Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Fourth Layer? The Fifth Layer!

Fang Junmei was utterly bewildered; he had no idea who this person was. Tianhe Daoist glanced helplessly at Fan Lanzhou before saying, “Do you think that senior is just some common figure? Back then, to secure a single spot, I had to put my reputation on the line—it was anything but easy.”

“Whether it’s one or two, it’s all guidance. What difference does one more make? With your status, asking for an extra opportunity shouldn’t be difficult, should it?” Fan Lanzhou’s voice was light, almost teasing, with a hint of shameless persistence. He clearly had no intention of giving up easily.

“My status is nothing in his eyes!” Tianhe Daoist’s eyes suddenly widened, and he rebuked him irritably.

Mortal Transcendence!

He must be a great power at the Mortal Transcendence stage!

Fan Lanzhou and Chunyu Qian felt their hearts tremble, growing even more certain and curious as to who this person might be. But Tianhe Daoist would never reveal it.

“My master is still asleep, the eldest brother has left, and now, you as the head teacher won’t even grant the smallest disciple of Undisturbed Peak a little chance?” Fan Lanzhou’s stubbornness emerged; his face darkened as he spoke, even invoking Daoist Cuotuo. Since he was convinced the expert was at the Mortal Transcendence stage, he couldn’t let go of such a golden opportunity to extort.

Tianhe Daoist’s displeasure eased somewhat at these words. After pondering a moment with a composed expression, he replied in a deep voice, “This matter is not within my power. I can only promise you that when Xijin visits that senior in the future, I’ll instruct him to request an opportunity for Junmei. As for whether the senior agrees, it’s not something I can control.”

Clearly, by naming Gu Xijin as the one to receive the opportunity, he demonstrated his confidence in his own disciple. The Dao Embryo group’s competition hadn’t yet begun, and the champion was already without suspense.

“Why doesn’t senior go himself to request an opportunity for Junmei?” Chunyu Qian asked quietly at that moment.

“Don’t pry. I know what you’re thinking,” Tianhe Daoist chided. “That senior will not see me again.”

The others murmured acknowledgment.

Fan Lanzhou, having heard that their hopes must be pinned on Gu Xijin—a person he didn’t particularly like—was disheartened, but he could tell that this was as far as the request could go.

...

“Do you have any other requests?” Tianhe Daoist asked again.

Fan Lanzhou thought for a moment. “A slot in that mysterious secret realm for Junmei shouldn’t be a problem, right? He has the strength to compete for the top three in the Floating Dust group.”

He sought neither spirit stones nor treasures, only opportunities!

Fan Lanzhou saw through it all; compared to such chances, spirit stones and treasures were worthless.

Upon hearing this, Tianhe Daoist pondered briefly, then nodded. However, he immediately added, “You may ask for one more request—this will be your last.”

He continued, “If you wish for Dao Embryo Pills refined by Chunyu, don’t bother; that’s also not something I can grant.”

The old man preemptively plugged Fan Lanzhou’s mouth yet again.

Fan Lanzhou smiled slightly. “Let him learn three techniques from the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion!”

At this, Chunyu Qian grinned mischievously, while Tianhe Daoist’s eyes bulged in disbelief—how could he be so shameless?

The second prize for the Floating Dust group was just one technique from the fourth floor, but Fan Lanzhou boldly requested three for Fang Junmei.

“I never realized before—Undisturbed Peak’s most troublesome person is you, the quiet and gentle one,” Tianhe Daoist sighed in exasperation.

Fan Lanzhou smiled serenely.

“One technique!” Tianhe Daoist said coolly, his tone growing cold.

“How can senior be so stingy?” Fan Lanzhou protested, pushing again. “My first request is uncertain, and may or may not succeed. The second is what Junmei deserves. You’ve weakened Undisturbed Peak’s strength, which could cause us to lose our position—shouldn’t you offer real compensation?”

“One technique, and that’s final. If I let you extort me any further, where would the sect leader’s dignity be?” Tianhe Daoist said angrily. “You’ll accept it, or else I’ll lock you both up right now to keep this matter secret!”

The old man seemed genuinely angry, and a silent pressure filled the room, chilling the air.

Fan Lanzhou’s expression grew solemn, his eyes flashing.

Fang Junmei started to speak, but Fan Lanzhou raised his hand to stop him, eyes fixed on Tianhe Daoist. “One technique, then—but I want one from the fifth floor of the Scripture Pavilion. If you don’t agree, lock us up now!”

His tone was resolute.

Seeing this, Fang Junmei was moved; he understood Fan Lanzhou was acting entirely for him.

Tianhe Daoist’s face darkened again—Fan Lanzhou dared to ask indeed.

Chunyu Qian shook his head in helpless silence; the techniques on the fifth floor were immensely powerful, and even inner elders couldn’t study them without great merit. Moreover, without Tianhe Daoist’s permission, they were strictly forbidden from teaching them to their own disciples.

After locking eyes with Fan Lanzhou for a moment, Tianhe Daoist finally spoke softly. “The techniques from the fifth floor require great comprehension to master. If you ask for him, beware of wasting this opportunity. If that happens, I won’t compensate you further.”

At these words, Fan Lanzhou’s excitement cooled; after a moment’s silence, he looked at Fang Junmei for his opinion.

“This is it,” Fang Junmei replied with a gentle smile, his eyes filled with longing.

After studying Fang Junmei for a few moments, Fan Lanzhou nodded and addressed Tianhe Daoist. “That’s the one.”

“I agree. Satisfied? But he alone may learn it—he cannot teach it to you or anyone else,” Tianhe Daoist glared at Fan Lanzhou, agreeing grudgingly, as the chilly atmosphere in the room dissipated.

“Thank you, senior,” Fan Lanzhou bowed in gratitude.

Fang Junmei also thanked him, then turned to Fan Lanzhou with heartfelt thanks. From the expressions of the two elders, he could guess that Fan Lanzhou had secured a significant opportunity for him.

The competition had lasted only seven days, and he was already the biggest winner—his only cost was a chance to make a splash.

But with Fang Junmei’s temperament, he clearly didn’t care about such things.

...

“Let me state again—if you three fail to protect Undisturbed Peak, or if Junmei cannot master the technique he chooses, don’t blame me,” Tianhe Daoist said sternly to Fan Lanzhou.

Fan Lanzhou nodded seriously.

Tianhe Daoist looked at Fang Junmei. “The matter of the Blood-Bleeding Pill is no small thing. When fighting others, do not reveal your strength lightly... Let me think…”

The three watched him.

After pondering, Tianhe Daoist said, “At least until you reach the middle stage of Floating Dust, you must not reveal your mastery of swordsmanship. As for that half-step of Blood-Bleeding, wait until the early Dao Embryo stage. In my estimation, this is the limit of insight for human sword cultivators.”

“Yes, senior,” Fang Junmei nodded in agreement, then frowned as he thought of something. “What if someone investigates my body like you did?”

“That is indeed a problem,” Tianhe Daoist admitted, his expression troubled.

...

“This is simple—I’ll handle it,” Chunyu Qian spoke up, his eyes full of pride. “I have a pill called the Sun-Exchange Pill; after taking it, any abnormalities in your body will be concealed as if nothing is amiss.”

The three’s eyes brightened.

Tianhe Daoist asked cautiously, “How long does one Sun-Exchange Pill last?”

“Ten days,” Chunyu Qian replied.

Tianhe Daoist nodded, looking at Fang Junmei. “Whenever you leave Undisturbed Peak, take one—even for a short trip to Steward Peak.”

Fang Junmei nodded, then smiled. “I’m short on sword spirit stones for cultivation. I may need to go out frequently for tasks. At that point, I worry senior Chunyu’s pills won’t suffice. Surely you wouldn’t want to see a prodigious new star like me buried in the mountain, cultivating slowly?”

His rare wit revealed Fang Junmei’s unusually good mood.

The three all laughed.

“You’re hardly a prodigious new star!” Tianhe Daoist saw right through Fang Junmei’s words and couldn’t help but laugh and scold him, then sternly added, “Don’t get arrogant! You reached this point by relying on pills—not your own true ability.”

“Senior, you’re mistaken!” Fan Lanzhou interjected. “My junior succeeded thanks to the pill, yes, but before receiving the Blood-Bleeding Pill, he passed six trials to get here—it wasn’t handed to him. His will and fortune are first-rate. Even without the pill, I believe his enlightenment would not have come much later. He deserves the sect’s focused cultivation.”

He stood his ground, fighting for his junior’s opportunities.

Fang Junmei felt warmed yet again.

“I know, I know!” Tianhe Daoist replied irritably. “You think I don’t know? I’m just reminding him not to get arrogant after a little success! If your master were awake, he’d back me up. You’re still far from his level.”

Fan Lanzhou smiled sheepishly, not daring to retort.

Tianhe Daoist continued, “Sword spirit stones and pills for Fang Junmei’s late Floating Dust stage cultivation will be provided by the sect. If there’s no urgent need, you’re forbidden from leaving the mountain. I’ll ask your master for compensation regarding these later.”

At this petty remark, Fan Lanzhou, Fang Junmei, and Chunyu Qian all smiled.

“Be serious!” Tianhe Daoist commanded. “If you slack off and waste the sect’s nurturing, I will not forgive you.”

At these words, his gaze became sharp as he fixed it on Fang Junmei.

“Thank you, senior,” Fang Junmei responded earnestly with a bow, then cast Fan Lanzhou a grateful look.

“That’s settled for now. Go to the competition valley. Other matters will be arranged after the competition ends,” Tianhe Daoist concluded, flicking his finger at the door.

Soon, the door swung open.

...

“Senior and Fan Lanzhou can go ahead; I need to have a good talk with this youngster,” Chunyu Qian remarked, grabbing Fang Junmei’s shoulder as he was about to rise on a cloud.