Chapter 993: A Test

What makes for the best kind of day?

For Lin Bei, it might be spending time surrounded by a crowd of beautiful women. For Lackey B, it could be enjoying rare and delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And for the iron-eating beast Chujiu, it would be a feast of spirit plants laid out before it.

But for Venerable Wen Yuan, today was that day.

"Chu Liang has broken through to the eighth realm and become a Dao Master of Creation."

"In a dramatic turnaround, he eliminated the Noble Dharma."

"Di Nufeng forced back the others and seized a second legendary artifact for the Mount Shu Sect, the Celestial Cosmic Ring."

One good news after another kept coming in. The curve of Venerable Wen Yuan’s lips rose from a faint smile to something he could no longer suppress. Before long, his entire face was beaming.

For someone who had led the Mount Shu Sect with care and dedication for over a hundred years, nothing could have brought greater happiness than this.

The crisis threatening the nine provinces had been resolved. The Mount Shu Sect's position as the number one immortal sect was secure. The younger generation would continue its legacy of glory for at least another two hundred years. After a lifetime of hardship, Venerable Wen Yuan felt so overwhelmed with joy that he nearly burst into tears. Luckily, he didn't actually cry as the return of the victorious Di Nufeng ruined his good mood.

"With members like the two of you, the Mount Shu Sect is truly blessed," Wen Yuan said warmly to Di Nufeng. "Who would have thought that the Silver Sword Peak, with only two people, could accomplish something so remarkable?"

Di Nufeng smiled and waved her hand. "My disciple was the one who truly deserves the credit for defeating the Noble Dharma. I didn’t do much."

"You seized the Celestial Cosmic Ring and brought another legendary artifact into our sect," the Weapons Master chimed in. "How is that not an act of great merit?"

"Hm?" Di Nufeng raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "Let’s make one thing clear. I was the one who snatched the Celestial Cosmic Ring. That has nothing to do with our sect."

Venerable Wen Yuan let out a soft chuckle. "It’s fine if you take control of this legendary artifact under normal circumstances. What matters is that it’s used to protect the sect during critical moments."

While legendary artifacts were usually entrusted to the sect leader, there were exceptions. If someone else resonated more deeply with the Great Dao of this artifact, then it made sense for them to wield it when it mattered most.

In fact, by long-standing tradition, only those who were compatible with the sect's legendary artifact were considered qualified to lead the sect in the first place.

However, both of the Mount Shu Sect’s legendary artifacts were new additions, so the situation wasn’t quite the same. The Vessel of God had always been wielded by Daoist Yan, who resonated more deeply with it and had been the one to activate it in battle.

As for the Celestial Cosmic Ring, since Di Nufeng had seized it herself, no one minded her keeping it under normal circumstances. As long as she was willing to lend it to Venerable Wen Yuan during times of crisis, it still counted as the Mount Shu Sect having gained another legendary artifact.

But when Di Nufeng heard that, she gave a soft snort. "It’s not going to be free."

Everyone could hear it in her tone, and they all knew she was about to make a demand. No one was surprised. If she were that easy to deal with, she wouldn’t be Di Nufeng.

"What reward do you want? As long as it’s within the sect’s means, we won’t be stingy," Venerable Wen Yuan said without hesitation.

"I don’t need anything else. Our sect might not even be as wealthy as my disciple," Di Nufeng said boldly, giving a confident wave of her hand. "I want to be the grand peak master."

"Huh?" The moment she said that, several elders were visibly stunned.

It wasn’t that her request came out of nowhere. Everyone knew that this had always been Di Nufeng’s goal. She had been loudly declaring for years that she wanted to take the grand peak master’s seat and overpower Wang Xuanling.

It was just that no one thought it would ever happen.

But now, at a moment like this, they had no choice but to grant her request. And if they gave in, wouldn’t that mean she had finally gotten what she wanted?

If Di Nufeng really became the grand peak master...

Just imagining that scene was enough to make the old men feel like the end of days was upon them.

Yet, if they refused, and she decided not to let the sect use the Celestial Cosmic Ring, what could they possibly do about it?

"It’s fine if you can’t agree. Don’t force it," Di Nufeng said with a smile. "You all should know that I am the most reasonable and understanding person there is. If I can’t be the grand peak master here, I’ll just go out and build a new Mount Shu Sect. I’ve got the legendary artifact, I’ve got money, I’ve got people. Who knows, maybe in a few decades there will be a brand-new sect rising within the Divine Nine."

The Conservation Master quickly stepped in to calm her down. "Ah Feng, don’t say such nonsense."

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, the Discipline Master finally arrived, much later than expected. She glanced around at the gathered elders, who should have been celebrating but instead looked unusually grim, and asked, "What’s going on?"

"Ah Feng wants to be the grand peak master," the Alchemy Master immediately tattled. "And if we don’t agree, she says she’ll go start a new Mount Shu Sect!"

"Grand peak master?" The Discipline Master looked at the disheartened Wang Xuanling, then turned to Di Nufeng. "With your current cultivation and contributions, you certainly qualify. But this is not an easy position. You probably don’t realize how heavy a burden it carries. It is far more complex than being a peak master."

"I don’t care," Di Nufeng said, folding her arms. "I want to be the grand peak master."

Back when Chu Liang took part in the Mount Shu Summit, this had been the stake in the wager she made with Wang Xuanling. She had stayed true to that goal ever since.

"Then how about this," the Discipline Master said after a moment of thought. "Why don’t you try it out for three days first? If you feel you are suited for it, then you can take on the position officially. But if you find it isn’t the right fit, you can ask for something else instead. What do you think?"

If anyone else had made the suggestion, Di Nufeng might not have listened. But since it came from the Discipline Master, she gave it serious thought.

After a moment, she nodded. "Alright."

Then she glanced at Wang Xuanling and said with confidence, "I’ve got this."

...

Chu Liang didn’t attend this meeting between the higher-ups of the Mount Shu Sect. It wasn’t due to a lack of status, but because he was busy with something else.

After placing Tuntun on the Tree of Longevity, the newborn little creature began to swim around wildly, absorbing spiritual energy from the tree. But as a tiny maggot, Tuntun’s ability to devour was quite limited. After a short while, she spun herself into a cocoon.

Chu Liang already had experience raising Heaven-Devouring Bugs, so he wasn’t worried. He recognized this as a sign that Tuntun was about to evolve. He proceeded to carefully store the cocoon in preparation to head home.

But the moment he picked it up, he suddenly felt something unusual. He felt as though there was this thread of silk connecting him with whatever that was inside the cocoon.

He could sense the intricate flow of origin particles within. Though the cocoon was only the size of a thumb, its internal complexity was greater than all the mountains, rivers, and seas in the world.

It was a sensation he had never felt before.

Without showing any indication of that on his face, Chu Liang quietly left. As soon as he returned to Mount Shu, he shut himself in his small wooden cabin and began meditating.

Perhaps it was because most of Tuntun’s life essence had been created by him. That might be why he could sense her growth.

He sent his divine sense into the White Pagoda and focused on the origin particle inside. Through that mysterious connection, he gave it a gentle nudge. To his surprise, it gave a slight response.

Thump.

It was like a small heartbeat coming from within the cocoon. But for something born of the Dao of Creation, that single beat was as powerful as an earthquake across the land.

It had responded!

A bold thought came to Chu Liang.

Can I actually influence Tuntun’s growth? Can I actually guide its evolution from start to finish?

The idea made his heart race. Even for someone who had reached the eighth realm, this kind of creation-like ability had only ever existed in dreams.

Yet, the Great Dao of Creation could turn it into reality.

However, after considering everything carefully, Chu Liang chose not to act.

Tuntun should not be treated as a test subject. No living being in this world should have its growth completely controlled by another. But what if this ability could be used for something else?

What if it could help with congenital injuries or natural defects? If he truly mastered this technique, could he erase such conditions before they even formed?

Chu Liang had many such questions, and each one would take time to unravel.

When it came to the Great Dao of Creation, there was no one who could offer him guidance.

Just as he was about to emerge from his state of enlightenment, he suddenly felt the White Pagoda trembling!