Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Internal Strife in the Flying Cloud Sect

Patriarch of the Jiang Clan, Jiang Wen Sheng, drawled to Shen Dao Chen: “Sect Master Shen’s daughter truly is extraordinary.”

Artifact Forging Sect Master Liang Yue added with a smile: “The Flying Cloud Sect’s points are far ahead. Congratulations, Sect Master Shen.”

Their words sounded like praise, but there was another meaning under the surface. For a sect that won first place in the last grand tournament, its decisions looked petty.

Even Beast Taming Sect Master Guan Hui muttered in secret: “Short sighted.”

By now, the Heavenly Sword Sect and several other teams had already crossed the Mystic-tier Zone and were about to reach the Earth-tier Zone to collect Earth-grade materials. The Flying Cloud Sect had fallen far behind on the road. The Earth-tier Zone held rich resources, but arriving early or late still made a difference.

Hearing these comments, Shen Dao Chen’s face grew darker. He knew Bai Mu Mu’s choice was not wise, but she stood for him and for the Flying Cloud Sect’s reputation, so he defended her, saying with a calm voice: “You flatter us.”

He said with fatherly pride: “It is my daughter’s first time in a contest like this. Her performance is not dazzling yet, and many of her skills have not shown. In such a short time you cannot judge anything.”

He meant that it had only just begun, so why rush to judge? Later they would see Bai Mu Mu’s strengths. Even so, he felt unhappy with her performance. [At least we gained those points. As for materials, the Flying Cloud Sect has plenty. As long as we hold first place and press down the Ninghua Sect, that is enough.] Shen Dao Chen had to convince himself.

Jiang Wen Sheng and Liang Yue traded silent eye rolls. In their view, Bai Mu Mu was nowhere near Shen Sang Ruo. They could not understand why Shen Dao Chen made someone like Bai Mu Mu the Young Sect Master. If this continued, father and daughter might ruin the Flying Cloud Sect, while Shen Sang Ruo would keep pushing the Ninghua Sect forward.

Inside the Secret Realm, the sudden rise in points made many Flying Cloud Sect disciples puffed up with pride. Bai Mu Mu’s plan not only repaired her public image, it also restored her authority within the team.

One disciple bragged to the others: “With Junior Sister Bai leading us, we will pass that Ninghua Sect and take first place in the Sect Grand Tournament.”

Another snorted: “Do not even bring them up. Those few from the Ninghua Sect have probably been knocked out already, haha.”

A third mocked Shen Sang Ruo by name: “She wants to compare herself to our Junior Sister Bai? She picked a tiny sect and won first in a solo match, then thought she was someone important.”

Someone added harshly: “She brings bad luck. She will drag the Ninghua Sect down and make the world spit on them.”

Although Shen Sang Ruo’s strong and stunning strength these past days had changed some minds, rumors never stopped. The Flying Cloud Sect disciples secretly fanned the flames. Back during the Young Sect Master trial, the four Confession Scrolls and the standoff with Master Ling Xiao caused an uproar. They all knew why she wanted to cut ties with her master, yet when others asked, they told people she had poor conduct and was expelled. To them, those events stained Thunder-Scale Peak and, by extension, the Flying Cloud Sect, so they stood on their sect’s side.

Bai Mu Mu clearly enjoyed hearing this.

Someone drew breath to insult Shen Sang Ruo again, but the next moment a fist cracked across his jaw and he cried out. The crowd on Fengling Terrace gasped: “The Flying Cloud Sect is fighting itself!”

Another spectator shouted: “Where? What happened? Let me see!”

Countless cultivators turned their eyes to the projection window showing the Flying Cloud Sect.

The struck disciple clutched his cheek and turned to see Lu Shi Qing staring at him with cold eyes. Goosebumps rose on his skin.

Lu Shi Qing warned through clenched teeth: “Do not let me hear you slander her again.”

Feng He Yun, Wen Xuan, and Luo Chu stepped up beside Lu Shi Qing. Their faces were cold and full of anger.

Feng He Yun, cheeks flushed as if he had drunk a lot, said in a steady voice: “Mock the Ninghua Sect if you want, but why drag Shen Sang Ruo into it?”

Wen Xuan, serious for once, raised his voice: “Little Ruo will return to the Flying Cloud Sect one day. Why do you treat her as an enemy?”

Luo Chu curled his lip and jabbed a finger at the group: “Do you think we are deaf?”

Although Shen Sang Ruo had knocked him off the stage without mercy yesterday and he was still mad, he chose to defend her anyway. [I am so broad minded and devoted, not holding grudges. I moved myself with my own generosity.]

Feng He Yun swept his gaze over every face and said: “If we hear you speak ill of her again, we will not be polite.”

The other Flying Cloud Sect disciples looked at each other. They were all disciples. Just because these few were Master Ling Xiao’s disciples, did that put them above everyone else so they could order people around? They dared not show it on their faces, but they grumbled inside. Back when everyone cursed Shen Sang Ruo, these few cursed plenty too. How did they suddenly become perfect senior brothers after she left? Tch. Shen Sang Ruo now had true senior brother and senior sister at her side. What kind of senior brothers did these few think they were?

After sneering, many eyes shifted to Bai Mu Mu. With those four acting like this, where did that leave her? The crowd fell silent, and the air turned awkward.

Bai Mu Mu dug her nails into her palm. This was a team match. So many eyes on Fengling Terrace were watching them, yet for the sake of another team’s Young Sect Master, her own team started a fight. That was a slap to her face. Even though she had already given up trying to win the four of them over, anger surged. She showed a smile full of warning and said: “Senior brothers, do not forget why you are here. We have not even met other teams and you are already making trouble inside. Do you want to be laughed at?”

She turned, playing with the Score Token between her fingers, and ordered: “Enough, drop it here. Follow me to keep seizing points.”

She was about to lead the team toward other sects near the border between the Mystic and Yellow zones when Lu Shi Qing lifted an arm to block her.

He asked in a cold voice: “Do you plan to keep circling here?”

Bai Mu Mu shot back with a faint smirk: “These are small, weak sects. Taking points here is easy. Why should we not stay?”

Wen Xuan, trying to be calm and fair, said to her: “The Heavenly Sword Sect and the other top teams are heading to the Earth-tier Zone. We have stayed too long and are already behind.”

Bai Mu Mu let out a soft laugh and said: “You only want to find Shen Sang Ruo. No need to dress it in fancy words.”

Since she had seen through them, Luo Chu spoke plainly: “Did Sect Master Shen not tell us to target the Ninghua Sect? We are only following the Sect Master’s orders.”