Chapter 30

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Ah Hu entered the quiet room and said, "According to the latest information, the Ten-Leaf Golden Orchid has been spotted in the Luliao Mountains."

Yan Zhaoge pondered for a moment, "The Luliao Mountains? It's quite close to the Dragon Suppressing Abyss and also within the territory of Eastern Tang."

"Hmm, since we have some free time, let's take a walk in the Luliao Mountains and see if we can lure out the Red Spirit Banner Lord again."

The Dragon Suppressing Abyss has undergone strange changes, with the elderly Ghost Axe, Han Sheng, suddenly appearing, and the Red Spirit Banner Lord being active nearby. The Great Sun Holy Sect is also stirring due to previous events.

Although the Eastern Tang Emperor leans towards Guangcheng Mountain, only Yan Xu is stationed in Eastern Tang, which is clearly insufficient.

The Eastern Continent's law enforcement elder has a duty to perform and cannot stay for long, but Guangcheng Mountain has also sent other strong figures. Although the situation in Eastern Tang is turbulent, Guangcheng Mountain is not short of manpower.

It's just unknown whether the Red Spirit Banner Lord will take another risk.

As for the Ten-Leaf Golden Orchid that Yan Zhaoge has instructed his subordinates to find, it holds even greater significance for him.

Yan Lao and Yan Zhaoge's second master uncle are gradually reaching the most critical stage in the competition for the position of the successor to the Guangcheng Mountain sect leader.

Yan Zhaoge's great-grandmaster, the current old sect leader, has long expressed the intention to enter a life-threatening seclusion for cultivation.

This seclusion is different from previous ones, with an uncertain time of emergence, possibly very long, and even the risk of death.

Therefore, the old sect leader plans to directly establish a formal successor before entering seclusion.

For Yan Lao, removing the elders like Cui Xin and Wen Ning is insignificant to the overall situation.

At this stage, the inner crystal furnace, which cannot yet refine spirit weapons, can only add some points and does not play a decisive role.

To some extent, it helps to enhance Yan Zhaoge's status more.

Yan Zhaoge is well aware of this and has been prepared. While pondering the inner crystal furnace, he is also planning another matter.

Refining a type of pill.

A treasure pill that has never appeared in the Eight Great Worlds after the Great Catastrophe.

If this matter is accomplished, it will be a great achievement for his father's competition for the sect leader position, almost sealing the deal.

Leaving the residence, Yan Zhaoge walked on the streets of Linyuan City, thinking as he walked.

"Master, there's another thing. Two of the herbs you asked for are completely out of stock in the market of Eastern Tang. I managed to get a small amount from the secret treasury of the Eastern Tang Imperial Palace."

"Upon investigation, it's due to the large-scale acquisition by the Pill Stone Pavilion, the largest pill refining force in Eastern Tang."

"Meanwhile, the Pill Stone Pavilion has recently started selling the healing holy medicine, Yunyan Powder, which had long been extinct."

Yan Zhaoge thought for a moment, "Yunyan Powder, I remember it was the exclusive secret formula of the Pill Fire Divine Sword, Gao Zhe, which was lost along with his death."

After the major holy places gradually established the power structure of the Eight Great Worlds, Gao Zhe was one of the few top-tier experts who fought his way up. He once reached the Martial Saint realm.

He had a proud and arrogant personality but was indeed a true talent.

He was not only an expert in swordsmanship but also the top alchemist of his time, excelling in both pills and swords.

However, his relationship with Guangcheng Mountain was not very harmonious.

But he has been dead for many years.

"It might be that the Pill Stone Pavilion fortuitously obtained the secret formula left by Gao Zhe back then," Ah Hu speculated.

Yan Zhaoge nodded indifferently, not taking it too seriously.

Yunyan Powder is indeed a rare healing holy medicine, but it is not indispensable for him.

After walking for a while, Yan Zhaoge's heart stirred, and he looked up to see several figures appearing at the other end of the street.

The group was arguing about something. Although they were far away, Yan Zhaoge's hearing was sharp enough to hear everything clearly.

"Fellow Disciple Fei, the other party is simply forcing you to do the impossible. Why listen to him!"

A tall young man said with a look of indignation.

He is a young disciple who came out to train with Yan Zhaoge. Yan Zhaoge remembered his name was Lan Wenyan.

The others around Lan Wenyan were also young disciples who came out to train together.

After the Dragon Suppressing Abyss training mission ended, apart from the missing Ye Jing, the other fifteen chose to either return to Guangcheng Mountain or stay in Linyuan City to continue their training and travels.

In front of Lan Wenyan, a young man of about the same age was squatting on the ground, sighing bitterly.

"Senior Brother Ma is fully responsible for supervising our daily training. I can only follow his instructions."

Lan Wenyan was furious, "But with your current cultivation, going to the great waterfall for half an hour could lead to trouble."

"One hour, does he want to kill you?"

The young man surnamed Fei looked worried, "I won't die, but like last time, I'll pass out, and he'll pull me up."

Someone beside him asked, "Did you offend him, making him specifically retaliate against you?"

Fellow Disciple Fei sighed, "In the past, I was naive and ruined his embezzlement. Now he's come back to settle the score."

"That's it. You're not in the wrong, why be afraid of him? If he retaliates against you, you can report it to the elder."

Fellow Disciple Fei answered in a low voice, "I used to think that, but later I found out that the elder is his background. Otherwise, how could he get away with it and now come to retaliate against me?"

"Even if you report it to the elder, Senior Brother Ma can say it's to encourage me to train harder, and at most, it's just a bit too aggressive. He won't suffer any punishment and will likely retaliate even more."

Fellow Disciple Fei looked at Lan Wenyan and the others, smiling bitterly, "I applied to leave the sect for some subsidies and come here. If I had known, I wouldn't have come. I really underestimated the situation."

"Even if I want to return to the sect, I have to report to the elder, and Senior Brother Ma will speak against me. I can't even avoid him."

Lan Wenyan frowned. Fellow Disciple Fei and he entered the sect together and were close friends. He thought this would be a reunion, but he didn't expect his old friend to be in such a state.

After a moment of thought, Lan Wenyan hesitated, "We are here with Senior Brother Yan. Senior Brother Yan has a special status. If we can ask him to say a word, Senior Brother Ma might not dare to make things difficult for you. If you want to transfer away from Linyuan City, there's hope."

"Senior Brother Yan Zhaoge?" Fellow Disciple Fei's eyes lit up but quickly dimmed, "This is a small matter, Senior Brother Yan might not care, and I heard he has a good relationship with Elder Xu in Linyuan City."

Lan Wenyan said, "Then we can report back to the sect for you."

"Senior Brother Ma only makes life difficult for me in small matters, and there's no real wrongdoing. If the sect asks, he can explain it away." Fellow Disciple Fei smiled bitterly, "Forget it, I'll endure it. Once Senior Brother Ma vents his anger, it should be fine. He won't really kill me. I'll treat it as a form of training."

Yan Zhaoge watched the scene quietly, his expression unchanged, but he tilted his head, "I don't remember Xu Chuan having a disciple surnamed Ma or any relatives."

"Yes." Ah Hu nodded and then retreated, returning shortly to report, "His name is Ma Yue, a descendant of a deceased elder of our sect. Xu Chuan was once helped by that elder, so he takes care of his descendant, Ma Yue."

Yan Zhaoge raised an eyebrow, "Xu Chuan is clean-handed, but he indulges in embezzlement by taking care of his benefactor's descendant?"

Ah Hu shook his head, "There wasn't enough time to investigate thoroughly, but Xu Chuan might not know."

"Ma Yue acts very humbly in front of Xu Chuan, and some minor faults are overlooked due to the deceased elder's face."

"As a result, Ma Yue uses this to bully others and prevent them from reporting to Xu Chuan."

Ah Hu chuckled, "A typical case of bullying subordinates and deceiving superiors."

Yan Zhaoge didn't laugh but narrowed his eyes, "No, with Xu Chuan's shrewdness, his subordinates and Ma Yue can't deceive him."

"There must be someone else helping Ma Yue, but their real target is Xu Chuan."

"Ma Yue is gradually becoming a weakness for Xu Chuan, and he might cause a big problem, dragging Xu Chuan down."

"Especially now that Xu Chuan holds positions in both Linyuan City and Lingfeng Valley. The other party is probably about to make a move..."

Seeing the forced smile on Fellow Disciple Fei's face, Lan Wenyan and the others were about to say more when a voice suddenly sounded, "Fellow Disciple Fei, why haven't you gone yet? Do you want me to wait for you at the great waterfall?"

A medium-built young man walked over, smiling at everyone and suddenly said with a low laugh.

"Yes, I am bullying him. What can you do?"

The newcomer was Ma Yue. The young man surnamed Fei's lips moved but made no sound. He smiled bitterly at Lan Wenyan and the others and walked towards Ma Yue.

"You don't have to go with him." A cold voice suddenly sounded, and Sima Qing's figure appeared before everyone.

Lan Wenyan's face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed to Sima Qing, "Senior Sister Sima."

Sima Qing's gaze swept over the young man surnamed Fei and Ma Yue.

"Hard training and perseverance are good things, and some elders in the sect may also force disciples to undergo them."

"But it should be out of good intentions, not for personal revenge."

Ma Yue looked at his white robe and then at Sima Qing's blue robe over her white one, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes.

He laughed, "Senior Sister Sima is joking. I was just playing a joke on them."

Sima Qing said coolly, "It's not funny."

Ma Yue sneered, "Senior Sister Sima, you wear the blue robe, so I can't compete with you."

"But how long will you stay in Linyuan City? How long can he rely on you? You don't have the authority to transfer him away from here, nor do you have the authority to transfer me away."

"What will he do when you leave?"