Chapter 636 - 258: Zhong Ming

Chen Qing... became a True Disciple?!

Those few short words now felt as heavy as a mountain, crashing down hard on Shen Jiuhe’s heart.

He knew better than anyone what it meant to be a True Disciple of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect—it wasn’t just the potential of a young prodigy, but real, tangible power and a formidable voice.

"So he became a True Disciple..."

Shen Jiuhe repeated in a low voice.

The conclusion he had drawn about Chen Qing during the last family council flashed through his mind.

’Thinking back now, what seemed like a trivial connection could have been a match made in heaven, but it was utterly ruined by the family’s shortsightedness and politicking.’

Now Chen Qing had soared to the heavens. Not only had the Shen Family failed to offer timely aid, but due to the marriage alliance fiasco and their subsequent indecisiveness, they had become the laughingstock of Celestial Treasure City.

’What will those clan elders think? Those old coots eyeing the Patriarch’s seat?’

’How will they view my decisions as Patriarch?’

’A grave miscalculation!’

Shen Jiuhe’s brows were tightly knitted, a suffocating frustration swirling in his chest.

He suddenly sat up straight, his voice regaining the composure and authority of a Patriarch. "Immediately summon the Grand Elder and the Second Elder for a meeting."

"Yes!" Shen Pan didn’t dare to delay and hurried off to carry out the order.

Before long, Grand Elder Shen Boyuan and Second Elder Shen Wanqing arrived together.

Shen Jiuhe didn’t beat around the bush and dropped the bombshell directly: "I’ve just received confirmed news. Chen Qing defeated Lu Chenming on the Seven-Star Platform. With the chime of the bell, he has officially been ranked as the Tenth True Disciple of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect."

"What?!"

The two Elders froze at almost the same time.

Second Elder Shen Wanqing blurted out, "Is that true? Lu Chenming has been a True Disciple for eight years, his strength is unfathomable. Chen Qing... how could he..."

"Why would I lie to you!"

Shen Jiuhe flicked his sleeve, his tone tinged with irritation. "The source is reliable. By now, the news has probably spread all over Celestial Treasure City!"

Shen Wanqing opened his mouth, his expression flickering through several emotions, but in the end, all that escaped was a long sigh as he fell silent.

His mind was in turmoil. He was the one who had single-handedly advocated for supporting Han Xiong, believing Chen Qing’s foundation to be lacking. Moreover, his own granddaughter, Shen Xinyue, had been close with Han Xiong... Now, Han Xiong’s prestige had been crushed while Chen Qing had transformed into a dragon overnight. This was tantamount to a resounding slap right across his face.

His influence within the family would likely suffer greatly because of this matter.

Grand Elder Shen Boyuan’s feelings were also complex and difficult to put into words.

On one hand, he too felt it was a pity that the family had missed out on such a powerful ally. On the other hand, seeing the Second Elder’s faction lose prestige over this, his own branch’s position became relatively more secure, and he couldn’t help but feel a sliver of secret satisfaction.

He mused aloud, "We all misjudged back then."

Shen Jiuhe snorted coldly. "It’s useless to talk about that now. The priority is to figure out how to respond. If anyone asks at the Elders’ council, I will report the facts as they are."

Shen Wanqing nodded with a grim expression, speechless.

He was inescapably responsible for the erroneous decision regarding the True Disciple.

Soon, the news reached Shen Xinyue’s ears like the wind.

She was in her boudoir playing the zither when the news arrived, her beautiful eyes filling with bewilderment and shock.

"A True... a True Disciple?"

’Chen Qing... is ranked as a True Disciple?’

’One of the Ten Great True Disciples of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect!’

’What a dazzling and glorious position that is!’

’So dazzling, a station others could only look up to... The peak that countless disciples within the Sect spend their lives pursuing. A being who truly wields authority and possesses a limitless future.’

’He’s now standing at the same level as my brother-in-law, Luo Chengxuan, the Seventh True Disciple!’

’The potential I once looked down on has now become something I have to look up to.’

An indescribable bitterness and a huge sense of loss instantly engulfed her like a tide.

She sat dumbfounded before the zither, staring at the broken string, speechless for a long, long time.

...