Sect Covenant

"This..."

Chao Wendao hesitated for a moment.

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

Facing the pressure of a Sect Elder yet remaining so composed and articulate was not something an ordinary youth could manage.

Moreover, Lu Ze's analysis of several key techniques had greatly satisfied him.

With that being the case, even if Demonic Path Escape had been created by a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, it was not impossible.

Yet Lu Ze smiled faintly, as though he had encountered some tremendous stroke of good fortune.

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

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

Mission: Accept Ding Mingcang's challenge and win, while inflicting as much damage upon him as possible.

Mission Reward: Determined by the mission outcome.

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

The moment those words left his mouth, everyone was stunned.

Demonic Path Escape alone was enough to make everyone's eyes pop.

And Lu Ze was actually claiming that he could make another one?

The disciples below immediately broke into discussion.

"Could he really have made it?"

"Even if Brother Lu made it, it should be impossible to create another one in such a short time, right?"

"I think he's just putting up a front."

"Such an Illusion Realm is so flawlessly natural. Creating one by chance is the will of heaven; trying to make a second... that would be difficult!"

"Brother Lu is being foolish! With the Grand Elder here, it wouldn't hurt not to agree!"

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

His behavior was simply too abnormal.

"Good!"

Ding Mingcang's eyes lit up. He immediately made the decision, afraid that Lu Ze might change his mind.

"Since you are so courageous, this old man shall grant your wish!"

"However, I have one condition."

"You will have one month. During its creation, you are forbidden from leaving the Artifact Forging Hall by even half a step. I will send Enforcement Hall disciples to supervise you throughout!"

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

He was certain that someone behind Lu Ze had been advising him.

As long as Lu Ze was monitored and prevented from contacting outsiders, he would definitely be unable to stir up any trouble.

Unexpectedly, the youth in the hall merely nodded calmly.

"Sure."

"But since Elder Ding has made such a demand, it is not too much for this disciple to make a few demands of his own, is it?"

A sharp glint suddenly appeared in Lu Ze's eyes.

Ding Mingcang did not agree outright, instead asking, "What demands? Let me hear them."

"First, if I can make it, should Elder Ding be punished for repeatedly making things difficult for me today?"

"Second, from now on, the sect may not interfere with any Illusion Realm Trials I create, under any pretext."

Lu Ze's gaze was unwavering.

From Ding Mingcang's eyes, he had already seen that this man was no good.

The reason Ding Mingcang was making things difficult for him was certainly not as simple as disrupting the sect's atmosphere. Otherwise, he would never have made such a tremendous fuss.

There was no avoiding this grudge.

It was set in stone!

There was no need for him to be polite anymore!

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

He might as well go all out!

He would damage Ding Mingcang's interests as much as possible and claim a more generous system reward.

That way...

At least he would have some means of protecting himself.

The disciples beneath the Enforcement Hall were dumbfounded.

This was the first time they had ever seen a disciple dare to make an elder accept punishment.

Even if it was only a hypothetical...

Heh, trying to bluff me?

Ding Mingcang secretly rejoiced.

The more Lu Ze acted like this, the more Ding Mingcang believed he was putting on a brave front.

"If it really was your doing, forget an apology—even if I have to spend a month facing the wall in Repentance Valley, so what!?"

Without a second thought, Ding Mingcang immediately agreed.

Repentance Valley was where the sect punished serious offenders.

Spiritual energy there was scarce, miasma obscured the eyes, and an ancient formation left behind by a Grandmaster specifically suppressed cultivation.

Even elders would be stripped half-dead upon arriving there.

For Ding Mingcang to say such a thing, he was one hundred percent certain he could beat Lu Ze!

Because even if they took a step back, even if "Demonic Path Escape" truly had been made by Lu Ze, Ding Mingcang did not believe he could create a second one in merely a month!

"Good! It's a deal!"

Lu Ze raised an eyebrow.

Ding Mingcang had proposed this himself, and it was far harsher than the punishment Lu Ze had prepared.

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

Ding Mingcang glared viciously at Lu Ze.

With a smiling expression, Lu Ze clasped his hands and bowed to Chao Wendao. "I ask Grand Elder to establish a Sect Covenant."

At the words "Sect Covenant," everyone's expressions changed.

This guy...

He was actually serious??

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

Without a Sect Covenant, what Lu Ze and Ding Mingcang had just said could still be brushed off as a joke afterward.

But 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 alter it unless the Sect Master intervenes."

Chao Wendao could not bear it.

He believed that Lu Ze was the true creator of "Demonic Path Escape."

But young people were bound to be hot-blooded, and it was normal for them to do foolish things when their emotions got the better of them.

At least in his view, it was simply impossible to complete another ingenious creation like "Demonic Path Escape" within a month.

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

"Elder Chao, don't wait any longer! Such a scoundrel who disrespects his teachers and defies the proper order deserves severe punishment!"

Ding Mingcang urged him on, afraid that Lu Ze would change his mind.

"Since the two of you have made up your minds, I will not interfere further."

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

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

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

"The covenant is established."

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

If the number of True Disciples under his name had not already reached its limit, he truly would have wanted to take Lu Ze as his disciple.

"Elder Ding, please set the challenge."

Lu Ze made an inviting gesture.

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

"Our Spirit Cloud Sect has many paths of cultivation, but the weapon most commonly chosen by disciples has always been the sword."

"At Severed Thought Cliff on Sword Inquiry Mountain, disciples go every day to comprehend sword intent."

"Yet the disciples are severely lacking in training the fundamentals of sword swings."

"Since you are so confident, then use basic sword swinging as the theme and design an Illusion Realm for cultivation, so that the disciples will no longer be lazy and will diligently practice their swords every day!"

"Furthermore, the sect does not lack sparring-type Illusion Realms. The Illusion Realm you create must not include any combat-related functions."