Chapter 535 - 183: Origins, Great Enmity (2)

The bamboo groves on both sides of the mountain path rustled. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The only sound in the quiet surroundings was their footsteps.

After they had walked for some time, Si Jiawen was the first to speak, her voice calm. "How much do you know about your opponent for the fourth round?"

Yang Jing raised an eyebrow.

He knew his fourth-round opponent was Ma Guoliang, an Inner Sect Disciple from Fen Yang Peak, but the name didn’t ring a bell. He certainly didn’t know anything about the man.

In the previous rounds of the Fushan Grand Tournament, he had rushed to the Training Room to cultivate immediately after each victory. He never lingered, so he had no time to watch any of the other disciples’ matches.

He had been planning to go find Lin Ziheng for a chat after he returned.

The man was known as Lingxi Peak’s own Bai Xiaosheng; he knew the ins and outs of all the disciples in the Xuanzhen Sect. Yang Jing figured he would definitely know something about Ma Guoliang.

Yang Jing shook his head. "I’m usually buried in my cultivation and don’t pay much attention to sect affairs. I know nothing about this Ma Guoliang. Why? Do you know something about him, Senior Sister?"

Si Jiawen paused for a beat. After a moment of silence, she continued, "He’s from the Ma Family of Jintai Prefecture, which is a reasonably powerful family in the Prefecture City. Ma Guoliang’s own status, however, is less than savory. He was born the son of a concubine and was treated harshly by the clan, so he didn’t have an easy life."

She paused before adding, "Ma Guoliang’s birth mother had a history with Master. Before she passed away, she specifically sought out Master and begged her to accept Ma Guoliang as a disciple, so that he might have a place to stand in the world."

"As you know, Master has always been strict about accepting disciples, preferring quality over quantity.

"Even out of respect for an old acquaintance, she didn’t agree right away. Instead, she observed Ma Guoliang for an entire year.

"During that year, Master gave him numerous resources, both openly and in secret, to aid his cultivation. She truly went above and beyond for him.

"But who would have thought that just as Master was about to accept him, Ma Guoliang would suddenly defect to Fen Yang Peak? Not long after, he even became a Direct Disciple of Peak Master Fen Yang."

Yang Jing was taken aback.

He truly had no idea there was such a convoluted backstory. He was momentarily stunned and asked subconsciously, "Does that mean Ma Guoliang has a top-tier Second- or even First-Grade Root Bone? Otherwise, why would Peak Master Fen Yang be so eager to take him as a Direct Disciple?"

After all, the seven Peak Masters of the Xuanzhen Sect were known for their strict requirements. Even for an exceptionally talented disciple, becoming a Peak Master’s personal student was incredibly difficult.

Si Jiawen scoffed at his words, her tone filled with disdain. "Top-tier root bone? Please. He only has a Fifth-Grade Root Bone. Among the Inner Sect Disciples, that’s considered mediocre."

The corner of Yang Jing’s mouth twitched.

This Fifth-Grade Root Bone that Si Jiawen mentioned so scornfully was actually considered quite a decent level of talent.

He, on the other hand, had only managed to reach a Seventh-Grade Root Bone after using a Bone Jade Pill. Before that, he’d had an inferior Eighth-Grade Root Bone.

Yang Jing took a deep breath, pushing aside his somewhat resigned thoughts. His brows furrowed in confusion.

’If Ma Guoliang isn’t some top-tier genius with a superior root bone, then getting noticed by Master and having the chance to study under Peak Master Lingxi was an incredible stroke of luck. He should have been thanking his ancestors.’

’How could he possibly throw away such a golden opportunity to defect to Fen Yang Peak, and even become a disciple of Peak Master Fen Yang?’

’Since when was it so easy to become a Peak Master’s disciple?’

Si Jiawen continued walking, her voice growing colder. "I only found out later that Ma Guoliang’s birth mother may have possessed a treasure. It’s said to be an extraordinary item, something that would tempt even a mighty expert of the Pill Realm."

She paused. Moonlight glinted off her cool profile as she said flatly, "I imagine Ma Guoliang used that treasure as his ticket in to win over Peak Master Fen Yang. Otherwise, possessing such an item would have brought him more harm than good.

"Besides, he is an extremely diligent cultivator. With the vast resources Master gave him that year, his cultivation progressed rapidly. His performance stood out among the Inner Sect Disciples, which is how he caught the eye of Peak Master Fen Yang and was accepted as a Direct Disciple."

At this, Si Jiawen paused and turned her head to look at Yang Jing, a sharp glint in her eyes. "Master has a detached temperament; she has never said a word about him or this matter from beginning to end. But we, as her disciples, ought to be the ones to settle this score for her."

She stared into Yang Jing’s eyes and asked, enunciating each word, "Junior Brother, wouldn’t you agree?"

Yang Jing immediately nodded emphatically, his expression solemn. "Senior Sister is right! Master’s status is too lofty for her to personally stoop to his level. As her disciples, it’s up to us to settle this score for her!"

Seeing how quickly he got the picture, a hint of satisfaction finally appeared on Si Jiawen’s face. She nodded, but her tone grew serious again as she warned, "But you need to be careful.

"Ma Guoliang is a very cunning man. He usually keeps a low profile in the sect, appearing perfectly ordinary, but I suspect he’s hiding more than a few trump cards. When you face him tomorrow, you must be on high alert. Do not underestimate him."

She stopped and turned around, a warning glint in her eyes. Lifting her chin, she said, "If you lose to him on that stage, our entire Lingxi Lineage will be utterly disgraced! Master might be magnanimous and let it slide, but I, as your Senior Sister, will have to give you a sound thrashing!"