Chapter 95: A Perfect Opportunity

Azure Cloud heard the sect master’s solemn and heartfelt words, and when he saw the unwavering resolve in his master’s eyes, his heart tightened. He knew this was his master’s final warning.

If he continued to insist on this matter, his master might very well order the search for Bright Sky to be abandoned altogether.

Helplessly, Azure Cloud could only yield. He said to his master, “Master, in that case, let this year’s Inner Sect Ceremony proceed first. As for Bright Sky, once we find him and everything is made clear, if he is truly innocent, and if he can also be counted as a benefactor of the Clearwind Sect, then I ask you to grant him a separate Inner Sect Ceremony.”

Azure Cloud’s concession softened the sect master’s expression somewhat. His tone eased as he agreed. “That can be done. Azure Cloud, the truth of the matter is understood by everyone, but you must realize that we are all under another’s restraint now.

Elder Zhou’s arrogance is growing more and more brazen. There is no helping it; for now, we can only avoid his sharp edge. We cannot let one Bright Sky cause you to lose the hearts of the people. That would be very unfavorable to you.

You must weigh what is important and what is not, and focus on the main issue.”

“Yes, Master. Please rest assured. Your disciple understands.” At his master’s admonition, Azure Cloud obediently nodded. He knew his master was only acting for his own good.

Then he turned and left his master’s courtyard.

At that moment, Elder Zhou’s courtyard was crowded with many from his faction, all seated in the main hall.

Among them were several elders, as well as many mid-ranking powers who had recently come to side with him.

During this period, the things Azure Cloud had done in Clearwind Sect—delaying the Inner Sect Ceremony for Bright Sky, spending manpower and resources searching for him, and then Elder Zhou’s spreading of rumors—had truly caused Azure Cloud to lose much of the people’s support. Many had begun to defect to Elder Zhou as well.

In a short time, Elder Zhou’s momentum had swelled to a peak.

Yet the expression on his face was not good. A sullen aura clung to him. Ever since the death of his son, Zhou Yichen, he had been shrouded in a terrifying air, becoming increasingly moody and unpredictable.

At this moment, one of the cultivators beside him said, “Elder Zhou, we’ve been pressuring Azure Cloud and the sect master all this time, but there’s been no movement from their side. Is this Inner Sect Ceremony still going to happen or not? The people under us are nearly unable to hold back any longer.”

In truth, many had come to side with Elder Zhou because he had promised that the Inner Sect Ceremony would be held fairly and as soon as possible, and that Bright Sky’s slot could be given to one of them.

That was why so many had attached themselves to Elder Zhou; they were all driven by profit.

Hearing this, Elder Zhou’s gaze turned cold as he looked over, and the man immediately fell silent.

Just as Elder Zhou was about to speak, there came a dull bang.

It sounded as though something had been embedded into the door.

Everyone was startled, their expressions turning nervous. Elder Zhou shouted outside, “What happened?”

The guard outside hurriedly replied in alarm, “Reporting to the elder, a letter has arrived!”

“Bring it in.” Elder Zhou immediately ordered someone to deliver it.

He had thought it was news that his men had found Zhou Yichen outside, and his expression was filled with excitement.

But after taking the letter and opening it, he first frowned, then his expression turned sinister. Suddenly, he burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Hahaha! Heaven is truly helping me!”

Hearing Elder Zhou laugh like that, the others did not know what had happened, and the sound of it left them all bewildered.

One of the elders beside him saw this and asked softly, “Old Zhou, what is it? Your laughter is rather frightening.”

“You don’t know? Look at this letter. Our chance has come.” With that, Elder Zhou handed the letter in his hand to the elder.

Several elders passed it around to read. Their expressions were all full of shock, though their eyes held both delight and suspicion.

One of them hesitated and said, “Is this reliable? We don’t even know who wrote the letter, and we haven’t seen the person either.”

Hearing that, Elder Zhou looked toward the disciple who had brought the letter and asked, “Did you see who shot this letter onto the door?”

“No, Elder,” the disciple answered. “But our people have already gone to search.”

As he was speaking, someone outside shouted loudly, “Reporting!”

Elder Zhou immediately let him in and looked at him anxiously. “Did you find the person?”

The man looked dispirited, with a trace of fear on his face. “Elder, we did not find anyone. We searched every inch around here and saw no one at all. Even the dark guards found nothing. Perhaps some secret art was used?”

Hearing this, a flash of dissatisfaction crossed the elder’s eyes.

Then, as though it were only natural, he looked at the several elders and said, “Whatever kind of person they are, so long as they can work with us to bring Azure Cloud and that old fossil of a sect master down, that will do. As for Bright Sky, even less can I tolerate him. I will make sure he is torn to pieces.

Now that such an opportunity has finally appeared, I have decided to cooperate with this person.”

“Old Zhou, you should think this through carefully. We don’t even know who this person is. Don’t end up being the one to charge ahead for them, only to be used as a weapon. That would be no different from seeking a skin from a tiger,” one elder advised.

“No, I don’t see it that way.” Elder Zhou’s tone grew more fervent. “The letter makes it very clear. As long as we cooperate with him and provide proof concerning Bright Sky’s matter, that will be enough. As for anything else, they have not asked for a thing.

Especially regarding the matters inside Clearwind Sect, they can even help us deal with the sect master and Azure Cloud together. What an excellent opportunity this is.

And now that we cannot locate him, that only proves they have the strength to work with us. I believe this is truly a good chance.”

Elder Zhou looked almost feverish now, treating this letter as though it were the best opportunity heaven could offer.

That was right: this letter had been sent to Elder Zhou by the leader of Azure City Sect.

After contacting his senior martial brother, the leader had immediately ordered another investigation into Elder Zhou. Once he determined that Elder Zhou was someone worth cooperating with, he promptly sent someone to deliver the letter.

The contents of the letter were straightforward and to the point. The only question was whether Elder Zhou would be tempted.

In truth, Elder Zhou was indeed tempted. As for Bright Sky, not only had Azure Cloud been searching for him, but Elder Zhou had also been searching for him in secret.

The difference was that Azure Cloud sought Bright Sky so that he could return safely to Clearwind Sect.

Elder Zhou, however, sought Bright Sky only to rip him apart and avenge his son.

Whether there was evidence or not, Elder Zhou’s instinct kept telling him that his son had been killed by Bright Sky.

So at this stage, the most urgent thing was to seize the power of Clearwind Sect. At the same time, he still had to avenge his son. For that reason, he had also been secretly sending people to follow Azure Cloud’s group while searching on his own.

Yet there had been no news at all.

The final report they had received was only that after the flying vessel exploded, Bright Sky had clashed with them once and then vanished.

But one thing was certain: Bright Sky was not dead.

Since he was not dead, Elder Zhou could never possibly give up. Moreover, Bright Sky was an unpredictable variable. So many assassins had been sent, and none had managed to kill him.

If he were allowed to return safely to Clearwind Sect, then once the whole matter was exposed, Elder Zhou and the others would absolutely lose control of the sect.

How could they still, as they did now, use Bright Sky to disrupt Azure Cloud’s thoughts and weaken the power of the sect master and Azure Cloud?

That was precisely why he had to eliminate Bright Sky.

Now that someone with great strength had come seeking cooperation, of course Elder Zhou was tempted. Still, he was not a man without a mind of his own.

Seeing that the other elders were all hesitant, and somewhat displeased by his own forceful decision, Elder Zhou restrained his expression and softened his tone a little before saying, “Everyone, there’s no need to worry. Whether this person is a wolf or a tiger, Clearwind Sect is still our territory.

No matter how capable he is, he cannot stir up any great storm within Clearwind Sect.

Our priority now is to deal with Azure Cloud and the sect master. Since he wants to cooperate with us, we may as well set some terms, talk things through, and get to know each other first. That would be better than rejecting him outright, wouldn’t it?”

Seeing Elder Zhou compromise somewhat, the others’ expressions eased. After thinking it over, they agreed with him.

Thus it was decided that they would temporarily get in touch with this person.

Seeing that everyone had agreed with him, Elder Zhou immediately sent someone to deliver a reply to the address written in the letter.

After arranging all of this, the group discussed how to proceed next.

Then news came from the sect master that the Inner Sect Ceremony would be restored and held as scheduled.

Bright Sky would for the time being be unable to participate.

Hearing this, everyone present exchanged looks. Elder Zhou let out a cold laugh. “Hmph. So he has finally been unable to hold out any longer. I said that old bastard would not keep indulging Azure Cloud forever.

Still, this works out well for us. The Inner Sect Ceremony can now be held as promised to that group of people. Spread the word and say that we here exerted every effort to persuade the sect master, even to the point of threatening him, and only then did he agree to this matter.

As for the news on Azure Cloud’s side, you all know how to spread that.”

With that, Elder Zhou issued his orders to the elders and the other cultivators in the hall.

They all nodded in agreement and turned to spread the news at once.

At the same time, another group also wanted to uncover some information within Clearwind Sect, and their thinking was much the same as the first group’s: they wanted to find a weakness in Bright Sky.

But unexpectedly, their strength was insufficient. After all, they were not familiar with Clearwind Sect, and they had come to investigate at night. In no time at all, they stumbled into the people on Azure Cloud’s side.

With one careless misstep, they were discovered.

After this group was captured, the people under Azure Cloud immediately reported the matter to him.

Late that night, several of Azure Cloud’s subordinates arrived in a panic to report to him.

“Senior Brother, something terrible has happened!” they shouted from outside Azure Cloud’s door.