Chapter 803: Who Can Out-Boast Us From Now On?

Chapter 803: Chapter 803: Who Can Out-Boast Us From Now On?

Li Yingling studied her figurine for a moment, then asked:

"I seem to remember Master mentioning something about these. Something like ’neither fully real nor fully unreal is what makes them charming.’ I thought Master was talking nonsense at the time, but looking at it now, perhaps he had a point."

Li Xingtian touched his figurine, examining it for a long while. Perhaps thinking that his slightly pursed lips looked a bit fierce, he reached over and rubbed at them, trying to coax a bit of a smile into the carved expression.

"As long as Eldest Senior Sister likes it." Chen Baiqing, at just the right moment, poured another cup of tea for Li Yingling.

Li Yingling looked curiously toward the bag: "There should be one for Master too, right? What does it look like?"

The words had barely left her mouth when she shook her head: "Never mind. I’ll wait until everyone’s here — it’ll be more fun to react together."

The novelty of roasting someone was best when shared.

For instance, saying in front of Cui Hao that his figurine was ugly and not at all dashing.

Or saying that Master’s figurine was too full of himself.

If you looked in advance, the roast would feel somewhat forced.

Li Yingling held her figurine with satisfaction and placed it into her spatial ring.

As for the Qianqing matter, her decision was to first send a jade token to Yuankong, asking how to handle it. She would also synchronize the information with her master.

After all, this matter had little to do with her personally.

Hosting a martial artist for a while — the food came from Tianyan Sect’s stores, not her own spirit stones.

Li Yingling’s gaze finally settled on Chen Baiqing.

No matter how you put it, this was her own junior sister. If she was going to be angry, it would only be for a moment.

Moreover, when a junior sister’s thinking and actions were wrong, as eldest senior sister, she naturally bore some responsibility. In the future, she would guide her carefully. This responsibility, Li Yingling accepted.

Li Yingling put the figurine away and spoke in a much more relaxed tone:

"This matter is not yet settled, little Baiqing. You violated the sect’s management regulations. When I have time, your punishment will not be light. You’ll get to taste the Ten-Complete Great Tonifying Pill’s flavor as well."

Chen Baiqing looked at Li Yingling with a slightly puzzled expression:

"Sect management regulations? I don’t think I violated any."

Li Yingling’s tone was natural and certain: "Of course you did. Master and I have been adjusting, supplementing, and revising the sect regulations. You certainly haven’t read them carefully."

Chen Baiqing recalled for a moment, then responded:

"Every time the sect regulations are updated, I memorize them. The most recent update should have been ten years ago, when Senior Sister added a clause because Cui Hao tricked San Dong into going to Yanyun to swindle spirit fruits. The clause prohibits bringing the sect’s Grand Guardian to swindle food, drink, and spirit stones, and also prohibits convincing the Grand Guardian to do bad things."

"If Eldest Senior Sister doesn’t believe me, I can start reciting from the beginning right now."

Li Xingtian looked at Chen Baiqing with admiration upon hearing this. He could only say — as expected of the third junior sister. She had actually memorized the sect regulations that were revised every so often, and even remembered the reasons so clearly.

Unlike him, when the eldest senior sister threatened him, he could only suffer through the disadvantage of genuinely not remembering.

Li Yingling had not expected Chen Baiqing to have actually memorized them. She immediately added:

"Master and I are about to release a newly revised version! Specifically targeting your deception of this eldest senior sister!"

"The upcoming revision..." Chen Baiqing smiled sweetly. "That’s not impossible. But new rules shouldn’t retroactively apply to old offenses, should they? If they could, Cui Hao would have to swallow several hundred bottles by now. Could he go first?"

"Several hundred bottles? Would there be a single honest word left in Cui Hao’s mouth?"

Chen Baiqing replied with complete seriousness: "Cui Hao likes to slip little additions into the truth. He does it whenever he works with me. He really does need the new regulations to rein him in firmly."

Li Yingling waved her hand helplessly. Sometimes there was truly nothing she could do about this third junior sister.

Normally she was so well-behaved as to be beyond reproach, but when it came to being exasperating, she truly surpassed even Cui Hao.

Seeing that Li Yingling’s anger had largely subsided, Chen Baiqing said softly:

"If Eldest Senior Sister truly feels that Baiqing did wrong and wishes to punish her with a Ten-Complete Great Tonifying Pill, then Baiqing will certainly take it."

Li Yingling considered for a moment, then let out a soft laugh:

"Forget it. The pills Master refines are hardly anything pleasant. I won’t make you take one this time. And I hope that in the future, I won’t have to personally feed you one."

Chen Baiqing blinked knowingly, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.

Li Yingling gave another soft hmph at the sight, then stood up: "Baiqing, take Qianqing and find her a room. She’s been traveling hard and should rest. I’ll handle the Yuankong matter."

Qianqing had been savoring her tea, marveling at how different immortal tea was, when she heard the arrangements. She quickly stood:

"Thank you, all you Immortal Masters."

Chen Baiqing stood as well. Since the eldest senior sister had given her a task and started issuing orders, the previous matter was officially settled.

She gestured for Qianqing to follow her.

Qianqing bowed once more and followed Chen Baiqing’s footsteps.

Li Xingtian felt relieved at the sight. It was better for the sect to avoid such frictions. After all, when the two quarreled, he never knew whose side to take — both always seemed to have a point.

This way was better. When real problems arose, everyone in the sect could solve them together without hard feelings.

Central Continent, Great Thunder Temple.

Today, the main gates of the Great Hero Hall were thrown wide open. The jade wall was coiled with dragons, and flood dragons wound around the pillars.

Arhats and Bodhisattvas surrounded Great Thunder Temple, softly chanting the Scripture of Ten Thousand Virtues. Where their voices fell, Buddhist lotus flowers bloomed into existence.

Seven-colored divine light cascaded from the heavens, illuminating the golden roof of Great Thunder Temple.

Twenty-seven Buddhas stood in two rows, led by the Honored Buddha Runan. Every one of them wore a solemn expression.

Great Thunder Temple had not seen such a grand formation in a thousand years. Even when the Honored Buddha was replaced previously, there had been no such fanfare.

And this time, it was all to welcome two people.

Beneath the divine light, someone finally stepped onto an extremely long golden-thread merit carpet.

Chu Xingchen walked upon it with measured steps. Xie Lingyu stood at his side, the two of them moving forward in perfect synchronization.

Runan had been waiting long. The respect he showed was beyond ample.

Chu Xingchen gazed at the divine light before him, at Runan’s warm smile ahead, at the Arhats and Bodhisattvas whose chanting birthed lotus flowers. He glanced sideways at Xie Lingyu, whose expression was tightly drawn — she clearly did not want anything to go wrong in such a solemn setting.

"What a grand spectacle. This is the first time I’ve seen a welcome ceremony this magnificent. I have to say, the Honored Buddha truly gives face." Chu Xingchen kept his voice extremely low, but Xie Lingyu could hear it perfectly clearly.

Equally, the group of Tribulation Transcendence powerhouses across from Xie Lingyu could also hear it perfectly clearly.

Xie Lingyu lightly touched her sword hilt with one hand and gently nudged Chu Xingchen with the other.

Chu Xingchen seemed not to understand Xie Lingyu’s hint, continuing in his lowered voice:

"I even brought an image-recording stone. Let’s take a couple of pictures. The Buddhist sect putting on this massive a show to welcome us — who could ever out-boast us?"

Xie Lingyu heard this and did her utmost to maintain her expression.

She had to admit — Chu Xingchen’s words were genuinely tempting.

Xie Lingyu was not sure whether her own expression had changed, but she precisely observed the smile on Runan’s face beginning to stiffen.