Chapter 2810 — Xuanzhen and Xuanchen

The Five Luminaries Sect.

Patriarch Xuanzhen's expression was somewhat sour.

"Xuanchen, why didn't you tell me beforehand that you were sending her into the trial? Do you not know how dangerous that place is? And the place she has gone is the most dangerous of all!" Patriarch Xuanzhen frowned deeply at Patriarch Xuanchen, who sat below him.

"Second Brother, she went to receive the inheritance—this is for the sake of our Five Luminaries Sect's grand plan," Patriarch Xuanchen said with a smile. "I know she is your prized disciple, but have you considered that by stopping her from receiving the inheritance merely because she is your disciple, you would be failing the successive patriarchs of our Five Luminaries Sect?"

"Th—" Patriarch Xuanzhen was at once at a loss for words. Indeed, compared with the inheritance, everything else seemed unimportant. "But you should have told me. I needed to make preparations..."

"It is not that I did not tell you—hasn't Second Brother already learned of it?" Patriarch Xuanchen said with a faint smile. "It seems Second Brother has no small number of connections within the Xuandan Sect. Your information is quite timely..."

Patriarch Xuanzhen's heart gave a sudden jolt. He abruptly felt that he had said too much. Yet from Patriarch Xuanchen's tone, it seemed the man had long known of his close dealings with the Xuandan Sect.

"Alas, to sacrifice the lives of so many Earth Rank and Heaven Rank trialists for the sake of our sect's grand plan—how can I bear it?" Patriarch Xuanzhen sighed. "It is not only her safety I worry about, but the lives of all those cultivators!"

"No one forced them to enter the Xuandan Sect's trial. If they die, it is only because their abilities were insufficient. Who is there to blame?" Patriarch Xuanchen said dismissively.

"Alas, for a cultivator to reach such a level of strength is truly no easy feat. They endured countless hardships to advance this far, and now they die just like that..." Patriarch Xuanzhen said with a hint of helplessness.

"Second Brother, you are simply too kindhearted. How can one who would achieve great things be soft-hearted? Never mind sacrificing so few people—for the sake of our Xuandan Sect's grand plan, what would it matter even if every ancient sect were sacrificed?" Patriarch Xuanchen said calmly.

"Alas!" Patriarch Xuanzhen could not bring himself to agree with Patriarch Xuanchen's methods, yet he could hardly say anything against them. For one thing, his voice within the Xuandan Sect carried less weight than Patriarch Xuanchen's, and speaking would be useless. For another, Patriarch Xuanchen always crushed him with the Five Luminaries Sect's grand plan, leaving him unable to raise any other objection.

"Very well, Second Brother. Although she is your disciple, she is also my hidden piece—I worry about her even more than you do!" Patriarch Xuanchen still had need of Patriarch Xuanzhen and naturally would not provoke him too greatly, so he consoled him: "In truth, if this is anyone's fault, it is the fault of the one who crippled Tagan Long. Were it not for him, there would have been no need to activate the hidden piece at all."

"Tagan Long was insatiably greedy and came into conflict with Senior Brother's disciple. He brought it upon himself—who else is there to blame?" Patriarch Xuanzhen could not help saying.

"Heh heh. In my eyes, whoever is the weaker is the one to blame," Patriarch Xuanchen said.

Patriarch Xuanzhen said nothing more. He knew that saying anything would be useless—so why say anything at all?

The Xuandan Sect.

Kang Zhaoming had rushed back together with Tianjisuan. Though Kang Zhaoming had not shown himself the next day, he had waited for Tianjisuan at the inn, and once Tianjisuan returned, they traveled back to the Xuandan Sect together to report.

"Brother Kang, the Young Sect Master is looking for you!" Kang Zhaoming had barely returned when Xiaotaohong called out to him.

"Ah? The Young Sect Master is looking for me? I'll go at once!" Kang Zhaoming did not even bother with the toilet; he set off with Xiaotaohong for the separate courtyard where Tiancanshan resided.

"Brother Kang, the Young Sect Master has seemed to be in a rather poor mood these past two days. Even when I went to serve him, he drove me out. You should be careful in a moment—don't provoke the Young Sect Master," Xiaotaohong warned him along the way.

"Oh? Is that so? Then I had better be careful." Kang Zhaoming nodded hurriedly and took it to heart. "Do you know why the Young Sect Master is angry? What should I watch out for in a moment?"

"It's nothing much, really. The Young Sect Master has a few days every month when his mood is poor..." Xiaotaohong trailed off there.

"A few days every month when his mood is poor? What is this, a woman having her period and feeling out of sorts?" Kang Zhaoming wondered aloud.

"Shh..." Xiaotaohong's expression changed and he nearly jumped out of his skin. "Brother Kang, you must not say such things carelessly—you might bring a fatal disaster upon yourself! Slandering the Young Sect Master is a capital offense!"

"I know, I know..." Kang Zhaoming was startled as well. He glanced around and said, "I'm only saying it to you, aren't I? I wouldn't dare say it to anyone else!"

"Mm." Xiaotaohong nodded and said, "Generally it is at the end of each month, when the subordinates report the elixir sales figures, that the Young Sect Master's mood turns poor. Don't go making wild guesses."

"I understand." Kang Zhaoming nodded hastily in agreement. "Hm? But... it doesn't seem to be the end of the month right now?"

Xiaotaohong was somewhat confused as well and shook his head. "Just don't ask so many questions..."

Kang Zhaoming nodded and asked no more. The two came together to the separate courtyard where Tiancanshan resided—the same courtyard as before. Xiaotaohong knocked on the door and said to those inside, "Young Sect Master, Elder Kang has arrived."

"Oh, send him in," came Tiancanshan's calm voice from within the courtyard room.

"Yes!" Xiaotaohong hurriedly pushed open the door and entered the courtyard with Kang Zhaoming, then went into the room.

"Xiaotaohong, go brew some tea," Tiancanshan said. He seemed to have been reading something; after Kang Zhaoming and Xiaotaohong entered, he set the book aside and instructed Xiaotaohong.

"Yes, Young Sect Master." Xiaotaohong hurried off to brew tea.

"Hm? Young Sect Master, I haven't seen you for a few days, and you seem to have grown even more handsome!" Kang Zhaoming looked up and happened to meet Tiancanshan's gaze. He felt that after these few days apart, Tiancanshan seemed to have become considerably more handsome. He had come prepared to flatter Tiancanshan, so naturally he would not miss this chance to heap on praise.

But Tiancanshan frowned and cut Kang Zhaoming off: "Elder Kang, let me ask you—how many Heaven Rank trialists and how many Earth Rank trialists took part in this trial in total?"

"Uh, the Young Sect Master is too distant with me—didn't you say to just call me Xiaoming?" Kang Zhaoming said fawningly. "Young Sect Master, wait a moment. I have the registration data here; I haven't had time to submit it yet. I'll look it up for you right now!"

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