If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

As soon as Mo Chengyue arrived outside his master's elegant hall, he saw a slender figure.

He was squatting by the flowerbed, holding a large pair of scissors, and expressionlessly pruning a crooked spiritual plant.

The man was wearing a faded old sect uniform, and his bangs were so long they almost covered his eyes.

He was also holding an ancient sword that was taller than himself, and he exuded an aura that said "keep away".

It was his reclusive and taciturn junior brother, Wenren Ji.

"Junior brother, busy?" Mo Chengyue greeted him with a smile.

Wenren Ji looked up at the sound, revealing a pair of clear but emotionless eyes.

"Senior brother, you're back!"

He stood up and patted the grass clippings off his hands.

"Master requests your presence inside the hall!"

Mo Chengyue's heart skipped a beat.

My master is looking for me?

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Junior brother, do you know why Master calls me 'brother'?"

Wenren Ji shook his head expressionlessly.

"I don't know."

After saying that, he squatted down again.

They continued to struggle with that poor spiritual plant, as if pruning its branches was more important than the sky falling down.

Well, it's pointless to ask.

Mo Chengyue straightened his clothes and walked into the main hall with a hint of trepidation.

As soon as they stepped into the palace, a lazy yet charming voice drifted out from the depths of the palace.

The voice was soft and sweet, making one's heart itch.

"Is Chengyue back?"

Mo Chengyue's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed in greeting.

"Reporting to Master, your disciple has returned!"

Inside the main hall, behind the beaded curtain, a stunningly beautiful woman reclines on a large, soft couch.

She wore a light green palace dress, her figure graceful and slender, like a begonia asleep in spring, a beauty without bones.

Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, loosely held in place by a white jade hairpin of unknown material.

A natural touch of rosy blush at the corners of her eyes makes her stunningly beautiful even without lipstick.

Her half-closed eyes shimmered with moisture, revealing a piercing light that seemed to see right through people's hearts.

It was his master, Yan Chenyu.

Yan Chenyu yawned, and tiny tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, adding to her allure.

She said lazily, "Xie Buci has already told me about your matter."

boom!

A thunderbolt struck Mo Chengyue's mind.

My business?

Did Lao Xie tell her?

My whole body went numb instantly.

That's it, we're completely finished.

Old Xie, that old sixth brother!

What happened to the organizational discipline we were promised?!

What happened to the promised alliance?!

He turned around and betrayed his brother?

Last night, he was having sex with that woman Leng Yuexin at the Ice Soul Palace.

And the fact that she was drained dry and then drained back... Does Master know all about this?

Mo Chengyue broke out in a cold sweat in an instant, his back was soaked through.

He tried to remain calm, but his voice sounded a little unsteady.

"No...I don't know. Master, what did my senior brother...tell me about?"

Yan Chenyu picked up a bright purple grape from the fruit plate next to her.

He slowly and methodically peeled off the skin, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

"What else is there? What could possibly be so trivial about your affairs?"

Mo Chengyue's heart sank, and his vision blurred.

Messy things...

It's confirmed, it's that lousy thing.

Senior brother, our brotherhood has ultimately been misplaced!

In my next life—no, in this life—I'll burn paper money for you!

Just as Mo Chengyue was beginning to think that he would be expelled from the party.

It was when he was considered a disgrace to the sect and drowned in a pig cage.

Yan Chenyu finally popped the peeled grape into her mouth.

She smacked her lips before slowly continuing.

"Of all my disciples, you've progressed the slowest, like a useless piece of junk."

"I heard from him that you've advanced to the early stage of Foundation Establishment."

"At least I didn't embarrass myself in front of my grandma's house."

Mo Chengyue: "...Huh?"

He froze on the spot, his brain shutting down for a full three seconds.

Advanced Foundation Building?

That's it?

A surge of overwhelming joy at surviving a disaster rushed to his head, and he almost collapsed to his knees.

Thank goodness... thank goodness everyone's alright!

Lao Xie, you're still my brother!

"What sins did I commit back then to end up taking in a thing like you?"

Yan Chenyu started her usual rambling mode again.

"Look at your senior brothers and sisters, which one of them didn't reach the mid-to-late stage of Foundation Establishment in just one or two years?"

"You're doing well, stuck in the Qi Refining stage for seven years. I thought you were going to spend your whole life flipping ladles in the sect's cafeteria."

Mo Chengyue finally recovered and, upon hearing this, couldn't help but mutter something under his breath.

"Master, that's not right. I'm cultivating the ancient techniques passed down in our sect!"

"How can it be compared to those who cultivate using spiritual roots? This is called accumulating strength for a late-blooming breakthrough!"

"Accumulate knowledge and skills before unleashing your full potential—what a load of rubbish!"

Yan Chenyu's eyes widened, and she casually grabbed a banana from the table and threw it at Mo Chenghui.

"Your senior brother Xie Buci also cultivates using ancient methods, so how come he's progressing so quickly?"

"He reached the Core Formation stage at the age of 24!"

"And you? 24 years old! Only at the Foundation Establishment stage! How dare you say that?"

"Don't you even consider whether it's your own fault? You're hopeless!"

Mo Chengyue nimbly dodged the "banana projectile" and dared not retaliate, only able to chuckle foolishly.

Arguing with your master is just asking for trouble.

Yan Chenyu cursed a few times, then, feeling bored, waved her hand.

"Forget it, I can't be bothered with you."

"On another note, Xie Buci did talk to you about Wanqi Mountain, right?"

Now we've finally gotten to the main topic.

Mo Chengyue quickly replied, "Reporting to Master, Senior Brother mentioned it to me, but I only have a general understanding of it."

"Then let me explain it to you in more detail."

Yan Chenyu sat up straighter, her expression unusually serious.

"Mount Wanqi is a test prepared by our sect for newly promoted Foundation Establishment disciples and Foundation Establishment disciples who have lost their magic weapons. It is also an opportunity."

"It mainly tests your reaction ability in all aspects, your mentality, your strength, and your luck. None of them can be lacking."

"The road to the Wan Ge Lou at the top of the mountain is full of trials and tribulations."

"For example, there are formations that trap people, monsters guarding the pass, masked men specifically designed to obstruct progress, and all sorts of traps and mechanisms—it's extremely dangerous!"

"But don't worry, the elders are secretly watching over these trials, so they won't really harm your life."

"Remember, the closer you are to the Ten Thousand Pavilion at the top of the mountain, the better the quality of the magical artifacts you can obtain."

"The best place, of course, is to go up to the weapon-retrieving platform on the top floor of the Wan Pavilion. That is the best place to retrieve the weapon."

"Of course, to take a high-level magical artifact, you also need to gain the artifact's approval!"

She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her languid eyes.

"Here's the important part, you better remember this."

"From the moment we enter Wanqi Mountain until the end of the trial."

"During this period, you may use any means to steal other people's belongings, and the sect will not pursue the matter."

"but!"

"It is strictly forbidden to harm fellow disciples! If any disciple is found to have died as a result, it will be considered a serious offense."

"No matter who it is, no matter the reason, execute them immediately without exception!"

"Do you understand now? Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Mo Chengyue was thrilled. Wasn't this just a real-life PUBG tournament?

His eyes lit up, and he immediately seized the opportunity.

"Um... Master, I have a favor to ask."

He rubbed his hands together, his face full of flattery.

"This disciple has been tending the herb garden for seven years, and I recognize almost every flower and plant in the sect!"

"My understanding of medicinal herbs is now fairly comprehensive!"

"Therefore, I would like to request a change of duty position."

"For example... is it possible to work shifts in the library?"

"Oh? The library?"

Yan Chenyu was somewhat surprised; she had thought this guy would apply to work at the alchemy workshop.

After all, once you recognize the herbs, the next step is to refine them into elixirs.

At the same time, guarding the alchemy room is also a lucrative job.

"Let me ask."

She casually made a hand seal, and a sound transmission talisman appeared out of thin air.

It flickered a few times at the corners of her lips, then transformed into a streak of light and flew out of the palace.

A moment later, another streak of light flew back.

"Alright, the Scripture Pavilion happens to need someone to do odd jobs."

Yan Chenyu waved her hand and resumed her lazy, unmotivated manner.

"Make yourselves ready, and go directly to Elder Chen at the Scripture Pavilion tomorrow to report."

"If there's nothing else, you can leave now. Just looking at you annoys me."

"Alright! Then this disciple will take his leave!"

Mo Chengyue was overjoyed and scrambled out of the main hall.

Let's go to the Sutra Repository!

This was the job he had always dreamed of!

That place is the center of Bagua (Eight Trigrams) distribution for the entire Hehuan Sect!

It will be much more convenient to enjoy the gossip from now on!