My Master Knows It All

27: Chapter 25: Face is given by others, but losing face is one’s own doing_1 27: Chapter 25: Face is given by others, but losing face is one’s own doing_1 Duelling Platform

The place where the disciples of the Hundred Peaks Sect usually resolved their grudges and enhanced their skills through sparring, it was rare but accurate to describe the occurrence of two Peak Masters duelling as happening once in a century.

Whenever well-known figures within the sect sparred or resolved their grudges, it would attract many disciples to watch the event, and even the elders from the various immortal palaces within the sect would come to spectate.

Today, the arranged duel between two Peak Masters was not only attracting disciples but also elders and even some Peak Masters from various immortal palaces.

Early in the morning, Cao Zhen arrived at the Hundred Peaks Sect Duelling Arena Number Twelve aboard the line three Immortal Cloud Carriage.

There was still half an hour before the scheduled duel, and the surrounding area of the Duelling Platform was already filled with people.

Vendors selling candied haws and various snacks weaved through the crowd.

Cao Zhen was somewhat surprised by the sea of people as duels at Hundred Peaks Sect, though not daily occurrences, were still quite common.

Not to mention cultivators, even ordinary mortals had seen their fair share of duels, with the spectator occupancy rate on regular days being less than ten percent.

This kind of fully occupied spectator seating typically only happened during the Hundred Peaks competition events organized by the sect.

Most people present didn’t recognize Cao Zhen, but seeing him in his Peak Master attire, they all made way for him.

“Nephew, come here!” Elder Copper Plate spotted Cao Zhen coming and eagerly stood up, waving his hand, calling out, “This way!”

Seeing the VIP seating area for the elders, filled with individuals wearing uniforms of various immortal palaces, Cao Zhen thought that he didn’t expect a low-ranking Peak Master’s duel to attract much attention.

After winning this time, he planned to find another low-ranking peak for a duel to scrape together more money from the betting.

Now, seeing the presence of elders from various immortal palaces, including several Peak Masters sitting in the VIP spectator seats, he knew that making a fortune through betting would only be possible when his alchemy cultivation base achieved another major breakthrough, so he could dupe others yet again.

“Nephew, this is Zeng Yicheng, a Law Enforcement Elder from the Law Enforcement Immortal Palace,” Elder Copper Plate, with enthusiasm, introduced Cao Zhen, who had just walked over.

“He’s responsible for overseeing many violations within our Hundred Peaks Sect, and your father had a quite good relationship with him in the past!”

Cao Zhen inwardly sighed with admiration for how good Uncle Copper Plate was to him!

Knowing that he was going to win this time, it was clear that this was an early effort to pave the way for his higher connections.

“I’ve seen Law Enforcement Elder Zeng.” Cao Zhen clasped his fists as a greeting to the chubby, small-eyed Law Enforcement Elder with a tidy buzz cut in front of him.

Although the status of a Law Enforcement Elder from the Law Enforcement Immortal Palace was prestigious, it still fell slightly short of a Peak Master.

Having a Peak Master be so courteous made Zeng Yicheng instantly feel face!

After all, the elders from the various immortal palaces seated behind in the stands were all watching.

Even though it was a courtesy coming from the master of the Hundredth Peak, a Peak Master was still a Peak Master!

The few Peak Masters who had arrived earlier merely nodded at other elders, which had already been seen as giving considerable face.

After feeling a great satisfaction of face, Zeng Yicheng, who initially hadn’t planned to interfere in the duel between the two peaks, decided to speak up and lend a helping hand to Elder Copper Plate and the young Peak Master before him.

“Peak Master Cao, are you certain you want to duel with the master of Starshine Peak?

Our Law Enforcement Immortal Palace has the authority to offer mediation before a duel.

Starshine Peak might not give me face, but they would still show some respect to the Law Enforcement Immortal Palace.

Perhaps Four Treasures Peak would only need to pay a performance penalty to stop this duel.”

After Zeng Yicheng finished speaking, he gave Elder Copper Plate a triumphant look, indicating he had stepped in to help, providing a graceful way out for the master of Four Treasures Peak.

“Are you satisfied now?” his glance implied.

The elders on the VIP spectator seats suddenly became tense, and many shot disgruntled looks at Zeng Yicheng.

Everyone had finally gotten an opportunity to make money, and was he trying to spoil it now?

On regular days, it wouldn’t be seemly for sitting elders or Peak Masters to get involved in gambling due to their status.

Furthermore, betting houses would not open a special betting pool for just any disciple’s duel.

If it weren’t for the status of the two Peak Masters, merely for their cultivation levels, the betting shops wouldn’t even think of offering betting odds.

For duels with such disparity in strength, where victory was a hundred percent certain, many elders and Peak Masters at the scene had placed heavy bets.

To call it off now?

Various elders were eating their hearts out at Zeng Yicheng’s words!

They all watched Cao Zhen nervously, silently praying that this Peak Master, rumored to be extremely pedantic, wouldn’t actually back down upon hearing such advice.

“No, that won’t do!” Cao Zhen blurted out his rejection, noticing Zeng Yicheng’s embarrassed expression, he quickly adopted his predecessor’s more melodramatic demeanor and said, “This matter of duelling cannot be mediated.

They insulted my master’s reputation; I must teach them a lesson!”

Zeng Yicheng, initially hoping to utter ‘ungrateful’ upon being rejected, could only mutter ‘pedantic’ to himself when he heard Cao Zhen citing the bond between master and disciple, left without anything more to say.

The elders and Peak Masters in the VIP seating heaved a collective sigh of relief upon hearing this.

They were relieved that Four Treasures Peak’s master was stuck in his old ways, lest they miss out on this lucrative opportunity.