Chapter 173: You Wouldn’t Understand Even If I Told You Now

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: You Wouldn’t Understand Even If I Told You Now

"Kid, Yao’Er is my most beloved granddaughter."

Ji Wentao spoke with a smile. Although he didn’t know how the young man before him was withstanding the pressure, this alone wasn’t enough.

A Spirit Sword materialized with a flash. Just as Ji Wentao was about to test his theory, Liu Chen sighed helplessly and vanished directly into the shadows.

’He’s my junior sister’s grandfather, and he even knows Master. I definitely can’t fight him. Even if I could win, it wouldn’t be a good thing.’

Given the circumstances, it was better to just hide for now. After witnessing the attitudes of Junior Sister Suyao’s father and grandfather, Liu Chen grew a little curious about how she had described him to them.

Inside the pavilion, Ji Wentao narrowed his eyes, vigilantly scanning every corner with his Spiritual Sense, but to his surprise, he found no trace of Liu Chen.

"Come on out. Your Cultivation is definitely not the Body Tempering Middle Stage."

Realizing this, Ji Wentao retracted his Spirit Sword, and the oppressive Spiritual Power he was releasing gradually dissipated.

"What makes you say that, Senior?"

Liu Chen emerged from the shadows and sat back in his original spot, asking with an air of humble inquiry. The Body Tempering Middle Stage was the disguise he had adopted after his two junior sisters broke through. If both of them had advanced while he remained in the Body Tempering Early Stage, even an idiot would know something was amiss.

’The concealment from the Resting Technique should be perfect. Cultivators of the same Realm can’t possibly see through it. And on top of that, there’s the Concealment Talisman Master gave me, a Fourth Grade Talisman that can’t be penetrated by anyone below the Bright Aperture Realm.’

"Someone in the Body Tempering Middle Stage couldn’t learn such a sophisticated concealment method."

Ji Wentao rolled his eyes at Liu Chen. He hadn’t sensed anything unusual just now, whether the kid was disappearing or reappearing. That kind of Escape Technique had to be Advanced Magic at the very least. It was certainly possible for someone in the Body Tempering Realm to learn Advanced Magic, but their Cultivation would have to be at the Body Tempering Peak, at a minimum.

"What makes you say that?"

Liu Chen gave the Emperor of the Great Xia, who was practically his elder, a slightly frustrated look. This was the only Escape Technique he possessed so far, and one of only two Advanced Magics he had mastered. He honestly had no idea what other Escape Techniques were supposed to be like.

"True prodigies never understand why some people can’t learn Magic. In their eyes, it’s just something that can be mastered with little effort.

Therefore, you can’t understand why someone in the Body Tempering Middle Stage can’t learn this concealment method. Your Talent in this area is too immense. Even if you try to look down from your perch, you’re still in a domain that ordinary Cultivators could never hope to set foot in.

If the information about how long you’ve been cultivating is correct, you should be at the Body Tempering Peak by now."

Ji Wentao sounded very calm, but his words hid a hint of disappointment. He too had once been a member on the Peak Path. Unfortunately, a sudden crisis had forced him to break through rashly in order to stabilize the Great Xia Royal Family’s position. Otherwise, the title of Patriarch for his family branch would have been lost.

Those ancestors who were still alive wouldn’t care about the internal struggles of the Ji Family; whoever won would still be their descendant. But he couldn’t afford not to care—not for his parents’ sake, and not for the sake of his descendants.

"You’ve guessed correctly, Senior."

Liu Chen nodded. His true Cultivation was actually Meridian Passage Peak, but there was no need to announce that to the world. Since the man before him thought he was at Body Tempering Peak, then Body Tempering Peak it was. It wouldn’t change anything, anyway.

"You admit it so readily. It seems you’re not at Body Tempering Peak, but likely even higher. Mo Xuan has found himself a fine disciple."

Ji Wentao narrowed his eyes. Liu Chen looked at him with a sense of resignation. ’As expected of the Emperor, who has to deal with the messes between the Great Xia Dynasty’s Noble Families, stabilize the situation in the Cultivation Realm, and handle mortal affairs all at once. Tricking him is harder than I thought.’

"But it doesn’t matter. I’ll just ask you one thing: If Yao’Er is bullied at the Mo Family in the future, what will you do?"

Ji Wentao shook his head. Cultivation level and the like weren’t important. As long as he was Mo Xuan’s disciple, his Cultivation wouldn’t be poor. But given the same resources, the one with greater Talent would inevitably go further.

"I doubt anyone would treat Master and his wife as if they’re just for show."

Liu Chen spoke calmly. ’Getting bullied at the Mo Family? Although I don’t know Master’s exact status in the Mo Family, the fact that someone came to personally welcome him upon his return is enough to prove he’s at least in the middle echelons.’

’In that case, my two junior sisters will definitely be seen as people with backing in the Mo Family. And since the Mo Family has existed for even longer than Purple Cloud Valley, even their prodigies wouldn’t be foolish enough to do what Nangong Mu did and offend someone past the point of no return.’

"That’s true. Mo Xuan is the son of the Mo Family Patriarch; who would dare bully the disciples he brings back? Then I’ll be more blunt: if Yao’Er wanted to become your cultivation partner, would you agree?"

Ji Wentao stared intently at Liu Chen, his breathing growing ragged. This was a truth he was reluctant to accept. But even if that letter had been ghostwritten by the Ye Family’s girl, from the moment she’d stepped out of the carriage to the moment she’d left, Yao’Er’s eyes had constantly drifted to the young man before him. He knew all too well what that implied.

"I’m very curious what my junior sister wrote in that letter."

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. He’d had his suspicions after arriving in the Imperial City, but hearing such a direct question still made him tense. ’How did things escalate to this point so quickly?’

"She didn’t write that letter at all. If she were capable of composing a letter of that quality, I wouldn’t have to worry about you tricking her."

Ji Wentao shook his head. He wasn’t concerned about whether they became cultivation partners. As long as Yao’Er was willing, he wouldn’t say a word against it.

But the gap in their Talent was too vast. It was incredibly difficult for an ordinary Cultivator to keep pace with a prodigy. Perhaps one day, the distance between them would become an unbridgeable chasm.

When that time came, without Liu Chen even having to say anything, Yao’Er herself would be daunted and pull away.

"So what is it that makes every single one of you think Junior Sister Suyao wants to be my cultivation partner?"

Liu Chen couldn’t help but ask. If it had been Junior Sister Linglong, he could have attributed it to a desire to repay him for the incident with Nangong Mu. But Junior Sister Suyao, apart from her love of food, always just acted like a cheerful younger sister. Outside of their normal interactions, they really had no other significant connection.

"You’re a lot like Mo Xuan, similar in many respects. I only hope that when you finally understand Yao’Er’s feelings, if you know you can’t be with her for the long haul, you won’t accept."

Ji Wentao shook his head. Back then, everyone could see Senior Sister Bai’s special feelings for Mo Xuan; only that idiot himself was oblivious. In the end, didn’t the two of them get together anyway? But Liu Chen’s situation was completely different.

That girl from the Ye Family and Yao’Er are rivals for your affection. Moreover, the whole affair between the Ye Family and the Nangong Family was influenced by you. It’s impossible for the Ye Family’s girl not to have feelings for you.

Why was it that back then, all the other senior and junior sisters had the tact to stay out of things between Senior Sister Bai and Mo Xuan, yet this time, my emotionally dense Yao’Er just has to have a rival who is well-read, sensible, has a tragic background, and shares common ground with this young man?

"Forget it. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it now. Tell me, what kind of Magic would you like? Just consider it a welcoming gift from an elder."