The Hundred Peaks Sect spans a vast area, so there are several marketplaces within it.
These marketplaces are not only operated by disciples of the Hundred Peaks Sect but also inhabited by many commoners without the talent for immortal cultivation. These commoners work for cultivators, and if their descendants are suitable for cultivation, they can send their children to the sect's Taoist Institution for immortal cultivation.
As Cao Zhen appeared in the marketplace dressed in Peak Master's attire, he immediately attracted the attention of everyone around him.
What the Peak Masters of the Hundred Peaks Sect look like or their names are generally unknown to the common folk, who only know that the Peak Masters possess noble status and formidable strength.
Due to the evening, there weren't many people on the streets, but they still stepped aside, making way for an exceptionally spacious path for him.
Cao Zhen couldn't help secretly exclaiming that being a Peak Master was indeed quite nice, as people would make way for him simply by standing on the street.
"You people, don't just make way because it's a Peak Master. Not every Peak Master in our Hundred Peaks Sect has status,"
A young sword-wielding cultivator emerged from a pharmacy on the side of the street, his words laced with mockery and provocation.
Seeing the word 'Starshine' embroidered on the chest of the challenger's long gown, Cao Zhen knew he was a disciple from Starshine Peak provoking him, but he couldn't be bothered to engage with him. Once he refined and consumed the minor Dragon Tiger Pill and achieved a rapid breakthrough, all he would need to do was to shout that he wanted to fight ten from Starshine Peak, and with that thought, he quickly headed toward the most famous furnace house in the marketplace, the Precious Cauldron Pavilion.
The disciple from Starshine Peak didn't expect his provocation to be completely ignored, and feeling unable to save face, he hurriedly stepped forward to block Cao Zhen's path.
To block the path of a Peak Master! If it were another Peak Master, the disciple from Starshine Peak wouldn't dare to do such a thing, but he dared to do so to the Peak Master from Four Treasures Peak.
First was the relationship in strength between them, secondly, wasn't there an agreement for a magical duel between the two peaks? Even if pursued by the sect, there would still be a way to justify it. Thirdly...
Cao Zhen glanced at the Starshine Peak disciple blocking his way, not worried that the other would actually strike him. The rules of the Hundred Peaks Sect were clear; unwarranted beatings of fellow disciples were a grave offense, and attacking a Peak Master without a cause—even if it wasn't the attacker's own Peak Master—was considered a serious crime of insubordination.
"Peak Master Cao, why are you staring at me? Don't recognize me anymore?" the disciple from Starshine Peak, almost one meter ninety in height, looked down at Cao Zhen, who barely reached one meter eighty.
Cao Zhen immediately understood that this person must have had a past grievance with his current body's previous owner, and he quickly searched his memory to know what it was all about.
Bai Mutian! A disciple from Starshine Peak! They had once received a sect's order to go to Chu Xi Village to drive away a demon that had managed a bit of cultivation. Afterward, the villagers offered up twenty taels of Spirit Stones they had dug up, along with a golden clam pearl the size of an eyeball.
When Bai Mutian returned to the sect, he only handed over the Spirit Stones and kept the golden clam pearl for himself.
Thereafter, Bai Mutian was reported, whipped twenty times as punishment, and was ordered to face the wall in penance for several years.
The person who had reported him was the former owner of the body Cao Zhen now inhabited.
"Just finished your wall-facing penalty? Then don't cause trouble," Cao Zhen said with a consoling expression. "Provoking a Peak Master could easily amount to insubordination. According to the sect's rules, you could end up facing the wall again. I don't want to see you back there."
Facing the wall? I, your lord? Bai Mutian's forehead bulged with blue veins, everyone says don't hit a man in the face, yet the people from Four Treasures Peak hit the face as soon as they opened their mouths, and keep mentioning facing the wall! Moreover, he even arrogantly refers to himself as 'I, your lord' because of his status as a Peak Master?
"Peak Master Cao, I remember there's a rule in our Sect that disciples may ask Peak Masters for guidance and spar, isn't there?" Bai Mutian deliberately raised his voice so that everyone around could hear, "Surely a Peak Master wouldn't refuse a disciple's request for instruction?"
As the day for the duel between the two peaks drew near, the Peak Master of Starshine Peak had also privately expressed his concerns. He feared that Cao Zhen, knowing he was no match, would use his connections to cancel the duel.
Bai Mutian was well aware that by exploiting the old grudges between the two, if he provoked a fight here, the best outcome would be to actually come to blows, causing Four Treasures Peak to lose face in advance! Given Cao Zhen's obstinate and prideful nature, even if he knew the upcoming duel between the two peaks was unwinnable, he would have no choice but to forge ahead stubbornly!
"Very well."
Cao Zhen's response left Bai Mutian stunned in place and also attracted the crowd of onlookers who loved a good spectacle.
Bai Mutian had assumed Cao Zhen would find an excuse to refuse, at which point he'd verbally humiliate him and force him to agree.
He hadn't expected Cao Zhen to agree so readily.
He agreed, he actually agreed! Bai Mutian stared at Cao Zhen, at a loss for words. The retort he had prepared was completely blocked by the other's simple "Very well."
"What's with that expression?" Seeing Bai Mutian's gaze shift from blank to rapidly regaining focus, Cao Zhen hastily said, "As a junior, you have asked for your lord's guidance. How could I not offer you some pointers?"
Your lord! There it is again, your lord! Bai Mutian only wanted to start trouble, to help his master by pinning down Four Treasures Peak in the duel, but he didn't expect the other party to keep posturing in front of him, saying 'your lord' at every turn!
"How about this? I just happen to need to deal with some matters at Precious Cauldron Pavilion—can you wait for me?" Cao Zhen said to Bai Mutian, who was already clenching his fists ready to start a fight, "Once I'm done there, I'll come back to offer you some guidance. What do you think?"
Bai Mutian glanced back at Precious Cauldron Pavilion, knowing that the workshop had no back door, so the other party couldn't escape. He then revealed a smile full of ill intent, "I'm looking forward to the moment you walk out of Precious Cauldron Pavilion."
Cao Zhen glanced at Precious Cauldron Pavilion, then back at Bai Mutian who was looking for an excuse to beat him up. He smiled and said, "Your lord is also looking forward to, the moment I walk out of Precious Cauldron Pavilion."
The crowd began to whisper to each other, inquiring about the status of Four Treasures Peak's Peak Master within the Hundred Peaks Sect. Why would someone dare to challenge such a lofty figure as a Peak Master?
As Cao Zhen walked towards Precious Cauldron Pavilion, he chuckled inwardly. Bai Mutian still thinks about finding excuses to beat me up? Wait until I finish making pills inside, I'll swallow the elixirs, power through, and when I come out, not even your big brother would be my match, he'll only get beaten.
Watching Cao Zhen's confident silhouette depart, Bai Mutian grew more convinced that the Peak Master of Four Treasures Peak, just as his master's spies had reported, had indeed forced his cultivation breakthrough, leading to possession by inner demons, and must now be in the stage of the Heartless Demon, exhibiting blind confidence!
Excellent! Bai Mutian's smile grew even brighter. Not only could he settle an old score, but by defeating him, he would only fuel Cao Zhen's inner demons further. Cao Zhen would definitely not use his connections to cancel the duel. Once his master heard about this, he would surely bestow a great reward.
But... what was he doing at Precious Cauldron Pavilion? Bai Mutian couldn't figure it out. Four Treasures Peak was so poor they were nearly at the point of not being able to pull up their trousers, and even the cheapest pill furnace at Precious Cauldron Pavilion was beyond his means. And what would he do with a pill furnace now? Alchemy? That doesn't seem to be his forte, does it? It seems like the Heartless Demon has made him lose sight of himself. Looks like Four Treasures Peak might be ruined by him.