“Playing chess? And you even won?”
Lingxuan Venerable seed not to notice the expressions of the others and continued, “It was only a small secret realm. He had just obtained it two days ago, and I snatched it from his hands; he was so heartbroken his face turned green.”
As he spoke, the corners of his lips lifted unconsciously.
Lu Fengmian: “……”
Winning a secret realm through a ga of chess?
Peak Master Leng of Wanren Peak coughed lightly and asked, “May I ask, Sect Leader, what is so special about that secret realm?”
“There are restrictions there; only those below the Nascent Soul stage can enter,” Lingxuan Venerable said. “As for what lies inside, that old fellow hid it well, and I didn’t ask too much. However, if it made him that heartbroken, it shouldn’t be anything bad.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone present.
“So, I’ve gathered you all here to discuss which disciples we should send this ti.”
His gaze finally settled on Lu Fengmian.
“Fengmian, you will go as well.”
Lu Fengmian listened very attentively to the discussion that followed.
To be precise, when he heard that “those below the Nascent Soul stage may also enter,” his spirits lifted completely.
Just hearing about this secret realm made it seem as though it concealed many good things.
Everyone began to argue noisily.
“How many people can the secret realm accommodate?” Peak Master Leng asked.
Lingxuan Venerable twirled the chess piece and thought for a mont. “That old man said the upper limit is about one hundred people; any more than that, and it might beco unstable.”
“One hundred…” Elder Lin stroked his beard. “If we divide them among the peaks, it should be enough.”
“Wanren Peak wants twenty slots,” Peak Master Leng was the first to speak.
“Twenty?” Elder Wu of Duanxing Peak glared. “Can your Wanren Peak even handle that many?”
“Sword cultivators possess strong combat power; we won’t be at a disadvantage in the secret realm,” Peak Master Leng said righteously.
“The way you say that makes it sound as if we artifact refiners would only go in to hamr iron.”
“And what can you do once inside?”
“We can repair magical treasures! Who knows what the situation in the secret realm will be like? If magical treasures are damaged, what will you do without us?”
After a few exchanges, it seed they were about to quarrel.
Lu Fengmian sat to the side, listening silently.
In such a situation, he did not need to speak; he only needed to accept orders at the end.
After all, as the senior brother, aside from him, who else could lead the team?
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued listening to their dispute.
Baicao Peak wanted slots, Tianyan Peak wanted slots, Lingzhuan Peak also wanted slots. Every peak had its own reasoning, and none was willing to yield.
Listening to them, Lu Fengmian found it sowhat amusing.
Ordinarily, they all carried themselves with the bearing of elders, yet now they were like people in a marketplace, arguing endlessly over a few places.
Just as he was leisurely watching the show, a notification sounded in his mind.
【Ding! Chaos Sky Crystal clue detected.】
Chaos Sky Crystal?
After waiting so long and making inquiries everywhere to no avail, there was finally news?
【Clue points to: Northern Territory Secret Realm. Specific location and acquisition thod unknown; host must explore independently.】
Northern Territory Secret Realm.
Lu Fengmian lifted his eyes toward Lingxuan Venerable at the main seat.
The thing his master had won through chess truly was a good thing.
The argunt continued for nearly half an hour before the allocation plan was finally decided.
Wanren Peak received twenty, Baicao Peak fifteen, Duanxing Peak ten, Tianyan Peak ten, Lingzhuan Peak ten, and with the other peaks added, exactly one hundred in total.
Just as Lu Fengmian thought the eting was about to end, Lingxuan Venerable, who had been sitting at the main seat and speaking little, suddenly opened his mouth.
“Oh, right,” he set down the chess piece in his hand, his tone casual, “have the General Affairs Hall select a few outer disciples to go along and handle so miscellaneous tasks.”
Everyone exchanged glances and felt this made sense.
Elder Lin nodded. “Sect Leader is thorough in consideration. We will have the General Affairs Hall choose a few clever ones later.”
Lingxuan Venerable gave a faint hum and said nothing more.
Holding his teacup, Lu Fengmian almost failed to suppress a laugh.
He had just been worrying about how to bring Xiao Jin along.
In a place like a secret realm, opportunities were not the primary concern; the crucial point was that clues to the Chaos Sky Crystal lay within. Xiao Jin was the Child of Fortune. If he happened to be connected to that object, keeping him close would absolutely be a wise move.
Lu Fengmian had been pondering how to find a reason to push him in.
As it turned out, before he could think of one, his master had directly spoken up.
He lowered his head to drink tea, concealing the smile in his eyes.
He suspected his master might very well be the system incarnate.
After matters were settled, everyone left one after another.
Lu Fengmian walked last, unhurried.
After leaving Lingyun Hall, he did not return to Luo Xia Peak. Instead, he turned and headed toward the General Affairs Hall.
The General Affairs Hall was currently bustling.
Several duty disciples moved in and out, carrying piles of supplies. Steward Liu sat at a desk, holding a jade slip, marking it while drafting the list for entering the secret realm.
“Martial Uncle Liu.” Lu Fengmian stood at the doorway and greeted him with a smile.
Steward Liu looked up and, seeing it was him, quickly stood. “Disciple Lu? What brings you here?”
“Just passing by.” Lu Fengmian waved the fan in his hand and walked in, his gaze glancing at the jade slip. “Drafting the list?”
“Yes, we just decided we need to select five outer disciples.” Steward Liu looked troubled. “I’m considering whom to choose. There are many clever ones, but I’m not sure who is suitable.”
“For entering a secret realm, whether they’re clever is secondary.”
Steward Liu glanced at him.
“No one can be certain what the situation inside will be,” Lu Fengmian paused. “If an accident occurs, panicking will only make things worse. Perhaps those with steady temperants are more appropriate.”
“That makes sense.” Steward Liu nodded after hearing this. “Why has Disciple Lu suddenly taken an interest in this matter?”
Lu Fengmian waved his fan and walked toward the door.
“I was just passing by, so I ntioned it.” He did not turn his head. “Martial Uncle Liu, please continue your work; I won’t disturb you.”
Steward Liu watched his departing figure and fell into thought.
Then he lowered his head and continued marking the jade slip.
Steady temperant…
After pondering for a while, he crossed out the original nas and wrote down several new ones.
The day the news spread, the outer sect exploded into commotion.
“The General Affairs Hall is selecting five outer disciples to enter the secret realm? Is that true or false?”
“It’s true! The Sect Leader said it personally! They’ll go along to handle miscellaneous tasks!”
“I’d even be willing to do chores! That’s a secret realm!”
“I heard Senior Brother suggest they should choose those broad-minded and strong-willed…”
“Strong-willed? , , ! I’m the most strong-willed!”
When Xiao Jin heard the news, he was eating dinner in a corner of the dining hall.
He kept his head lowered, shoveling rice into his mouth one bite at a ti, the surrounding noise buzzing in his ears.
“I heard the list’s already set—five from the outer sect.”
“Who? Who?”
“There’s Zhao Hu, Li Qing, Wang Shun…”
“And the other two?”
“And… let see,” the person took out a jade slip and read aloud, “…Xiao Jin.”
The chopsticks in Xiao Jin’s hand paused.
The man looked as he read, then added, “Who’s Xiao Jin? I’ve never heard of him.”
“I haven’t either; is there really such a person in the outer sect?”
“No idea. Maybe he suddenly popped out from so unnoticed corner.”
Xiao Jin silently lowered his head and continued shoveling rice.
He heard soone at the neighboring table whisper:
“Xiao Jin? Isn’t that the one who’s cultivated for so long yet is still stuck at the fifth layer of the Qi Refining Realm?”
“That’s him? How did he get selected?”
“Who knows, probably just dogshit luck.”
Xiao Jin maintained the sa posture as he ate.
After finishing, he tidied his bowl, stood up, and left.
When he walked out of the dining hall, the sky was already dark.
He stood at the entrance and looked up at the sky.
There were no stars tonight, and the moon was half-hidden behind clouds.
He recalled the figure he had seen in the woods that day, and that sentence: “You can go to the General Affairs Hall to receive more sets of outer disciple robes.”
Steady temperant—natural disposition.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands.
They were covered in calluses, the knuckles worn red.
He clenched his fists, then walked toward that small grove.
He could still practice a little longer tonight.
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