Chapter 9: Five-Year Wager (1)

Time flew, and two years passed in the blink of an eye.

The formerly deserted Azure Bamboo Peak today saw two streaks of light descend from the sky.

When the streaks landed, they discovered they were two cultivators; one wore blue robes, the exclusive uniform of an outer sect steward of the Azure Moon Sect.

The other wore a white long robe, had a bulky build and a prosperous appearance, but his small eyes darted about, clearly a crafty individual.

"Steward Yue, it's just a small matter, but could you trouble yourself to make this trip? Afterwards, I, as the younger brother, will host and invite you to enjoy an Ascension Immortal Banquet, how about that?"

The cultivator called Steward Yue gave a restrained smile, indicating agreement. But in his heart he cursed fiercely: these clan disciples are truly wealthy; a single Ascension Immortal Banquet would cost at least a hundred spirit stones, and even he, an outer sect steward of the Azure Moon Sect, couldn't bear to spend that much.

This fat fellow just blurted it out casually.

But considering his identity, it made sense; as a direct descendant of the Wang Clan, he naturally had such wealth.

Actually, compared to that, his status as an outer sect steward is truly not as noble as the grandson of a Foundation Establishment cultivator from someone else's family.

The other party is so respectful because behind him stands the Azure Moon Sect.

The fat man's name is Wang Ke; he is the direct grandson of the Wang Clan's Foundation Establishment Ancestor, and his purpose in coming here is to bring back the disobedient, unfilial son who once defied the clan.

Thinking of this, he became extremely angry, feeling that the clan should never have allowed someone named Wang Ping to join the Azure Moon Sect in the first place.

A mere low-grade spiritual root, and one that was only raised by the Reverse Fire Curse—what qualification does he have to cultivate the immortal path?

Thinking back to the original wager, Wang Ke revealed a hint of a triumphant smile.

Hmph!

You think that with a low-grade spiritual root you could break through to mid-stage Qi Refining within five years? Dream on!

The more Wang Ke thought about it, the more pleased he became; over these five years he used his connections within the sect to deny Wang Ping the opportunity to cultivate in a cave dwelling.

This alone would be enough to cut off his path of cultivation.

A penniless wretch, with a cultivation level below mid-stage, cannot absorb the spiritual energy from spirit stones.

Moreover, he cannot afford elixirs; his state of mind must be utter despair!

However, I heard he has made some achievements in cultivating spiritual value, which is not bad; once brought back to the clan, besides letting him propagate the family line, we will also have him tend the family's spirit fields.

Wang Ke constantly schemed in his heart; his zeal in this matter is solely for the sake of his own son.

He has lived many years but has only one son, who possesses a medium-grade fire spiritual root.

The clan's cultivation resources allocated to his son are too scarce, and as a father he can't help much, so he turned his attention to Wang Ping, whose parents are both deceased.

This scheme is unpleasant to speak of, but who made that boy's talent so low, lacking any support from his elders?

Steward Yue glanced at the fat man beside him; how could he not guess his thoughts?

Originally he also had some reservations, but upon hearing that the disciple was merely a low-grade fire-wood spiritual root, he agreed to the matter.

The two chatted and laughed all the way to Wang Ping's door.

Steward Yue glanced at Wang Ke, then shouted at the house:

"Where is Wang Ping?"

As an outer sect steward, his cultivation had already reached the great completion of Qi Refining; with this outward burst of voice, his sound thundered like a boom, echoing within a ten-zhang radius.

After the call, the two waited at the doorway.

One minute passed, and there was not the slightest movement from the wooden house.

Steward Yue's face fell; he raised his voice again and asked, "Outer Sect Disciple Wang Ping, where are you?"

Still, there was no reply.

Wang Ke rolled his beady eyes and suddenly snapped:

"That brat must think he can't break through to mid-stage Qi Refining, so he simply hid away; he knows non-sect disciples can't stay long in the sect, so he devised this scheme to stall me—truly despicable!"

Steward Yue heard this and inwardly chuckled coldly, thinking, "Your scheming to claim the clan's lineage is no less base than that of an orphaned clan member."

He only thought these words in his heart; he would never say them to Wang Ke's face.

However, Steward Yue also showed a troubled expression on his face and said apologetically:

"Brother Wang, if that disciple really wants to hide, it would indeed be troublesome, and I shouldn't interfere too much.

After all, that's your family affair; sigh—if only you had made the sect a witness back then!"

Wang Ke heard this, rolled his eyes, and thought, "Back then, if I had made that request, my grandfather would have surely slapped me to death."

He also hadn't expected such a situation, and he couldn't help but feel flustered and exasperated,

"Bold to the extreme, truly bold to the extreme—daring to deceive the clan like this! Brother Yue, could you do me a favor? Use the sect's mission system to find that brat!"

While speaking, he extended a finger and widened his small eyes at Steward Yue.

Steward Yue hesitated a moment, then thought, "A thousand spirit stones just to find a person? That can be done."

He immediately nodded, indicating agreement.

Wang Ke wore a ferocious expression, thinking, "If I ever catch Wang Ping, I will surely torment that brat severely; otherwise I cannot vent this hatred in my heart."

He is naturally narrow-minded, notorious in the clan for being petty.

Steward Yue, taking money to handle affairs, acted swiftly; he pulled out the mission plate he carried and prepared to use it to have the disciple named Wang Ping come find him.

Huh!

Just as Steward Yue was about to issue the mission, he suddenly noticed a message appear on the mission plate, sent from the Examination Hall.

Judging by the time, it must have been sent early this morning; at that time he seemed to be entertaining Wang Ke, so he might have missed it!

Now that he has seen it, he might as well take a look; perhaps another disciple in his jurisdiction failed the assessment and a penalty notice has been sent.

After reading the message on the mission plate, Steward Yue's mouth opened slightly, his face showing an expression of shock.

Wang Ke, who had been watching this side closely, hurriedly asked:

"What? Brother Yue, have you found my family's unfilial son?"

"Unfilial son?"

Steward Yue inwardly chuckled coldly, but on his face he showed a hint of hesitation and nodded.

Wang Ke, a sly fellow, seeing Yue Steward's expression like that, his heart skipped a beat, feeling something was off, he cautiously asked:

But something happened?

Yue Steward nodded and said, "That disciple named Wang Ping has already broken through."

Oh! He broke through! Wang Ke nodded, and in the next moment, realizing the meaning, his small eyes widened dramatically, and he shouted in a rather undignified manner:

What? Broke through! Qi Refining Realm Mid-stage, Wang Ping?

Yue Steward nodded.

How is that possible? He only has a low-grade spiritual root; how could he break through to mid-stage Qi Refining in just five years! There must be something fishy!

Suddenly receiving such news, Wang Ke found it hard to accept for a moment.

Brother Wang, I also find it hard to believe, but the news came from the Examination Hall, so it's correct. It's said that the disciple fortuitously encountered a Spiritual Eye Transfer, and thus cultivated a top-grade first-rank fire spirit fruit, relying on this opportunity to break through to mid-stage Qi Refining.

Spiritual Eye Transfer!

Wang Ke gritted his teeth, how could that brat have such good fortune.

The so-called Spiritual Eye Transfer is a phenomenon possessed only by third-grade spiritual veins and above.

The Spiritual Eye is the place within a third-grade spiritual vein where spiritual energy is dense; originally located in the central region, but sometimes it shifts.

One can imagine what happens when such a Spiritual Eye shifts to an ordinary area.

Since the founding of the Qingyue Sect, there have also been several instances of Spiritual Vein Transfer, and each time the cultivation of those outer sect disciples advances by leaps and bounds.

Damn it.

Wang Ke was extremely jealous; how could such an opportunity fall to that brat.

Yue Brother, may I go take a look? Otherwise I really am unwilling!" Wang Ke said through gritted teeth.

Yue Steward nodded; it's no big deal, he also wanted to go see that disciple whose luck is off the charts.

To say he isn't jealous would be a lie; if he could encounter a Spiritual Eye Transfer, he would definitely go break through to Foundation Establishment.

What a pity! What a pity!

………

Qingyue Sect, Heaven Palm Peak, Examination Hall.

Wang Ping walked out with a smile, his originally gray clothing now changed to white-top-blue-bottom disciple attire.

Furthermore, he held in his hand a short sword glowing with golden light, as well as a cloth bag, and tucked in his bosom was a jade slip.

The jade slip recorded over thirty low-level techniques, and there were also five low-grade spirit stones stored in the storage bag. This is the treatment he received upon breaking through to mid-stage Qi Refining: a magic weapon, five spirit stones, a technique jade slip, and a storage bag.

Walking to the edge of the plaza before the Examination Hall's gate, Wang Ping glanced at the sky, secretly thinking, Wang Third Uncle must have already received the news, right!

Just as he thought that, two red-and-green streaks of light shot from the distant horizon, flying straight toward the Examination Hall.