Novel Full Chapter 51: Severing Ties
Indeed, Chen Yan had spent more time in the Gambling Den than in the management office.
So much so that the sect had already sent people to investigate, and he still hadn’t returned to the prince’s manor.
Chen Yan didn’t know if he had aroused Lu Li’s suspicion, nor did he know how much Lu Li currently knew about the matters behind the scenes.
He could only try to gloss things over for now and not reveal any flaws.
“This disciple was delayed on the road for a short time.”
Chen Yan said.
Lu Li stared at Chen Yan for a while longer, while Chen Yan remained expressionless.
“Do not be distracted during mission duties. Escorting the princess back to the sect is a matter of great importance.”
Lu Li admonished him:
“Lin Personal Disciple is still reflecting on his mistakes at the rear cliff of Kongyuan Mountain. Don’t cause him any more trouble.”
“This disciple understands.”
Chen Yan said with a bow.
Although he didn’t know what intentions Lu Li truly harbored, it seemed he currently had no intention of causing trouble.
That was good enough.
“Instructor Lu.”
Zheng Fei suddenly spoke from the side:
“Whenever you hold scripture lectures, this disciple will temporarily set aside miscellaneous tasks and go to the Scripture Hall to listen to the teachings. This disciple is dull-witted, but being able to reach the Qi Circulation Realm now can largely be attributed to Instructor Lu’s guidance.”
Zheng Fei’s attitude was very sincere.
Regarding Lu Li, a considerable portion of outer sect disciples held the same attitude as Zheng Fei.
In the years he had served as an instructor in the outer court, the guidance and contributions he had made to the outer court disciples—not to mention too far back—were definitely greater than all the instructors in the outer court over the past hundred years.
Therefore, it was easy to understand why Lu Li was deeply respected by the outer court disciples.
“Being able to break through to the Qi Circulation Realm at your age shows you have talent for immortal cultivation.”
Lu Li said:
“As long as you continue working hard, you will certainly break through to the Martial Spring Realm.”
Breaking through to the Qi Circulation Realm before reaching twenty years old indeed represented having many future possibilities.
But someone like Chen Yan, who only managed to channel energy through his meridians at forty-one, could basically be declared as practically useless.
If he didn’t encounter some great opportunity, he would never be able to break through to the Martial Spring Realm in this lifetime.
As for the Qi Sea Realm, even if Chen Yan started from his current early Martial Spring Realm cultivation and practiced day and night for five thousand years, there would still be no hope of advancement.
In this world, people might not be divided into three classes and nine ranks, but cultivators are.
The gap in talent between cultivators is even greater than that between humans and dogs.
So far, the only exception Chen Yan knew of was Lin Qifeng.
He claimed he only channeled energy through his meridians at thirty-six, just five years earlier than Chen Yan.
Yet now, Lin Qifeng was a genuine Qi Sea Realm cultivator.
Of course, as just mentioned, Lin Qifeng was the only exception.
“But this is the first time I’ve heard that Instructor Lu was formerly a member of Yuanhua Mountain.”
Zheng Fei said.
“There’s nothing to say about it. It’s all just in the past.”
Lu Li replied indifferently.
“This disciple was presumptuous.”
Zheng Fei clasped his fists and said no more after speaking.
Although he didn’t know exactly what had happened, judging from the attitude Lu Li displayed, it was likely that his past with Yuanhua Mountain wasn’t very pleasant.
“Honored Immortal Masters.”
From the entrance of the courtyard came the voice of Steward Yang from the prince’s manor:
“His Highness the Prince invites all honored immortal masters to attend a banquet in the main hall of the prince’s manor at sunset today, to welcome and honor you all.”
“It was only half a day’s journey. There’s no need for such formality.”
Lu Li said:
“Just prepare some simple food for us. A banquet isn’t necessary.”
“Honored Immortal Master Lu, you are mistaken. Regardless of the distance traveled, the banquet represents the respect of Cloud Prince, and indeed the entire Qingque Kingdom, towards Kongshan Sect. I hope Honored Immortal Master Lu will honor us with your presence.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Steward Yang bowed and remained in that position.
“Hard to refuse such warm hospitality.”
Lu Li had no choice but to say.
…
Prince’s Manor, sunset.
The sunset had not yet completely set, casting a golden light over the entire prince’s manor, making it appear even more extravagant.
The banquet Cloud Prince had arranged for the Kongshan Sect members wasn’t overly lavish in scale, but every dish on the table was made from ingredients so rare that even immortals would find them difficult to obtain.
Such as Severed Dragon Marrow, which was transformed from the marrow of a flood dragon that failed its heavenly tribulation tens of millions of years ago, preserved within earth veins—an extremely rare treasure in the world. Mortals who consumed it could prolong their lives.
However, cultivators definitely wouldn’t bother digging this out from earth veins, because Severed Dragon Marrow held no value for cultivators.
It was said that in secular dynasties, a drop of Severed Dragon Marrow liquid the size of a little fingernail could be worth a fortune.
Yet it remained priceless and unavailable in the market.
And at the Cloud Prince Manor’s banquet, there was actually a full basin of Severed Dragon Marrow placed right in the center of the table.
Yes, a basin.
Just this single dish’s value should be enough to buy the entire Taiyun City, right?
Chen Yan sighed inwardly like this.
Today, Lu Li and the others would stay overnight at the prince’s manor, and at dawn tomorrow, they would return to the sect together with Princess Qin Yue.
At that time, Qin Yue’s identity would no longer be that of a princess, but could only, and would only, be a cultivator.
Though this cultivator’s identity was no ordinary one.
She was the personal disciple of Qingchan Peak’s True Dharma Elder Bai Qiming, and also the successor to the Chief Disciple position after Chu Xiyao steps down in the future.
Cloud Prince Qin Ming sat in the host’s seat, his fingers lightly tracing the edge of the jade cup in his hand, then stood up:
“Today’s banquet serves two purposes: first, to welcome the honored immortal masters of Kongshan Sect, and second, to bid farewell to my daughter Qin Yue.”
Cloud Prince said this.
“As everyone knows, Yue’er is my eldest daughter, my first child. Since she was young, I have placed many expectations upon her.”
“I originally thought my daughter would live comfortably under my protection, leading a peaceful and stable life. But two months ago, the arrival of that Star Heaven Sect elder changed everything.”
“That Star Heaven Sect elder’s desire to take Yue’er as his disciple was very strong, solely because Yue’er possesses the Glazed Pure Body that appears only once in ten thousand years. If everything goes smoothly, for Yue’er, even the upper three realms might only be the starting point.”
“After learning of Yue’er’s exceptional talent, considering the deep friendship accumulated over thousands of years between my Qingque Qin family and Kongshan Sect, I preferred to have Yue’er join Kongshan Sect. That’s why we have this connection today.”
“This toast is to Kongshan Sect and all the honored immortal masters of Kongshan Sect.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Ming raised his wine cup and drank it all in one go, his Adam’s apple moving rhythmically as the wine went down.
Then, he placed the jade cup on the table.
Steward Yang, standing nearby, quickly refilled Cloud Prince’s wine cup.
Cloud Prince picked up the wine cup from the table again, then turned toward Qin Yue’s direction.
“And this toast is for my daughter Qin Yue.”
He said, his eyes beginning to grow increasingly resolute:
“From today onward, our father-daughter relationship is hereby severed completely.”