I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

Fang Xuan walked through the side corridor of the main hall and headed towards the courtyard behind the main hall.

The backyard was more secluded than the front hall, planted with many exotic flowers and plants, and had a small pond with several koi carp.

Inside a hexagonal pavilion, Sword Peak Master Shen Chen sat at a stone table, sipping tea alone.

He was dressed in an ordinary blue Taoist robe, with a serious face and deep eyes that revealed no emotion.

Seeing Fang Xuan approach, he put down his teacup.

Eye contact is the first test.

Calm, scrutinizing, with the air of authority of someone long accustomed to a high position, as if trying to penetrate the skin and see through Fang Xuan's true nature.

Fang Xuan walked steadily, with even steps and calm breathing.

Her eyes were clear yet filled with curiosity as she let Shen Chen scrutinize her.

Shen Chen watched for a few moments, his heart sinking slightly.

That's too stable.

At this age and with this level of cultivation, facing a trace of Golden Core spiritual pressure that he deliberately released, there was not the slightest hesitation or fluctuation of spiritual energy, as if a gentle breeze was blowing on his face.

He subtly increased his spiritual pressure slightly, but Fang Xuan remained unfazed, even giving him a shy smile.

Bone age... around seventeen years old.

At the Void Core stage, one's spiritual energy is abundant and pure, and one's foundation is incredibly solid, without any sense of superficiality caused by piling up pills or being impatient for quick success.

This talent... is probably even more terrifying than Ning Qian's back then.

Shen Chen picked up his teacup, took another sip, and suppressed a trace of apprehension in his heart.

According to Qingqing, this boy is not only incredibly talented, but also quite arrogant. He is very disrespectful to Qingqing and clearly favors Ning Qian, that good-for-nothing.

The threat is too great and must be dealt with as soon as possible.

"Sit down." Shen Chen pointed to the stone bench opposite him, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Thank you, Peak Master." Fang Xuan sat down as instructed, his posture respectful but not humble.

"Not bad." Shen Chen put down his teacup, a kind smile appearing on his face.

"It seems you've learned a lot from your Senior Sister Ning, and your cultivation has improved so quickly. It's truly a blessing for our Sword Peak."

"Peak Master, you flatter me. It is thanks to Senior Sister's excellent guidance that I dare not slack off," Fang Xuan said humbly.

"Yes, it's good to avoid arrogance and impatience."

Shen Chen nodded, then changed the subject, "According to sect custom, when a disciple breaks through to the Void Core stage, the master should give a reward."

Now that you have stabilized your cultivation level, you may take this token to the first floor of the sect's scripture pavilion and choose a suitable cultivation technique or sword manual.

As he spoke, he took out a wooden token that gleamed with a faint blue light from his sleeve, placed it on the stone table, and pushed it toward Fang Xuan.

"Thank you, Peak Master." Fang Xuan accepted the token.

"Furthermore," Shen Chen said, looking at Fang Xuan.

"The Qingyun Secret Realm, which is held every three years, is about to open. This time, you will represent our Sword Peak so that the other peaks can see that our Sword Peak has successors."

Fang Xuan felt a slight pang of sadness, but on his face he appropriately showed a hint of being flattered: "This... the spots in the secret realm are precious, and this disciple's qualifications are still shallow, I'm afraid I am not up to such an important task..."

He remembered the Azure Cloud Secret Realm.

In the original story, this was an important trial realm controlled by the Qingyun Sect, which opened once every three years.

It contains many rare spiritual herbs, and may even contain cultivation techniques and magical treasures left behind by predecessors.

The quotas are usually allocated through the sect competition, with each peak receiving them according to their ranking.

In the original story, Ning Qian, with her Qi Refining stage cultivation, managed to win a good ranking for Sword Peak and a spot in a secret realm during a sect competition, thanks to her extraordinary combat talent.

As a result, Shen Chen forcibly transferred the spot to Shen Qingqing on the grounds that her "injuries had not yet healed" and "may damage her foundation".

Now, Shen Chen has directly given the spot to himself, representing Jianfeng.

This isn't right.

If his purpose is simply to reward or win someone over.

With his current strength at the Void Core Realm, if he participates in the competition, unless he encounters another hidden genius, first place is almost a certainty.

Shen Chen didn't need to go to the trouble of "pre-selecting" Fang Xuan; that would only invite criticism from other disciples and damage his reputation.

Did you kill yourself in the secret realm?

It was indeed fraught with danger there; it wouldn't be surprising if one or two disciples died.

But the spot was given to him personally by Shen Chen. If he were to die in the secret realm, he would inevitably face suspicion and accountability.

This is a risky move, unless he is absolutely certain he can distance himself from the situation, or... he has a bigger scheme.

It's not about harming yourself, but about harming others...

.......

"It's alright." Shen Chen waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "I know your strength. This matter is settled. You can prepare well."

He did this for two reasons. First, it provoked the disciples to condemn him, since this was a rule that had been in place at Sword Peak for a hundred years, and it couldn't be given away so easily.

Secondly, what if Fang Xuan killed several disciples in the secret realm...?

He would certainly become a suspect at that time.

But Fang Xuan, who already had a bad reputation on Sword Peak and was known for killing disciples...

He is the one who is the target of everyone's criticism.

......

"Yes, disciple will certainly live up to Peak Master's expectations."

Fang Xuan no longer declined and respectfully accepted.

Forget about any conspiracy, let's go and see what happens.

He was indeed envious of the resources in the secret realm.

Shen Chen seemed quite satisfied with his compliance, picked up his teacup again, but looked thoughtfully at the crisscrossing patterns on the stone table.

"Do you know how to play chess?" he suddenly asked.

Fang Xuan shook his head: "Reporting to the Peak Master, this disciple is dull-witted and has not yet learned the art of chess."

"Really can't?" Shen Chen raised his eyes, his gaze returning to Fang Xuan. "Or... are you pretending?"

Fang Xuan met his gaze, her face full of sincerity and innocence:

"Peak Master, please don't joke. I am young and only focused on cultivation at home. I have never been involved in these refined matters."

Shen Chen stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"It's alright if you don't know how. Chess is like life, every move requires calculation and effort. Focusing on cultivation is the right path."

"Master Feng's teachings are correct," Fang Xuan said, bowing his head.

"Go, go to the Scripture Pavilion as soon as possible to choose a cultivation technique, study it carefully, and prepare for the battle in the secret realm."

Shen Chen waved his hand, refocusing his attention on the teacup in his hand, as if everything just now was just casual conversation.

"This disciple takes his leave."

Fang Xuan stood up, bowed, and then slowly withdrew from the pavilion.

Only after his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did Shen Chen slowly put down his teacup, a smile curving his lips.

"No matter how talented he is, he's still just a seventeen-year-old kid."

He muttered to himself, his expression one of absolute confidence and disdain as he took control of the situation.

"So what if you're more composed? Experience, methods, scheming... what do you have to fight me with? I... have lived for over two hundred years."

Last night, the ancient dual cultivation technique I tried with Qing'er was truly powerful and pleasurable; Qing'er's captivating charm...

At this thought, a lewd glint flashed in Shen Chen's eyes.

Tonight, I must make Qing'er serve me well again, so well that I won't be able to get out of bed.

.......

Outside the main hall, under the flowering trees.

Ning Qian watched as Fang Xuan walked out of the backyard unharmed, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

But then, a deeper worry crept into my mind.

She watched Fang Xuan approach; the young man's face only showed the relief of having completed his mission, and he even winked at her.

But Ning Qian couldn't laugh.

Shen Chen's attitude and the reward of cultivation techniques... seemingly a favor, but in reality, they were traps at every turn.

She knew Shen Chen too well; this was definitely not a simple matter of appreciation or courting.

My junior brother is still too young and too reckless.

He shouldn't have revealed his nascent core strength so quickly... Although he knew he might be hiding other trump cards, Shen Chen's shrewdness and ruthlessness far exceeded his expectations.

His original plan was to use Fang Xuan as a variable to test, stir up trouble, and even use Shen Chen to see Fang Xuan's limits and true purpose.

But now... looking at Fang Xuan's handsome profile, still carrying a hint of youthful innocence, and remembering how obediently he listened to her just now...

She suddenly realized that her previous plan was too risky.

What if... what if Shen Chen's schemes exceed Fang Xuan's ability to handle? What if something really happens to him?

This thought made Ning Qian's heart clench.

No.

She had to change her plans; at the very least, she needed to keep a closer eye on him.

As for how to look at it...

The only option is to go back and punish him there.

He wasn't focused on practicing swordsmanship, showed little respect to his senior sister, and ate too little...

There's always a reason they can find.

He needs to learn that he can't act so rashly in the future.

.......