Novel Full Chapter 41: Entering the City
“Did you see the looks in those commoners’ eyes!”
Among the group, the female disciple at the early Qi Circulation Realm said excitedly to the male outer sect disciple beside her:
“Admiration, respect, awe, hahahaha, is this what it feels like to be an immortal cultivator?”
Walking through the market of Taiyun City and heading toward Cloud Prince Manor through the alley, the female outer sect disciple seemed unable to contain her excitement from her first time descending the mountain for travel experience.
The other male outer sect disciple just smiled, though the proud expression between his eyebrows still revealed his current sense of pride.
On the way to Taiyun City, these Qi Circulation Realm disciples following Lu Li had already briefly introduced themselves.
The female outer sect disciple was named Li Xiuxiu, and the male outer sect disciple was named Zheng Fei.
“Annoying.”
A disciple from Yuanhua Mountain sneered coldly nearby.
This Yuanhua Mountain disciple was named Qian Xun, and from the moment they gathered at the mountain gate, he hadn’t given those two outer sect disciples any favorable treatment.
Li Xiuxiu and Zheng Fei weren’t fools either, naturally able to see Qian Xun’s poor attitude, so they both simply treated Qian Xun as if he were invisible.
“Seeking superiority from those ordinary mortals?”
Qian Xun continued cursing to himself:
“You’re completely disgracing the dignity of Kongshan Sect!”
His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present could hear it.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment, especially for the insulted Li Xiuxiu and Zheng Fei, who cast dissatisfied glances in Qian Xun’s direction.
“……”
But neither of them uttered a single word in rebuttal.
Only because Qian Xun was an inner disciple of Yuanhua Mountain. Although their age and cultivation were similar, who knew what kind of untouchable backing he might have?
So facing Qian Xun’s strong self-awareness and his frantic search for validation, Li Xiuxiu and Zheng Fei chose forbearance and disregard.
“Everyone is experiencing their first descent from the mountain for travel, so being excited is quite normal.”
Chen Yan, who was observing from the side, tried to mediate, not wanting such trivial matters to interfere with the mission.
Because this really wasn’t a big deal—it was just vanity at play.
Thinking back to several reincarnations ago, when Chen Yan first came to Taiyun City wearing Kongshan Sect’s outer court robes, he had been exactly the same.
Who wouldn’t enjoy that feeling of being revered by thousands?
“Excited?”
Qian Xun still said very displeased:
“If you don’t even have this level of mental fortitude, what’s the point of cultivating immortality?”
“Avoid overcorrection.”
Chen Yan felt somewhat speechless, just leaving these words behind, not wanting to have too much involvement with him.
Among the several people present, the one with the biggest personality problem was this Qian Xun.
Lu Li, walking at the very front, completely treated the words of these junior disciples as wind passing by his ears.
As long as no trouble erupted, he wouldn’t interfere in the conflicts between these juniors.
Subsequently, Qian Xun turned his gaze once again to the gilded cloud crane patterns on Chen Yan’s sleeve.
Qian Xun thought for a moment, then proactively struck up conversation:
“I remember this Kongyuan Mountain brother is called Chen Yan, right?”
“Correct.”
Chen Yan replied.
“Speaking of which, what a coincidence, I remember the outer court competition cheating scandal that caused quite a stir in the sect recently—Elder Lin Qifeng’s disciple from the outer court was also called by that name.”
Qian Xun said.
Hearing this, the gazes of Li Xiuxiu and Zheng Fei also fell upon Chen Yan.
During the outer court competition over a month ago, neither Li Xiuxiu nor Zheng Fei had been present.
They didn’t know what Chen Yan actually looked like.
“After he used very dishonorable means to kill Kongyuan Mountain’s Senior Brother Qi, he was imprisoned in the outer court’s detention center. After only half a month, he was released…”
As he spoke, Qian Xun snorted lightly, his eyes revealing a look of disdain:
“In my opinion, that beast should have been executed! Daring to murder a heaven-chosen talent like Senior Brother Qi—what a huge loss he caused the sect!”
“Oh?”
Chen Yan’s eyebrows raised slightly.
“I heard that after Lin Qifeng was dismissed from his position as outer court elder, that beast also entered Kongyuan Mountain?”
Qian Xun stared at Chen Yan as he spoke.
“Perhaps. It sounds like Brother Qian holds quite a deep grudge against that Chen Yan?”
Chen Yan asked.
“Of course! Letting such a reputation-seeking outer court parasite mix into the inner sect is simply a disgrace to Kongshan Sect!”
Qian Xun said, his gaze once again sweeping over the gilded cloud crane patterns on Chen Yan’s sleeve.
“Slap!”
The next instant, a bright red palm print slowly appeared on Qian Xun’s left cheek.
“Foul mouth.”
Chen Yan smiled as he looked at Qian Xun’s red and swollen cheek, saying this.
“You motherfucker!”
The true energy in Qian Xun’s meridians circulated—as an early Qi Circulation Realm cultivator, his true energy was quite sparse.
Just as he was about to strike at Chen Yan, Qian Xun’s wrist was suddenly clamped by a tremendous force, and his surging true energy was suppressed.
“Ahead is Cloud Prince Manor. Do not cause trouble.”
Lu Li, who had grabbed Qian Xun’s wrist, said slowly.
Qian Xun’s cheeks gradually flushed crimson. He looked very unconvinced, but facing the Martial Spring Realm cultivator leading the team, he didn’t dare to act recklessly.
He was clearly someone who bullied the weak but feared the strong.
“Senior Lu, he started the trouble first! He struck first!”
Qian Xun argued.
“I know.”
Lu Li said indifferently:
“But just now I didn’t stop it. Now that I have stopped it, it can only end here.”
“……Yes.”
Qian Xun ultimately conceded.
Of course, Lu Li hadn’t been unable to stop it—he simply hadn’t wanted to stop it at all.
This fellow Qian Xun had shown his discrimination and harshness toward the sect’s outer court from the very beginning.
As luck would have it, everyone present besides him had some connection to the outer court, more or less.
Lu Li had deliberately allowed Chen Yan to slap Qian Xun.
It was a satisfying slap, a slap that brought great satisfaction.
Soon, Li Xiuxiu and Zheng Fei gathered around Chen Yan’s direction, looking at him cautiously.
“Are you really Elder Lin’s personal disciple, Senior Brother Chen Yan?”
Li Xiuxiu asked.
“Exactly.”
Chen Yan nodded.
“Junior Li Xiuxiu pays respects to Senior Brother Chen!”
“Junior Zheng Fei pays respects to Senior Brother Chen!”
The two successively bowed to Chen Yan in greeting.
These two early Qi Circulation Realm cultivators from the outer court appeared to be only around seventeen or eighteen years old.
In the outer court, they could absolutely be called exceptionally talented. If their development went smoothly, they would either be promoted to the inner sect or secure positions as administrators or even stewards in the outer court.
“Thanks to Senior Brother Chen, this junior achieved great victories in the third and fourth rounds of betting, though the odds weren’t high.”
Zheng Fei scratched the back of his head, then said.
“And where did all the spirit stones you won go?”
Li Xiuxiu’s tone seemed to carry a hint of exposing shortcomings and teasing.
It appeared these two were probably acquainted.
No wonder—reaching the Qi Circulation Realm at this age meant they were absolutely top talents in the outer court, so it was normal for them to know each other.
Just like how Sun Lu had once found it strange that he didn’t know Cheng Ziying.