In the face of temptation, it's difficult for anyone not to be moved.

As a cultivator, the disciples of the Mirror Sea Sect, like other sects, can enter the world to gain experience once they reach the Foundation Establishment stage with the approval of the sect.

When they are in their own sect, they may not feel it, but once they enter the world and come into contact with the secular world's reverence for cultivators, as well as the high-level cultivators of other sects, they increasingly feel the insignificance of the Mirror Sea Sword Sect.

The foundation for a cultivator to establish himself lies not only in his own cultivation, but also in the background of his sect. As a disciple of a major sect, let alone just the Foundation Establishment stage, even if one is in the Qi Refining stage, others have to weigh the consequences before provoking them, not looking at the monk's face but the Buddha's face.

Originally, if the Mirror Sea Sect could be subordinated under the Qinggu Sect, the third largest sect on the continent, and travel the continent in the future as members of the Qinggu Sect, it would naturally be much more advantageous.

But there is a reason for everything. The Qinggu Sect has ill intentions and is overbearing, which makes many disciples of the Mirror Sea Sect resentful, and even unite unprecedentedly, willing to choose to fight against the other party rather than surrender without a fight.

But now, it seems that Lu Yanping has given a better choice.

If the Shangxuan Sect is willing to accept them, then they will change from cultivators of a third-rate sword sect to cultivators of the largest sect on the continent. The difference between the Qinggu Sect and the Shangxuan Sect is self-evident, and naturally everyone is willing to choose the latter.

Everyone whispered to each other, with various expressions, either shocked, joyful, or apprehensive.

Lu Yanping continued impassively, "It's just that the Shangxuan Sect has no deep ties with our sect, and it's not good to help rashly. Their condition is that the Mirror Sea Sect must not lose to the Qinggu Sect in tomorrow's duel."

Everyone seemed to have not yet come back to their senses.

Elder Chen and Elder Wu exchanged glances, and just as Elder Chen was about to speak, he saw Huang Wenjun step forward and say loudly, "We will follow the Sect Leader's arrangement and vow to share honor and disgrace with the sect!"

His call was like a stone thrown into a lake, and the others followed one after another, "We will follow the Sect Leader's arrangement and vow to share honor and disgrace with the sect!"

Lu Yanping's expression eased and he nodded slightly.

He had not been the Sect Leader for long. In terms of prestige, he was naturally far inferior to his master Zou Jingyuan. In addition, the two elders kept dragging their feet beside him, and the situation was once very precarious.

However, now that a great disaster was imminent, everyone was united against a common enemy, as if they had turned the disadvantage around again.

In fact, Lu Yanping was very clear in his heart that regardless of whether they won or lost the duel, the Mirror Sea Sect would be unable to escape the fate of being annexed, and his position as the Sect Leader would also come to an end.

Elder Chen suddenly sneered, "Sect Leader, since we are already willing to be a subordinate sect, why does the Shangxuan Sect still want us to duel with the Qinggu Sect? Could it be that they want to take advantage of our conflict, and our Mirror Sea Sect, although small, can't suffer such humiliation?"

Lu Yanping didn't take the implied instigation in his words seriously.

"To take advantage of a conflict, the strengths need to be comparable. With the current scale of the Mirror Sea Sect, what humiliation is there in having a duel with the Qinggu Sect? Since it's something that was going to happen anyway, now that the Shangxuan Sect has intervened, it can prevent the Qinggu Sect from going too far. Does Elder Chen hope that we obediently submit to the Qinggu Sect without a word, and that would be the wise move?"

"Moreover, whether the Shangxuan Sect will take on our small sect is still uncertain. The reply from their Sect Leader Qinghe Zhenren is to consider it, not to agree right away. Now we are the ones asking for help, not the other way around. The difference in this, can Elder Chen not see it?"

Elder Chen was left speechless by his retort.

Elder Wu continued relentlessly, "The strength of the Qinggu Sect is obvious. How can our small Mirror Sea Sect rival them? I'm afraid this duel will be half lost before it even begins."

Lu Yanping said indifferently, "Then I won't trouble you two elders to worry about this. If the elders are unwilling, naturally I won't bother you for tomorrow's duel either."

Everyone looked at each other.

The Qinggu Sect had an abundance of talents, while on the Mirror Sea Sect's side, without the two Nascent Soul stage elders, what else could they rely on to duel against others?

Another disciple of the Mirror Sea Sect asked, "Sect Leader, if we win the duel, will the Shangxuan Sect go back on their word and abandon us in order to not offend the Qinggu Sect?"

Lu Yanping said, "The letter has the seal of the Shangxuan Sect Leader, it can't be fake. The Shangxuan Sect is after all a major sect with a reputation, they definitely won't do such a thing."

After saying that, he waved his hand again, "The duel tomorrow will be held at the Tianyun Peak of the Shangxuan Sect. I will make arrangements then. You all disperse for now."

Since he said so, even if everyone still had many questions in their minds, they could only leave in twos and threes.

Lu Yanping no longer paid attention to Elder Chen and Elder Wu, and went straight back to the study, asking Jin Ting to call Zhou Yin over.

Zhou Yin was still the same, cold and indifferent, expressionless. He looked at Lu Yanping the same way he looked at the servant boy Jin Ting, not showing any more respect because the former was the Sect Leader, let alone becoming enthusiastic because Lu Yanping had adopted his suggestion.

Fortunately, Lu Yanping had long been accustomed to his attitude and didn't mind. Instead, he invited him to sit down.

Originally, the two were not very familiar with each other. Even with their master's instructions, Lu Yanping's impression of Zhou Yin only stayed at the scene of bringing him back to the Mirror Sea Sect from Zhou Village. He didn't expect that because of the current matter, the distance between them had narrowed quite a bit.

"I should thank you this time. Although the Shangxuan Sect may not have good intentions, with their intervention, the situation of the Qinggu Sect's desire to oppress us should be reversed quite a bit."

Zhou Yin asked, "How will the competition be conducted?"

Mentioning this, the little smile on Lu Yanping's face also disappeared. "The winner is the one who wins two out of three matches. The Shangxuan Sect is lending the place for us to duel. To prevent the Qinggu Sect people from interfering, they will also arbitrate."

Zhou Yin said, "If we can't win two matches, these are all secondary."

Lu Yanping slowly exhaled, "You're right. But the Shangxuan Sect Leader told me that they will require the Qinggu Sect to also send out people of comparable strength, and cannot bully the weak with the strong. Otherwise, the duel will be undisputed. After all, if the other party dispatches Nascent Soul cultivators, what's there to compare? In this way, there are still a few chances of winning."

"Who do you plan to send?"

Lu Yanping didn't hide it from him either, "Originally it was set to be Lin Zhongwen, Zhang Xian, and me."

As for Elders Chen and Wu, Lu Yanping had completely ruled them out. Who knows what deal these two had made with the Qinggu Sect in private. Now, before they had even defected, their hearts were already with the enemy. When the time came, they might even deliberately throw the match and surrender on the battlefield.

Zhou Yin recognized that the disciple who just asked the question was Zhang Xian, who entered the sect around the same time as Lu Yanping and was now at the late Foundation Establishment stage, considered one of the higher cultivators in the sect.

But who was Lin Zhongwen?

Zhou Yin didn't say anything, but his expression clearly showed his confusion.

Lu Yanping smiled bitterly, "You usually keep a low profile, and fellow disciple Zhongwen is also immersed in his cultivation, so it's no wonder you haven't heard of him. He entered the sect a few years after me, quite talented, and deeply valued by Master. Ten years ago, when he reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, he began closed-door cultivation to attempt reaching the Core Formation stage.

"It seemed he was about to come out, but unfortunately, things didn't go as hoped. Yesterday I just learned that Fellow Disciple Zhongwen failed in his Core Formation and has already passed away."

In this way, there was an empty spot that needed to be re-selected.

He paused and looked at Zhou Yin.

Zhou Yin said, "There are still people in the sect with higher cultivation than me."

Lu Yanping replied, "But none of them are as calm and adaptable as you in critical situations. High cultivation alone is not enough."

Zhou Yin said, "I can't guarantee I can win."

The seemingly timid words sounded completely natural when he said them.

Lu Yanping coughed a couple times, "I know, just do your best. If you can win the two matches with fellow disciple Zhang and I, that would be best."

Zhou Yin was silent for a long time.

"Alright then."

Since this trip was for a duel, not play, naturally he couldn't bring Zhou Chen along.

So no matter how much it threw tantrums, Zhou Yin remained unmoved.

"I'll temporarily leave you in the care of Liu Xiaowan, and tell her you are just a low-level demon beast, a Kite. Remember not to speak and there will be no issues. If you encounter any danger, hide right away using the invisibility technique I taught you, understand?"

In his view, Liu Xiaowan wasn't very reliable, but there were no better candidates at the moment.

The furball, unsuccessful in its pleading, turned its butt to him and refused to make a sound.

Zhou Yin reached out and poked it.

Ignored.

Poked again.

Ignored.

Zhou Yin got up, "Then I'll go first, she'll come get you in a bit."

Zhou Chen couldn't hold back anymore and softly cried, "Mummy~~"

"How many times have I told you not to call me Mummy."

Zhou Yin picked it up, looking it in the eye as the furball gazed at him with a aggrieved look, tears threatening to fall. "Bring me, bring--"

"No." Zhou Yin firmly refused, scratching its chin with a finger. "Be good and listen. If I can see you take human form when I get back, I'll bring you along in the future."

In the end, the furball was defeated, watching him leave with teary eyes.

Wuwuwu, separations and partings, the worst!

Early the next day, Lu Yanping led the Mirror Sea Sect members to rush to the Shangxuan Sect.

He specifically left a few close junior disciples, granting them authority and ordering them to temporarily watch over the sect, in order to prevent the two Elders from causing trouble and letting the wolf in while he was away.

With everything arranged, they mounted their flying magic treasures. Even though it was thousands of miles, it was but the blink of an eye away.