Things finally came to a temporary halt.
The Sect Master's face was dark as he waved everyone out of the council hall. The elders of the other peaks left grudgingly, unwilling but too afraid to defy him.
Xie Zhaolin was carefully escorted back to her residence by two disciples. The moment the door closed, the weak, fragile expression on her face vanished without a trace.
"Master." Mo Yan's figure appeared silently, "Everything went as you expected."
"Of course." Xie Zhaolin toyed with her teacup, "That Sect Master, all smiles on the surface, but inside, he's probably hoping the peaks tear each other apart. Let Elder Liu investigate? Who doesn't know that old fox is greedy? If the Artifact and Alchemy Peaks don't bleed a little this time, I'd be surprised."
She took a delicate sip of tea before continuing, "After this, I bet the Alchemy Peak will start having internal conflicts. Elder Qiu only lost a registered disciple, but Elder Wei lost a direct disciple. Even if Xu Nanfeng went insane from overexertion, he still died at his hands… I can't believe he won't hold grudges."
Mo Yan nodded knowingly. "Master is wise. In that case, Elder Qiu will probably start keeping his guard up around Elder Wei."
"Not to mention…" Xie Zhaolin sneered, "I don't believe a sect that'll stop at nothing for profit can really stay united. Unless the Artifact Peak's compensation is rich enough, but…"
A playful glint flickered in her eyes.
Would the Artifact Peak really hand over compensation so easily? And with the Talisman Peak and other peaks watching closely, the Talisman Peak got a free bonus. How could the others accept that quietly? They'd find a way to get their share.
She turned to Mo Yan. "Elder Wei must be in a mess right now, probably has no time to check on Wei Qingwu. This is our chance."
Mo Yan bowed respectfully. "What are your orders, Master?"
Xie Zhaolin's lips curved slightly. "Keep tracking the peaks' movements, especially the internal affairs of the Alchemy Peak. I want to know every move between Elder Wei and Elder Qiu.
As for the Artifact Peak…" Her eyes gleamed coldly. "Elder Lian got nothing this time after trying to sneak a gain. He won't let it go. Have Liu Feng watch their movements closely."
Mo Yan bowed again. "Understood."
Xie Zhaolin looked out at the darkening sky, whispering, "The real show's only just begun."
She knew these people too well.
When it comes to profit, what's brotherhood? What's master-disciple loyalty? It's all a joke.
Three days later, the Law Enforcement Hall's investigation unfolded exactly as Xie Zhaolin predicted.
Elder Liu "upheld justice" and reached the following judgment:
Artifact Peak disciple Zhang Yuan used the Broken Yuan Force to secretly attack a fellow disciple, causing Alchemy Peak disciple Xu Nanfeng to go insane. Artifact Peak bears the main responsibility.
Since Zhang Yuan is dead, no further punishment is necessary. Artifact Peak must compensate the Alchemy and Talisman Peaks with three thousand high-grade spirit stones each and open their armament workshop for three months.
Meanwhile, the Alchemy Peak failed in its guidance, leaving Xu Nanfeng unstable. His overexertion caused several deaths. The Alchemy Peak is fined a year's cultivation resources, half going to Artifact Peak, half to Talisman Peak.
On the surface, it looked like a fair split, but hidden schemes lurked beneath.
Artifact Peak had to pay spirit stones but kept its face. Alchemy Peak lost resources, weakening their strength. Talisman Peak got a free bonus and naturally stopped while ahead.
The high-and-mighty Sect Master watched coldly as the peaks clashed.
When the result was announced, Alchemy and Artifact Peaks looked upset but didn't make a scene. The other peaks enjoyed the show and stayed silent.
At that moment, Liu Feng's message arrived. "Master, Elder Liu received plenty of benefits and is now paying more attention to me. He even personally rewarded me a bottle of Spirit Condensing Pill."
Xie Zhaolin chuckled. "Good, keep watching. Also check who Elder Liu's been in close contact with recently."
She then said to Mo Yan, "It's time. You should return."
That afternoon, a sharp sword light tore through the sky. Mo Yan, disguised as Elder Mo Xun, rushed back to the sect. He burst into the council hall, face as cold as steel, sword qi radiating in all directions, shaking the furnishings.
"Sect Master!" Mo Yan's voice was icy, "I told you repeatedly before I left, my disciple Zhaolin is only Qi Refining Sixth Layer, she needs to cultivate quietly. Why was she sent to deal with a second-rank demon beast? If she weren't lucky, she'd be—"
The Sect Master hurriedly reassured him, "Elder Mo, calm down. This was indeed an oversight. Luckily, Xie Zhaolin stayed composed and saved her fellow disciples. I plan to promote her to Inner Sect disciple and reward her a hundred high-grade spirit stones."
Mo Yan snorted, sword qi flaring. "Inner Sect disciple? A hundred stones? My disciple's life is worth that? If she weren't clever, she'd already be a corpse!"
His gaze swept the other elders like blades. "I want to know who sent my disciple to her death!"
The elders exchanged nervous glances, no one daring to speak. Everyone knew Elder Mo, though only an Outer Sect elder, had shown Mid Golden Core-level strength when he joined. He could've been an Inner Sect elder but volunteered for Outer Sect duty due to his short tenure.
Fifty years had passed.
Though seemingly gentle, he never argued, but the elders knew—if he was Mid Golden Core fifty years ago, imagine his power now.
The Sect Master finally smoothed things over. "Elder Mo, rest assured, we'll investigate. As for Xie Zhaolin, the sect will give her three Foundation Establishment Alchemys as extra compensation. Satisfactory?"
Mo Yan's expression eased slightly but his voice remained cold. "I'll trust you this once, Sect Master. But if there's a next time…"
He unleashed sword qi from his sleeve, shaking the hall. "Don't blame me if no one survives under my sword!"
The elders froze, too terrified to breathe.
Back at her residence, Xie Zhaolin smiled wider listening to Mo Yan's report.
"You really made a scene at the council hall today, weren't you worried the Sect Master would target you?"
Mo Yan bowed quietly. "Master, don't worry. The more I appear protective and impulsive, the less they suspect. A hotheaded cultivator is safer than a hidden strategist." He paused, adding, "Besides… the Sect Master is happily watching the peaks fight. My appearance gave him the perfect excuse to reprimand them."
Xie Zhaolin chuckled. "You really planned that well."
"Then…" She tapped the table lightly, "let's help our dear Sect Master along a little."