Chapter 290 - 160: Fellow Senior Sister (Part 2)

Chapter 290: Chapter 160: Fellow Senior Sister (Part 2)

He glanced at the Recording Array that was already in place. It had been specially installed to prevent any potential disputes should someone arrive bearing gifts.

He was confident he wouldn’t lose these two contests, which would also give him a chance to gauge his opponent’s strength. Besides, he, too, was interested in the sect’s Foundation Establishment Land.

Wu Jing wasn’t surprised by Yang Wenqing’s reaction. She said, "Follow me to the courtyard."

With that, she turned and walked outside, acting so naturally it was as if this were her own residence.

Yang Wenqing immediately followed. The two walked to an open area in the courtyard and stood facing each other, three zhang apart.

"First, we’ll compare Spiritual Qi."

Wu Jing was a woman of few words. She didn’t assume any particular stance but simply raised her right hand, palm facing up. A ball of pure, condensed Spiritual Qi materialized, its light steady and the currents within flowing smoothly, demonstrating exceptional control over her Spiritual Qi.

Yang Wenqing also raised his right hand. His Qi Sea stirred, and a similar ball of Spiritual Qi floated above his palm. His sphere was slightly larger and brighter than Wu Jing’s, but it was clearly a notch below hers in purity, condensation, and that sense of integrated wholeness. The Spiritual Qi at its edges was somewhat unstable.

Then, they exchanged a look and simultaneously pushed the spheres from their palms toward each other.

The two spheres of Spiritual Qi met silently in mid-air. The moment they made contact, Yang Wenqing felt a heavy, tide-like force surging toward him. He tried his best to keep his own Spiritual Qi stable but was clearly on the losing end.

After about ten breaths, Yang Wenqing opportunely showed a strained expression on his face. His palm trembled slightly, and then the sphere of Spiritual Qi he was maintaining collapsed, shattered by Wu Jing’s Spiritual Qi and dissipating into motes of Spiritual Light.

Yang Wenqing took half a step back. After regulating his breathing, he cupped his hands and said, "Senior Sister, your cultivation is profound. I am no match."

Wu Jing withdrew her Spiritual Qi and said, "Your volume of Spiritual Qi is quite ample, and your foundation is solid enough. However, your refinement and control are still lacking. With time, you will surely improve." Her evaluation was objective, with no hint of praise or criticism. "Next is a clash of Divine Sense. This is dangerous, so you must be careful. If you feel any discomfort, withdraw immediately. Do not try to endure it."

"Yes. Please enlighten me, Senior Sister." Yang Wenqing focused his mind and nodded.

The two once again stood facing each other and closed their eyes.

The next moment, Yang Wenqing felt an icy spike of Divine Sense stabbing toward him from Wu Jing’s direction. It carried the frigid, murderous aura characteristic of cultivators from the northern lands, aimed straight for the Sea of Consciousness between his brows!

Yang Wenqing didn’t dare to be careless. He immediately mobilized his own Divine Sense to meet the attack. Thanks to the existence of his Golden Core World, the very essence of his Divine Sense was exceptionally pure, condensed, and incredibly resilient.

In an instant, the two formless, intangible streams of Divine Sense slammed into each other in mid-air!

There was no sound, but in Yang Wenqing’s perception, it was as if a clap of thunder had exploded. A wave of intense dizziness and stabbing pain washed over him, and he seemed to see stars dance before his eyes.

Amidst this violent collision on a purely mental plane, he felt as if he could hear the wailing of the surrounding Inspiration World. Whispers that normally lay dormant in the inspirational plane were amplified, threatening to flood his consciousness like a tidal wave.

These were the fragmented Spiritual Attributes wandering between heaven and earth, lingering obsessions, and even the subtle echoes of certain indescribable existences. Normally, they were blocked by reason and the stable barrier of his Sea of Consciousness, but now, stirred by the clash of Divine Sense, they had become clear and corrosive.

Yang Wenqing immediately began to feign a steady retreat. He struggled to resist the impact of Wu Jing’s icicle-like Divine Sense, weakening with every collision and showing clear signs of being overwhelmed.

At the same time, he diverted a sliver of his consciousness to tightly guard the core of his Sea of Consciousness, fending off the intrusion of those stirred-up spiritual whispers.

After holding on for another dozen or so seconds, Yang Wenqing felt the act had gone on long enough. An even more obvious expression of pain crossed his face. He let out a muffled grunt, proactively severed the Divine Sense connection, and staggered back a step before steadying himself. When he opened his eyes, they were filled with alarm and exhaustion.

Wu Jing withdrew her Divine Sense at the perfect moment. She looked far more composed than Yang Wenqing, her face only turning slightly pale for a moment before returning to normal. Her gaze, when it fell on him now, held less scrutiny and a bit more reassurance.

"Your Divine Sense foundation is acceptable. To be able to withstand seventy percent of my Divine Sense’s power for nearly twenty breaths is quite rare for someone who has just entered the Marrow Cleansing Realm." Wu Jing’s tone was still flat, but her words now carried a hint of affirmation that wasn’t there before.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. I have benefited greatly." Yang Wenqing caught his breath and gave a wry smile. "The gap between us is still far too wide."

Wu Jing didn’t say anything more about the duel. Instead, with a flip of her hand, she retrieved an object from her Storage Bag and offered it to Yang Wenqing.

It was an irregularly shaped stone, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, with a warm, grayish-white luster. Its surface was marked with natural, cloud-like dark patterns.

"This is called a Soul Stone," Wu Jing explained. "It comes from the depths of the Cold Soul Ore Veins in the northern lands, which are shrouded by auroras. It has been refined for many years by Divine Art cultivators and has the effect of calming the spirit and pacifying the soul. Wearing it for a long time can also slowly nourish one’s Divine Sense, enhancing its stability and purity. You have just entered the Marrow Cleansing Realm, so this might be of some help to you."

Yang Wenqing was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to give him a gift after their contest. He immediately said, "This... this is too valuable, Senior Sister. I am unworthy of accepting it."

"It is a matter of camaraderie. There is no need to refuse."

Wu Jing waved her hand, her tone softening with a rare, almost imperceptible warmth. "Having met you today, Junior Brother, I can see that you do indeed have talent and potential. It’s just that your time spent cultivating is still short. I hope you will train diligently and not disappoint Martial Uncle Qin’s expectations."

"I will engrave Senior Sister’s teachings in my heart and cultivate without cease," Yang Wenqing said solemnly.

Wu Jing nodded and said no more. "That is all for today. Farewell."

"Take care, Senior Sister."

Yang Wenqing walked her to the gate, watching as she boarded a black Flying Shuttle parked just outside.