Chapter Eighty-Five: The Closure of the Small Dojo

"Are you courting death?" Bai Ruyu could no longer contain the fury raging within her and was about to strike. At that moment, Ge Qian waved his hand and said, "Fellow Daoist Liu, if you don't leave at once, I just might change my mind."

Liu Xixi swallowed hard, ceasing her entanglement. If she infuriated this harbinger of doom, the life she had just barely managed to save might be lost here after all. "I hope you will consider my words, Fellow Daoist Ge," she said, then mounted her sword and sped away.

Bai Ruyu's eyes darted with indecipherable thoughts. Only after Liu Xixi vanished into the distance did her expression ease; she turned to Ge Qian and said, "Junior Brother, there are only a few days left before the minor arena closes. I must go on ahead. When we return to the sect, let us catch up then?"

"Of course, of course, Senior Sister—please, as you wish." Ge Qian agreed readily, for his goals had been achieved: he had secured the Spirit Communication Fruit King, acquired the three main medicinal ingredients Elder Cui required, and collected spirit stones and magical tools aplenty. Now it was time to gather some more spiritual herbs.

Once Bai Ruyu departed, Hongmei resumed her true form and asked in puzzlement, "Master, why did you let Liu Xixi go? Could it be that you have feelings for her?"

"How could that be?" Ge Qian chuckled. "Look at her—do you think I would? I was merely helping out Liu Qian and her brother. Without Liu Xixi, they would never have shaken off the tenacious pursuit of the Tianru Sect. After all, a prodigy in formations is highly sought after by every sect."

Hongmei nodded. "Master, you truly are loyal to your friends—no one could fault your devotion."

A shadow of worry crossed Ge Qian’s face as he turned to Hongmei. "The Beast-Taming Sect has grown rapidly these past years. This time, repairing the teleportation array bodes no good. I only hope Liu Qian and her brother can look after themselves. Let us be on our way as well."

Hongmei transformed into a wisp of resentful energy and slipped into the demon gourd, which flashed and disappeared into Ge Qian's body.

Ge Qian sensed that the repulsive force of the minor arena had grown stronger these past days. The day of teleportation was near, and lest he be sent away and accidentally leave the demon gourd behind, he had to be cautious to avoid such a blunder. Even without the demon gourd, there were very few threats left in the minor arena that could endanger him.

He employed his Cloud-Stepping Technique, weaving through the dense forest. Over these days, he had reaped a great harvest, gathering many rare and precious spiritual herbs and even taking down several Tianru Sect disciples. The four great sects all believed Sima Tu had stolen the Supreme Spirit Communication Fruit King, and after days of searching and killing, the Tianru Sect disciples had become so terrified that they went into hiding. Secretly, they were glad, thinking Sima Tu truly possessed the Fruit King and would one day become a formidable figure when he established his foundation.

But the other four sects were not about to let them go, searching the land with a vengeance as though they harbored irreconcilable enmity.

One day, the minor arena suddenly trembled violently, the laws of the place shifting. One by one, disciples were teleported away without warning.

Outside the minor arena, a massive receiving formation had long since been set up, spanning over ten miles of the void, like a great overturned bowl pressing down on the land. This prevented chaos and bloodshed as disciples were teleported out.

The Core-Forming cultivators of the five sects each occupied a cardinal position, calmly awaiting the return of their disciples. Outwardly composed, inwardly they were anxious, for the number of disciples who returned—and the amount of spiritual herbs they brought—directly affected the division of income for Mount Five Peaks over the next sixty years. The greater the resources, the more a sect could flourish, and for the grand elders themselves, the benefits were self-evident.

Elder Cui Yun sat with eyes closed, resting but inwardly uneasy. The chess piece Zhang Jiu was lost; only Ge Qian remained, yet he could not settle his heart. If Ge Qian failed, he himself would not live another ten years.

He subconsciously touched the beast pouch at his waist, feeling a little more at ease. As long as the little white fox yet lived, it meant Ge Qian was alive, and as long as he was alive, there was hope.

Each person nursed their own schemes. Suddenly, the sky above shimmered with ripples, like waves upon the sea.

A disciple of the Windmoon Sect was the first to be teleported out. She was covered in blood, battered and disheveled, as if she had been plucked mid-battle before the outcome could be decided. The formation caught her, lowering her gently to the ground. She breathed a long sigh of relief—at least she had survived. If given another chance, she swore to herself, she would never enter the minor arena again; it was too cruel.

Steadying herself, she mounted her sword and flew straight toward the Windmoon Sect’s encampment.

One by one, disciples from the other sects were teleported out. This continued for half an hour.

Suddenly, Bai Ruyu, dressed in snow-white robes and as beautiful as a flower, appeared, stepping onto her sword and flying directly to the Heavenstar Sect’s position.

The lead elders of the other four sects exchanged glances. They knew their plan had failed. Despite their thorough preparations, Bai Ruyu had survived—either fate had spared her, or her strength had far surpassed their expectations.

Next came Liu Xixi. Upon appearing, she instinctively glanced toward the Heavenstar Sect, smiled at Bai Ruyu, and returned to her own.

Jiuhua of the Beast-Taming Sect was jubilant. Judging by those who had thus far returned, the Beast-Taming Sect had twenty-two disciples, Heavenstar twenty-one, Windmoon fifteen, and Xiuyuan Temple eleven. Strangely, not a single Tianru Sect disciple had appeared. In any case, as long as things continued this way, the Beast-Taming Sect would claim the championship, and the interests of Mount Five Peaks would be maximized.

Sima Liuguang of the Tianru Sect could no longer contain himself. He clenched his fists, restless and agitated. "What is going on?" he wondered. "My sect’s disciples are stronger than those of the Windmoon Sect, and Sima Tu carries several powerful treasures—including the mighty Righteous Wind Fan, which the sect master himself bestowed. Even if he’s not Bai Ruyu’s match, he shouldn’t have perished! Yet not a single one of our disciples has returned!"

As the ripples in the sky grew ever fainter, he had no choice but to rise and call out loudly, "Anyone here who can tell me what befell the Tianru Sect’s disciples within will be rewarded with a supreme-grade spirit tool!"

In order to have something to report to the sect master upon returning, he offered up a prize coveted by countless Qi Gathering disciples. Even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators of modest means could scarcely acquire a low-grade spirit tool, let alone one of such quality.

Many disciples’ eyes shone, yet none dared respond. They did not want it known that the four sects had joined forces to annihilate the Tianru Sect’s disciples to silence them. As much as they desired the spirit tool, weighed against their lives, they knew which was more precious.

Sima Liuguang called out several times, but no one answered, leaving him red-faced and humiliated. His pressure surged as he declared, "Very well, if you refuse to speak, so be it. Sooner or later, I will uncover the truth! Should I discover any conspiracy at play, none of you will escape responsibility!"

Jiuhua straightened, her slender frame swaying, and said coldly, "Sima Liuguang, stop trying to intimidate the juniors. Your sect’s disciples lacked strength and skill—if they failed to emerge from the minor arena, don’t blame us. How utterly absurd!"

Gutian’s face darkened as well. "Daoist Jiuhua is right. For a late Core-Formation cultivator to swagger before Qi Gathering disciples—aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if word gets out?"

"You… don’t push me too far!" Sima Liuguang’s eyes blazed with fury, his aura becoming violent.

Gutian stood tall. "What, Sima Liuguang, do you wish to spar with me? Fine, it’s been a while since I stretched my limbs. Come, let’s see what you can do."