Half a month later, Cedric had rested just about enough, directly brimming with energy and resurrected with full strength.

Alex could safely let him return to his post, while he himself set off to return to the Divine Blade Sect.

Mhm, cultivating these past few days has been a bit tiring. I need to go and take a proper vacation.

...

At dusk, within the grand hall of the Divine Blade Sect’s Spirit Artisan Peak, several elders had gathered to discuss sect matters.

Magnus was still the same idle cloud and wild crane as always, lazy by nature. He had shown his face briefly during the entrance examination back then, and then went back to his wandering, his whereabouts unknown. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Now that Master Vincent was dead, whenever there was a matter needing discussion, Aerin naturally took charge of hosting the meetings.

Aerin sat in the central main seat, while Blake, Lorin, Nerin, Torin, Loris, and Sylra were seated on the left and right.

Aerin gently tapped his fingers on the desk and spoke. "Senior and Junior Brothers, I have invited you all here today mainly to discuss the matters regarding the Elemental Trial in three days."

"The reward for this year’s Elemental Trial is the Five Elements Wheel that the Sect Master brought back from the Five Streams Barbarian Tribe during his wandering in the Southern Wasteland."

"If any of you have opinions, please speak freely."

However, after Aerin finished speaking, everyone else wore lazy and casual expressions, fundamentally not responding.

The Elemental Trial was one of the Divine Blade Sect’s important annual ceremonies. It was specially prepared for disciples who excelled at controlling elemental techniques, giving them a chance to shine.

However, the Divine Blade Sect had the word "blade" right in its name.

Ever since the founding ancestor, Evergreat Sword Ancestor, the cultivation direction had been firmly established as focusing on the blade. Therefore, no matter how high one’s elemental talent was, it only served a supplementary function.

Moreover, those proficient in elemental techniques numbered only one or two in each peak.

The champion of the annual Elemental Trial was always decided among these few people, and each had won it four or five times already.

No matter who took the crown, the crowd had long been used to it.

"Senior Brother Aerin, I see this year’s Elemental Trial just following standard procedures like previous years." Torin said sternly.

"However, there is just one thing."

"This year, Senior Brother Sylra’s Broken Sword Peak has been revitalized. If they also want to participate, it is naturally permissible."

"But Aya Cale must absolutely not be allowed to participate!"

As soon as this was said, everyone suddenly understood.

Sylra slammed the table in displeasure. "On what grounds? According to the sect rules, any disciple of the Divine Blade Sect can participate. On what grounds is my disciple not allowed?!"

"Senior Brother Sylra, do not get angry." Torin advised helplessly.

"The essence of this Elemental Trial is to select the elites proficient in elemental manipulation from among the disciples of each peak. In principle, every disciple can participate."

"But is Aya Cale an ordinary disciple? She is the possessor of the Vault of Divine Blade Heart, the personally chosen inheritor of the Evergreat Sword Ancestor. When discussing elemental talent, she naturally far surpasses ordinary disciples."

"If she is allowed to participate, would the other disciples not have absolutely no chance? Miss Aya has already obtained the Vault of Divine Blade Heart. Let us leave the meager reward of the Elemental Trial for the other disciples."

Seeing that all the elders had unified their stance and unanimously agreed that Aya should be barred from participating, Sylra instantly filled with indignation, grinding his teeth in anger.

Although he had no intention of vying for fame and profit, and had little interest in the reward of this Elemental Trial, he absolutely would not allow the disciples of his own peak to suffer unfair treatment.

On what grounds could everyone else participate but she could not? Just because she possessed the Vault of Divine Blade Heart, they were going to discriminate against her? This was naked unfairness.

Unable to swallow his anger, Sylra cast his gaze toward Aerin.

The meaning was clear: They are all targeting my disciple. Are you going to manage this or not?

Aerin also showed a troubled expression.

After hesitating for a moment, he said helplessly. "Senior Brother Sylra, I am very sorry. But the Sect Master said back then that Miss Aya possesses the Vault of Divine Blade Heart and cannot be treated as a general disciple."

"Therefore, she cannot participate in any sect competitions exclusively for disciples. This is the Sect Master’s intention. Please try to understand."

"Heh, fine, I understand!" Master Sylra laughed out of extreme anger, nodding heavily, and sneered coldly.

"Since she is not allowed to participate, then what if I let my peak’s Taryn participate? He does not have the Vault of Divine Blade Heart on him, so he can surely participate in the Elemental Trial, right?"

"Taryn?" The several elders exchanged glances and silently pondered.

In their eyes, Aya was the highly anticipated proud child of heaven.

As for Taryn, he was merely a lecherous scoundrel who had somehow used unknown methods to deceive Aya Cale. His talent might be considered not bad, but compared to Aya with the Vault of Divine Blade Heart, it was truly far too mediocre.

The great elders exchanged opinions with their eyes and nodded one after another.

"Letting Taryn participate is fine."

"I have no objections."

"I also have no objections!"

Just as everyone was agreeing and about to reach a unanimous consensus, Nerin suddenly shuddered violently and cried out in alarm.

"No! Whoever participates, it absolutely cannot be Taryn!"

Who Taryn really was, others did not know, but he alone was painfully clear.

That scene he witnessed at the Hale family Holy Land’s Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony, although half a month had already passed, remained vivid in his mind to this day, leaving him with lingering fear.

Thinking about how such a terrifying mighty figure was hiding right inside their Divine Blade Sect made Nerin tremble with fear, feeling as if he were walking on thin ice.