Chapter 38: Settling two bets

As Zhi Yin went back to the little Ling Hui, she saw her fuming.

"That savage! How could he be so violent with Fairy Zhi?!" She was venting her anger like a child.

Zhi Yin smiled and stopped her. "This was a fair fight, and I'm pretty sure Brother Chen held back." She paused a little. "I sensed some swordsmanship in his spear."

Ling Hui almost did not listen. "What did you say, Sister?"

"Don't make things difficult for him!" Her face got closer to Ling Hui. "I know you have a bad temper..."

Embarrassed a little by her idol calling her out, she could only agree. "If Sister is fine with it, I'll be fine with it too."

-

After Cao Yun received a lot of praise from his fellow new disciples, Elder Tang spoke.

"This year's entrance examination is finally over! The duels were fair and friendly. Remember. Even though you may compete with one another, never go overboard. You are all brothers and sisters of our Wubei Sect. We'll now announce the new disciples accepted within the sect. When you're called, come accept your uniform. The definitive results of the entrance exam are as follows."

The same pattern occurred where the different elders called out every new disciple and stated their points. Finally, Elder Tang called the top ten.

"Li Gui - 140 points

Ren Chao - 145 points

Zhi Wang - 154 points

Xin Xiong - 154 points

Xin Chen - 162 points

Tian Lan - 179 points

Zhao Qing - 185 points

Mei Hua - 208 points

Sun Liao - 229 points

Chen Guo - 283 points"

Rounds of applause erupted every time one of them went toward the elders to get their uniform. Soon, they all had their green outfit in hand.

"You can be proud of today's accomplishment. But do not forget! This is just the beginning. During your time in our sect, you will face other trials. We'll push you to become the best cultivators you can!"

Elder Tang left the new disciples some time to enjoy this moment, as all the other disciples were cheering for them.

After the calm came back and before Elder Tang could speak again, Sun Liao walked to Cao Yun with his head low.

"Brother Chen. You must remember that we had a bet." Ren Chao was the closest to Cao Yun and had no good feeling for Sun Liao whatsoever.

"Oh, yes, I remember! You had to crawl like a dog and admit you're trash." The young man could really not control his words when it came to Sun Liao.

"Brother Ren, please, we're all brothers now. No need to be so cruel with your words." Cao Yun admonished his friend and looked back at Sun Liao. "I remember Brother Sun."

"I have to admit that you bested me in all the trials. I'm no match for you... now. But I'll train harder than anyone else and I swear I'll catch up to you." Sun Liao was getting on his knees. "Today's humiliation..."

Before his knees could touch the ground, he felt two hands catching his arms. "Brother Sun, please, do not." Looking up, Sun Liao saw the smiling face of Cao Yun. "As I said, we're brothers now. Let's just forget our childish bet, okay? We should all strive to become better during the following year, no need for conflict between us."

Hearing these words, Ren Chao let out a small humph. "Had he won, do you think he would have been so nice with you?"

"Brother Ren, it's been a week since our bet. Time has passed. And aren't you convinced by Brother Sun's talent? In the way of array formations, I don't think anyone can match him. When he'll be a Mortal Warrior, his enemies will have a hard time even getting close to him."

Ren Chao acted as though he was not convinced but he was.

"Brother Chen..." Sun Liao was moved by these words. When he got back up, helped by Cao Yun's hands, he cupped his fists and bowed. "This is my fault for being blind. I had eyes but could not see Mount Tai. Brother Chen, you are as magnanimous as you are talented, a true hero! No, you're a dragon among men! This time, I lost..." He looked back up. "But please, Brother, allow me to fight you fair and square next year."

"Brother Sun, we can exchange pointers whenever you want. I was even pondering on asking you a few things about formations. I know nothing about this craft and it could prove useful to have a little amount of knowledge."

"Of course, Brother Chen, come see me and we'll discuss it over some tea."

-

On their platform, the three chief elders and Xiao Xuefeng were watching the situation unfold.

Chief Elder Suxian was not pleased but he was not as enraged as he thought he would be. This little Sun Liao had been found by him in person. As a matter of fact, he wanted to make him his direct disciple when he got into the sect. If he was humiliated just as soon as he got in, that would be a problem. It could even lead to him forming some inner demons.

When the emotions of a cultivator ran havoc, it could form inner demons that would hamper his cultivation. In the worst case, these inner demons could even kill a cultivator by causing a Qi deviation. There were also orthodox cultivators going insane because of it. Some became convinced of being invincible and died in battle, others turned toward the Evil way and became depraved, then had to be killed by their past friends. Inner demons were really one of the worst calamity for any cultivator. And the young ones were weaker against them as their emotions tended to be a bit hotter.

Chief Elder Luoming could not stop himself from admiring Cao Yun. "This Chen Guo is very smart. He turned a future grudge into a present friendship."

"What do you mean?" Chief Elder Suxian was a little perplexed.

"Brother, you didn't see it? Oh, maybe you were busy ruminating over your Exquisite Purple Jasmin... By the way, you still didn't give it to Miss Xian."

"You!" Chief Elder Suxian calmed down and from his spatial ring, a small wooden box appeared in a faint light. With extreme care, he gave it to Xiao Xuefeng. "Miss Xiao, I admit my defeat. This Exquisite Purple Jasmin can produce one of the best tea there is. It should be really beneficial to you as an alchemist."

Miss Xiao did not stand on ceremony and took it in her spatial ring without even opening the box. "Thank you, Chief Elder Suxian. But I feel a little remorseful after taking such a treasure from your hands. What about that? I remember that you wanted me to refine a 1-star Heaven pill. My talent may not be good enough, but I can try doing it before the end of the year. And to show my sincerity, I'll only ask half the price. What do you say, Chief Elder Suxian?"

His face suddenly gained some color back. "Oh, thank you, Miss Xiao. I have no doubt about your talent. I'll send you all the ingredients right away and you can take as long as you need. Thank you, Miss Xiao."

"It seems that these two candidates are really similar to the two persons who scouted them..." Chief Elder Luoming could not repress his laughter.

-

In truth, Cao Yun had rehearsed for this moment. He knew that if he made Sun Liao kowtow and humiliate himself in public, he would bear an undying grudge toward him. There was nothing to win at all in this bet except for some misplaced pride and a lifelong enmity that could eventually fester into a blood feud.

Cao Yun's goal was to use the sect to become strong enough so that he could find out the truth about that fateful night and avenge his family. He had no time to lose on senseless conflict. Hence, he asked Ren Chao to act as arrogant and insulting as he could when Sun Liao would come see them.

With this harsh attitude of Ren Chao, Cao Yun could easily play the magnanimous sage. In just a few words, he used the strong emotions of Sun Liao and turned them into gratitude. One never had enough friends, but one always had too many enemies. Cao Yun was already enemy with a Spirit Warrior, the one who killed his family, and he probably got the Huang family on his bad side as well. He really didn't need an array formation genius to add on this list.

And now, he even had some way to learn about array formations. He knew almost nothing about it as he had focused on martial arts and cultivation when he was still using his real name.

Once more, Sun Liao bowed respectfully to Cao Yun. "About the Eight Directions Engulfing array formation, you should know that..."

Before he could end his sentence, Cao Yun stopped him. "No need to say anymore, Brother. I happen to have gained a lot from this ordeal."

As Cao Yun suspected, Sun Liao was behind the simultaneous attack of all eight beasts. Sun Liao also suspected Cao Yun of knowing about it, and he just got confirmation.

"I'll never forget the kindness you showed me today, Brother Chen."

The people around were a little disappointed. The bet between the two highest ranked candidates was a well-known matter among the disciples. As much as they would not admit it, many people loved seeing a genius humbled and humiliated in public. Seeing someone better than them in such a state gave them some satisfaction and made them feel a little better about themselves.

Amongst the disciples, some were really admiring Cao Yun for his magnanimity. He gave off the air of a true hero. On the other hand, some changed their opinion of him. He was smarter and maybe a bit more cunning than they initially pegged him as.

It included Zhi Yin. She was already pretty interested in him. After the fight, her interest flourished even more. But now, she was keen on getting him by her side. There were other disciples who harbored such an intention.

-

Elder Tang soon put an end to the celebrations and let the chief elders address everyone.

"This year's entrance examination is now over. Our new sect members must be pretty tired. Servants will show you to your rooms. From now on and until you leave, this sect is your home."

Servants quickly lead the new disciples to a building where they could rest in individual chambers. Some older disciples wanted to discuss with them but Elder Tang was a great deterrent.

-

Higher up on Heidai Peak was a huge palace. The throne room was empty and small curtains were hiding the throne. An elegant shape flew from the sect up to this palace. This was Xiao Xuefeng.

She landed very far from the palace and walked the rest of the way. She passed through many doors and walked up many steps to finally arrive in the throne room.

"This junior pays respect to the Sect Leader." Cupping her fists, Xiao Xuefeng bowed deeply and waited for an answer.

From behind the curtains, a sweet voice rose. "You may approach." This voice was very thin and low but it was definitely the voice of a man.

Without raising her head, Xiao Xuefeng got closer to the throne. She stopped in the middle of the room.

"Did you find anything during the examination?"

"No, Sect Leader. All the candidates who were suspicious got eliminated during the screening."

"I hear there were still some problems."

"Just a little quarrel between boys. I can put my name on the line, Sect Leader. No demonic cultivator mixed in with this year's candidates."

"And what about this boy, Chen Guo? He's lying about his name and his past."

"I know, Sect Leader. But I do not suspect him. I believe he has other reasons to lie."

"Why are you so sure? You even put your name on the line. You seem certain of you. Did you read his mind?"

"I couldn't bring myself to do such a low act. But this Chen Guo almost died fighting the demonic cultivators in the Lunar Marsh." Xiao Xuefeng seemed vexed that someone could imagine her doing this kind of thing.

"It could have been a ploy to lower your vigilance and gain your trust."

"He also was the one thanks to whom we know about this treachery from the demonic sects."

"Oh?"

"He was in Yinmen City when my senior sister came. From our investigation, it turns out that he almost was killed by the little demon who tried to trick us into getting in our institute. And he even was close with my senior sister's new disciple."

"I see. Such a ploy would be a little contrived indeed. But his path seems to cross the demonic cultivators a little bit too much." The voice stopped for a moment and rose again. "When he got into Yinmen City, where did he come from?"

"The Nine Peaks mountains to the west of the city, Sect Leader."

"Oh? Did you hear about the Cao family that was slaughtered by demonic cultivators? Their estate was just on the other side of these mountains, what a coincidence."

"What a coincidence indeed..." Xiao Xuefeng already had some suspicious of her own. That was why she trusted Cao Yun not to be a demonic cultivator in disguise.

"Fine. If Miss Xiao trusts this boy, then I will trust your judgment. No one must know of any of this. And it should be better for this boy if word did not get out about any of his adventures."

"This junior understands."

Xiao Xuefeng was initially an elder of the Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute but she had become a guest elder in the Wubei Sect for a reason. Her senior sister Hua Fenfei had traveled to Yinmen City and uncovered a ploy to infiltrate their institute by a demonic cultivator who seemed to be in the Spirit Warrior realm. Naturally, she had warned the other institutes and sects.

It turned out that the institute had a good relationship with the Wubei Sect. Xiao Xuefeng was the elder with the best spiritual perception. She was the most likely to be able to catch a demonic cultivator in disguise. Their ways left traces in their mind, no matter how well they tried to hide it. By using the different trials, especially the Yin-Yang Torture Illusion array formation, Xiao Xuefeng was able to sense the mind of the candidates. Unless they were Spirit Warrior, they could not hide from her.

But, it was still possible for some demonic cultivators to have entered the sect already. They could also use the help of orthodox cultivators turned traitor, or maybe use mysterious techniques to hide themselves. As no one wanted to alarm them, they would have to search with utmost discretion. Even the other elders and chief elders knew nothing of the matter. It was vital to find out the true culprit behind this infiltration attempt.

A demonic Spirit Warrior was not something anyone wanted in the Hongchen Kingdom. If he got to the 9th-grade, the calamity he could unleash would be unimaginable.