He had bought his way in and knew he didn’t qualify anyway.
Xie Linlang didn’t care. “This disciple has another inheritance—victory would be unfair. I’m willing to yield the reward to the senior brothers.”
He was rebuilding his cultivation and already had an advantage.
Shen He beat Hong Kui to the punch with great perceptiveness. “This disciple has only been in the sect a short time—how can I compare to Senior Brother Hong’s years of practice? I’m willing to yield the reward to Senior Brother Hong.”
Shizun had yielded, so he had to as well!
Hong Kui: “…”
He knew his own limitations. In terms of talent alone, he couldn’t match Shen He. Looking at pill refining skills, he seemed inferior to Xie Yu, whom Le Qingping had brought back.
As for Qian Yang… with Qian Cai Duo Merchant Shop branches all over Silent Night Palace’s territory, he’d have to shop there in the future—how could he directly offend him?
He could only grumble reluctantly, “The junior brothers are all so humble. As the senior brother, how can I accept? Better give the opportunity to the juniors.”
The Silent Night Palace Soul Transformation senior: “…”
Wait, hold on—since when did we in Silent Night Palace practice this mutual humility and deferral? Where was the fierce competition, life-and-death struggles, and cutthroat snatching?
Weren’t you four a bit off in style?
The elder forced a smile. “Fine then. As long as you give it your all, this old man will represent the sect and fulfill one request for each of you.”
Qian Yang’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Exclusive trading rights for certain materials!!
Xie Linlang’s eyes brightened too. “Is there a limit on the requests?”
Could he access Silent Night Palace’s confidential records?
Shen He was a bit excited as well. “Can I ask Senior for help?”
He wanted to search for his blood relatives—or have a senior divine for him.
Only Hong Kui’s goal was straightforward. “Can the sect issue a bottle of Yunsheng Pills to aid core formation?”
He wanted to step into the Golden Core Stage!
The Silent Night Palace Soul Transformation pill master showed satisfaction. “No problem. This old man is willing to petition the Palace Lord on your requests. Explain what you seek in detail. If the Palace Lord agrees, then give it your all in the match.”
Soon, Pei Jiye received the relevant requests.
In fact, he knew these four selected disciples even better than the Soul Transformation Cultivator overseeing the Grand Pill Competition.
No other reason—Pei Jiye had been tracking Xie Linlang with the Water Mirror lately.
Whenever Xie Linlang appeared in Silent Night Palace’s public areas, Pei Jiye would cast the Water Mirror to watch quietly.
Lin Yu initially thought Pei Jiye was a bit unhinged, but later he noticed that Pei Jiye’s mood and restless Demonic Qi had calmed considerably, without the usual madness. Lin Yu couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
But soon Lin Yu started having headaches again.
Because every time Pei Jiye watched Xie Linlang, he always saw Xie Linlang and Shen He together—entering the cafeteria, attending sect lectures, the public sparring platform, even the Scripture Pavilion.
They were always paired up!!
Pei Jiye grew agitated again.
“When is that kid dying!?”
Lin Yu placated Pei Jiye. “Just wait a bit longer. He can die after the competition ends.”
After the competition, he’d package his disciple and ship him off to the True Realm to lay low.
Pei Jiye: “You’re lying to me, right? That kid has great talent and already qualified for the True Realm.”
Lin Yu: “No problem. If he dies, the fifth place can automatically substitute.”
Pei Jiye was finally satisfied.
Lin Yu: He’s finally quiet.
Now receiving the Soul Transformation pill master’s message, Pei Jiye immediately approved and demanded the match start right away.
Once the match ended and Shen He paid off his debt to Xie Linlang, that kid could go die!
Pei Jiye thought murderously.
The match results were as everyone expected—Shen He took first place.
Shen He felt a bit uneasy. He knew he had only gotten first because Shizun let him.
“Finding your family is more important.”
Xie Linlang already owed Shen He a huge debt of gratitude. His rebirth foundation came from the family recognition item left by Shen He’s kin. Of course Xie Linlang would fully support Shen He asking Silent Night Palace seniors for divination to find his family.
He secretly sent Shen He a transmission. “If you feel indebted, once we reach the True Realm, I need you to help me with some things.”
Back then, obsessed with Pei Ji, when refining the Mustard Seed Realm setup, he had specially left some checkpoints that required dual assistance to pass—where one side had to help the other selflessly and without compensation.
Shen He perked up and finally smiled.
But Pei Jiye, who had been watching the Grand Pill Competition from afar, slammed the table in fury. One-third of the Crimson Tree Branch Throne turned to ashes.
He roared, “Rigged! It’s rigged!! Shen He can’t compare to Xie Yu at all! Why did Shen He get first!?”
Though Pei Jiye wasn’t skilled at pill refining, he had watched his junior brother Xie Linlang refine pills for years and was already a Tribulation Transcendence Realm great cultivator. His eyes were naturally sharp and keen.
Though both Shen He and Xie Linlang used standard, common pill refining techniques, Xie Linlang’s movements were clearly smoother and more natural, his posture lighter and more elegant.
But in the pill retrieval phase, Xie Linlang deliberately lingered for three seconds, flicking his sleeve extra once. Though the pose was graceful, the vigorous Pill Fire caused one pill in the Pill Furnace to burn, preventing a perfect full yield.
Xie Linlang’s little maneuver was too natural—even ordinary pill masters couldn’t spot that subtle pause and heat variation.
Lin Yu was starting to lose it.
Despite Pei Jiye clamoring daily to kill Shen He, Shen He was still his disciple for now.
To be fair, he was quite satisfied with Shen He.
“Shen He produced a perfect full yield—pills round and glossy, with profound lingering intent and excellent quality. Why can’t he take first?”
Lin Yu finally voiced the words that had been nagging at him lately.
“Shen He’s talent is just better than Xie Yu’s. Even if you suffer Qi Deviation or suddenly go love-brained, you can’t ignore objective facts just because you’re settling for a substitute!”
