Chapter 738: Reward (Part 2)

Chapter 738: Chapter 292: Reward (Part 2)

Li Yu-jun paused. “Absolutely impossible! My senior brother, the Sect Leader, and countless generations of astonishingly talented geniuses in the Sect have all poured endless effort into the search, yet none have found a single definitive clue about the Taixu Scripture. The core inheritances of the other famous ancestors have also vanished without a trace. Chen Qing is an outsider, a new disciple—how could he possibly obtain it so easily?”

She absolutely refused to believe that Chen Qing could have obtained the world-shaking inheritance of the Sect Founding Ancestor.

Perhaps he had some other fortuitous encounter, but the Ancestor’s inheritance? Impossible!

The Sect Leader and the sages of the past have searched for the Sect Founding Ancestor’s inheritance for so many years, yet there has never been a trace of it. How could Chen Qing have possibly found it?

Upon hearing this, Luo Ziming and Nan Zhuoran both nodded.

‘Master is right!’

‘The core inheritance of an Ancestor is a matter of immense importance. If it had truly appeared in the world, it would never have happened so quietly.’

After a bit more idle chatter, a hint of weariness appeared on Li Yu-jun’s face. She waved her hand and said, “Keep an eye on this Chen Qing. I’m a little tired. You may leave.”

“Your disciples will take their leave.”

Luo Ziming and Nan Zhuoran replied in unison. One after the other, they walked out of Tingtiao Pavilion and strode slowly along a bluestone path shaded by pines and cypresses.

A mountain breeze swept past, carrying the faint roar of a distant waterfall.

After a moment of silence, Luo Ziming stopped and looked at Nan Zhuoran with a serious expression. “Junior Brother Nan, for someone like Chen Qing to come from a place like Xu Wang Mountain and make it this far, it can’t be due to talent and luck alone. He is deeply cunning and particularly skilled at hiding and disguising his true nature. We must be on guard against him.”

“Regarding the Hundred Sects Selection and the two disturbances in the Grotto Heaven, whether he was truly involved or not, and whether he has truly obtained some ancestor’s inheritance or not—in my opinion, you must pay close attention. Do not let your guard down just because his Cultivation is still shallow.” His tone was solemn, a clear warning.

Hearing this, Nan Zhuoran’s face still wore that same light, unconcerned smile, as if he hadn’t taken Luo Ziming’s words to heart.

He gave a slight nod, his voice calm. “Brother Luo, I appreciate your kind intentions and will keep them in mind.”

‘He had to admit, Chen Qing was indeed quite impressive. His talent, temperament, and fortuitous encounters were all Upper Grade. Given time, he would certainly become a force to be reckoned with.’

‘But who was he, Nan Zhuoran?’

‘The current True Inheritor Chief of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. He had held this position securely for nearly twenty years!’

‘His Cultivation was unfathomably deep, and he had even obtained the Inheritance of Intention from Ancestor Pan Wu. His goal was the legendary eleventh True Essence Refining. His horizons had long since surpassed those of his peers. Across all of Yan Country, only a handful of this generation’s prodigies were even worthy of his notice.’

‘Chen Qing?’

‘Just a disciple who had barely stepped into the True Essence Realm, one who probably hadn’t even fully stabilized his first refining.’

‘Perhaps he could be called a monster among his peers, but between him and Nan Zhuoran lay a gap of nearly twenty years of Cultivation, the fundamental difference brought by multiple rounds of True Essence Refining, and a chasm in their mastery of the Sect’s core secret arts.’

‘The Chen Qing of today might be able to stir up a few waves, but he was far from worthy of the notice of the number one True Inheritor.’

‘Forget Chen Qing; had he ever truly considered even the man who had securely held the position of True Inheritor Second for years to be a rival?’

‘His gaze was already fixed on more distant horizons: the wider world beyond the Sect, and the unattainable Grandmaster Realm.’

‘Chen Qing?’

‘He could talk after he managed to even catch a glimpse of his back.’

Nan Zhuoran gave Luo Ziming another slight nod, then turned and departed.

Luo Ziming stood in place, watching the direction Nan Zhuoran had disappeared. He couldn’t help but frown slightly and let out a soft sigh.

‘This junior brother of his was exceptionally talented and highly ambitious, which was a good thing. But because of it, he was inevitably a bit too confident, lacking the caution to prepare for unforeseen problems.’

‘He always felt that everything was under his control, but he didn’t realize how full of unexpected variables the world truly was.’

‘And this Chen Qing, in his eyes, was a very large variable.’

Luo Ziming looked away. ‘So be it,’ he thought. He knew that further persuasion would be useless. Some things had to be experienced firsthand before one could truly understand.

He pondered for a moment, a plan already forming in his mind.

‘Nan Zhuoran could afford to be careless, but as an Elder of the Nine Heavens Lineage, he had to plan for the lineage’s long-term future.’

He returned to a side hall on Nine Heavens Peak and summoned Zhong Yu.

“Elder Luo! You summoned me. What are your instructions?”

Luo Ziming looked at Zhong Yu and got straight to the point. “From now on, I want you to pay close ‘attention’ to this Chen Qing.”

He deliberately emphasized the word “attention,” its deeper meaning self-evident.

Zhong Yu was an intelligent man. His mind raced as he instantly understood Luo Ziming’s meaning.

‘This “attention” was by no means simple observation.’

Zhong Yu replied in a low voice, “Rest assured, Elder Luo. I… understand.”

Luo Ziming was very satisfied with Zhong Yu’s response. He nodded. “Good. Go, and make sure it’s clean. Don’t leave any loose ends.”

“Yes.” Zhong Yu bowed again, then turned and left.

…

「True Martial Peak.」

Pei Tingchun strode hurriedly, passing the stone statues standing vigil before Zhenwu Hall and heading straight inside.

Inside the hall, Han Guxi was hunched over a desk, poring over an ancient scroll. His brow was slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought.

Hearing footsteps, he spoke without looking up. “Junior Brother Pei, what’s the hurry?”

“Vein Master! Great news! Wonderful news!”

Pei Tingchun couldn’t hide his excitement. He strode quickly to the desk, not even taking the time to sit down. “That kid, Chen Qing… he… on the Seven-Star Platform, he defeated both Lu Chenming and Zhang Baicheng in a row!”

“Oh?”

Han Guxi’s hand, which had been stroking his beard, paused slightly. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes. “He defeated Zhang Baicheng? It seems his foundation has stabilized after his breakthrough, and his True Martial Spear Intent has advanced as well. Good. Very good indeed.”