The Dignity of the Team Leader

Bu Linhai's life of cultivation had not been a pleasant one.

He had joined the Sea Gazing Sect just seventeen years ago, yet he had already entered the late True Unity Realm.

Bu Linhai had come from a Loose Cultivator family in a Market Town. He had cultivated alongside his parents since childhood, and by a fortunate chance, he encountered an immortal from the Sea Gazing Sect traveling abroad. He was lucky enough to take an immortal master and enter the greatest sect in the northern region of the coast of the Eastern Sea.

Bu Linhai had always believed that his aptitude and comprehension were outstanding among disciples of his generation in the Sea Gazing Sect, yet the sect had never valued him highly enough.

This was not Bu Linhai boasting.

The Sea Gazing Sect likewise used an Inner and Outer Sect system. Compared to other major sects, its rules were simpler, but also harsher.

—All disciples began in the Outer Sect. There was a minor examination every year and a major examination every three years. Only ten new Inner Sect Disciples were admitted each year, while the bottom fifteen Inner Sect Disciples were eliminated every three years. Only upon reaching the Heaven and Earth Bridge Realm could one shed the title of disciple.

While in the Outer Sect, disciples received fixed portions of cultivation resources. Only those favored by the sect's immortals had any chance of receiving a ticket into the Inner Sect.

It was in such an environment that Bu Linhai had climbed step by step to his current position, becoming one of the twenty most dazzling rising immortals of the Sea Gazing Sect's generation in seventeen years.

At this moment, several Outer Sect elders had secretly summoned him and several other True Unity Realm disciples to issue an important command.

Bu Linhai vaguely felt that his chance to prove his strength had arrived.

An elder asked, "Have you all read the Jade Talismans given to you at noon?"

The disciples lowered their heads and answered in the affirmative.

The elder in the center nodded slowly and said in an unhurried voice:

"This Eastern Sea trial assembly gathered by our Sea Gazing Sect has two purposes. First, to clear out the demons causing trouble. Second, to give young disciples like yourselves a chance to make a name for yourselves.

"Those are naturally the highest priorities, but there is a third matter we must specifically impress upon you."

The five disciples bowed and awaited their orders.

The elder said slowly, "Do you know the Myriad Cloud Sect?"

Bu Linhai reacted swiftly and answered first, "Reporting to Elder, the Myriad Cloud Sect is an orthodox immortal sect that has existed for tens of thousands of years. It has three Golden Immortal Ancestors and over a hundred Heavenly Immortals. Its strength cannot be underestimated."

"Heh." One elder sneered. "Ten thousand years ago, the Myriad Cloud Sect may indeed have stood on equal footing with our Sea Gazing Sect. Unfortunately, because its rules were lax, internal strife erupted ten thousand years ago. Many Heavenly Immortals died or left. Now, it is merely strong on the outside and weak within."

Another elder said, "The Myriad Cloud Sect previously had some conflicts with us, and we lost some face. You should not know of this matter."

Bu Linhai immediately understood and said at once, "Please rest assured, Elder. At this trial assembly, we will certainly make those Myriad Cloud Sect disciples regret it!"

The few disciples beside him frowned and glanced at Bu Linhai.

Had he practiced that?

This guy was way too quick to jump in!

Fortunately, an elder merely snorted and rebuked Bu Linhai, "Impatient and impetuous!"

Bu Linhai hurriedly fell silent, lowering his head and not daring to say more.

"Sigh, young people simply do not consider matters thoroughly enough."

The elder in the center stroked his beard and murmured:

"This is a trial for disciples of six sects initiated by our Sea Gazing Sect. If we deliberately target our guests, it is we who will lose face.

"Though the Myriad Cloud Sect has had some conflict with our Sea Gazing Sect, we are both orthodox immortal sects, and the Golden Immortal Ancestors of both sides know one another. We cannot make things too ugly on the surface.

"However, Myriad Cloud Sect immortals mocked our Sea Gazing Sect some time ago in a Market Town, before many Loose Cultivators. They truly left our Sea Gazing Sect unable to step down.

"At this trial assembly, we must also knock them down a peg, so that the Dao hearts of our sect members may remain untroubled."

Bu Linhai carefully considered the elder's meaning and soon understood.

This disciple trial had likely been deliberately arranged by the Sea Gazing Sect elders to lure the Myriad Cloud Sect over and thoroughly humiliate them before all the guests.

Bu Linhai occasionally received letters from his father and roughly knew what had happened here.

Over the past two years, the Myriad Cloud Sect had gained tremendous momentum across more than a hundred Market Towns on the coast of the Eastern Sea. While other sects had been trying to sell all kinds of expensive Immortal Treasures and magical artifacts, the Myriad Cloud Sect had gone the opposite way and begun selling large quantities of several types of ordinary magical artifacts.

These mundane magical artifacts were affordable, high-quality, powerful, and reasonably priced. They became wildly popular among Loose Cultivators and earned the sect quite a few spirit stones.

The other sects followed suit and began copying them. The Sea Gazing Sect also made some attempts.

At the end of last year, the Sea Gazing Sect organized a large number of sect members to refine artifacts together. But after two months of effort, they calculated that the artifacts produced this way varied in quality, and their average cost was only slightly lower than the price of finished artifacts in Myriad Cloud Sect shops.

Filled with ambition, the Sea Gazing Sect opened new shops in more than a dozen Market Towns. These artifact shops were located either directly across from Myriad Cloud Sect shops or nearby.

The Myriad Cloud Sect shops swiftly reacted by holding various "discounts" for three months.

The Sea Gazing Sect shops were equally decisive. After holding out for two months, they all closed.

Some Sea Gazing Sect elders had secretly peered into the Myriad Cloud Sect shops, only to be exposed by Myriad Cloud Sect Outer Sect elders, who publicly mocked them a few times.

Thus, some trouble arose. The Sea Gazing Sect made a fool of itself, lost spirit stones, and lost face.

Even now, the Sea Gazing Sect still could not understand where the Myriad Cloud Sect had found so many inexpensive, high-quality mundane magical artifacts.

Could it be that a group of immortals were wielding little whips and forcing thousands of disciples to refine artifacts every day?

Bu Linhai was pondering this when he suddenly heard the elder call his name.

"Linhai, why have you stopped speaking?"

The other four disciples snickered.

Bu Linhai hurriedly said, "This disciple was considering how to make the Myriad Cloud Sect disciples accept their defeat wholeheartedly, and how to make the other guests cheer for our Sea Gazing Sect."

"Good." The elder stroked his beard and smiled. "That is the right way to think. Just find a way to make them lose."

Another elder added:

"This sect trial will take place in the ruins of that damaged Eastern Sea Ancient Ruins. The sect will dispatch a hundred immortals to set up a grand formation, trapping the sea demons before sending you inside.

"According to the rules of previous years, disciples from each sect will form teams of five, and those attending will be at the Void Refinement Realm and True Unity Realm.

"After killing demons, the immortals will keep count. You must also retrieve tokens from the demons' bodies so that others may be convinced.

"In this trial, the top six disciple teams in demon kills will receive generous rewards from the six sects. Your task is to each lead a team of True Unity Realm disciples. Do not allow Myriad Cloud Sect disciples into the top six. Even if not a single team from our Sea Gazing Sect makes the top six, that is acceptable.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

Bu Linhai and the other disciples accepted the order together.

It seems the sect elders truly bear considerable resentment toward the Myriad Cloud Sect. Even if they do not compete for rankings themselves, they still want to make the Myriad Cloud Sect lose face, even at the cost of mutual destruction.

Bu Linhai smiled. "This disciple believes that during the trial, we need only send some disciples to keep a close watch on the Myriad Cloud Sect disciples. So long as we seize the demons they intend to kill before they do, we can eliminate them all. Meanwhile, we can send two elite teams to compete for the rankings."

"Good."

"You may consider such matters yourselves. All right, return and prepare... Linhai, stay behind."

Bu Linhai was first startled, then the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and anticipation appeared in his eyes.

An opportunity could not be missed.

The morning of the second day of travel.

Bang! Bang bang!

The Myriad Cloud Sect's cloud ship temporarily removed its protective formation. Amid dull bursts, clusters of white clouds formed out of thin air and drifted away with the wind.

More than thirty disciples split into two groups;

The female disciples gathered by the edge of the deck, occasionally throwing the cloud-burst pellets in their hands and listening to Mu Ningning explain their wondrous uses.

Most of the male disciples sat in a circle at the center of the deck, passing around a cloud-burst pellet as though playing hot potato—each person infused it with a tiny thread of Dharma power before passing it to the next, waiting to see who would be the last to trigger it and earn a deck full of cheers.

Li Ping'an still sat in his old corner spot, holding a Jade Talisman and studying the insights into the Dao of Formations written by a sect immortal.

Over the past two years, he had become increasingly interested in formations and the Dao of Artifact Refining.

Of course, the foundation for indulging in such "external matters" was that his comprehension of the first half of the Myriad Cloud Art had not fallen behind. His current reserves of insight were absolutely sufficient until the Heaven and Earth Bridge Realm.

Ordinary Qi cultivators accumulated Dharma power while awaiting insight. Li Ping'an was the exact opposite.

He accumulated insight while waiting for his father to pass down cultivation.

Elder Yan Sheng drifted silently past the disciples with his hands behind his back and arrived before Li Ping'an.

The disciples turned to glance at Elder Yan Sheng. Those more proper rose to greet him, while the more carefree ones did not even move their backsides and continued their games.

"Elder."

Li Ping'an stood and greeted him.

"Mm." Elder Yan Sheng forced a dry smile.

A cluster of white cloud formed beside Li Ping'an and condensed into a cloud stool. Elder Yan Sheng slowly took a seat, and an emerald-green tobacco pipe appeared in his hand.

When this elder was normally within the mountain gate, he used an ordinary magical artifact pipe filled with scraps of hundred-year spirit root leaves.

Yet now that he was outside the mountain gate, he had switched to an Immortal Treasure-grade pipe, and what he packed inside were fragments of refined thousand-year spirit root leaves.

Elder Yan Sheng contentedly took a puff of tobacco. Wisps of smoke slowly drifted out and enveloped their figures.

"There may be some trouble this time."

Elder Yan Sheng said slowly:

"The Sea Gazing Sect will likely try to make disciples like you embarrass yourselves. What do you think?"

"This disciple is not in a good position to say."

Li Ping'an put away the Jade Talisman, took a bottle of spirit spring water to moisten his throat, and sighed.

"This disciple merely feels that even a mighty dragon cannot overpower the local snake. Moreover, the Sea Gazing Sect's overall strength exceeds that of our Myriad Cloud Sect by a fair amount. Entering into conflict with them would not be wise.

"Among the six sects headed to the Eastern Sea trial grounds, two have good relations with us and could support us if needed.

"But the other two are effectively vassals of the Sea Gazing Sect and will certainly obey its commands.

"In this disciple's humble opinion... it would be fine not to compete."

"The sect has considered matters the same way." Elder Yan Sheng slowly nodded. "We thought deeply before making you team leader this time. You adapt well to situations, you have now reached the Void Refinement Realm, and you possess the Spirit Burst secret art."

Li Ping'an asked in confusion, "Wasn't this arranged by my father?"

Elder Yan Sheng said, "Martial Aunt Dazhi merely asked Mu Ningning to travel with you, intending to bring you two together. She said nothing else."

Li Ping'an: ...

Old Li truly had not changed at all.

"Ping'an, I naturally understand your temperament."

Elder Yan Sheng said slowly:

"You no longer need to worry so much about Martial Aunt Dazhi.

"Martial Aunt Dazhi's contributions to the sect are beyond anyone's reproach and cannot be replaced. Ancestor Kongming has also entered seclusion without concern, and the Sect Leader has entrusted some sect matters to your father.

"The elders naturally understand this. Your father cannot leave the sect before becoming a Heavenly Immortal, and this has become a rule followed by everyone in the sect."

Li Ping'an smiled and asked, "Elder, just say what you mean."

Elder Yan Sheng nodded solemnly, then frowned, took another puff of tobacco, and said slowly, "For this Eastern Sea trial assembly, you need not worry too much. You may instead pay more attention to the person beside you."

The corner of Li Ping'an's mouth twitched slightly.

Elder Yan Sheng continued, "If you need me to arrange some opportunities for the two of you to be alone, just give me a signal."

Three black lines appeared across Li Ping'an's forehead.

Elder Yan Sheng tilted his head back slightly, his old eyes filled with helplessness.

I should never have drunk so much of Martial Aunt Dazhi's wine... But since I agreed to it, I must see it through.

Elder Yan Sheng cleared his throat and whispered, "There are several seaside residences in East Sea Market Town. If you two wish to go, simply say so in advance, and I will arrange it for you."

Li Ping'an raised a hand to cover his eyes. "Elder, this..."

"Ahem, that is all."

After saying this, Elder Yan Sheng seemed completely at ease. He slowly rose to his feet.

"We will arrive in half an hour. As team leader, you should also give everyone a little encouragement."

"This disciple understands."

Li Ping'an replied weakly, then turned to look at Mu Ningning, who was chatting and laughing with several female disciples nearby.

The sunlight was bright, and so was her smile.

But...

The immortal path was long. Why rush?

When affection deepened, the melon would ripen and fall from its stem.

Li Ping'an steadied his Dao heart, patted the hem of his Daoist robe, rose to his feet, and walked forward with his hands behind his back. He called out clearly:

"Everyone, it is time we discussed the trial."

The disciples immediately gathered around, and several elders also emerged from the ship's cabin, watching with smiles.

Li Ping'an smiled. "First, I will briefly say a few words."

The elders' expressions instantly changed. One elder's legs weakened, sweat broke out on his forehead, and he was already thinking of turning around and hiding back inside the cabin.

But Li Ping'an merely said:

"The sect has made me team leader, but I truly cannot handle such a role. In cultivation and ability, all of you senior brothers and sisters far surpass me. The only thing I have to offer is a little artifact-refining skill.

"If anything comes up from here on, speak with Brother Gu.

"When we reach the gathering place for the six sects' disciples, do not point to me and say I am the team leader. If a Void Refinement Realm disciple like me steps forward, people may laugh and damage the Myriad Cloud Sect's reputation."

One disciple laughed. "That would only mean they lack vision and do not know Junior Brother Li's capabilities!"

—By cultivation rank, he was a junior brother. By the time he entered the sect, this form of address was also appropriate.

"Sigh." Li Ping'an waved a hand. "A disciple trial does not require us to risk our lives. Let us save the sect some spirit stones, lest we return and have our monthly allowances deducted."

The disciples all smiled.

Li Ping'an cupped his hands. "Brother Gu, come over. If we delay any longer, we will arrive."

Gu Qingcheng rubbed the tip of his nose. He did not shy away this time, stepping before Li Ping'an with a wry smile. "So this deputy team leader's fate is to be the laborer. I should not have chatted with you yesterday!"

"The capable must bear more work. Please."

Li Ping'an smiled and stepped back a few paces, moving to stand beside Mu Ningning.

Their eyes met, and both breathed sighs of relief.

Li Ping'an had shed a heavy responsibility;

Mu Ningning, meanwhile, had been worried that Senior Brother Ping'an would draw too much attention.

Gu Qingcheng had already received the specific rules for this six-sect trial from the elders and began dividing the disciples into teams.

If they formed groups of five, three out of the thirty-eight disciples would be left over. After discussing it, the disciples decided to form six teams of five and two teams of four.

The five-person teams would be the main force, while the four-person teams would focus on participation.

Li Ping'an and Mu Ningning had lower apparent cultivation, so they voluntarily joined a four-person team to fill out its numbers.

Yu Yingshu, a body cultivator with the third-lowest cultivation and likewise a relatively recent entrant to the sect, cheerfully joined them and cupped his hands to apologize to Li Ping'an.

—During the sect tournament two years ago, he had said he wanted to get acquainted with Li Ping'an, but after the tournament ended, he disappeared without a trace.

As deputy leader, Gu Qingcheng proved quite responsible. After settling his fellow disciples, he voluntarily gave up the chance to stand out and joined the four-person filler team with Li Ping'an, Mu Ningning, and Yu Yingshu—a bizarre lineup of one Light Condensing Realm cultivator, two Void Refinement Realm cultivators, and one Truth Integration Realm cultivator.

Just as the Myriad Cloud Sect finished dividing into teams, the sound of a melodious horn rang out from the sky ahead.

With a casual wave, Elder Yan Sheng parted the clouds before them, revealing an island in the sea surrounded by Immortal Light.

Before the Myriad Cloud Sect's cloudship had landed, a gigantic cloudship several times larger than theirs swayed down from the sky. It flew the banner of the Sea Gazing Sect and bore down on them from above.

Gu Qingcheng frowned. "They're already picking a fight?"

"Or perhaps courtesy before force," Li Ping'an said, bumping Gu Qingcheng with his shoulder. "Deputy, get ready. Their lead is a young disciple, so we should send a young disciple to deal with him."

"No!"

Gu Qingcheng frowned. "You're the leader and I'm the deputy. Shouldn't you be the one going?"

Li Ping'an spoke with righteous conviction. "I'm the leader and you're the deputy. Shouldn't you obey orders?"

"I!"

Gu Qingcheng's handsome face trembled slightly.

He turned aside and drew in a breath of spiritual energy, visualizing the "Myriad Artifact Spirit Explosion" diagram within his sea of consciousness. At once, he revealed a "happy" smile.

Gu Qingcheng squeezed out through clenched teeth:

"Brother Li, once I figure out how to break your secret Spirit Blast Art, I'll be sure to seek your guidance properly!"

Several disciples behind them snickered.

Li Ping'an smiled leisurely, activated the Hidden Dust Art with all his strength, and retreated behind the other disciples.