Shen Mo glanced at Wu Huairen, "I recognize you."
Wu Huairen's expression was awkward.
He had to bow and say, "I behaved improperly before and embezzled the rewards that should have gone to you, Shen Mo. I have come today to return them."
With that, he respectfully presented ten mid-grade spirit stones.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Previously, when he was promoted to an inner disciple, he had, under the guidance of Zhang Weihu, received the inner disciple's reward from Wu Huairen.
According to the rules, he should have received one hundred low-grade spirit stones.
However, Wu Huairen withheld twenty, handing over only eighty.
As time passed, Shen Mo had pushed this matter to the back of his mind.
Now, Wu Huairen had come to him proactively, not only returning the withheld amount but offering several times more.
This surprised Shen Mo a bit.
"And you?" Shen Mo glanced at the deacon of the Scripture Pavilion beside him.
The deacon immediately knelt down, "Senior Brother Shen Mo, I was wrong! I was terribly wrong!"
"At that time, I shouldn't have let greed take over. You were just entering the Scripture Pavilion normally, and I had the audacity to take a spirit stone from you."
"Since then, I've often felt guilty. Today, I have come to my senses and realized I should come and apologize!"
With that, he also presented a mid-grade spirit stone as compensation.
Shen Mo smiled faintly.
Feeling guilty? Coming to his senses?
Nonsense!
It was quite simple why these two had come to apologize.
The news that Shen Mo had become the sect master's disciple had spread throughout Qingxuan Sect!
Moreover, there was a rumor that a rare treasure, suspected to be an Eternal Flame, had been obtained by Shen Mo in Qingxuan Cave. This news had spread among the disciples like wildfire.
Although Shen Mo hadn't admitted it himself, many believed it to be true. That he had obtained the Eternal Flame.
This news had reached the ears of Wu Huairen and the deacon of the Scripture Pavilion. Naturally, they were terrified.
They never expected that the disciple they had once exploited and extorted had become such a formidable figure!
Shen Mo casually accepted the spirit stone from the Scripture Pavilion deacon.
"Get lost. If I find out you're exploiting ordinary disciples again, don't expect to stay in Qingxuan Sect." Shen Mo said indifferently.
"Yes, yes, thank you, Brother Shen Mo." The deacon expressed his gratitude tearfully.
Wu Huairen was stunned for a moment, "What about me..."
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Elder Wu has extorted quite a few disciples over the years. How could you have only ten mid-grade spirit stones in your pocket?"
"Look at this deacon of the Scripture Pavilion; he offered a mid-grade spirit stone as compensation."
"With Elder Wu's ability to accumulate wealth, you shouldn't be outdone by a deacon."
Wu Huairen, upon hearing this, became even more embarrassed.
He had no choice but to rummage through his storage ring and produced twenty more mid-grade spirit stones.
"Is this enough?" Wu Huairen asked hopefully.
Shen Mo remained silent.
Wu Huairen, looking pained, took out a mid-grade inner armor made of forest python skin, "This inner armor is made of forest python skin. It's durable, resistant to ordinary weapons, and can withstand fire."
Only then did Shen Mo nod slightly.
Thirty mid-grade spirit stones and a mid-grade inner armor, barely acceptable.
"Elder Wu, you should discipline yourself well in the future and never repeat your mistakes." Shen Mo admonished with a faint smile.
"Yes, yes, I won't dare again." Wu Huairen felt as if he had been granted amnesty.
...
As night deepened, Shen Mo sat cross-legged on his bed, practicing the breathing technique of the Flame Hell Destruction Manual.
He had a feeling that he would soon master the second level of the Flame Hell Destruction Manual.
With this opportunity, he could reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
At this moment, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted in.
Before Shen Mo could react, a curvaceous and beautiful figure appeared in front of his bed.
It was his beautiful master, Murong Yue. Shen Mo immediately got up and saluted as a disciple.
Murong Yue, still beautiful as ever, had a deeper look of sorrow between her brows.
She waved her hand and casually sat down on a wooden chair in the bedroom.
"Master must have come because the matter has been resolved." Shen Mo asked.
Murong Yue nodded, "Song Chaofeng claimed that Song Junjie only intended to use the crossbows and bolts of the Verdant Vine Sect as a trump card against enemies. Those crossbows and bolts were purchased by Song Junjie through the black market and not directly traded with the Green Vine Sect."
"He attacked you in a fit of rage."
Shen Mo scoffed. This was clearly just an excuse.
With Murong Yue's experience and wisdom, she certainly wouldn't believe it.
"Song Chaofeng, feeling that he had failed in teaching his son, has resigned from the position of Great Elder and will spend four years in seclusion on Sword Cliff, reflecting on his actions."
"Song Junjie, for purchasing the Verdant Vine Sect's crossbows to harm fellow disciples, is expelled from Qingxuan Sect effective immediately and will never be allowed back."
"As for the vacant position of True disciple left by Song Junjie, it will be given to you."
Murong Yue finished speaking and looked at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo cupped his hands, "Thank you, Master."
All of this was within his expectations.
According to the normal trajectory of his life panel, the Sword Sect's campaign against the various sects of Xuanjiang Prefecture was still more than four years away.
Song Chaofeng didn't fall out with Murong Yue; instead, he compromised and retreated. Clearly, he believed that the time was not yet ripe, and his strength was not fully developed.
"Disciple, my master often said that great trends are irreversible; one can only sail with the wind and never against the current," Murong Yue suddenly said.
"But sometimes, I wonder, is it truly irreversible? Wouldn't everything be solved by just slapping Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng to death?"
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
It seemed that Murong Yue had also noticed the changing trends in Xuanjing prefecture.
However, the idea of slapping Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng to death was dangerous.
Liu Yuanfeng was colluding with the Divine Sword Sect. Song Chaofeng had close ties with the Verdant Vine Sect.
If these two died, the Divine Sword Sect and the Verdant Vine Sect would definitely seek revenge.
This could even lead to the premature destruction of Qingxuan Sect.
Shen Mo said solemnly, "Master, your disciple has a thought."
Murong Yue nodded her fair chin.
Shen Mo carefully chose his words, "For most people, the great trends are indeed irreversible. But if one's strength is sufficient, then the great trends will only bow at your feet."
A strange light flashed in Murong Yue's eyes.
"Good disciple!"
She was silent for a long time, then suddenly exclaimed with joy.
Murong Yue's aura suddenly became uncontrollable. It fluctuated, becoming strong and weak alternately.
Shen Mo was slightly surprised, "Master, what's happening..."
Murong Yue smiled, "I have had an epiphany. This might be an opportunity for me to reach the peak of the Core Formation stage."
Shen Mo cupped his hands, "Congratulations, Master!"
Before he had enough strength, he naturally hoped Murong Yue would become stronger.
Moreover, he knew that everything this beautiful master did was for his own good.
He wished Murong Yue would become the number one expert in the world.
Murong Yue, in high spirits, relaxed her furrowed brows, "You've tamed the Red Lotus Flame, haven't you? Let me have a look; I've never seen an Eternal Flame in my life."
Shen Mo nodded.
With a thought, a flame in the shape of a red lotus appeared in his palm.
It burned quietly, without any violent or fierce tendencies.
Murong Yue reached out to touch it. The Red Lotus Flame instinctively attacked.
Murong Yue instinctively cried out and quickly withdrew her fingers.
Shen Mo also immediately retracted the Red Lotus Flame, scratching his head, "Sorry, Master, it's still wild and untamed. Sometimes it attacks without my command."
Murong Yue, however, laughed even more happily, "No problem, the stronger it is, the happier I am!"
"I will be in seclusion for a while. If you need anything, feel free to find Elder Li. Also, these are for you."
She said this and disappeared in an instant. Shen Mo looked closely and saw a brand-new storage ring on the table.
Opening it, he was greeted by a mountain of elixirs and treasures. Shen Mo was overjoyed.
This kind of support was truly delightful!