Having chatted for a bit, Shaoyan Qianyu found Wu Lian to be quite a good disciple. He didn't have that arrogance that most other disciples she saw had even if they tried to hide it in front of her.

Plus, Lin Mu had the strength to back up his claim and the mental fortitude to wait for the right opportunities without rushing in. She had not seen many people like this in her life, especially in cultivators, since they often liked to chase after resources.

"I shall take my leave then peak master and not take any more of your precious time.

" Lin Mu said.

"Alright. Though be careful if you are going to do what you said you will. The people of the sect have… become strange in these two years.

" Shaoyan Qianyu replied.

Hearing this perked up Lin Mu's ears as a thought appeared in his mind.

'She's not under Gu Yao's control?' Lin Mu wondered.

But he did not dare to show any change on his face. He could think of this later on, when he was away from her.

Lin Mu thus stood up and bowed to Shaoyan Qianyu before leaving through the main door. He didn't waste this opportunity to take a look around the formations either, and sensed that the formations on the vault had been modified a bit.

"Thankfully, I have the token, or it could have become a problem at the last moment if I couldn't unravel the formations at the time of tribulation…

" Lin Mu muttered to himself.

"Seems like reading the memoirs of the lost immortal also gave some skills in acting. Hahaha!

" Xukong laughed.

"It's not much senior. I just tried my best.

" Lin Mu replied.

"If you say so…

" Xukong said before going silent.

After going down half way, Lin Mu sank into the ground using phase and quickly made his way to the residence. He didn't want any extra people to see him, and thus this was the best choice.

Having safely reached the residence, Lin Mu was unaware of the uproar he had caused in the sect. Shaoyan Qianyu had heeded his words and had not put up his name on the result list.

When the list updated, the disciples were shocked to see that someone had claimed already the first place reward as it had been blacked out. But strangely enough, there was no name beside it. That was the only place that didn't have a name, and the disciples wondered if the formation had malfunctioned or what.

"Did someone really claim the first place?

" a disciple watching the list asked.

"It does seem like it. Wait! Do you think it is that person who peak master talked to after descending?

" His friend questioned.

"That is probably it. How lucky! He not only got the first place but also got to meet the peak master personally.

"

"You fools, do you not understand what this means?

" A female disciple asked with a scowl.

"What?!

" both of the male disciples asked dumbly.

"Look at the list! No other rewards have been issued, only the first place reward. Don't you know what the qualifying condition is if one wants to get the first place before the final results are declared? Someone managed to ignite an intermediate ranked Qi flame!

" The female disciple explained.

"How can that be? Only the peak masters have managed to do that.

"

A lot of other disciples who were standing around also heard her words and started speaking. Soon this matter spread to the entire sect and even reached the ears of the other elders.

Shaoyan Qianyu was visited by a few elders of the sect to ask about the identity of the disciple who managed to ignite the intermediate ranked flame, only to get denied.

~humph~

"Do they really think they can poach a talented disciple like that from me?

" Shaoyan Qianyu said after another elder of the sect left her residence.

She had already considered Wu Lian to be part of her peak and would be under her guidance. She had asked him which peak he was affiliated with and told her that he was one of the few rare ones that were unaffiliated. At that time she had kept a straight face, but internally she was rejoicing.

~huu~

"Hopefully Bilao completes his breakthrough quickly so this tense situation calms down again…

" Shaoyan Qianyu muttered to herself.

***

About five days passed by in the blink of an eye, and finally, it was time for Bilao's heavenly tribulation.

He had already informed the sect about it yesterday when he felt the first sensation and quickly rushed to the Tribulation platform, which was already prepared since a month ago.

Lin Mu had also not been idle during these five days and had passed them in studying the formations around the places he was going to rob. He already felt that he would be able to resolve them quickly if everything went well.

"How long do you think his heavenly tribulation will last senior?

" Lin Mu questioned.

Lin Mu had learned that the duration of heavenly tribulations was quite long depending on the cultivator's talent and luck. He had read the memoirs of the lost immortal which described some legendary heavenly tribulations which would last for days if not months.

But he was pretty sure nothing of that sort would happen here.

"Hmm… from what we saw before and the spatial fluctuations around Bilao, he should be having a basic heavenly tribulation. The lightning bolts themselves should only last for about fifteen minutes, but the phase before that should be at least an hour long.

" Xukong answered.

"I see. Everyone should be observing the tribulation platform at that point and the number of guards should be minimal. That will be my time to act.

" Lin Mu said with a glint in his eye.

Right now the sect had officially announced the arrival of the heavenly tribulation and had informed the disciples to gather at the tribulation platform. Lin Mu blended in with these disciples as well, and headed to the main peak, but instead of stopping at the tribulation platform, he slipped away.

"It is time…

"