy called Li Qi?"
"..."
At the mention of this person, everyone couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.
If this fellow counts as part of the Wuji Sect’s younger generation, then... this sect has probably gone to ruin, right?
A Supreme Mystery Realm cultivator.
His mind wasn’t all there, always carrying a blank piece of paper and asking people to write their names on it.
Huh?
Someone noticed the discrepancy. "That’s not right! How could someone from the Supreme Mystery Realm do such a thing?"
Plundering seventy or eighty factions.
Is this something a Supreme Mystery Realm cultivator is capable of?
「Fairy Valley.」
The Scholar looked at the Fairy, somewhat irritated. "You didn’t agree to that guy’s terms, did you?"
The Fairy nodded. "I did!"
"He’s just a swindler! How could he associate with us?" The Scholar was indignant. "I’ll expose his true colors sooner or later."
"But... we can’t enter the Secret Realm," the Fairy said.
"Neither can he."
"What if he can?"
"How is that possible?"
"I’m just saying, what if..." The Fairy narrowed her eyes, looking at the Scholar with a meaningful smile.
The latter was startled, a sudden realization dawning on him.
What if? Why? There are many terrifying powers within the Secret Realm, unless... Wuji Sect... Wait. What if?
The Scholar had an epiphany and exclaimed, "You mean to say he is Chen Pingping of the Wuji Sect!"
The Fairy merely shrugged, offering no response.
Actually, from the very beginning, she had suspected Chen Pingping. He was also from the Heaven Martial Continent, also possessed great strength, and also maintained a certain mystique.
If he wasn’t Chen Pingping of the Wuji Sect, then who could he be?
What truly convinced the Fairy was the moment the masked man emerged in the City of Extinction.
Despite his best efforts to hide the fluctuations of his aura, the Fairy was no ordinary cultivator.
"AAAAHHH! Chen Pingping..." The Scholar’s face turned ashen, and he flew into a rage. "I’m going to kill you!" He was devastated.
From the start, he had felt something was off about Chen Pingping.
It was only later, after many things happened, that uncertainty crept in, until finally, another Chen Pingping appeared in the City of Extinction.
The Scholar broke down on the spot. He knew he was about to lose his Destiny God Weapon.
He’d never imagined this was all part of Chen Pingping’s scheme.
"Damn it!" the Scholar said angrily. "Why didn’t you warn me?"
"There was no proof," the Fairy whispered softly.
"..."
Indeed. All her thoughts had been mere conjecture. Even now, she had no concrete proof.
The Scholar’s expression was grim as he made to leave.
The Fairy spoke again, "You don’t have to charge into the City of Extinction right now; you can’t get in anyway. But you can wait at the Fifth Institute."
It seemed Chen Pingping’s sister was a disciple there.
The Scholar took a deep breath, calming down considerably. "Do I look like such a fool?"
The Fairy looked at him for a long moment before finally saying, "You do."
"That’s too much!" The Scholar glared at her. "I will find evidence."
Yes! He was the Scholar. That name wasn’t just for show. It represented wisdom, composure, and a general maturity and gravitas. Chen Pingping had used such despicable means to win his Destiny God Weapon; he naturally had to find a way to reclaim it.
After leaving the Fairy’s residence, the Scholar began to gather information about Zi Ji.
After several hours, he reached one conclusion: Laziness.
Oh, right, he recalled, Zi Ji also has an older sister named Guang Xiaoyu.
The two girls had likely been brought back from the Heaven Martial Continent by Bai Yisheng. It was just that, despite having been initiated into the sect for a long time, both were too lazy. They didn’t cultivate, didn’t seek Enlightenment, didn’t attend lectures, and rarely even interacted with others.
As for their strength, it was speculated they were at the King Tao Realm at most.
The Scholar was stunned by the report from his subordinate and muttered, "Was Bai Yisheng captivated by their beauty?"
No talent for cultivation, and no effort either. Just that? If someone claimed Bai Yisheng wasn’t after Guang Xiaoyu’s beauty, no one would believe it.
The young man below couldn’t help but speak up. "Senior Brother, many of our junior sisters in the First Institute are prettier than Guang Xiaoyu. As for Zi Ji, she’s still young; it’s unlikely Bai Yisheng would be interested in her for her beauty."
"Then why?" the Scholar frowned.
"I don’t know either," the young man exhaled, then added, "However, there was one very strange detail. When the two girls joined the sect, an old yellow ox and a little black dog came with them."
"..."
The Scholar remembered something Chen Pingping had once said: the Chen Pingping of Wuji Sect kept many small animals, and if he were to travel, he would surely be accompanied by them. That was Chen Pingping trying to prove his own identity.
So, that was your game, Chen Pingping...
Thinking of this, the Scholar’s face darkened. "Isn’t the Newcomer Competition in one more month?"
"Yes!" the man replied.
"How strong is our First Institute’s new generation?" the Scholar asked.
"Very strong! This time, we have five supreme talents, one of whom has a terrifying physique and has already broken through to the Imperial Path Realm." The man spoke excitedly, "First place in the Newcomer Competition will definitely belong to our First Institute!"
"And what about the strength of the Fifth Institute?"
"Senior Brother, they’re finished," the man said with a slight smile.
"Why?"
"Rumor has it that the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Institutes will target the Fifth Institute in the Newcomer Competition," the young man said, his expression turning solemn.
He glanced around to make sure they were alone, then leaned in closer. "This is a decision from the higher-ups."
Normally, as a young disciple, he wouldn’t have access to such information, but he was smooth and well-connected, thriving in the First Institute.
Even the leadership of the First Institute appreciated him.
If there were any sensitive matters, they would entrust them to him, which was how he came to learn this secret.
Lian Chengyu said in a low voice, "The Sword Saint has become a Cultivating Demon. This is betrayal. Fairy Valley cannot allow him to gain power; otherwise, Fairy Valley could become the next Western Wilderness. Therefore... the higher-ups intend to eliminate the Sword Saint."
The Scholar was horrified.
Eliminate the Sword Saint? Such news was too insane!
He knew the sect’s higher-ups were dissatisfied with the Sword Saint and didn’t want him to continue down the path of a Cultivating Demon. But the Sword Saint was too fixated, insistent on his own way.
As a result, conflicts among the various Institutes had surfaced.
The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Institutes began to isolate the Fifth Institute...
The Scholar had seen this and felt it wasn’t right, as they were all fellow sect members.
But due to his own position, he couldn’t voice his objections too strongly. Usually, if he saw someone bullying disciples from the Fifth Institute, he would at most try to mediate.
He had never imagined that the conflict among Fairy Valley’s leadership had escalated to such a degree.
The Sword Saint was the Valley Master’s chosen successor!
He was also the strongest Saint Realm expert in Fairy Valley and the one most likely to achieve Tao Verification.
The Scholar felt a sense of suffocation and asked further, "What does eliminating the Sword Saint have to do with the disciples of the Fifth Institute?"
"To shatter his Tao Heart," Lian Chengyu explained. "The Fifth Institute has no one notable in this generation. In fact, they haven’t recruited any promising talents for many years. The higher-ups intend to use their peers to suppress the Fifth Institute, thereby forcing Bai Yisheng to intervene..."
"And then?"
"Kill him!"
That single word conveyed a terrifying chill.
They needed an excuse, a reason, and the Newcomer Competition was a perfect opportunity.
To completely dismantle and crush the Fifth Institute, perhaps even kill Bai Yisheng.
Remember, he is the Sword Saint’s sole disciple. His existence is far too important to the Sword Saint.
If Bai Yisheng were to fall, it would undoubtedly shatter the Sword Saint’s Tao Heart.
Then, the Fairy Valley leadership would join forces to suppress and kill the Sword Saint. It would all fall into place.
"Sigh..." Lian Chengyu lamented softly, "The Sword Saint should never have chosen to become a Cultivating Demon!" After a pause, he added, "Senior Brother, I’m telling you this because I trust you. You mustn’t go around spreading this."
The Scholar nodded. "I know."
"Oh, by the way, Senior Brother, judging from what you said earlier, are you planning to do something about Guang Xiaoyu and Zi Ji?" Lian Chengyu asked.
"Yes. Before the Newcomer Competition. Junior Brother, do you have any suggestions?"
He was the Scholar of the First Institute; he had a standing to maintain. Therefore, even knowing such secrets, he had to bury them deep down. But the Creation Divine Stick... he absolutely had to get it back.