After Transmigrating as an Immortal Master, I Hold a Group Meeting - Chapter 89

At the start of summer in June, the Supreme Clarity Sect was thrown into an uproar.

A small immortal carriage with a black canopy entered Heavenly Terrace Peak. Soon after, Heavenly Terrace Peak was placed under lockdown, restricting both inner and outer disciples from entering or leaving.

The disciples of the Supreme Clarity Sect had no idea what had happened but tension filled the air and speculation ran rampant.

The system had only one comment about the situation, [Supreme Clarity Sect! Your emperor has returned!]

Ning Mingmei returned to his loyal Misty Peak with twelve disciples, two talisman cultivators from the Ice Quenching Pavilion, a new young apprentice, Gui Ruoxue, two laborers from Ye Province, a Moon Palace’s Osmanthus Tree, and forty-five million spirit stones.

The two disciples from Heavenly Terrace Peak were returned to Qi Miancheng who was still unconscious. In front of Fang Wuyu at Heavenly Terrace Peak, Ning Mingmei dramatically threw himself over Qi Miancheng, pretending to shed a few tears.

“This journey was extremely perilous. Before Senior Brother lost consciousness, he said that when he returned to the Supreme Clarity Sect, he would pick out seven fine swords for me.” Ning Mingmei buried his glasses in Qi Miancheng’s body. “Senior Brother, when will you wake up? Senior Brother, what happened to you? Senior Brother, you promised that when you woke up, you would pick out swords for me. Senior Brother, you promised… Senior Brother, you…”

No matter how many times he called out Senior Brother, no one could tell that Ning Mingmei was not entirely sincere. Bai Ruoru’s eyes turned red on the spot from hearing his calls and promised to take Ning Mingmei to Xiang Wuxing tomorrow to pick out swords.

“Old Xiang is on his way back. He has quite a few good swords. Once he’s back, I’ll take you to pick one from him,” Bai Ruoru said.

Bai Ruoru was a princess of Yunnan (south). When Ning Mingmei left, she had even made dumplings for him. Xiang Wuxing was from the northeast, yet Bai Ruoru casually called her senior brother ‘Old Xiang.’

Ning Mingmei suddenly understood something.

The two disciples from Jade Pavilion Peak were returned to Yin Xisheng. As spring transitioned into summer, Yin Xisheng fell ill again, spending his days curled up with a hand warmer in the eternally spring-like Jade Pavilion Peak. Even with Qi Miancheng unconscious, he couldn’t muster the strength to visit Heavenly Terrace Peak to see him.

One disciple, He Zheng, felt as if he had been granted amnesty, while the other, Jiang Yu, kept looking back every few steps, reluctant to leave. Upon hearing that their master was seriously ill again and unable to get out of bed, the reluctance in Jiang Yu’s eyes instantly deepened.

Perhaps Ning Mingmei noticed her hesitation. The cold and aloof genius glanced at her and adjusted his glasses. “Little Yu, I’ll leave you with one phrase. ‘As heaven moves forward with vigor, so too should a gentleman strive for self-improvement without ceasing.’”

Self-improvement.

Jiang Yu understood.

“When the young are strong, the peak is strong. When the young are prosperous, the peak is prosperous. The place where you stand is the place you love. Don’t worry about what happens to Misty Peak. If the master is weak, the disciples must be strong. Wherever I am, that is Misty Peak!” Jiang Yu muttered to herself.

Beside her, He Zheng shot her a terrified look. He suddenly remembered that his junior sister was famously a rich and beautiful socialite in Jade Pavilion Peak. Many people eagerly vied for the chance to get close to her.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong?” A young Jade Pavilion Peak disciple passing by poked his head over. “I still want to hear more stories about you and senior sister.”

He Zheng: “…Nothing. I just feel like something unholy has entered Jade Pavilion Peak.”

Young disciple: “Huh?”

Jiang Yu, with her back to them, continued contemplating. “If I train alone, without peers to discuss things with, my efforts will be twice the work for half the result. Now that the disciples of Misty Peak have gone back, I need to find some Jade Pavilion Peak disciples to train with me.”

He Zheng: “…Junior sister.”

Jiang Yu: “First, I need to catch a bear from the back mountain!”

??

Jiang Yu: “Then, I’ll demonstrate my exceptional binding techniques! First, I’ll tie it up and then I’ll have them tie it with me. After a few times, they’ll naturally see the benefits of ‘freedom in restraint.’ From then on, they will willingly train with me.”

If Ning Mingmei were here, he would definitely say, “Jiang Yu truly lives up to being a Supreme Clarity Sect genius. She just unlocked a hidden unit: study group partners and problem-solving classes.”

But all He Zheng wanted to say in that moment was…

Ahhh! Something unholy has entered Jade Pavilion Peak!

Of course, Ning Mingmei was not there. As the newly crowned ‘most beloved junior brother’ of Jade Pavilion Peak’s master, Yin Xisheng, he had earned the privilege of entering Yin Xisheng’s private quarters.

The room was filled with a faint fragrance. Yin Xisheng leaned against the bed, his pale face accentuated by shadows, making it look like sculpted jade. He exchanged a few simple greetings with Ning Mingmei before saying, “I heard junior brother brought back a female physician?”

…Yin Xisheng really was well-informed.

Ning Mingmei responded calmly, “Yes. I hope senior brother will keep this a secret for me. Besides that, I also brought back an osmanthus tree.”

Yin Xisheng: “Oh?”

His tone was indifferent, with a hint of gloom. It seemed Yin Xisheng was quite displeased that Ning Mingmei had suddenly brought someone back.

A cultivation furnace like you, bringing a mortal woman back to the Supreme Clarity Sect?

Ning Mingmei replied, “Senior brother planted a plum grove across Jade Pavilion Peak for ‘Hu Zi.’ This deep affection was very inspiring to me. She likes osmanthus trees, so I planted an osmanthus grove for her on Misty Peak.”

Merlin’s beard, Guilin’s snow. |36|

Yin Xisheng, despite his severe illness, abruptly sat up. “What Hu Zi? When did I ever have a lover named ‘Hu Zi’?”

“Senior brother, are you going to hide it even from me? Everyone in the Supreme Clarity Sect knows how deeply you loved that Hu Zi.” After saying this, Ning Mingmei showed a slight expression of ‘accidentally letting it slip.’ “I shouldn’t have brought up your vulnerable side but I didn’t expect that even in front of me, you wouldn’t admit to the pain in your heart.”

Yin Xisheng: “I am not…”

His voice was so hoarse it sounded like he was about to cough out his throat.

Ning Mingmei lowered his head, looking sorrowful. “Senior brother, I’m sorry. Just pretend I don’t know. As expected, senior brother still doesn’t see me as a close confidant. Senior brother, I’ll be leaving now. I still have to return the remaining four disciples to Shen Liwan. Senior brother, now that I’ve returned the two disciples to you, we’re even.”

The veins on Yin Xisheng’s neck finally bulged. “Get back here!!”

Ning Mingmei, of course, did not look back. After spreading his rumor, he walked away expressionlessly, covering his face as he passed by Yin Xisheng’s most trusted disciples. The four disciples stared in shock at his retreating figure.

Wasn’t this the first day the Elder Swordbearer had returned? What was all this?

And then there was their master’s trembling shout from inside the room—‘Get back here!’

Only the boldest among them dared to go in. Meanwhile, on the surface, Ning Mingmei was walking away quickly but in reality, he was using his Divine Transformation cultivation to eavesdrop. Sure enough, he soon heard Yin Xisheng’s voice from inside.

“Go investigate whether I have any history with a cultivator named Hu Zi. Who exactly started the rumor that I planted that plum grove for her?”

The system in Ning Mingmei’s mind immediately rebuked him, “You just made up a rumor about Yin Xisheng with no basis at all. Aren’t you afraid that once he realizes no one in the sect has heard of this before, he’ll figure it out and beat you?”

Ning Mingmei adjusted his glasses. “He’s already fallen for it. As long as he starts asking around, the rumor will start to spread.”

The system: ?

Ning Mingmei: “You must know that a rumor spreads the most when the person being rumored about starts trying to dispel it.”

As soon as Yin Xisheng started asking about himself and Hu Zi, the whole Supreme Clarity Sect would naturally be filled with gossip about Yin Xisheng and Hu Zi. At that point, even Yin Xisheng himself wouldn’t know where the rumor had come from.

Actually, it was you who started it.

The system hesitated for a moment before saying, “Honestly, I think that plum grove might actually have something to do with you…”

Back then, Qi Miancheng had danced with his sword for Ning Mingmei in the plum grove on Heavenly Terrace Peak, their emotions intertwining, exchanging moves with deep affection.

Ning Mingmei only saw Qi Miancheng gift him a sword worth one million. But Yin Xisheng, standing behind the white plum grove, saw everything. After returning, Yin Xisheng had people plant a whole grove of green plums. It was hard not to think he was implying something.

Or even… jealous.

Ning Mingmei: “It’s not important. Scandals get you promotions, love is worthless.”

And the most important thing…

Ning Mingmei: “Yin Xisheng never asked me to return that two million. During this entire journey, except for the first day in that village, we’ve been eating for free every day.”

The system: …

Ning Mingmei: “I used ‘training the disciples’ ability to hunt fiendish beasts’ as an excuse to have them catch rabbits for barbecue when they were hungry. At night, we slept in the carriage. And because we were exorcising fiends everywhere, we got free meals from the people who hired us. From start to finish, I didn’t spend a single coin. That two million goes straight into my pocket. Being a master has its perks. You can justify anything as ‘training personal skills,’ and if disciples don’t comply, it’s because they ‘don’t understand how this will benefit their future development.’”

Ning Mingmei’s assets had once again increased, now reaching 47 million. With a calm expression, he headed to Assembled Virtues Peak to return the disciples.

Assembled Virtues Peak was as bustling as ever. As expected of the administrative elder’s peak, there were so many people running errands, working in offices, eating for free, or serving tea and cleaning up for the leaders.

Ning Mingmei sat on an ornate wooden chair, with four disheveled Assembled Virtues Peak disciples standing behind him. He smiled at Shen Liwan. “Peak Lord Shen, look, all four of them returned to you in perfect condition, practically brand new.”

Shen Liwan looked at the four drooping disciples, utterly stunned.

Ning Mingmei’s idea of ‘brand new’ was about as trustworthy as those ‘only tried on once’ listings on secondhand marketplaces. They claim ‘only tried on,’ but when the package arrives, the tags are removed, the belt is missing, the collar has sweat stains, and the whole thing reeks of hot pot.

That was exactly what those four disciples looked like right now.

Shen Liwan was just as shocked. After all, the workload at Assembled Virtues Peak was not something an average disciple could endure. The constant scheming, the unspoken rules, even something as simple as which way to walk when fetching water, how much to take and when to refill it, was a whole science in itself.

What exactly had Ning Mingmei put them through?

Still, Shen Liwan remained as friendly and enthusiastic as ever while meeting with Ning Mingmei.

Why? Because Ning Mingmei had returned with Qi Miancheng. With their level of closeness, what was a little flattery in comparison? At the end of the day, it was his disciples who had suffered, not him.

Ning Mingmei casually helped himself to a pile of hospitality gifts from Shen Liwan before heading to Merit and Virtue Hall to collect his money. His status was no longer what it used to be. Before he even stepped inside, the hall master had already come out to greet him.

“Oh my, we’ve troubled Peak Lord Ning to make a trip in person!” The hall master’s smile was so wide that every wrinkle on his face was filled with warmth. “I already had my disciples send the spirit stones to Misty Peak! Everyone in the sect knows that during your journey, Peak Lord Ning upheld justice and, with only ten disciples, completely eradicated all the demons and evildoers around Liuyue Lake, completing every mission order. Everyone is praising your good deeds!”

Ning Mingmei nodded. “Good.”

The hall master beamed. “Does Peak Lord Ning need anything else? Please, just say the word.”

Ning Mingmei: “Spread word of my righteous deeds among the outer sect as well. And tell them that Misty Peak only accepts a small number of the best disciples.”

With that, Ning Mingmei took off.

Sure enough, as he traveled, he could feel how much things had changed. Along the way, both inner and outer sect disciples whispered as they watched him pass.

“That’s the Elder Swordbearer of Misty Peak!”

“I always heard he was a master of closed-door cultivation. Who knew he’d make such a shocking appearance?”

“My god, I used to hear that among the twelve main peaks of the inner sect, Misty Peak was the weakest and its conditions were even worse than the outer sect! But now it seems they were just keeping a low profile.”

The system asked, [Why did you tell the hall master and the outer sect that you only accept a small number of the best disciples? You seem pretty short on people.]

More laborers should be better, right?

Ning Mingmei replied, “You don’t get it. Reputation is one thing, treatment is another. First, this will trigger competition among the outer sect disciples. This is scarcity marketing. Maybe Misty Peak isn’t actually that great but because it’s ‘limited,’ it appears much more desirable. I learned this strategy from a powerful figure with the surname Qiao.” |37|

System: [Who?]

Ning Mingmei: “Steve Jobs. Besides, it’s also a way to save face in case I can’t recruit many disciples. After all, the other peaks are strong too. And any smart disciple knows that rumors are one thing, actual benefits are another. But that works out for me since I just need smart people to become foolish enough to work for me.”

Are you sure it’s okay to talk like this?

Ning Mingmei calculated his available funds. Aside from the people from Ye Province canceling their commission, his total assets had now reached 57 million.

57 million!

Half a year ago, who would have imagined that after just a few months in this world, Ning Mingmei would be sitting on 57 million?

It was time to build!

On his first day back at the sect, after wrapping up all his affairs, Ning Mingmei had one last thing to do: visit the Workers Hall of the Supreme Clarity Sect.

The Workers Hall was the construction department of the Supreme Clarity Sect. It had the most people and handled all building and repair projects. The work was hard, exhausting and dirty, and it didn’t have much opportunity for personal gain.

Sure enough, when Ning Mingmei was welcomed into the inner room by the Workers Hall’s master, he saw that the square outside was in complete chaos, with disciples running around busily.

The hall master was a thin, withered old man, his life drained away by years of work. But still, he offered Ning Mingmei the best tea available. With a dramatic tone, the old man called out, “Peak Lord Ning!”

Ning Mingmei could see the respect in his eyes. That was the effect of setting a new record in the Supreme Clarity Sect for the fastest completion of mission orders during his latest journey.

Of course, there were other reasons too. First, being the favorite junior brother of the principal was truly beneficial. Second, it wouldn’t have been possible without the silent, hardworking labor force of Misty Peak.

Ning Mingmei accepted all of this without guilt. He said, “Hall Master, I came today because Misty Peak has a project… I wanted to ask, how many disciples in Workers Hall specialize in construction?”

The hall master reported a number.

“Alright, clear their schedules for the next year,” Ning Mingmei said casually, as if he were making a completely reasonable request. “I want to build a new building on Misty Peak… or maybe a whole complex.”

The hall master: …

He was stunned, clearly not expecting the so-called poor guy to suddenly be rich enough to start construction. He asked, “What kind of buildings? Where? What materials? What style? What’s the purpose?”

That question stumped Ning Mingmei for a moment. After all, as Party A, he had never considered giving a clear, detailed request. Wasn’t it standard practice to let Party B draft a hundred different proposals first and then just pick one from there?

While Ning Mingmei was deep in thought, envisioning ‘a dazzling array of black’ as his design inspiration, a lively voice was heard from outside the room.

“Senior Brother Chu, I’ve placed what you wanted here!”

The voice belonged to a young woman and it was clear that she was well-liked in the place. More voices followed.

“Thank you, Junior Sister Zi!”

“A’Zi, it’s so kind of you to make a special trip here…”

“Junior Sister, have you decided which department of the outer sect you want to join?”

“I think you should go to the Spirit Beast Garden or the Spirit Herb Garden! Those places are the easiest and pay well. With your abilities, you’ll definitely get in.”

“As for our Workers Hall, it’s best to avoid it.”

Ning Mingmei glanced outside and saw a beautiful young woman in a purple dress, standing there with a bright smile, chatting with the others.

At that moment, the girl seemed to sense someone watching her. She turned her head and met his gaze.