From Shen Qi to Su Lingxi, each of Lu Guichen's direct disciples received three mid-grade magical artifacts and one high-grade magical artifact.
In addition to this, there were various pills and spiritual treasures distributed according to each person's needs.
According to Lu Guichen, his disciples had all put in a lot of effort for this trip to the secret realm.
Take Su Lingxi, for example. She had been tortured half to death by the demons. If he hadn't arrived in time, she would have likely lost her life at their hands.
And it was precisely because he went looking for Su Lingxi that he discovered the entrance to the secret realm. This was what she deserved.
Then there was Leng Shuxue. Although she didn't directly enter the secret realm, she relied on her understanding of the demons to stay with the team and help her fellow disciples fight against them, making a great contribution.
However, since Leng Shuxue was in secluded cultivation and did not show up, her rewards were temporarily kept by Lu Guichen.
Another example was Long Yunhui, who had been busy running errands by Lu Guichen's side; naturally, his reward could not be small.
Not to mention Shen Qi and Shu Linyuan, who contributed the most during this secret realm expedition, finding several treasure troves of spiritual herbs and plants.
Even Zhai Shuo, who had been sent back to the sect early by Yuan Shu, was given an equivalent material reward because he was a victim of the demons.
Except for Yuan Shu.
She seemed to have been forgotten. After Lu Guichen finished distributing the rewards to his direct disciples, he had his subordinates distribute the rewards for the ordinary disciples.
A share was also stuffed into Yuan Shu's hands.
It consisted of about two bottles of mid-grade Qi-replenishing pills and some low-grade spiritual plants. There were no magical artifacts.
A portion of the magical artifacts obtained by Qingyun Peak still had to be handed over to the sect. Apart from the rewards given to the direct disciples, the rest would be stored in Qingyun Peak's treasury.
Shen Qi had noticed Yuan Shu as soon as she entered the hall, but because she stood far away, it wasn't convenient for him to go over and find her.
He listened quietly as Lu Guichen distributed the rewards, but he never heard Yuan Shu's name mentioned, until he saw the ordinary reward in her hands.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Master only gave Yuan Shu an ordinary disciple's reward." Beside him, Shu Linyuan frowned, tugged at his sleeve, and spoke in a lowered voice.
Before Shen Qi could speak, Su Lingxi, who was standing with them, chimed in. "Master must have his reasons for doing this. Eldest Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Brother, we shouldn't meddle in other people's business."
Shen Qi turned his head to look at her. "Junior Sister, what are you trying to say?"
The corner of Su Lingxi's mouth curled up, a hint of schadenfreude faintly welling up in the depths of her eyes, but she kept them in suspense. "Eldest Senior Brother will find out in a moment."
Shen Qi's brows furrowed tightly, vaguely feeling that things were not simple.
After a slight hesitation, he still stepped forward and addressed Lu Guichen, "Master, Junior Sister Yuan Shu hasn't received her reward yet. She was also abducted by the demons this time and barely escaped with her life..."
Before Shen Qi could finish speaking, Lu Guichen raised a hand to interrupt him.
"Originally, I intended to bring this up after the rewards were distributed, but since you mentioned it, I will say it now."
"To become a direct disciple of Qingyun Peak, one must possess extraordinary talent. Yuan Shu has been on the mountain for ten years and has yet to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Her aptitude is so poor that it is unmatched!"
"Qingyun Peak never keeps useless people. I, Lu Guichen, announce here today that I am taking back Yuan Shu's direct disciple token and expelling her down the mountain!"
"Starting today, Yuan Shu is no longer a disciple of my Qingyun Peak. Whatever happens to her in the future has nothing to do with Qingyun Peak!"
This single stone stirred up a thousand waves!
As soon as Lu Guichen said this, there was a brief silence in the entire hall, but it was quickly followed by layers of overlapping discussions.
"Taking back the direct disciple token? Expelling her down the mountain? Doesn't that mean she's being kicked out of the Falling Immortal Sect?"
"Isn't it? With the Peak Master personally expelling her, could there possibly be anyone from the other peaks willing to take her in?"
"I said long ago that a little piece of trash like Yuan Shu didn't deserve to stay on our Qingyun Peak, let alone be the Peak Master's direct disciple. Now she's dumbfounded, right?"
"Exactly. She only got the title of a Qingyun Peak direct disciple because her family has some stinking money."
"Ten years without breaking through Foundation Establishment. This cultivation talent is even worse than us inner disciples. She's a disgrace to direct disciples!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
The discussions rose and fell, and many people's gazes landed on Yuan Shu in the crowd, instantly making her the focal point of the entire hall.
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
After all, there were still five days left until the sect's grand competition. That meant she wouldn't have been on the mountain for a full ten years until the pre-competition test five days later.
She hadn't expected Lu Guichen to be so impatient to kick her out of Qingyun Peak.
Before Yuan Shu could speak, Shen Qi and Shu Linyuan had already stepped out from the ranks in front of Lu Guichen. Looking anxious, they knelt down before him and pleaded.
"Master, you cannot! Junior Sister Yuan has lived on Qingyun Peak for so many years. How can you just expel her like this?"
"That's right, Master. If Junior Sister Yuan is kicked out of Qingyun Peak, where else can she go?"
Just as the two finished speaking, Zhai Shuo, who was standing at the back of the line, also stepped forward. He knelt on one knee as well, his tall and muscular figure particularly conspicuous in the hall.
"Please rescind your order, Master!"
Zhai Shuo lowered his eyes slightly, his heart pounding wildly.
After parting ways with Yuan Shu that day, he had finished his own tasks and brought many pills to find her.
He had looked for her several times, but was blocked outside the courtyard by Yun Sheng every time, who said that Yuan Shu was in secluded cultivation and no one was allowed to disturb her.
Helpless, he could only turn back.
He never expected that Lu Guichen would announce such news upon his return today!
With Yuan Shu's aptitude, if she left Qingyun Peak, what other place would take her in?
The thought that Yuan Shu's pretty little face might be heartbroken over this made his heart leap into his throat.
Even knowing that Lu Guichen disliked him, he still had to stand up for Yuan Shu!
Fortunately, there were also Shen Qi and Shu Linyuan pleading for her. Perhaps Lu Guichen would rescind this decision for their sake?
But obviously, Zhai Shuo was overthinking it.
Seeing Shen Qi and Shu Linyuan kneeling before him, Lu Guichen's brow furrowed even tighter.
Upon seeing Zhai Shuo, his expression visibly darkened.
He remembered that the last time they went to the Death Demon Forest, Shen Qi and Shu Linyuan had also fought over teaming up with this Yuan Shu.
If he hadn't stopped them, the two of them might have actually fought over who got to team up with her!
And now they were standing up for her again?
Could it really be as Lingxi said? That this Yuan Shu lacked propriety, was loose in her morals, and had secretly seduced his genius disciples?
And quite successfully at that?
Otherwise, with Shen Qi's rigid and rule-abiding nature, how could he so firmly contradict his master's words?
And Shu Linyuan, who had always been on good terms with Lingxi, seemed to have been ignoring her lately.
Now, he was even turning pale with fright because he wanted to expel Yuan Shu?
Was this still his exceptionally talented, arrogant genius disciple?
Even Zhai Shuo, who had always kept his distance from women and had an eccentric temper, was asking him to rescind his order for this Yuan Shu?
Good, very good!
This Yuan Shu really had quite the ability, actually mesmerizing his good disciples and wrapping them around her little finger!
It seemed Lingxi was right. He absolutely could not let Yuan Shu stay on Qingyun Peak any longer.
Otherwise, there would be endless trouble in the future!
