Chapter 650: Reactions

The news hit the Xuanzhen Sect like a hurricane, sweeping through every corner with the force of a thunderstorm.

The sect’s upper echelons had made their official decision: Chu Yunhai of Celestial Derivation Peak would become the Xuanzhen Sect’s number one prospect, enjoying exclusive access to the Grade-A Training Room and the full backing of the sect’s top resources.

The moment the news broke, the entire Xuanzhen Sect was shaken to its core.

In the Main Peak Plaza, on the Seven Veins Mountain Path, in the disciple residences, and on the training grounds—everywhere, disciples gathered in groups of three and five, their voices a clamorous din as the discussions raged on.

The contest between Yang Jing and Chu Yunhai for the position of number one prospect had been a top priority for the entire sect from the moment the candidates were announced.

Now that the dust had settled, all the disciples sighed in resignation.

Even though Yang Jing had burst onto the scene at the Fushan Grand Tournament, his overall potential was ultimately deemed a step below that of Chu Yunhai, who had awakened a War Body.

…

「On a cliffside halfway up Lingxi Peak.」

A large, smooth, flat bluestone jutted out into the air. Si Jiawen stood upon it with her hands behind her back, the hem of her robes fluttering gently in the mountain wind.

She gazed at the churning sea of clouds in the distance, her Master Bai Bing’s calm words from the Lingxi Great Hall echoing in her ears as she announced Yang Jing’s defeat.

When her Master had spoken, her expression was as cool and detached as ever, with no hint of joy or anger in her eyes. It was as if she were stating a simple, ordinary fact, maintaining her transcendent state of mind.

But Si Jiawen knew she couldn’t be so detached. She had been holding out hope. If Yang Jing had won the assessment and become the sect’s heavily backed number one prospect, then with his status as Peak Master Lingxi’s Direct Disciple, Lingxi Peak’s influence and ranking among the Seven Veins would have risen significantly.

Si Jiawen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. No matter how beautiful her hopes had been, they couldn’t stand against the cruel reality. In this competition that concerned the future of the sect, Yang Jing had still lost to Chu Yunhai.

‘Did I place too much hope in Yang Jing from the very beginning?’ she couldn’t help but ask herself.

To be fair, Yang Jing was already outstanding, rising from an unknown Outer Sect Disciple to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chu Yunhai at the Fushan Grand Tournament.

In just over half a year, he had cultivated Three True Skills to the Qi Eating Realm. Across the entire younger generation of the Xuanzhen Sect, few geniuses could compare to him.

Unfortunately, he was up against Chu Yunhai. A Second-Grade Root Bone, supreme comprehension, and an awakened rare War Body—every one of these traits was the pinnacle for their generation. His light was simply too dazzling, forcefully suppressing the brilliance of everyone else.

Si Jiawen gently shook her head and sighed again. The mountain wind seemed to carry away some of the regret from her brow.

…

「Meanwhile, in a courtyard within the Inner Sect Disciple residential area of Yunxi Peak.」

When Yuwen Mingjue heard the news that Yang Jing had narrowly lost and Chu Yunhai had been chosen as the number one prospect, he froze.

Immediately after, a mixture of surprise and delight, an irrepressible ecstasy, surged through his entire body and welled up in his heart. His face instantly broke into a gleeful smile.

Lately, the frustration and resentment in his heart had nearly boiled over. Yang Jing had tied with Chu Yunhai for first place in the Fushan Grand Tournament, his fame shaking Jintai Prefecture.

He had also won the favor of Peak Master Lingxi and the sect’s upper echelons, and his glory seemed boundless. Every time Yuwen Mingjue heard his fellow disciples discuss Yang Jing’s achievements, he felt utterly miserable.

Ever since learning that the two would compete for the number one prospect spot today, he had been constantly seeking news, wholeheartedly wishing for Yang Jing’s defeat. The final result was exactly what he had hoped for.

Yuwen Mingjue was well aware that with the talent Yang Jing had displayed, even without securing the top spot, the sect would never give up on him. He would still be placed on the list for priority development.

But he understood even better that the resources invested in a “priority development” disciple versus the number one prospect were worlds apart.

The Grade-A Training Room, top-tier Elixirs, the Sect’s Secret Treasures—this kind of support, backed by the full strength of the sect, was something other disciples could never hope to attain.

At this thought, Yuwen Mingjue felt an incomparable sense of satisfaction, the frustration that had been building up for so long completely swept away.

‘That Yang Jing is just some country bumpkin from the backwoods. His foundation is shallow. How could he possibly possess truly top-tier talent? It was just a momentary fluke.’

…

「On a secluded peak on Fushan Island.」

A spacious, flat clearing had been swept clean by the Qi Force from their exchange. Bai Ziyu and Lu Shaohua stood, having just ended their spar. Their foreheads were covered in fine beads of sweat, and their robes were soaked through. It was clear they had given their all in the recent bout.

Both were top geniuses of the Xuanzhen Sect’s younger generation. They were of similar age and their Cultivation realms were nearly identical. To sharpen their skills and advance together, they often met here to spar in the Martial Dao.

In every exchange, they held nothing back, seeking breakthroughs in the constant clash of everything from their techniques to the circulation of their Inner Qi.

After taking a moment to regulate their breathing and calm their auras, the two stood side-by-side at the edge of the clearing. They gazed at the distant, cloud-shrouded Main Peak and began to chat about the sect’s recent major events.

Bai Ziyu raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his tone filled with emotion. “The matter of the number one prospect is finally settled. After all this fuss, there’s finally a result.”

Lu Shaohua nodded heavily at his words, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes. “Yang Jing is certainly strong enough. Tying with Chu Yunhai at the Fushan Grand Tournament was already an astonishing feat. But in the end, Chu Yunhai still came out on top, and Yang Jing couldn’t secure the position.”

Bai Ziyu nodded in deep agreement, a hint of helplessness in his expression. “Chu Yunhai is like a great sun hanging over our heads. His light is too brilliant, pressing down on all the other disciples so hard we can’t even raise our heads, let alone compete with his radiance.”

The two of them had long occupied the second and third positions on the Hidden Dragon List. Their strengths were evenly matched, and their sparring sessions ended in wins and losses for both.

But against Chu Yunhai, they didn’t even have the courage to issue a challenge. The gap between them was long past the point where hard work could make a difference.

In their eyes, even though Yang Jing was exceptionally talented and progressed at lightning speed, there was still an insurmountable gulf between him and Chu Yunhai when it came to “hard power” like Root Bone and War Body.

The sect’s final choice of Chu Yunhai simply confirmed the disparity between the two.

…

「Inside the Lin Family Mansion in Jintai Prefecture City.」

Patriarch Lin Weiyuan’s study was furnished in a simple, antique style. Sandalwood incense curled into the air, and the atmosphere was serene.

Lin Weiyuan sat behind his desk, his fingertips tapping lightly on its surface. Seated opposite him was the white-haired and white-bearded Lin Family Grand Elder. The two were discussing the latest news from the Xuanzhen Sect.

The Lin Family Grand Elder looked up at Lin Weiyuan and said, “Patriarch, we’ve received confirmed news from the Xuanzhen Sect. They’ve officially chosen Chu Yunhai as the number one prospect. It seems Yang Jing’s overall potential was, in the end, inferior to Chu Yunhai’s.”

Lin Weiyuan nodded slowly, his expression complex and difficult to read, a mix of regret and rational assessment. “Yang Jing’s talent and resilience are rare, but his origins are humble. His Martial Dao foundation and background are too shallow, and his accumulation of post-natal resources pales in comparison to Chu Yunhai’s. It’s only logical that he lost.”

The Lin Family Grand Elder frowned slightly and then asked, “Then what about the Cultivation Resources we promised to Yang Jing? Should we continue to provide them on schedule?”

Lin Weiyuan shook his head. “No need for changes. Continue sending them as usual.

“Though Yang Jing failed to become the Xuanzhen Sect’s number one prospect, his talent is plain to see. He is still top-tier among his generation, and it’s not a given that he won’t achieve greatness in the future.

“Besides, it’s only five Bone Marrow Tempering Pills. For our Lin Family, that’s hardly a major expense. There’s no need to sever a potential opportunity over a single loss.”

Hearing this, the Lin Family Grand Elder also nodded and replied, “The Patriarch’s foresight is comprehensive. It was I who was being narrow-minded. I’ll make the arrangements now to ensure the resources are delivered to Yang Jing on time.”