As Wu Guang slept, unbeknownst to him and everyone else uninvolved one of the elder residences in the sect was assaulted by grey and black robed people. If someone was present on the scene, he would be surprised to see that both the 'Discipline Palace' and the enforcers cooperated for it, but there was nobody to do so. After all, the area around was fully closed.

A pair of hours before sunrise, Master Sikou entered the hidden council room and found that all the chairs were occupied, except his own, the 'Head' one and the 'Succesor' one. Although the latter two have not being occupied was something normal, after all, the Headmaster of the sect could not be present and the sect had not even nominated a 'Succesor', not to say an official one.

Seemingly today there would be no ritual held as after reaching his chair, Master Sikou was questioned about the results of the investigation by 'Core' Elder Mo

"So? Did that rat reveal anything?"

"Indeed she has. And not only her but also the two outer disciples that had been working as couriers on her orders"

"Only two outer disciples?" Followed Elder Mo

"It shames me to say this, but yes, we have not found any other people related to her. Although I am sure that there should be at least one inner disciple or even maybe one inside a Palace as during questioning we found out that she knew too much about the restricted training zones. Especially about one which should be known only to the disciples allowed to take part"

"Which?" Interjected Master Zhen

"Earth-fire cultivation"

"Strange... All the elders in charge of it should make the disciples swear an oath for it to remain hidden..."

"Indeed, but as I have said before, the oath has a slight mistake. It does not prevent the disciple from sharing this with his accepted master"

"Then it shall be changed. Before we could not really do so as it's part of the founder's legacy, but given this, we have no choice. Does anyone have anything to say against it?" Elder Mo asked and after waiting for a few moments during which no one said anything continued

"Then let's get back on the main issue. Why Zhou Meiying tried to poison Wu Guang"

"Because of an order. Again it shames me to accept such, but we missed that she is an 'Underhill' agent. And even worse, a part of their core members"

"Them again!" The shout came from Master Zhen, but he quickly controlled himself and continued in a calmer tone

"And the reason?"

"As I said, it was an order. Seemingly someone from Coastal Hill City paid three hundred gold for him to be killed. As she did not want to risk her cover, she decided to add some wine to the box in hopes that Wu Guang as most disciples could not restrain himself from drinking it. Unluckily for her, Wu Guang not only suspected that something wasn't right after seeing the wine, but her own henchmen also stole from the box and so let the boy understand that something was really amiss. By the way, the herbs were found in their possession and so they had no other choice than reveal everything. We confirmed that they are normal disciples that were bought with benefits and simply followed her orders"

"I see. Any idea of who and why posted the bounty? Such an order could only come if there was someone with enough influence doing so, or the group would never risk even if the price is equivalent to a late Spirit realm cultivator"

"She did not know much, but the order was sent by note and so I can make a few guesses from the contents. First, the bounty was posted only a day ago. Secondly, it said that it was of utmost urgency to be completed. Adding this to the information that Head Enforcer Zhen Mang and 'Wisdom' Master Chen shared, my guess is that it's unrelated to our matter"

"A guess?" Elder Di asked in a joking tone, but his countenance was amiable and so Master Sikou understood that it was a simple question and did not mean any offense

"To say the truth I am sure of it. Especially after the head treasurer confirmed something to me. This information was that the lands of the Wu family that are included into the manor possesions are called 'Earth's Cry Ridge'"

"Huh? Is not that where..."

"Yes, it is where recently a small cave was found. And the cave walls have enough spirit shards as to be a possible spirit crystal mine. The first and only on the island"

"I see. During our last meeting, I was asked and sent a letter to the city lord about Wu Guang's claim..." Zhen Mang continued the unspoken guess.

"It seems likely that your guess is the truth, Sikou Dai. So parting from it, not only the fact that Wu Guang lands are now a matter to be resolved successfully by any means, but we have also to reinforce the security around him" Elder Mo spoke calmly, but judging from the fact that he had called the Discipline Master by name, he was far from being calm.

"Indeed"

"Agreed"

"I do agree that any amount of shards are a too important resource, but aren't we forgetting something? Wu Guang may be our disciple for the time, but he could pass the property to someone else" The head treasurer interjected.

"I don't think that it would be the case. Especially if we simply tell him honestly about the matter. Speaking of which, such a bounty means that he is in danger all the time before he reclaims the land... Isn't he leaving the sect in a few hours?" Elder Chen spoke for the first time. He understood that such a mine was too important for the sect leadership to pass upon, but he also knew that Wu Guang could be negotiated with and so did not expect any trouble on that side. Where he did expect it was on the part that an active and urgent bounty was posted.

"Hmm... I see where are you going 'Wisdom'. Should we send someone? Or simply forbid him from going?"

"..."

"I would go for the first. He needs experience and the mission seems to have interested him greatly as, during our investigation, he almost directly asked if he could go"

"In that case, how about simply changing the elder in charge of the mission?"

"What do you mean head treasurer?"

"Judging from the fact that it's a simple undead investigation mission, the elder in charge is an outer one. In the best case, his strength would be about the same as the boy's, making them an easy target. But if we change the leading elder to someone like... me, who is a middle Soul realm cultivator, no normal assassins could even near us"

"Are you saying that you will go?"

"I am interested in seeing the boy more closely... Especially after the last test, after all, not even we can be sure of resisting and adapting to resist the pressure of not one, but two full minor realms over our level"

"I see. Then let's do it like this. For the mission that the team accepted, you will go as the elder in charge. Hiding your identity is hard, but they should not know the head treasurer so if you arrive as an inner elder it should be easier to explain. Then after he returns to the sect, we will have a serious talk with him about both his lands and the real matter. In truth, I hoped to hide it until he finished the mission on the coast, but it seems that the better path will be to share what we can right away"

"This time I will agree" Surprisingly the first one to give his agreement was Master Sikou.

"I approve as well. Also when you speak with him, call me, I promised him another part of 'Splitting the Mountain' if he masters the first one, and I am interested in seeing his progress" Master Zhen followed

As for the other three chairs present, their occupants simply nodded. Although Elder Mo added something before they adjourned the meeting and dispersed.

"During our talk, we will most probably reveal part of the truth. We have been helping him a bit secretly, but now, don't hesitate to do it openly or to increase the help. Even if he does not ask or we don't do so, he is still our best candidate for using the key. So if there is a chance to help him or pass him something, do it"

As everyone was leaving they turned around and nodded to this order, and Elder Chen even added something

"We should also try to include his team as well, after all, they should be nearby far more than us and so if they are strong, they will be able to help him"

"Agreed. Now go"