Golden Scales Are Not Things in a Pond

Shifting his gaze back to the present.

Just moments ago, Chu Xiyao told him that it was Elder Wu Shu of Qingchan Peak, Fu Qian, who personally bribed Steward Song Mingde of the Outer Court's Shang Gong Hall.

The objective was for Song Mingde to monitor the incoming and outgoing correspondence that passed through his hands.

This was not a difficult task for a Shang Gong Hall steward, and the reward Fu Qian promised was extremely generous.

A cultivation base in the Qi Sea Realm, and a position as an inner court steward.

With such conditions, there was no reason to refuse.

"And then?"

Chen Yan asked.

"Song Mingde began working for Elder Fu. At first, he just copied letters, but later he did other things..."

"What things?"

"Compiling lists of people."

"Lists of what kind of people?"

"Only Song Mingde himself knows. Song Mingde didn't have direct communication channels with his contact at Qingchan Peak, because an Outer Court steward who was bribed solely based on profit could betray them at any moment,"

Chu Xiyao said.

Indeed, what Elder Fu Qian promised Song Mingde, those hidden figures in the shadows could also promise.

"About four months ago, Song Mingde said he seemed to have discovered something significant, but lacked crucial evidence."

"And then?"

"Song Mingde began compiling that list he mentioned."

"So, it was because Steward Song compiled this list that he died?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know."

Chu Xiyao shook her head.

"By the time we wanted to figure out what happened, it was already too late."

Song Mingde met a tragic end in the Outer Court's Detention Center.

"So you believe that Steward Song's list is related to the disappearance of the Monster Suppressing Stone?"

Chen Yan continued to ask.

"There is indeed that possibility."

Chu Xiyao replied.

Whatever Song Mingde discovered in the Outer Court, as his investigation progressed, the matter behind it became more and more chilling, even causing him to panic.

He realized that if he continued, he would surely die.

So, unable to contact his superior directly, Song Mingde chose to gamble away the spirit stones in the hall's public account, hoping to attract the attention of Qingchan Peak.

In fact, he succeeded.

Chu Xiyao came to the Outer Court late at night to find Song Mingde, but ultimately, she was a step too late.

"I will help you, but there's a condition."

Chen Yan said.

"What condition?"

Chu Xiyao asked.

"I am only helping you, not Elder Fu Qian. So, until the truth is revealed, do not speak of this to anyone."

Hearing Chen Yan's condition, the White-robed Girl stood there hesitating for a moment before finally nodding.

"Okay, I promise."

Afterward, Chu Xiyao returned alone in the direction of the separate courtyard where Qingchan Peak was staying in the Outer Court.

For Chen Yan at this moment, on the entire Qingchan Peak, only Chu Xiyao was qualified to be worth his investment.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

In the previous life, after witnessing Steward Song's corpse and on his way out of the Detention Center, he was ambushed by the effeminate man. Chu Xiyao stepped forward, trying to protect him, pulling him into the danger with her.

Although she failed, the look of pity and guilt in Chu Xiyao's eyes before he died could not be faked.

Chen Yan wanted to prevent the calamity that would occur in two years.

Because he wanted to find the answer to a question: can fate truly be changed?

Chen Yan didn't know. After all, no one could be sure about fate.

The Training Ground was bustling with noise and activity.

The young disciples of the Outer Court were very enthusiastic about this Outer Court Grand Competition, and they also held great admiration for the inner court elders and disciples of the Sect.

No young Outer Court Disciple didn't hope to enter the Inner Sect one day.

But older Outer Court Disciples might not feel the same, especially those who had already reached the Martial Spring Realm.

These Outer Court Disciples in the Martial Spring Realm had a very clear understanding of their own situation. They knew very well that unless they encountered a great opportunity, there was no possibility of breaking through to the Qi Sea Realm in their lifetime.

In the Inner Sect, cultivators in the Martial Spring Realm could at best become disciple leaders, and the treatment of leaders was no different from ordinary disciples, except that they had to bear more responsibilities.

However, in the Outer Court, cultivators in the Martial Spring Realm were much more sought after. Almost all positions in the Outer Court could be held by cultivators in the Martial Spring Realm.

Although the treatment of ordinary Inner Sect disciples was much better than that of the Outer Court, it was still completely incomparable to that of an Outer Court Steward.

This situation also led to many Inner Sect disciples in the Martial Spring Realm or above wanting to find a job in the Outer Court to obtain better cultivation resources.

Of course, not any Inner Sect disciple could do this; they had to have connections from above.

For example, the biggest connection in the Outer Court currently was the Sect Master Yun Yichen's personal disciple, Lin Qifeng.

After more than twenty cycles, Chen Yan finally figured out the trigger for the great calamity that would descend upon the Outer Court in two years.

There were still two years left.

Within these two years, he had to find the Monster Suppressing Stone that was suppressing the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul, otherwise, the greatest calamity the Outer Court of the Empty Mountain Sect had faced in a thousand years would arrive on schedule.

But what if he failed?

Would he try to save them again in the next cycle?

Looking at the Outer Court Disciples busy preparing for the Outer Court Grand Competition in front of the Training Ground, Chen Yan fell into a brief daze.

In a trance, he saw a familiar figure in front of the Training Ground.

She was not as playful and lively as before, her demeanor was more steady than he remembered, but her beauty was still captivating.

Cheng Ziying.

Suddenly, Chen Yan's shoulder was lightly patted.

"Senior Brother Chen."

A young man, dressed in an Outer Court Disciple's Daoist Robe, but with the patterns on his sleeves and the jade pendant at his waist highlighting his identity, stood behind Chen Yan at some point.

It was Sun Lu, the disciple of the Spirit Herb Workshop Steward.

"Who is that..."

Sun Lu followed Chen Yan's gaze in the direction he was looking and also noticed the young girl standing in front of the Training Ground:

"Consul Cheng?"

Chen Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly:

"You know her?"

"Of course. Consul Cheng is a banner figure among the younger generation of Outer Court disciples. The stewards and ceremonial officers of the Training Ground all value her highly. The stewards of the Training Ground even had the idea of taking her as a disciple."

Sun Lu said.

Consul disciples were core disciples selected from ordinary disciples. To put it bluntly, they were the cattle and horses that served the high-level members of the Sect.

However, becoming a consul disciple also meant more opportunities to appear before the middle and high-level members of the Sect. If there were promotion opportunities or other benefits in the future, these consul disciples would be considered first.

"Then why didn't the stewards of the Training Ground take her as a disciple in the end?"

Chen Yan asked.

Sun Lu just smiled slightly, then bowed towards Chen Yan:

"A golden dragon is no ordinary fish in a pond. Because everyone knows that Consul Cheng will eventually go to the Inner Sect, just like Elder Lin and Senior Brother Chen, you two will also return to Kongyuan Mountain sooner or later."