239: Chapter 239 The Struggle for the Elder's Position

He held his mind steady, circulating the Purple Qi Art, refining and absorbing that force bit by bit. The medicinal power of the pale golden fruit dissolved within his body, like a stream of cool spring water, traveling up along his Meridians and finally merging into his Sea of Consciousness.

He did not know how much time had passed when he slowly opened his eyes.

The surging force deep within his brow had calmed down, and he could clearly feel that his Mental Energy had grown significantly stronger than before.

His originally blurry perception had become much clearer; even with his eyes closed, he could faintly sense the slightest movement within several zhang of his surroundings, and he could even capture the trajectory of falling leaves outside the window.

Yet even so, the threshold leading to the 6th Grade still stood before him, unmoving.

Lin Tian was silent for a moment, then gently exhaled a breath of turbid air. Having consumed such a Heaven And Earth Treasure, his Mental Energy had increased significantly, yet he still could not touch the threshold of the 6th Grade.

It was easy to imagine that breaking through to the 6th Grade was indeed extremely difficult; it was no wonder so many Elders of the Qixia Sect were stuck at the 5th Grade Peak for their entire lives, unable to cross this hurdle even at death.

From the 5th Grade to the 6th Grade was not an accumulation of quantity, but a leap in quality; it was the watershed between an ordinary Martial Artist and a Martial Dao Grandmaster.

However, Lin Tian was not anxious.

Others were stuck at the 5th Grade Peak because they had no way to Cultivate their Mental Energy, and no matter how thick their Qi and blood were, it was of no use.

But he was different—he still had the Wanling Seal.

This technique could directly Cultivate the power of the Soul. Although the growth rate was slow and could not compare to the rapid progress of consuming a Heaven And Earth Treasure, it had the advantage of being constant and enduring. By Cultivating a little every day, accumulating over time, there would eventually come a day when success would naturally follow.

His path was not yet broken; it just needed time.

A few days later, Lin Tian packed his belongings, left Zixia Peak, and returned to the Yunhai Fishery.

He was in a good mood on the way—he had won the championship at the Seven Peaks Tournament, received his share of the Martial King's Treasure, and his Cultivation had broken through to the 5th Grade Peak; he was truly in high spirits.

But the atmosphere in some places was not so good.

In the main hall of the Chixia Peak, Cao Yun sat on a chair with a bandage wrapped around his arm—that was where he had been injured by Lin Tian's final palm strike. Although it was not serious, it would not heal completely in a short time. His face was gloomy, and his tiger-like eyes were filled with frustration and unwillingness.

He could accept losing to Senior Brother Wang Yidao; after all, the two were equally famous, and whoever won or lost was within expectations. But losing to a kid from Zixia Peak who was only at the 5th Grade Late Stage, a fish-raising Disciple whose name no one had even heard of before, was a grievance he could not swallow.

"Investigate." He spat out a single word, his voice as cold as ice. "Investigate clearly for me, how exactly that kid Cultivates.

Two years ago, he had only just broken through to the 5th Grade, yet in just two short years, he had surged to the 5th Grade Peak, with Perfection in sword techniques and Perfection in movement techniques, and he even stole our Great Strength Vajra Palm. There is definitely something strange about this."

The people of Chixia Peak began to move. Over at Jinxia Peak, Senior Brother Wang Yidao was also investigating.

He was even more frustrated than Cao Yun—Cao Yun had at least lost in a head-on confrontation, but what about him? He had been forced to admit defeat with a sword held to his throat. This kind of humiliation was something Senior Brother Wang Yidao had never experienced since he was born.

The people from both peaks investigated for a few days, and the clues gradually converged on one place—the Yunhai Fishery.

For the past two years, Lin Tian had been staying at the Yunhai Fishery serving as the managing Elder. And what kind of place was the Yunhai Fishery? It was the largest Treasure Fish breeding base in the entire Qixia Sect, producing a large amount of Treasure Fish every year that could enhance one's Qi and blood Cultivation.

An Elder in charge of a fishery—what Treasure Fish could he not eat if he wanted to? This kid must have taken advantage of his position to eat and drink to his heart's content, which was why he could Cultivate so fast.

Thinking of this, Cao Yun and Senior Brother Wang Yidao's eyes lit up—Treasure Fish were good things; if they could snatch the Elder position of the Yunhai Fishery, wouldn't they be able to enjoy the same treatment?

Relying solely on the power of Chixia Peak, it was not easy to move someone from Zixia Peak. But if the two families joined forces, it would be different.

Chixia Peak and Jinxia Peak were both major peaks with top-tier strength in the Qixia Sect. With the Peak Masters of both peaks coming forward together, even the Sect Master had to weigh the matter seriously.

They went to find the Sect Master, and their words were very smooth—although Lin Tian had won the championship at the Seven Peaks Tournament, he was young after all, and his qualifications were shallow. It might be too much for him to manage such a large operation as the Yunhai Fishery.

It would be better to send a more experienced and mature Disciple to take over. As for Lin Tian, he was a young man, so they should just give him more Cultivation resources and let him Cultivate with peace of mind in the Sect.

The Sect Master was silent for a moment, and finally nodded. The seven peaks of the Qixia Sect emphasized balance.

Zixia Peak had been too prominent this time; they had received the largest share of the Martial King's Treasure and had produced such a Prodigy Disciple as Lin Tian, and the other peaks already had many complaints.

If Zixia Peak were allowed to continue controlling the Yunhai Fishery, the balance of resource allocation would tilt completely. Removing Lin Tian's Elder status would not only give an explanation to Chixia Peak and Jinxia Peak but also serve as a warning to Zixia Peak; it was the best of both worlds.

That evening, Lin Tian was in the courtyard of the fishery Cultivating the Wanling Seal when a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Field Master Zhou pushed the door open and entered, his face showing a bit of guilt and helplessness as he handed the Sect's transfer order to Lin Tian.

Lin Tian frowned after reading the transfer order. He was silent for a moment and asked, "Field Master Zhou, does Peak Master Su Hanyan know about this?"

Field Master Zhou shook his head and sighed, "This was a direct order from the Sect Master, and it did not pass through Zixia Peak. I also just received the news and came to tell you immediately."

Lin Tian did not say anything more.

He took out a slip of paper, picked up a pen and wrote a few lines, tied it to the leg of a carrier pigeon, and released it. The gray-white pigeon flapped its wings and disappeared into the twilight. Lin Tian stood in the courtyard, watching the setting sun sinking on the horizon, his expression so calm that neither joy nor anger could be discerned.

Early the next morning, Peak Master Su Hanyan arrived.

She did not go to the fishery's management hall but rushed directly into Lin Tian's courtyard, her face livid, with a trace of lingering anger in her eyes—clearly, she had already been to the Sect Master's place before coming here.

She slammed her palm onto the stone table in the courtyard, and the stone table cracked with a sound.

"They are bullying us too much!" Peak Master Su Hanyan's voice was very low, but it could not hide that anger. "I went to find the Sect Master and talked for half an hour, wearing down my lips, but he just wouldn't relent. Do you know what he said?

He said Lin Tian is still young and it is too early to be an Elder; he should spend a few more years honing himself in the Sect. It's all just an excuse."

Lin Tian poured a cup of tea for Peak Master Su Hanyan, said nothing, and just listened quietly.

Peak Master Su Hanyan picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp. Her chest heaved a few times before she barely managed to calm her emotions a little and continued, "We were too prominent this time.

You won the championship at the Seven Peaks Tournament, and Zixia Peak received the largest share of the Martial King's Treasure; the other peaks have long been jealous. Chixia Peak and Jinxia Peak joining forces this time is ostensibly saying your qualifications are insufficient, but secretly they want to weaken our Zixia Peak. And the Sect Master?

He emphasizes the balance of the seven peaks. Although he followed the rules and gave us the largest share of the treasure this time, he is also unwilling to let our Zixia Peak continue to grow larger.

Removing your Elder position at the fishery can both appease Chixia Peak and Jinxia Peak and warn our Zixia Peak; it kills two birds with one stone."

Speaking of this, she slammed the table heavily again, and the teacup was shaken so that it jumped up. "It is truly unreasonable! How much credit did you earn for the Sect at the Seven Peaks Tournament? Without you, would the Martial King's Treasure have been divided to Zixia Peak?

Now this is good, tearing down the bridge after crossing it, turning hostile and refusing to recognize anyone!"

After listening, Lin Tian was not as angry as Peak Master Su Hanyan. He had long known that Jianghu is everywhere, and there are struggles everywhere. Whether it is the Sect or the imperial court, wherever there are people, there are inevitably conflicts of interest.

Zixia Peak being so prominent this time would inevitably touch the interests of the other peaks, and being jointly suppressed was an expected matter.

He poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then slowly said, "Master, calm down. Actually, if this Elder position at the fishery is gone, it's gone."

Peak Master Su Hanyan looked up at him, her brows furrowing even tighter, "You are quite open-minded. Your Cultivation speed at the fishery has been so fast these past two years; if you return to Zixia Peak without the supply of Treasure Fish, what will you do about your Cultivation progress?"

Although she did not know the real secret of Lin Tian raising Treasure Fish, she was clear that Lin Tian's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds these past two years, which was inextricably linked to the environment of the Yunhai Fishery.

Lin Tian smiled and did not explain. He could not tell Peak Master Su Hanyan that his fast Cultivation speed was not because of his identity as the Elder of the fishery, but because he had a private fish pond deep in the Black Wind Gorge.

That fish pond was his true Foundation and the biggest trump card that allowed him to dare say he could challenge the 6th Grade. They thought that removing his Elder status could cut off his resources? What a joke.

"Master, don't worry." Lin Tian put down the teacup, his tone calm but firm, "I know what I'm doing. Even if I'm not at the fishery, my Cultivation will not fall behind."

Peak Master Su Hanyan stared at him for a long time, and seeing his calm and unhurried expression, not like he was forcing himself, she sighed, her tone softening a bit, "As long as you know what you are doing. Let's go, pack your things and return to Zixia Peak.

Although Zixia Peak has lost the fishery, I, Su Hanyan, will not let you lack Cultivation resources even if I have to sell everything."

That day, Lin Tian packed his belongings and left the Yunhai Fishery. Before leaving, Field Master Zhou sent him to the gate of the fishery, patting his shoulder and saying many heartfelt words. Lin Tian just smiled and waved goodbye. His Foundation was here, and sooner or later, he would return.

After returning to Zixia Peak, Lin Tian's days returned to peace. Without the clamor of the Seven Peaks Tournament and the interference of the fishery's chores, he was able to focus more on Cultivation.

Every morning when he got up, he would first Cultivate the Wanling Seal for an hour. The invisible spirit seal in his Sea of Consciousness rotated slowly, and with every turn, the power of his Soul grew by a thread.

Although the growth was extremely slow, accumulating day after day, bit by bit, his Mental Energy was quietly strengthening.

Every few days, he would take advantage of the night to quietly leave Zixia Peak. The Perfection Realm of the Cloud Shadow Step allowed him to come and go without a sound, and even the patrolling Disciples could not detect his tracks.

He skillfully made his way to the Black Wind Gorge, slipped into that hidden valley, and checked the growth of the Treasure Fish in his private fish pond. The two types of Treasure Fish swam freely in the pond, their scales shimmering with a faint luster under the moonlight, and they were much larger than before.

In the water grass beside the fish pond, fish eggs were dense, and a new batch of fry was growing vigorously.

Every time he came, he would catch the fattest Treasure Fish to take back to Zixia Peak, clean it in the kitchen of his small courtyard, and stew a pot of milky white fish soup.

After a bowl of hot soup went into his stomach, the pure power contained in the Treasure Fish turned into surging Qi and blood, rushing and churning in his Meridians. He sat cross-legged, circulated the Purple Qi Art, refined and absorbed this force bit by bit, integrated it into his Dantian, and consolidated his 5th Grade Peak Realm.

The days passed like this. Every day, Lin Tian Cultivated the Wanling Seal, consumed Treasure Fish, and honed his Qi and blood; his life was monotonous but fulfilling.

His Cultivation was accumulating bit by bit, his Mental Energy was growing bit by bit, and he was getting closer and closer to the threshold of the 6th Grade. Although that threshold was still unreachable, he could already faintly touch its outline.