190: Chapter 190 Promotion Channels, The Death of Shen Ling'er

[The good times did not last.]

[People from Feng Qingyang's lineage began to look for trouble.]

[First, someone reported Chu Sheng for "trespassing in a Forbidden Ground," referring to that mining tunnel.]

[Two people from the Law Enforcement Hall arrived—one at the Late Stage of Sea Opening Realm and another at the Middle Stage of Sea Opening Realm. They looked stern, as if interrogating a criminal.]

[Chu Sheng stood at the door of his stone house. "Mining tunnel? What mining tunnel? I don't know anything about that. I just got lost at the foot of the mountain when I first arrived, wandered around a bit, and then came back."]

[Every time Chu Sheng went, he wore night-traveler clothes and transformed into a wisp of shadow, leaving no footprints behind.]

[The matter eventually blew over, but the attitude of Feng Qingyang's lineage was already clear: they were watching him.]

[Next, Chu Sheng's outer Sect missions were secretly sabotaged.]

[He went to exterminate low-Rank Yao Beasts, but when he reached the location, he found they had already been wiped out, making it a wasted trip.]

[He went to gather Spirit Medicine, only to find it had been picked in advance, with not even a root left behind.]

[He went to escort supplies and "coincidentally" encountered a landslide halfway, blocking the road.]

[Chu Sheng knew Feng Qingyang's people were behind it, but he couldn't catch them red-handed.]

[He didn't want to go and beg Ye Wuhen for help.]

[Having just borrowed someone's influence only to immediately trouble them would be too degrading.]

[A powerful backer is meant to be leaned on at critical moments, not used to clean up one's messes.]

[Feng Qingyang himself did not make an appearance.]

[Dealing with an outer Sect Elder was not worth his personal intervention.]

[But he sent a Personal Disciple to "warn" Chu Sheng.]

[That Disciple was named Ma Fei, with a cultivation at the Early Stage of Sea Opening Realm. He was burly, with his chin held higher than his forehead.]

[He brought several Junior Brothers and blocked Chu Sheng's path back to the stone house, saying in front of the outer Sect crowd, "You're Chu Sheng? I heard you're quite a fighter. Come, spar with your Senior Brother."]

[Chu Sheng looked at him and smiled. "Senior Brother Ma is at the Peak of Sea Opening Realm, while I'm only at the Early Stage. I can't win. If Senior Brother's hands are itching for a fight, why not go find a Senior Brother from the Ninth Peak to spar with?"]

[Ma Fei's expression shifted.]

[The Ninth Peak was Ye Gucheng's territory; he didn't dare go there.]

[He stared at Chu Sheng, his fists cracking loudly, but Chu Sheng refused to take the bait.]

[Old Grandfather said from within the ring, "Feng Qingyang is testing your trump cards. Don't reveal them."]

[Chu Sheng nodded.]

[He knew.]

[Feng Qingyang wasn't a brute like Ma Fei; he was waiting for Chu Sheng to lose his cool, for him to show a weakness, for him to jump into the pit himself.]

[Chu Sheng would not let him have his way.]

[At this time, Shen Linger took an outer Sect mission to clear Yao Beasts at the Sect's periphery.]

[The mission Rank wasn't high—Grade B-Lower—and the targets were a group of Yao Beasts at the Early Stage of True Transformation Realm.]

[With Shen Linger's True Transformation cultivation and the coordination of several teammates, they should have been able to handle it.]

[Chu Sheng heard this news while reading ancient records in the Library Pavilion.]

[He was reading a book about the powers within the Central Region.]

[Because of the dense Spiritual Qi, the Central Region had given birth to countless Sects and Forbidden Grounds.]

[The highest point was Heaven-Reaching Mountain; legend said its summit connected to the sun, moon, and stars, but no one could climb it.]

[Great Sects stood in abundance, and the Wendao Sect was considered one of the top-tier powers, which was why they had such a significant say in interfering with the affairs of the Northern Region.]

[The book also detailed the rules of the Wendao Sect regarding the promotion of outer Sect Elders who reached the Dao Palace Realm.]

[When Chu Sheng reached this section, his eyes lit up slightly.]

[Those below the Spirit Sea are all Disciples; from Spirit Spring to Spirit Lake, one is promoted to Deacon; from Spirit Lake to Sea Opening, one becomes an outer Sect Elder.]

[Outer Sect Elders who advance to the Dao Palace Realm generally do not find vacant Peak Master positions.]

[There are thirty-six peaks, and each has its own occupant. The Peak Masters are all doing quite well, so where would there be a spot for you?]

[The Sect would first arrange for you to be a Vice Peak Master, while concurrently holding the nominal title of an Inner Sect Elder.]

[Only after your cultivation breaks through to Spirit Nurturing, or if a Peak Master dies, or if you achieve exceptional merit, is it possible for you to become a Peak Master.]

["Truly a great Sect," Chu Sheng remarked with a sigh.]

[The Dao Palace Realm is already considered a regional powerhouse in the Northern Region, yet in the Wendao Sect, they can't even secure a position among the thirty-six Peak Masters.]

[The promotion path is clear, but every step is crowded with people.]

[As he was reading, an Outer Sect Disciple ran in, pale-faced and gasping for breath.]

["Elder... Elder Chu, something has happened! That outer Sect mission to clear the Yao Beasts... it failed! Three are dead and five are injured!"]

[Chu Sheng put down the book and asked, "Who died?"]

[The messenger replied, "Shen Linger and two other Outer Sect Disciples."]

[Chu Sheng stood in place, silent for a long time.]

[His hand remained on the book, his fingertips pressing down hard on the words "Wendao Sect," his knuckles turning white.]

[Old Grandfather sighed within the ring but said nothing.]

[He went to the outer Sect cemetery.]

[The cemetery was located on a small hillside in the northeast corner of the outer Sect. Usually, no one went there, and it was overgrown with wild grass.]

[Several newly erected wooden plaques were stuck crookedly into the earth, with names written on them in vermilion ink.]

[Shen Linger's body had not yet been placed in a coffin; it was covered with a white cloth and laid on a simple wooden board.]

[Chu Sheng lifted the white cloth.]

[There was no pain on Shen Linger's face; she looked very peaceful, as if she were merely asleep.]

[Her hair was spread across the pillow, with a few stray strands falling over her forehead; she would never open her eyes again.]

[Her hand rested on her chest, her fingers slightly curled as if she were clutching something.]

[Chu Sheng looked down.]

[In her hand, she gripped a tassel woven from bright red silk thread. It wasn't finished yet, only half-done.]

[The ends of the thread were loose, and the beads had not yet been strung on.]

[Chu Sheng's fingers were trembling.]

[He stood before Shen Linger's body for a very long time.]

[Chu Sheng reached out, gently pulled the white cloth back, and covered her.]

[He turned and went to the Mission Hall.]

[The Deacon of the Mission Hall was an old man at the Middle Stage of the Spirit Lake Stage, surnamed Zheng. When he saw Chu Sheng enter, his expression became uneasy.]

[Chu Sheng skipped the pleasantries and asked directly for the details of Shen Linger's mission.]

[Deacon Zheng flipped through the records and said the mission Rank was Grade B-Lower, the target Yao Beasts were at the Early Stage of the Spirit Spring Realm, and the intel had come from an outer Sect informant who could no longer be found.]

[Chu Sheng then asked who had issued the mission.]

[Deacon Zheng said it was collectively assigned by the Outer Sect Elders' Council, and as for the specific person who handled it...]

[He searched for a long time before saying the record had been deleted.]

[Chu Sheng stood there, staring into Deacon Zheng's eyes.]

[Deacon Zheng's gaze flickered away, and then he lowered his head to drink tea, no longer looking at him.]

[The intel was incorrect; the Rank of the Yao Beasts was two major Realms higher than what the mission stated.]

[Early Stage of True Transformation Realm had become the Early Stage of the Spirit Spring Realm.]

[Shen Linger, a mere Condensing True Essence, had no chance of escape when facing a Spirit Lake Stage Yao Beast.]

[This could not have been an accident.]

[The outer Sect mission system of Wendao Palace had been operating for hundreds of years. While intel errors were possible, a mistake spanning two major Realms was impossible.]

[Someone had intentionally altered the mission information.]

[Chu Sheng took a deep breath and exhaled the turbid air.]

[His face remained expressionless, but within his Storage Pouch, the zhu xian sword vibrated slightly, as if sensing its master's emotions.]

[Shen Linger's face replayed in his mind, along with that unfinished Sword Tassel.]

[He had thought that by rejecting her, she would be able to live a good life.]

[By cultivating in the outer Sect, perhaps she could have found a better Dao Companion and peacefully reached a higher Realm.]

[But someone wouldn't let her live.]

[Not because of anything she had done wrong, but because she knew Chu Sheng.]

[Because the people of Feng Qingyang's lineage wanted to strike at Chu Sheng, and she was a convenient target.]

[Chu Sheng opened his eyes and looked at the peeling paint on the ceiling above.]

[He did not cry, he felt no anger, and he showed no unnecessary emotion.]

[No one noticed that the third of the four swords of zhuxian was slowly taking shape.]

[Then, he began to Cultivate.]

[Within his Dantian, that hair-thin strand of Luck was still flowing.]

[Chu Sheng closed his eyes, guiding that power to circulate through his Meridians.]

[He knew the rules of Wendao Palace better than anyone.]

[Openly, he could not defeat Feng Qingyang.]

[But in the shadows, he had plenty of ways.]

[Old Grandfather spoke from within the ring, "What do you plan to do?"]

[Chu Sheng did not answer.]