Chapter 30: Three Peaks!
The Chaotian Sect, Spirit Field Bureau.
Lu Qingyang stood outside Sun Shan’s room.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
Lu Qingyang rapped lightly on the door.
Sun Shan’s voice sounded from within. “Who is it?”
“Director Sun, this is Lu Qingyang, Deacon of the Medicine Hall. I’ve come specifically to pay a visit.”
Hearing the voice, Sun Shan rose and walked to the door.
“Oh, so it’s you, little fellow. Come in.”
Sun Shan opened the door and let Lu Qingyang enter.
As for Lu Qingyang, at the outset he had only thought to treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
After all, no one in the entire Chaotian Sect had ever cultivated the Minor Rain-Cloud Art to a high level.
He had simply wanted to give it a try.
But who could have known that in less than a single year.
This young man who had only recently entered the Medicine Hall had, by his own strength alone, revitalized an entire Medicine Hall’s medicinal fields!
At the same time, the medicinal seedlings were neat and uniform, growing beautifully.
Such ability left him endlessly amazed.
After all, the expense involved was enough to make even a Foundation Establishment True Person like himself tremble with fear.
For a Qi Refining disciple like Lu Qingyang to possess such heaven-defying means.
Sun Shan did not dare show the slightest negligence, and grew ever closer to Lu Qingyang.
“Little Martial-Nephew Lu, what brings you to see this old man today?”
Sun Shan sat back down in his chair, a brilliant smile brimming on his face.
“Reporting to the Director, I wish to ask the Director to register my name for this year’s Peak Selection Gathering.”
Lu Qingyang wasted no words, going straight to the point.
“The Peak Selection Gathering?”
Hearing this, Sun Shan was first stunned.
After a long while, his gaze fell upon Lu Qingyang, and he began to scrutinize him carefully.
As he watched, Sun Shan’s expression gradually grew solemn.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, he slowly raised his head.
“Less than a year since ascending to the Outer Gate, and your cultivation has already surged to late-stage Qi Refining. Little Martial-Nephew Lu… you are no simple one!”
Having said this, Sun Shan’s expression still betrayed neither joy nor anger.
He merely stared at Lu Qingyang with burning eyes.
Lu Qingyang was not flustered. He lowered his head slightly and waited quietly for the other’s next words.
Seeing this, after another moment, Sun Shan’s tone finally changed.
It became even more warm and familiar.
“Haha, Little Martial-Nephew Lu, since you’ve already decided to participate in the Peak Selection Gathering, I will naturally register and report your name.”
“It’s just that… the Peak Selection Gathering is exceedingly dangerous. A single misstep and you lose your life.”
“Are you certain you want to participate now, and not wait another two years?”
“Mm, I want to go.”
Lu Qingyang said no more. He did not know why the other’s attitude had shifted several times.
But within the Chaotian Sect, he was not afraid Sun Shan would dare make a move against him.
Even if there were such a thing… he was no longer a soft persimmon to be kneaded at will.
That third-tier Giant Sword Talisman in his storage bag could send the other on his way without Lu Qingyang expending the slightest effort…
Seeing this, Sun Shan did not try to dissuade him further. As for people like Lu Qingyang, he had seen them many years ago.
He knew that people of their disposition would not be swayed by others.
He also knew that one must never pry into the secrets of such people…
“In that case, I will register your name right now.”
With that, Sun Shan drew an identity jade token from his bosom, his aura stirring faintly.
A white light passed over the cyan jade token.
“Shua!”
As the white light lit up, it quickly transformed into row upon row of characters.
Seeing the contents, Sun Shan nodded.
“Done, Little Martial-Nephew Lu. I’ve registered your name for you.”
“Ten days from now, the Peak Selection Gathering will begin. You need only participate.”
“Thank you, Director.”
Lu Qingyang bowed with cupped fists, his heart relaxing.
It seemed this Vice Director Sun really did not have the guts to violate the sect rules.
And so, after a few pleasantries, Lu Qingyang prepared to take his leave.
However, before he could depart.
Sun Shan’s next sentence gave him a slight shock.
“Martial-Nephew Lu, have you thought about which peak you want to join?”
“Which peak to join?”
“Correct. You should already know of the Inner Gate’s Three Peaks.”
“Sword Ridge Peak governs killing, Flame Grass Peak governs resources, Sun-Moon Peak governs the Dao. You should have some idea, yes.”
Having said this, Sun Shan stared at Lu Qingyang without blinking.
“Director, you mean…”
“That’s right. My Spirit Field Bureau actually belongs to Flame Grass Peak.”
“Including the Spirit Pill Bureau, Spirit Artifact Bureau, Spirit Beast Bureau, Spell Art Bureau, and even the Menial Bureau — all are under Flame Grass Peak’s jurisdiction. So if you wish to join the Three Peaks, you should logically ascend to Flame Grass Peak.”
Hearing this, Lu Qingyang fell silent.
For the first time, he had a clear understanding of the Chaotian Sect’s power structure.
The Three Peaks, the most mysterious existence in the entire Chaotian Sect.
Every Foundation Establishment True Person of the Chaotian Sect came from the Three Peaks.
In other words, only by joining the Three Peaks could one have any hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.
“Then may I ask the Director, Sword Ridge Peak governing killing I understand. No doubt the Law Enforcement Bureau and the War Execution Bureau are under its jurisdiction.”
“But that Sun-Moon Peak…”
“Shh.”
Before Lu Qingyang could voice the doubt in his heart, Sun Shan quickly raised a finger.
“Little Martial-Nephew Lu, you need only remember: those who have not entered the Three Peaks must not speak of Sun-Moon Peak without authorization!”
Hearing this, Lu Qingyang was both puzzled and intensely curious.
If he was not mistaken, the Sect Master Bureau among the Nine Bureaus must surely belong to Sun-Moon Peak.
But why is Sun-Moon Peak so secretive… could there be something special about it?
Lu Qingyang murmured to himself, but in the end did not voice the question.
Sun Shan also seemed to be changing the subject, unwilling to continue discussing the matter. He waved his hand.
“Enough, Little Martial-Nephew Lu. You need only remember, at the Peak Selection Gathering, just enter my Flame Grass Peak.”
“After joining the peak, in terms of treatment, benefits, cultivation resources — the peak will not shortchange you in any respect.”
“With your aptitude, this elder brother may well have to bask in your glory in the future…”
By the end, Sun Shan had even changed his form of address, directly elevating Lu Qingyang’s seniority by a rank.
“The Director praises me too much.”
Lu Qingyang cupped his hands, brushed off the other with a few perfunctory words, and prepared to leave.
But just then, the knock on the door came again.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
“Who is it?”
Sun Shan was somewhat impatient.
“Reporting to the Director, this is Rice Field Deacon Zhang Luanfeng. I have matters to request an audience about.”
“Hm?”
Hearing the announcement from outside the door, Sun Shan frowned.
“Come in.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the door was pushed open.
A handsome white-robed man walked in from outside.
“This subordinate greets the Director.”
Zhang Luanfeng paid his respects to Vice Director Sun, his manner respectful.
But when he caught sight of Lu Qingyang beside Sun Shan, his eyes instantly went round, shock in his gaze.
He had never expected that Lu Qingyang would actually be here!
What made him even more alarmed was that he could no longer see through Lu Qingyang’s cultivation.
How could that possibly be! I went into secluded cultivation for a year just for the Peak Selection Gathering, and to suppress this brat after I broke through to Foundation Establishment.
But now, how can I not see through his cultivation? And… what is he doing here?
Zhang Luanfeng’s heart was in chaos, his mind overflowing with questions.
It was only when Lu Qingyang bade farewell to Sun Shan.
That sentence — “Please trouble the Director to register my name for the Peak Selection Gathering” — rang clear and distinct in his ears…