Refining the Mountains and Rivers

"Teacher, you must hurry and escape! The sect's high level figures have given up on treating the dark star ice serpent; they want to push all blame onto you and make you a scapegoat!" A disciple entered the room and fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

"What!?"

"They were the ones forcing us!"

"Those sc.u.mbags!"

The disciples were enraged. But, terror was reflected in their eyes.

Xiang Ziyue paled, "Junior-apprentice brother Xu, are you speaking the truth?"

"It is absolutely the truth! This is something I accidentally heard from the Elder in my family. I didn't even hesitate for a moment before coming here to warn teacher!" Junior-apprentice brother Xu remained on his knees. "Teacher, it is the sect that failed you, it is not you who failed them. Please don't wait anymore and immediately leave Hidden Fog Mountain. If you don't go now you won't have any time left!"

Xiang Ziyue turned and fell to his knees. "Teacher, please leave!"

In the blink of an eye, numerous people fell to their knees across the room.

Behind his desk, an exhausted Rong Wei turned deathly pale.

He was still pouring his heart into curing the dark star ice serpent, but the high level figures of the sect were already impatient to cast him out as a sacrifice?

After several breaths of silence, Rong Wei gently sighed. "Stand up."

Xiang Ziyue's eyes widened. "Teacher…"

Rong Wei shook his head. "If I leave, what will happen to the rest of you?" He looked up through the window. "Moreover, I do have to bear some responsibility. If I was just a bit more cautious, the result wouldn't have been like this…if the dark star ice serpent dies, what does it matter if I accompany it?"

…

As Rong Wei realized that catastrophe was inevitable, a flying shuttle stopped outside of Hidden Fog Mountain. There was a flash of light and the flying shuttle vanished, leaving three figures in its stead.

The first person wore black robes that covered his body. A female cultivator with lavender hair stood behind him; her beauty was unparalleled.

The last one was a middle-aged man of average build and with an expressionless face. The feeling he gave off was as if he were a moving block of human-shaped ice. He emitted a chilling feeling.

The lavender hair woman looked at the map in her hands. She respectfully said, "Teacher, we have arrived. This place is Hidden Fog Mountain."

Beneath the black robes, a calm voice sounded out, "Send the greeting card."

The lavender hair woman nodded. She took out a jade card and poured magic power into it. With a flash of light, it sank into the void.

Faint ripples appeared in the space before them, proliferating in all directions. It was like a calm lake surface being blown by a spring breeze.

The greeting card had already passed through the barrier and entered the Hidden Fog Sect. The lavender hair woman turned back around. She believed that with her teacher's status, the Hidden Fog Sect would soon open their doors and welcome them inside. But in practice, the situation was different from what she expected. Time slowly passed and the Hidden Fog Sect didn't respond.

The purple hair woman flushed red. She spoke in a low tone, suppressing the anger in her voice, "Teacher, the Hidden Fog Sect is too presumptuous!"

With her teacher's status, he had the qualifications to enjoy the highest level of reception no matter where he went. To send a greeting card and still receive no response after such a long time, this was simply unimaginable.

The black-robed figure paused for several moments. Then, a gentle voice responded, "We will continue waiting." He didn't believe that the Hidden Fog Sect would keep them out.

Moreover, the Beast King War of the Seven Sects was going to begin in less than half a month.

Although there were other options, borrowing the Hidden Fog Sect to accomplish his goal was the path with the highest chances of success.

…

The dark star ice serpent had failed to evolve and was dying. The one in charge of this matter, Mister Rong Wei, had arbitrarily changed the advancement plan on his own initiative and had committed a grave sin. As a result, he was to be severely punished by the sect and tossed into the dungeon where he would be held in custody until further notice. Once this matter was thoroughly investigated, a final verdict would be handed down.

When this news spread out, the entire Hidden Fog Sect was shaken. With the Beast King War beginning soon, the strongest beast of the Hidden Fog Sect, the dark star ice serpent, had encountered such an accident. No one wanted to think about what would happen next.

Could it be that the always prestigious Mister Rong Wei was actually a spy planted in their midst by outside influences?

For a time, rumors rose in all directions, guided by those with dark intentions. Soon these rumors became almost established fact, and the calls for the spy to be executed grew increasingly loud!

When Yu Yujin was born, he was given a name that meant honesty and righteousness. As his name suggested, he lived a careful and prudent way of life, never engaging in strife with others and always living in peace. But when facing this incident where the sect had been betrayed and the sect's spirit beast had been harmed, he found himself fuming with anger. As a Protector who firmly confessed to all that he loved his own sect, he would never have allowed this sort of thing to happen.

The spy needed to die!

So today, he called numerous friends to join him on a protest march. They petitioned for the Sect Master and Elders to kill the traitor and defend the dignity of the Hidden Fog Sect.

The massive protest march finally aroused the interest of the sect's high level figures. Elder Xu made a personal appearance and made a solemn vow that the collection of evidence had reached a critical point and no one involved would escape.

Although he didn't speak directly, his attention was made clear. The numerous demonstrators cheered and shouted out loud, as if it was their efforts that caused these evildoers to receive the punishment they deserved.

Yu Yujin and his spirited friends drank and shouted for a long time. After a long period of celebration, it was only then that they discovered they had missed their work shift.

Although they didn't want to leave like this, the punishment for missing their work shift was far too severe. So after a quick apology, Yu Yujin rushed over to the Foreign Affairs Division and to a small office of his.

A wooden sign was hung outside his door. It read - Hidden Fog Sect External Communication, Room One. In truth, it was just a name that sounded a bit better than the actual job was. He was responsible for accepting greeting cards from outside. Then, they were judged according to a weighted system. Those unworthy of mention were tossed to the side and those that were more important were reported to the higher ups.

But those with strength would have already established communications before they came to visit the Hidden Fog Sect. Those that arrived and tried to enter with greeting cards were mostly common 'grassroots' cultivators who were trying to take advantage of the Hidden Fog Sect.

In short, nothing serious happened in his office. While Yu Yujin came in late, he wasn't too panicked.

After entering his office, he chatted with his colleagues. When he learned that the manager hadn't come, he finally relaxed.

He steeped a cup of tea for himself. After taking a deep drink, he walked to his desk.

A jade card had fallen quietly into the center of a miniature array formation. This was connected to the sect entrance's array formation and it would collect greeting cards and bring them here for further review.

Yu Yujin's cautious nature finally proved useful. When he saw the greeting card he suddenly felt a little anxious. He picked it up and took a closer look.

"Sky Declaring Pavilion, Ning Qin…" This name seemed somewhat familiar.

Not daring to be careless, he turned on the automatic identification system and placed the jade card within. It could automatically read information from the card.

Soon, a loud bell rang out. The people in the office who were happily chatting and laughing suddenly froze in place.

This…this was the greeting card of a top level character…it had been many years since they had heard this sound…

Everyone looked over and saw a deathly pale Yu Yujin. He was staring at the shining screen of information, sweat streaming down his body.

His first thought was, old heavens, why are you playing me like this? I have been careful for my entire life, and just when I let loose a little today, you gave me such a great surprise.

His vision flashed black and he collapsed back into his chair!

…

The quiet array formation of the Hidden Fog Sect finally started to stir. Like a parting sea, the array formation barrier opened up to reveal lofty mountains and numerous palaces and temples. A large number of cultivators were rapidly flying over.

"Mister Ning Qin, it is truly disrespectful of my Hidden Fog Sect to not have welcomed you!" The Hidden Fog Sect Master was all smiles but in his heart he was clenching his jaws and wishing he could tear those idiots in Room One to shreds.

Numerous Elders smiled in agreement.

Originally, they needed help from this person and he had even come to them on his own initiative, yet they had actually kept the door closed on him. This sort of cold reception was intolerable!

Looking at the tense expression of the lavender hair woman standing next to the black-robed figure's side, everyone felt increasingly worried.

As if this was the calm before the storm!

"Hidden Fog Sect Master, could you not invite me in for a cup of tea?"

The Hidden Fog Sect Master's smile brightened. "Hahaha, this is the honor of my Hidden Fog Sect. Mister, please!"

Yun Die was without expression. She was a little confused about why her teacher would lower his status and forgive the Hidden Fog Sect so easily. But, since her teacher had made his stance clear, she could only forcefully suppress the anger in her chest and follow close behind.

In the Hidden Fog Sect's great hall, the Sect Master and numerous Elders lined up. Old Wei was there. He didn't doubt the identities of Qin Yu or Yun Die, but he was curious about why the previously cold Ning Qin would suddenly decide to come to the Hidden Fog Sect on his own initiative.

Could it be that someone here had secretly made a move so that Ning Qin felt the pressure of the Hidden Fog Sect?

The Hidden Fog Sect Master smiled and said, "Although the spirit tea of my sect isn't too well known, we do have some treasured collections. For instance, we have several tea trees that grow near the blue marvel orchids, and their flavor isn't too disgraceful. I must ask Mister Ning Qin to give it a try."

A voice rose up from beneath the black robes. "I am not proficient in team ceremonies nor am I particularly picky about the quality of tea leaves. So before I drink tea, I have something I would like to ask about, and I hope that the Hidden Fog Sect can consider it with an open mind."

After a pause, he continued to say, "Yesterday, Mister Wei personally came to Midmorning City and asked me to treat his sect's spirit beast. I would like to know if this spirit beast will be the one representing the sect and participating in the Beast King War half a month from now."

The Hidden Fog Sect Master replied, "Yes." He sighed. "At this time, there isn't a need to conceal things any longer. My sect has a spirit beast named the dark star ice serpent. It was supposed to be my sect's trump card in the upcoming Beast King War, but an accident occurred while it was evolving."

He cupped his hands together, "If Mister Ning Qin can save the dark star ice serpent, my Hidden Fog Sect will be truly grateful. You will be our eternal friend!"

So it really was true!

Although he had made a guess, it was only after obtaining confirmation that Qin Yu was able to relax. Since he personally came here, the Hidden Fog Sect must have had certain expectations already. Qin Yu didn't try to mislead or play games. He directly said, "I am willing to give it a try, but I have a condition."

The Hidden Fog Sect Master reached out a hand, "Mister Ning Qin, please feel free to speak!"

Qin Yu said, "If the dark star ice serpent is healed and is the final victor of the Beast King War, I want to take one thing away from the final rewards."

The hall fell silent.

The warm eyes of the numerous Elders suddenly turned sharp. A faint chill circulated in the air.

Old Wei bitterly smiled. He had really been overthinking things.

Qin Yu lifted the spirit tea and took a sip. His expression was calm as he said, "This is my only condition. If you cannot agree to it, then that's the end of it."

He didn't hide his reason for helping. But it was because of this that everyone understood his condition wouldn't change.

If they didn't agree, then he would simply leave.