Chapter 477 - 242: Pessimism From the Outside? Second Slot Unlocked! Breakthrough to the Fifth Layer

The disciple paused at the words, sizing up Xu Qingshan with a somewhat strange expression.

"Jiang Che? I know him. What about it?"

Xu Qingshan’s face lit up. "That’s great! May I ask which residence he lives in?"

"And you are?"

"Oh, I’m his master from his original Sect. I wanted to bring him a few things."

The disciple pointed in a certain direction. "There. Go straight, turn right, and it’s C Seventy-Two Courtyard."

"Thank you!" Xu Qingshan quickly cupped his fist. "By the way, you seem to know his situation quite well. Are you from the same batch of disciples who joined with him?"

The disciple nodded. "That’s right. We were in the same batch."

Xu Qingshan quickly took a small bottle of Qi Replenishing Elixir from his bundle and pushed it toward him. "Since you’re Che’er’s senior brother, this is just a small token. Please accept it."

The disciple quickly refused. "How could I possibly accept this? No, no, please."

But upon Xu Qingshan’s insistence, the disciple eventually took it.

He looked at Xu Qingshan, sighed, and said, "There’s something I want to say, but I’m not sure if I should."

Xu Qingshan was taken aback. "What is it?"

The disciple shook his head, his tone tinged with regret.

"Sigh... When Jiang Che first arrived, everyone thought he was a peerless genius. Who would have thought that after two months, he’s still stuck on the first layer of the *Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao*?"

"I heard it’s because he picked up too many unorthodox methods in a small place, so his foundation is too mixed and he can’t convert it properly. Now everyone’s saying he was just a flash in the pan and is washed up."

"I haven’t seen him go to practice much recently, either. I don’t know if he’s given up on himself. Anyway, when you see him, you should try to comfort him somehow. He can’t go on like this."

With that, the disciple said no more and left, shaking his head.

Xu Qingshan froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

"Washed up? The first layer? Given up on himself?"

He muttered to himself, his face instantly turning pale.

If Jiang Che couldn’t meet the requirements within the specified time, he would be expelled from the Inner Sect and demoted to the Outer Sect!

For a genius who had once stood at the Peak, this was a fate worse than death!

"How could this be..."

"But Che’er’s Talent is so good..."

Xu Qingshan’s heart burned with anxiety. He immediately quickened his pace, rushing toward the residential area of Chuyang Peak.

...

C Seventy-Two Courtyard.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The sound of knocking shattered the courtyard’s tranquility.

Jiang Che had just finished feeding the [True Nine Li Commander] when he heard the knock. He subconsciously swept the area with his Divine Sense and shot to his feet.

’Master?!’

He strode forward and pulled the courtyard door open.

Outside the door stood Xu Qingshan, his hair disheveled and his clothes stained with dust. His eyes, usually full of authority, were now shot through with red.

He had clearly rushed all the way here, weary from the long journey and without a moment’s rest.

"Che’er!"

Seeing Jiang Che, Xu Qingshan grabbed his arm, his face filled with emotion as he looked him up and down.

"Master! What are you doing here? Quick, come in!"

Jiang Che quickly welcomed Xu Qingshan into the house, helped him to a seat, and poured him a cup of hot tea.

Xu Qingshan took a sip of tea, calming his rapid breathing.

Seeing that Jiang Che had a healthy complexion and showed no signs of being disheartened, he finally managed a smile.

"I... your master... just came to see you. I’m also here on the Sect Leader’s orders to bring you some things."

He didn’t mention a single word about the rumors he had heard about Jiang Che on the way.

"Is everything okay back at the Sect? How are my parents, and Ling’er and the others?" Jiang Che asked with concern.

"Good! They’re all doing great!" Xu Qingshan nodded repeatedly. "Your parents are in good health, and that girl Ling’er has been taken in by Junior Sister Ye as a Named Disciple. She’s cultivating hard and says she wants to come find her big brother in the future!"

Hearing that his family was well, Jiang Che’s heart warmed, and his greatest worry was laid to rest.

Xu Qingshan put down his teacup and began to undo the large bundle on his back.

"Here, take a look."

He first took out a small cloth bundle and unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing several pairs of new, thick-soled cloth shoes.

"Your mother made these by hand. She said shoes from outside wouldn’t be comfortable and was worried you’d have a hard time here. I told her you’re a Cultivator and don’t need these, but she wouldn’t listen and insisted I bring them."

Jiang Che looked at the finely stitched cloth shoes, his eyes growing warm.

He reached out and gently stroked the surface of a shoe, the image of his mother sewing stitch by stitch under an oil lamp surfacing in his mind.

"There’s also this."

Xu Qingshan took out a brocade box and handed it solemnly to Jiang Che.

"Before I left, the Sect Leader—your Master—specifically had me pick these from the Sect’s Treasury. Inside are several stalks of thousand-year-old Spirit Ginseng, and a few bottles of Top-grade Snow Crystal Milk that are even useful for those in the True Master Realm. On top of that, there’s a small bottle of Rejuvenation Pills!"

"The Sect Leader said that things aren’t easy for you out here, so you absolutely must not be frugal with them."

Jiang Che accepted the brocade box, his heart filled with emotion.

The Cangyun Sect wasn’t wealthy. These items were likely the absolute most the Sect could offer!

However, Xu Qingshan wasn’t finished.

He pulled a Storage Bag from his robes and shoved it into Jiang Che’s hands.

"This... is a little something from me, your master."

Xu Qingshan smiled, a little embarrassed. "I may not be very powerful, but I’ve saved up a little nest egg. There are some good Elixir Pills and Spirit Grass inside. In a Major Sect like this, you can’t get by without money. Take it, and don’t make things hard on yourself."

Jiang Che clutched the Storage Bag, looking at his master’s increasingly old and weary face. It felt like something was caught in his throat, and he couldn’t say a word.

"Master, I..."

"Take it!" Xu Qingshan’s face hardened as he feigned anger. "Why are you being so formal with your master? I’ve had no children my whole life. You’re the only promising disciple I’ve ever had. Who else would I give it to?"