Sect Covenant

"This..."

Chao Wendao hesitated for a moment.

In truth, he already believed most of what Lu Ze had said.

The way he remained so composed under a Sect Elder's pressure, answering every question fluently, was not something an ordinary youth could manage.

Besides, Lu Ze's explanations of several key techniques had satisfied him greatly.

Given all that, it was not impossible that "Demonic Path Escape" had been made by a Qi Refining Stage cultivator.

Yet a faint smile curled Lu Ze's lips, as though something wonderful had fallen into his lap.

At that moment, clear system messages appeared before his eyes:

Righteous Path expert Ding Mingcang has challenged you! To preserve the Demon Path's dignity, you must win a splendid victory.

Quest: Accept Ding Mingcang's challenge and win, inflicting as much damage on him as possible.

Quest reward: Determined by the quest's outcome.

Without a second thought, Lu Ze said, "Of course."

His words stunned everyone present.

"Demonic Path Escape" alone was enough to make their eyes pop out.

And now Lu Ze was saying he could make another?

The disciples on the ground erupted into discussion.

"Did he really make it?"

"Even if Brother Lu made it, creating another in such a short time wouldn't be possible, would it?"

"I think he's bluffing."

"An illusion realm like this is seamless and natural. To stumble upon one through a stroke of inspiration is heaven's blessing. To obtain a second... that would be difficult!"

"Brother Lu is being foolish! With the Grand Elder here, he could have refused!"

Instead, even more of those below began to doubt that Lu Ze was the designer of "Demonic Path Escape."

His behavior was simply too unusual.

"Good!"

Ding Mingcang's eyes lit up, and he immediately sealed the matter, afraid Lu Ze might change his mind.

"Since you have such courage, I shall grant your wish!"

"But I have one condition."

"You have one month, and while making it, you are forbidden from taking so much as a step outside the Artifact Forging Hall. I will send Enforcement Hall disciples to supervise you throughout!"

Ding Mingcang still did not believe Lu Ze was the creator of "Demonic Path Escape."

He was convinced someone behind Lu Ze was advising him.

As long as he was supervised and kept from contacting outsiders, Lu Ze would never be able to stir up any waves.

Unexpectedly, the youth standing there merely nodded calmly.

"Sure."

"But since Elder Ding has made such a demand, it wouldn't be unreasonable for this disciple to make a few demands of his own, would it?"

A sharp edge suddenly entered Lu Ze's gaze.

Rather than agree outright, Ding Mingcang asked, "What demands? Let us hear them."

"First, if I can make it, shouldn't Elder Ding be punished for the countless ways he has deliberately made things difficult for me today?"

"Second, the sect must not interfere with any illusion realm trials I create in the future, regardless of the excuse."

Lu Ze's gaze was firm.

From the look in Ding Mingcang's eyes, he had already realized that this man was no kindly soul.

His reason for targeting Lu Ze was certainly not as simple as a concern over corrupting the sect's atmosphere. Otherwise, he would never have gone to such lengths.

Their feud was settled.

Set in stone!

There was no need to be polite to him!

Besides, the system had offered a reward. The greater the damage Ding Mingcang suffered, the better Lu Ze's reward would be.

He might as well take a gamble!

He would damage Ding Mingcang's interests as much as possible and secure a richer system reward.

That way...

He would at least have some resources to protect himself.

The disciples below the Enforcement Hall were dumbstruck.

This was the first time they had ever seen a disciple dare to demand that an elder be punished.

Even if it was only hypothetical...

Heh, trying to bluff me?

Ding Mingcang secretly gloated.

The more Lu Ze acted this way, the more convinced Ding Mingcang became that he was bluffing.

"If you truly made it, never mind offering an apology—what would it matter if I spent a month facing the wall in Repentance Valley?!"

Without a second thought, Ding Mingcang agreed at once.

Repentance Valley was where the sect punished serious offenders.

Spiritual energy was thin there, miasma obscured one's vision, and an ancient Grandmaster had laid down a magic array specifically to suppress cultivation.

Even an elder would lose a layer of skin in that place.

Ding Mingcang dared to say this because he was one hundred percent certain he could defeat Lu Ze!

Because even if he conceded ten thousand steps,

Even if "Demonic Path Escape" truly was Lu Ze's work,

Ding Mingcang still did not believe he could make a second one in just a month!

"Good! It's a deal!"

Lu Ze raised an eyebrow.

The condition Ding Mingcang had volunteered was far harsher than the punishment Lu Ze had prepared.

"But if you fail to prove it, I will cripple your cultivation and expel you from the sect!"

Ding Mingcang stared viciously at Lu Ze.

Smiling, Lu Ze cupped his hands and bowed to Chao Wendao. "Grand Elder, please establish a sect covenant."

At the words "sect covenant," everyone's expression changed.

This fellow...

Was actually serious??

As the Grand Elder, Chao Wendao found himself in a difficult position.

Without a sect covenant, the matter Lu Ze and Ding Mingcang had just discussed could still be laughed off as a joke later.

Once a sect covenant was established, its meaning would be entirely different.

"Have you thought this through? Once this sect covenant is established, no one can change it unless the Sect Master intervenes."

Chao Wendao could hardly bear it.

In his heart, he believed Lu Ze was the true designer of "Demonic Path Escape."

But youths were inevitably hotheaded, and it was perfectly normal for them to do something foolish when carried away.

At least in his view,

An ingenious work like "Demonic Path Escape" could not possibly be completed within a month.

Lu Ze replied, "I've thought it through. Thank you for your kindness, Elder Chao."

"Elder Chao, wait no longer! A scoundrel like this, who shows no respect for his teachers or their teachings, deserves severe punishment!"

Ding Mingcang urged him on, afraid Lu Ze might back out.

"Since both of you have made up your minds, I will interfere no further."

With that, a massive golden writing brush appeared out of thin air in Chao Wendao's hand.

He swept it swiftly through the air, and a scroll bearing identical large golden characters on both sides descended between Lu Ze and Ding Mingcang.

Lu Ze bit his finger and dripped blood onto the place for his signature.

"The covenant is established."

Chao Wendao spoke slowly, looking at Lu Ze with considerable regret.

Had he not already reached the limit for True Disciples under his tutelage, he would genuinely have wanted to take Lu Ze in.

"Please set the task, Elder Ding."

Lu Ze gestured for him to proceed.

A sly smile appeared at the corner of Ding Mingcang's mouth.

"Our Spirit Cloud Sect offers a broad range of cultivation paths, but the sword has always been the weapon most disciples choose."

"Every day, disciples visit Severed Thought Cliff on Sword Inquiry Mountain to comprehend sword intent."

"Yet the disciples are sorely lacking in their practice of basic sword swings."

"Since you are so confident, design an illusion realm for cultivation centered on basic sword swings, so that the disciples will stop being lazy and diligently practice their swordsmanship all day!"

"Furthermore, the sect has no shortage of sparring illusion realms, so the one you make must not include combat functions or anything of that sort."