116: Chapter 116 A Pie Falling from the Sky?

"Deacon Chu Feng, congratulations on taking charge of Duobao Peak. You are truly young and promising!"

Deacon Zhao Wuji cupped his hands and laughed, his voice resonant and full of enthusiasm.

"Deacon Zhao Wuji, you are too kind."

Chu Feng smiled and returned the gesture, his gaze sweeping over the four men. "I was merely fortunate enough to gain the Revered Master's trust. In the future, I will need to seek much guidance from you all. Please, sit."

The group sat down, and the on-duty Disciple served spiritual tea.

"Deacon Chu Feng, you are too modest!"

Deacon Zhao Wuji picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and laughed heartily. "However, the reason I have come today is that I truly have a matter to discuss."

"Please speak." Chu Feng's expression remained calm.

Deacon Zhao Wuji set down his teacup, pondered for a moment, and said: "Recently, our Zhenbao Peak discovered a ruin deep within the Misty Cloud Swamp. According to our investigation, it should be a branch site of the Wanzhen Sect from seventy thousand years ago."

"It is filled with layers of Formations and Restrictions, but it also hides a vast number of Formation manuals, ancient Formation Plates, and perhaps even the Legacy of the Wanzhen Sect."

Chu Feng's heart skipped a beat.

The Wanzhen Sect was a great Sect of Formations from the ancient era, and its Legacy had long been lost. Any ruin related to it was worth a fortune.

Deacon Zhao Wuji continued: "It is just that the protective Formation outside the ruin is extremely formidable. Several Earth-level Formation Masters from our Zhenbao Peak joined forces and spent over a month just to barely open a passage."

"However, the inner layer of Restrictions is even more complex and requires Formation Masters proficient in various schools to break through together."

"So, what is Deacon Zhao Wuji's meaning?" Chu Feng asked.

"Our peak wishes to cooperate with Duobao Peak to explore this place together."

Deacon Zhao Wuji said sternly, "The gains will be distributed according to the amount of effort contributed. If there is a Legacy, both peaks will share it."

Chu Feng did not answer immediately. Instead, he picked up his teacup and used the moment of drinking tea to think rapidly.

Ancient ruins are often filled with crises, but they are also full of Treasure Troves.

If this were an ordinary cooperation, Deacon Zhao Wuji could simply find a few acquaintances in private.

Since he came in person today and elevated the cooperation to be between the two peaks, the intention behind this is worth pondering.

Is it because the ruin is too dangerous and requires the full commitment of both peaks?

That would be easy enough to explain; Chu Feng would naturally weigh whether to participate.

But if Deacon Zhao Wuji has ulterior motives, then things are not so simple.

"I wonder if there are any other discoveries in the ruin besides the Formation Legacy?" Chu Feng asked, appearing casual.

A strange look flashed in Deacon Zhao Wuji's eyes, and he laughed: "Deacon Chu Feng is indeed meticulous. That is correct. According to the investigation of the outer perimeter, the ruin also contains pill rooms, artifact chambers, and possibly even a medicinal herb garden."

"It is just that they are all sealed by Formations and need to be broken one by one."

"I see."

Chu Feng nodded. "This matter is of great importance. I need to discuss it with the Elders of the peak and also seek instruction from my Revered Master. How about this: I will give Deacon Zhao Wuji an answer in a few days. How does that sound?"

A flash of displeasure crossed Deacon Zhao Wuji's eyes, but his smile did not fade: "That is fine. The ruin will take some time to open, so there is no rush. I will await your good news."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Deacon Zhao Wuji stood up to leave.

After seeing the four off, Chu Feng's expression slowly darkened.

"Senior Brother, what do you think?" Lin Bai, who had been standing by the side, asked softly.

Chu Feng returned to the desk and tapped his fingers on the table: "The relationship between Zhenbao Peak and Duobao Peak can hardly be called friendly. Deacon Zhao Wuji came in person to deliver such a benefit to our doorstep. Why do you think that is?"

Lin Bai pondered and said: "Perhaps it is truly because the ruin is too difficult to break into?"

"Perhaps." Chu Feng sneered. "But I feel more that they want to lure me out of the Duobao Sect."

Lin Bai's expression changed: "You mean…"

"The competition for Saint has begun."

Chu Feng leaned back in his chair, his gaze profound. "My sitting in this position means I must compete for Saint, and that Heaven-Grade true Disciple of Zhenbao Peak, Wu Chen, is also one of the popular candidates."

"They want to harm you?" Lin Bai's voice lowered.

"They might not dare to make a move within the Sect, but once outside the Sect, in a place like those ruins, there can be many 'accidents'."

Chu Feng said slowly, "And even if they don't have such intentions, I cannot afford to be careless."

"Now that I am newly appointed, if I am carelessly schemed against, my prestige will be greatly diminished."

"Then do you intend to refuse?"

"No."

A sharp glint flashed in Chu Feng's eyes. "If it is truly the Wanzhen Sect ruin, the value is too great to easily give up. But to participate, I must be fully prepared."

He looked at Lin Bai: "Go and investigate whether Zhenbao Peak has had any unusual movements recently. Also, inquire about the news of that ruin in the Misty Cloud Swamp to see if other peaks are aware of it."

"Yes!" Lin Bai acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Chu Feng sat alone in the hall, lost in thought.

This move by Zhenbao Peak seems like offering a benefit, but in reality, it is a probe, or perhaps a trap.

Regardless of which it is, he must respond with caution.

"The competition for Saint is interesting." Chu Feng muttered to himself, though there was no trace of fear in his eyes.

Since he has stepped onto this path, he will have to Face these open spears and hidden arrows sooner or later.

In the days that followed.

Chu Feng began to fully understand the operations of Duobao Peak.

Among the Elders and Deacons of Duobao Peak, ninety percent had gone to the front-line battlefield.

And the Elders who remained were basically 'research personnel'.

Most of these people were busy with the innovation of various techniques, and could be called the "research backbone" of the Duobao Sect.

Talisman Revered Masters researched new Talismans, Alchemists improved ancient prescriptions, Formation Masters deduced new Formations, and Artifact Refiners experimented with new Materials… Everyone had their own project, and every project was burning money.

Duobao Peak allocated resources for this, one after another, and set up project after project.

Some projects lasted for hundreds of years, consuming resources like flowing water.

Others might have a Breakthrough overnight, bringing a hundredfold return.

As the helmsman of Duobao Peak, Chu Feng naturally had to check the progress to see if the projects had produced tangible results.

He could not sit idly by and watch the wealth of the peak being wasted for nothing.

For those projects that were slow to produce results, they should be paused if necessary, and cut if they had to be.

But how easy is that to say?

Chu Feng sat in the hall, holding a thick dossier in his hand.

It recorded all the technique research projects currently underway at Duobao Peak, totaling three hundred and seventy-two.

He browsed through it quickly, his brows gradually furrowing.

Although Duobao Peak had a deep foundation, the resource allocation and project advancement seemed somewhat chaotic.

Some projects had lasted for seven hundred years, the person in charge had changed three times, and there had never been a substantial Breakthrough.

Others were progressing slowly due to insufficient resources, and the person in charge came to cry poverty every other day.

Still other projects were obviously in the wrong direction, but because the person in charge had seniority and great Face, no one dared to call a stop.

There were too many problems here.

"It seems that a comprehensive reorganization is necessary."

Chu Feng thought to himself, then looked up at the few Deacons in the hall and said in a deep voice: "Pass down the order: tomorrow, summon all Elders and Deacons who are on the peak. I want to personally listen to the progress reports of each project."

"Each person is limited to the time of one incense stick. You must explain the project goal, current progress, existing problems, required resources, expected results, and timeline."

"Yes, Deacon Chu Feng!" The few Deacons respectfully acknowledged the order and hurried out to pass on the command.