Chapter 404 - 211: The Three Sects Assemble at the Patriarch’s Main Hall

Chapter 404: Chapter 211: The Three Sects Assemble at the Patriarch’s Main Hall

Before long, he sank his consciousness into his body, focused on guiding the Five Yang Qi, and continued the slow, persistent process of nurturing and integrating it.

The rest of the night passed without incident. Yang Wenqing woke from his meditation at seven o’clock sharp the next morning.

He got up and, out of habit, cast a Dust Clearing Skill on himself and the still-dozing Lan Ying. He then pushed open the door to his private chambers, and Lan Ying immediately followed, still groggy.

In the hallway outside Sun Chen’s room, right where the door latch had been broken the previous night, two attendant Qi Cultivation disciples were quietly making repairs. When they saw Yang Wenqing emerge, they immediately stopped their work and nodded respectfully in greeting.

Yang Wenqing nodded in return and walked slowly downstairs with Lan Ying.

In the spacious hall, Sun Chen was seated upright by the same tea table as yesterday. The cup before him was half-full, steam curling gently from it. Li Ping, meanwhile, was half-kneeling on the other side of the table, his expression focused as he tended to a kettle on a small charcoal stove. He carefully controlled the heat, quietly fulfilling his duty of brewing tea.

There was no conversation between them, only the faint gurgling of boiling water and the occasional crisp clink of a teacup.

Hearing footsteps, Sun Chen looked up. Upon seeing Yang Wenqing, he immediately set down his teacup, stood up, and gave Yang Wenqing a formal, deep bow with clasped hands.

"Thank you for your help last night, Junior Brother Yang." His voice was as steady as ever, but this expression of gratitude was delivered with exceptional clarity and sincerity. It was clear he had his own thoughts on the matter.

"Senior Brother Sun, you are too kind. It is only natural for fellow disciples to help one another."

Yang Wenqing hurriedly returned the bow.

Sun Chen raised a hand, gesturing to the empty seat across the tea table. "Junior Brother Yang, please sit. Join me for tea."

Yang Wenqing sat down as invited. Li Ping immediately presented him with a cup of freshly brewed, fragrant tea, a smile on his face, but he was tactful enough not to interrupt.

Lan Ying and Red Shadow, who was crouching by Sun Chen’s feet, made eye contact. The two little creatures exchanged a look, then tacitly slipped away to a corner of the hall and soon began to play together, adding a touch of life to the overly quiet space.

Silence fell over the tea table once more.

After fulfilling the formalities of expressing his thanks and extending the invitation, Sun Chen seemed to have completed all necessary social protocols and reverted to his near-reclusive silence.

It wasn’t that Yang Wenqing was poor with words, but faced with Sun Chen’s impenetrable silence, he couldn’t find a suitable topic of conversation. Forcing small talk would only be awkward, so he simply picked up his teacup and, mimicking Sun Chen, began to quietly savor the Cloud Tea, a specialty of Jade Chime Island.

This subtly awkward silence lasted for about half an hour before the figures of Qin Huaiming and Gu You appeared at the entrance to the hall.

"Wenqing, Nephew Sun," Qin Huaiming said. "Prepare yourselves. Nephew, now that you have come to this place of our sect’s heritage, it is only proper that you first pay your respects to the Ancestral Master."

Gu You added, "The people from the other two sects will likely be going as well. After we’ve paid our respects to the Ancestral Master, we’ll all gather to finalize the rules for this grand competition. It’s also a chance for you juniors to meet one another and put faces to names."

This was clearly official business. Yang Wenqing and Sun Chen immediately rose and assented. Sun Chen gave Li Ping a quiet order; Li Ping bowed, accepting the command, and left to make the necessary arrangements. The two happily playing Spirit Pets were also recalled by their respective masters.

The group left the pavilion and followed the bluestone steps Yang Wenqing had taken earlier, heading toward the summit at the center of the island. Soon, they were once again standing on the magnificent summit platform and entering the towering and solemn Main Ancestral Hall.

Smoke still curled from the massive incense burner. Led by Qin Huaiming, Yang Wenqing and Sun Chen stepped forward in turn, respectfully lit incense sticks, and performed the grand rite of three kneelings and nine kowtows before the statues of the Sea Guardian Daoist and the ancestral masters of the Three Sects.

Just as they completed the rite, before they had even exited the hall, they heard footsteps and voices from outside.

The people from the Beixuan and Yunji Sects had arrived.

The Beixuan Sect was led by Lei Yue, followed by Wu Qing, Shi Zheng, and Chen Yuan, who was clearly just there for the experience. The Yunji Sect was headed by Ge Yunhai, with Lin Xiyun and Leng Zhi close behind.

The three parties met at the entrance to the Main Hall. The elders nodded to one another in greeting. While their exchange wasn’t particularly warm, all the basic pleasantries were observed.

Since the other two sects had yet to pay their respects to the Ancestral Master, they merely exchanged greetings, and Yang Wenqing’s party waited for them by the entrance.

A moment later, the members of the two sects emerged one after the other. The elders naturally gathered together, and the younger disciples just as naturally stepped forward to greet one another.

Wu Qing looked at Yang Wenqing and said, "Junior Brother Yang, it’s been several years. Your Cultivation has become even more profound."

"Senior Sister Wu, you flatter me."

Yang Wenqing returned the gesture with clasped hands. He then turned slightly to introduce the quiet young man beside him. "This is my Senior Brother, Sun Chen."

Hearing this, Sun Chen took half a step forward and, following etiquette, clasped his hands toward Wu Qing and the others. "Sun Chen of the Xuanyue Sect. I have lived for thirty-seven years and have had the honor of being my master’s disciple for twenty-eight of them. A pleasure to meet you all."

Wu Qing smiled and returned the gesture. "Wu Qing of the Beixuan Sect. I am a year your senior and have been in the sect for twenty-nine years. I have long heard of your great name, Junior Brother Sun. Seeing you today, I can tell you are every bit as young and promising as the rumors say."

With a faint smile, Lin Xiyun stepped forward and first clasped his hands toward Sun Chen. "Lin Xiyun of the Yunji Sect. I am thirty-six, and I have been a disciple for twenty-four years. Senior Brother Sun, I have long admired you." He then turned to Yang Wenqing, his smile deepening. "Junior Brother Yang, I trust you’ve been well. It seems your Cultivation has already surpassed my own."

Yang Wenqing replied with a smile, "Senior Brother Lin, you are far too modest."

"It is you who is too humble, Junior Brother Yang. To have achieved such an air about you after only four years in the sect is truly enviable." Lin Xiyun shook his head with a smile, then turned to Shi Zheng, who was standing silently behind and to the side of Wu Qing. "Senior Brother Shi?"

Shi Zheng stepped forward, gave a fist-in-palm salute, and stated succinctly, "Shi Zheng of the Beixuan Sect. Thirty-eight years old, a disciple for thirty years." His disposition was as steady as stone. A Five-Colored Sparrow on his shoulder tilted its head with his movement, then watched Lan Ying warily.

Next was Leng Zhi. She merely gave a slight nod, her voice as frosty as her name implied. "Leng Zhi of the Yunji Sect. Thirty-nine years old, a disciple for thirty-two years."

Finally, the youngest, Chen Yuan, clasped his hands. "I just joined the sect last year. I pay my respects to all of my senior brothers and sisters."

With this simple round of introductions, the seniority among them became clear. Leng Zhi had been a disciple the longest, making her the senior sister to the group. Shi Zheng was next, followed by Sun Chen, then Wu Qing and Lin Xiyun. Yang Wenqing came after Lin Xiyun, and the youngest junior brother of them all was Chen Yuan.

Wu Qing, who traveled extensively year-round, was adept at handling such social occasions. After the introductions, she deftly changed the subject with a smile. "I ask for everyone’s guidance in the upcoming grand competition. Especially yours, Senior Brother Sun and Senior Sister Leng. Please be merciful when the time comes."

Lin Xiyun followed up with a smile, "To exchange pointers and test our skills in our shared pursuit of the Great Dao is a true blessing. I only wonder what the rules of engagement will be, so that we might make our preparations."

Shi Zheng nodded silently. Leng Zhi remained as aloof as ever, her gaze sweeping over the others with a measuring quality.

Sun Chen merely listened quietly, showing no intention of joining the conversation, like a silent observer. Yang Wenqing chimed in with a smile and a few agreeable words. And while Leng Zhi had a cold personality, she was chatting openly with Wu Qing; the two clearly knew each other from before.

The younger disciples conversed in low voices, sizing each other up. The air between them was thick with a subtle sense of competition and curiosity. Meanwhile, the elders—Qin Huaiming, Gu You, Lei Yue, and Ge Yunhai—were rapidly discussing something off to one side.

They were clearly old acquaintances. Lei Yue was tall and imposing, a man of few words, but each one carried weight—literal weight, enough to make one’s eardrums tingle. Ge Yunhai was all smiles, his words smooth and diplomatic. Qin Huaiming was calm and serious, while Gu You was more laid-back, ready to crack a joke if the atmosphere grew tense.

For the most part, their tone was businesslike. However, when discussing a potentially controversial rule, though their voices remained level, one could faintly sense an uncompromising caution, a careful weighing of interests from all sides.

Yang Wenqing watched the elders, then couldn’t help but glance at the senior brothers and sisters of his own generation around him. ’A long time ago,’ he thought, ’the elders must have been just like us, laughing and competing together. But as time went on, the rifts between the Three Sects changed their friendships.’

’That must be why it seems so strange for them to be together now. They all look so familiar with one another, yet it’s as if something invisible stands between them, making their conversation stiff and formulaic.’