Chapter 451: The Sun and Moon Illuminate Mountains and Rivers (Part 10)

Good news.
It was indeed a fragment of the Devouring Heaven and Earth Divine Art.
Bad news. Both Ling Jiuxiao and the elders sensed something was amiss.
"Strange...any fragment of an Emperor Scripture can cause turmoil across the myriad realms of the starry sky, why would a small sect possess two fragments in succession?"
"Could it be that the Mountain and River Sect has no discerning eyes? Treating a dignified fragment of an Emperor Scripture as worthless paper...what a waste!"
The elders' hearts were bleeding.
Ling Jiuxiao obtained one fragment of an Emperor Scripture.
Since Ling Jiuxiao entered the inner sect and obtained the fragment of an Emperor Scripture,
another half month has passed.
The elders' excited voice echoed in Ling Jiuxiao's mind.
"Found it! Finally found it!"
Ling Jiuxiao said, "Elder, you've found the whereabouts of the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree?"
The Elder replied, "That's right! The aura of the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree is in the back mountain of the Mountain and River Sect."
Ling Jiuxiao hesitated, "Elder, the back mountain is a forbidden area of ​​the sect. Not only disciples, but even elders are not allowed to enter."
"It's alright, kid. I'll help you conceal your aura and sneak into the back mountain unnoticed," the Elder confidently assured him.
Ling Jiuxiao knew the Elder's abilities all too well.
While unreliable in small matters, he was unreliable in crucial moments.
"Even if you get caught, you'll only be imprisoned for a hundred years. You have plenty of lifespan now; a hundred years won't matter."
"You'll still be a hero a hundred years from now."
Ling Jiuxiao: "......."
However, he ultimately agreed to help the Elder.
Because it was something he had promised.
...
The night was dark and windy.
The elder guarding the forbidden area at the back of the mountain felt only a gentle breeze.
Ling Jiuxiao, under the elder's protection, had already slipped into the back mountain.
"Elder, why are there so many animals in this back mountain?"
Ling Jiuxiao was very curious.
As soon as he entered the back mountain,
small lizards perched on the trees, nine-colored snakes coiled around the branches, chickens, ducks, and geese near the water, even the fish in the water all looked in the direction he was hiding, as if they had discovered his presence.
The elder said, "These are probably just ordinary animals, without any cultivation, slaughtered at will."
"The most urgent task is to find the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree as soon as possible."
"..."
The words had barely left his lips.
Ling Jiuxiao felt a chill run down his spine.
"Elder, I have a feeling someone might be behind me."
The elder replied confidently, "Boy, don't scare yourself. With me here, no creature within a thousand miles, not even an ant, can escape my notice. If someone is behind you, I will certainly warn you."
At that moment, a soft laugh came from behind Ling Jiuxiao.
"Little fellow, doing petty theft in the middle of the night isn't good."
Ling Jiuxiao: "..."
Elder: "..."
Both fell silent.
Ling Jiuxiao knew the elder might not be reliable.
But he hadn't expected him to be this unreliable.
He had barely stepped into the back mountain when he was caught red-handed.
Ling Jiuxiao turned around in fear. He saw a handsome man in a green robe standing with his hands behind his back, smiling at him.
"Sect...Sect Master!"
Ling Jiuxiao recalled seeing a portrait of a young man in the main hall. The person in the portrait looked exactly like the young man before him, even more handsome.
Looking at the young man before him, Su Chen said, "As an inner disciple, you should know the sect rules. Unauthorized entry into the back mountain is punishable."
Ling Jiuxiao's knees buckled for some reason.
The elder in his mind was as silent as if he were dead. Ling Jiuxiao cursed the old man's unreliability inwardly. Now he could only rely on himself.
"Sect Master, I have long admired your name. Now that I see you, you are truly dashing, wise, and handsome... Of all the world's beauties, you possess twelve!"
Ling Jiuxiao spoke eloquently.
He didn't want to be confined for a hundred years. He was in the prime of his life; how could he endure a century of solitude?
"Very well, you lad do possess some insight and talent. You're destined to become a pillar of the sect. I, the sect master, can pretend I didn't see what happened today."
Ling Jiuxiao was overjoyed: "Thank you, wise and powerful sect master!"
"So, this disciple can leave now?"
Su Chen looked at him with a smile.
Ling Jiuxiao's heart sank again.
"What are your orders, sect master?"
Su Chen said, "You've probably heard of the Sun and Moon Continent's Young Prodigies Competition, haven't you?"
Ling Jiuxiao nodded.
"This sect master wants you to represent my Mountain and River Sect in the competition."
Upon hearing this, Ling Jiuxiao quickly replied, "This disciple swears to serve the sect to the death! Sect master, rest assured, this disciple will definitely achieve a good ranking for the sect!"
Su Chen shook his head: "No... I want you to defeat all the geniuses of the Sun and Moon Continent, win first place, and bring glory to my Mountain and River Sect!"
Ling Jiuxiao's expression turned bitter.
There are countless geniuses on the Sun and Moon Continent, but to claim first place...
Su Chen continued, "However, this sect master isn't so petty. I won't let anyone shed blood and tears for the sect in vain."
"If you can win first place in the Sun and Moon Continent's Young Generation Prodigies Competition, this item can be your reward."
A seven-colored, multicolored precious tree appeared in Su Chen's hand, with seven leaves.
Ling Jiuxiao stared at the tree intently, puzzled. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sect Master... what is this item?"
Su Chen looked at Ling Jiuxiao strangely, then said calmly, "This is called the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree."
"The Seven-Leaf Divine Tree?" Ling Jiuxiao murmured, then his eyes widened like saucers: "This is the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree?"
Su Chen nodded.
"Sect Master, rest assured, this disciple will surely win first place in the Sun and Moon Continent's Young Prodigies Competition, bringing glory to our Mountain and River Sect!" Ling Jiuxiao declared confidently.
The Seven-Leaf Divine Tree—wasn't that the very item he had been searching for?
Hiss~ It came so easily!
Leaving the back mountain
Only then did the elder's voice echo in Ling Jiuxiao's mind.
"I was dying of suffocation! How could this be? I didn't sense this person's approaching aura at all!"
Ling Jiuxiao said, "Elder, so you're still alive?"
"What just happened? I called out to you, and you vanished as if you'd disappeared?"
Ling Jiuxiao was very curious.
This old man, always looking down on everyone, why is he acting like a mouse before a cat today?
The elder muttered, "Just now... I had a feeling that someone saw right through me. It seemed like that person discovered my existence."
"But perhaps I'm overthinking it. In this world, there are fewer than three people who can detect my presence. And those who can wouldn't be hiding in this tiny place. Even the entire Sun Moon Continent is just insignificant sand to such a person!"