Chapter 241 - 74: A Microcosm of Sect Politics

Dang Ruyu’s pupils constricted as he looked at Zhang Deming, whose aura was at the Half-Step Yin Yang and seemed on the verge of a breakthrough at any moment.

Although he also possessed such strength, it was based on the premise that he had already reached Tai Chi Second Life.

Moreover, advancing further, breaking through the final boundary to achieve the ultimate Cross Tier state, was no easy feat.

’But Zhang Deming has just entered the Tai Chi realm. How can someone with his cultivation base achieve such a massive boost in an instant? And from the sound of it, he can take that final step anytime he wants?’

’Only those freaks in the Sect should be capable of this, right?’

’Why haven’t I ever heard of him before?’

At that moment, Li Shifan’s aura also changed. His already wild presence instantly turned violent, and his momentum soared.

While not as exaggerated as Zhang Deming’s, it was still incredibly eye-catching. The sharp aura, unique to a Sword Cultivator, was particularly piercing as it shot toward the sky.

Dang Ruyu and Zhou Zhixin exchanged a glance, a wary look appearing in both their eyes.

Zhang Deming glanced around. Some people’s eyes flickered with understanding, while others looked utterly bewildered, not knowing why things had suddenly escalated when the conversation was going just fine.

Zhang Deming swept his gaze around and looked at the pensive Dang Ruyu. He spoke again, "Senior Brother Dang Ruyu, weren’t you about to ask me something?"

Dang Ruyu gave a gentle smile and said, "It seems I was being a bit presumptuous. Junior Brother, you’ve only just completed the trial, so you must be tired. Why don’t we go down and rest? We can talk later."

"How could I do that? I can’t let Senior Brother Dang wait!" Zhang Deming replied with a humorless smile.

"Hey, listen to you, Junior Brother. This is my fault. I was indeed a little out of line just now.

"As your Senior Brother, I apologize. How about that?"

Dang Ruyu said with a warm smile, then looked at the surrounding crowd. "Everyone, disperse. Disperse.

"There’s no show to see here. Everyone should hurry up and look for clues.

"It’s rare to find an intact Secret Realm. We can’t just go back with so little to show for it.

"Don’t just stand around here. Even if we found a clue, it’s not like we could keep it all to ourselves under so many watchful eyes, right?"

At Dang Ruyu’s words, although many people’s eyes flickered with reluctance, no one dared to speak up. They began to leave, trickling away in small groups.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming finally let the humorless smile fade from his face.

His entire aura slowly receded, settling back down.

Watching the shift in both men’s auras, Dang Ruyu and Zhou Zhixin no longer felt their earlier faint sense of superiority.

After the crowd had dispersed, Dang Ruyu paused in thought for a moment before giving Zhang Deming a serious, slight bow. He said:

"We were indeed presumptuous just now. We apologize to you, Junior Brothers. Please don’t take offense. It’s just that everyone has been searching for several days with no results, so we’ve all grown a bit impatient."

Hah!

’This Dang Ruyu is a real smooth operator. First, he used the crowd to apply pressure.’

’Now that I’ve countered him with the Thunder Tribulation General, he has admitted defeat quite cleanly, able to take the loss in stride.’

’No wonder he has such a reputation!’

’He has Talent, a powerful family background, and he’s not the least bit stupid. How could he not get ahead?’

Although Zhang Deming had been publicly pressured, he could understand. In that situation, if their roles were reversed, he wouldn’t have passed up such an opportunity either.

Therefore, there was no real animosity between them. Since the other party was now wary and had lowered his stance, Zhang Deming couldn’t just keep up his aggressive front.

He dropped his expression and said with a slight smile, "Senior Brother Dang Ruyu, you jest. How could nobodies like us possibly take offense?

"As long as you don’t think I was being impolite, Senior Brother."

Hearing Zhang Deming call himself a "nobody" again and again, the corner of Dang Ruyu’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

’If this guy is a "nobody," then what does that make a Core Disciple like me?’

"Hey, we’re all brothers from the same Sect. There’s no need to talk about politeness or impoliteness. We don’t have so many rules," Dang Ruyu said with a smile.

"By the way, I’ve just been calling you ’Junior Brother.’ I haven’t even asked for your names yet."

Zhang Deming and Li Shifan exchanged a look. Because of the matter with the Flower Demon Elf, and now with the trial in the Cyan Wood Secret Realm as a cover...

...and given the current situation, they probably couldn’t stay hidden any longer.

Both of them had other plans in mind for certain things.

Therefore, Zhang Deming spoke up, "My surname is Zhang. My given name is Deming."

"’De’ for virtue and ’Ming’ for clarity. ’Great virtue carries all things, live simply to show one’s aspirations.’ A fine name. It seems your father hoped you would become a humble gentleman, Junior Brother," Dang Ruyu praised with practiced ease.

He then turned his gaze to Li Shifan. Li Shifan said coolly, "Li Shifan."

’Alright, let’s see how you flatter this one,’ Zhang Deming thought, raising an eyebrow at Dang Ruyu.

Dang Ruyu paused for a fraction of a second, then said, "Junior Brother Li, the Sword Qi surrounding you is incredibly refined and pure. Your foundation is truly solid. I am impressed."

Zhang Deming paused. Looking at Dang Ruyu, he couldn’t help but admire his eloquence and quick-wittedness. ’As expected of someone from the Dharma Transmission Hall.’

’At the very least, he’s passed with flying colors when it comes to professional flattery. He’d have no problem being a Sect leader or handling diplomacy.’

"Junior Brother Zhang, Junior Brother Li, why don’t we go gather with the others first?

"Of the thousand or so people who passed the trial, most are the Sect’s Core Disciples, with some Inner Sect Disciples as well.

"Only a few are from the Affiliated Sects and Noble Families.

"This place isn’t huge, but it’s not small either. For the number of people we have, it would still take ten days to half a month to search it completely.

"If we want to search effectively, we need some organization.

"That’s why those of us with some say in things have been gathering to discuss our findings."