I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 8

All Useless

The three returned to Qingxuan Peak. After Qiu Yin’an settled Wan Qiongju, he planned to rest for half a day with Yao Ye before heading to Wanyun阁 in the East Mountain Hall to find Hai Di, a medicinal cultivator under Bai Chengying, to examine Wan Qiongju’s leg injury.

Just over an hour later, before the two could leave, the barrier at the hall entrance stirred.

Yao Ye was startled. He pushed himself up from the couch, leaning on the small wooden table. “Is my sister here to catch me? Good thing you set up a barrier this time.” He quickly put on his shoes. “I’m going to hide in another room.”

Qiu Yin’an rested one arm on the wooden table and slowly opened his eyes. He unhurriedly waved his other hand, and a large phantom image, about the size of a millstone, appeared before him.

Within the phantom, a man in purple robes with silver hair and a dark purple crescent moon pendant on his forehead stood outside the main hall, requesting an audience.

“Don’t panic, it’s not your sister.”

Yao Ye had only taken a few steps when he heard this. He quickly ran back. “Who is it? Chen Liang?”

Qiu Yin’an stretched, rubbed his eyes, and replied, “It’s the Star Seer from Qimen Pavilion, Lang Yue.”

“Someone from Qimen Pavilion? Perfect timing.” Yao Ye’s almond eyes widened. “I want to ask them how exactly they perform their divinations at Qimen Pavilion.”

Qiu Yin’an cast a Technique, granting Lang Yue passage. “He probably calculated the auspicious date for reinforcing the seal. Come on, let’s go to the front hall.”

Upon seeing Qiu Yin’an enter, Star Seer Lang Yue bowed and saluted him.

Qiu Yin’an sat down in a chair in the center of the hall. Yao Ye casually pulled up a chair and sat next to Qiu Yin’an, crossing his legs.

Qiu Yin’an asked, “Have you calculated the auspicious day for reinforcing the seal?”

He raised a finger and pointed to the seat opposite Yao Ye, signaling Lang Yue to sit and speak.

Star Seer Lang Yue bowed in thanks for the seat, then spoke with slight hesitation, “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, I am here today to report that the calculation cannot be completed.”

“Cannot be completed?” Qiu Yin’an narrowed his beautiful eyes. “What is there that cannot be calculated?”

“There are only two reasons why a calculation fails: either the cultivator performing the divination lacks sufficient cultivation, or the person requesting the divination lacks sincerity and is concealing something.”

After saying this, Lang Yue politely added, “If there are any other reasons, Qimen Pavilion is unaware of them.”

Yao Ye sneered mockingly, “Does your Qimen Pavilion have any real skill? Or are you only capable of trickery and deception?”

Lang Yue: “Young Lord Yao, what do you mean by that? When has my Qimen Pavilion ever engaged in deceitful practices?”

Yao Ye: “Do you know that fifteen years ago, your Qimen Pavilion performed a divination for Wanzong Mountain, claiming the Venerable Lord’s wife’s unborn child had a rare fate that would greatly benefit her husband? You couldn’t even determine the child’s gender, yet you dared to make such a claim. Because of your baseless nonsense, the child’s parents died, and we were dragged into cleaning up the mess.”

Lang Yue’s face was full of pride. “Fifteen years ago, I had not yet joined Qimen Pavilion. While I am unaware of that specific divination, my Qimen Pavilion has never made a mistake. The phrase ‘baseless nonsense’ is quite insulting.”

Yao Ye scoffed dismissively. “I think the reason you can’t calculate the date is that your Qimen Pavilion lacks sufficient skill and true ability.”

Lang Yue’s neck flushed red with anger. “Virtuous Venerable Muyang personally entrusted Qimen Pavilion with divining the auspicious date. For Young Lord Yao to say my Qimen Pavilion lacks true ability, are you implying that Virtuous Venerable Muyang has poor judgment?”

Yao Ye was choked by his words and yelled, “Stop spouting bullshit!”

Lang Yue stood up, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, I respectfully request that you ask Young Lord Yao to step out for a moment. Lang Yue has important matters to discuss with you.”

Yao Ye slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and pointed at Lang Yue’s nose. “This is West Mountain Hall. It’s not your place to kick me out.”

Qiu Yin’an raised his hand and tapped the tabletop. “Alright, with me here, no one will kick you out.”

His gaze lingered on Yao Ye’s face for a moment. “However, with you interrupting every few words, he can’t speak properly to me. Why don’t you run an errand for me? Go to Elder Brother Chengying and ask his disciple Hai Di to come over and properly treat Wan Qiongju’s leg injury.”

Qiu Yin’an pulled a round piece of green jade from his sleeve. He cast a Technique, and the jade piece flew like a butterfly toward Yao Ye. Yao Ye reached out, and it landed in his palm.

Qiu Yin’an: “This is used to control the West Mountain Hall barrier. It’s yours from now on. Go quickly, help me out.”

“Fine.” Yao Ye accepted the green jade button, feeling slightly mollified. Before leaving, he shot Lang Yue a fierce glare, then strode out the door.

After Yao Ye left, Lang Yue frowned and looked at Qiu Yin’an, appearing hesitant to speak.

Qiu Yin’an could roughly guess what he wanted to say. His expression gradually darkened. In fact, from the moment Qiu Yin’an asked Qimen Pavilion to calculate the auspicious date for reinforcing the seal, he had been gambling—gambling on whether Qimen Pavilion was truly as the world claimed, capable of understanding heaven and earth, knowing everything.

Seeing Star Seer Lang Yue’s current demeanor, Qiu Yin’an knew he had lost the bet. Qimen Pavilion must have already realized the trick with the Soul Protection Lamp.

“Speak.” Qiu Yin’an leaned half his body against the back of the chair, his posture somewhat casual, but his sharp, well-defined features still lent him an undiminished air of authority.

Lang Yue cautiously began, “Virtuous Venerable Muyang, Lang Yue dares to ask, how did you manage to counterfeit that Soul Protection Lamp?”

“I didn’t counterfeit it. That is the genuine Soul Protection Lamp.” Qiu Yin’an’s voice was not loud, but in the spacious hall with only the two of them, it sounded exceptionally clear and resonant.

Lang Yue had not anticipated Qiu Yin’an answering so directly and was momentarily unsure how to respond.

Qiu Yin’an: “Qimen Pavilion has some real skill. How many people know about this matter?”

Lang Yue, “Only a few divining Elders calculated that something was amiss. It has not been spread externally.”

“That’s good.” Qiu Yin’an stood up and walked over to Lang Yue, pressing him back into his seat. “I do not want more people to know about this matter. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Lang Yue immediately nodded in assurance. He looked at Qiu Yin’an with apprehension. “Since you have already found the Soul Protection Lamp, why not wait five years and seal the Demon Valley with Virtuous Venerable Lin Yu? Why risk reinforcing the seal now?”

Qiu Yin’an: “You are a smart man. You should know how many sects are watching the struggle between Chen Liang and me. I must break through to a higher realm so that after killing Chen Liang, I can still protect the honor of Qingxuan Peak.”

Lang Yue: “While that is true, we calculated the matter of reinforcing the seal, and now is not an opportune time. Based on the divination, there are too many difficulties and obstructions, and petty people causing trouble. This matter will likely fail.”

“Petty people causing trouble?” Qiu Yin’an scoffed dismissively. “Chen Liang?”

Lang Yue: “The divination results have repeatedly shown ill omens. You lack the right timing, geographical advantage, and human support. Why is Virtuous Venerable Muyang rushing? You are destined to be the Venerable Lord; you will be the Venerable Lord. Breaking through in five years will be the same.”

“How can it be the same?” Qiu Yin’an’s jawline tightened. “As long as Chen Liang remains on that throne for one day, my dignity will be trampled for one day. Every extra day he occupies it is like a knife plunged into my heart, twisting deeper inch by inch every day. I have had enough.”

Lang Yue was silent for a moment, then continued, “Venerable Lord Chen Liang has already issued orders to all sects, instructing no one to participate in the seal reinforcement. All sects are now afraid of offending either side.”

Lang Yue dared not look directly into Qiu Yin’an’s cold eyes. He lowered his head, forcing himself to continue, “The meaning of the Venerable Lord of Qimen Pavilion is that founding the sect was not easy, and he asks you not to make things difficult. When Qingxuan Peak has settled this matter, we will be at your disposal.”

Qiu Yin’an’s originally handsome face turned somewhat sinister. “Do the other sects share this sentiment? So you were collectively sent to report this matter?”

Lang Yue nodded, raising his eyes to gauge Qiu Yin’an’s expression. “But please don’t worry. Venerable Lord Chen Liang is unaware of the truth about the Soul Protection Lamp. He still believes there is genuinely no other option, which is why you proposed reinforcing the seal early. He probably just wants to assert his authority among the immortal sects. Once he can’t think of any better solution himself, he will relent. At that time, we will certainly assist Virtuous Venerable Muyang in reinforcing the seal and achieving your breakthrough.”

Qiu Yin’an’s voice was low and hoarse. “You may leave. I will make other plans for this matter.”

Having received permission, Lang Yue finally felt relieved and hastily retreated.

Qiu Yin’an had anticipated Chen Liang’s obstruction, but he hadn’t expected the other sects to be so cowardly.

Just the day before yesterday, in the West Mountain Hall’s council chamber, the sects were pounding the tables, angrily denouncing Chen Liang’s treachery, each one filled with righteous indignation. How could they be scared off by a few warnings from Chen Liang so quickly?

What was the value of their outrage? Worthless.

The more Qiu Yin’an thought about it, the angrier he became. He suddenly roared toward the hall entrance, “Useless.”

Qiu Yin’an clenched his fists until they audibly creaked. He closed his eyes, persuading himself not to get angry over this group of sycophants.

In truth, what did it matter if these mediocre people didn’t serve as protectors? The main commanders for reinforcing the seal were Bai Chengying and himself. Without them, success was not impossible.

Chen Liang had issued orders to the sects, and he must have pressured Bai Chengying as well. However, the strategy Qiu Yin’an proposed for reinforcing the seal was beneficial to the entire Cultivation World. Bai Chengying might not necessarily heed Chen Liang’s instigation.

Qiu Yin’an let out a long breath, expelling the stale air trapped in his chest. All his hopes rested on Bai Chengying. He muttered to himself, “Elder Brother Chengying, please don’t disappoint me.”