Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Xu Yang smiled. "I wouldn’t dare lie. The three leaders of Qingfeng Stronghold were indeed formidable, but I used contribution points to hire a senior brother who had achieved Gang Qi Great Success. He completely uprooted Qingfeng Stronghold.

"If Steward Xiao doesn’t believe me, you can ask the Yuan Family Patriarch for confirmation. The heads of Qingfeng Stronghold’s three leaders are still at the Yuan Estate."

What?!

’He hired a disciple who’s reached Gang Qi Great Success to help?’

Xiao Hua’s expression stiffened, and he froze on the spot.

’How could I not have considered that he could hire help? This has completely backfired. Now I’ve just let Xu Yang look good in front of Elder Li Yang.’

’Little bastard, you got lucky!’

Xiao Hua cursed himself for the oversight. ’It seems I can’t rely on schemes to kill Xu Yang. I’ll have to do it myself.’

’There are too many variables when trying to kill him through missions.’

But he was a Task Hall Steward. In the Purple Sun Sect, his status was only slightly higher than an Outer Disciple’s. He was just a workhorse with a bit more power, and he was buried in tasks every day. It wasn’t as if he could just leave the Purple Sun Sect to kill someone whenever he pleased.

To put it bluntly, Outer Sect Stewards were just those who couldn’t make it in the Inner Sect and were sent to the Outer Sect to "shine." Though their title contained the word "Steward," their status couldn’t even compare to that of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.

’Fortunately, Xu Yang is only at Gang Qi Minor Achievement. I have plenty of time to find an opportunity to kill him.’

"Fine. I’ll settle this for you now. But if we later find that you’ve lied, you’ll bear the consequences yourself," Xiao Hua said through clenched teeth.

Xu Yang was secretly pleased to see Xiao Hua’s frustration. "Steward Xiao takes such good care of me," he said. "How could I possibly lie to you?"

At these words, Xiao Hua felt another surge of blood to his head. He reluctantly handed Xu Yang twenty contribution points.

"Thank you, Steward Xiao."

Xu Yang cupped his fists, turned, and left the Task Hall.

Just as he stepped out the door, he heard a commotion from all around. All the Outer Disciples present stopped in their tracks and stared in one direction.

Xu Yang also looked up curiously. He saw a woman who seemed to have stepped right out of a painting, with hair like a silken waterfall and a waist so slender it could be encircled by a single hand. Her complexion was as flawless and fair as porcelain, so delicate it looked as though it would break at the slightest touch.

Truly, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, bar none.

Even Lin Wei couldn’t compare to her. Her aura was ethereal and otherworldly. No wonder her appearance here had left all these Outer Disciples dumbstruck.

’Ye Qiuling!’

He remembered this woman. She was the Inner Sect Disciple who had sold the Blood Coagulation Pill Formula in the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

However, while he recognized Ye Qiuling, she didn’t recognize him.

After a curious glance, Xu Yang went on his way.

’It’s him?’

In fact, Ye Qiuling recognized Xu Yang. He was the fellow disciple who had bought her Blood Coagulation Pill Formula, after all. How could she forget?

’I wonder if he’s learned how to make the Blood Coagulation Pill yet.’

Glancing at Xu Yang’s retreating figure, Ye Qiuling stepped into the Task Hall. Instantly, all eyes were on her.

Ye Qiuling was long accustomed to this sort of attention and continued inside with light, delicate steps.

’What is she doing here!’

Xiao Hua sensed the strange atmosphere in the Task Hall. When he looked up and saw Ye Qiuling walking toward him, his heart sank. He was filled with a sense of foreboding.

Others might not know Ye Qiuling’s identity, but an Outer Sect Steward like him certainly did.

Ye Qiuling’s master was none other than Elder Li Yang.

Of all the times to show up, she had to come now. He didn’t believe for a second that a genius Alchemist from the Inner Sect like Ye Qiuling was just here for a casual visit.

"Greetings, Junior Sister Ye. What brings you to the Outer Sect?"

Xiao Hua stood up, cupped his fists, and put on a fawning smile, like a dog seeing its master. There was none of the arrogance he showed when facing Xu Yang.

Ye Qiuling’s voice was ethereal, but it carried a chill. "Master has ordered me to inform you: get yourself to Cyan Mountain to serve as garrison for one year, immediately. You may return after that year is up."

Her words sent the Task Hall into an uproar, and all eyes fixed on Xiao Hua.

He had actually been banished by Elder Li Yang to serve as garrison at Cyan Mountain.

Cyan Mountain was no paradise. Located deep in the Yunling Mountain Range, it was a mining site for the Purple Sun Sect, constantly harassed by Exotic Beasts and the Demon Sect. Fighting was a year-round occurrence.

Being sent there as punishment... he might not even survive the year.

The color drained from Xiao Hua’s face. He knew his scheme to use the Yuan family against Xu Yang had been exposed. It was probably the Yuan family’s doing; Xu Yang didn’t have that kind of pull yet.

’Damn it, Yuan Jie has been dead for years! Why is Elder Li Yang still protecting his family? Can the rumors really be true? Does Elder Li Yang prefer men? Was Yuan Jie not his disciple, but his lover?’

Xiao Hua trembled and hastily cupped his fists. "I know I was wrong! Please, Junior Sister Ye, put in a good word for me! I’ll never dare to do it again!"

A year garrisoning Cyan Mountain would be extremely dangerous, even for him with his Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement.

"You must leave the sect grounds before the day is out. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

Ye Qiuling gave Xiao Hua an indifferent glance, then turned and left.

’Why would she possibly plead his case? She barely knew the man.’

Besides, she herself had come from the Outer Sect, and she detested stewards like Xiao Hua who used their position to prey on Outer Disciples.

"It’s only a year. Such a short time!"

A steward walked over, gloating openly.

Lately, banking on his marriage alliance with the Su Family, Xiao Hua had grown more and more arrogant in the Task Hall, sticking his nose into everything and offending many people in the process.

"Sun Ke, wipe that grin off your face. I’m only going for a year, I’m not dead," Xiao Hua snorted coldly.

Sun Ke chuckled. "Then you’d better hurry along. Tsk, tsk... A year garrisoning Cyan Mountain. I do hope you make it back alive."

Xiao Hua clenched his jaw. ’This is all because of that little bastard, Xu Yang.’

’If it weren’t for him, I’d never have been punished by Elder Li Yang.’

’When I get back, I swear I’ll take your life.’

’When I return in a year, Xu Yang will be at Gang Qi Great Success at best. Killing him then will be as easy as crushing an ant.’

...

After leaving the Task Hall, Xu Yang rushed to the Peach Grove to cultivate. He didn’t drag his exhausted body back to his courtyard until evening.

"Junior Brother Xu, fantastic news!"

He had just returned to his courtyard and taken a bath when he saw Sun Tao running over, his face flushed with excitement.

Xu Yang asked curiously, "Senior Brother Sun, what’s the good news?"

Sun Tao was so excited he was practically incoherent. "Li Yang... Xiao Hua—no, that old dog Xiao Hua pissed off Elder Li Yang! I heard he’s been sentenced to garrison Cyan Mountain for a year! He’s not allowed back for a whole year! He slunk out of the sect at noon like a kicked dog."

Xu Yang was taken aback. The Yuan Family’s connection to Elder Li Yang was truly solid; they had actually managed to get Xiao Hua punished.

He knew about Cyan Mountain. The garrison mission there was perpetually posted in the Task Hall. A disciple at the Initial Stage of Gang Qi who went there would earn forty contribution points a month.

Gang Qi Minor Achievement earned sixty contribution points a month, and Gang Qi Great Success earned one hundred. It was no paradise.

"I hope he drops dead there!" A look of pure hatred appeared on Sun Tao’s face.

Ever since Lin Wei’s incident, he had been on tenterhooks for months, terrified that he would be killed any day.

"Elder Li Yang is incredible!"

Xu Yang sighed. He now had a clear understanding of the power wielded by a Peak Elder of the Four Peaks. With a single word, such a person could make an Outer Sect Steward lose his comfortable post in the Task Hall and be sent to garrison a dangerous place like Cyan Mountain.

At the same time, the tension left his body. He’d been on edge as well, constantly afraid that Xiao Hua would personally act and finish him off.

Now that he had a year, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

By the time a year had passed, even if he couldn’t kill Xiao Hua, Xiao Hua wouldn’t be able to do anything to him either.

His move to ally with the Yuan Family had been the right one.

If he hadn’t agreed to the alliance, Yuan Gang might have retaliated for the refusal and would never have helped him deal with Xiao Hua.

In truth, that had been part of his calculation from the beginning.

The Yuan Family might not be able to help him much, but if they wanted to harm him, it would be as easy as saying the word.

"Junior Brother Xu, do you know about this Elder Li Yang?" Sun Tao suddenly moved closer conspiratorially and whispered.

Xu Yang paused. Elder Li Yang was an elder of Medicine King Peak, and his Alchemy skills were said to be second only to the Medicine King Peak Master. Who didn’t know that?

Sun Tao whispered, "I’m not talking about that." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

At this, Sun Tao glanced around. After confirming they were alone, he lowered his voice even more. "I’ve heard people say... that Elder Li Yang prefers men. And that the genius from the Yuan Family wasn’t actually his disciple, but his lover."