Chapter 55 : An Unreliable Sect, Eh

Chapter 55: An Unreliable Sect, Eh

At daybreak the next morning, on the White Jade Plaza before the sect’s main hall, more than a dozen disciples of outstanding appearance and bearing stood in neat formation before the Sect Master and the assembled elders.

Every article of clothing they wore—down to their accessories—was a high-grade magical artifact or spiritual item, faintly exuding extraordinary power.

Each of them wore an expression of absolute confidence, as if they were all the protagonists of this era.

On the platform ahead, Sect Master Zhuge’s beard and hair stirred slightly, his expression calm, carrying an air of clouds drifting lightly and everything firmly under control.

“All of you are the most outstanding disciples of this generation of our sect. Summoning you here today, the reason should need no further explanation from this old man,” the Sect Master said, his voice booming and clearly carrying across the plaza.

“This reopening of the Secret Realm concerns not only the contest over spiritual vein resources, but is also the moment to display the results of your many years of cultivation. You will face elite peers from the Wuyi Sect, and may even encounter formidable independent cultivators tempered between life and death. Yet since you can stand here today, you should already be fully aware of the risks and unafraid of the challenge.”

As he spoke, he raised his head to gaze toward the southeastern horizon and continued, “Time is pressing. True Person Zhiying and True Person Mingzhu should at this moment be confronting Golden Core cultivators of the Wuyi Sect. You must proceed at once to the Cloud Vessel Division Plaza of the Tiangong Pavilion. There, a cloud vessel named ‘Pitying Star’ awaits. After some brief preparations, you will take that vessel to the Secret Realm.”

“Sect Master, why was that particular cloud vessel chosen?” a disciple standing at the front asked.

This was also the doubt in everyone’s hearts.

Sect Master Zhuge had anticipated the question and answered calmly, “Twenty years ago, our sect refrained from hastily dispatching cloud vessels due to concerns over the leaking demon-wood spiritual energy within the Azurewood Demon Forest. As a result, we fell a step behind the Wuyi Sect and lost the initiative. Afterward, the sect expended great resources to develop a coating capable of resisting that sinister spiritual energy.”

“Could it be…” The disciples below had already guessed part of it.

“That’s right. After the coating was successfully developed, it was first applied to the ‘Pitying Star.’ Unfortunately, the will of heaven is unpredictable. We never expected the Secret Realm to reopen so soon… At present, throughout the entire sect, only this one vessel has completed the full coating.”

Hearing this, the disciples below showed varied expressions.

Most displayed admiration, deeply impressed by the sect’s foresight and careful planning.

A few even straightened their backs unconsciously, pride flashing in their eyes, as though the sect’s glory had already been bestowed upon them.

However, on the platform, the Sect Master and the elders were feeling distinctly guilty.

To be honest, they had long since forgotten all about the coating.

It was only after news of the Secret Realm’s reopening arrived that Shi Manyu, the Sect Master’s deputy, reminded them, and only then did everyone suddenly recall this old matter.

They hurriedly sent people to investigate, only to discover that after the coating had been successfully developed back then, it had been casually applied to just two cloud vessels—one of which had even been sold off.

The remaining vessel, the “Pitying Star,” had been abandoned in the most remote corner of the Tiangong Pavilion for years, utterly neglected.

Given the usual conduct of those people in the sect, it was doubtful that even the most basic maintenance had been performed.

Whether that cloud vessel could even start up smoothly now would depend entirely on the will of heaven.

For this reason, Sect Master Zhuge had specially reassigned several experienced cloud vessel maintenance masters and ordered them to accompany these elite disciples.

All he hoped was that the “Pitying Star” could be refurbished before noon, so as not to delay the schedule.

As for what kind of state the “Pitying Star” was actually in now, it was better not to think about it too carefully.

……

Everyone then headed to the Aerial Platform on the Main Peak and boarded a high-speed cloud vessel bound for the Tiangong Pavilion.

Unlike the high-spirited elite disciples, the maintenance masters led by Elder Xu Mangqi were extremely uneasy.

As a senior elder of the Tiangong Pavilion, he knew all too well the habits of those people.

Moreover, he himself had participated in the development of that coating back then.

Even the coating of the “Pitying Star” had been personally supervised by him.

Although the vessel had conducted several test flights after completion and the hull itself should have been fine, a cloud vessel was ultimately a precision magical artifact.

Without long-term maintenance, problems were almost inevitable.

He scarcely dared imagine how disappointed these elite disciples would be when they saw a cloud vessel covered in dust and spider webs.

These youngsters were all shrewd.

Even if they lacked experience in worldly affairs, the moment they saw the real thing, they would surely understand.

“Elder Xu, when the time comes… what should we do?” one of the old masters asked in a low voice.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” Elder Xu sighed.

“If there’s a chance later, I’ll go ahead and use water-element spells to clean the exterior of the hull first.

At least it has to look decent on the surface.

As for the interior… we’ll just find some excuse to brush it off.

In any case, today’s task is arduous.

Everything must be ready before noon.”

“Understood.”

Several of the old masters were all frowning with worry.

No one had expected the Secret Realm to reopen at precisely this time.

This time, the Tiangong Pavilion was going to lose face badly.

The cloud vessel soon arrived at the Cloud Vessel Division of the Tiangong Pavilion.

After disembarking, everyone headed straight for the berth of the “Pitying Star” under the guidance of the person in charge.

Just as Elder Xu was about to hurry ahead and cast spells to clean the hull, he froze.

Before his eyes was a spotless, tidy cloud vessel, and standing at the hatch was a Qi-Refining disciple holding a mop, staring at him with a dumbfounded expression.

That disciple was naturally Long Tao.

At this moment, old and young stared at each other, both hearts surging with excitement.

Elder Xu was thrilled because the vessel was actually being maintained, preserving the sect’s dignity; Long Tao was thrilled because he had gambled correctly.

Seeing Elder Xu and the crowd of elite disciples behind him—especially Nan Yuchen and Zhu Huaisu among them—Long Tao immediately understood what was happening.

Although he had previously appeared to have everything carefully planned, whether the sect would choose this vessel had never been a certainty.

If the higher-ups had completely forgotten about the coating and casually chosen another cloud vessel, he would truly have become a laughingstock.

Fortunately, the sect’s upper echelon was still somewhat reliable.

In the end, they remembered the “Pitying Star,” and his preparations over the past several days had not been in vain.

This “ticket” to the Secret Realm mission was finally in his hands.

“You are… I think I’ve seen you in Old Liu’s workshop before?” Elder Xu asked.

“Disciple Long Tao pays respects to Elder Xu,” Long Tao said respectfully, performing a salute.

“I am currently responsible for the daily maintenance of this ‘Pitying Star.’ Today this is… why have so many people come?”

Hearing this, Elder Xu immediately felt much more at ease.

It really was a maintenance disciple! He hurried forward, pulling Long Tao into the cabin.

Seeing that the interior was also clean and orderly, his gaze toward this Qi-Refining disciple grew even gentler and more kindly.

Without beating around the bush, Elder Xu explained the reopening of the Secret Realm and the plan to use this vessel.

Although Long Tao had already expected it, he still displayed an appropriately timed look of surprise.

“So that’s how it is. What a coincidence! I only came aboard yesterday and merely conducted a preliminary inspection.”

“Yesterday? Why did you specifically choose this vessel?” Elder Xu asked.

“Ah, I wanted to find a cloud vessel maintenance assignment to make my résumé look better. When I came here yesterday, the senior brother on duty said that this ‘Pitying Star’ had been an experimental vessel in its early years and hadn’t been refurbished for a long time. He was worried that a sudden inspection someday would be hard to account for, so he assigned this vessel to me.”

Elder Xu couldn’t help but marvel at how fortunate this was, and inwardly felt grateful to that duty disciple from yesterday, resolving to secretly reward him afterward.

He casually accepted the maintenance log that Long Tao handed over.

Although it was only a single page, it was clearly organized and detailed, making his smile grow even brighter as he read.

What surprised him even more was that according to the log, the entire vessel had basically no major issues.

Aside from insufficient spirit stone energy and a few minor problems that needed closer inspection, it was completely ready to depart immediately.

This was the best possible scenario—one he had scarcely dared to imagine earlier.

Still, what needed to be said had to be said.

As an elder, there were some things he couldn’t state outright, so Elder Xu spoke vaguely,

“Long Tao, those outside are all sect prodigies, so… there are some things you…”

Long Tao immediately caught on, wearing an “I understand” expression.

“Elder, rest assured. If any of them ask, I’ll say this was all arranged by the sect long ago, just waiting for them to arrive.”

Seeing how sensible he was, Elder Xu smiled and patted his shoulder before turning to head out and call everyone aboard.

Long Tao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

This elder, who spent all day immersed in Mechanism Arts, was truly an honest person—he had even gone out of his way to say a word to him.

If it had been someone more unreasonable, they would probably have already driven him off the ship, never giving him the chance to meet those prodigies at all.