64: Aren’t these peak masters’ disciples hiding too deeply?

The Disciples of Qingyue Peak were the first to react, their cheers almost tearing off the roof.

The silence on the viewing platform lasted only a moment before being broken by Ye Guying's furious glare.

He suddenly turned to look at Shi Wanshan: "You old Shi! Your two apprentices were being beaten by my Mu Chenyu just a while ago. How did they transform so completely in such a short time?

Did they get some huge benefit? Confess immediately!"

Shi Wanshan flinched under his stare, then straightened his back, picked up his teacup, and slowly took a sip.

"Senior Brother Ye, what are you saying? If the Disciples are willing to work hard themselves, what does that have to do with me?"

Although he said that, the wrinkles around his eyes were piled high, and that "I won't tell you" expression almost made Ye Guying draw his sword in anger.

Seeing his demeanor, Ye Guying suddenly thought of something and raised his hand to set up a sound-insulating barrier.

His gaze swept sharply towards Gu Changge beside him.

Seeing that the other party was studying the patterns on his teacup with his head down, he immediately let out a cold snort.

"You, Junior Brother Gu! It's clear you're playing favorites! I knew something was off with those two apprentices of old Shi; they were just average, but now they're suddenly enlightened. You must have been giving them special tutoring behind the scenes!"

As soon as these words came out, the other Peak Masters were like monkeys suddenly enlightened, all turning to look at Gu Changge.

The Flying Cloud Peak Peak Master rubbed his hands, his eyes shining like searchlights: "Junior Brother Gu, you've hidden it well. Why didn't you say earlier if you had a way to improve cultivation?"

The Sunset Glow Peak Peak Master also nodded along, and the Zhenyue Peak Peak Master almost wanted to press his face against Gu Changge's, his gaze circling around Gu Changge, like a group of bears discovering a honey pot.

Gu Changge felt a shiver run down his spine under these dozen fiery gazes, and the teacup in his hand almost slipped.

He muttered to himself: I just came to quietly watch a show, how did I suddenly become the target of all criticism?

That old Shi Wanshan climbed my Zizhu Peak in the middle of the night to secretly learn skills, what does that have to do with me?!

Everyone spoke one after another.

Gu Changge's head was spinning, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

He secretly tugged Xuan Yangzi's sleeve: "Sect Master, save me! I'm going to be devoured alive by these old guys. Quickly, have the Disciples below continue to beat the gongs and continue the martial arts!"

Xuan Yangzi looked at Gu Changge, suppressing a laugh, and cleared his throat.

"Cough, the results of the semifinals are set. It's time to prepare for the finals."

But the smile in his eyes couldn't be hidden; he was clearly enjoying Gu Changge's predicament.

When the crisp gong sounded, Gu Changge finally breathed a sigh of relief, but a glimpse from the corner of his eye caught Ye Guying still glaring at him, and the gazes of the other Peak Masters also seemed to be glued to him.

Immediately, he felt a chill down his spine again—it seemed he couldn't escape this spectacle.

He took a deep breath and said: "Alright, stop crowding around. After the Grand Competition ends, and I've finished my current tasks, you can bring your Disciples to find me. At that time, I will naturally provide guidance to those who need it."

As soon as these words were spoken, the noisy viewing platform instantly fell silent. Ye Guying immediately released his tightly clenched sword hilt, the Flying Cloud Peak Peak Master also stopped rubbing his hands, and everyone's eyes showed expressions of anticipation.

Gu Changge truly breathed a sigh of relief then, but thinking of the scene he would face after the Grand Competition, he couldn't help but get another headache.

As the gong for the finals sounded, Li Xuanfeng and Lin Mochen stood in the center of the arena.

The two exchanged blows, using various techniques. Seeing that he couldn't defeat Lin Mochen, who had already displayed Late Stage Core Formation Realm, in a short time, Li Xuanfeng's spiritual power surged violently, and the pressure of the Late Stage Core Formation Realm spread out, causing the Disciples below the stage to gasp.

"I knew Senior Brother must have been holding back!"

A Disciple slapped his thigh hard, his voice full of the certainty of "I knew it."

"When he won against Senior Sister Su, I felt something was off. How could a Middle Stage Core Formation Realm suppress a Late Stage so easily?"

Someone next to him immediately echoed: "Exactly, exactly! This is more like it. How could a personal Disciple of the Sect Master only have Middle Stage cultivation!"

The two fought for dozens more rounds, but in the end, Lin Mochen was a step behind and was decisively defeated when Li Xuanfeng's longsword was pressed against his throat, prompting him to admit defeat.

The cheers from below the arena almost tore off the roof of the martial arts training ground: "Senior Brother Li is mighty!"

"Late Stage Core Formation! He truly is the prodigy of our Sect's younger generation!"

The gong for the third-place match was slightly less enthusiastic than the finals, but it still captivated many people's hearts.

Shi Jingxian saw that Lin Mochen and Li Xuanfeng had both revealed a portion of their hidden cards, so he no longer needed to hold back.

He also erupted with Late Stage Core Formation cultivation, causing another round of gasps from below the stage.

"Another Late Stage Core Formation! Qingyue Peak is going Heaven-Defying!"

The two fought for over a hundred rounds, and in the end, Mu Chenyu unfortunately lost.

The result of the third-place match was settled, but the atmosphere in the martial arts training ground carried an indescribable sense of stagnation.

A Disciple in the front row rubbed his aching jaw, muttering to himself: "Numb, truly numb..."

These words were like a fuse, instantly igniting the discussions around him.

"Ever since Senior Sister Su revealed Late Stage Core Formation, my heart hasn't beaten properly,"

Someone patted his chest, his tone carrying a dazed disbelief.

"And what's the result? Mu Chenyu is Late Stage, Lin Mochen is Late Stage, and Senior Brother Li and Senior Brother Shi are also Late Stage. These Peak Masters' Disciples are hiding their strength too well, what kind of game is this?"

The old Disciple next to him rolled his eyes but didn't refute. He had been in the Sect for five years and had seen three Grand Competitions, but never had he seen so many Late Stage Core Formation cultivators appear in such a cluster.

Having one Middle Stage Core Formation Realm was enough for the entire Sect to boast about for half a year.

Now, it's like radishes in a field, pulled out one after another.

Thinking back to when the Burning Heaven Palace Palace Master, with his proud Middle Stage Core Formation Realm Disciple, came to provoke them just over a month ago, he felt embarrassed for Lie Tianxiong.

"You think Senior Brother Li's Late Stage is the ceiling for our young generation?"

A Disciple looked at the arena with an expression of admiration.

"Does that even need to be said?"

The person next to him immediately chimed in.

"Looking across the entire Sect, who can reach the Peak of Late Stage Core Formation at this age?"

Amidst the discussions, Shi Jingxian leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, listening to these people gasp at "Late Stage Core Formation," the curve of his lips impossible to suppress.

He glanced at Li Xuanfeng, who was surrounded by his Junior Brothers, and was gently answering something.

"If they knew that Li Xuanfeng only used ten percent of his spiritual power just now..."

These guys were still marveling at the "ceiling," unaware that the true sky was much higher than they imagined.

"Let them guess slowly."

Shi Jingxian walked towards Qingyue Peak's seats, his steps light.

He imagined the expressions on everyone's faces if they knew their true cultivation, perhaps their eyeballs would pop out.

He suddenly felt that the most interesting thing about this Grand Competition wasn't the victory or defeat, but these guys who were kept in the dark.

They thought they had seen the Peak, but little did they know, the true summit was still far away.

No wonder Martial Uncle Gu loved to hide so much; this feeling truly was exhilarating!

At this moment, Xuan Yangzi on the viewing platform stood up, his voice amplified by spiritual power, spreading throughout the martial arts training ground: "This year's Sect Grand Competition concludes here!"

The clamor instantly subsided, and all eyes converged on the main seat.

Xuan Yangzi cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the silent martial arts training ground, and announced loudly: "Now, we will distribute the awards for this Grand Competition."

"First place, Qingyun Peak's Li Xuanfeng—bestowed with one Heaven-Grade weapon, and ten Heaven Spirit Pills!"

Li Xuanfeng slowly stepped forward. The moment his fingertips touched the brocade box, a purple-blue Sword Qi suddenly rose, intertwining with the spiritual light overflowing from within the box.

He lifted the lid, and a longsword, glowing with a soft light, lay quietly on the velvet cloth. The cloud patterns on the sword's spine seemed to come alive, slowly undulating.

His fingertips gently caressed the sword, Li Xuanfeng's eyes flickered, and as he bowed, his voice carried a rare solemnity: "Thank you, Sect Master, for your generous gift."

After he stepped down, Xuan Yangzi continued: "Second place, Qingyue Peak's Lin Mochen—bestowed with one High Grade Earth-Grade weapon, and five Heaven Spirit Pills!"

"Third place, Qingyue Peak's Shi Jingxian—bestowed with one Medium Grade Earth-Grade weapon, and five Heaven Spirit Pills!"

"Fourth to tenth place, each bestowed with one High Grade Profound-Grade weapon, and three Heaven Spirit Pills!"

The named Disciples stepped forward in order, each displaying a different demeanor as they received their awards.

Su Qingyuan gently caressed the Profound-Grade longsword, her fingertips lightly rubbing the cord wrapped around the hilt.

Mu Chenyu's hand tightened slightly around his new sword, his knuckles turning white, but his eyes held a renewed sharpness of determination.

As the awards were distributed, everyone gradually departed.

Gu Changge, who had been quietly drinking tea with his head down, slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue, a faint curve gracing his lips.

It's time to clean out the parasites within the Sect...