Chapter Ninety-Six: Opening a Back Door

“Senior Brother Xia, it seems Junior Brother Zhou still hasn’t figured out the situation. I’ll send him another sound transmission talisman!” Zhao Wen suppressed his anger, turned stiffly, and forced a smile.

Xia Changhan smiled meaningfully. “No problem. Little Ping Peak isn’t what it used to be, so it’s normal that Junior Brother Zhou is confused. After all, the rising tide lifts all boats. Chief Mo’s prospects are boundless, and as the only servant disciple of Little Ping Peak, Junior Brother Zhou is benefiting from it.”

With that, he crossed his arms and walked a few steps away, gazing up at the summit of Little Ping Peak.

Zhao Wen’s face darkened at these words.

As disciples of the First Peak, Nine Sword Peak, they had never regarded Little Ping Peak highly. Even when punished and made to tend spiritual plants, Zhou Chen was always respectful toward them, never daring to insult them.

Now, Xia Changhan’s words made it clear that Zhou Chen’s status had changed!

Huang Lan stole a glance at the departing Xia Changhan and quietly tugged Zhao Wen’s sleeve. “What should we do? Zhou Chen seems to have gained some ability—he dares refuse us!”

Zhao Wen’s fair skin turned gloomy as he gritted his teeth. “Let’s leave him alone for now. We’ll try to trick him into opening the formation pathway first.”

Huang Lan, seeing that Zhao Wen was truly angry, quickly agreed. “Once Senior Sister Youyou comes out, we can teach Zhou Chen a lesson!”

A flash of cunning crossed Zhao Wen’s eyes, and his expression improved. “Alright.”

Xia Changhan, slightly interested, eavesdropped on their conversation, curious how Qu Yiqiu would punish them if she heard their plan.

In his eyes, these two were no match for her.

When they were caught secretly destroying the spiritual fields, he had thought Qu Yiqiu was merely clever.

But after the incidents at Qunan City and Ten Thousand Acres Peak, he felt an inexplicable sense that everything was an interconnected trap set by Little Ping Peak.

Despite making a name for themselves in Qunan City, the disciples of Nine Sword Peak gained the credit and glory.

It was as if he could hear Little Ping Peak’s people gossiping behind the scenes, claiming that Nine Sword Peak owed all their achievements to them!

Even the cherished spiritual bird, the White-tailed Brocade Crane, beloved by Chief Hong, had been devoured and sent back as a skeleton in provocation. If Little Ping Peak had no ulterior motives, then these incidents were far too coincidental.

Mo Qingli’s reputation soared, while Hong Bingyin was furious.

Little Ping Peak had lain dormant for so long—what were they planning? Would Mo Qingli truly forgive Su Xichen’s past actions?

Xia Changhan seemed to see, through layers of formations, the calm Mo Qingli overlooking everyone inside.

Zhao Wen, thinking himself clever, sent out a sound transmission talisman, claiming he’d left something at Little Ping Peak, but Zhou Chen refused him outright, telling him to come back tomorrow.

Huang Lan, after listening to the talisman, stopped Zhao Wen from crushing it in anger.

Zhao Wen’s delicate face took on an incongruous ruthlessness, almost steaming with rage.

Huang Lan could only hold him back, earnestly persuading him, “Senior Brother Zhao, perhaps Junior Brother Zhou really has changed—he’s starting to think he’s somebody!”

“Bah! He’s a useless mixed spiritual root—he’ll never amount to anything!” Zhao Wen suppressed his voice, but it still came out sharp and shrill.

Huang Lan covered her ears, glancing at Xia Changhan from the corner of her eye, and lowered her voice further. “Senior Brother Zhao, let’s endure a bit longer. Once we get inside, it won’t be too late to deal with Zhou Chen.”

“Endure? How can I endure? Who does he think he is, daring to disrespect Nine Sword Peak?” Zhao Wen spat toward Little Ping Peak.

Huang Lan’s eyes shifted as she heard the noisy crowd at the foot of the mountain. She whispered in his ear, “Senior Brother Zhao, Little Ping Peak is shutting out visitors to conceal what’s really going on inside. If we can find an excuse to get in today, we can uncover what Mo Qingli is up to.”

Zhao Wen furrowed his brow, withdrawing his foot from kicking a stone.

Huang Lan continued, “Senior Sister Youyou surely wants to know how Mo Qingli recovered from her old illness!”

Zhao Wen’s brow tightened. “You’re right.”

“Exactly. Whether it’s for Xia Changhan’s reward or Nine Sword Peak’s interests, we must find a way in!” Huang Lan said resolutely.

Zhao Wen nodded, reluctantly taking out another sound transmission talisman.

“Senior Brother, this time make it sound more desperate, so Zhou Chen has no choice but to let us in!” Huang Lan’s eyes darted, instantly coming up with the idea.

Zhao Wen glanced at her, a strange light in his eyes. “Very well. This time, I’ll make Zhou Chen personally escort us inside!”

He tilted his head slightly, casting a glance at the leisurely Xia Changhan, and infused the talisman with a spiritual glow.

Huang Lan listened, her eyes growing brighter.

The talisman flew off again, and the two exchanged sly smiles.

“Zhou Chen, you’re not resting—why are you tending the spiritual plants again?” Qu Yiqiu had wanted to show Ao Qian the Grade Four spiritual fields of Little Ping Peak, but upon arriving nearby, she saw Zhou Chen wandering around the fields with his cane.

Zhou Chen was startled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “Senior Sister Qu, I’m used to being here. If I don’t come by for a day, I feel restless.”

Qu Yiqiu shook her head at his pained attempts to scratch his head. “You’re just too honest. With you looking after the fields, I’m absolutely at ease.”

Zhou Chen’s dark cheeks flushed. In the entire Celestial Evolution Sect, only Senior Sister Qu trusted him so.

Qu Yiqiu looked at the lush spiritual valley and tea fields, nodding in satisfaction. “Zhao Wen and Huang Lan’s work is passable.”

“Yes, though they’ve had far too much to say today,” Zhou Chen replied as he caught the incoming sound transmission talisman.

Qu Yiqiu’s brows arched. “Is it from Zhao Wen and Huang Lan?”

Zhou Chen nodded. “I don’t know what’s gotten into them—they’re fighting to get onto Little Ping Peak.”

“Perhaps they’re here to snoop for information,” Qu Yiqiu said with an unsurprised smile.

Just then, Zhao Wen’s voice came through the talisman: “Junior Brother Zhou, what I left in the fields is a Grade Five healing elixir. If I don’t retrieve it today, my great-grandmother will be in agony and faint. Can you bear that responsibility?”

“What elixir could possibly be called an immortal pill? Zhao Wen’s lies are as clumsy as ever,” Qu Yiqiu said, her smile undiminished, instantly seeing through his poor excuse.

Zhou Chen casually took another sound transmission talisman, preparing to refuse them again.

Qu Yiqiu raised her hand to stop him, smiling mysteriously. “It’s really inappropriate for them to disturb a patient like this. Since they’ve supposedly left a Grade Five elixir here, we can’t very well refuse them entry.”

Zhou Chen paused, puzzled. “If they come in, surely they’re up to no good. Chief Mo is meditating right now—won’t they disturb her?”

Qu Yiqiu grinned slyly. “Don’t worry. The restriction laid by a Golden Core master is beyond their ability to break. And even if I open the pathway for them, they may not dare enter.”

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