Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Visitors at the Heaven-Questioning Sect!

“Now the water is already muddy. Our Gazing Mountain Sect should join the fun too, right?”

“Hahahaha, let’s go. We’ll go take a look too!”

“…”

All the Five Sects and Four Factions brought their people and headed toward the Heaven-Questioning Sect.

Last time it was the heavenly prodigy tournament. This time, the ones fighting were the sect’s pillars: Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

The Divine Transformation Ancestor of the Heaven-Questioning Sect had yet to show himself, and they couldn’t keep waiting forever.

Now that the Myriad Swords Sect had fired the first shot, no one could afford to lag behind. The sooner they forced the Divine Transformation Ancestor out, the sooner they could carve up the Heaven-Questioning Sect’s resources.

Unlike the other sects, running on greed and adrenaline, the elders of the Myriad Swords Sect stared at Lu Xing Yao, eyes wide.

“You mean you challenged him just because you didn’t like Gu Qing Yuan?”

The Sect Master of the Myriad Swords Sect nearly flipped over in rage.

If the Heaven-Questioning Sect truly fell, fine. But if it was a false alarm, then the Myriad Swords Sect would be the first target—the Heaven-Questioning Sect’s punching bag and everyone’s public enemy.

When that happened, it would still be him taking the blow.

Meanwhile, the real culprit would stay in the sect, living comfortably.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

But Lu Xing Yao was the Myriad Swords Sect’s precious treasure. They couldn’t scold him or beat him. All they could do was pamper him.

“Sect Master, I’m sorry. I didn’t know at the time…”

When he went to challenge, he had never thought of this. Only after coming back and hearing everyone analyze it did he realize what a huge thing he had done.

But he didn’t regret it.

He only wondered—had Song Wan Ning thought about these consequences?

Was it deliberate, or…

“Forget it. What’s done is done. We can’t change it now. Those old guys have all taken people to the Heaven-Questioning Sect. We should get results soon.”

“When the time comes, the Myriad Swords Sect better take a bigger share. We were the ones who stepped up first.” The Sect Master shifted gears instantly and began discussing with the other elders which plots held richer resources and which cities had the most tax revenue.

Lu Xing Yao: “…”

Carrying his sword, he left the Sect Master’s hall. After hesitating, he sent Song Wan Ning a Voice-Transmission Talisman.

It was embarrassing to admit it: he had secretly loved Song Wan Ning for nearly 100 years, and he had only obtained her Voice-Transmission Talisman a few days ago…

He rubbed it for a moment. Then it slipped from his fingers and flew toward the Heaven-Questioning Sect.

If Song Wan Ning needed help, he would go without hesitation.

If he had brought her trouble, he was willing to make up for it.

—

“Master, Master, was that Senior Martial Uncle Lu?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Li Ruo lifted her head in delight.

“Why are you so excited?” Song Wan Ning raised an eyebrow and teased on purpose. “You’re barely that tall. Don’t tell me you’ve already fallen in love?”

Li Ruo froze, her face instantly turning red like flame.

“Master, n-no! It’s just… this disciple thinks Senior Martial Uncle Lu treats Master well… much better than Senior Martial Uncle Gu…”

She was only a little girl. Master really dared to think that far.

Song Wan Ning: “…”

She tapped Li Ruo on the forehead and smiled helplessly. “Looks like I haven’t given you enough tasks. You still have time to worry about my affairs.”

She squatted down and met Li Ruo’s eyes. Facing the little girl’s innocent gaze, she sighed.

“Li Ruo, in this world, the seven emotions and six desires are unavoidable, but remember: put yourself first in everything.”

“Feel everything with your heart. Don’t hold one person in higher esteem just because another piece of trash makes them look good.”

Just because he was better than Gu Qing Yuan, did Li Ruo think Lu Xing Yao was someone worth entrusting herself to?

That habit was not good.

In this life, Song Wan Ning had already sealed her feelings and locked away love, but she wouldn’t force her views on Li Ruo.

Everyone had their own fate.

“But remember: you are your greatest support. Even Master can’t protect you forever.”

Li Ruo frowned, committing it to memory.

She still couldn’t fully understand, but she remembered every word. One day, she would understand.

Her clueless look made Song Wan Ning smile.

She hoped the little girl wouldn’t walk the same road she once did.

—

The Heaven-Questioning Sect soon grew busy. Wave after wave of people arrived with ill intent, aggressive enough to give the Sect Master and elders splitting headaches.

Every day they wore long faces, like someone owed them money.

The disciples panicked as well. Everyone knew the sect had run into a serious problem. Those with even slightly higher status understood the situation more clearly and grew anxious.

Only Song Wan Ning and her disciples lived each day at ease.

Before long, the people of several sects gathered at the Heaven-Questioning Sect again. It hadn’t been long, but the situation was completely different.

Especially when they announced they wanted to challenge the elders, everyone’s face turned green.

“We know each other well and are extremely familiar. There’s no need for duels, is there?”

Inside, the Sect Master cursed over and over, wishing he could kick all of them out.

“What’s wrong with it? We haven’t fought in years. This is just stretching our bones and getting some practice!”

“Yeah. Years ago I lost to your Fourth Elder. This is a perfect chance to learn again!”

“Then we’ll line up behind.”

“We’ll queue too.”

Laughing, they began to assign an order, not caring whether the Heaven-Questioning Sect agreed.

Watching how excited they were, the Sect Master’s face turned purple with suppressed anger.

In a daze, he could almost see the major sects carving up the Heaven-Questioning Sect’s territory.

The more he thought, the more frightened he became.

Suddenly, Liu Yi Yi of the Gazing Mountain Sect spoke up. “I heard Fellow Daoist Song of your sect, Song Wan Ning, has already advanced to the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage?”

“With strength like that, she’s probably among the very best in our Seven Sects and Four Factions.”

“Oh? Is that so? Fellow Daoist Song reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage that fast?”

Everyone was shocked.

It hadn’t been long at all, yet she had advanced two levels in a row.

In an instant, Song Wan Ning became the first choice on the challenge list.

Everyone wanted to test her—afraid she would break through to the Divine Transformation Stage at this critical moment, which would greatly affect their plans to split the Heaven-Questioning Sect.

The Sect Master’s face changed. He glanced quietly toward Liu Yi Yi.

If he remembered correctly, she seemed to have a pretty good relationship with Song Wan Ning.

“Heh. Junior Sister Song did advance, but she only just did, and her foundation is unstable. It isn’t convenient for her to accept challenges for now!”

This wasn’t like Lu Xing Yao’s one-on-one challenge.

These people used challenges as a pretense. Their real goal was to pressure the Heaven-Questioning Sect. Even if Song Wan Ning was pushed out, it would change nothing.

On the contrary, Junior Sister Song was now the person closest to the Divine Transformation Stage in the sect. Nothing could happen to her.

But the others didn’t buy it. Smiling, they said, “Sect Master, that’s a joke. We’re only sparring casually. It might even help Fellow Daoist Song stabilize her foundation. Two birds with one stone, right?”

They might as well have written their malice on their faces.

The Sect Master swallowed his anger, his expression shifting again and again.

“All right, all right. Let’s sort out the order and see who goes first.”

“Fine. To be fair, why don’t we draw lots?”

“Agreed!”