Chapter 283: Let’s See Who Acts Best

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“Impossible! Only a few of us old folks know about the spirit vein—there’s no way the secret leaked.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. The Five Elements Dao Sect is the top sect in the cultivation world, with eyes and ears everywhere. Who’s to say they didn’t discover the spirit vein through some unknown means and have now sent someone to investigate?”

“So what if they know? Do you think they’d dare to seize it by force? They wouldn’t risk the ridicule of the entire cultivation world!”

The elders argued back and forth, their voices growing louder with each remark.

“Enough!” Tian Shu’s thunderous voice silenced the room. “The visitor is already at our gates. What we need to discuss now is our response, not the root cause.”

“Master, I suggest we remain passive for now. Let’s observe her intentions before deciding our course of action,” proposed one elder.

“But what if she’s here for the spirit vein? What should we do then?”

“Deny everything, of course! No matter how strong Yu Zhao is, she’s still just a Golden Core cultivator. As long as we stand firm, she won’t be able to get any information.”

Tian Shu considered the suggestion and nodded. “Fine. That’s the plan. I’ll invite her in personally.”

A thin elder stepped forward, “Sect Master, allow me to accompany you.”

Tian Shu nodded again. “Very well. The rest of you, return to your duties and await further news. The Grand Elder and I will handle this personally.”

…

Outside the Seven Stars Sect, Yu Zhao had been waiting for quite some time when Tian Shu and the Grand Elder finally appeared.

“Yu—” Tian Shu’s words abruptly cut off when he caught sight of her.

He exchanged a glance with the Grand Elder.

Disaster. Yu Zhao had already formed her Nascent Soul.

A Nascent Soul cultivator under thirty was an unimaginable anomaly, a prodigy that bordered on the terrifying.

Tian Shu’s initial relief evaporated, replaced by unease. He had witnessed Yu Zhao’s prowess during the great cultivation tournament—an invincible force among peers, skilled in both melee and ranged combat. Even with two centuries of cultivation ahead of her, he wasn’t confident he could defeat her.

“Senior Sister Yu, this is Tian Shu, the sect master of our Seven Stars Sect, and this is the Grand Elder.”

Yu Zhao greeted them with measured politeness. Her gaze lingered briefly on the Grand Elder before shifting away, unnoticed by anyone else.

“There’s no need for formalities…” Tian Shu began, but his words faltered. He had no idea how to address Yu Zhao. Despite their age difference, their cultivation levels were now comparable. Calling her “Junior” seemed presumptuous, yet addressing her by name felt overly familiar.

Yu Zhao caught onto his dilemma and smiled faintly. “Sect Master Tian Shu, you can simply call me Yu Zhao.”

It was customary to address Nascent Soul cultivators with their Daoist titles, not their given names, as a sign of respect. Yu Zhao did have a Daoist title, one bestowed upon her by Master Qing Yan when she first joined the sect. However, in her previous life, Qing Yan had cast her aside before she could officially use it. In this life, after breaking ties with Qing Yan, she had no intention of reclaiming it. For now, she planned to consult Elder Gu or Sect Master Ji Yuan of the Five Elements Dao Sect to bestow her a new title upon her return.

Relieved, Tian Shu laughed heartily. “Yu Zhao, it is an honor for our Seven Stars Sect to host you. Please, come inside!”

“You flatter me, Sect Master. It is my honor to visit.”

After a round of courteous pleasantries, they ascended the mountain together. As they walked, Tian Shu subtly probed Yu Zhao’s reasons for visiting. She deftly parried each question while mentally mapping out the sect’s layout.

By the time they reached the main hall, neither Tian Shu nor the Grand Elder had managed to glean any useful information from Yu Zhao. On the contrary, she had extracted quite a bit from them, leaving the two men increasingly uneasy.

Yu Zhao, on the other hand, remained calm, even taking the time to evaluate the tea served to her.

Through their expressions and the conversation, she deduced that the spirit vein was, for now, still intact. However, “for now” was the key phrase. The culprit behind the recent spirit vein exhaustion was ruthless, capable of draining even the largest spirit veins overnight. If he targeted the Seven Stars Sect, it could be depleted in a single night.

The biggest challenge was that Yu Zhao didn’t know exactly when the exhaustion would occur, nor could she stay at the sect indefinitely. The only viable solution was convincing the sect to fortify the spirit vein’s defenses, gathering clues in the process—even if such measures couldn’t entirely prevent the culprit’s actions.

But getting the sect to believe her was a monumental task. The Seven Stars Sect had concealed the existence of the spirit vein to prevent others from knowing about it. If she revealed it outright, she might protect the vein but would certainly incite suspicion from Tian Shu and the others. Without concrete evidence, convincing them seemed impossible.

Pondering her options, Yu Zhao sipped her tea, sinking into thought. In the end, she refrained from disclosing her true purpose. Instead, she requested permission to stay at the sect for a while.

Reluctantly, Tian Shu and the Grand Elder agreed, escorting her to the guest courtyard before convening an emergency meeting.

…

In the conference room, the Grand Elder’s expression was grim. “Fellow elders, Yu Zhao is most likely here for the spirit vein.”

The room erupted in disbelief.

“The illustrious Five Elements Dao Sect coveting the resources of another sect? Unthinkable!”

“Is this her intention, or that of her sect?”

“Outrageous! The Five Elements Dao Sect is overstepping!”

“If they dare act unjustly, we should strike first…”

“Elder Luo, watch your words!” Tian Shu’s sharp rebuke cut through the clamor.

Elder Luo scowled but said no more.

Tian Shu glared at him. “Yu Zhao is now a Nascent Soul cultivator. Forget about detaining her—if anything happens to her here, the Five Elements Dao Sect will not let us off lightly. We’d face utter destruction!”

“Nascent Soul? Already? But she’s so young!”

The elders were once again stunned into silence.

“Compose yourselves!” The Grand Elder scolded, his tone biting. “You’re all seasoned cultivators, yet you’re behaving like startled children. Have some dignity!”

The elders calmed under his stern reprimand.

“Sect Master, Grand Elder, do you have a plan?” one elder ventured.

The Grand Elder sighed, then spoke with measured calm. “Seizing another sect’s spirit vein is indefensible, no matter the justification. Yu Zhao’s reluctance to address it openly suggests she’s also concerned about the Five Elements Dao Sect’s reputation. She likely hopes we’ll yield on our own.

Since that’s the case, let’s play along. If she wants to stay, we’ll act oblivious and keep her company. Let’s see who can outlast whom in this game of pretense!”

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