Four-Leaf Clover Sect — Winter Palace, Conference Hall
The air in the hall was heavy.
Seated around the long jade table were the four core Elders of the sect, accompanied by five Inner Elders chosen to preside over the meeting. All of them maintained upright postures, teacups placed before them. Some sipped quietly; others did not touch their drinks at all.
Like every power organization in the cultivation world, the Four-Leaf Clover Sect had its own factions. There were the co-founding families — Mu, Guo, and Lin — and the faction formed by independent cultivators, which had grown stronger after the establishment of Ancestor Han's foundation.
The three Ancestors of the sect were not present.
For cultivators who had already touched the Foundation Establishment Realm, administrative matters were, at best, necessary annoyances. If the Ancestors were forced to leave seclusion… it would mean the sect was facing true danger.
The door opened.
Lin Yao entered first, wearing the ceremonial robes of the Sect Leader — deep green with white borders. Right behind him came Sai, dressed in the standard Elder robes, white with green details, distinguished only by the nearly imperceptible complexity of the spiritual embroidery.
Both took their seats.
Lin Yao cleared his throat lightly. Although his surname was Lin, his roots did not belong to the main Lin family. Above all, he represented the sect's Free Cultivator Faction.
"Thank you all for coming. This meeting was convened to address two matters. The first concerns the recent consequences of the Mountain Trial conducted by Elder Guest Sai."
The atmosphere grew even more tense.
Before Lin Yao could continue, one of the Inner Elders stood up abruptly.
It was Elder Mu Jian, a direct member of the Mu Family, descended from Ancestor Mu Chen. His face was rigid, his voice filled with indignation.
The Mu Family cultivated a manual that stimulated anger in its practitioners — and that was clearly reflected in his temperament.
"This trial cannot continue!" he said bluntly. "More than ten Inner Disciples had their Dao Hearts shattered! Five are still in spiritual comas!"
He slammed his hand on the table.
"Talented disciples! The future of the sect!"
Several Elders exchanged glances.
Across the table, Elder Guo Fan of the Guo Family, supported by the legacy of Ancestor Guo Zhen, spoke in a cold tone:
"Interesting that your outrage only appeared after your son failed the trial, Elder Mu Jian."
The air seemed to freeze.
"What did you say?!" Mu Jian growled, Qi trembling around his body.
Before the argument could explode, Elder Zhou Rui — a cultivator with no family ties, part of the sect's so-called Free Faction — intervened:
"Enough. This is not about families. This is about unnecessary risk to disciples who have not even consolidated their paths yet."
Lin Yao raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"That is precisely why we are discussing this matter."
Everyone quieted down.
Then, for the first time since the meeting began, Sai spoke.
His voice was not loud.
"I believe there has been a misunderstanding regarding the purpose of the trial."
All eyes turned to him.
"The Mountain Trial was not created to measure talent. Nor potential," he continued. "It exists to measure willingness."
The Elders frowned.
"Willingness to do what?" Elder Zhou Rui asked.
"To sacrifice," Sai replied without hesitation. "To abandon illusions. To confront what the heart refuses to let go of."
Mu Jian's gaze grew colder.
"So you think it is acceptable to destroy the ambitions of young cultivators?"
Sai's expression did not change.
"It is not about what is acceptable. The Heavens grant talent, while the Dao offers paths."
He paused briefly.
"To cultivators, only willingness remains."
His gaze swept across the table.
"If failing a single trial is enough to shatter their Dao… then how do you expect them to survive real calamities, sect wars, or heavenly tribulations?"
Some Elders inhaled sharply. Others clenched their fists.
The words were harsh, but they reflected the world they lived in perfectly.
"Cultivation is cruel," Sai continued. "Pretending otherwise only produces delayed corpses."
Silence.
Lin Yao observed the room with careful calculation.
"Elder Sai," he finally said, "even if your words make sense… the sect cannot ignore the political and emotional risks involved."
"I agree," Sai replied, surprising several people.
Mu Jian's eyes widened slightly.
"I do not intend to involve myself in the sect's politics. Do as you see fit."
The Elders exchanged uneasy looks.
Lin Yao then decided:
"In that case, the trial will remain voluntary… but it may only be undertaken with approval from the disciple's direct instructor."
Murmurs spread through the hall.
"This way, the instructor will evaluate whether the disciple has the emotional and mental foundation to face the trial. The final decision will still belong to the disciple, but there will be no more impulsive attempts."
He paused.
"This creates a filter… without removing personal responsibility."
Elder Zhou Rui nodded slowly.
"It also reduces the chances of families accusing the sect of negligence."
Mu Jian pressed his lips together.
"And what about those already affected?"
Lin Yao answered frankly:
"They will receive spiritual treatment. I will request the Ancestors to assist them when possible."
Silence fell once more.
Finally, Lin Yao raised his voice:
"Then it is decided.
The Mountain Trial will continue to exist.
However, from now on, it may only be undertaken with the approval of the disciple's direct instructor."
The Elders nodded — some reluctantly, others with relief.
"Responsibility will be shared," Lin Yao concluded. "Between disciple, instructor… and sect."
Sai inclined his head slightly.
"A fair decision."
"Now, regarding the second matter…" Lin Yao continued. "Elder Sai… the thunder that echoed after your disciples' ceremony. Many believe it was the birth of a spiritual treasure."
Sai maintained a neutral expression.
"And what does that have to do with me?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"What matters is not what I believe," Lin Yao replied. "What matters is what the other sects believe."
He took a deep breath.
"The Blazing Battle Sect is making moves. Our spies report that they plan to 'test' our spiritual mines at the border."
Sai narrowed his eyes slightly.
"In how long?"
"Three months. Perhaps less."
Silence returned — heavier this time.
"And what does the Sect Leader expect from me?" Sai asked.
Lin Yao looked at him directly.
"Your strength is undeniable, Elder Sai. And your knowledge… even more so." He paused. "The Four-Leaf Clover Sect has always been small. Modest. But now… we stand at the center of something we did not ask for."
He inclined his head slightly.
"If war comes, we hope to count on your assistance."
Sai closed his eyes for a few moments.
"I will not need to act. My disciples will be enough to handle the situation."
Mu Jian let out a short laugh, almost like a bark.
"Your disciples?" His tone was pure contempt."One of them is not even a cultivator. The others only entered Body Refinement three months ago. And you think they can face the Blazing Battle Sect?"
Sai did not reply. He only smiled faintly — a smile that made the air feel colder.
Elder Zhou Rui narrowed his eyes.
"If you do not wish to help, Elder Sai, simply say so—"
Mu Jian did not wait for an answer.
"Why do we even need this External Elder's help? He may have high cultivation, but he is still young. We have dealt with those Blazing Battle bastards for decades. I alone can handle this."
Several Elders nodded. The Mu Family's aggressiveness was well known.
"Elder Sai," Lin Yao called.
"Do not worry," Sai replied calmly. "They will surprise you."
Quiet until now, Core Elder Lin Yu felt a chill run down his spine.
I need to accelerate my plans… he thought, maintaining a neutral expression.
Across the table, Sai was watching Lin Yu with almost imperceptible attention.
Interesting. This one… is hiding something.
But he said nothing.
Lin Yao sighed.
"Elder Mu. I will entrust the defense of the mine to you."
"I would expect nothing less," Mu Jian replied confidently.
"Elder Guo, you will provide support."
"Yes, Sect Leader," Guo Fan replied indifferently.
The meeting concluded shortly after.
But as the Elders left the hall, none of them noticed that beneath the surface calm,
the threads of the sect's fate had already begun to tighten.
And this time… blood would be inevitable.