Hanging Moon Peak, in the Eastern Lands.
As one of the twenty-eight peaks of the Five Lotus Sect, a great Daoist sect, it was once again wreathed in spiritual energy, with clouds billowing and rosy mists rising.
In a clearing at the foot of the mountain, dozens of disciples stood about, waiting for an elder from the mountain to come down and explain cultivation techniques.
Those who knew one another had already begun discussing the latest news they had heard.
Suddenly, a square-faced disciple casually let slip, "I heard Senior Brother Li Yu failed Foundation Establishment."
The moment he said this, the chatter stopped, and everyone turned to look at him.
The square-faced disciple was named Wang Xiang. Having so many eyes on him for the first time made him rather nervous. But when he thought of the person behind the scenes who had instructed him to spread this news, he forced himself to remain calm.
Just then, another sigh sounded. It came from a beautiful female disciple in a green dress named Xu Yao. "To think even Senior Brother Wang has heard about it. Ah, what a shame about Senior Brother Li."
Wang Xiang froze briefly, then exchanged a glance with Xu Yao and immediately understood that she, too, had come with a task.
With two people saying the same thing in succession, the other disciples began to believe it.
"I thought Senior Brother Li Yu would leap through the dragon gate like a carp. Who knew he'd fail? All those gifts I gave him were wasted!" One disciple beat his chest and stamped his feet, full of regret.
"I knew all along he wasn't up to it. He only reached the perfection of Qi Refinement because he had good luck and plenty of resources."
"Hmph, I hope he isn't dead. After everything he swallowed from us, we'll make him spit it all back out..."
Li Yu had been an outstanding figure among Hanging Moon Peak's outer disciples. For precisely that reason, whenever the elders came down from the mountain to give lectures, they notified him first and put him in charge of organizing everything.
Merely arranging the seats for the lectures had earned him meals and favors from plenty of disciples eager to curry favor.
He was the head senior brother of this generation's outer disciples.
Upon hearing that he had failed Foundation Establishment, some felt sorry for him, but far more gloated over his misfortune, or even seethed with resentment and anger.
Among them, a young man in splendid robes covered his mouth with his folding fan to hide his smile.
Just then, a brilliant sword light shone at the horizon, like a long bridge stretching from the mountaintop to its foot. An old man with a long beard descended upon it, accompanied by a handsome young Daoist.
"Greetings, Elder Wu."
At the sight, all the disciples in the clearing bowed respectfully.
The long-bearded old man was Wu Su, a Foundation Establishment elder of Hanging Moon Peak. Yet many disciples were looking at the young Daoist beside him, who was none other than Li Yu.
Seeing Elder Wu personally escort Li Yu, everyone began wondering whether Wang Xiang's news might have been false.
At that thought, the few who had spoken disrespectfully just now immediately regretted it.
Wang Xiang, in particular, could not stop trembling and breaking out in a cold sweat. He was already thinking about how to defect and flee.
"Sit down, everyone." Wu Su waved his hand, then asked, "Everyone has been notified, I trust?"
Zeng Yang, the richly dressed young man holding the folding fan, immediately stepped forward and rushed to answer. "Apart from those away on assignments, all the outer disciples currently on Hanging Moon Peak are here today."
"Mm." Wu Su nodded and pointed to the young Daoist beside him as he made an announcement. "Li Yu is warmhearted and diligent in his work, but for personal reasons, he can no longer serve as the outer disciples' head senior brother."
As soon as those words fell, everyone understood that the rumor was true.
Li Yu had failed Foundation Establishment.
Wang Xiang, who had been keeping his head lowered, let out a long breath, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and straightened his back.
"Zeng Yang handled Li Yu's duties during his seclusion and did reasonably well. He will continue in the role from now on."
Once Wu Su finished speaking, Zeng Yang accepted on the spot without the slightest show of modesty.
Still, he made a hypocritical show of addressing Li Yu. "If I fall short in any way in the future, please offer me your guidance, Senior Brother."
"Of course, of course." Li Yu forced out a faint smile, preserving their outward harmony.
By then, Wu Su had seated himself on the large rock in the middle of the clearing, ready to begin his lecture.
Circulating his true essence, Zeng Yang called out in all directions, brimming with satisfaction. "Today's lecture is beginning. Fellow disciples, please take your seats."
With that, Zeng Yang claimed the seat closest to the large rock without hesitation.
At the sight, Li Yu clenched his fists.
That had once been his seat. Even while he was in seclusion, it had been left empty as a mark of respect.
But as an old hand in the cultivation world, Li Yu still accepted this reality.
He had already exhausted his lifetime's accumulated resources on Foundation Establishment. Surviving his failure had been fortunate enough. What he needed to consider next was how to live out his remaining years in peace.
Besides, the vast wilderness of mountains and seas held countless wonders and treasures. Perhaps one day he would stumble upon an opportunity that could heal his injuries, or even let him advance further.
As long as he lived, there was hope.
Just as Li Yu was consoling himself and preparing to sit down for the lecture, to reorganize his understanding of cultivation techniques, someone blocked his way.
"Senior Brother Li, this is my seat. Please move aside." It was Wang Xiang who spoke, his eyes narrowed and his expression cold.
Li Yu's brows knitted with suppressed anger. In the past, a mere sixth-layer Qi Refinement nobody like this had not even been qualified to invite him to a meal.
Quite a few people looked over, most with ill intent.
Having spent his entire life among Hanging Moon Peak's outer disciples, Li Yu recalled his own predecessor as head senior brother. After failing Foundation Establishment, that man had traded insults with junior brothers he normally looked down upon, then mysteriously disappeared one dark and windy night.
Feeling his ruptured meridians and scattered true essence, Li Yu could only swallow this humiliation for now.
But if he really let Wang Xiang climb onto his head, he would certainly never have another peaceful day. He needed to find a way to deal with him with thunderous force.
Seeing Li Yu turn away and yield, everyone was deeply disappointed.
Wu Su paid no attention to such trivial matters. To him, Li Yu, having failed Foundation Establishment, no longer had any value.
"That will be all for today. If there was anything you didn't understand, I happen to have some free time recently. Anyone wishing to seek private supplementary lessons should register with Zeng Yang first." With that, Wu Su waved his hand, and brilliant sword light rose beneath his feet, carrying him away.
Upon hearing this, several disciples in the front rows looked at Zeng Yang with both envy and jealousy.
Previously, Li Yu had skimmed off quite a bit by collecting tuition fees for several elders. Otherwise, he could never have afforded the spiritual items needed for Foundation Establishment.
Now Zeng Yang had secured his connection with Wu Su, but two other elders had yet to designate anyone. Several other disciples who, like Zeng Yang, were at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement exchanged hostile glances, already considering how to pull strings.
Just then, Li Yu walked over to Yin Ya, who had the highest cultivation and the most ruthless methods, and said, "Junior Brother, could we speak in private?"
Yin Ya knitted his brows slightly.
But he still showed Li Yu some respect, rising to accompany him to a corner.
Not far away, Wang Xiang, who had been planning to keep troubling Li Yu, stopped at the sight.
Then Wang Xiang saw Li Yu point at him. Yin Ya looked over as well, sized him up, and nodded.
Previously, as head senior brother, Li Yu had collected lecture fees on behalf of all three elders of Hanging Moon Peak. Although he had now failed Foundation Establishment, if he was willing to recommend someone, and Yin Ya knew how to conduct himself, the other two elders would presumably give him due consideration.
Li Yu used that favor to have Yin Ya help him deal with Wang Xiang.
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