Chapter 390 - 146: Cultivating Key Disciples
If they don’t participate, the entire landscape of this month’s Cyan Qilin Battle is bound to change dramatically.
Yuwen Mingjue nodded slightly, his tone brimming with confidence. "As long as those two don’t show up in this month’s Cyan Qilin Battle, with my strength, I’m very confident I can take first place.
"When that happens, not only will I receive the sect’s resource rewards, but I’ll also make those old geezers in the clan see my potential. My standing in the clan will skyrocket."
As he said this, a determined glint flashed in his eyes.
The Cyan Qilin Battle wasn’t just an internal competition within the sect; it was also a crucial benchmark for the major families to gauge the potential of their younger members.
A disciple who could win the Cyan Qilin Battle was someone no family would dare to underestimate.
After a pause, Yuwen Mingjue’s tone shifted, growing a few shades heavier. "Besides the Cyan Qilin Battle, there’s something else. I need you two to keep a close eye on Sun Ningxiang."
"Sun Ningxiang?" The outer sect disciple in the cyan robe froze for a moment before it clicked—she was that female outer sect disciple whom the Peak Master held in high regard.
He was from a branch of the Yuwen Clan and had followed Yuwen Mingjue for many years. Having grown up by Yuwen Mingjue’s side, they were extremely close, and he understood Yuwen Mingjue’s thoughts better than anyone.
At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel a little puzzled. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, "Young Master, are you really fond of that Sun Ningxiang?"
In his view, with Yuwen Mingjue’s status and position, what kind of woman was beyond his reach?
It didn’t seem necessary to go to such great lengths just for a crush.
Hearing this, Yuwen Mingjue was taken aback for a moment, then gave a cold sneer, a calculating look in his eyes. "What does it matter if I like her or not? She’s not ugly, anyway. In fact, she’s quite pretty. It wouldn’t be embarrassing to have her by my side."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "The crucial thing is that she’s highly valued by the Peak Master. You’ve seen it yourself. She’s just an outer sect disciple, yet she’s allowed to live in the Inner Sect area. The Peak Master treats her almost like a Direct Disciple. If I can win over Sun Ningxiang and get her on my side, the Peak Master will naturally pay more attention to me as well."
At this, a bright glint flashed in his eyes. "If I can get the Peak Master’s support, then forget about whether Yuwen Mingtai can break through to the Qi Eating Realm. Even if he succeeds, those old geezers in the family will have to think twice about who to back. The weight of the Peak Master’s favor is far greater than Yuwen Mingtai’s entire branch combined."
The Yuwen Clan might be a wealthy merchant family in Jintai Prefecture, but they were nothing compared to a major sect like the Xuanzhen Sect.
If he could win the favor of a Peak Master, it would be a massive boost to his standing within the clan.
"So, I’ve made two preparations," Yuwen Mingjue said slowly, holding up two fingers. "On one hand, there’s the Cyan Qilin Battle. I’ll use concrete results to show both the clan and the sect my strength. On the other hand, there’s Sun Ningxiang. Through her, I’ll close the distance between myself and the Peak Master, and show those old geezers in the clan my status within the Xuanzhen Sect."
Hearing this, looks of sudden understanding dawned on the faces of his two confidants.
"Senior Brother, your foresight is meticulous. This junior brother is full of admiration!" the inner sect disciple in the white robe said first, his tone respectful.
"That’s right, Young Master! As long as these two paths succeed, even if Yuwen Mingtai breaks through to the Qi Eating Realm, he won’t be able to suppress you," the outer sect disciple in the cyan robe chimed in hastily.
Yuwen Mingjue looked at the two of them, a satisfied smile appearing on his face as he nodded slowly. "Work hard. As long as I can take control of the Yuwen Clan in the future, you will be well rewarded."
"Yes!" the two replied in unison, a flicker of excitement and anticipation in their eyes.
...
「Three days later.」
At the summit of Lingxi Peak, clouds and mist swirled.
Lingxi Hall stood quietly amidst a sea of clouds, the glazed tiles on its eaves glowing with a faint, clear light under the sky.
The hall’s doors were gently pushed open, and Si Jiawen walked in, her posture erect in a moon-white robe.
Her gaze fell upon Peak Master Bai Bing, who was seated in meditation on a cattail cushion on the high platform. Si Jiawen approached with light steps, then bowed and paid her respects, her voice calm and deferential. "Disciple greets Master."
Bai Bing’s eyes were slightly closed. She slowly opened them at the sound of Si Jiawen’s voice, her clear pupils, like cold pools of water, fixed on Si Jiawen before she gave a slight nod.
Si Jiawen took a neatly folded sheet of rice paper from her sleeve, held it up with both hands, and said, "Master, this disciple has finished selecting the list of disciples for the sect’s special development program. There are six Inner Sect disciples from Lingxi Peak in total: three are at the Qi Eating Realm, and the other three have not yet broken through. All of them are disciples from our peak with considerable potential."
Hearing this, Bai Bing lifted a jade-like finger and made a beckoning gesture toward the rice paper from a distance.
An invisible force enveloped the paper, lifting it lightly from Si Jiawen’s hands. It floated like a willow catkin in the wind, settling steadily into Bai Bing’s palm.
She lowered her gaze to the rice paper.
The characters on the paper were neatly written, arranged in two rows.
The three names in the top row were all renowned, outstanding disciples among Lingxi Peak’s Qi Eating Realm practitioners.
The three names in the bottom row belonged to disciples at the Inner Strength Level. The last of them was, surprisingly, Yang Jing.
Remembering her master’s high regard for him, Si Jiawen had specifically added this newly promoted Inner Sect disciple to the list. However, due to his lack of seniority and performance record on the peak, she had placed him at the very end.
A moment later, Bai Bing lifted her hand. Another surge of strength flowed out, and the rice paper, as if it had grown wings, slowly drifted back into Si Jiawen’s hands.
"This list is acceptable." Bai Bing’s voice was as cool and clear as jade striking jade. "However, in the second row, move Yang Jing’s name to the first position."