Ann Tu Ning sneered inwardly. This was her source of confidence—Walter Teng would never have dreamed that the Origin Dao Sect would achieve a top-fifty result.
Not far from Ann Tu Ning, a long-bearded man showed a trace of a cold smile at the corner of his eye. He had received word two days ago that the Origin Dao Sect had achieved unprecedented success in this Dao River Pill Competition. This Walter Teng only knew how to stir up internal strife and probably never imagined Ann Tu Ning would do so well—he was even too lazy to inquire about it.
Yet he did not stand up to refute Walter Teng. Walter Teng colluded with two elders, abusing his power for personal gain, and the disciples he recruited grew worse with each passing year. As the Peak Lord of Heritage Peak, he felt this most keenly.
Felix Xuan had just emerged from seclusion and was unaware of the Origin Dao Sect’s results in the Pill Competition. Looking at Ann Tu Ning, his tone was somewhat displeased: “Valley Master Ann Tu, matters within the sect can be discussed and negotiated. Though our Origin Dao Sect has long lagged behind in alchemy, the Grand Dao River Pill Tournament is not just about face—it also concerns our sect’s voice in the domain. You were far too hasty this time.”
He didn’t need Walter Teng to spell it out—he knew the Origin Dao Sect’s results couldn’t be good. If they were, Walter Teng wouldn’t have used this as an excuse to speak up.
Ann Tu Ning stepped forward and cupped her fists. “I fully agree with the Sect Master. I believe that, in the face of sect interests, personal grudges should be set aside. Yet Peak Lord Wang deliberately tried to make me lose in this Pill Competition, so the sect would punish me. He even had all our alchemists leave the sect during the competition. The Origin Dao Sect only has a handful of alchemists, and when I needed them for the tournament, I couldn’t find a single one. I’d like to ask Peak Lord Wang: if everyone acted as you did, would the Origin Dao Sect even deserve to exist?”
Felix Xuan’s expression grew increasingly grim. If Walter Teng truly dared to act so, he would not be treated kindly by this Sect Master.
Walter Teng stood up, his face full of grievance. “Sect Master, elders, and fellow Peak Lords, I am at least a Peak Lord of the Origin Dao Sect and in charge of all disciples. No matter how incapable, I would never do such a thing. The Origin Dao Sect has only twenty-three alchemists, because Tranquil Mountain opened seven months ago. This was a major event, and our alchemists could not fall behind—they all went to Tranquil Mountain….”
Even Felix Xuan, upon hearing this, could only sigh inwardly.
He naturally knew of Tranquil Mountain, a divine spirit herb garden under the Alchemist Guild. Whenever Tranquil Mountain opened, all alchemists registered with the guild could go to gather divine spirit herbs—the collection period lasted a full year.
Even matters like this benefited the sect, so even Felix Xuan could not criticize it. Moreover, the alchemists’ trip to Tranquil Mountain was not ordered by Walter Teng—they made the decision themselves.
Walter Teng was not finished. He continued, “I’m not here to disparage Valley Master Ann Tu, but as the person responsible for the Grand Dao River Pill Tournament, she should have reached out to those alchemists and asked them to return. Yet, nine days before the tournament, I found not a single alchemist had come back. So I panicked and used the sect’s channels to summon them, urging their speedy return since the Pill Competition was about to begin.”
Walter Teng gave a self-deprecating laugh. “This was originally Valley Master Ann Tu’s responsibility, but she made no move at all. I had no choice but to overstep my authority and call the alchemists back. Even then, they would still arrive in time for the Pill Competition.”
Feeling quite indignant, Walter Teng’s face grew sour. “What angered me was that just as I got all the alchemists back, Valley Master Ann Tu ignored them and left the sect on her own. It’s said she took an Outer Disciple with her. I suspect she was worried about not competing, so she just registered with the Outer Disciple and came back.”
Hearing Walter Teng’s words, not only Felix Xuan, but even some Peak Lords and Hall Masters who didn’t know the truth were dissatisfied with Ann Tu Ning. Ann Tu Ning had brought an Outer Disciple to the Pill Competition, clearly just to go through the motions.
Walter Teng took a deep breath and continued, “I am not falsely accusing Valley Master Ann Tu. After she left for several days, she returned to the sect. In fact, at that time, the Pill Competition was still underway, which made me even angrier. Valley Master Ann Tu clearly went just to register. The Origin Dao Sect is one of the five great sects—if everyone acted as Valley Master Ann Tu did, could our sect survive in the Dao Domain?”
“Valley Master Ann Tu, our Origin Dao Sect’s alchemists may not match those of sects focused on alchemy, but we still have more than twenty. They went to Tranquil Mountain to gather herbs—why didn’t you call them back through the sect? The competition only requires three alchemists. You didn’t need them all, just three would have sufficed for the Dao River Pill Competition.”
Felix Xuan could only sigh. “Even if you didn’t call the alchemists back, Peak Lord Wang helped you. At the very least, you should have brought a few alchemists to compete. By sending an Outer Disciple, as Peak Lord Wang said, what does that make of our sect?”
An elder sitting near Felix Xuan sighed, “Valley Master Ann Tu truly handled this poorly—not only did she bring an Outer Disciple to compete, she also arbitrarily killed a sect disciple. Not long ago, Benedict Xun advanced to the Dao Origin stage, which meant our sect gained another second-step Dao cultivator. Valley Master Ann Tu’s actions have created a rift between the Xun Family and our Origin Dao Sect.”
Ann Tu Ning’s heart sank. Suddenly, she felt immense gratitude toward Joe Di. If Joe Di hadn’t helped her turn things around, Springvale Division wouldn’t just lose cultivation resources—she might never again sit as Valley Master, and could even be punished and confined by the sect.
Walter Teng was truly devious—before she went to compete, he had already called the sect’s alchemists back. This clearly pointed to her supposed negligence.
(This chapter isn’t over yet ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!)
It was obvious Walter Teng had plotted against her long ago. She hadn’t paid attention to the Dao Domain Alchemist Guild and failed to realize the issue with Tranquil Mountain. She tried to call the alchemists back with her personal communication pearl, but once they went to Tranquil Mountain, only the sect could summon them.
Walter Teng had set the trap well—she had walked right in without knowing. He hadn’t called the alchemists back to compete with her, but to ensure she’d be condemned today.
“Valley Master Ann Tu, do you have anything else to say?” Felix Xuan looked at Ann Tu Ning in disappointment. He had always thought highly of her, but now she had let him down.
Ann Tu Ning bowed to the Sect Master. “Sect Master, because I was unfamiliar with the Alchemist Guild, I forgot about Tranquil Mountain. I tried to call our alchemists back with my personal communication pearl, but none returned. Knowing their close ties to Walter Teng, I didn’t pursue it further. I searched everywhere for a sect alchemist to compete, and finally found a lost Pearl of Alchemy in our Origin Dao Sect…”
Walter Teng chuckled. “Valley Master Ann Tu must mean the Outer Disciple she brought, right? I wonder what place this so-called lost Pearl of Alchemy achieved in the Dao River Pill Competition?”
Ann Tu Ning ignored Walter Teng and continued to address the Sect Master. “It was truly a coincidence—just as I took that Outer Disciple to compete, all our alchemists returned, but I didn’t meet any of them. Fortunately, I lived up to expectations and won forty-eighth place for the sect in the Dao River Pill Competition. That Outer Disciple also achieved twentieth place in the individual rankings…”
“What?” Felix Xuan suddenly stood up, unable to believe Ann Tu Ning. As far as he knew, the best Origin Dao Sect had ever done in the Grand Dao River Pill Tournament was one hundred and sixteenth place. As for individual results, those were even worse. Now Ann Tu Ning claimed the sect had made the top fifty—how could he not be shocked?
Wait—a top fifty sect ranking and a top twenty individual result meant Origin Dao Sect had several slots for the Dao Domain Pill Meridian cultivation, and even one for Grandridge enlightenment! Before this, Origin Dao Sect disciples had never set foot in the Pill Meridian.
Walter Teng was stunned, then burst out laughing. “Valley Master Ann Tu, what’s the point of telling such a joke? Anyone can check the results.”
Ann Tu Ning retorted coldly, “You’re right, Walter Teng. What would be the point of making up something so easily verified?”
Walter Teng’s heart sank. That was true—Ann Tu Ning wouldn’t dare lie about something so easily checked.
Before Felix Xuan could ask, Heritage Peak Lord Xue Tian stood up, cupped his fists, and said, “Sect Master, elders, I can vouch for everything Valley Master Ann Tu said. Our Origin Dao Sect truly placed forty-eighth in this Dao River Pill Competition, and our alchemist Joe Di made the top twenty. I came to congratulate Valley Master Ann Tu today, but she was waiting for Sect Master’s return.”
Felix Xuan laughed heartily. “Valley Master Ann Tu, well done. To find such an Outer Disciple for our Origin Dao Sect under such unfavorable circumstances is truly a great achievement. Good, very good…”
Ann Tu Ning bowed again. “This Outer Disciple possessed remarkable alchemical talent, yet was left in the outer circle. Worse, Benedict Xun tried to seize his cave residence, so I killed him in anger. I believe the disciple hall most needs reform—at this rate, the sect’s recruits grow worse with each generation.”
As for Peak Lord Wang’s earlier claim that Joe Di killed Keith Xun in Novice’s Ridge, I believe a simple investigation will reveal the truth. Joe Di competed with me in the tournament, and I know his character well—humble, measured, never causing trouble, and deeply loyal to the sect. Even after earning such great merit, he asked for no reward. How could such a disciple casually kill a fellow sect member? Besides, how could an Outer Disciple like Joe Di kill Keith Xun, who had already reached Dao Nurturing?
(That’s all for today’s update—good night, friends!)