Each Harbored Their Own Schemes

Only one day remained until the Inner Sect Test.

The atmosphere throughout both the inner and outer sects of the Azure Cloud Sect had grown tense.

Across the outer sect square, disciples preparing for the test could be seen everywhere—polishing their weapons, regulating their breath in cultivation, and exchanging rumors about the Azure Cloud Sword Formation.

All kinds of rumors circulated far and wide.

One piece of news quietly spread: although Shen Yuan had luckily broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm, he had lacked spiritual medicine during his breakthrough, leaving his foundation unstable and his true qi lacking endurance. Though he appeared to have entered the Early Meridian Opening Stage, his actual combat strength was supposedly not even comparable to that of a top Body Tempering Ninth Stage cultivator.

This rumor was precisely the smokescreen Wang Dong had deliberately spread at Shen Yuan's instruction.

As the rumor spread ever wider, it soon reached the inner sect.

Inner sect, Xiao Wuji's residence.

The courtyard was elegant, with pavilions and towers, flowers and plants trimmed with meticulous care. Dressed in a moon-white inner sect uniform, Xiao Wuji idly played with a jade token as he listened to a servant report the news gathered from the outer sect.

"...The outer sect is saying that Shen Yuan's foundation is unstable after breaking through to the Meridian Opening Realm, that his true qi is insubstantial, and that his actual combat ability is worrying." The servant bowed as he reported. "It is said that he did not obtain a proper Meridian-Coagulating Flower when he broke through. He only used a few low-grade substitutes to force his way into the next realm, leaving behind no small hidden danger."

A cold curve rose at the corner of Xiao Wuji's lips.

He was still holding the secret letter Zhao Kun had sent from Wall-Facing Cliff. The letter meticulously recorded all of Shen Yuan's combat habits during the Outer Sect Assessment: he excelled at circling and entangling opponents, using skill to overcome strength, while his physical resistance to attacks was comparatively weak.

"Forcing a breakthrough with insufficient spiritual medicine? Heaven truly favors me." Xiao Wuji murmured, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes. "I had originally been wary of his combat strength. But if his true qi is unstable, then after the alterations to the seventh layer, the sword formation will be enough to leave him there forever."

The servant cautiously said, "Senior Brother, if Shen Yuan truly falls within the sword formation, and the elders investigate deeply..."

"Investigate what?" Xiao Wuji cast the servant an indifferent glance. "The Azure Cloud Sword Formation was perilous to begin with. Throughout the years, disciples have died while attempting its trials. Before the test, I completed all the proper registrations for every Spirit Crystal and formation inscription. Even if they review matters afterward, they will only see that the formation operated normally. They will not detect the minor trick of my temporarily switching the Spirit Crystal output. Conditions within the formation change in the blink of an eye. Who can tell whether he lacked the strength or whether there was a problem with the formation?"

He had long since calculated everything perfectly. Every procedure on the surface had been made watertight. All he needed was for the test to begin; then, atop the Formation Control Platform, he would secretly manipulate the mechanism, connect additional high-grade Spirit Crystals, and make the flying swords of the seventh layer surge in power and mince Shen Yuan to death.

"Has Zhao Kun's side been answered?" Xiao Wuji asked.

"A reply has already been sent. The news has been delivered to Wall-Facing Cliff. Zhao Kun was greatly pleased upon learning it and hopes Shen Yuan will die within the sword formation," the servant answered.

Xiao Wuji gave a slight nod. "For tomorrow's test, have every guard disciple keep a close watch on the Formation Base Hall. No idle person is to approach the Formation Control Platform. No one may interfere with the sword formation's operation."

"Yes!" The servant bowed to accept the order, then withdrew.

Only Xiao Wuji remained in the courtyard. He looked toward the direction of the Azure Cloud Sword Formation, his gaze icy.

A brat born a menial had risen all the way up, repeatedly frustrated Zhao Kun, and even earned Elder Zhang's favor. If Shen Yuan successfully entered the inner sect, he would inevitably become a threat in the future. He would use this opportunity to remove him through the sword formation and uproot the trouble once and for all.

Meanwhile, in Shen Yuan's small outer sect courtyard.

Wang Dong returned from outside, drenched in sweat.

"It's done. The rumors are flying all over the place. I just mingled near the foot of the inner sect mountain and even overheard Xiao Wuji's servants talking. From the looks of it, they believe most of it. They think your foundation is unstable after your breakthrough." Wang Dong panted. "But I also learned some bad news. Xiao Wuji spent the entire day inside the Formation Base Hall of the sword formation, adjusting the formation. All the guards have been replaced by his trusted men. Ordinary menials cannot even get within a hundred paces of the hall. We have no chance at all of approaching the Formation Control Platform, so there is no way to confirm whether he has installed additional Spirit Crystals."

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, unsurprised.

Xiao Wuji held a position in the inner sect and possessed authority over the guards. He would naturally keep the crucial positions firmly in the hands of his own people. Obtaining evidence in advance was almost impossible.

"Since we cannot learn in advance how extensively the formation has been altered, then we can only adapt once I enter it tomorrow." Shen Yuan slowly rose to his feet and walked to the window, looking toward the towering inner sect peaks in the distance. "Tomorrow, I will enter the sword formation alone. Everything outside the formation will be entrusted to you."

"Leave it to me." Wang Dong's expression turned solemn. "I will blend into the spectators. The moment the formation's spiritual light fluctuates with abnormal intensity, it will mean something has gone wrong inside. I will immediately find Elder Zhang and remind him to watch the sword formation's condition. But I have no evidence. I can only warn him; I cannot demand that he shut down the formation."

"That will be enough," Shen Yuan said. "At the very least, it will make Elder Zhang more vigilant. If danger beyond all reason arises within the formation, the elders can react more quickly."

Night slowly descended.

The final night before the test.

Shen Yuan cast aside every distracting thought.

Seated upon a meditation cushion in the quiet room, he no longer conducted high-intensity deductions or expended his spiritual consciousness. He merely slowly circulated the Optimized Azure Cloud Inner Breath Art, stabilizing his Early Meridian Opening Stage cultivation, nurturing his spiritual consciousness, and conserving his strength.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Martial Arts Heavenly Stele floated silently, with 4 Martial Dao Points remaining.

It was not much, but it was enough to reserve for emergency deductions.

Scenes of simulated formation-clearing flashed through his mind one after another. Three sets of contingency plans were already etched into his heart.

He understood clearly.

Tomorrow's Azure Cloud Sword Formation would not be a simple sect assessment.

It would be a fight to the death.

Xiao Wuji had laid down a deadly trap. Killing intent lurked within the flying swords. In the seventh layer, who knew what kind of danger awaited him.

If he cleared the trial successfully, he could enter the inner sect, gain greater cultivation resources, and take another step toward uncovering the truth of how this body's innate roots had been crippled.

If he failed, at best he would lose his qualification for the inner sect; at worst, he would die beneath the swords.

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, daylight shone brightly.

At the Azure Cloud Sword Formation square, colored banners fluttered in the wind.

The enormous foundation of the formation stretched across the earth, countless formation inscriptions faintly flowing over the ground as pale spiritual light rose into the air. Many outer sect disciples, elders, and inner sect disciples had arrived to observe the ceremony.

"Shen Yuan, it is time to set out." Wang Dong's voice sounded from outside the courtyard gate.

Shen Yuan opened his eyes, rose to his feet, and took a deep breath.

The decisive battle was about to arrive.