Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
While Su Mo was busy killing off the five men that had come after him, Xiao Yushu was studying the power of the Rules in the Dhamma Hall.
He had not really gone there to study the Rules. He just wanted people to know he was in Palmy City.
That way, Su Mo’s eventual murder had nothing to do with him.
And the people he had hired to do the job had no relation with him whatsoever.
Sitting under a statue, Xiao Yushu’s eyes were shut as he studied the Rules quietly. He had been there for over a year.
Once he received news of Su Mo’s death, he would leave.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Footsteps sounded from afar. Cui Yan came to his side.
“We’ve failed! None of the members of the Nether Spirit Sect could be reached!” Cui Yan said sternly as he reported to Xiao Yushu.
The Nether Spirit Sect was a group dedicated to assassination and the smuggling of goods. Xiao Yushu got them to get rid of Su Mo.
Because Su Mo had not left Myriad Holy Mountain, the Nether Spirit Sect had not made a move on him. During this time, Cui Yan had been in contact with the five of them.
Swoosh!
When he heard the news from Cui Yan, Xiao Yushu opened his eyes, flashing in rage.
Failed?
How’s that possible?
Shi Heng’s failure last time was still within reason.
But this time the Nether Spirit Sect had sent five of its members. How could such a strong lineup fail?
Did Wu Shan have backup?
Or did other disciples of the Palmy Branch come across them during the fight?
Xiao Yushu speculated. He did not believe Su Mo could fight off the five members of the Nether Spirit Sect on his own.
After a pause, Xiao Yushu got up and strode out of the Dhamma Hall.
Cui Yan followed him.
They had to confirm whether the operation had really failed.
…
Su Mo returned to his residence in Palmy City.
Qin Zhi was already there by the window in his loft when Su Mo got to the gate.
“Brother Wu Shan, have you just got back?” Qin Zhi exclaimed.
“Yes, Qin Zhi. I didn’t know you were back too!” Su Mo grinned.
“Brother Wu Shan, Xuan Qing came looking for you some time ago. She wanted me to tell you that Elder Priest Tian Hua’s birthday banquet would be held as usual. She’ll look for you then!” Qin Zhi told him.
“Alright! Thanks!” Su Mo nodded. They talked for a little bit more before Su Mo entered his house.
Then he resumed his training.
A few months passed very quickly.
One day, Ling Chang came to Su Mo’s residence.
“Su Mo, it’s Priest Tian Hua’s birthday tomorrow. It’ll be held in his manor. All the Elders of the Palmy Branch will be there as well as esteemed guests from other branches. I heard that, after the banquet, there will be a simple match of sorts between the disciples from all of the branches,” she said.
“Alright!” Su Mo nodded. This was indeed an opportunity to request mentorship. If he participated in the match, he would surely be able to show his potential.
“I’ll be going too, but I can’t get you in. Quan Ruhai says he’ll find a way!” Ling Chang added. Only the Elders and their close disciples were qualified to attend Priest Tian Hua’s banquet.
Su Mo was currently no one’s student, merely a common disciple, and therefore was not eligible to attend the banquet.
“Alright! That’s fine!” Su Mo said. Quan Ruhai might have had ulterior motives, but that did not matter.
“Let’s just see how it goes then. It doesn’t matter if the plan fails because, with your talents, you will do fine even without a teacher!” Ling Chang sighed. She knew Su Mo really wanted a teacher not because he needed guidance but because he needed the backing in order to beat Di Yihun.
“Indeed!” Su Mo sighed too.
Then they chatted for a while before Ling Chang left.
The next morning at dawn.
Su Mo’s training was interrupted by a knock at the front gate. He scanned with his divine thoughts and realized it was Quan Ruhai.
“Brother Quan!” Su Mo opened the gate and greeted him.
Quan Ruhai was wearing a stunning red robe today, his two long arms were still proof of his strength.
“Brother Wu Shan, it’s my teacher’s birthday banquet today. Many Elders and members of the other branches are coming as we speak. Let me take you to Tian Hua Mansion,” Quan Ruhai grinned.
“Thank you so much, Brother Quan!” Su Mo thanked him, and the two marched off to Tian Hua Mansion.
“How many are there?” Along the way, Su Mo asked Quan Ruhai.
“Not a lot. Only two hundred or so Elders from our branch came. They brought their disciples. As for the other branches, there are about a dozen of them,” replied Quan Ruhai.
There were about three thousand Elders in the Palmy Branch, but many of them preferred to stick to their duties. Some were traveling abroad while others were training in seclusion.
Therefore, there were not many who attended the banquet.
“That’s impressive!” Su Mo nodded.
“The Chief Elders from the other branches came with their best apprentices. It’ll be quite a match later!” Quan Ruhai sighed, feeling pressured.
As the closest disciple of Elder Tian Hua, he bore the brunt, and his performance would directly reflect Priest Tian Hua as well as Palmy City’s reputation.
“Hehe, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it!” Su Mo grinned.
They chatted as they walked, and soon they arrived at Tian Hua Mansion.
Two huge red lanterns hung at the entrance of the mansion, with ‘Long Live’ written on them in huge letters.
There was an endless stream of guests at the entrance. Several young fellows were welcoming them. It was quite a lively occasion.
“Junior Quan, where have you been? Go greet the Elders inside!”
Quan Ruhai barely stepped through the door when one of the ushers called out to him.
He, too, donned a red robe. He was not tall and had average looks, but his eyes were as sharp as a cheetah’s, glimmering with a faint blue light.
“Yes, Senior Chang!” Quan Ruhai nodded. The man in front of him was Chang Yi, Priest Tian Hua’s eldest disciple, and therefore his senior.
Quan Ruhai called Su Mo and brought him into the mansion.
The inside of Tian Hua Mansion was decorated with lanterns and banners in line with the festivity.
Quan Ruhai brought Su Mo to the backyard where a small square had been set up, occupying three hundred square feet.
Two hundred benches had been arranged in the square in an orderly manner, filled with fine wines and various spiritual fruits.
About a hundred Elders sat on the benches, happily conversing amongst themselves.
Many young disciples stood behind the Elders, obviously their disciples.
Su Mo scanned the place and found that Reverend Jin Wu and Ling Chang had not arrived.
Priest Tian Hua had not shown up.
“Wu Shan, Priest Tian Hua and Elder Jin Wu are in the hall welcoming the chief elders of other branches. The banquet has not started, please make yourself at home!” Quan Ruhai said to Su Mo, and then added: “Oh, disciples are not allowed to join them. You must not break the rules! ”
After that, Quan Ruhai entered the plaza to greet the Elders. As Priest Tian Hua’s second disciple, that was his role.
Su Mo was rendered speechless to hear that disciples could not sit with them, but it did not matter to him.
So he walked to the edge of the square and stood at the back, away from attention.
“Hmm?” Just then, he felt a sharp gaze on him. He looked up and saw a familiar face.
Qiu Yuanshan!
Qiu Yuanshan’s cold gaze was aiming straight at him, the corner of his mouth almost teasing.
He had not expected Wu Shan to be attending the birthday banquet. Was he here to gain some insight?
He thought of the last time he had been at Myriad Holy Mountain, where the Earth-Based Source Liquid was entirely devoured by Wu Shan. Soon, he was fueled with anger.
Initially, he was confident that he could advance to Ninth Grade, Middle Rank before Priest Tian Hua’s birthday, but because the Source Liquid was taken up by someone else, he was unable to break through.
“So, he’s an Elder’s disciple!” Su Mo glanced at Qiu Yuanshan and quickly looked away. No wonder he was so cocky!
