Chapter 655: Time Passes, Fairy Under the Moon (2)

The incident caused quite a stir within the Xuanzhen Sect. Si Jiawen had defeated Celestial Derivation Peak’s senior brother, Zhang Hongmeng, right after Yang Jing lost the battle for the top potential seed to Chu Yunhai, also of Celestial Derivation Peak. It was hard for people not to connect the two events.

Many disciples whispered among themselves. While Si Jiawen’s challenge against Zhang Hongmeng was undoubtedly motivated by the fight for the Class A Training Room, they believed it was more about getting even for Yang Jing and defending Lingxi Peak’s honor.

After all, since Yang Jing’s defeat by Chu Yunhai, quite a few people had been laughing at his expense, and some were even treating Lingxi Peak’s predicament as entertainment.

As the Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak, Si Jiawen’s victory over Celestial Derivation Peak’s senior brother was an undeniable response to these rumors, a way to restore face for her sect brother and for Lingxi Peak itself.

At least, in the eyes of most disciples, it was highly likely that part of her motivation was to stand up for Yang Jing.

…

「That afternoon.」

After eating the meal delivered from the kitchens, Yang Jing rested for a moment at the stone table in Qing No. 4 Courtyard, regulating his breathing. Once the warmth had spread through his stomach, he rose and walked directly toward the Training Room area on the mountainside of Lingxi Peak.

The sun was sinking in the west, casting golden rays slantwise across the mountain path and bathing the roadside vegetation in a soft glow.

His steps were steady, his mind singularly focused on cultivation. He paid no heed to the commotion around him.

In the open space of the Training Room area, the newly constructed Class A Training Room was especially eye-catching.

Compared to the surrounding Class B Training Rooms, it was larger, with higher stone walls and a much thicker stone door that gave off a solemn, imposing air.

Yang Jing spotted the stone building from afar. His gaze lingered on it for a moment, a flicker of curiosity stirring within him.

Though he hadn’t been able to set foot inside, he could guess that the Exotic Beast Musk Aroma within must be incredibly potent—far beyond anything a Class B Training Room could offer.

‘If I could cultivate in an environment like that, the circulation of my Inner Qi would speed up dramatically. Wouldn’t that greatly shorten the time I need to break through to the Qi Absorption Realm?’

He subconsciously glanced at the tightly shut stone door of the Class A room. ‘I wonder if Senior Sister Si Jiawen is cultivating in there,’ he thought.

‘Given her rank as fourth on the Profound Truth List, she must be seizing the moment to polish her cultivation with these top-tier resources. After all, the next Golden Terrace Grand Competition is getting closer and closer.’

The thought was fleeting. Yang Jing shook his head gently, pushed aside the stray thoughts, and walked toward the Class B Training Room he had rented that morning from the Affairs Department.

According to Xuanzhen Sect rules, the Class B Training Rooms opened and closed with the sun.

They opened at sunrise for disciples to cultivate and had to be closed at sunset. While the exact time might vary slightly with the weather, the rule was strict, and disciples were not permitted to linger past closing.

The Class A Training Rooms, however, came with entirely different privileges. Cultivation in them had no time limits. Disciples could even move in to live and train relentlessly, day and night.

Whenever they needed it for their cultivation, they could send a message to their peak’s Affairs Department, and an administrator would immediately deliver a fresh, potent supply of the Exotic Beast Musk Aroma, restoring the room’s atmosphere to the optimal concentration for training.

At this thought, Yang Jing couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. To be able to stay in a Training Room around the clock, undisturbed by time, and improve one’s strength with single-minded focus—it was something countless disciples dreamed of.

He had to admit, the sect’s leadership placed immense hope in the prodigies expected to carry the Xuanzhen Sect’s banner one day. The resources they poured into them were completely without reservation.

‘It’s a shame. In the end, I’m just not one of the favored few. Such top-tier cultivation conditions are beyond my reach for now.’

As Yang Jing crossed the open ground in the Training Room area, a few nearby Lingxi Peak disciples who were putting away stone equipment spotted him. They all stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him in unison.

Though Yang Jing had lost to Chu Yunhai in the battle for the top potential seed, becoming a topic of idle gossip among many Outer Peak disciples, he was still an object of reverence within Lingxi Peak.

Before the Fushan Grand Competition, it had been a very long time since Lingxi Peak had produced such a dazzling talent.

It was Yang Jing who had fought his way through every challenge to take joint first place in the Fushan Grand Competition. His victory allowed the disciples of Lingxi Peak to hold their heads a little higher and speak with more confidence in front of those from the Outer Peaks.

He had earned this glory for them through his own strength.

Yang Jing paid no mind to the gazes of his fellow disciples.

He neither acted aloof nor made any effort to respond. He simply kept his eyes forward and his pace steady, walking straight to the door of his rented Class B Training Room. He reached out and pushed open the relatively light stone door.

Once inside the Training Room, Yang Jing closed the stone door behind him, sealing away the outside sunlight and noise. The room instantly fell silent, the only thing remaining being the faint, lingering scent of the Exotic Beast Musk aroma.

He removed his outer robe, revealing the snug training attire beneath. After folding the robe and placing it in a corner, he walked to the center of the room. Spreading his feet shoulder-width apart, he sank into a horse stance, ready to begin his cultivation.

His goal was now crystal clear: break through to the Qi Absorption Realm as soon as possible and truly join the ranks of the Xuanzhen Sect’s most elite disciples.

The past few days of arduous training and reflection had given him a great deal of clarity.

‘In the end, the contest against Chu Yunhai for the top potential seed had been nothing more than a petty squabble. To fixate on winning or losing was to take the lower path.’

‘Besides, my goals and my rivals shouldn’t be limited to just Chu Yunhai.’

‘I can already fight the awakened War Body-user Chu Yunhai to a draw. As long as I continue to improve steadily, I’ll definitely be able to defeat him one day.’