My Master Knows It All-Chapter 171 - 123 Sincerity and Business_5
Chapter 171: Chapter 123 Sincerity and Business_5
Unbeknownst to her, she had entered a mysterious and profound state.
Lv Chaoqiong and Gu Chengyu noticed Yun Qi’s change right away.
"She has achieved enlightenment? What is this formation map? How did she achieve enlightenment so suddenly?" Lv Chaoqiong murmured in surprise to herself.
Cao Zhen didn’t speak, merely silently collecting the six array plates he and his disciple had been using. Lv Chaoqiong was so miserly—what if she asked him for the formation map later? It was better to secure them now for peace of mind.
As for her question, she was talking to herself, and it had nothing to do with him.
Lv Chaoqiong murmured to herself, and seeing that Cao Zhen didn’t reply, she wasn’t angry but just frowned, seemingly pondering something.
Gradually, she noticed something was amiss—Yun Qi was still in the midst of enlightenment!
Generally speaking, if someone achieved sudden enlightenment for some reason, this moment would be extremely brief—once enlightened, they are enlightened; that’s why it’s called sudden enlightenment—it doesn’t last long.
But why was Yun Qi still in the state of enlightenment?
One incense stick!
Yun Qi had been in a state of enlightenment for the duration of an entire incense stick before she came to.
The first thing she did was bow deeply towards Cao Zhen, "Thank you, Peak Master Cao, for your gracious gift. I, Yun Qi, will never forget this kindness."
Cao Zhen was resigned, wondering why everyone was so keen on bowing to him.
After Yun Qi stood up, Lv Chaoqiong spoke again, "Elder Yun, do you realize how long you were enlightened just now? You were in enlightenment for the time it takes an incense stick to burn... Was it because of that formation map?"
"Indeed, it was because of the formation map," Yun Qi recalled everything she experienced upon opening the formation map and looked towards Cao Zhen to ask, "Peak Master Cao, that formation map..."
"I know what you want to ask," Cao Zhen said as he pointed to the formation map in Yun Qi’s hand and explained, "This formation is called the Bodhi Enlightenment Formation, meant for facilitating enlightenment. However, once someone has used this formation map, it cannot be used by others.
Furthermore, even for the person who has used it, in your case, Elder Yun, it won’t bring about enlightenment as it did today. Of course, when you practice cultivation in the future, using it will lead to greater and deeper insights, but others will be unable to use it."
Upon hearing Cao Zhen’s words, Gu Chengyu suddenly felt that the batch of pills that had revived the Five-Element Pill Ground seemed less appealing—the formation map was capable of enabling enlightenment.
Enlightenment is so rare, not to mention achieving it for the duration of an entire incense stick—a gain beyond imagination. Such a defiance of the heavens would surely attract a Heavenly Tribulation!
But the pills that Peak Master Cao revived had not reached the point of triggering a Heavenly Tribulation. The Five-Element Pill Ground was at a loss!
After introducing the formation map, Cao Zhen said to the three of them, "Now, I’ve yet to see my disciple since I arrived here, so I will take my leave to check on his well-being. Farewell."
With that, he turned to leave. Why stay if not to make a swift exit? Should he wait for the Hidden Dragon View Master to recover and inconvenience him?
He took one step forward and was about to take another when Lv Chaoqiong’s voice came from behind, "Peak Master Cao, please wait a moment."
Cao Zhen trembled; his fears were realized. He was done for. The Hidden Dragon View Master was definitely going to settle scores with him.
Although all his actions were by the rules, what if the Hidden Dragon View Master forcefully blamed him?
She was the View Master, and a woman at that—weren’t women the most adept at laying blame?
Lv Chaoqiong approached Cao Zhen and asked seriously, "Peak Master Cao, may I inquire about your cultivation base?"
"My cultivation base?" Cao Zhen was taken aback. She wasn’t here to trouble him? What did she want with his cultivation base all of a sudden?
Lv Chaoqiong let out a long sigh, her gaze drifted into the distance as she spoke slowly, "I have stayed at Hidden Dragon Observatory for far too long, so long that I have forgotten just how many years I have spent here.
I have always tried my best to do everything I believed I should, contributing my own strength to Hidden Dragon Observatory, to Hundred Peaks Sect. But today, I suddenly realized I am not suited to be the View Master."
As Lv Chaoqiong spoke, her gaze landed on Cao Zhen: "I discovered that you are more suited to be the View Master than I am. I asked about your cultivation base to see if it was enough to form a Golden Core. If it were, I would naturally go and report to the Sect Leader True Person and yield the position of View Master of Hidden Dragon Observatory to you."
Since witnessing Cao Zhen triggering a Heavenly Tribulation while crafting a Formation Map, she had been considering this matter.
Cao Zhen gave Lv Chaoqiong a deep look, not knowing how much authority the View Master of Hidden Dragon Observatory could wield, but he knew that theoretically, everything within Hidden Dragon Observatory was subject to the View Master’s say.
Such resources could be allocated by the View Master, which was an immense amount of power, yet Lv Chaoqiong was willing to proactively hand the position to him.
He found that the high-ranked individuals within Hidden Dragon Observatory, whether it was Lv Chaoqiong, Ai Yunqi, or Gu Chengyu, all possessed a rare quality; they put the interests of the Hundred Peaks Sect before their own benefits.
Of course, this quality might seem foolish to many, but perhaps it was because of these ’fools’ in others’ eyes that the Hundred Peaks Sect had stood unshaken for thousands of years.
He himself was far from reaching this point, but he felt a genuine respect for these individuals.
Cao Zhen, looking at Lv Chaoqiong’s expectant eyes, shrugged lightly, "I’m going to disappoint you, I have yet to form a Golden Core."
"Not yet at Golden Core stage? Not yet, then you better hurry up and cultivate," Lv Chaoqiong exclaimed, "I see you rarely cultivate on regular days, you should quickly cultivate up to Golden Core. If you have any problems with cultivation, you can come to me."
Ai Yunqi nearly choked upon hearing Lv Chaoqiong’s words, thinking, View Master, do you know that the person in front of you is a reincarnated being of great ability? Telling him to ask you about cultivation is like a disciple from a Taoist Institution telling you, ’Feel free to ask me any questions about cultivation.’
Yet Cao Zhen wasn’t in any hurry, appearing quite nonchalant as he said, "Cultivation, well, can’t be rushed, I’m not worried."
He did wish to advance, but without money to buy Pills, how could he cultivate?
"You’re not in a hurry, but I am," Lv Chaoqiong looked earnestly at Cao Zhen, "Whether it comes to Alchemy or Formation Crafting, you far surpass me. The most important quality for the View Master of Hidden Dragon Observatory is not the cultivation base, but mastery in Formation Crafting and Alchemy. No one is better suited than you to be the View Master of Hidden Dragon Observatory. I truly hope you can cultivate quickly and take the position of View Master."
Gu Chengyu felt a sudden inspiration and said, "View Master, although Peak Master Cao hasn’t reached the Golden Core stage and cannot become our View Master of Hidden Dragon Observatory, we could make him... become the Vice View Master of Hidden Dragon Observatory.
True, we already have two Vice View Masters, but who says there can only be two? We can discuss with the Sect Leader and add another Vice View Master, allowing Peak Master Cao to stay here."
Lv Chaoqiong nodded repeatedly, "Elder Gu’s proposal is excellent, I will go to propose it to the Sect Leader immediately."
"Wait..." Cao Zhen quickly interjected, "I appreciate your kindness, but I would rather return to Four Treasures Peak."
Lv Chaoqiong was confused, "Peak Master Cao, you’ve been to our Hidden Dragon Observatory. You know how rich the Spiritual Energy here is, and we also have many Formations. Cultivating here would be better for you than at Four Treasures Peak."
Cao Zhen still shook his head, "Our Four Treasures Peak may seem somewhat rundown now, that’s because I haven’t had the time. Once I have time, I can renovate Four Treasures Peak, and it, too, can be lined with Great Formations, becoming a Mortal Fairyland rich in Spiritual Energy.
Moreover, I am the Peak Master of Four Treasures Peak. Since Master entrusted Four Treasures Peak to me, I must take responsibility for it, and I cannot leave it for any length of time."
Upon hearing this, Lv Chaoqiong quickly said, "If you stay within Hidden Dragon Observatory, you can still look after Four Treasures Peak. You can arrange for the disciples of Four Treasures Peak to come and cultivate in Hidden Dragon Observatory. We can discuss all this with the Sect Leader True Person."
Other than those with enough talent or those who fought their way in, there was another way to gain entry to Hidden Dragon Immortal Palace and Hidden Dragon Observatory: by paying a certain amount of Spirit Stones.
This was common knowledge. Since those with insufficient talent could enter to cultivate by paying Spirit Stones, letting disciples from Four Treasures Peak who lacked sufficient talent enter Hidden Dragon Observatory to cultivate for a while wouldn’t be too much of an infraction either.
Cao Zhen was completely defeated, he sighed and said, "Why are you going to find the Sect Leader? Haven’t you heard? I have explained so much because I want to negotiate with you. Just make your terms already!"