How does he know about the Purple Void Sect and the Ballad of the Clear Moon?

A planned trap? A secret realm?

Even though Meng Yutong knew these were Lin Heng's inner thoughts, she couldn't help but feel surprised.

Recently, she represented the Azure Pavilion Hall at the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's invitation meeting and learned that the long-lost Nation-Destroying Secret Realm had reappeared, involving sects like the Purple Void Sect and the Ballad of the Clear Moon.

After discussions, each sect would send strong cultivators to lead teams into the secret realm to explore its ruins.

Is he implying that he will be framed and plotted against in this matter?

Meng Yutong tilted her head slightly, tapping her lips with her jade-like fingers as she pondered.

Soon, the bone measurement ceremony ended, and Lin Heng followed the three women out of the main hall.

Only after the four left did the remaining disciples dare to start discussing.

"Haha, as expected. This kid has no spiritual roots for cultivation at all. I even doubt if he's really the Sect Master's son."

"There's no need to doubt that, but it's a bit enviable that this kid can enter Qianyun Peak."

"Are you envious of going there to cultivate the spiritual field? As far as I know, Qianyun Peak doesn't even have a spiritual field. Guess what he'll do there?"

"Are you saying..."

***

After a while, the three women and one man crossed the Flying Cloud Bridge and reached the top of Qianyun Peak.

Looking down from above, the grand palace and the vast training grounds formed a magnificent view.

Including Lin Heng, there were only about a dozen people on Qianyun Peak, among whom only the five senior sisters and Ye Tian were considered true disciples.

The miscellaneous disciples, to put it bluntly, were just free labor, and whether they could become official disciples was another matter.

The Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister, and Fifth Senior Sister, a pair of sisters, were out training, and currently, only Fourth Senior Sister Yun Yao, Second Senior Sister Mu Liuxi, and Sixth Senior Brother Ye Tian remained in the sect.

As the four of them arrived in front of Qianyun Hall, they saw Ye Tian already waiting outside the platform.

Just now, he had heard through the grapevine that Lin Heng had been accepted as a disciple by Meng Yutong.

"Greetings, Master."

"Mm."

Meng Yutong glanced at him. Perhaps influenced by Lin Heng's inner thoughts, her tone was not as gentle as usual, responding only faintly.

"Master, Senior Sisters, is this Lin Heng, the new junior brother?"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Ye. You truly have an extraordinary presence. I hope you will look after me in the future!"

Lin Heng replied with a deliberately respectful demeanor.

Thinking to himself, 'I've already bowed my head and greeted you, so you can't kill me in the future.'

"Of course, Junior Brother. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

[Stop, stop, there's no need to pretend. Later, you'll mock my background and talent to make Master and Senior Sisters laugh at me.]

 

[For now, there's no way to change the bias of Master and Senior Sisters. My extraordinary comprehension hasn't been revealed yet, and Ye Tian has been with them for so many years. How could they side with a newcomer like me!]

It's like in school when teachers and classmates only like students with good grades, and for someone like him, who was a poor student, what attention could he get?

'What is this guy thinking? Why would Junior Brother Ye mock you without any reason or enmity?' The three women thought simultaneously, just as Ye Tian spoke:

"I've heard about Junior Brother Lin's situation. Growing up in a remote place isn't your fault. I believe you've become strong enough through your hardships."

"So what if you lack cultivation talent? As long as you work hard, with Master's guidance, your future won't be too bad. At least it's better than wandering outside."

"Heh." Lin Heng smirked, "Senior Brother is right."

[It's not my fault that my unreliable Sect Master father lost me. It's not my fault I have no talent!]

 

[Let you try starving for three days out of every nine, even supreme bones would turn to skin and bones.]

Meng Yutong and the three women were slightly shocked upon hearing his inner complaints.

Indeed.

Can this really be blamed on him?

It was indeed the unreliable Sect Master who was too busy fighting enemies and left his son behind. By the time he turned back to look, the child was gone.

Either he was taken by traffickers or picked up by passersby who thought he was an abandoned baby.

Lin Heng even doubted at times whether he was really his biological son.

The remote place he grew up in was harsh, with people often dying of hunger or cold. It was already a miracle that Lin Heng had survived until now.

Meng Yutong paused, her voice cold, "Enough, Tian'er. Don't bring this up again. Since I've taken him as my disciple, I will naturally teach him with care."

She hadn't expected Ye Tian to actually bring up his upbringing, which was not the right way to comfort someone.

"Yes!"

Lin Heng was quite surprised. This wasn't what he expected. Shouldn't his two senior sisters also join Ye Tian in mocking him?

Shouldn't Master just stand there pretending not to hear anything?

He looked back again.

Yun Yao tilted her head slightly, while Mu Liuxi glanced aside, neither showing any intention to speak.

Just as Meng Yutong thought Lin Heng would be grateful, she heard a different voice.

[Fine, teach me then. Since Master said she would teach me with care, let's see if she can be a good spiritual mentor!]

[...]

"Hiss!!"

Yun Yao clenched her fist, wanting to kick him. Could his inner thoughts be any more normal!

Meng Yutong's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, puzzled by the meaning of that phrase, and listening to Lin Heng's odd laughter, she felt that the term "spiritual mentor" seemed off.

"Lin Heng, since you've joined my sect, I will bestow upon you an item. This is the Heaven-Penetrating Compendium. By focusing your mind, you can establish a connection with it."

"Heaven-Penetrating Compendium?"

Lin Heng was momentarily stunned. What was going on? Why was he being given something?

Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.

He didn't remember this being part of the process.

[Ding! System plot hint!]

 

[Heaven-Penetrating Compendium: The most widely circulated encyclopedia in the heavens, documenting various rare treasures and their evaluations, as well as the evolution of creation. In simple terms, it helps cultivators quickly identify unknown objects and estimate their actual value and effects.

 

Congratulations to the host for intercepting the protagonist's treasure, obtaining 5 Essence Stabilizing Pills.]

What?

Ye Tian, Yun Yao, and the others were shocked!

Master actually gave this treasure to Lin Heng. It's known that this Heaven-Penetrating Compendium once fetched a high price of 5,000 spirit stones at an auction.

Ye Tian was filled with resentment. He had asked Master for this item many times without success, yet Master gave it to Lin Heng.

Was it just because he was the Sect Master's son?

The group entered the hall, which was brightly lit, with two miscellaneous disciples tidying up scrolls.

Lin Heng played with the Heaven-Penetrating Compendium in his hand, silently standing behind them.

[This is unexpected. This doesn't match the sharp-tongued, cold-hearted character description. Suddenly doing this, it's strangely unsettling.]

 

[If you're going to give a welcome gift, just give it. But at least use your head. In a few days, you'll be taking Ye Tian and the others to explore the secret realm. Why do you think the Heavenly Mechanism Sect is telling the Azure Pavilion Sect about such a good opportunity?]

 

[Is it because the Azure Pavilion Sect is powerful? Because you, Meng Yutong, are a Void-Returning True Monarch? The Nation-Destroying Secret Realm has been gone for a hundred years. The Purple Void Sect and the Ballad of the Clear Moon have some connections with the Heavenly Mechanism Sect. There must be something fishy here.]

Meng Yutong sat in her chair, leaning slightly, her face showing a rare trace of seriousness.

"Disciples, what do you think about the Nation-Destroying Secret Realm?"

"Master, is this really true?"

Mu Liuxi asked.

"Of course, at the recent meeting with the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, I discussed this with major sects like the Purple Void Sect. The Centennial Star Shift caused the Nation-Destroying Secret Realm to disappear for a hundred years, and this is a once-in-a-century opportunity."

"If we miss this chance, no one knows when the secret realm will reappear."

Yun Yao and Mu Liuxi fell into thought, clearly influenced by Lin Heng's earlier inner thoughts. Perhaps there really was a trap waiting for the Azure Pavilion Sect in the Nation-Destroying Secret Realm.

Seeing the two remain silent, Ye Tian spoke up, "Master, I believe this is worth pursuing. The Heavenly Mechanism Sect's Art of Astral Calculation is renowned for its accuracy. Although the Nation-Destroying Secret Realm is dangerous, those who have ventured there in the past have all had the bearing of immortality."

"How could we miss this opportunity? Even if Qianyun Peak doesn't go, other peaks will certainly send people."

The underlying meaning was that this piece of meat, which Qianyun Peak had finally swallowed, couldn't be easily spat out.

[Hey, hey, hey! Master, if you're going to talk, why are you leaning forward? Suddenly, there are two pressure points, and the table is getting deformed.]

 

[There are four people watching, how do you expect Second Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Sister to feel?]

At the table, as Meng Yutong and Yun Yao listened to Ye Tian's response, they were both taken aback by the sudden inner voice.

What table deformation? What do you mean by "how do you expect them to feel"?

The three of them simultaneously looked down.

Then!

'Scoundrel!'

'Shameless!'

'Rogue!'

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan