You Ignorant, Sycophantic Opportunist

Old Man Luo sent a message talisman flying into the clouds and mist.

Before long, the mist gradually parted, revealing a path leading straight into the mountain.

Old Man Luo entered first, with Li Ye following behind him, casting interested glances at the surrounding clouds and mist.

To tell the truth, if the Li Household had possessed the means, the legacy he most wanted to learn was actually the art of formations.

Not only could it protect a place and provide a sufficient sense of security.

More importantly, if his talent in the art were high enough, he could set up high-level formations to gain combat power beyond his own cultivation.

With even some accomplishment in it, holing up in one place and farming in peace would be no problem at all!

Unfortunately, for now I can only dream about it...

Muttering to himself, Li Ye followed Old Man Luo to the mountaintop, where they came upon a palace.

"The elder is still cultivating. He has ordered you to wait in the side hall."

A young attendant came forward to meet them, his little face solemn. He sized up the old man and the young man before him, then spoke with the utmost seriousness.

"Then, sorry for the trouble of showing us the way."

Old Man Luo smiled and cupped his hands to him, observing all the proper courtesies despite facing a mere boy.

As it happened, the boy fell right for it.

"Follow me!"

His eyes darted about, his little face stiff as he suppressed a smile. Then he turned and led the way.

Turning to wink at Li Ye, Old Man Luo motioned for him to follow.

The two followed the boy into the palace, and after walking a short distance, the side hall came into view.

But before they entered, as soon as they drew near, Li Ye heard the conversation inside, ranging from heaven to earth.

A youthful voice, somewhat lively and unrestrained, rang out.

"Senior Brother Yao's skills are extraordinary. When he was in the spirit medicine garden, he even helped an elder plant Runing Grass..."

"That's a second-tier Spirit Plant. How could the rest of us compare?"

From his words, he seemed to hold Senior Brother Yao in high regard.

Just then, another deep, resonant voice countered,

"Hey! Junior Brother Gu, you're mistaken. I've heard that the yield of the spirit fields you tend ranks among the highest in the spirit medicine garden, and very few of your spirit medicines wither and die..."

"With your ability to guarantee a yield, if Elder Ji takes a liking to you, I'll have a hard time matching you!"

"Why are you only talking about me, Senior Brother?"

The youthful voice asked in return, then changed the subject.

"Senior Sister Xiong is quite gifted when it comes to tending spirit flowers. As I understand it, Elder Ji cultivates a yang-attribute Cultivation Method and trains his body as well, so he has quite a need for Blazing Sun Flowers..."

"When it comes down to it, neither of us can hold a candle to Senior Sister Xiong's skills in that regard!"

"Hmph! Two grown men spouting so much nonsense, yammering on and on..."

A hoarse, impatient voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

"Your Spirit Plant skills had better be as impressive as your wagging tongues!"

"Xiong Yinxiu, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

"Senior Sister Xiong, you..."

"Chat all you like, but don't let it spoil the harmony..."

The voices that had been rising abruptly faltered.

Inside the side hall,

a young man in short, practical clothes, a rugged burly man, a woman in coarse hemp robes, and three stewards who had been about to break up the quarrel all turned toward the entrance at once.

"No clamor is permitted on Qingxiu Peak!"

"If anyone breaks the rule again, they will be expelled from Qingxiu Peak at once!"

The boy stepped over the threshold, puffed out his chest and put on an air of authority. Sweeping his gaze over them, he spoke in an unhurried manner.

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare! Please calm your anger!"

The three stewards reacted almost simultaneously, hastily begging forgiveness and apologizing.

The three spirit farmer disciples likewise hurriedly bowed and apologized, showing no temper at all.

Li Ye watched it all, finding it rather strange.

Could this boy be Elder Ji Qing's illegitimate son?

The elder had yet to meet these people, and the boy could decide to expel them from Qingxiu Peak with a single word...

That sort of authority was hardly something an ordinary attendant should have!

"You two may go on by yourselves!"

Seeing how obedient and respectful the others were, the boy nodded in satisfaction. He gave the old man and the young man beside him those instructions, then turned and left.

"Greetings, Junior Brother!"

Seeing an unfamiliar face, the burly man wiped his face and came over to greet him.

"I'm Gu Daojin. May I ask where you previously worked, Junior Brother? I don't believe I've seen you in the spirit medicine garden..."

It looked like polite conversation, but he was merely trying to draw out information about an opponent.

Li Ye found a seat and answered casually,

"I'm Li Ye. I previously farmed the sect's A-grade spirit fields."

The burly man surnamed Gu froze. "You haven't been to the spirit medicine garden..."

"You're Li Ye?!"

Before he could finish, the young man in short clothes couldn't help crying out.

"Weren't you gravely injured and hiding away in the spirit fields? How could you come..."

Halfway through, he forcibly clamped his mouth shut and squeezed out an awkward smile.

"I spoke out of turn. Don't take offense, Junior Brother Li... I'm Yao Shaohui. I've long admired Senior Brother Cai, so please go easy on me later, Junior Brother Li..."

Since he could recall the rumors of Li Ye hiding away and refusing to come out, he could naturally recall his spirited words, as well as the news that he seemed to be on good terms with Cai Shiwei.

That being the case, how would he dare provoke Li Ye lightly?

The other two had merely thought Li Ye's name sounded familiar, but at Yao Shaohui's prompting, they suddenly remembered the gossip and rumors they had almost forgotten.

For a moment, the way all three looked at Li Ye changed.

He had merely hidden away and farmed the sect's spirit fields for half a year.

No matter how talented he was, if he had managed to earn a few dozen jin of spirit rice after meeting the minimum planting quota of one hundred jin on his first attempt at farming, that would have been impressive enough!

With that little skill in tending Spirit Plants, he dared come here to compete with them?

Wasn't he making them laugh?

Unless Li Ye was here because he had pulled strings through Cai Shiwei and was trying to persuade Elder Ji Qing...

Otherwise, he didn't have the slightest chance!

But if that were the case, hadn't the three of them come here today for nothing more than a show?!

All three had worked hard at cultivation up to this day, and each was proud of the Spirit Plant skills they had painstakingly honed.

If they lost in a fair contest, then so be it...

But if they lost to an ignorant good-for-nothing who used influence to bully others, they couldn't accept it!

As they silently brooded, indignation welled up in their hearts. Though there had been a whiff of gunpowder between them before, the glances they exchanged now held a shared hatred for an enemy.

When they looked at Li Ye again, they could barely conceal the hostility in their eyes.

You were talking just fine. Why bring up Cai Shiwei...?

Watching their reactions after hearing his name, and the hostility they showed him, Li Ye immediately understood.

He couldn't help grumbling inwardly that they were imagining far too much.

He hadn't been in contact with that fellow Cai for days, so how had they jumped to that conclusion so quickly?

Or was Cai Shiwei's reputation really so exaggerated now that they all thought he could influence a strong-willed Foundation Establishment elder's decision?

Seemingly noticing Li Ye looking back at them, the hot-tempered Xiong Yinxiu spoke up bluntly.

"Hmph! Don't think that because you've relied on Senior Brother Cai's protection and pulled a few strings, you can steal our fortuitous opportunity here..."

"Given Elder Ji's temperament, a timid coward and sycophantic opportunist like you can forget about gaining the slightest benefit from him!"

"Watch your mouth, you shrew!"

Li Ye frowned slightly and was about to retort when Old Man Luo abruptly rose beside him and shouted,

"Junior Brother Li was personally chosen by me. How dare you slander him so carelessly!"

He couldn't let her dump that bucket of filth on his head!

It was a grace for him, Luo Chongxi, to have earned the elder's trust and been allowed to select suitable spirit farmer disciples for him.

If the elder thought he had used that trust to trade favors, how could things possibly end well for him?!

"You..."

Xiong Yinxiu's expression changed slightly. She was about to shout back, but the steward beside her grabbed her.

"Elder Ji has arrived!"

As the boy's voice rang out, a tall, sturdy man with thick hair and a full beard strode in, clad in a heavy leather robe.

His presence was fierce and filled with scorching heat. The moment he drew near, everyone present caught their breath.

The quarrel in the hall died away. Everyone rose and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Elder!"