It was nighttime.
In Qingyun Dao Sect, Su Changyu stood quietly on top of the cliff.
All by himself, he looked up and gazed at the starry sky.
It was extremely quiet in the Qingyun Dao Sect.
However, as a figure flashed by, Su Changyu's dull and lifeless eyes immediately became radiant again.
Phew!
In the next moment, Su Changyu left his spot and arrived at the entrance of the sect.
"Who's there?"
Su Changyu's voice sounded. He swiftly gripped his sword tightly and looked in front.
"Changyu, it's me."
A familiar voice sounded in the woods, causing Su Changyu to be stunned.
"Master?"
Su Changyu was a little surprised.
'What is he doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?'
"I'm out for a stroll."
Daoist Tai Hua walked out of the woods and looked at Su Changyu with an awkward smile.
"Taking a stroll?" Su Changyu glanced at Daoist Tai Hua before looking at the sword in the latter's hand.
"Master, you still have to carry a weapon when you're on a stroll?"
Su Changyu's words made Daoist Tai Hua feel a little embarrassed.
"Master, what exactly are you going to do?"
Su Changyu's gaze was full of suspicion.
"Nothing really. What else can I do?"
Daoist remained tight-lipped.
"I'll go with you then."
Su Changyu took a step forward.
Daoist Tai Hua was immediately a little embarrassed.
He could tell that Su Changyu did not believe what he said at all.
"What exactly are you going to do?"
Su Changyu asked solemnly again.
Seeing that he could not keep it from him any longer, Daoist Tai Hua had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell the truth.
"Changyu, my greatest wish is to let the sect be promoted to a third-grade sect as soon as possible. Now that we finally have a genius in the sect, I actually understand that we can't keep him around."
"However, I want him to participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet. As long as he makes it to the top 100 places, we will be able to apply for a promotion to a third-grade sect. By then, even if your little Junior Brother leaves the Qingyun Dao Sect, we won't feel that upset, right?"
Daoist Tai Hua said earnestly.
Su Changyu fell silent for a while.
Daoist Tai Hua was right.
It was impossible for a genius to stay in a small sect like Qingyun Dao Sect.
Ye Ping was clueless now and it would be no major problem to fool him with some lies, but Ye Ping would definitely go down the mountain to explore the world one day.
Once he got into contact with the outside world, he would understand everything.
"Master, are you going to help Little Junior Brother sign up for the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet?"
Su Changyu asked with puzzlement.
"No. I want to go to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. I have a friend who's a Fellow Daoist, he said that he discovered some spirit essence there."
Daoist Tai Hua said.
"Cloud Mist Mountain Range?"
Su Changyu's expression suddenly changed and he looked at Daoist Tai Hua.
"Master, are you out of your mind? There are so many demonic beasts there. With your current cultivation level, you'd only be courting death."
Su Changyu was a little astonished.
'Nonsense.'
Upon hearing that, Daoist Tai Hua immediately wanted to retort, but after thinking about it, he felt that it seemed to have made sense and thus decided to bear with it.
"I'm only going to stay in the periphery of the mountain range. Why would I encounter demonic beasts if I don't go in?"
Daoist Tai Hua retorted indignantly.
"Master, don't be silly. What are you going to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range for? The Qingyun Dao Sect isn't that poor, is it?"
Su Changyu frowned.
The Cloud Mist Mountain Range was a mountain range full of demonic beasts. Although there weren't any strong demonic beasts, it was very dangerous for a cultivator like Daoist Tai Hua.
"Changyu, it's true that our sect is not that poor, but your little Junior Brother needs a flying sword, doesn't he? How can he participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet without a proper sword?"
Daoist Tai Hua voiced his own thoughts.
At that moment, Su Changyu shook his head and said, "No, Master. You can't go to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range."
"If I don't go to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, who will provide for your little Junior Brother?"
Daoist Tai Hua was a little angry.
In the next moment, Su Changyu fell silent.
However, he soon said, "Well, little Junior Brother can paint. I'll ask him to paint again."
Actually, although the two had learned that Ye Ping's paintings were extremely valuable, Su Changyu did not have the cheek to ask Ye Ping to paint another one.
After finding out, he was even more ashamed.
"Changyu." Daoist Tai Hua sighed and then looked at Su Changyu. He said earnestly, "I thought about it and I think that it's enough to take one painting from him. Your little Junior Brother will find out sooner or later. Once he finds out that we sold his painting for money, he'd definitely feel uncomfortable."
"As the saying goes, if you give him a little help when he's in need, he will be grateful to us. He's indeed a genius. Since other sects rejected him, we're doing him a favor by accepting him!"
"He's doing us a favor by creating a painting to save the sect, but if we keep asking him for it and he finds out, he might resent the Qingyun Dao Sect."
"So, we should do our best to help your little Junior Brother. At the very least, we would have done what we should do. That kid seems pure and simple, and he doesn't look like the calculative type. Even if he finds out the truth and leaves, he won't blame us. Do you understand?"
Daoist Tai Hua spoke earnestly.
After hearing his words, Su Changyu fell silent.
In fact, even if Daoist Tai Hua did not say it, Su Changyu understood that truth.
Ye Ping was a genius and it was only a matter of time before he learned the truth. If he knew that the Qingyun Dao Sect treated him like a cash cow, he would definitely be displeased.
Of course, Su Changyu understood the most important point too.
Although Daoist Tai Hua seemed to enjoy taking advantage of others on the surface, he was actually very thrifty and would prioritize his disciples before himself whenever there were good items.
For example, he spent most of the money he got from selling the painting on Ye Ping.
Daoist Tai Hua was like a father to his disciples, and he often wanted to give the best of everything to his disciples while being very frugal with himself.
He did not want to owe anyone anything.
He didn't want to take advantage of his disciples either.
Su Changyu felt that Daoist Tai Hua had done what he ought to do as a teacher, but Daoist Tai Hua had never thought so.
"Ah."
Su Changyu sighed.
"What are you sighing for? I'm going to go get some spirit essence, not to die."
Daoist Tai Hua said with some dissatisfaction.
However, Daoist Tai Hua was a little less confident after saying those words.
The Cloud Mist Mountain Range was full of demonic beasts. Although he was just going to be in the periphery and the chances of encountering demonic beasts were very low, there would definitely be danger.
He would be in trouble if he were to really encounter a demonic beast.
In the world of immortal cultivation, there were many cultivators who died at the hands of demonic beasts. With Daoist Tai Hua's cultivation level, he would definitely die when faced with the demonic beasts.
"Forget it! Master, I'll go with you."
Su Changyu took a deep breath and made up his mind to go to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range together with Daoist Tai Hua.
However, Daoist Tai Hua frowned immediately.
"What are you going to do? Add on to my burden? Stay in the sect."
Daoist Tai Hua immediately refuted it.
"Master, you understand my character."
Although Su Changyu didn't say anything, his expression was firm.
"I will go alone. Stay in the sect and guide your little Junior Brother in swordsmanship."
Daoist Tai Hua continued to speak, still adamant about letting Su Changyu take the risk.
However, Su Changyu did not utter a single word and instead looked at Daoist Tai Hua silently.
In the end, Daoist Tai Hua waved his hand and sighed.
He said, "Alright, but you must stay close to me. Don't be rash."
Daoist Tai Hua knew that he could not argue with Su Changyu. Therefore, he could only reluctantly agree.
Just like that, the two figures gradually disappeared from the Qingyun Dao Sect.
However, their voices could still be heard.
"What's going to happen to your little Junior Brother if we leave together?"
"Senior Brother Luochen has been teaching him alchemy recently, so I don't think anything will go wrong."
"Luochen? That's alright. He's mild-mannered and can take the pressure. He can stay stable regardless of what happens."