Swing the sword at the future female devil

Chapter 278 We're planning to help you cheat
Duan Huaige silently gave himself and Miss Yan Wang a thumbs up for their perfect understanding. Just as he was about to go find Xie Cangling, Zhang Mingyi, the grandmaster uncle of the Celestial Master's Mansion, suddenly appeared in front of him:

"The Celestial Master invites you; please follow me."

Duan Huaige glanced at Zhang Mingyi's expression and tentatively asked, "Did you only invite me?"

Zhang Mingyi gave Duan Huaige a meaningful look: "Not bad... just you alone."

Duan Huaige was a little confused about the old master's approach, so he gestured to Xiao Xie that he needed to talk about something serious, and then followed Zhang Mingyi into the Demon Subduing Hall.

Inside the hall, the old Celestial Master had changed out of his solemn sacrificial robes and put on his usual clothes again. Seeing Duan Huaige arrive, he slightly raised his eyelids and said, "You've come... Please sit down."

"Old Celestial Master, you're being so dishonest! How can you go back on your word?" Duan Huaige said with great distress, "You'll lose my trust in you if you do this!"

"Everyone had agreed to exchange the Celestial Master's Degree for the incomplete map... This sudden change of heart is just too much!"

"Alright, stop acting so aggrieved. You just want me to compensate you, don't you?" the old Celestial Master said irritably. "It's as if you would have agreed to go and get the Celestial Master's Ordination if we had originally negotiated it so that you could go alone."

Seeing that he had been exposed, Duan Huaige blushed slightly and coughed twice, saying, "Old Celestial Master, there are no outsiders here, so let's not beat around the bush. You suddenly brought so many people to Longhu Mountain... is it because of... that demoness?"

"Oh?" The old master's sharp eyes suddenly flashed with a glint of light, and a smile appeared on his lips as he said, "You know quite a lot, kid... Tell me, what do you know?"

"What I know is not important; what is important is what you, Celestial Master, want me to know," Duan Huaige said cautiously. "If you are truly worried that the other side will come, why not seek the court's help?"

The old Celestial Master shook his head and smiled, "There's no such thing as being a thief for a thousand days and guarding against thieves for a thousand days. Besides, our Celestial Master's Mansion is not so weak that we need to seek someone's protection."

Duan Huaige was speechless upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "You've all called for reinforcements to fight the demoness, and you're still being stubborn?"
Zhang Zhiyao is indeed the future little celestial master of your Longhu Mountain lineage; their stubborn style is exactly the same.

“What you guessed was both right and wrong,” the old master continued. “The real plan can’t be told to you like this, but you are indeed a very important part of the plan.”

"So you called me here alone just to tell me not to think about running away?" Duan Huaige asked cautiously.

"Pretty much... I'm really afraid you'll be scared out of your wits by that demoness and run away at the first sign of trouble." The old Celestial Master said leisurely, "Of course, there's an even more important point: you must be among the top four in this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony."

Duan Huaige's face immediately fell. He thought to himself, "When did my reputation become so bad? Running away at the first sign of trouble? I am such an upright and honorable person, how could I do such a thing!"

"Old Master! You misunderstand. The education I received from childhood does not support me doing something like deserting in the face of battle!" Duan Huaige flicked his sleeves, turned around and said proudly, "As for the top four, I can only say... my goal has always been the finals!"

"Your strength is indeed impressive, but you're hiding a lot," the old Celestial Master said with a burning gaze. "Are you sure you can make it to the finals of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, where there are many experts, based solely on the cultivation level you've displayed?"

Duan Huaige was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and also fell into deep thought... His strongest combat supernatural ability was the combination of the Mountain and River Map and the Mountain and River Dao Technique. Once the Mountain and River Map was unfolded and he was brought into his domain, he was confident that he could put up a fight even against a Core Formation cultivator...

However, without the Mountain and River Daoist Technique, relying solely on the Golden Light Mantra, Thunder Magic, and the Red Lotus Body Tempering Technique and Azure Lotus Soul Tempering Technique... doesn't seem so reliable; there's still a certain risk of unexpected setbacks. The Spring and Autumn Sword Intent? If he were to take out the Spring Breeze and Rain Sword, it would inevitably arouse Qin Shuangjiang's suspicion. If, at that time, Miss Shuangjiang wholeheartedly believed that he had returned, then things would truly become complicated.

I wonder if talismans can be used in this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony. If they can, I'd consider piloting a few Gundams and playing with them.

"So... Master, you mean you're worried about my instability and are planning to give me special training?" Duan Huaige asked tentatively.

"No." The old master smiled slightly: "We plan to help you cheat."

Duan Huaige: ?

……

When Duan Huaige came out of the Demon-Subduing Hall, he seemed a little dazed. The socially awkward girl who was waiting nearby came up to him and asked in a low voice, "Huaige... are you alright? You don't seem to be in very good shape?"

"It's nothing... I just... feel like I'm still too innocent, and I can't think of many despicable and outrageous things to do, so I'm just feeling a bit sentimental..." Duan Huaige didn't dwell on this topic and instead asked:
"Have you been waiting here for me?"

"Hmm... I just talked to Dad, and he said he would report it to his superiors and also send over a batch of remaining blood from the inscriptions as a precaution."

Upon hearing this, Duan Huaige felt a pang of emotion. Sure enough, it was only when the socially awkward Xiao Yi spoke up that Xie Laodeng became more agreeable. Otherwise, he estimated that he would have had to spend countless hours trying to get the funding.

He was in a great mood and pulled Xie Cangling to get something to eat—he had been so busy facing the carnage and watching the old Celestial Master's sacrificial ceremony since he got up early that morning that he hadn't eaten a single thing and was starting to feel a bit nauseous.

"That's good... Alright, let's go get something to eat first! Let's try out the food at the canteen on Longhu Mountain!"

Xiao Xie nodded obediently, then asked timidly, "Um... Huai Ge, what was wrong with what Xi Yu said just now? Did you two have a fight?"

"Ahem... It's nothing, it's just that there's been a misunderstanding between us." Duan Huaige said seriously, "Now that a powerful enemy is approaching, I can't let personal feelings affect the overall situation! I'll try to appease them after this is over."

On the surface, that's what he said, but in reality, Duan Huaige had already made his own plans...

Why should I, in my entire life, need to deceive others? Xiao Jiang, Shuangjiang, and Qiuxi have put aside their past grievances and shake hands in reconciliation? Ha!
Such a fragile alliance, I only need to make a slight move, and they will all come running to surrender! I don't even need to turn Miss Yan, she is the biggest traitor herself!

Xie Cangling was unaware of the complex thoughts swirling in Duan Huaige's mind. She blinked her clear eyes, a hint of joy in them…

Although this is a bit malicious, they've had a falling out... does that mean I'll have more time to spend with Huai Ge?

After all, Shuangjiang said that when a boy is abandoned and vulnerable, that's the best opportunity to take advantage of him... Now... maybe that's the best time?

(End of this chapter)