217: Chapter 216 The Mini-Competition is Imminent

During the True Intent Heart Examination, the Formation's investigative power, while merely a probe, allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of his own True Intent.

Tidal True Intent, Pure Yang True Intent, Golden Sharpness True Intent, Heavenly Fire True Intent—four types of True Intent coexisting in one body. He still needed time to comprehend how to fuse them, how to coordinate them, and how to unleash their maximum power.

Master Xue Mu was right; what he lacked was a true killing move.

And at this moment, his status as an Inner Sect Disciple gave him more time and resources to refine this killing move.

He opened his eyes and turned around.

At the entrance, a familiar figure stood with his hands behind his back.

Master Xue Mu.

He was dressed in dark cyan casual robes, looking at him with a faint smile on his face.

"Not bad," Master Xue Mu spoke, his voice calm yet filled with gratification. "During the True Intent Heart Examination, displaying four types of True Intent simultaneously even moved that old fellow Great Elder Xuanjizi."

He walked into the Immortal Cave, looked around, and nodded.

"This Immortal Cave is decent enough. Although it can't compare to my Lihuo Hall, it's much better than your previous one."

Jiang Hanzhou walked up to him and gave a respectful salute.

"Disciple greets Master."

Master Xue Mu waved his hand, indicating there was no need for such formalities.

He took a palm-sized jade box from his robes and tossed it casually to Jiang Hanzhou.

Jiang Hanzhou caught it and opened it—inside the jade box lay three crimson Medicinal Pills. Faint golden patterns flowed on the surface of the pills, emitting a rich medicinal fragrance.

"dragon blood pills," Master Xue Mu said. "Genuine dragon blood pills, not the low-quality goods from the Treasure Pavilion. One pill is worth three months of hard cultivation."

Jiang Hanzhou was slightly taken aback. "Master, this..."

"To celebrate your promotion to the inner sect," Master Xue Mu waved his hand. "Don't talk nonsense, just take them."

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a moment before giving a solemn salute.

"Thank you, Master."

Master Xue Mu looked at him, and after a moment of silence, the smile on his face gradually faded.

"Han Zhou," his voice lowered, "the status of an Inner Sect Disciple is just the beginning."

Jiang Hanzhou looked up at him.

Master Xue Mu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the churning sea of clouds outside the window.

"Outer Sect Disciples only need to Cultivate and become stronger. But Inner Sect Disciples are different—they have to face things that are far more complex than those in the outer sect."

He turned around, his gaze meeting Jiang Hanzhou's directly.

"Do you know how many Inner Sect Disciples there are in the Dragon Abyss Palace's Seven Peaks and Twenty-Four Caves?"

Jiang Hanzhou shook his head.

"Over three hundred people," Master Xue Mu said. "Among these three hundred-plus people, there are Young Masters and misses from noble families, descendants of powerful officials with deep backgrounds, commoner Disciples with extraordinary talent, and ordinary Cultivators who are struggling bitterly."

"On the surface, these people are all fellow Disciples, but behind the scenes, there are—"

He paused and said word by word:

"Factional disputes."

Jiang Hanzhou's brows furrowed slightly.

Master Xue Mu continued:

"The Heavenly Sword Peak lineage, led by the Ao Family, controls nearly forty percent of the Dragon Abyss Palace's resources. The Black Tortoise Peak lineage, led by the Teng Family, has been in open and secret conflict with Heavenly Sword Peak for centuries. Danxia Peak remains neutral but maintains secret dealings with all the peaks. As for our Red Fire Peak—"

He smiled, a smile tinged with self-deprecation.

"Red Fire Peak has a small population, with only thirty-odd Inner Sect Disciples. Compared to the large peaks like Heavenly Sword Peak and Black Tortoise Peak, which easily have over a hundred people, we are just a small household."

"So, after you enter the inner sect, the first thing you must do is not Cultivate, but—"

He stared into Jiang Hanzhou's eyes:

"Conceal your brilliance."

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a moment before saying slowly:

"Disciple understands."

Master Xue Mu shook his head.

"You don't understand."

He walked to Jiang Hanzhou and patted his shoulder.

"Today in the Yuelong Hall, you displayed four types of True Intent simultaneously, and everyone noticed you. Ao Zhan, Teng Yuzhi, those five prodigies, as well as Great Elder Xuanjizi, Fierce Sun Master, and Cold Frost Master—they all saw it."

"What does it mean for a Disciple who hasn't even been in the sect for half a year to possess four types of True Intent?"

"It means—you are a prime target."

Master Xue Mu's voice was low and carried a hint of gravity.

"The Heavenly Sword Peak side will want to recruit you. Although Ao Zhan is arrogant, the Ao Family behind him won't miss any opportunity to recruit a Genius."

"The Black Tortoise Peak side will want to test you. That girl from the Teng Family is on good terms with you, but those old fellows within the Teng Family might not necessarily be polite to you."

"As for those who are neutral, fence-sitters, or harbor ill intentions—they will all find ways to approach you, test you, or even—exploit you."

He withdrew his hand and stood with his hands behind his back.

"So, my first piece of advice for you is—"

"Keep a low profile."

"Conceal your brilliance and hide your trump cards. Strike when you must, but when you shouldn't, just act like an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple."

Jiang Hanzhou listened quietly without speaking.

Master Xue Mu looked at him, and after a short silence, he suddenly asked:

"What are you thinking about?"

Jiang Hanzhou looked up at him.

"Disciple is wondering if Master also went through all this when you entered the inner sect back then?"

Master Xue Mu was slightly startled, then threw his head back and laughed loudly.

The laughter echoed in the Immortal Cave, carrying a sense of freedom, emotion, and an indescribable... nostalgia.

"You brat," he stopped laughing and patted Jiang Hanzhou's shoulder, "you've got spirit."

He turned and walked toward the entrance.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and said without turning back:

"Han Zhou."

"There are still forty days until the Inner Sect Minor Competition."

"At that time, I hope to see that killing move of yours—a true killing move."

"Don't disappoint me."

With those words, he strode away.

Jiang Hanzhou stood by the window, watching the receding figure for a long time.

Then, he turned and looked at the churning sea of clouds outside the window.

The setting sun was sinking, dyeing the entire sea of clouds in a golden-red hue.

In the distance, the tolling of the bell from the Dragon Abyss Palace's main peak drifted over, dull and far-reaching.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Conceal brilliance.

Hide trump cards.

Perfect the killing move.

Forty days later, the Inner Sect Minor Competition.

A sharp light flickered in his eyes.

Then, he turned and walked back to the cultivation room, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

Deep within the Dantian, that three-colored flame burned quietly.

Four types of True Intent slowly circulated within his body.