Three days later.
Lingyin Sect, clouds rise and colorful mists swirl, auspicious energy fills the air.
It turned out,
In these few days, Lingyin Sect followed the vine to the melon, uncovering numerous hidden spies and Demon Cultivator bases within the borders of Yan Kingdom.
This was a great victory.
Hence, the sect specially arranged a celebration banquet at the main hall of the main peak to reward the meritorious individuals.
After returning to the sect,
Chen Ye originally planned to hand over his task and huddle in his small courtyard, but as soon as he appeared, he was invited by the Guardian of the Law Enforcement Hall to the main hall.
Inside the main hall, cups were exchanged, songs and dances filled the air.
"No wonder Bai Susu urged me to return to the sect within three days; she wanted me to attend this so-called celebration banquet... I understand her thought, without mentioning merit is equivalent to lacking merit. This time, I obtained quite a few good things for nothing."
Chen Ye sat in a corner, swirling a wine glass in his hand, his expression calm, though his mind was scheming when to slip away.
He never liked such occasions.
Besides,
Just now, in front of many cultivators in the sect, Bai Susu had specially praised Chen Ye, enumerating his numerous achievements.
The Sect Master was joyed upon hearing these and granted him a one-time wash in the Dragon Transformation Pool.
The so-called Dragon Transformation Pool, it is said to be the pool where the True Dragon once slumbered; cultivators, if able to bathe in it, can cleanse and refine their essence, heal hidden injuries... Many benefits, too numerous to detail.
Opening the Dragon Transformation Pool consumes a lot.
Only the sect’s top True Inheritor can bathe once.
Yet now, it was bestowed upon Chen Ye...
This gesture stirred discussions among the sect’s cultivators, with numerous people secretly monitoring him.
It made Chen Ye quite uncomfortable.
Just as he thought, the tree desires stillness but the wind does not cease.
"Hahaha! Isn’t this the Chen Ye, Instructor Chen, who slew the Demon Cultivator Li Min?"
A rich voice suddenly rang out.
Chen Ye looked up.
He saw a middle-aged cultivator in a dark red Taoist robe approaching with a wine cup in hand, face flushed with red light.
This person’s cheekbones were high, eyes slightly squinted; although he was smiling, there was a coldness akin to being watched by a poisonous snake.
Behind him followed several Inner Sect stewards, adopting a posture of stars surrounding the moon.
The originally noisy surroundings instantly quieted down a few notches.
"That’s Zhao Shan, Peak Master of the Spirit Snake Peak..."
"I heard recently he slew a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator of the Middle Period, which was a great merit... But that Demon Cultivator was only Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, far inferior to Li Min."
"Tsk tsk, naturally. What kind of person was Li Min? Within the Emotion Crossing Sect, he was a key figure, comparable to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Late Period."
These idle remarks didn’t reveal any crucial information.
But they let Chen Ye understand this person’s identity.
One of the Outer Sect Peak Masters, cultivation of Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, cultivator of the Zhao Family.
Chen Ye’s gaze slightly moved, he calmly rose and cupped his hands:
"Greetings, Peak Master Zhao."
Zhao Shan walked up to Chen Ye, gave him a once-over, and smiled kindly:
"Instructor Chen is indeed remarkably talented! I heard that Li Min was a Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Demon Cultivator, ruthless in his methods, yet fell under Instructor Chen’s hand. Instructor Chen overcame strength with weakness, truly admirable! Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, able to defeat Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer! Unbelievable, unbelievable!"
These words were spoken loudly, and those around couldn’t help but show admiration.
In Lingyin Sect’s records, a Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer defeating a Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer was a rare feat.
Chen Ye slightly furrowed his brows, sensing hostility from the speaker.
These words, ostensibly praising, were subtly setting him up for a fall.
Putting him in a difficult position, seeing how he’d get out.
Chen Ye remained composed, humbly saying: "It was mere luck. If Peak Master Zhao was present, I’m afraid that Demon Cultivator wouldn’t even have the chance to act."
These words gave Zhao Shan enough face.
The message being, "I’m very weak, don’t target me."
But clearly, Zhao Shan didn’t plan to let him off so easily.
"Instructor Chen is too humble!"
Zhao Shan familiarly came forward, unceremoniously placing an arm around Chen Ye’s shoulder, laughingly said,
"You must know, Li Min, that fellow, came to assassinate True Inheritor Bai. In the end, with no need for True Inheritor Bai to take action, you resolved matters for the True Inheritor! Fortunately, True Inheritor Bai didn’t act; otherwise, Instructor Chen might not have gotten this chance for the Dragon Transformation Pool!"
The people present were not fools.
Upon hearing Zhao Shan’s words, their gazes became subtly intriguing.
"But speaking of which, Instructor Chen... How could you kill Li Min?"
"Over the past year, True Inheritor Bai had frequently petitioned for honors on behalf of this Instructor, and when the war broke out, he was further assigned to the deep rear at Baopu Peak..."
The Dragon Transformation Pool is a sect’s sacred ground, opened either for disciples of extraordinary talent or for individuals of significant merit.
If underhanded manipulations led to a smooth-talker benefiting.
These cultivators would naturally feel dissatisfaction.
Chen Ye was as serene as the wind, seemingly indifferent to the gossip.
Zhao Shan, however, listening to the surrounding murmurs, suddenly turned stern and rebuked loudly:
"Silence! What nonsense are you all saying!"
"True Inheritor Bai is a prodigy of our sect, upright and unbiased! How would he commit such deception against the sect or abuse his authority for private gain?"
"Since these laurels are attributed to Instructor Chen, naturally it means Instructor Chen genuinely accomplished the kill! Don’t judge a noble’s heart with a vile person’s intention!"
What a move, retreat to advance!
That old fox, his tactics were truly corrupt.
On the surface, showing no animosity, instead seeming to speak on his behalf.
Chen Ye inwardly sneered, placed down the wine glass, not feeling anger but instead helplessly chuckled:
"Thank you, Peak Master Zhao, for speaking on my behalf. Yes, Li Min was indeed slain by me through genuine skill."
"Oh? I knew it was true! But these folks were still gossiping behind your back..." Zhao Shan hesitated.
"Let him be strong, the gentle breeze brushes the mountain ridges. Since I’ve gained benefits, why fuss over trifles?"
Chen Ye directly adopted a careless stance!
He couldn’t possibly demonstrate his cultivation directly on the spot, could he?
That would truly make him a clown, and would also tarnish Bai Susu’s reputation.