Chapter 354 - 159: Venerable Ling Xu, A Spar

Chapter 354: Chapter 159: Venerable Ling Xu, A Spar

In the midst of their conversation, a purple-robed eunuch hurried into the hall, bowed, and announced, "Your Highness, Venerable Ling Xu from the Spirit Treasure Upper Sect is here to see you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Taichu’s eyes brightened. "Since he’s a Venerable from an Upper Sect, show him in at once."

"Yes!"

The purple-robed eunuch gave his assent and promptly turned to leave.

’Spirit Treasure Upper Sect... Venerable Ling Xu. Another titan of the Celestial Human Realm.’

Watching the purple-robed eunuch’s departing figure, Fang Xing thought to himself.

Though he wasn’t familiar with Venerable Ling Xu, he knew a few things about the titans of the Ten Great Upper Sects who had reached the Celestial Human Realm.

Venerable Ling Xu was one of the Spirit Treasure Upper Sect’s Four Saints, and he was quite renowned.

’This seems to be part of the Crown Prince Faction...’

The thought flashed through Fang Xing’s mind. He recalled Hong Miaojin telling him about the situation with the Ten Great Upper Sects.

Apparently, the Spirit Treasure Upper Sect and Crown Prince Chu were on very close terms.

The Ten Great Upper Sects would heed requests, but not commands.

Their relationship with the Great Jing Court was quite delicate.

They existed in a state of equilibrium.

Strictly speaking, if Great Jing was the central Court, then the Ten Great Upper Sects were tantamount to "Vassal States"!

There was constant friction.

Great Jing lacked the strength to swallow the Ten Great Upper Sects in one fell swoop.

And the Ten Great Upper Sects, in turn, lacked the strength to openly defy the Court.

The relationship between them was more like that of ice and water.

Utterly distinct!

According to information Hong Miaojin had shared, Crown Prince Chu was on excellent terms with the Sect Leader Venerable of the Spirit Treasure Upper Sect.

The Spirit Treasure Upper Sect was one of those that supported the Crown Prince Faction.

However, the exact details of their arrangement were unknown.

When the announcement was made, no one in the hall showed any particular reaction.

At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.

As for what undercurrents were at play, it was impossible to tell.

Fang Xing glanced at Hong Miaojin, but her expression was perfectly serene.

It was impossible to discern her thoughts.

As if sensing his gaze, Hong Miaojin merely gave him a tranquil look.

Their gazes met.

Fang Xing sat with a placid expression, quietly sipping his tea.

Hong Miaojin did not send a telepathic message or anything similar. After that single glance, she too lifted her teacup and drank by herself.

Soon, several figures stepped through the entrance into the main hall.

The eyes of Fang Xing and the others immediately fell upon one of the figures.

An old man in a green robe.

With a full head of white hair, the aura emanating from him was like an abyssal ocean, impossibly deep!

He had the distinct air of a transcendent immortal.

Fang Xing could only faintly perceive the man’s majestic, boundless aura, but he couldn’t grasp any specifics.

Even with his Primordial Spirit Perception, he was unable to fully fathom a Celestial Martial Saint.

Mostly, it was because he lacked the power to probe the depths of a Celestial Martial Saint.

The man’s Heaven and Earth Rank automatically shielded him from Fang Xing’s Perception.

Even his powerful Primordial Spirit could not break through it.

Any forceful attempt at Perception would surely be detected by the man himself.

’So this is Venerable Ling Xu, one of the Four Saints of Spirit Treasure!’

Although he couldn’t perceive the man’s true depths, he could still get a rough idea.

A Celestial Martial Saint, with a Martial Dao that was truly Heaven-Reaching!

Even with his aura restrained, he still gave off an invisible sense of pressure.

This was the inherent suppression of the Extraordinary Rank that came with the Celestial Rank.

Even if not actively released, the Rank was fused with his body and would naturally exert some influence on his surroundings.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"And greetings to you, Lord Hong."

Venerable Ling Xu said with a broad smile.

Zhao Taichu’s smile was radiant, while Hong Miaojin gave a placid nod, considering it a sufficient greeting.

As for the others...

Venerable Ling Xu only gave them a passing glance.

With the lofty status of a Celestial, anyone who had not reached that realm, even the Emperor’s own son, was not worthy of his condescension.

The title of Martial Saint was not just an empty one.

They do not bow even to the Emperor!

Any other status, no matter how grand, was ultimately illusory.

A Martial Saint, in and of itself, represented the highest echelon of status.

They were beings capable of founding a clan that could last a thousand years.

"Venerable, your presence is a great honor. Please, take the head seat."

Zhao Taichu rose, showing Venerable Ling Xu ample respect as he spoke with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Venerable Ling Xu smiled faintly, offered a cupped-fist salute, and then walked forward to sit.

Only then did Crown Prince Chu’s gaze shift to the young man who had accompanied Venerable Ling Xu and was waiting outside the hall.

"Venerable, and this young man is?"

"Your Highness, this is Jiang Chuan, a True Disciple of my sect."

Venerable Ling Xu spoke, then looked toward the young man waiting outside the hall.

"Enter and greet His Highness!"

Upon hearing this, the young man outside strode quickly into the hall and bowed with clasped hands. "Jiang Chuan of the Spirit Treasure True Inheritance, pays his respects to the Crown Prince!"

Zhao Taichu swept his gaze over him, his smile brilliant. "Mm, a fine young man. Grant him a seat."

The words had barely been spoken when the purple-robed eunuch immediately brought out a chair.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Jiang Chuan bowed with clasped hands again before sitting down.

Fang Xing and the others turned their gazes to this Spirit Treasure True Disciple.

’Jiang Chuan... of the Spirit Treasure True Inheritance. He’s also on the Hidden Dragon List.’

The information flashed through Fang Xing’s mind.

He remembered practically every name on the Hidden Dragon List.

This Spirit Treasure Upper Sect disciple, Jiang Chuan, ranked even higher than Ji Bodda from the Supreme Profound Upper Sect, whom Fang Xing had previously encountered.

He was also an incredibly strong individual.

True Gang Perfection!

A Martial Dao powerhouse on the verge of stepping into the rank of True Essence Martial Dao Grandmaster.

They were both at True Gang Perfection, but even among those at the Perfection level, there were still gaps in power.

Fang Xing took a single glance before looking away.

Even if this Jiang Chuan was stronger than Ji Bodda, in Fang Xing’s eyes, there wasn’t much of a difference.

"Lord Hong, your ascension to the Celestial Human Realm is a cause for celebration," Venerable Ling Xu said with a broad smile as he looked at Hong Miaojin.

"You are too kind, Venerable. I was merely lucky," Hong Miaojin replied, her expression neutral and her tone lukewarm.

Venerable Ling Xu didn’t seem to mind in the least, saying with a smile, "Those who can enter the Celestial Human Realm do not do so by luck alone. I am confident Lord Hong will reach even greater heights in the future."