C20 Trade

Lin Yu arrived back at the Outer Sect of the Profound Heaven Sect well past midnight, when few souls stirred under the vast canopy of stars. Wrapped in their gentle glow, he felt a profound sense of ease wash over him, significantly diminishing the weight of the pressure Mo Yunxi had imposed on him earlier that day.

In Lin Yu's mind, the Outer Sect boasted only three individuals who had attained the Profound Rank: Xiao Yang, Mo Yuntian, and Chu Xiangyue. Having never interacted with Xiao Yang, Lin Yu couldn't gauge his prowess. Yet, he was familiar with the other two. Mo Yuntian's mediocre talent was largely compensated for by his sister Yunxi's assistance, while Xiangyue, despite her decent aptitude, suffered from a lack of mentorship. Her control over spiritual energy was crude, her offensive strategies were simplistic, and her adaptability in combat was notably unrefined.

Both of the Outer Sect's esteemed experts had their clear shortcomings, but in contrast, Lin Yu found Mo Yunxi to be without a single detectable flaw—her mastery seemed impenetrable, a testament to the vast chasm between the Outer and Inner Sects.

"Why pick a fight with such a formidable opponent?" Lin Yu mused, exasperated. He echoed the question to himself, "What makes you think you're even in the same league as Mo Yunxi?" The disparity between him and Yunxi was immense. Yet, he suspected that someone as arrogant as her wouldn't stoop to dealing with 'trash' like him directly. More likely, she'd have Mo Yuntian throw obstacles in his path. But as for Mo Yuntian—despite being second in rank within the Outer Sect—Lin Yu knew that rank didn't equate to real power, and he didn't see him as a significant threat.

"The priority now is to gain entry to the Inner Sect," Lin Yu resolved silently, feeling the crunch of time with only half a month to spare. He made his way to the summit and settled onto a familiar boulder, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. In that serene moment, his heart was utterly tranquil, and the ancient spiritual energy flowed through his meridians like a tranquil stream. Lin Yu listened intently to the voice of all things, harmonizing with the silent cadence of the universe. Seated like a petrified tree, he seemed, in that instant, to become one with the cosmos itself.

The seven stars in the heavens shone softly, with the pale blue light of one becoming increasingly pronounced.

As the stars shifted and the days and nights cycled, half a month swiftly passed by.

With the first light of dawn, Lin Yu's eyes snapped open, and he clenched his fist, producing a clear, ringing sound. He allowed his spiritual energy to flow unimpeded. His diligent efforts over the past fortnight had brought his divine power to the pinnacle of the Yellow Rank's Fifth Level. He was on the cusp of a breakthrough to the Sixth Level. Lin Yu was confident that it wouldn't be long before he could take that next step.

Upon returning to his courtyard, Lin Yu freshened up to find Fatty already waiting for him outside.

"Xiaoming, good morning," Lin Yu greeted him cheerfully.

"Mr. Yu, good morning..." Fatty's response was listless, his expression clouded with concern.

"What's the matter?" Lin Yu inquired, his voice laced with concern.

"It's nothing... Today's the day of the Outer Sect Assessment. Mr. Yu, have you got everything ready?" Fatty asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.

"Ready for what?"

"What else? Aren't we heading back to the Red Lotus Capital as soon as the assessment's over?"

"Why head back to the Capital? Missing home?" Lin Yu was puzzled.

"It's not that... I mean, if we don't pass the assessment, we'll head straight back to the Capital. Staying here would just mean enduring scorn," Fatty confessed, revealing his true thoughts.

"Huh? But even if you don't pass this time, you've still got a whole year left... What's the rush?" Lin Yu was even more baffled. The rules of the Profound Heaven Sect's Outer Sect were quite lenient. Disciples were given three years to train, and as long as one could reach the Fifth Level of the Yellow Rank within that time, they could remain. Advancing through five minor realms in three years wasn't overly challenging for those with a modicum of talent. It was exceedingly rare for someone like Lin Yu, who feared failing the assessment, to be expelled.

Fatty might not have been much to look at, but his martial arts talent was solid. He had long since reached the peak of the Fourth Level of the Yellow Rank, and advancing to the next level within a year was all but guaranteed. Lin Yu couldn't help but wonder why Fatty was so eager to return home.

"I'm just worried you might not pass the assessment..." the fat man blurted out. He had a year left, but Lin Yu's time had run out.

"Oh, I see. No worries, I'm not in a rush to head back," Lin Yu said, clapping the fat man on the shoulder with a smile. He was genuinely moved to have such a devoted friend by his side.

'Not in a rush to go back? Since when do we get to call the shots?' The fat man was inwardly critical, yet he didn't want to dampen Lin Yu's spirits. He figured they could worry about packing up after the assessment.

After a quick breakfast, Lin Yu and his friend made their way to the Martial Training Field. The place was already buzzing with people. Seeing Lin Yu, many wore mocking smiles. Today's assessment had Lin Yu as the 'star' since his reputation as a failure was well-known. Advancing only three minor realms in three years, his pace was laughably slow. Without any surprises, Lin Yu was on track to be the first disciple in a decade to be expelled from the Profound Heaven Sect's Outer Sect for inadequate cultivation.

Such sensational news was bound to stir excitement.

'These people are sick in the head,' Lin Yu thought, shaking his head with a wry smile. He and the fat man found an empty corner to squat in, waiting. But instructor Hong Lin was nowhere to be seen. Feeling a twinge in his stomach, Lin Yu excused himself to the restroom to take care of business. As he was about to head back to the Martial Training Field, he overheard a deep voice outside.

"Wang Meng?!" Recognizing the voice, Lin Yu didn't rush out. Activating the Seven-star Sword Spell made his hearing even more acute.

"Mo Yuntian... What do you want with me? We're hardly acquaintances," Wang Meng replied coldly, pinching his nose with a look of disdain.

"I'm here to propose a deal to you!" The voice that followed was softer, almost silky – definitely Mo Yuntian.

What were these two up to, whispering in the shadows? Lin Yu was puzzled but intrigued by Mo Yuntian's mention of a deal. He quieted his mind and listened more intently.

"Deal? You know I don't like beating around the bush..." Wang Meng cut straight to the point, followed by a rustling noise.

"A Spirit Gathering Pill?!" Wang Meng gasped, struggling to swallow as his gaze fixated on the tiny bead nestled in Mo Yuntian's palm. He was acutely aware of its potent effects. Within the Profound Heaven Sect's Inner Sect, the Spirit Gathering Pill was deemed a lower-tier medicine, one that the elite disciples wouldn't even consider consuming. Yet, in the Outer Sect, it was a rare treasure, practically worth its weight in gold.

It was somewhat humiliating to admit, but Wang Meng's cultivation had been stalled at the pinnacle of Yellow Rank Level Nine for over three months with no breakthrough in sight. With the Inner Sect Assessment looming, his anxiety was palpable. Despite his imposing stature that might suggest a lack of intellect, Wang Meng was actually quite astute, with a clear understanding of the Outer Sect's dynamics.

Upon joining the Profound Heaven Sect, disciples were sorted into four classes, each led by one of the four esteemed mentors: Hsiao Chen, Hong Lin, Zhou Qingyun, and Gu Xiaomei. They provided instruction in both academics and martial arts. The Inner Sect Assessment involved these mentors selecting their top disciple to compete for advancement. Adding to the pressure was a harsh rule: of the four competitors, only three would earn the right to ascend to the Inner Sect, leaving one behind.

Among the Outer Sect's dominant figures, Xiao Yang, Chu Xiangyue, and Mo Yuntian had already achieved the Profound Rank. Only Wang Meng remained at the Yellow Rank's summit. Xiao Yang's natural ability outshone them all, making him an opponent Wang Meng wouldn't dare challenge. Mo Yuntian, with the advantage of having a sister in the Inner Sect, was also out of Wang Meng's league. That left Chu Xiangyue as his only viable contender. Yet, the memory of her recent duel with Mo Yuntian was still fresh in his mind. Having acquired the Autumn Water Sword enhanced by a new Inscription Array, Chu Xiangyue's capabilities had surged, enabling her to hold her own against Xiao Yang in combat without faltering.

In the ongoing struggle for power, Wang Meng was clearly at a disadvantage, his abilities ranking lowest among the quartet. Left unchecked, his defeat was all but certain. Driven by urgency, he was intent on enhancing his strength. The Spirit Gathering Pill, brimming with exceedingly pure spiritual energy, promised to help practitioners shatter their cultivation bottlenecks. This made it easy to understand why Wang Meng was so fixated on Chu Xiangyue.

"What do you want me to do?" Wang Meng asked, his voice heavy with resolve.

"Help me take on Lin Yu!"