Heavenly Origin Peak ranked ninth among the Azure Yang Sword Sect's thirty-six peaks.
And the Peak Masters of the Azure Yang Sword Sect's top ten peaks were all in the King Realm.
Although the vast majority were at the King Realm First Layer, the King Realm was still the King Realm! Without entering the King Realm, even someone at Tribulation Realm Ninth Layer Perfection was no different from an ant in their eyes.
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master's arrival puzzled Lin Xuan somewhat. Ordinarily, he had no dealings with this Heavenly Origin Peak Master and had no idea what the man wanted with him this time.
But regardless, the other man was a genuine King Realm powerhouse, and Lin Xuan still had to show him the proper respect.
"So it is the Heavenly Origin Peak Master gracing us with his presence. Forgive me for not coming out to welcome you."
Yet faced with Lin Xuan's welcome, the Heavenly Origin Peak Master merely nodded, then turned from guest to host and strode into the main hall first, as though this were not Starfall Peak but his own Heavenly Origin Peak.
This gesture made Lin Xuan's brows furrow slightly.
After entering the main hall, before Lin Xuan could ask the reason for his visit, the Heavenly Origin Peak Master spoke first. "I have come for just one matter.
"Starfall Peak Master, would you be interested in joining the Holy Son's camp?"
At these words, Lin Xuan froze.
Join... the Holy Son's camp?
Was he trying to recruit me?
Lin Xuan knew a little about the struggle between the sect's Holy Son and Holy Maiden.
The Azure Yang Sword Sect was not united from top to bottom, but divided into two major factions that kept each other in check.
The Holy Son's faction and the Holy Maiden's faction.
The Holy Son, Lu Tianxing, and the Holy Maiden, Li Fufeng.
Backing the Holy Son was the Azure Yang Sword Sect's Second Peak Master. The supporter behind the Holy Maiden, Li Fufeng, was the First Peak Master.
Rather than a struggle between the Holy Son and Holy Maiden, it was more a struggle between the Second Peak Master and First Peak Master.
The two sides had been fighting both openly and in the shadows for far more than a day or two.
The Holy Maiden's faction had always held a slight advantage, until a year ago, when the Second Peak Master broke through to the King Realm Third Layer and changed that.
The Azure Yang Sword Sect had more than ten King Realm powerhouses, but most were at the King Realm First Layer. Only the Peak Masters of the top three peaks were at the King Realm Second Layer or above.
A large part of the reason the Holy Maiden's faction had always held the upper hand was that the First Peak Master backing her was a King Realm Third Layer powerhouse, the strongest person in the Azure Yang Sword Sect apart from the Sect Master and Supreme Elder.
The Second Peak Master was at King Realm Second Layer Perfection, so in terms of top-level combat strength, the Holy Maiden's camp stood a head above the Holy Son's.
But all of this changed half a year ago, after the Second Peak Master broke through to the King Realm Third Layer.
In particular, there was also a rumor within the sect that the Third Peak, which had never participated in the struggle between the two factions, had recently shown signs of drawing closer to the Second Peak. This left the Holy Maiden's side not merely without any advantage, but at a disadvantage instead.
If the rumor proved true and the Third Peak Master really joined the Holy Son's faction, then the Holy Son's faction would hold an overwhelming advantage.
All along, Lin Xuan had remained neutral. More accurately, he had been forced to remain neutral.
Because no one had tried to recruit him in the first place, especially after he failed to break through to the King Realm and his cultivation fell to the Tribulation Realm Seventh Layer.
And now someone had actually come to recruit me?
It seemed the struggle between the two sides was nearing its end.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Xuan asked, "If I join, what benefits would I receive?"
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master glanced at Lin Xuan. "Benefits? Once His Highness becomes the Young Sect Master, you will remain the Peak Master of your Starfall Peak."
At these words, Lin Xuan's expression turned cold.
He was no fool. Naturally, he understood what the Heavenly Origin Peak Master meant.
This was a benefit? A threat was more like it.
What the Heavenly Origin Peak Master meant was that as long as Lin Xuan agreed to join the Holy Son's camp, then after the Holy Son defeated the Holy Maiden and was appointed Young Sect Master, Lin Xuan would remain Starfall Peak Master.
But conversely, if Lin Xuan refused to join the Holy Son's camp...
Then, sorry, he would simply be stripped of his position as Starfall Peak Master when the time came!
What kind of recruitment was this? He had come to threaten me.
"Well? You should know that within the sect, people at the Tribulation Realm Seventh Layer like you may not be numerous, but they are hardly few."
"And among those people, quite a few covet your position as Starfall Peak Master."
Lin Xuan's expression was rather dark as he said in a low voice, "Is this your intention, or the Holy Son's?"
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master sneered. "It is both my intention and His Highness's. Enough. Give me your answer."
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master was already growing somewhat impatient.
As a dignified King Realm powerhouse, coming in person to recruit Lin Xuan was, in his view, already showing Lin Xuan a great deal of respect.
"I will not see you out."
It would have been one thing to receive no benefits, but now he was threatening me instead?
Even a clay figurine had a measure of temper, let alone Lin Xuan.
Even the former Lin Xuan would not have compromised, much less the man he was now.
"Oh?"
Lin Xuan's answer clearly surprised the Heavenly Origin Peak Master somewhat. In his view, although he had promised no benefits, allowing Lin Xuan to continue serving as Starfall Peak Master after His Highness was appointed Young Sect Master was already the greatest "benefit" of all.
But Lin Xuan seemed rather ignorant of what was good for him.
"Fine!"
"I hope you do not regret today's decision."
With that, the Heavenly Origin Peak Master stayed no longer and left outright.
"You too."
Watching his departing figure, Lin Xuan spoke coldly.
Hearing this, the Heavenly Origin Peak Master gave a contemptuous smile and left without another word. He did not take Lin Xuan's words to heart at all.
He would regret it?
What a joke.
When the Heavenly Origin Peak Master returned and told the Holy Son, Lu Tianxing, about this, Lu Tianxing smiled faintly, not caring in the slightest.
"No matter."
He was merely someone at the Tribulation Realm Seventh Layer. Before the great tide of events, whether he joined or not would make no difference.
Since the man did not want his position as Starfall Peak Master, Lu Tianxing would not force him.
"Elder Jin, I heard you broke through a while ago?" The Heavenly Origin Peak Master suddenly looked toward a white-robed old man standing not far beside him.
Hearing this, the white-robed old man cupped his hands slightly toward the Heavenly Origin Peak Master. "Reporting to the Peak Master, this old man just broke through to the Tribulation Realm Sixth Layer not long ago."
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master nodded, then looked at Lu Tianxing. "Your Highness, how about... letting Elder Jin take the position of Starfall Peak Master?"
Lu Tianxing paused, then understood, seeing through the Heavenly Origin Peak Master's little scheme. He shook his head with a smile. "Very well."
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master laughed heartily.
The Tribulation Realm Sixth Layer was, in truth, somewhat too low to serve as the master of a peak.
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master's main purpose in doing this was to spite Lin Xuan. This was the price of refusing him!
So what if his cultivation was lower than yours?
Choose the right master, and he could still become the master of a peak!
The Heavenly Origin Peak Master was rather looking forward to it. When that Starfall Peak Master saw Elder Jin, whose cultivation was lower than his, replace him as Starfall Peak Master, the expression on his face would surely be quite a sight.
Upon hearing this, Elder Jin's aged face flushed, and he bowed to Lu Tianxing and the Heavenly Origin Peak Master in excitement!