Chapter228 – Light and three disciples

Starfell Summit—like Cloud Peak—had once been a combat powerhouse. Back in its prime, it stood at the very pinnacle of battle strength in the entire cultivation world.

Even in its decline, as long as Master had been alive, they were still the pinnacle. Now Master had ascended. They could not afford to fall behind. They had to rebuild their strength—and fast.

Lauren favored practical training. She sent the disciples out on missions constantly. Hunting missions, primarily. Gathering missions were strictly forbidden.

“No side errands,” she had declared coldly. “If you want herbs, let the outer sect earn their living. Inner disciples survive through blood.”

Anyone who entered the inner sect had at least dual spiritual roots. They weren’t much different from the top triple-root disciples who clawed their way up from the outer sect.

As long as they weren’t idiots, there was no reason they couldn’t kill a few mindless monsters.

......

When she had free time, Lauren occasionally spread her spiritual sense across the peak to observe the children.

One afternoon, she overheard them gossiping.

“The Peak Master doesn’t look much older than us… so why is she so fierce?”

Lauren: “…” Fierce? Me?

“The Peak Master isn’t old at all,” another whispered. “She’s the youngest Spirit Transformation cultivator in history. No one in the entire cultivation world broke through that young.”

An older disciple chimed in, “It’s hard to believe. She looks like my little sister.”

Another added bluntly, “Like a little rabbit. The easy-to-bully kind.”

Lauren: “…” A rabbit? Easy to bully?!

“Shh! Watch your mouth!” someone hissed. “You joined late—you don’t know. When the Upper Realm immortals descended, the Peak Master fought them head-on. I heard she and the Sect Leader killed several immortals together and held the line until the old Peak Master came out of seclusion.”

Lauren’s expression softened slightly. Finally. Some respect.

“Wow… the Peak Master is amazing. I want to be as strong as her.”

“You?” someone snorted. “With your dual fire and wood roots? Go learn alchemy. It’ll suit you better than cultivation.”

Those words struck Lauren unexpectedly. Alchemy.

Years ago, Tyler had given her a complete alchemy inheritance. She never studied it seriously—Edmund had once dismissed it as mediocre, and she’d taken his word for it. But looking back…

Edmund hadn’t been entirely accurate. That alchemy technique was top-tier, even by cultivation-world standards. It surpassed Dorothy’s methods easily.

Even if she didn’t plan to practice it herself, she shouldn’t let it vanish in her hands.

That would be doing Tyler a disservice. So she made copies.

One copy she sent to Dorothy through a disciple. The other she left at Starfell Summit, open to any inner disciple with interest and aptitude.

......

That day, the Mountain Protection Array opened. It hadn’t activated in ten years. The entire sect was shaken.

Some disciples had lived and died without ever witnessing the grand formation activate once. Their generation had already seen it open three times.

Lauren frowned and rose to her feet.

Tarot muttered darkly, “I wonder which bastard’s here to challenge us this time.”

Lauren summoned her ice-blue longsword and strode out. Despite her soft, almost delicate appearance, she walked with unmistakable killing intent.

“Who cares who they are?” she said coolly. “Anyone who dares challenge the Thunder Sect—I’ll beat the shit out of them.”

There were very few true masters left in this world—especially after Herbert’s ascension. The only troublemaker she could imagine was the Demonic Lord of the Demonic Cult.

She descended toward the training grounds. Gerald stood at the forefront, golden greatsword in hand. Behind him, three thousand disciples formed ranks, spiritual energy surging, ready for war.

Beyond the barrier stood three figures. At the center was a radiant figure bathed in holy light—Light, the Archmage—seated atop an enormous, absurdly fat white boar.

Behind him stood Malcolm, equally glowing with sacred radiance. And Viper—robes concealing most of him, but unable to hide that wicked, venomous grin.

Lauren blinked. What the hell? Light came to challenge them? Her gaze dropped to the boar.

…That pig looked familiar. A very bad feeling crept up her spine. Why is Light here?

“Sect Leader,” she said quietly.

Gerald didn’t lower his sword. “Did you bring Briar?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Tell Briar to prepare. We’ll take down this bald monk together.”

Lauren: “…” This felt… wrong.

“Sect Leader,” she said carefully, “why is Master Light here?”

Gerald snorted. “He claims he’s visiting an old friend. Hah! The Thunder Sect is a righteous sect. What old friend could he possibly have here? He’s lying. Trying to trick me.”

Lauren rubbed her temple. “Sect Leader. Don’t attack yet. Let me speak to him first.”

Gerald narrowed his eyes. “Fine. But be careful. That bald monk is cunning.”

“It’s fine,” she said calmly. “The old friend he’s looking for… might be me.”

Gerald: “…”

Lauren stepped to the very edge of the Mountain Protection Array and offered a proper junior’s bow. “Lauren greets Grand Master Light.”

Light’s expression was gentle, almost saintly. His gaze was solemn yet warm—completely at odds with the rumors that painted him as a half-mad, heretical monk.

“Lauren,” he said mildly, “I am about to ascend. I came to see an old friend.”

Ascend? Lauren’s eyes flickered in surprise, but she immediately bowed again. “Congratulations, Grand Master.”

Light smiled. “I believe we will meet again soon.”

“I should be the one thanking you,” Lauren replied. “For your protection over the years.”

“It was nothing. Nothing worth mentioning.” He waved it off. “I’ve come today to entrust my three disciples to Mr. Gerald.”

Lauren paused. Three disciples? “…I’ll inform the Sect Leader.” She hesitated. “These three…?”

Her gaze drifted, involuntarily, to the enormous white boar beneath him. Don’t tell me the pig counts. Suppressing the question, she returned inside the formation.

Gerald immediately hurried over. “What did he say? What the hell is he here for?”

Lauren drew a steady breath. “Sect Leader, I think you misunderstood. He’s not here to cause trouble. He said he’s about to ascend.”

“Ascend?!” Gerald blinked.

“Yes.”

Gerald slapped his chest in relief. “That’s wonderful!”

Finally. That bald menace was leaving. In upper realm, Countless people were probably lining up to beg him to preside over 'rituals'. If he ascended, that was a blessing for the whole cultivation world.

“So why come here?” Gerald pressed.

“He said that after he ascends, his disciple will have no one to care for him. He wants you to look after him.”

Gerald’s gaze shifted toward Malcolm in the distance. His eyes immediately reddened. My Malcolm… he’s finally back.

“You wait here,” Gerald muttered. “I’ll go out myself.” He stepped through the formation and walked straight toward Light.

Light showed no arrogance whatsoever. He performed a respectful Buddhist salute.

Gerald, as leader of a righteous sect, had no intention of appearing too cordial with a so-called heretical monk. He kept his face stiff. “You intend to entrust your disciple to my Thunder Sect?”

“Yes,” Light replied calmly. “I will trouble you, Mr. Gerald.”

Standing this close to Malcolm, Gerald felt a complicated surge of emotion—guilt, anger, relief, joy.

Setting aside the matter of righteous and demonic paths, he answered without hesitation, “It would be my honor. Ascend in peace. Leave Malcolm to me.”

“Thank you, Mr. Gerald.”

Truth be told, when Light wasn’t unhinged, he was… admirable. Years ago, before Gerald learned of his darker side, he had even regarded him as a once-in-a-millennium Buddha. What a damn pity.