Chapter 519 - 519: Going Personally

Initially, when Zhou Qian was berating Elder Huang.

The two Inner Sect Elders had stood to the side, trying to put in a good word for Elder Huang.

After all, the Inner Sect and Outer Sect of the Saint Extreme Sect had their connections. All Inner Sect Elders had once served as Outer Sect Elders themselves.

The Martial Emperor Realm, just like the Martial King Realm, is also divided into three stages.

First-level to third-level Martial Emperors are in what is known as the Human Emperor Realm.

Fourth-level to sixth-level Martial Emperors are in the Earth Emperor Realm.

And seventh-level to ninth-level Martial Emperors are in the Celestial Emperor Realm.

Disciples who join the Saint Extreme Sect cultivate in the Outer Sect if they are below the Martial King Realm.

After breaking through to the Martial King Realm, they can enter the Inner Sect to cultivate. A further breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Realm allows them to become a sect Elder.

All Elders serve as Outer Elders in the Outer Sect while they are in the Human Emperor Realm.

Only after breaking through to the Earth Emperor Realm, or making great contributions to the sect, can one be promoted from Outer Elder to Inner Sect Elder.

The Pill Institute, however, was a special case compared to the Outer and Inner Sects, being relatively independent.

However, after Zhou Qian summoned Inner Sect Disciple Qi Hao and learned the full details of what happened in Blood Abyss City, the two Inner Sect Elders could no longer hold back. They joined in and gave Elder Huang a merciless tongue-lashing.

Previously, they had only known that Chu Qingyun was a prodigy in the Alchemy Dao.

But Qi Hao revealed that Chu Qingyun, while still a Fifth-level Martial Spirit, had already grasped the threshold of Sword Intent and even mastered a technique that incorporated it!

He wasn't just a genius in the Alchemy Dao; his talent and strength in the Martial Dao were also immense.

To think that such a talent had slipped right through Elder Huang's fingers was simply heartbreaking.

By all rights, an Outer Elder like Elder Huang, who had committed such a grave error and even tarnished the sect's reputation, should have been held accountable.

However, when they learned from Qi Hao that the incident was related to the Qianshui Dynasty's Zhou Family, Zhou Qian and the two Inner Sect Elders all frowned slightly.

The influence of the Qianshui Dynasty was indeed deeply entrenched within the Saint Extreme Sect, and their power was immense.

As the Pill Institute Master, Zhou Qian was naturally not afraid of them, but he didn't want to easily oppose the Zhou Family either. After all, doing so would be extremely detrimental to the sect.

In the end, Zhou Qian and the two Inner Sect Elders gave Elder Huang another vicious scolding before sending him away, but they refrained from any substantial punishment.

Only Zhou Qian, the two Inner Sect Elders, and Qi Hao were left in the room.

Zhou Qian pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "First thing tomorrow morning, Qi Hao, you will come with me. I'm going to personally invite Chu Qingyun to join the Saint Extreme Sect."

One of the Inner Sect Elders frowned. "Dean, for you to go in person... Isn't that a bit excessive? The boy may be a genius, but he's still just a Level 6 Martial Spirit and a Spirit Level Alchemist, after all."

Zhou Qian shook his head. "Back in Blood Abyss City, Chu Qingyun rejected the Celestial Sword Sect in favor of the Saint Extreme Sect. This shows he still wants to join us."

"By going in person, I can demonstrate how much the sect values him and counteract some of the damage done by Elder Huang."

"More importantly, this is the only way he can choose the Saint Extreme Sect without any reservations. You could also say it's a way of helping him fend off the other sects."

Once Zhou Qian said this, the other three all understood what he meant.

Tomorrow, many sects would undoubtedly send people to find Chu Qingyun and invite him to join.

At that point, Chu Qingyun would be caught in the same predicament as today. No matter which sect he chose, it would be seen as a slight to all the others.

However, if Zhou Qian went personally, it would be different.

Today, it was because major figures from the sects like Zhou Qian and Yu Liyuan were present that everyone had scrambled to invite Chu Qingyun at once.

But tomorrow, they certainly wouldn't go in person.

Only the Saint Extreme Sect knew the full extent of his talent—that he was not only a prodigy in the Alchemy Dao but also outstanding in the Martial Dao. Most importantly, they knew he had wanted to join the Saint Extreme Sect from the beginning.

Thus, if Zhou Qian went personally, it would be perfectly justifiable for Chu Qingyun to choose the Saint Extreme Sect. The other sects wouldn't be able to hold it against him.

Bright and early the next morning, Zhou Qian took Qi Hao and went to find Chu Qingyun.

As one of the Three Major Sects of the Northern Domain, finding Chu Qingyun's residence within Celestial Martial City was naturally a simple task.

Having made a point to arrive early, the two of them beat all the other sects there.

Zhou Qian had Qi Hao stand guard outside while he went in to find Chu Qingyun himself.

Watching Zhou Qian's back as he entered, Qi Hao couldn't help but shake his head and sigh inwardly.

Back in Blood Abyss City, he had recognized Chu Qingyun's potential, thinking that in eight or ten years, he would surely make a name for himself within the Saint Extreme Sect.

He never imagined that after just over a month, Chu Qingyun would stir up such a storm in Celestial Martial City.

Champion of the Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference, sought after by the Fifteen Major Sects, and now, even receiving a personal invitation from the Dean of the Saint Extreme Sect's Pill Institute.

'Something like this is simply unimaginable!'

However, he was also relieved that back in Blood Abyss City, he had stood by Chu Qingyun instead of joining Zhou Wushang and the others in targeting him.

Otherwise, he would probably be in deep trouble by now.

Elder Huang had escaped repercussions because he was a Martial Emperor Level expert, an important powerhouse in the sect. But a mere Martial King Realm disciple like him would have surely been severely punished—perhaps even expelled from the Saint Extreme Sect!

When Zhou Qian found Chu Qingyun's room, he didn't put on airs and barge in. Instead, he knocked first.

Opening the door to see Zhou Qian, Chu Qingyun was genuinely surprised.

He had originally thought that the sects would, at most, send someone with a status similar to Elder Huang to invite him, but he never expected that Zhou Qian would personally come to his door.

Upon entering, Zhou Qian sat right down. "Chu Qingyun, I'll get straight to the point. I came here in person today to invite you to join the Saint Extreme Sect."

Hearing this, Chu Qingyun did not reply, but instead smiled and served tea to Zhou Qian.

Zhou Qian frowned, took a sip from the teacup, and continued, "Of course, if you have any conditions, feel free to state them. We can negotiate."

"Heh, since Elder Zhou has put it that way, I won't be shy."

"First..."

"COUGH!" Hearing Chu Qingyun begin with "First," Zhou Qian, who was in the middle of a sip, couldn't help but choke.

'First? And presumably a second? So he expected someone from the Saint Extreme Sect would come for him and even prepared his conditions in advance!'

But despite his choking and surprise, Zhou Qian was actually quite pleased.

The fact that Chu Qingyun had prepared his conditions in advance meant he was actually quite willing to join the Saint Extreme Sect.

'Now, all that's left is to agree on the terms.'