Whoosh!
In the darkness, a ghostly blue flame suddenly flickered to life, illuminating the old man’s profile.
Unexpectedly, the old man was still wearing a mysterious tortoise mask, completely concealing his true features.
“[Turtle Bamboo.]”
From the shadows, a voice that could not be distinguished as male or female suddenly rang out.
The old man in the tortoise mask was startled and instinctively looked into the depths of the darkness.
But he quickly recovered and respectfully saluted the other by placing his hand on his chest.
“Greetings, Grandmaster.”
“When you see me, there’s no need to hide your true face.”
The mysterious voice spoke again, its low timbre echoing within the dark chamber, lingering for a long time.
“Yes.”
The old man nodded slightly, raised his hand, and removed the mysterious tortoise mask, revealing his angular features behind it.
The candlelight flickered, casting dappled shadows across his face.
If he didn’t speak, he really did look like a mysterious expert.
“The infamous Turtle Immortal of the Wuxing Sect—what’s with the sudden seriousness today?”
The Grandmaster’s gloomy voice rang out with a hint of mockery and a cold laugh.
Poked like this, Turtle Immortal’s long-kept composure instantly collapsed, and his face broke into a fawning smile as he rubbed his hands together cheerfully.
“Isn’t this because I’m meeting with you, Grandmaster? Of course I need to be a bit more formal.”
“Hmph.” The Grandmaster let out a cold laugh, not taking the flattery. “Speak. What did you come to see me about today?”
“This…”
Turtle Immortal chuckled slyly, then leaned in close to the Grandmaster and spoke mysteriously, “Grandmaster, the reason I came today is actually to tell you some good news.”
“Speak.”
“Yesterday, the Xianxuan Ranking was updated.”
“Oh?” The Grandmaster’s voice suddenly rose, clearly interested. “Tell me, what changes are there?”
Seeing the Grandmaster’s interest, Turtle Immortal was delighted and quickly spoke, “According to the Xianxuan Ranking, our Wuxing Sect is now ranked sixth among Heaven-grade sects, a full three places higher than last time! In comparison, the Tianhe Sect only improved by one spot, going from eighth to seventh—we’ve successfully overtaken them!”
The so-called Xianxuan Ranking is actually a super ranking that covers all sects on the continent.
It comprehensively considers multiple dimensions such as a sect’s top combat power, disciple training, resource foundation, and inheritance of techniques, giving the sect a final index evaluation and placing it on the Xianxuan Ranking.
And both the Wuxing Sect and the Tianhe Sect are ranked as Heaven-grade sects on the Xianxuan Ranking!
Across the entire continent, they can be considered famous and major sects.
“Not bad.”
The Grandmaster was clearly very satisfied with this result.
But the next second, the gaze from the shadows seemed to lock onto Turtle Immortal, causing this old rascal’s body to tremble—
“However, why are you the one telling me this news?”
“This, this…”
“Hmm?” The Grandmaster’s suspicious voice sounded again. “According to normal practice, shouldn’t the Vice Sect Master in charge of the sect be the one to inform me of this? Why is it you, the old rascal?”
“This, you’ve misunderstood, Grandmaster! I just came to bring good news.”
“You think I’ll believe that?”
“Ah, this…”
Turtle Immortal scratched his head awkwardly.
After a moment, he gave up resisting, raised his hands, and said with a helpless look, “Fine, Grandmaster, I’ll confess.”
“Speak.”
“The truth is, the sect hasn’t paid me for several months. I wanted to take this opportunity to bring you some good news and then beg for some pocket money to buy wine.”
Turtle Immortal had a bitter look on his face—he was dying without wine.
“Not giving.”
“Why?!” Turtle Immortal nearly knelt to the Grandmaster. “I’ve bled for the sect! I’ve rendered meritorious service! Heaven above, why are you so unfair to me!”
“The sect’s accounts have always been clear. Sect construction, Elder training, disciple cultivation—every single item is recorded in the ledgers.”
The Grandmaster looked at Turtle Immortal with disdain.
“Which of those things have you ever been involved in?”
“This…”
Turtle Immortal’s gaze awkwardly shifted to the side, and he started whistling to change the subject.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he shouted loudly, “I trained Nan Xi for the sect!”
How could he forget that he still had a cheap disciple?
“Nan Xi… Hmph, consider that one merit.”
The Grandmaster was startled, clearly shocked by Turtle Immortal’s words, but after a moment, he let out another cold laugh.
“However, why don’t you keep striving yourself? I remember that back in the day, you fought tooth and nail trying to defeat me and seize the position of Sect Master.”
“Uh, well, that’s because I can’t beat you, Grandmaster?”
Turtle Immortal’s mouth twitched as he reluctantly conceded.
This was the rule of the Wuxing Sect: the strong are kings, the weak are bandits.
Any dissatisfied Elder could challenge the current Sect Master, and the winner takes all. In a way, it was quite convenient.
“And so you turned to training Nan Xi, hoping he would grow strong enough to seize the Sect Master position?”
“That’s about right.”
“Heh, interesting.”
The Grandmaster didn’t seem angry. In the face of his former rival, he could still calmly discuss this plan of usurping power. That was the confidence his absolute strength gave him.
After a moment, the Grandmaster continued, “I think you and Nan Xi need to hurry up.”
“What do you mean by that, Grandmaster?”
In response to Turtle Immortal’s question, the Grandmaster slowly extended his withered hands, leisurely resting them on the armrests, and replied with a cold laugh, “Because you’re not the only one training an heir to the Sect Master position. The White Tiger Hall, the Azure Dragon Hall, the Shadow Guard… every department of the Wuxing Sect has its own young leader.”
“Even that little girl you introduced to the Vermilion Bird Hall—I think her talent isn’t bad. A few days ago, Lao Niao directly delegated authority to that fledgling and made her the new Hall Master of the Vermilion Bird Hall.”
“I didn’t expect that child’s talent to be so good either.”
Turtle Immortal sighed in embarrassment. He never imagined that the little girl he originally brought in to replace Nan Xi’s work would grow so fast, and in no time, she became the Vermilion Bird Hall Master.
Just then, the Grandmaster’s low voice spoke again, as if to reassure Turtle Immortal, “But don’t worry, I won’t favor any of you. The competition among the Sect Master heirs will be decided by you yourselves. I will only choose the best one.”
“Then I thank the Grandmaster for the reminder.”
“Speaking of which… I haven’t seen Nan Xi for a while. Have you sent him out on another mission?”
“Yes.” Turtle Immortal nodded. “I sent him to infiltrate another sect, waiting for the right moment to break them from within.”
“Acceptable.”
The Grandmaster acknowledged.
“I can see Nan Xi’s progress over the years. He is flawless in technique cultivation and theoretical learning. His only shortcoming is a lack of practical experience. When faced with real problems, he tends to talk theory. I hope he can gain something from this infiltration.”
“The Grandmaster’s guidance is correct.”
“By the way, which sect did you send Nan Xi to infiltrate?”
The Grandmaster asked again.
“In answer to the Grandmaster, it is the Tianhe Sect.”
“…”
“…”
“Ha?”