C8 The Elite Disciples Are All Injured!

Su Yinjian had only recently introduced the disciples to the practice of formation techniques when several elite disciples were injured by their peers' mistakes during training. Errors in drawing the formation diagrams, such as incorrect symbols or deviations in the design, led to these core disciples suffering backlash.

The repercussions of the backlash were severe, resulting in a decline in their cultivation levels and significantly weakening the sect's overall strength. The sect's square was a scene of disarray, with frequent disputes breaking out among the disciples. Despite feeling a twinge of guilt, Su Yinjian couldn't help but feel a sense of secret satisfaction.

These elite disciples were the future of the sect, and some were considered even more valuable than the elders themselves. It was then that the system notification echoed in his mind: "All elite disciples have been impacted, with varying degrees of decline in cultivation. The sect's combat power has taken a substantial hit. +700 Despicable Points awarded."

Su Yinjian's face lit up with excitement. His hard work and scheming had paid off, successfully undermining the sect's power, and his long-awaited Despicable Points had finally increased.

His elation was short-lived, however, as the Great Elder soon came looking for him, visibly enraged. The Great Elder's own disciple, a rare formation genius within the sect, had been injured, and he demanded an explanation from Su Yinjian.

Despite previously agreeing with Su Yinjian's directive to halt all cultivation in favor of mastering formations, the Great Elder had not anticipated his disciple's injury. Upon investigating the incident, he was infuriated to learn that Su Yinjian had paired their sect's talented disciple with those inept at formations.

The Great Elder's harsh words reflected his genuine sentiments; the injured disciple was a true prodigy of their sect. "Sect Leader, we need an explanation. I don't wish to disparage the other disciples, but their grasp of formations is worlds apart from Su Ge's. While I understand your methods, it doesn't mean we should gamble with the prospects of our gifted disciples."

Su Yinjian, under the Great Elder's intense gaze, felt awkward and forced a smile, scrambling to concoct an excuse to appease the Great Elder, who clearly wouldn't drop the issue without a satisfactory explanation.

"Great Elder, please, let's remain calm. It's not just your disciple who's been injured; many in the sect have suffered minor injuries. The Sect Leader had them practice basic formations, so there's no need for such fury. Surely, the Sect Leader wouldn't intentionally harm our disciples," Chen Ping interjected, attempting to defuse the situation, though his tone grated on the Great Elder, who was nearly beside himself with worry for his gravely injured disciple.

No one dared to criticize the Great Elder. With Su Ge now unable to cultivate and at risk of developing a mental demon, his future in cultivation was in jeopardy.

The Great Elder made a concerted effort to steady his emotions.

"I certainly appreciate the Sect Leader's good intentions. The Sect Leader has indeed helped us achieve breakthroughs before. But these disciples are just beginning their cultivation journey. My own disciple has always taken pride in his innate talent for formations. How is he supposed to come to terms with this setback?"

The Great Elder believed that Su Ge had been dealt a severe blow, one that might prevent him from cultivating ever again. The thought of watching a prodigy's potential go to waste was something he found difficult to come to terms with, prompting him to confront the issue.

Chen Ping found himself at a loss for words, empathizing with the situation since the disciple in question was his own. They knew all too well that they wouldn't be able to remain composed if they were in his shoes.

Furthermore, the Great Elder's disciples were on the cusp of a breakthrough, only to be sidetracked by this incident.

The sect members all expressed their regrets; Su Ge was, after all, a rare talent within their ranks.

Despite his usually unflappable demeanor, Su Yinjian couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt after their reproach. Still, he knew he couldn't show any weakness now.

"I wouldn't have taken these actions without good reason. If you still acknowledge me as your Sect Leader, then follow my instructions. I'm confident that you'll soon see the fruits of this endeavor, and our disciples will significantly advance their skills in formation diagrams."

He glanced over at the Great Elder, who continued to fix Su Yinjian with an unyielding gaze.

It was clear that the Great Elder found no solace in Su Yinjian's words; his disciple's future seemed irreparably damaged.

Su Yinjian knew he had to intervene and offer some reassurance.

With a contemplative look, he gave the Great Elder a solemn and pained expression, as if he too felt remorse for the unfortunate turn of events. He approached the Great Elder and said,

"My oversight led to this situation, and for that, I apologize. Allow me to accompany you to visit your disciple. Perhaps I can offer some guidance and prevent him from wallowing in his failure."

After a moment's consideration, the Great Elder responded. With no alternative in sight, he decided to take Su Yinjian up on his offer, hoping it might help Su Ge move past the incident.

"In that case, I'll entrust the old Sect Leader with the task of mentoring my disciple. It's not out of personal bias—every elder here is aware of his exceptional talent. He's destined to bring honor to our sect."

Su Yinjian managed an awkward smile, knowing full well he was the instigator of the problem. Nonetheless, he followed the Great Elder to meet with Su Ge.

The Great Elder was anxious about the possibility of his disciple suffering lasting psychological damage, so he had prepared a litany of excuses for Su Yinjian. To his surprise, upon entering, he found Su Ge's room strewn with formation diagrams.

"The Sect Leader is here to see you. He hopes you won't fixate on this failure. The mishap with the formation diagram isn't entirely your fault, so there's no need to dwell on it," the Great Elder said, attempting to console his disciple.

Unexpectedly, his disciple merely glanced at the Great Elder before returning his focus to the formation diagrams.

Feeling somewhat snubbed, Su Yinjian stepped forward.

"I wanted to echo that sentiment. You shouldn't get lost in your failures. Yes, this loss is disappointing, but it's not your fault. I didn't pair you with a strong teammate, true, but one can't always expect to have the advantage of powerful allies, can they?"

Su Yinjian's face was etched with guilt as he gazed at Su Ge. Yet, deep down, he was more elated than anyone could imagine. If Su Ge were truly to fall into decline, it would represent a significant depletion of the sect's martial prowess, which, in Su Yinjian's eyes, might even be a welcome development.