After I Became A Divine Beast In An Immortal Sect [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 12

Seven days later, the Heart-Tempering Realm closed.

Of the forty-eight disciples who had entered this time, twelve completed their trials and were transported out ahead of schedule.

Among the eight candidates participating in the Peak Master selection, all except Shi Hongcai successfully completed their trials. Shi Hongcai had become too immersed in slaughter to pass. Gong Boyi and Meng Li’an were the first among them to finish.

With that, the candidates for the positions of Peak Master of Zhiyuan Peak and Hanyun Peak were finally decided.

Qin Jian handed the jade tokens representing the authority of a Peak Master to the two men and solemnly instructed them, “As the master of a peak, you must place your disciples first and regard the sect as paramount. Keep your conduct free of disgrace and your thoughts free of dishonor. Uphold righteousness to suppress evil, and remain vigilant in all that you do.”

“Thank you, Sect Master.”

The two respectfully expressed their gratitude.

Only after Qin Jian explained each of the responsibilities they would have to oversee as Peak Masters did he allow them to leave.

At that moment, a steward stepped forward to make a report.

“How dare they!”

Qin Jian’s furious shout echoed through the hall.

The steward lowered his voice.

“Rumors have already spread throughout the sect that Meng Li’an obtained his position with the support of Xianmiao Peak. They are also claiming that Elder Lingxi is greedy for authority and abuses her power… Elder Jingming has publicly stated that the reason you previously rejected his recommended candidates was because you were reserving the position for Elder Lingxi’s confidant.”

Qin Jian flew into a rage.

“If Senior Sister truly coveted power, she would have directly succeeded as Sect Master back then. Why would she bother with such unnecessary schemes now?”

“Sect Master, please calm your anger.”

The steward spoke awkwardly.

“Ordinary disciples are unaware of Elder Lingxi’s noble character. They are merely repeating what others have said.”

Qin Jian gradually calmed down and pondered the matter.

“Meng Li’an harbors ill intentions and deliberately framed Senior Sister. We cannot allow his scheme to succeed… Go to Xianmiao Peak first and invite Senior Sister here.”

“Yes.”

The steward acknowledged the order and withdrew.

……

Inside Qianyuan Hall on the main peak, Hua Ling crouched upon Cheng Suxi’s shoulder and looked around curiously.

Although much of the Qianyuan Sect had been damaged during the great war, it still possessed the foundations of a top-ranking sect. The palaces on the main peak were majestic and magnificent, greatly expanding the horizons of a country bumpkin like Hua Ling.

Cheng Suxi indulged her and carried her through the entire palace.

“This is an amplification formation. It strengthens the palace’s defenses. This is Changling Stone, which obstructs spiritual consciousness. These are admonitory writings left behind by our predecessors, reminding disciples to study the Dao, cultivate their minds, preserve their spirits, and refine their nature…”

Regardless of whether Hua Ling understood, Cheng Suxi introduced the various formations and arrangements throughout the palace as they walked.

Every time she said something, Hua Ling chirped in response.

Although the woman and bird could not understand each other’s language, they interacted with extraordinary harmony.

Qin Jian had originally been filled with anger, but after witnessing this scene, all of it turned into helplessness.

He stared at Hua Ling for a while before a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Senior Sister, is the little divine beast male or female?”

Hua Ling, who had been listening with great enthusiasm, was startled.

Her two thin little legs immediately pressed tightly together, and she stiffly raised her head to meet her caretaker’s inquisitive gaze.

Her caretaker couldn’t possibly be thinking of…

Just as Hua Ling began estimating whether jumping from Cheng Suxi’s shoulder would kill her, Cheng Suxi spoke.

“Tuanzi is still too young to tell. We can determine it after she grows a little more.”

Hua Ling immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

“That is true.”

Qin Jian did not dwell on the question and naturally moved on to the matter of the Ice Jade Chalice.

“Have you discovered who did it?”

“It was Yunsheng.”

Qin Jian frowned.

“I remember him. Senior Brother Linghai brought him back from Luoxian City years ago. He should be in his teens by now… How could he act so recklessly?”

Cheng Suxi stroked Hua Ling’s round head and sighed.

“That child has lived a smooth and comfortable life without ever experiencing hardship, which is why he is so easily incited by others. I have decided to send him to Qintian City for several years to temper his character.”

“Qintian City?”

Qin Jian considered it.

“That is indeed a good place.”

Although Qintian City was filled with danger, cultivators struggled against Heaven and Earth in pursuit of the limits of life. If they retreated in fear because of danger, they might as well disperse their cultivation and live as ordinary mortals.

“What exactly was Meng Li’an trying to accomplish?”

Cheng Suxi replied, “Among the eight candidates, Meng Li’an was the only one without the support of a powerful faction. His actions were merely an attempt to borrow Xianmiao Peak’s influence and firmly establish himself as Peak Master.”

Otherwise, even if he temporarily obtained the position of Hanyun Peak’s Peak Master, he would not retain it for long.

Hua Ling crouched on Cheng Suxi’s shoulder and nodded in agreement.

It was no different from a prince without a firm foundation attempting to win over influential court officials before ascending the throne.

Moreover, Hua Ling could confidently predict that Meng Li’an would use the matter of the Ice Jade Chalice to establish further ties with Xianmiao Peak and make their supposed alliance appear genuine.

Hua Ling was somewhat worried that her caretaker might suffer a loss.

Unfortunately, she currently had no way to warn her.

“The candidates have already been chosen, so it would be difficult to go back on the decision.”

Qin Jian narrowed his eyes.

“If he behaves himself, then so be it. If not, we will eventually find a way to deal with him.”

“We need only wait and observe.”

Cheng Suxi did not take Meng Li’an seriously.

In the cultivation world, strength spoke louder than anything else. Before absolute power, every plot and scheme was utterly insignificant.

……

“Senior Brothers, there is no need to see me off any farther.”

Outside the teleportation formation, Yunsheng smiled at Yunmo and Yunlan.

Yunlan stepped forward and patted Yunsheng on the shoulder.

“This journey to Qintian City will be filled with danger. You must watch your words and actions and never trust others too easily. The Peak Master made this arrangement because she hopes you can use this opportunity to temper your character. You must not harbor resentment toward her.”

“I understand the Peak Master’s painstaking intentions. Besides, going to Qintian City is still far better than cultivating bitterly on Qianfeng Cliff.”

Yunsheng touched the storage pouch he carried and thought to himself that if the Peak Master had truly wanted only to punish him, she could have invented any reason to send him to the Disciplinary Hall.

Why would she have gone to so much trouble to give him jade slips and spirit stones?

“It is good that you understand.”

Seeing that Yunsheng had not developed any resentment toward the Peak Master, Yunlan breathed a sigh of relief.

Yunsheng looked toward the silently standing Yunmo and said guiltily, “Senior Brother Yunmo, I should not have ignored your warning and stubbornly acted on my own. I…”

Before he could finish, Yunmo tossed a long sword toward him.

Yunsheng raised a hand and caught it. After inspecting it, he exclaimed in astonishment, “Isn’t this the flying sword Senior Brother recently commissioned from the Fire-Forging Hall?”

Yunsheng knew that Yunmo had spent eight years gathering the various materials required for this flying sword.

For several of its rare ores, Yunmo had traveled through multiple dangerous regions belonging to the sect.

Yet now, he was giving it away so casually…

“No. This is far too valuable. I cannot accept it.”

As he spoke, Yunsheng reached out to return the flying sword.

Yunmo stopped him and said in a deep voice, “It is only a sword. Accept it without worry. If you feel guilty, return it to me after coming back from Qintian City.”

Yunsheng’s eyes immediately reddened.

“I caused trouble for my senior brothers, the Peak Master, and all of Xianmiao Peak.”

Yunlan smiled.

“It is not as serious as you imagine. The Peak Master sent you away partly to give you an opportunity to gain experience and partly to prevent you from becoming entangled in the sect’s struggle for power.”

He then asked, “However, tell your senior brothers honestly. How exactly did Meng Li’an deceive you into lending him the Ice Jade Chalice?”

Yunlan had always found this matter suspicious.

Although Yunsheng was naturally kindhearted, he was not completely lacking in judgment.

He might have been on friendly terms with Meng Li’an, but he would not have disregarded Xianmiao Peak’s interests and casually lent out the Ice Jade Chalice without good reason.

Author’s Note

Hua Ling: Anyone who dares make my caretaker suffer will… will… Never mind. I’ll say it after I grow up!