Head of True Transmission

The scent of thunder and fire had yet to fully dissipate from the Stele Forest.

The scorched earth churned, and the few old locust trees, now reduced to withered trunks, rattled crisply in the wind.

The violet arcs of light at the mouth of the Dragon Locking Well had vanished, yet the air remained thick with an itching, parched heat.

This was the scene that greeted Hall Master Gu Zhenyue as he charged in with over a dozen instructors.

Their pace was swift, their footsteps creating a rapid-fire series of "patter" sounds as they trampled over the gravel.

Gu Zhenyue led the way, his face taut with tension. Though he had already sheathed his long saber, the veins on the back of his hand stood out prominently.

His eyes immediately locked onto Old Qi, who sat by the well.

The man who guarded the well was now hunched over, sitting amidst the rubble, devoid of any sign of vitality.

Old Qi's robes were stained with dried blood, his face deathly pale, and his gaze held a trace of utter defeat.

Standing before Old Qi was Li Pingsheng.

Li Pingsheng was looking down, brushing dust from his cuffs.

The bruising and swelling that had previously marred his right arm were gone, and a faint, shimmering light could still be seen flowing beneath his skin.

Gu Zhenyue halted his advance.

The instructors following behind him stopped as well, some instinctively gripping their sword hilts.

Standing before them was no longer a mere disciple, but an existence that filled them with dread.

The pressure was so immense that these men, who considered themselves experts, felt incredibly tense, their breathing becoming labored.

Gu Zhenyue wanted to say something, but Li Pingsheng turned his head to glance at him.

His gaze was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Yet, that single look sent a chill down the spine of Gu Zhenyue, a master at the peak of the Bone Refining Realm.

He was struck by the illusion that if he were to take even one step forward, he would end up just like the charred corpses on the ground.

Gu Zhenyue forced his words back, staring at Li Pingsheng while instinctively shifting his weight half a step backward.

"Hall Master!"

Li Pingsheng was the first to speak, shattering the silence.

Gu Zhenyue finally found his voice and cleared his throat, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

What had happened here? And what had become of the Black-Robed Gu Master?

Li Pingsheng tilted his body to the side, revealing the pile of charred remains not far away.

"Dead."

He pointed toward Old Qi, his tone softening with a touch of respect.

"If Old Qi hadn't risked his life to hold back that monster, and at the critical moment activated the formation's lightning to slay him, this student would have been buried within the well."

Old Qi sat on the ground, his eyelids trembling slightly.

He turned his head to look at Li Pingsheng, his lips moving before he finally let out a hoarse, bitter laugh.

"Old Qi, are you injured?"

Gu Zhenyue rushed forward, speaking with earnest concern.

Old Qi waved a hand, his voice raspy.

"I am too old for this. The pain hasn't subsided yet. I leave the rest to you, little one."

He closed his eyes.

Li Pingsheng looked at Gu Zhenyue, speaking with an expressionless face.

"The Black-Robed Gu Master was in league with the Zhao Family, attempting to break the seal during the Grand Examination sacrifice. Old Qi discovered this and had me go down to assist. The mission was completed successfully; the monster has been eliminated, and the formation is no longer a threat."

Gu Zhenyue looked at Li Pingsheng, filled with doubt.

Why would a newly enrolled disciple join in to help someone inside the well?

Was the lightning that soared into the sky triggered by Old Qi?

Seeing Li Pingsheng's unscathed right arm and Old Qi's resigned appearance, he felt he had his answer.

Excellent. Old Qi had guarded with his life, and Li Pingsheng had remained calm in the face of danger.

Gu Zhenyue laughed heartily, the relief of surviving a catastrophe washing over him.

He turned to face the instructors behind him to announce his decision.

"Pass down the order: the black-robed monster has been executed, and the threat to the Dragon Locking Well is resolved. The first place in today's Grand Examination goes to Old Qi and Li Pingsheng."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a bronze medal, its edges inlaid with fragments of jade.

This was the first medal passed down through the Azure Cloud Martial Hall for a century.

"In your lifetime, you have defeated all opponents in the Grand Examination and completed the task of protecting the city. This medal is well-deserved."

Gu Zhenyue walked over to Li Pingsheng and handed him the medal.

"From today on, you are the Head Disciple of the Inner Courtyard. All resources within the Inner City of the martial arts hall are at your disposal; you may take whatever you need."

As Li Pingsheng took the medal, his fingers brushed against its cold, metallic patterns.

He bowed with a calm expression.

"Thank you, Hall Master."

His mind was no longer on the medal.

He needed more resources to illuminate another specialty.

By the time Li Pingsheng walked out of the Stele Forest, it was already evening.

The Martial Practice Field was littered with debris and reeked of a foul, fishy stench.

Lu Qingshan stood by the edge of the viewing platform, holding Yunmei.

His face was grim.

Upon seeing Li Pingsheng, Lu Qingshan's eyes actually welled up with tears.

"Brother Li!"

Li Pingsheng did not speak, walking straight toward them.

When Yunmei saw her brother, her small mouth puckered, and tears began to stream down her face.

Breaking free from Lu Qingshan's embrace, she stumbled toward Li Pingsheng, finally clinging tightly to his leg.

In her small hand, she clutched a Peace Talisman with poorly stitched seams.

The Peace Talisman was covered in dust and stained with a faint trace of blood.

"Brother, I want to go home."

Yunmei sobbed.

"Alright, let's go home."

Li Pingsheng stood up and looked at Lu Qingshan, his eyes icy cold.

"What about the Zhao Family?"

Lu Qingshan spat on the ground and said viciously, "That old dog Zhao Zhentian had half his shoulder bitten off by Zhao Ming and has gone missing."

"The others are being held in the side hall of the Zhao Mansion by the Hall Master's men. Anyone who tried to escape was caught by Master Pei and his team."

"Lead the way."

Li Pingsheng said only those two words.

The Zhao Family had to be destroyed.

It was not because they colluded with demon-folk, nor because they obstructed the path of others.

It was because of Yunmei.

The Zhao Mansion was in complete chaos.

The vermilion gates had been smashed to pieces, and the martial arts hall's law enforcement team moved in and out, accompanied by a chorus of wailing and curses.

When Li Pingsheng led the group into the Zhao Family's secret chamber, the air was thick with the pungent scent of medicine and blood.

The secret chamber was located three levels underground, its walls lined with various clay jars containing many wriggling Gu Insects.

Inside a hidden compartment in the chamber, several exquisite small jade boxes were neatly arranged.

The first contained an inner core with a crimson luster.

Second-tier demonic beast Blazing Fire Python inner core

When the second was opened, a pair of white crystals radiating a chilling aura appeared.

Second-tier demonic beast Ice Pole Silkworm essence

Li Pingsheng's fingers brushed over these boxes one by one.

I've struck it rich.

Li Pingsheng touched the Peace Talisman tucked into his chest, then looked at the Head of True Transmission medal in his hand.

Only when something is held in one's own hands is it truly real.

"Brother Qingshan."

"Brother Li, yes?"

"If there is any more high-tier demonic beast meat from the Zhao Family, send it to my courtyard."

Li Pingsheng said casually as he walked out.

"Understood, consider it done."

Lu Qingshan agreed, clearly delighted.