Chapter 279 - 13: Discussing and Probing for Key Information

One day, just as Zhang Deming finished handling all the matters of his promotion to the Inner Sect and was finally relaxing, Song Huidong arrived.

"Junior Brother Zhang, have you finished handling your promotion to the Inner Sect?" Song Huidong asked, looking at Zhang Deming.

Zhang Deming nodded. Looking at Song Huidong, who had arrived on an Immortal Crane, he said, "I just finished up yesterday. As for the Qingyou Jade Pavilion, I didn’t give it up. I’m keeping it."

Song Huidong said casually, "That place belongs to you now anyway, so do as you please. Since you’ve finished, Junior Brother Zhang, please come with me today."

Zhang Deming paused for a moment, then looked at him and asked, "Where to?"

Song Huidong replied, "To the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool. The three Peak Masters have invited you."

A flicker of emotion crossed Zhang Deming’s face. ’This is perfect. I need to figure out the reason for these old monsters’ attitudes, or I won’t know how to handle things from now on.’ Thus, Zhang Deming nodded decisively and said, "Alright."

With that said, at Song Huidong’s gesture, Zhang Deming hopped onto the Immortal Crane’s back.

The Immortal Crane spread its wings and took flight, heading toward the summit.

The Flying Spring Waterfall was not far from the summit. In a straight line, the distance was quite short—just the height of the waterfall itself, a little over a hundred meters.

The waterfall was formed by the waters of the Cloud Pool cascading directly down. Thus, with just a few beats of its wings, the Immortal Crane reached the summit.

Spirit Nurturing Peak was very high, and the Cloud Pool on its summit was also vast.

Several buildings stood by the lake’s edge.

One of these was the most magnificent, surrounded by numerous smaller structures. This building was also situated at the nexus of Spirit Nurturing Peak’s Three-Star High-Grade Spirit Vein.

This was the main point from which the entire Spirit Vein’s Spiritual Qi surged forth.

This was also the location of Spirit Nurturing Peak’s main hall. Of course, the hall itself wasn’t built directly on the primary eruption point; the Cultivation Rooms behind it were.

The two did not land at the main hall, but in front of another great hall not far from it. After landing, Song Huidong led Zhang Deming inside.

Perhaps because it wasn’t the main hall, its layout was completely different from the one on Celestial Spirit Peak.

The hall had no main seat of honor, only four meditation mats in the very center, currently arranged in a fan shape.

Three people were already seated on three of the mats. Behind them was a strange, spherical structure.

’A globe? An astrolabe? It doesn’t look like either!’ In any case, it was something Zhang Deming had never seen before.

Seeing the four meditation mats, Song Huidong seemed slightly stunned for a moment before he bowed and said, "Reporting to the three Peak Masters, I have brought Junior Brother Zhang."

Zhang Deming hesitated, unsure of what form of address he should use to greet them.

"That will be all. There is nothing else for you here. You are dismissed," Yuee Mengsheng said from one of the mats.

"Yes!" Song Huidong replied. Ignoring Zhang Deming, who seemed to be in a daze, he departed immediately.

After Song Huidong had left, Yuee Mengsheng spoke up, "Junior Brother Zhang, please come and sit with us."

Zhang Deming glanced at the fourth, empty meditation mat, then back at the three of them. ’It seems they’re really taking this whole ’Peak Master’ thing seriously.’

’And with this attitude, they’re truly treating me as a peer.’ After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Deming walked forward.

The four meditation mats had originally been arranged in a fan shape, facing outward.

As Zhang Deming approached, Yuee Mengsheng waved his hand, and the four mats shifted.

By the time he sat down, they had formed a square with Yuee Mengsheng and the other two, sitting together in a group.

A low, square table rose up in front of them.

The moment Zhang Deming sat down, he froze. In that instant, an unprecedented clarity flooded his mind.

"So, what do you think? This Enlightenment Meditation Mat is pretty impressive, isn’t it?

"In the entire Celestial Spirit Sect, only our Spirit Nurturing Peak has five of these. The other peaks are green with envy," Gan Zili said with considerable pride, noticing Zhang Deming’s slight pause.

Zhang Deming paused, then said, "Mm, it’s not bad."

Hearing this, the three of them paused in unison. ’Not bad? Just not bad? It seems he must have had Enlightenment Meditation Mats in his past life as well.’

Zhang Deming was a little unsure how to begin probing for the information he wanted.

The main issue was that he was facing three Three Talents masters and still had no idea why they were treating him as an equal.

But for that very reason, he did his utmost to maintain a calm facade, not letting them see his apprehension. ’Thankfully, I endured those ten years on Little Qing Mountain. I can still handle this.’

As Yuee Mengsheng and the others watched Zhang Deming, Gan Zili spoke up, "Junior Brother Zhang, have you finished the paperwork for moving your Cave Mansion and all that?"

’Isn’t that just asking the obvious? You didn’t call me sooner, you didn’t call me later. I finished just yesterday, and today you summon me. Are you pretending you haven’t been watching my every move?’

Although he was grumbling internally, his expression remained unchanged as he said, "To answer your question, Senior Brother Gan, yes, it’s mostly done."

After speaking, Zhang Deming paused and asked, "If I may ask, why have you three Senior Brothers called for me today?"

Gan Zili said, "We called you here today, Junior Brother, because there are indeed a few matters we need to discuss with you."

Zhang Deming glanced at the silent Yuee Mengsheng and Guk Liancai before saying, "Please continue, Senior Brother Gan."

Gan Zili looked at Zhang Deming and said, "The first matter concerns the Cyan Wood Secret Realm. The situation there has been preliminarily resolved.

"Going forward, the Sect will group it with the Fire Separation and Wu Earth Secret Realms to serve as a primary cultivation and trial ground for Inner Sect Disciples.

"However, the Flower Demon Elf Clan still exists within the Cyan Wood Secret Realm. Although their numbers are small, if there’s one thing the Sect has in abundance, it’s Spirit Farmers.

"Therefore, with their progenitor stock, it won’t be a problem to expend some resources and help their clan flourish.

"In recent years, the Sect has expanded rapidly, and our underlying foundation has been somewhat lacking. The addition of a vassal race will significantly bolster it."