Chapter 123 My Inner Demon Has Always Been You - Nine Heavens Secret Realm Quota

After Song Yin took her seat, the disciples followed suit.

Song Yin shared her insights on cultivation, her voice not loud, yet it covered the entire area. Her enunciation was clear, reaching the ears of every disciple.

The audience listened with rapt attention; some suddenly understood, some scratched their heads in disbelief, some remained calm, and some took notes.

Some Nascent Soul and above cultivators who were secretly observing Song Yin nodded in approval, quite satisfied.

Elder Lingyin Peak beckoned to Qi Zibo, signaling him to go talk to him on the other side.

Qi Zibo then left the inner school.

After he came out, Qi Zibo asked him, "What's the matter?"

Elder of Lingyin Peak: "When will Song Yin accept disciples?"

Qi Zibo: "Taking on apprentices? She's an apprentice herself, why would she take on apprentices? You're not plotting anything, are you?"

Elder Lingyin Peak: "What are you thinking? I didn't say it; I overheard the disciples in the outer sect talking about it. Song Yin's reputation is incredible now; even some aristocratic families have heard of her. They're putting in their best effort to participate in the Foundation Establishment Competition, hoping to win a top spot and be taken in as Song Yin's disciple."

Qi Zibo: "My disciple never announced that he wanted to take on any disciples. How could an outer disciple be so sure that Song Yin wanted to take on any disciples?"

"That's what I'm also curious about, but you have to understand, these people not only want Song Yin to be their disciple, but some of them also..." Elder Lingyin Peak trailed off mid-sentence.

"Tsk, what are you up to? Tell me," Qi Zibo urged. "It's not good to leave things unsaid."

The elder of Lingyin Peak looked troubled: "I'm pretending to be someone by Song Yin's side, even if we're not Daoist partners, we'll have no official status or relationship."

Qi Zibo: "Are young people these days crazy? They'll do anything to climb the social ladder."

Elder Lingyin Peak: "Calm down. Which cultivator in the sect hasn't encountered this kind of thing when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage? As long as we release the news and make our stance clear, those people won't dare to have any more petty tricks or schemes."

"I called you out so you could remind Song Yin. You've been smiling a lot lately, your mouth is practically stretched to the back of your ears, I bet you've forgotten about this."

Qi Zibo: "I had really forgotten. Thank you for reminding me."

Elder of Lingyin Peak: "You're too kind. We're all from the Immortal Firmament Sect, and it wouldn't be right to see Song Yin get into trouble. So I reminded you, isn't that a small favor?"

“I understand.” Qi Zibo immediately understood what he was planning.

Elder Lingyin Peak: "Help me refine a batch of special grade five pills; I'll provide the spiritual herbs."

"I knew you were up to no good. Just bring the spirit herbs to Danque Peak when the time comes," Qi Zibo agreed.

Elder Lingyin Peak patted Qi Zibo on the shoulder, then transformed into a stream of light and flew towards the outer gate.

Song Yin needed some more time at the school, and Qi Zibo didn't continue watching, but went to Wujian Peak instead.

In a sparsely populated area of ​​Dongzhou, traces of lightning strikes can be seen everywhere.

Shi Heming used this place to recuperate and heal his injuries. He cleared out a wave of the surrounding demonic beasts, and the remaining demonic beasts dared not approach, which greatly facilitated his healing.

He consumed a lot of pills during this training trip, and he was either injured or on his way to being injured. Fortunately, it was all worth it, wasn't it?

Having recovered from his injuries, Shi Heming changed into a new set of robes and began to walk out of the area.

I went into the city to use the teleportation array and ended up seeing a familiar face.

"Shi Heming?" Xia Xining blinked. She couldn't believe her eyes. She had just stepped out of the teleportation array and saw a familiar face.

Shi Heming nodded, which was considered a greeting.

Xia Xining: "You didn't say a word, but that's not surprising. You've always been very quiet around people other than Yinyin since you were little."

There were many cultivators around who needed to use the teleportation array, so Xia Xining stepped aside, walked to the side, and then set up a small barrier.

“I left a message for Yinyin, saying that between the two of us, I will definitely be the next Nascent Soul cultivator to break through after her. Judging from your current appearance, you must not have broken through yet.” Xia Xining was secretly pleased, her eyes filled with the desire to surpass the person in front of her.

This is amazing! For the first time ever, I want to thank my inner demon. It's all thanks to my inner demon that I have the opportunity to surpass Shi Heming.

Shi Heming: "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I have already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage. I'm just hiding my cultivation level."

After speaking, Shi Heming left the small barrier and entered the teleportation array. He needed to see Yinyin as soon as possible; they hadn't seen each other for too long, and he feared his inner demons would erupt if he didn't see her soon.

Xia Xining stood inside the barrier, her entire body petrified. She appeared to be standing still, but in reality, she was shattered.

Xia Xining sniffed and walked outside. "So what if one or two of them have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage? You just wait, I'll break through in three years."

No, I'm still so angry.

"Ugh! How come we didn't win again?!"

Pedestrians on the street looked at Xia Xining as if she were an idiot.

Xia Xining suppressed her frustration and walked towards her destination with a blank expression.

I, Xia Xining, will not return until I break through to the Nascent Soul stage!

When Shi Heming returned to the Immortal Cloud Sect, the surrounding disciples were all discussing the unfamiliar name.

"Yuan Lijun is really amazing, he is my role model."

"I really look forward to Yuan Lijun participating in the Xuan Tian Conference in the future. If Yuan Lijun participates, I must go to the scene to watch it in person."

“Yuan Lijun is the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in our Immortal Firmament Sect, but I believe there is no one else like him in the entire Eastern Continent.”

"Of course! At the age when others are at Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment, she's already at the Nascent Soul stage. Who would believe it if word got out? I heard that Yuan Lijun even lectured the Inner Sect Academy for a whole day. I'm so envious of the Inner Sect disciples! I've never been so envious of them! The Inner Sect disciples eat so well!!"

Who is Yuan Lijun?

Shi Heming listened for a moment, then went directly to Danque Peak.

As soon as he entered the territory of Danque Peak, before he even went up the mountain, he saw the cultivators who were blocked outside by the Danque Peak formation.

Both men and women participated, and all of them were below the Nascent Soul stage in terms of cultivation.

"Another one has arrived. This one is quite good-looking, but what good is good looks if Yuan Lijun doesn't pay attention to anyone?"

"Brother, don't cut in line. First come, first served. Go behind us in line."

Shi Heming: "Who is this Yuan Lijun you're talking about?"

"Are you kidding me? You don't even know who Yuan Lijun is, and you're going to compete with us?" a handsome male cultivator shouted.

“Yuan Lijun, the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the Immortal Cloud Sect, and also a genius cultivator who reached the Golden Core stage before the age of one hundred, Song Yin.”

Shi Heming was momentarily stunned; it turned out that Yinyin was Yuan Lijun.

"It's a pity. Yuan Lijun just announced today that she doesn't want a Daoist partner and has no interest in love," another cultivator said dejectedly.

Daoist partners?

Are all these people trying to become Yin Yin's Daoist partner?

Shi Heming laughed angrily, "Go back to where you came from."

"No, who are you? You're telling us to get lost as soon as you come up?"

Shi Heming was too lazy to waste words and directly released the pressure of the Nascent Soul stage. The group of people's expressions changed drastically, and they fell to the ground with a thud.

Once the oppressive aura dissipated, the group looked up and discovered that the people from before had already entered Danque Peak.

"Who...who is he?" one of them asked in a trembling voice.

Some people kept thinking that anyone who could easily enter and leave Danque Peak must be extraordinary—either a disciple of Danque Peak or someone acquainted with the master of Danque Peak. But all three ordinary disciples of Danque Peak were inside the peak, and he wasn't an elder, so it could only be…

"I remember now! He might be one of Yuan Lijun's closest friends, the Daoist Master Heming."

Upon hearing this name, even the loudest person fell silent.

"The pressure he exerted just now was clearly not at the Golden Core stage. Could it be that he has also broken through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

"I remember that Yuan Lijun's two closest friends joined the sect in the same year as her, right?"

Hiss! Doesn't this mean their Immortal Firmament Sect has gained another Nascent Soul cultivator over a hundred years old?!

When Shi Heming arrived at the mountaintop, the first thing he saw was Song Yin practicing her sword under a tree. Her swordsmanship was sharp and her clothes fluttered in the wind.

The fallen leaves, influenced by her sword energy, were arranged neatly on the ground.

Song Yin sensed someone approaching and, upon seeing it was Shi Heming, stopped her swordplay.

"Stand still and hold out your hand."

Shi Heming obeyed and did as instructed.

Song Yin placed her fingers on Shi Heming's wrist and used the medical techniques taught by Doctor Yan to examine Shi Heming's physical condition.

"It's alright. I have some injuries, but they're not serious. I'll recover after a period of rest."

Shi Heming asked impatiently, "Yinyin, who are those people at the foot of the mountain?"

"Those people at the foot of the mountain? They're just trying to take shortcuts, ignore them. Their names are on Danque Peak's blacklist, and Danque Peak will never welcome them." Song Yin wiped her Qingyang sword and then wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Didn't you have something to say to me?"

Shi Heming's heart began to beat uncontrollably again. Thinking is one thing, doing is another.

"I……"

Song Yin stared intently at him. "Hmm?"

"Yinyin, I... I love you." After mustering up the courage to say these words, Shi Heming blushed like a boiled shrimp, his face and neck turning bright red.

We've traveled a long way, just to offer our sincere hearts.

The handkerchief in her hand fell to her feet, and Song Yin's mind went blank for a few seconds.

Shi Heming's zero-frame attack really startled her.

After a few seconds, she came to her senses, bent down to pick up the handkerchief, walked to a stone table, sat down, and asked, "When did this happen?"

"It's been a long time." After saying the first sentence, it was much easier to say the rest.

Shi Heming stepped forward, squatted down in front of Song Yin, and took one of her hands. Seeing that she did not struggle or resist, Shi Heming relaxed a little, and then placed her hand on his heart.

"I don't know when I developed this thought. I didn't know at first, until the Golden Core Tribulation."

Song Yin: "So your inner demons..."

Shi Heming: "My inner demon has always been you."

Even after her suspicions were confirmed, Song Yin was still deeply shaken.

Shi Heming had deep eyes and extremely handsome features, but at this moment, his eyes were full of trepidation.

"I never wanted to cause you any trouble, so I never said it out loud. But after being away for decades, I guess I've gradually come to realize that it was just an excuse I made for my cowardice. Because I was afraid that if I said these words, you would distance yourself from me, and we wouldn't even be able to be friends anymore. That's why I cherish our status as best friends now."

"But after returning from this trip, I changed my mind. In this life, why not be bold once?"

Song Yin withdrew her hand.

The light in Shi Heming's eyes went out instantly, and his heart was filled with a bitter mix of emotions.

Was it really too reckless?

Song Yin could tell from his expression that he was putting on a melodramatic show by himself again, probably torturing himself in some way.

She gently lifted his chin with her fingertips. "I know how you feel, but you haven't rejected me. Why are you acting like this?"

Shi Heming's Adam's apple bobbed: "Yinyin, you..."

With a single, casual remark, Song Yin pulled Shi Heming back from the brink of despair.

It all felt like a dream, and Shi Heming's eyes welled up with tears again.

I didn't even feel like crying just now because I thought it was a tacit rejection, but now tears are streaming down my face uncontrollably.

What a pitiful face! Song Yin's eyes flickered for a moment: "Get up first, sit on the stool."

Well, she looked quite beautiful when she cried.

The crybaby persona is still intact!

"Let's make this clear first. Although I haven't refused, we won't be developing into Daoist partners right now. I agree to what you said about considering Daoist partners after reaching the Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation stages. So, we'll talk about Daoist partners after reaching the Deity Transformation stage."

What does it mean to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot?

Shi Heming couldn't even empathize with his past self!

Shi Heming: "Actually, it's not necessary—"

"Song Yin, it's time to refine the elixir," Qi Zibo called out.

He wanted to teach his rebellious disciple how to refine fifth-grade pills, but the pill room was empty.

"Shi Heming is here too. When did he get back?" Qi Zibo asked as he approached. "Why are you crying?"

Song Yin: "He was practicing his sword when the dust he kicked up got into his eyes."

The truth must not be known to Old Deng, otherwise it will give him another chance to mock him.

Qi Zibo didn't think much of it. "It's nothing serious, a good cry will do. Song Yin, be more careful next time you practice swordsmanship, but don't practice swordsmanship now. Quickly learn how to refine fifth-grade pills, so I can have an easier time."

Song Yin: "Master, where is your conscience?"

Qi Zibo: "Danque Peak will be yours from now on, so don't even think about slacking off."

He then said to Shi Heming, "Song Yin will be refining pills for the rest of the day. You can come to see her again tomorrow."

"Yes, Elder Qi, this junior will return to the Dao Asking Peak now."

Song Yin: No, the atmosphere was just right, and she was even planning to find a suitable opportunity to get some benefits for herself, but Lao Deng's appearance ruined everything!

Qi Zibo's eyes sharpened. "You've also broken through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

Shi Heming: "I just broke through a few days ago."

Qi Zibo: "Good, good, good! After you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, your master will bestow upon you a Daoist title. Hurry back and make Yuan Ci happy."

How could I have been so good at judging people back then? Song Yin's talent goes without saying, and the disciple I recommended to Yuan Ci was also very talented. I heard that Xia Xining is also about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and is going out to find a breakthrough opportunity.

What an era that produces so many geniuses!

When they participate in the Xuan Tian Assembly, I must go with them, not for any other reason than to show off.

Having finished showing off to the elders of the sect, the next step was naturally to show off to the other five major sects.

Qi Zibo eagerly awaited the year Song Yin would participate in the Xuan Tian Conference.

Shi Heming returned to Daowen Peak and first went to pay his respects to his master.

When Elder Yuan saw Shi Heming break through to the Nascent Soul stage, he stood there stunned, then was overjoyed.

"Nascent Soul stage! You've caught up with your senior brother's progress! This...this...this!" It's like a dream.

Just a few days ago, I was envious of Qi Zibo's disciple who broke through to the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age, and then my own little disciple also broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.

The surprise came so suddenly!

Elder Yuan: "Quickly tell your master about your experiences outside..."

Shi Heming seemed somewhat distracted, and only mentioned a few things that left a deep impression on him.

His mind is now filled with thoughts of Yinyin not rejecting him.

Inside Danque Peak, Qi Zibo was explaining the key points to note when refining fifth-grade pills.

"Sigh, I feel like it won't be long before your alchemy skills surpass even mine." Qi Zibo's feelings were complicated, but mostly proud.

Once Song Yin had fully mastered the refining of fifth-grade pills, he handed over all affairs of Danque Peak to her, and then he and his wife went on a long trip together.

Ever since breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, Song Yin had always felt that her master was hiding something. But since her master didn't say anything, she, as his disciple, had no way of knowing.

However, sometimes when the elders held meetings, the master would ask her to go in his place.

Similarly, Shen Yuzhu represented Wen Zhiling at various meetings. The frequent appearances of the two senior and junior disciples at important occasions also sent a new signal to the outside world.

The new peak masters of Danque Peak and Wujian Peak will soon take office.

On this day, all the elders gathered in the sect's main hall.

Song Yin and Shen Yuzhu still visited Danque Peak and Wujian Peak.

Having made several public appearances, the other elders tacitly agreed that the two would participate in all sect affairs.

Sect Master Yan: "I have summoned everyone here for an important matter, which I am sure some of you elders already know. I will not keep you in suspense any longer, the Nine Heavens Secret Realm will open soon."

The Nine Heavens Secret Realm? What is that?

Song Yin looked at Shen Yuzhu and saw that Shen Yuzhu was very excited.

Sect Master Yan: "As usual, our Immortal Firmament Sect has five slots. We've gathered everyone here to discuss the allocation of these slots."

Elder Wen of Lingyin Peak was the first to speak up: "The spots are precious, I suggest that they be allocated to the elders. The younger disciples will have opportunities in the future."

Xin Huailiang: "I agree with Elder Wen's proposal."

Elder Ji of Lingpo Peak: "Last time, the quota for the Nine Heavens Secret Realm was allocated to the elders. If it is the same this year, it may cause dissatisfaction among the disciples with higher cultivation levels."

"You say that because your two disciples, Han Wuyue and Xiao Daiheng, are both at the Nascent Soul stage. What about the disciples who haven't reached the Nascent Soul stage?"

"But we can't keep denying our disciples any spots every time the Nine Heavens Secret Realm opens, can we?"

"You should also know that our sect only has five spots for the Nine Heavens Secret Realm. With tens of thousands of disciples in the entire sect, do you think you can fill them all?"

Song Yin watched the elders argue quietly, then whispered to Shen Yuzhu, who was sitting next to her, "Senior brother, do you know about the Nine Heavens Secret Realm?"

Shen Yuzhu said in a low voice, "In the Nine Heavens Secret Realm, ancient spiritual herbs can be found everywhere, and the inheritances are countless."

Song Yin: !!!

Master, Master, you didn't come for such an important event today. What am I going to do if I can't compete with these old foxes?

Sect Master Yan watched the elders argue calmly, without saying a word.

Upon seeing this, Song Yin realized that the sect leader had probably already made a plan.

However, she desperately wanted both the ancient spiritual herb and the inheritance!

"Stop using disciples as an excuse. Shen Yuzhu and Song Yin are here, and they are attending today's meeting in place of their master. Why don't we ask them for their opinions?"

"Of course, no problem. You two decide whether the spots should be allocated to the elders or the disciples," Elder Pei of Spirit Beast Peak made the final decision.

Elder Yuan: "You old fox, you just want to pass the difficult problems to the younger generation, don't you?"

“I think Elder Pei makes a good point. Instead of us old folks arguing here, why don’t we ask the two younger ones? Shen Yuzhu, you go first.”

Shen Yuzhu knew he couldn't win against these shameless old men: "This junior thinks we should ask the sect leader for his opinion."

They passed the problem on to the sect leader.

The elders persisted, calling on Song Yin: "Song Yin, you are the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in our sect, so you speak. You are the youngest here, so we will listen to you."

Shen Yuzhu frowned slightly. The elders were taking advantage of the young people's thin skin. He looked at Song Yin with concern, ready to step in at any moment.

All the elders, including the sect leader, had their eyes on Song Yin; the pressure was palpable.

Although her cultivation level is now at the Nascent Soul stage, she has become the person with the lowest cultivation level among this group.

Song Yin: "What if the elders disagree with my suggestion?"

Elder Pei of Spirit Beast Peak, a female cultivator with a fiery temper, slammed her hand on the table. "Speak! We'll all listen to you!"

Haha, these young cultivators are the most shy; they're probably too embarrassed to share their spots with the disciples.

Shen Yuzhu: "Junior Sister..."

Song Yin grabbed Shen Yuzhu's wrist, signaling him to be quiet.

"Since the elders are willing to listen to the junior's arrangements, then I will shamelessly speak frankly."

"There are five spots in total. One for me, one for Senior Brother Shen Yuzhu, and the remaining three can be given to the elders. That's just right!"

quiet--

"Pfft! What did you say?" Elder Pei of Spirit Beast Peak exclaimed in surprise.

Song Yin: "The disciples will take two, my senior brother and I will take the rest, and the elders will take three. We'll have a fight, and whoever wins takes them all. It's perfect, a win-win situation!"

Elder Pei of Spirit Beast Peak: "Perfect my ass!"

She had never seen such a shameless person!

Song Yin looked at the sect leader with a troubled expression, "Sect leader, this is how I intend to divide the land. As for whether the elders are willing to accept it, that's up to them."

Elder Yuan relaxed, but Song Yin wasn't fooled at all. This round of arguing and twisting actually brought the matter to a close, and the way he finally threw the problem back to the sect leader was excellent.

Sect Master Yan: "Actually, Song Yin made a good point. Everyone wants the spots, so why not let the most capable take them? Let's hold a magic duel competition. All cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above can participate, and the top five will get the spots."

As expected, the sect leader had already planned out the allocation method for the quota from the very beginning.

Sigh, she was hoping everyone would approve of her distribution plan, but it seems her hopes have been dashed.

Song Yin was the first to respond: "Sect Leader is wise!"

Elder Pei of Spirit Beast Peak: "Brilliant my foot! The elders' strengths vary, isn't this just clearly giving the spots to a few elders who can fight?"

Sect Master Yan: "In the upcoming journey to the Nine Heavens Secret Realm, the disciples who enter the realm will need to find a new inheritance for the sect. Whoever enters must prioritize finding the inheritance. This applies to our Immortal Firmament Sect, and it also applies to the other five major sects. If the elders are still not satisfied with the allocation of the inheritance from the previous duel, then we will have to draw lots to determine the allocation."

The scene fell silent again, as the elders were not satisfied with that method.

The group of people just sat there doing nothing, and in the end, the allocation of quotas was left unresolved, to be discussed at the next meeting.

After leaving the sect's main hall, Song Yin went directly to find Qi Zibo.

After telling him about the Nine Heavens Secret Realm, Song Yin complained, "From now on, when the sect leader summons the elders, you go by yourself. I'm not going."

Qi Zibo flipped through an obscure and difficult book, not even looking up, and said, "I'm not going. If you're not going, that's fine too. Neither your master's wife nor I are interested in the Nine Heavens Secret Realm. We have more important things to do."

Song Yin: "Aren't you tempted by the abundance of spiritual herbs and the inheritance?"

Qi Zibo turned the page: "Having been there once, there's naturally no need to go again."

Shen Yuzhu, who had followed, then spoke up: "Actually, a long time ago, when the Nine Heavens Secret Realm opened last time, Master and Elder Qi both went."

Song Yin: "..."

Song Yin snatched Qi Zibo's book away and fawned over him, giving him a back massage: "Master, you should go next time and try to get a spot for Danque Peak. Then I'll go in your place."

Qi Zibo took back his book. "I advise you not to go. It's extremely dangerous inside. Everyone is ruthless and will kill you. A Nascent Soul cultivator would be nothing but cannon fodder. Besides, trust me. These five spots won't be decided for several years."

...

In the end, Qi Zibo still went personally to fight for a spot for his traitorous disciple.

However, no one knows what the outcome will be.

Even before the results of the quota announcement are released, the new Xuan Tian Tournament is about to begin.

Song Yin pulled out a chair and sat down next to Shi Heming. "This is insane! This year's Xuan Tian Tournament actually includes a spot in the Nine Heavens Secret Realm as a reward?!"

-----------------------

Author's Note: What Yin wanted, Yin got [shy]

Song Yin: It's just a matter of having thick skin; actually, you can be even thicker [glasses]

Master Heming, who learned to start with zero frames: I really want to go back in time and slap myself a few times [crying emoji]

-

[Empty bowl]