Besides, there’s more next month.

"Please!"

Nie Shanshan stored away her four Cold Jade Bottles, then gestured for Chen Qing to proceed.

Chen Qing didn’t stand on ceremony either and took the four bottles.

’What a shameless pair!’

Completely ignored, Li Wang and Li Lei exchanged a glance.

They had finally figured it out. During the first distribution of the Earth Core Milk, one had hypocritically proposed ’taking turns’ to feign fairness, while the other had remained silent, feigning modesty.

But now that the Sect had increased the quota and a great treasure lay before them, the two immediately dropped their charade. One made a powerful move to establish her authority, while the other bared his fangs in a direct confrontation. They weren’t pretending anymore!

’So it was all an act for our benefit?’

How laughable. Before, they’d thought Junior Brother Chen was honest and Senior Sister Nie was magnanimous.

In the end, they were the ones who got pushed aside, left to pitifully divide the scraps.

The two sighed internally, but they were helpless.

’This is what happens when you’re not strong enough.’

Then, they thought of Yan Yaoyang, and for some reason, they felt a lot better.

Li Wang stepped forward and silently took one bottle. Li Lei followed, taking the last one.

Watching the four of them quickly reach an agreement, Sang Yanping revealed a foxy smile.

’Now, this is more like it,’ he thought with a silent chuckle. ’The Sect Leader’s potent medicine was administered at just the right moment.’

’Without conflict, how can there be drive?’

’Without struggle, how can their true depths be known?’

After the four disciples departed, Sang Yanping went to find Sect Leader He Yuzhou.

He then recounted the entire affair in the Council Hall to He Yuzhou—from Chen Qing and Nie Shanshan’s sharp confrontation to their eventual agreement on the new distribution plan.

He finished by specifically highlighting the astonishing strength and hidden edge Chen Qing had revealed when he took Nie Shanshan’s palm strike head-on.

After listening, He Yuzhou showed no signs of displeasure. Instead, a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction appeared on his face.

He stood before the window, hands clasped behind his back. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly,

"A good fight... Conflict breeds drive, and struggle hones one’s edge. This stagnant pool has finally been stirred."

He turned, his gaze falling upon Sang Yanping. A profound smile touched his lips, and he spoke as if to himself, yet also as if posing a question:

"But... Junior Brother Sang, tell me... this trend of disciples hiding their strength for self-preservation, of avoiding any confrontation with the strong... who do you suppose is responsible for creating such a climate?"

Understanding dawned on Sang Yanping.

He bowed slightly, a tacit, knowing smile also gracing his features as he spoke in a low voice,

"Your insight is sharp, Sect Leader. ’It takes more than one cold day for a river to freeze three feet deep.’ Perhaps they have grown complacent after too long a period of peace, or perhaps... there simply wasn’t a ’bait’ large enough to tempt them? Now that the tide is turning and their drive is beginning to show, it is indeed a good thing."

He Yuzhou stroked his beard, his expression finally breaking into a low chuckle.

"Heh... You have a point. The ’bait’ was well worth it. Let’s keep watching. The water is only going to get murkier... and much more interesting."

....

「Xuanjia Sect, inside a private room.」

Shi Kaishan sat in the host’s seat. Opposite him was a middle-aged man—his old friend of many years, Jin Poyue.

Several small side dishes were laid out between them, and a jar of aged wine had already been opened.

"...So, you’re saying that junior from Cold Jade Valley is still going to the Wutai Sect?"

Jin Poyue took a sip of wine, a hint of amusement in his eyes as if he were watching a good show.

Shi Kaishan’s thick brows furrowed. "That’s what our scouts are reporting," he said gravely.

Jin Poyue asked curiously, "Brother Shi, is there some hidden meaning to this?"

Shi Kaishan fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Brother Jin, you aren’t from Yunlin Prefecture, so you might not be familiar with the intricacies. According to the intelligence I’ve gathered from various sources, Sect Leader Leng of Cold Jade Valley should be out of seclusion by now."

"Leng Qianqiu is out of seclusion?"

Jin Poyue’s expression grew serious. Leng Qianqiu’s name was well-known throughout the eighteen prefectures of Fenghua Path. "What does that have to do with Xiao Bieli challenging people all over the place?"

"It has everything to do with it."

Shi Kaishan sneered. "On the surface, Xiao Bieli’s so-called ’Lifeng’—his ’sword sharpening’ tour—is to temper himself and break through to the Astral Force realm. But in reality, he’s acting on Leng Qianqiu’s orders. She’s using his edge to suppress the morale of the younger generation in our three sects: Xuanjia, Qixia, and Wutai! Leng Qianqiu is always meticulous in her methods; she would never make such a move without reason. In my estimation, the true purpose behind this is... to form an alliance!"

"An alliance?!"

Jin Poyue was no fool; he understood with just that one hint from Shi Kaishan. "You’re saying Leng Qianqiu wants to consolidate the strength of the Four Great Sects of Yunlin Prefecture and form a coalition?"

"Precisely."

Shi Kaishan nodded, his tone grave. "Brother Jin, you know as well as I do that while Yunlin Prefecture and its neighbors have Sub-Pavilions of the Infinite Demon Sect lurking in the shadows, our situation is relatively controlled compared to other regions ravaged by them. But the Demon Sect is insidious, like maggots clinging to a bone. Once they achieve Great Success and build enough momentum, they become nearly impossible to eradicate. An outbreak would be so swift it could topple an entire prefecture! We cannot afford to lower our guard."

"The eighteen prefectures of Fenghua Path are all structured differently. Some are ruled by a single, powerful sect, while others are jointly governed by several. If our Four Great Sects in Yunlin Prefecture could set aside our past grievances and form a mutual defense pact, we would become a force to be reckoned with—whether against the threat of a resurgent Demon Sect or the covetous ambitions of outside powers."

Jin Poyue nodded in full agreement. "What you say makes sense, Brother Shi, but..."

His tone shifted as he asked, puzzled, "If this is all to build momentum for an alliance and suppress the morale of the other Three Sects to establish Cold Jade Valley’s dominance, then why make a special trip back to the Wutai Sect? I heard their young disciples have already been defeated, and Cold Jade Valley’s might has been clearly demonstrated. Surely the position of Alliance Leader can’t slip through their fingers now?"

A complicated look crossed Shi Kaishan’s face. "This... involves an old grudge between Cold Jade Valley and the Wutai Sect, one that goes back decades. When they were young, both Leng Qianqiu and the Wutai Sect’s leader, He Yuzhou, were the top prodigies of their generation, with their respective sects pouring all their resources into their development."