Chapter 696 - - 534 Luck is everyone’s_1

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The commotion caused by Duge on Sky Mist Peak hadn’t gone unnoticed; even the Black Tortoise Pearl had been brought into play, overwhelming the many disciples atop the peak. Not a few suffered chaotic and injured meridians, and even those unharmed couldn’t continue cultivating, prompting them to emerge and investigate the situation.

Xu Jinkui had no choice but to send people to soothe and heal the numerous disciples.

When everything had settled down, the elders of the Five Peaks gathered in the Heavenly Master Hall to make a final summary of the incident.

“Sect Leader, Elder Daoming was provoked by that water demon, and his condition seems somewhat off,” Sky Pine Peak’s Peak Master Zhao Jinlu, fuming at being instigated by Duge, said with a dark face, glancing occasionally in the direction of the Scripture Library, “That water demon is crafty and eloquent. It had previously convinced the elder to shield it from your strike, Sect Leader, and the elder has taken it back to the Scripture Library. In case he’s been bewitched…”

“Junior Brother, don’t talk nonsense,” Xu Jinkui said, “Elder Daoming has guarded Dragon Tiger Mountain for so many years. How could his will be swayed by a mere spirit creature?

His interference was to protect the secret scriptures left by the Heavenly Master. I indeed acted impulsively just now. If I had destroyed the secret scriptures of Dragon Tiger Mountain for the sake of a minor demon, even the Heavenly Master would have punished me. The elder did nothing wrong in this.”

“Senior Brother, better safe than sorry,” Zhao Jinlu said. “I don’t doubt the elder’s loyalty to Dragon Tiger Mountain, but the damage to his Daoist Base is ultimately the elder’s lifelong sorrow. If he believes the demon’s deception and takes a desperate gamble, I think we need to take precautions.”

“Fourth Junior Brother, you’re overestimating that little demon,” Sky Sun Peak’s Peak Master Zhou Jinping said with a smile, “You don’t really think that an unknown creature has the ability to restore the elder’s Daoist Base, do you? The elder’s cultivation level is maintained solely by the elixirs bestowed by the Heavenly Master. Without Dragon Tiger Mountain, it won’t be long before his cultivation level collapses. He won’t do something that foolish.”

“Then he should just take the cultivation techniques back to the Scripture Library. Why bring that water demon back with him?” Zhao Jinlu countered, “The elder usually doesn’t interfere with sect affairs other than the Scripture Library. Shouldn’t we have kept the spirit creature to train it into a Guardian Beast of the Mountain?”

As they mentioned the Guardian Beast of the Mountain, the Heavenly Master Hall once again fell silent.

How to put it? Although the term ‘Guardian Beast’ sounds derogatory, when associated with Elder Daoming, it seemed overly apt and once in their minds, it was hard to shake off.

Somehow, they all had the feeling that Elder Daoming might indeed have been purposefully left behind by the Heavenly Master to protect Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Otherwise, considering the Heavenly Master’s resources in the Heavenly Court, it should not have been difficult to restore Elder Daoming’s Daoist Base.

In the thousands of years that have passed, with so many people ascending from Dragon Tiger Mountain to higher realms, why had none thought of this issue?

This seemed somewhat unfair to Elder Daoming…

Sky Mist Peak’s Peak Master Chi Jinshou shook his head to dismiss the bizarre thought and frowned, “Sect Head Senior Brother, Fourth Junior Brother makes a valid point. We’ve indeed overlooked this matter. That water demon’s words cut to the heart and likely struck home with the elder.”

Xu Jinkui looked towards the Scripture Library and said, “In a moment, I will arrange for someone to watch over the Scripture Library. Fellow Junior Brothers, Dragon Tiger Mountain is concealed from outsiders by the Deceiving Heaven Formation and cannot be entered by anyone who isn’t a disciple of our sect. The emergence of this water demon is very strange.

I want you all to return to your respective Peaks and investigate how this water demon entered. Check to see if there’s a traitor within our ranks or if there’s been a lapse in our Formation.

Evil demons bring chaos to the world, and a great calamity is upon us. Dragon Tiger Mountain has been at peace for so long that our disciples have become complacent. Even the Scripture Library was nearly emptied. Fellow Junior Brothers, use this as an opportunity to discipline the disciples of each Peak.”

“Yes,” the Peak Masters replied in unison.

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Jinkui’s eyes flashed with worry, “Fellow Junior Brothers, be more vigilant in the coming days. If Elder Daoming truly has a problem, we may have to employ the Suppress Mountain Sword without delay.”

The four remaining Peak Masters exchanged glances, then assented once more.

“Let’s go back,” Xu Jinkui stood up and said, “There’s been much to deal with today. Tomorrow, I will personally visit the elder. He has guarded Dragon Tiger Mountain for many years and presumably won’t be misled by a mere creature.”

…

The various Peak Masters left one after another, not overly concerned with Elder Daoming’s behavior, considering the inexplicable intrusion of the water demon into Dragon Tiger Mountain more pressing.

As Xu Jinkui had said, without the protection of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Elder Daoming’s cultivation level couldn’t even be maintained. Why would anyone oppose Heavenly Master Xu on behalf of a powerless person?

To put it bluntly, even if Elder Daoming died, they could just replace him to guard the Scripture Library. Ultimately, they were merely worried about the elder taking away the precious Black Tortoise Pearl.

…

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it takes root and starts to grow in one’s mind.

Xu Jinkui was originally convinced that Elder Daoming wouldn’t betray Dragon Tiger Mountain over a minor demon, but after the Junior Brothers left, the day’s events kept playing in his mind, preventing him from achieving tranquility.

The unsettled Xu Jinkui ultimately decided to visit the Scripture Library to gauge Elder Daoming’s sentiments and to check on the water demon.

“Elder Uncle, Jinkui requests an audience,” Xu Jinkui said respectfully, standing outside the firmly closed doors of the Scripture Library.

“Discuss it tomorrow,” Elder Daoming, who had heard the noise outside earlier, replied abruptly. At that moment, Duge’s absorbing of spiritual power was critical, and the immense spiritual power in his body was nearly depleted by Duge. He desperately consumed elixirs to replenish his spiritual power and had no time to attend to Xu Jinkui, resulting in a somewhat harsh tone.

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