Chapter 638: Strength and Strategy

On the Western Region of Chenping Continent, the Yunci Dynasty.

He Qingling walked quickly toward the outskirts of Yun Capital. There was no denying that this daughter of He Chengjie, the current Sect Leader of Xuan Sheng Sect, was in a very foul mood at the moment.

In fact, many cultivators in this world possessed far simpler temperaments than one might imagine.

Especially those heaven-chosen talents from prestigious sects who never needed to worry about cultivation resources.

They had nothing to worry about. Wherever they went, people fawned over them.

The only thing they needed to do was cultivate.

He Qingling was exactly like that.

Born into a top-tier cultivation sect like Xuan Sheng Sect, and deeply cherished by her grandmaster, Liu Puzhong, a great power of the Divine Ability Realm.

One could say that since the day she was born, the greatest hardship she had ever endured was swallowing that pill worth over two thousand high-grade spirit stones.

Compared to these heaven-chosen talents whose cultivation paths had been smooth sailing from the moment they set foot on the path of immortality.

The cultivators from cultivation families, or the rogue cultivators hidden away in the mountains, as well as the disciples of smaller cultivation sects with scarce resources, tended to have far more resilient temperaments than the geniuses of first-rate or even top-tier sects.

And their life experiences were also usually richer.

But not all cultivation geniuses from major sects were simple-minded.

Take a recent example: Qin Qingyu of Star Heaven Sect.

As the only genius acclaimed by the world as having "aptitude for Ascending to Immortality" since the path to immortality was severed, Qin Qingyu's name could no longer be mentioned in the same breath as the prodigies of her generation.

People preferred to compare Qin Qingyu with that peerless genius from Mirage Palace eight thousand years ago, Zhou Jinyun, who also possessed aptitude for Ascending to Immortality.

However, the world's assessment of Qin Qingyu seemed to be far higher than that of Zhou Jinyun.

Both had broken through to the Qi Sea Realm at around nineteen years of age, but Qin Qingyu had deliberately suppressed her cultivation progress in order to participate in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.

When she participated in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, Qin Qingyu had actually been in a state where she could break through to the Qi Sea Realm at any moment.

And in terms of subsequent cultivation speed, compared with Zhou Jinyun during the same period, Qin Qingyu did indeed maintain a clear edge over Zhou Jinyun.

At present, Qin Qingyu was already close to stepping into the upper three realms, whereas Zhou Jinyun, who was the same age as Qin Qingyu, was only at the early stage of the Myriad Transformations Realm.

That was the comparison between the two in terms of cultivation talent.

As for the gap in temperament, handling of affairs, and strategic cunning, Qin Qingyu surpassed Zhou Jinyun by an immeasurable margin.

Qin Qingyu was far too clever. So clever that at less than fifty years of age, her achievements in the position of Peak Elder of Star Heaven Sect far exceeded those of the cultivators in Star Heaven Sect who had been sitting in the Peak Elder position for who knows how many years.

If one wished to discuss the temperaments of genius disciples, taking a slightly older example, the current Kongshan Sect Leader, Yun Yichen, had a temperament far more mature than those heaven-chosen talents of other top-tier sects.

To give an even older example, Li Haoran was also like this.

To secure a place in the cultivation world of Chenping Continent, talent and strength were the most important things.

Even if one was simple-minded and prone to impulsive actions, as long as one's cultivation was high enough, one could still carve out a position in these domain heavens and be forever remembered by the world.

Take Realman Bai Shang of Wind Ravine Valley, for instance.

Although Realman Bai Shang had relied on his "clever tricks" back in the day, leading Wind Ravine Valley on campaigns in all directions, which nearly caused Wind Ravine Valley to completely collapse and fall from the ranks of the Five Great Sects of Chenping Continent, becoming a laughingstock in the history of Chenping Continent.

Yet while Realman Bai Shang was alive, who in the cultivation world of Chenping Continent wouldn't bow ninety degrees in utmost respect upon seeing him, and humbly clasp their hands in greeting with a "Greetings, Realman Bai Shang."

If one lacked talent and strength, having only strategic cunning, then that was clearly too unimpressive.

Take for example those two old foxes of Qingchan Peak in Kongshan Sect, Fu Qian and Bai Qiming.

Bai Qiming was slightly better off. He was a few hundred years younger than Fu Qian, possessed higher cultivation talent, and even had some hope of breaking through to the upper three realms.

As for Fu Qian, he was the perfect example of someone without cultivation talent but with considerable ability to manipulate power and strategy.

There was no denying that whether it was Fu Qian's thunderous methods or his ability to balance and control others, even Chen Yan had to admit with a sigh that this man was absolutely a seasoned old fox who had become a spirit.

But he lacked sufficient vision and sufficient leverage.

Because Fu Qian was merely a Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator, and the endpoint of his entire life would only be the Myriad Transformations Realm.

Strength was the most important thing.

As for strategic cunning, it was merely a means to obtain maximum benefits at minimum cost, on the foundation of possessing sufficient strength.

He Qingling walked out of Yun Capital. The guards stationed on both sides of the city gate saw this young woman in a white dress walking alone toward the outskirts, and they all bowed respectfully:

"Safe travels, Immortal Master!"

Although He Qingling was not wearing daoist robes, these guards all knew her identity. She must be a cultivator.

Because their Squad Leader knew this young woman.

According to what this squad leader had told the guards, about seven or eight years ago, when the squad leader was not yet a squad leader but just an ordinary guard, he would often see this young woman coming and going from Yun Capital.

But after seven or eight years had passed, this young woman's appearance had not changed in the slightest.

Even a fool could figure out that this young woman who always wore a white dress was definitely not an ordinary person.

A cultivator.

That was the only possibility.

In this Yun Capital of the Yunci Dynasty, countless cultivators passed through year-round, not to mention that there were eight major cultivation families within the city.

Therefore, the guards in this capital had long grown accustomed to the comings and goings of cultivators.

He Qingling paid no attention to the voices behind her. She simply continued walking straight ahead. About three li outside Yun Capital, there was a carriage-and-horse shop where one could rent spirit horses.

Although with her Qi Sea Realm cultivation, He Qingling could completely fly through the air, doing so within the territory of the Yunci Dynasty would probably be far too conspicuous.

If she did that, then before long, the news that the mysterious young woman who often visited the Yulai Pavilion in Yun Capital to drink tea and listen to storytellers was actually the biological daughter of He Chengjie, the Sect Leader of Xuan Sheng Sect, and was now the Guardian of the Dao on Du Cang Mountain, He Qingling, would spread.

That was something He Qingling absolutely did not want to see.

With a troubled heart, He Qingling continued walking toward the carriage-and-horse shop. Then she suddenly furrowed her brow, stopped in her tracks, and turned around.

There was nothing.

"Could it be my imagination?"

He Qingling thought to herself.