Hidden Origin Peak Was Full of Traps

"What do you mean?"

Cang Wenyu looked at Xu Kun in confusion.

"Hidden Origin Peak was established because Changzhi's parents intended to train a group of elite disciples in secret."

"But before they could truly begin, those things happened."

"Making Changzhi the peak master was mainly meant to carry on his parents' wishes. Peak Master Xu, you should know all this."

"Of course." Xu Kun nodded. "But is there anything special about Changzhi himself?"

"Changzhi himself?"

Cang Wenyu pondered for a moment and looked at Xu Kun.

"Is there anything special about him?"

The corner of Xu Kun's mouth twitched. "Sect Master, I'm asking you."

Even now, he was still keeping it from him.

"Did something happen?" Cang Wenyu asked.

Xu Kun recounted what had happened earlier, then said:

"Changzhi seems to act casually, but I always feel it's not that simple."

"And despite my realm, I couldn't probe his true realm."

That, too, was an unexpected discovery.

Though the Five Symbols Sect's cultivation techniques could conceal one's presence, someone at a higher realm could still see through them.

Cang Wenyu's brow twitched, and he rose to his feet.

"It's been a long time since I visited Hidden Origin Peak. I should go take a look."

"Use."

On Hidden Origin Peak, Lu Changzhi spoke silently in his heart.

"Whoosh."

A flash of light entered the ground below.

A few breaths later, the system's voice rang out.

"The Myriad Phenomena Slaughter Array has been deployed."

At the same time, information flooded into Lu Changzhi's mind.

It was the method for controlling the slaughter array and the range it covered.

The initial slaughter array had a limited range, covering only the whole of Hidden Origin Peak.

At that moment, everything within the slaughter array appeared in Lu Changzhi's mind.

Lu Changzhi had a feeling.

The power of heaven and earth on Hidden Origin Peak was entirely under his control.

With a single thought,

he could have the slaughter array unleash a terrifying attack.

"This counts as having a foundation now."

Lu Changzhi nodded in satisfaction.

Although his strength was not very great at the moment, this Myriad Phenomena Slaughter Array made this his home ground.

"Peak Master Xu, did you sense anything just now?"

In midair, Cang Wenyu stopped, his expression grave.

"It seemed to be the presence of an array, and a very powerful one at that."

Xu Kun's gaze hardened slightly.

"Could you tell what kind of array it was?" Cang Wenyu pressed.

In that brief instant, he had felt an instinctive terror.

It was as though he were nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at any moment.

"No." Xu Kun shook his head.

"It's vanished completely. It was there for too short a time just now to tell what kind of array it was."

"But it was definitely an incredibly powerful slaughter array."

Cang Wenyu took a deep breath.

"This is no small matter. Peak Master Xu, sorry for the trouble, but please conduct a thorough search over the next few days."

Xu Kun nodded.

"I was thinking the same thing. I just don't know who could have deployed such a slaughter array without a sound."

"Come on, let's go to Hidden Origin Peak first," Cang Wenyu said.

"Sect Master, Peak Master Xu."

Seeing the two men, Lu Changzhi greeted them with a smile.

"What brings you to Hidden Origin Peak?"

"I heard you took in another personal disciple, Changzhi, so I came especially to take a look."

Cang Wenyu smiled as he spoke.

As he did, he tried to probe Lu Changzhi's realm.

The next moment, his heart jolted.

He, too, was unable to see through Lu Changzhi's true realm.

To his spiritual sense, Lu Changzhi was like a cloud of smoke, impossible to gauge.

"So you came for them."

Realization dawned on Lu Changzhi's face, and he called out:

"Mu Fan, come quickly! The sect master has come to give you a welcome gift."

Cang Wenyu: "???"

When did I say I came to give a gift?

This brat's already setting me up?

Just then, Mu Fan sauntered out with a lazy look on his face.

"Disciple Mu Fan greets the sect master and Peak Master Xu."

Cang Wenyu came back to his senses and sized Mu Fan up.

"Not bad. You do have an impressive bearing."

With that, he flipped his hand, produced an item, and said:

"This is a spirit-gathering cushion. Sit cross-legged on it while cultivating, and it will increase your cultivation speed. Consider it a welcome gift."

The top-grade Heaven Rank cushion was worth a great deal and could make cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Mu Fan did not refuse. He bowed and accepted it.

"Sect Master, did you notice anything?"

Xu Kun asked through a secret voice transmission.

"There doesn't seem to be anything special about Mu Fan," Cang Wenyu said, somewhat uncertain.

From what he could tell, Mu Fan was practically a mortal.

He was even more ordinary than Lu Changzhi.

Then he looked at Luo Ling'er and Jin Fugui.

They, too, seemed to be mortals who had barely come into contact with cultivation.

Could it be that Changzhi really was just acting on a whim?

The possibility flashed through Cang Wenyu's mind.

"Sect Master Cang, Peak Master Xu."

Gu Chen also came out and greeted them.

Cang Wenyu nodded. As if suddenly noticing something, he looked toward a corner of the courtyard.

"Hm?"

A look of surprise and doubt flashed across Cang Wenyu's face, and he turned to Lu Changzhi.

"Changzhi, are you raising this demonic beast?"

"Yes." Lu Changzhi nodded.

"What do you think of this little fellow, Sect Master?"

Xu Kun looked over as well, and a grave look soon appeared in his eyes.

"This demonic beast is extraordinary."

"It certainly is." Cang Wenyu nodded.

"It looks like it's still just a cub, yet its physical presence is already so powerful. Once it grows up, I'm afraid..."

At this point, Cang Wenyu found it somewhat unbelievable.

"Changzhi, where did you get this demonic beast?"

Some elders of the Five Symbols Sect also raised demonic beasts, but compared to the one before him, the gap was far too great.

By a conservative estimate, once this demonic beast matured, it would be at least equivalent to the Dao Comprehension Realm.

Lu Changzhi smiled.

"This little fellow was drawn here by the fragrance of the tea."

"Hm?"

Cang Wenyu was taken aback.

It was unexpected, but it also made some sense.

After all, that was Dao Comprehension Tea.

But...

"Changzhi, this demonic beast is still young. Drinking tea won't help it much."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Changzhi sighed.

"There's nothing I can do. The resources on the peak are limited, and keeping this little fellow fed..."

As he spoke, Lu Changzhi looked at Cang Wenyu and blinked.

Hidden Origin Peak has changed somewhat...

Cang Wenyu reflected.

It's full of traps.

I've run into two in no time at all.

"I'll discuss this with the other peak masters. Given this demonic beast's potential, the sect can cover the resources needed to raise it."

Cang Wenyu agreed.

"Generous as ever, Sect Master." Lu Changzhi gave him a thoroughly satisfied thumbs-up.

Not far away, Gu Chen suddenly felt much greater pressure.

This isn't good.

If the sect takes over raising it, will I still be able to beat it later?!

"Changzhi, we've been chatting for so long. How about sitting down for a rest and some tea?"

Cang Wenyu said with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, he took out a chair and sat down.

Since I'm already here...

Lu Changzhi shook his head with a smile, gave Gu Chen an instruction, then took out a chair and sat down as well.

Come to think of it, I haven't checked the sect master's realm yet. I wonder how much he's hiding.

The thought occurred to Lu Changzhi.

System, check attributes.