Chapter 126: Read the Name Backwards

The hierarchy here is rigid and governed by strict codes of conduct, yet in such a public setting, disputes among the Peak Masters inevitably undermine their dignity. Yu Ping'an waved his hand, instantly casting a barrier around the space occupied by the group. A faint smile graced his square face; as they were currently on Wangxi Peak, he naturally acted as the mediator responsible for smoothing over their various frictions.

Watching the somewhat agitated Xu Sunian, a trace of melancholy flickered in his eyes, though he quickly returned to his usual composure. "It is better to discuss unpleasant matters in private. However, Sister Sunian, there is no need to be so worked up; we are all in the midst of deliberation, are we not?"

Xu Sunian glared at him before sitting down in a huff. The Peak Masters were well aware that the elders and stewards in the great hall below could neither see nor hear their discourse, so many of them shed the imposing, unapproachable auras they maintained before their disciples. These individuals were all wily veterans who had occupied their positions for centuries; at the end of the day, all their conflicts boiled down to the distribution of resources among the peaks and the weighing of competing interests. And, of course, there were certain lingering emotional grievances from the past.

The five Peak Masters were all orphans, raised by the same master, having lived and cultivated together before finally achieving their respective successes. Centuries ago, they were in the prime of their passionate youth. Xu Sunian had experienced the first stirrings of love and pursued Han Yuntian fervently, hoping to become his cultivation partner. Han Yuntian, however, was then obsessed with the path of cultivation; while he did not offer a blunt refusal, he gave her no encouragement either, leaving her to pine in solitude. At the same time, Yu Ping'an had been frantically courting Xu Sunian, driven by the desire for a complementary dual cultivation union. The ensuing entanglements eventually led all three to remain single for hundreds of years, right up to the present day.

The five brothers and sisters each governed one of the five peaks of the Blazing Mountain Range, earning the title of "Head" and standing tall for centuries. Any disciple who had been with the sect for a significant amount of time knew these stories, though they dared only whisper about them in private. Having weathered so many storms over the years, the relationship between the five Peak Masters was inherently intimate and inextricably woven together, yet each harbored their own private thoughts.

Although the five peaks were led by Blazing Peak, Han Yuntian did not crave power; he preferred the life of a carefree wanderer, hands clasped behind his back as he strolled about. Consequently, the management of Blazing Peak was relatively lax, a fact clearly reflected in the state of the Service Hall. For Lin Zhan, this situation had been favorable thus far, as no one had yet discovered the truth about his background.

Returning to the present, the five Peak Masters were each preoccupied with their own agendas. Their elite disciples were fighting desperately in the Nanguang Abyss, and the emergence of the "Seven-Tentacle Demon Insect"—a sign that the abyss was in crisis—had thrown their plans into disarray. The Seven-Tentacle Demon Insect was a mutated primordial beast that had appeared in the late post-flood era. For ages, they had mostly remained dormant in the deep abyss. Their emergence was not triggered by external factors but by cataclysmic upheavals deep within the earth—perhaps the remains of a powerful ancient entity or the fragments of a divine weapon buried there were shifting, seeking to break through to the surface.

"It is best not to report this to the Blue Ice Royal City for now. Once the grand tournament concludes, we shall enter quickly. Whether it bodes well or ill, we can discuss how to handle it together then." A shrewd and cunning look appeared on Yu Ping'an's face. He scanned his surroundings before settling his gaze on Bai Fanyuan of Tiangang Peak.

Bai Fanyuan nodded. "Peak Master Yu speaks with reason. For years, we have contributed so much manpower, resources, and wealth to the Royal City; I, too, feel it is time to plan for the sake of the Blazing Mountain Range. My Tiangang Peak has no objections."

"Since Wangxi and Tiangang are in agreement, my Zangjian Peak shall not lag behind. It is time we showed some backbone." The heads of the three peaks reached a surprisingly swift consensus.

Xu Sunian turned her gaze toward Han Yuntian. Seeing that he would not meet her eyes, she frowned slightly and said to the other three, "The desire is noble, but I fear we may end up unable to bear the consequences. Should we provoke someone’s wrath, it will be too late for regrets."

"And what is Sister Sunian’s opinion, then?" Yu Ping'an asked with a dry chuckle.

"Hmph. The Piaoying Peak consists entirely of women. Once you have reached a decision, just carry it out. But I warn you, when the time comes to take the blame, do not try to push the responsibility onto us. And another thing, Peak Master Yu, how many times must I tell you? We are not that close. Who is your sister?" Xu Sunian turned her head away sharply.

"Ahem, naturally, naturally. Peak Master Xu, please do not take it to heart." Yu Ping'an’s weathered face flushed, and he quickly sought to soothe her.

Han Yuntian acted as if he had heard nothing of their subtle exchange and pointedly ignored the inquisitive look Xu Sunian cast his way. When it came to these irreconcilable historical grievances, he chose to hide, though it was merely an act of self-deception.

Yu Ping'an turned to Han Yuntian and asked, "Head Han, how shall the Blazing Mountain Range respond to the emergence of the Seven-Tentacle Demon Insect? I await your decision!" His tone carried a hint of frustration at Han Yuntian's perceived lack of initiative.

"Do not rush. For now, we must focus on the tournament. Once it concludes, we can enter and investigate thoroughly. To jump to conclusions and make excessive preparations now would be premature." Han Yuntian, as usual, maintained his calm and detached air, looking perfectly at ease.

*Dammit, 'do not rush.' I've been stuck for hundreds of years by his 'do not rush.' I couldn't even find a cultivation partner, and he’s still acting like the emperor who doesn't care while the eunuchs are dying of anxiety. It’s truly maddening,* Yu Ping'an gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly.

Alas, the consultation among the five Peak Masters yielded no final conclusion.

"Forget it. I shall send my own people to wait near the Nanguang Abyss. If there is any movement, we can take action immediately."

"I shall wait and see. If the disciples of Piaoying Peak suffer heavy losses, I will certainly come to settle the account and demand compensation!"

Aside from Han Yuntian, the other Peak Masters all had their own schemes. The small barrier was dispelled, and the masters once again appeared before the elders and stewards. Each of them instantly resumed a stern, solemn, and untouchable demeanor.

At that moment, the image on the Spirit Essence Mirror remained fixed on the area where Lin Zhan was located. The mirror showed Lin Zhan standing on a mountain peak, his ink-black sword resting on his shoulder. On another peak of equal height opposite him stood a disciple in grey robes. The two were locked in a standoff. The weapon held by the youth in grey was also a heavy sword, one that appeared even weightier than Lin Zhan's.

Lin Zhan had encountered Yi Ruyi, an inner disciple of Blazing Peak. Fratricide was not something he wished to face.

"Haha, Lin Zhan, I’ve heard of you. You were quite eye-catching during the elimination trials. Not bad at all," Yi Ruyi said. He was a young man with delicate features and a loud, resonant voice. His name, however, was somewhat amusing.

Lin Zhan began to wonder if he would say something like, "If I lose, I'll spell my name backward," because if Yi Ruyi's name were read backward, it would be exactly the same.

"Brother Yi, whether we fight or part ways, just say the word!" Lin Zhan did not show weakness, for there was a one-in-five chance of encountering a fellow disciple. If he treated everyone peacefully, he would never reach the top ten of the grand tournament. Still, the initial courtesies had to be observed.

"We fight! It is an honor to spar with a rising star like Brother Lin. If I lose, besides withdrawing from the Nanguang Abyss, I shall spell my name backward!" Yi Ruyi grinned broadly.