Turmoil within the Sect: Chapter 38 - Promotion to the Inner Sect
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Elder Feng felt Fu Lingchuan’s rhetorical question pressing down upon his heart like an invisible mountain.
Every word was an interrogation of the Enforcement Elder’s dignity.
To agree meant admitting before several thousand disciples that he had been wrong, and that the entire Enforcement Hall had become a laughingstock over this matter.
But refuse?
His gaze swept over Fu Lingchuan’s utterly expressionless face before shifting toward the inscrutable Elder Bai in the distance.
He could not afford to provoke the Pill Hall, nor did he wish to antagonize Elder Bai of the Contribution Hall.
Trapped between two impossible choices and nearly crushed beneath the pressure, he was on the verge of collapse when—
A figure hurried in through the entrance at one side of the high platform.
The newcomer was an inner disciple dressed in a steward’s robes. His expression was solemn as he strode before the elders, bowed respectfully, and then spoke in a clear voice.
“The Pavilion Master has issued an order: The outer disciple examination has been decided. This matter ends here. Outer disciple Chu Xing has successfully passed the examination. Effective immediately, he is promoted to inner disciple and will enter the Pill Hall for cultivation. All disciples are to disperse at once!”
The speaker was none other than the inner disciple Du Changfeng.
Chu Xing looked over and felt his heart tremble slightly. The man was clearly no more than twenty years old, yet the aura surrounding him was as profound as the deep sea. He had already reached the Qi Sea Realm.
The Pavilion Master!
Though it was merely an edict rather than a personal appearance, the weight represented by those words instantly suppressed every ripple in the arena.
Upon hearing it, Fu Lingchuan quietly withdrew his imposing aura and gave a slight nod toward the direction from which the order had come, accepting the command.
Elder Feng’s lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but when faced with the words “the Pavilion Master’s order,” he forcibly swallowed them back.
A suffocating resentment clogged his chest, leaving his complexion shifting from green to white.
He drew a deep breath and suppressed every surging emotion before shooting a venomous glance at Chu Xing on the martial platform.
“Let’s go!”
He gave the enforcement disciples behind him a cold wave of his hand, then turned and shoved through the crowd without looking back, leaving directly.
The disturbance seemed to have come to an end.
On the viewing platform, Zhou Yuan’s face was livid as he stared at the figure standing in the center of the martial platform. The killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.
Trash!
That trash, who in his eyes had been less than an ant, had not only avoided being crippled but had instead become an inner disciple!
And in front of Junior Sister Wanqing, he had turned both himself and his master into laughingstocks!
This man had to die!
Zhou Yuan turned and prepared to leave.
“Senior Brother Zhou.”
A calm voice came from below.
Zhou Yuan’s footsteps halted. He slowly turned around and looked toward the young man who had caused him to lose all face that day.
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Standing on the martial platform, Chu Xing met his gaze and spoke each word distinctly.
“The enmity of today—I will repay it a hundredfold in the future.”
Zhou Yuan felt a surge of blood rush to his head. His handsome features twisted completely under the force of his fury.
This was a declaration of war!
A Body Tempering Realm ant was declaring the most brazen war against a genius of the Qi Sea Realm!
“You’re very good…”
Zhou Yuan forced the three words through clenched teeth. He turned and was about to leave at all costs, unwilling to remain another moment in this place where he had suffered such humiliation.
“Hey, boy Zhou, what are you in such a hurry to leave for?”
A voice sounded behind him.
Elder Bai had somehow appeared in his path.
“The show’s over, but shouldn’t we settle our little wager?”
Zhou Yuan’s steps faltered. He turned around furiously, only to see a thin, withered hand extended toward him.
“Hand it over.” Elder Bai paid no attention to his glare, merely extending that withered hand a little farther.
Zhou Yuan’s face instantly turned livid. He felt the gazes of thousands of people throughout the arena stabbing into him like knives.
His eyes finally shifted from Chu Xing, with immense reluctance, to Elder Bai’s face. The raging fury within him ultimately transformed into a humiliating tremor.
Slowly and heavily, he removed the piece of jade hanging from his waist, its entire surface a lustrous green, and slapped it into Elder Bai’s hand. Then he strode away without looking back.
Yet in the final instant before turning away, the gaze he cast toward Chu Xing was filled with undisguised killing intent.
On the viewing platform, Fu Lingchuan’s eyes shifted to the blood-covered figure standing at the center of the martial platform.
His gaze was sharp as a blade, carrying scrutiny—and a trace of undisguised irritation.
“Report to the Pill Hall on your own at the Hour of the Dragon three days from now.”
His voice was cold, as though he could not be bothered to say another word. After speaking, he did not spare Chu Xing another glance and turned to leave with Mu Wanqing.
Chu Xing’s brows drew together slightly.
He could not quite understand it. The master of the Pill Hall had clearly come to resolve the crisis, so why did he look at Chu Xing as though Chu Xing owed him several million spirit stones?
His gaze involuntarily passed over Fu Lingchuan and fell upon the pale violet figure.
Why had this perpetually aloof senior sister taken the initiative to help him today? Chu Xing was rather puzzled.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Mu Wanqing’s footsteps paused almost imperceptibly just as she was about to turn away. By instinct, she wanted to avert her eyes, but for some reason, that gaze made it impossible for her to ignore him.
After a moment’s hesitation, she finally looked back.
Their eyes met.
Her eyes were like mist veiling autumn waters, clear and deep. They had always carried the icy aloofness of frost and snow, yet now a hint of spring seemed to melt within them, creating a beauty so intoxicating it could unmoor the soul.
Chu Xing’s breathing caught slightly.
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Just as Chu Xing thought she might say something, Mu Wanqing withdrew her gaze first. Only the snow-white rims of her ears had, without her realizing it, taken on the faintest blush.
She did not linger. She followed her master and disappeared from the platform.
Only Elder Bai and Chu Xing remained on the martial platform.
“Boy, come back to earth.”
At some point, Elder Bai had come over and tossed the green jade toward him.
Chu Xing returned to his senses, his expression slightly awkward. He cleared his throat, reached out, and caught it.
The jade felt warm and smooth in his hand, carrying a trace of coolness.
“What is this?”
He tightened his grip around the jade and looked toward Elder Bai with a questioning expression.
“That boy Zhou Yuan used this thing to bet on your defeat.” Elder Bai took a swig from a jug of wine he had somehow produced again, then pointed at the gourd in Chu Xing’s hand. “That wine gourd is yours too. The wine inside contains a great deal of spiritual power, so be careful not to drink too much at once.”
Chu Xing froze, then understood.
It turned out that while he had been unaware, someone had already opened a wager against him.
He said nothing more. He simply put away the jade and the wine gourd, then gave Elder Bai a solemn bow with cupped fists.
“I will remember today’s kindness, Elder Bai.”
“Don’t bother with all that empty courtesy. I simply enjoy watching those self-important fools suffer.” Elder Bai waved a hand. “You made yourself quite pleasing to watch today, boy.”
With that, he gave Chu Xing a long look before turning and wandering away.
“Oh, right…”
His aged voice drifted back from the distance.
“That piece of jade is a fine treasure. Study it carefully. As for that venomous snake whose tail has been stepped on… either keep your distance from it, or find a chance to crush its vital point beneath your foot.”
The wind swept across the empty martial platform.
Chu Xing stood in the center, watching Elder Bai’s retreating back. Then he lowered his head and looked at the green jade in his hand and the wine gourd containing Hundred-Fruit Brew.
He had won the examination and preserved his life, but he had also placed himself squarely at the center of the storm.
What lingered in his mind was Mu Wanqing’s final, faintly trembling eyelashes—and Zhou Yuan’s hurriedly departing figure.
Slowly, he exhaled a murky breath tinged with the scent of blood.
This victory was not the end.
It was only the beginning.
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