Chapter 48: At the Crest of Wind and Waves

The ethereal master glanced at Zhang Xiao and said, “You rarely ask me questions, but today you come with two. I suppose they are not simple matters.” Zhang Xiao nodded. The master continued, “Speak, as long as it does not concern the secrets of heaven.” Hearing this, Zhang Xiao understood that some things his teacher knew but was forbidden from telling, likely bound by the laws of fate. Yet his own question might not touch upon those secrets, so he said, “Though I possess the Bone Black Wind Fan, I wish to forge a magical treasure myself, using the supreme materials of the Lunar and Solar stones. However, I do not know what kind of weapon would best harness their qualities. Please guide me, Master.”

The master pondered for a moment and replied, “There are not many treasures of the yin-yang type, but at least thirty-eight varieties exist. I see your physical strength is formidable and the path of close combat suits you well. Why not forge a set of melee weapons? Here is a manuscript detailing the types of yin-yang treasures; take it for reference. If you had come to me earlier, I could have helped, but now time is too short. In seven days, the Great Competition of the Nine Sects begins. Even if I wished to assist, it’s too late. You will have to wait until after the competition to craft your weapons.”

Zhang Xiao did not mind; after all, he still had the Crystal Demon Staff, and there was no urgency for another treasure. Taking the manuscript from the master, Zhang Xiao revealed the attribute chart on his wrist and said, “Master, when the world changed for the first time, I heard the term ‘data era.’ Yet, apart from this attribute chart, nothing else seems related to data.”

The master replied, “After the Nine Sects Competition, you will naturally understand. Now is not the time to speak of it.” With a gesture to the sky, he indicated that the question touched upon the secrets of heaven. Zhang Xiao could only accept this with resignation. Having asked what he needed and said what he must, he bowed and took his leave. With seven days left, he needed to focus on stabilizing his cultivation.

Under Qingsong’s guidance, Zhang Xiao strode toward the training grounds in the rear mountains. He saw spiritual energy within a hundred miles frantically converging to a valley. The closer he approached, the denser the aura became. Zhang Xiao was astonished, not expecting the sect leader Kong Xuan to display such grandeur; a year would surely allow many disciples to break through to the Golden Core stage.

Entering the valley, Zhang Xiao saw the spiritual energy gathering into droplets, falling continuously from the sky. The valley was vast, yet the thousand inner disciples seated there seemed sparse. Sweeping his gaze, he noticed dozens of Golden Core experts present, while most others had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, only a step away from breaking through. This impressed Zhang Xiao greatly and deepened his admiration for Kong Xuan.

Zhang Xiao’s arrival drew much attention. Most disciples eyed him with caution and disdain, some with mocking amusement. Back then, Zhang Xiao had killed more than ten inner disciples by force, and even the sect leader and the punishment elder had not mentioned it. Now, though they could not discern Zhang Xiao’s cultivation, the dozens of Golden Core disciples present would no longer fear him. Zhang Xiao paid no heed to these hostile glances and strode toward a stone platform, only to find them quickly occupied—whether by accident or intent—mostly by Golden Core experts, unafraid of his power.

Stunned, Zhang Xiao realized he was almost a public enemy in the sect. But he did not bother with it; instead, he turned toward a patch of grass nearby.

“Oh, how thoughtless you all are! This is our outer sect elder, equal in rank to the punishment elder. How can you let him sit on the grass? Ha ha ha!” Wang Yanbo stood from a nearby stone platform, laughing. Wang Yanbo had now reached the Golden Core stage, able to fully wield the Five-Colored Armor, and with the sect leader’s support, had obtained the eighth-grade treasure, the Heavenly Demon Banner. He was now recognized as the foremost disciple in the sect. Upon seeing Zhang Xiao, old grievances surged forth.

Zhang Xiao ignored him. In his eyes, Wang Yanbo, despite reaching the Golden Core, remained a waste. Only the weak needed to be gifted treasures for protection; true strength was forged through trials, not by relying on others. Lacking a stone platform for meditation did not trouble Zhang Xiao. He simply rummaged through his bone ring and produced a massive jade platform—crafted from the Supreme Yang Jade he found in the Bat Cave. Since acquiring it, Zhang Xiao had refined it into a lotus jade platform. The Supreme Yang Jade was itself a powerful aid for cultivation, lively and spiritual; now, as a spiritual treasure, it was even more remarkable and far more valuable than ordinary magical weapons.

Seated upon the lotus platform, Zhang Xiao drew in the valley’s dense spiritual aura, making the emerald lotus appear ethereal and enchanting. Compared to the stone platforms beneath other disciples, Zhang Xiao’s seat highlighted his extraordinary status. Many Golden Core disciples frowned at Zhang Xiao’s ostentatious display, and his reputation for slaughtering fellow disciples only heightened their hostility. Wang Yanbo was furious—Zhang Xiao’s look of contempt toward him remained unchanged, even after he reached Golden Core. This intensified Wang Yanbo’s hatred, but with Zhang Xiao now an outer sect elder, he dared not act. Otherwise, he would have summoned the Heavenly Demon Banner and reduced Zhang Xiao to dust.

Six days passed in the blink of an eye, and today was the final day. All disciples cherished this time, devoting themselves to cultivation. A clear bell sounded in the valley, awakening everyone from their meditation. The sect leader Kong Xuan stood at the entrance, holding a small jade bell. Though it appeared ordinary, a mere tap had roused every disciple, proving it a magical treasure. Kong Xuan held the bell and said, “This jade bell is called the Celestial Sound Bell, a ninth-grade treasure of unparalleled power.”

His abrupt announcement made eyes light up throughout the valley, knowing the sect leader intended to bestow it. All began to speculate who would receive it. Kong Xuan pushed the Celestial Sound Bell toward Zhang Xiao, sending waves of bell sound rolling toward him. Zhang Xiao inwardly cursed his luck—receiving a treasure so publicly would paint him as a target, deepening his notoriety among the inner disciples. Yet, since the treasure was given, he could not refuse. As the bell sound surged, Zhang Xiao spread his hands, using the Jiao Dragon Emerges technique, and firmly grasped the palm-sized Celestial Sound Bell.

The bell’s shockwaves struck Zhang Xiao, but did not move him in the slightest. The ethereal master laughed, “Ha ha, I meant to test your cultivation, but since you’ve caught the Celestial Sound Bell, it’s yours.” Zhang Xiao secretly cursed, “What kind of test is this? Bestowing a treasure yet stoking the other disciples’ resentment—what a sly old fox.” Though he grumbled inwardly, he respectfully replied, “Thank you, Supreme Master, for your gift.” From the corner of his eye, Zhang Xiao saw Kong Xuan wink at him, as if to say, “I’m deliberately putting you in the hot seat—what will you do about it?”

Predictably, Kong Xuan’s words stirred discontent among the disciples. A few quietly withdrew to observe, but most fixed their gaze on the jade bell in Zhang Xiao’s hand, wishing to kill him and seize it. “Master, Elder Zhang’s cultivation is profound. Keeping the jade bell in his hands would merely enhance his glory. Why not bestow it upon a disciple of lower cultivation, to strengthen their abilities? Would that not be better?” A Golden Core disciple stepped forward respectfully. His words won approval from others—though none expected the treasure would ultimately be theirs, so long as the master spoke, they had a chance. Even if it did not end up with them, they could not let Zhang Xiao have it.

Kong Xuan looked troubled. “My words, once spoken, are like water spilled; they cannot be easily taken back. However, if Elder Zhang is willing to let go of the treasure, I have nothing more to say.” With a deft move, he shifted all blame to Zhang Xiao. Zhang Xiao felt helpless—everyone saw the sect leader’s trick, but what could they do? The allure of a ninth-grade treasure focused every gaze upon him. This was an open scheme; even knowing its workings, one was forced into the game. Zhang Xiao even had to thank Kong Xuan for the gift. He truly needed the treasure and could not relinquish it.

The disciples, unwilling to let Zhang Xiao have the treasure, now eyed him hungrily. Zhang Xiao’s face turned cold as he stored the Celestial Sound Bell in his bone ring, addressing Kong Xuan again, “Thank you for the gift, Master. I will ensure the treasure does not gather dust.” His words made it clear he would not yield the treasure, provoking even greater dissatisfaction. A Golden Core disciple stepped forward, bowing to Zhang Xiao, “Elder Zhang, your powers are vast. Last time, even a dozen disciples together were no match for you in the teleportation array. This treasure will not help you much—why not bestow it upon another? That disciple would surely be forever grateful.”

Zhang Xiao recognized this Golden Core disciple as Jin Wulei, who had fought Li Sheng to a draw at the Maoshan competition, and was noticed by Kong Xuan for his ability to unleash sword energy at will even at the Qi-Condensing stage, earning him a place in the top ten.