Chapter 523 - An Opportunity?

Lin Mu watched on as he saw the elder and Ye Zi Jin talk.

"So you finally decided to use that chance to get a weapon?" The elder asked.

"Yes, elder. I reckon this is the right time. With Alchemist Bilao's eventual breakthrough, the power structure of the sect will change. Especially with the new peak that will be built for him." Ye Zi Jin replied.

"So you know…" The elder muttered.

"Yes… It is no longer a secret, elder. Many disciples know of the sect patriarch's plan. It will also affect the pill peak the most." Ye Zi Jin stated.

~Sigh~

"That is true. Till now the pill peak was the only one that specialized in manufacturing pills, but now with the peak alchemist Bilao is getting, there will be two pill peaks. The benefits that the pill peak got till now are bound to reduce." The elder said.

"Indeed, senior. Right now the best thing I can do is improve my own personal strength… and that of my husband." Ye Zi Jin spoke.

The elder nodded his head at this and did not speak further. Lin Mu also heard her reasoning and realized that it was valid. It was obvious that with the creation of a new peak, that too one that specialized in the refinement of pills, the previous pill peak would suffer.

Alchemist Bilao was also considered to be talented in pill refinement. Some even said he had already exceeded peak master Yi Jing. The only thing that he was restricted by currently was his cultivation base, but once that was resolved, there was nothing to stop him from growing.

With their conversations done, Ye Zi Jin went into the vault. This time the elder simply waved his hand which was holding the key to open the vault's door. Unlike the other elder, Lin Mu could tell this one favored Ye Zi Jin.

Lin Mu observed the formations of the vault and saw that they were quite similar to the one before, with there being a few minor differences. But it was these very differences that could cost Lin Mu a lot of time when he actually got to opening the vaults.

Unlike the previous disciple who had taken over thirty minutes to choose, Ye Zi Jin merely took five minutes before she walked out of the vault. She was not carrying anything which meant that she had stored whatever she got from there into her spatial storage tool.

"Farewell elder." Ye Zi Jin said before leaving the area.

The elder nodded his head once again while closing the door of the vault. He then took out a spirit sword and flew away on it, his destination unknown. Having obtained the information that Lin Mu wanted, he went back to the residence that he had occupied.

~huu~

He took a deep breath as he laid down on the bed. Lin Mu had not slept properly for a few days and had spent a lot of time in observing the formations. This greatly taxed his mind, and he was now mentally tired.

"Now the only thing left is to wait…" Lin Mu muttered to himself as he fell asleep.

Inside the ring, Xukong had been observing Lin Mu the entire time. 

"His progress with the formations is at a great pace… still this is mostly with modifications and not actual creation. He will need practical experience before he would be able to become an actual formation master." Xukong muttered to himself as the spatial energy streaks stirred around him.

'Though with the information he will probably get from these vaults, he should have enough to get started on formation creation.' Xukong thought to himself before busying himself in his cultivation.

…

The moon disappeared and the sun rose up into the sky. It was finally daytime and Lin Mu had a rather rude awakening.

"THE PEAK MASTER OF THE HERB PEAK IS GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY!" A cacophony of shouts could be heard coming from the outside.

"Ugh… what is up with them all? This place is usually calm. Hang on… ah! I forgot to activate the isolation formation before sleeping. No wonder the voice was able to reach me." Lin Mu said with a groan.

He rubbed his eyes and pushed the hair that had fallen across his face.

'May as well check what this is all about…' He thought before leaving the house.

Outside, he could see that a lot of disciples were running around while some talked in groups. Lin Mu causally picked one of these groups and started to listen in on their conversation.

"Are you going to participate too?" One of the disciples asked his companion.

"Of course I am. Even if I fail, there is no penalty, and if I get even to the minimum level the peak master wants, I'll still get some rewards." The other disciple said.

"That is true, no matter how small a reward is a reward. Besides, the peak master has not set any high requirement for the test. Anyone who can ignite a Qi flame can participate." 

Lin Mu's ears perked up at this and now he was wondering what kind of opportunity was this, that so many disciples would be excited. While he was curious, he didn't dare to ask them. It was fine if he was listening to them on the passive, but if he actively talked to them and they recognized him, it could be problematic.

Besides, he now had someone whom he could ask anything related to the sect. Lin Mu thus went to the residence of Jiao Fang, but it seemed to be locked. Without any sense of privacy, Lin Mu phased into the residence.

"Huh… he's really not here?" Lin Mu said upon seeing the empty room.

He took out the jade slip and messaged Jiao Fang.

"Where are you?" Lin Mu asked.

He had expected there to be a quick answer, but nothing of that sort happened. He was just about to send a second message when the jade slip hummed on its own.