Chapter 96: Tired, I'm Done!

This time, he truly did not try much to persuade Xu Sixi; once the Secret Realm ended, if he were to expose the fact that Xu Sixi had stolen his way into the Secret Realm under a false name to murder fellow disciples, then even if Xu Sixi did not die, he would be unable to escape punishment, and it would be difficult for the matter to settle without him suffering for several decades; he would certainly be unable to use the Breaking Boundary Pill to achieve Golden Core.

And since Elder Xu was responsible for the Jin Tai Dao Discussion, having such a major oversight occur meant he would also need to compensate for the Sect's losses from other aspects to mitigate his own culpability.

After all, when in the Outer Sect, disciples were mostly self-sufficient and could even create value for the Sect.

Once they entered the Inner Sect, they were basically supported by the Sect, because these disciples already had the ability to become the core backbone of the Sect.

For Elder Xu, the most convenient method was to immediately contribute a Golden Core stage disciple to the Central Province, and he, Lu Qisheng, was the most suitable candidate.

Therefore, when Xu Sixi privately modified the water screen to add his name to it, he had already made up his mind to ruin Xu Sixi's reputation.

It was just unexpected... an accident occurred within the Secret Realm; a batch of disciples came out after staying inside for less than nine days, and the situation of those remaining inside was still unknown, but he had already received news that Ruan Xing, whom Xu Sixi wanted to kill, was also among those who came out.

Why was this...? According to Xu Sixi's temperament, if he wanted to kill someone in the Secret Realm, he would not wait long at all; he would take action within a day or two of finding the person.

Elder Xu was flustered due to his concern, worrying that the robbing of fellow disciples was done by Xu Sixi, yet he knew it was not Xu Sixi, because Xu Sixi always kept his word; if he had caught Ruan Xing, he would not have let her come out alive.

Could it be that Xu Sixi had already died in the Secret Realm?

For a long time, only Elder Xu remained in the hall, sitting on his chair in deep thought.

He did not value aptitude much when taking personal disciples; as long as it was above average, they had a chance to catch his eye, but what he cared about most was the disciple's character; those with simple minds and a focus on emotions were his best targets for taking on disciples.

As long as his disciples achieved something after going to the Central Province, they could not only look after the remaining Xu Clan members in the Central Province, but were even more likely to obtain a Longevity Pill for him.

This child Lu Qisheng... I don't know if he grew crooked or if I misjudged him back then; he was clearly of an obedient and honest nature, so why does he have his own little schemes now?

Sigh, once Lu Qisheng reaches Golden Core and goes to the Central Province, I wonder if he will still care about his master's face.

Elder Xu's thoughts were chaotic; after a long while, he stood up to go find the Sect Master to discuss the matter. Regardless of whether it had anything to do with Xu Sixi, there should be some result regarding the news brought out by the dozen or so disciples who left the Secret Realm early.

"For now... we can only wait."

The Sect Master stroked Elder Wen's long white beard with some distress and sighed mournfully.

"Why not send a team of disciples in to check?" Elder Xu said.

He had a bit of selfishness; if he could send disciples in to find Xu Sixi and let him sneak out, meeting him in advance to coordinate, then the matter would not be so difficult to handle.

Because the Xuanbing Sect could not control the Golden Terrace Secret Realm, the Secret Realm's carrying capacity and restrictions were determined by the Secret Realm itself; they had no authority to intervene, and all disciples could only enter once in their lifetime.

Although that was the case, some who had failed the Jin Tai Dao Discussion in previous years were still at the Foundation Establishment stage, so organizing them into a temporary team was not a bad idea.

The Sect Master frowned and said: "No, you also know that every disciple who has come out now claims their vision was obstructed, which is a sign of spatial instability. If you send a team of disciples in now, it might end in total annihilation; you must know how to cut your losses in time."

Elder Xu's hand, hidden under his sleeve, crushed the chair's armrest into powder and he endured: "Those disciples are likely destined to never reach Golden Core in this life, how can they compare to the elites who entered the Secret Realm? If their lives can be of use to save even one elite disciple, then it would be a death worth dying."

"You are too extreme," the Sect Master said disapprovingly, "We don't even know what the situation is like in the Secret Realm right now."

"Then we just wait like this? Don't forget that although I am responsible for the Golden Terrace Secret Realm, if so many disciples are lost at once, you will also have to bear the responsibility!"

"They might not be dead yet, and you are already jumping to conclusions?"

Seeing that the two were about to argue, the white-bearded old man impatiently pulled the Sect Master's hand away, "Alright, alright, stop stroking! You're getting it all greasy!"

Elder Wen, who had been half-lying on the chair next to the Sect Master dozing off, said: "Listen to me, let's vote. Now, those who support continuing to wait, raise your hands."

Elder Wen and the Sect Master both raised their hands.

Elder Xu was so angry he laughed, "Fine, fine! Have it your way then!"

He flicked his sleeves and left.

Elder Wen lay back down, "Knew I'd be called over to be the peacemaker."

The Sect Master said calmly: "We can't really get into a fight with him; I am, after all, the Sect Master, I have a reputation to maintain."

"Come to think of it, it's strange, why is he so angry?" Elder Wen wondered: "Are you really not going to care about those disciples in the Secret Realm? You should know that Fu Qinghong is not among those who came out. He has the Innate Dao Bone and is the future hope of the Xuanbing Sect in the eyes of the Central Province Sect Leader, and the closed-door disciple of Qingyuan Daojun. If he is lost inside, think about how you will answer to the Sect Leader and Qingyuan Daojun."

The Sect Master asked in return: "Then do you think, if it really is spatial instability, what use would sending a team of Foundation Establishment disciples in be?"

Elder Wen: "... They would serve as burial companions."

"Isn't that it?" The Sect Master spread his hands helplessly, "We can't get in, and sending disciples in is useless, so why do this futile work? Or do you think our Nanzhou Xuanbing Sect has too many people and needs to be streamlined?"

Elder Wen: "... If we streamline any more, there will be no one left in the Inner Sect."

"Exactly!" The Sect Master said earnestly: "Whether it's spatial turbulence or someone meddling, we can only wait. Besides, I have no intention of returning to the Central Province in this life. If the Central Province strips me of my position as Sect Master, I would rather seal my cultivation and suffer punishment in the back mountain for a hundred years. What about you, do you want to return to the Central Province?"

Elder Wen shook his head quickly, "I don't have many decades left to live, why would I go back? I'm not going."

"That's right. There is still no news of the Ink Marrow, and for the Hanshan Secret Realm, I could only report it as a natural collapse to the outside world. Now the Golden Terrace Secret Realm has problems again. I've been Sect Master for so many years and have never encountered such bad luck. I'm tired, I'm done!"

The Sect Master had a look of resignation, while Elder Wen laughed out loud instead.

"Ha, I advised you to be like this long ago. Senior Brother, I had already let go on the first day I came to Nanzhou. There is no need to trouble yourself to seek any Longevity Pill for me; let nature take its course. Even if I die one day, that is my fate. You delaying yourself by staying here as Sect Master is what makes me feel uneasy and guilty."

"Even if it weren't for you, I would never return to the Central Province again. You were clearly injured for the sake of the Sect, yet... the people in charge of the Sect are all like that Xu fellow; if you have no value, you are discarded like worn-out shoes. I don't like it."

"Then why do you tirelessly send talent to the Central Province?" Elder Wen teased him.

The Sect Master sighed deeply, "Although I don't like the Central Province, Nanzhou would indeed delay those good seedlings. Anyway, they are willing to cultivate valuable disciples over there, so they won't be buried if they go. I am not doing it for the Central Province, but just for those ordinary disciples who are struggling to survive just like you and I were back then."

... Ruan Xing stayed in her residence, eating and sleeping every day, and passed this month without a care in the world.

Unlike the other cultivators who came out with her, each harboring their own secrets, she seemed to be in a different world.

In order to maintain the image of a victim like them, during this time, she kept to herself and did not dare to open her Storage Bag at all, fearing that the Spirit Qi of the three thousand Spirit Stones inside would leak out; she even dared not use Simulation, fearing that her cultivation might accidentally improve and be difficult to explain.

Finally, the forty-five days were up, and the Golden Terrace Secret Realm closed as scheduled. The cultivators guarding the entrance waited until their eyes were sore, but no one else came out from inside.

After investigating for a few days with no results, the Sect could not keep them under house arrest forever; after all, they were also victims, and most of them were noble Central Province cultivators.

They had to be allowed to return to the Central Province.

When they left, the Sect Master personally led the Nanzhou disciples to see them off.

Without Fu Yu, the Central Province cultivators re-elected a leader, who said in a stiff tone: "I will report this matter word for word truthfully to the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader will know how lax Nanzhou has become."

A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator daring to speak like this to a Nascent Soul stage Sect Master—if he didn't have backing, it would be hard to believe.

The Sect Master was not angry; he guessed that this was another arrogant descendant from a clan in the Central Province, and instead said: "The management was not strict, making the fellow disciples from the Central Province laugh. No matter how the Sect Leader reprimands or punishes, I will accept it willingly."

His peaceful demeanor made the new leader of the Central Province cultivators a bit uncertain. This time, over a hundred Inner Sect Disciples died, including Fu Qinghong who had the Innate Dao Bone; it was impossible for this to end well.

The Sect Master's expression did not change, but he sneered in his heart, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't have a family, and I know the Sect Leader's character all too well. He wouldn't kill a five-hundred-year-old Nascent Soul stage cultivator for the sake of over a hundred Foundation Establishment disciples. Fu Qinghong has some weight, but not enough."

How many geniuses relied on their excellent Spirit Bone aptitude to act recklessly, only to fall before reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

Thinking of the Nascent Soul, natural talent, and destiny—not one can be missing.

After the farewell ended, the crowd dispersed; Ruan Xing was just preparing to return when she was suddenly pulled aside quietly by Lu Jin.

She cast a questioning look, and Lu Jin blinked at her, "The Sect Master wants you to go and meet with him."

Sect Master? Ruan Xing thought for a moment; it seemed there really was such an event in one of her Simulations.

She jumped onto her Flying Sword and flew toward the direction of the Main Peak; the plaza in front of the Palm Hall was empty, with only the stone-paved ground remaining, and all the high platforms and water curtains were gone, cleared away very cleanly.

Just as she was wondering whether she should go straight in, she suddenly heard someone calling her.

"Ruan Xing, come over."

The Sect Master was standing next to a pillar in front of the hall, his tone amiable.

After she walked over, he even introduced himself, "I am the current Sect Master of the Xuanbing Sect."

Ruan Xing:... She had just seen him at the mountain gate earlier; her memory was not that bad.

Oh, wait, did she forget to salute?

Ruan Xing hurriedly folded her hands and bowed in front of her, "This disciple greets the Sect Master."

"Good." The Sect Master smiled with satisfaction and walked slowly to the side with her, "No need to be formal, just chatting casually."

Ruan Xing replied, "Yes. Does the Sect Master want to ask about the matters in the Secret Realm?"

This matter had already been asked many times when the External Affairs Hall sent people to investigate, and she answered very skillfully—she went in to collect materials, never encountered anyone, was suddenly robbed by someone, and did not see their face.

"That is not it," the Sect Master said, "I just want to ask you, what is your opinion of the Central Province, and do you want to go?"

"This disciple naturally wants to; for the path of seeking immortality and asking about the Dao, the Central Province is the shortcut," Ruan Xing answered honestly.

The Sect Master laughed, "You see things clearly. Previously, Lu Jin and Wu Xing were both sent by me to observe you; you noticed that, didn't you?"

Ruan Xing nodded, "Yes, their intention to get close to me was too obvious. In this world, no one is good to another person for no reason, yet I encountered two at once; it was indeed unusual. However, this disciple is still grateful to the Sect Master for sending them to take care of me."

The Sect Master waved his hand, "Eh, I only let them approach you to observe you; as for the taking care of you, that was their own idea, I certainly did not order that."

He stopped his footsteps and sighed with emotion, "You are very smart, not like a child."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Xing's heart skipped a beat; she was a little worried that he would suddenly change his face, claim she was an Evil Cultivator who had committed Possession, and wipe her out with one palm. She was not in a Simulation right now.

However, there had been such an encounter in the Simulations, so it should be no problem.

Sure enough, the Sect Master continued, "I want you to go to the Central Province early; continuing to stay here will only delay you, and even the Breaking Boundary Pill... cannot be supplied in time. Moreover, I will probably not be the Sect Master for much longer. I do not know who the next successor will be, nor do I know if he will value you. Therefore, I thought that while I am still in this position, I should hurry and send you over."

The Sect Master did not doubt her identity, but instead cared for her so much; Ruan Xing was even a little moved.

Although she had already obtained the Breaking Boundary Pill by robbing fellow disciples, she still appreciated this favor from the Sect Master. Anyway, she had to go to the Central Province sooner or later, and there would be many variables after the new Sect Master took office, so it was better to accept the Sect Master's good intentions.

"Many thanks, Sect Master; this disciple is willing to go to the Central Province. However, I ask the Sect Master to grant me a few days; the road to the Central Province is long, and who knows how many years it will take to return after this departure. I must go home to say goodbye to my family," Ruan Xing said crisply.

She was not lying to the Sect Master; she had to send the inheritances of the two big shots home, let Ruan Tao and Hu San learn them, and then hide her strength and bide her time, slowly encroaching upon the dynasty and the Six Suns Study.

She had not forgotten about the Boundary Tree; she was still very concerned. Having such an evil thing controlling her thoughts and preventing her from speaking about everything in the dynasty made one quite unhappy.

But to solve the Boundary Tree, one must first solve the Six Suns Study. The Master of the Six Suns Study is at the Nascent Soul Stage, and she cannot afford to provoke him right now. When she goes back, she will let the big shots use a Puppet Body to pass through the boundary and feel it out to see if the two of them recognize what kind of ghost thing this is.

Cai Xueshi might also be useful; she must win him over. The cultivation techniques of the Six Suns Study have fast results. With Cai Xueshi having served as a Cabinet Scholar and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince when he retired from office, his literary energy and official fortune should not be low. Three years to Foundation Establishment and five years to Golden Core is not a dream. Who knows, after reaching the Golden Core, he might also be able to gain some say.

The Sect Master nodded, "Indeed, it is time to say goodbye to your family. I will give you half a month; go early and return early."

Thanks to Blue Sheep for the tip~ Thanks to Blue Sheep for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Pure One Brave Warrior Wu Jiande for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to I Eat Watermelon for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Distant Melody Hall for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Wow Wow for the monthly ticket~(End of chapter)