Chapter 628 - 257: True Inheritance

Wherever disciples from the various lineages gathered, similar discussions were rampant.

"Is the True Martial Lineage getting desperate? They finally get a decent seedling and they’re already in a hurry to send him to his death?" a disciple from the Nine Heavens Lineage sneered, clearly having absolute faith in Brother Lu.

"What a pity. If he had more time, he might have had a chance to become a True Disciple. Now, he’s just adding a loss to his record and crushing his own spirit." Even some neutral disciples shook their heads, thinking Chen Qing’s move was unwise.

Within the small circle of True Successor Candidates, the atmosphere was even more nuanced.

Upon hearing the news, Wan Shangyi merely gave a faint smile and said to Qian Baole, "His courage is commendable, but it’s not the action of a wise man. It seems the young can’t stand being idle after all."

Qian Baole flicked his folding fan. "Perhaps he has something else to rely on? But in the face of an absolute gap in strength, a few lucky encounters or hidden cards are unlikely to turn the tide."

Wu Anren, who was practicing with his sword in his courtyard, felt his Sword Momentum falter slightly upon hearing the news, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

He knew full well how difficult it was to challenge Lu Chenming. He himself had no confidence in succeeding. Chen Qing’s decisiveness made him feel pressured, but also a little baffled.

Meng Qianxue sighed softly. Having personally experienced that sense of powerlessness, she could better appreciate the pressure and resolve behind Chen Qing’s actions.

It was safe to say that throughout the entire Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, from the upper echelons of each lineage down to the ordinary disciples, at least nine out of ten people believed Chen Qing had no hope of winning.

Although the battle drew attention, it was mostly discussed as a foregone conclusion—a "certain failure." The sense of anticipation was far less than for the previous two challenges.

Rumors swirled and the clamor grew.

However, the small courtyard on Xu Wang Mountain, the very eye of the storm, was unusually calm.

Ever since returning from registering at the Seven-Star Platform, Chen Qing had kept his courtyard gates tightly shut, refusing all visitors.

Whether they came to probe for information or to offer genuine encouragement, he turned them all away.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Chen Qing had completely withdrawn his Heart and Spirit, like an old monk in deep meditation. He meticulously reviewed his condition, tuning his Essence, Qi, and Spirit to their absolute peak—a state of perfect harmony.

The turmoil, doubt, and pity from the outside world were like passing clouds, unable to cause the slightest ripple on the lake of his heart.

....

「Five days passed in a flash.」

As dawn tore through the clouds, casting a golden glow upon the rolling mountains of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, a restless atmosphere, unlike any other day, had already begun to permeate the Sect.

The Seven-Star Platform was the place within the Sect for resolving major disputes and holding important competitions.

Today, the area around this normally solemn, colossal platform was already a bustling, clamoring sea of people.

Disciples from every peak, both Inner Sect and Outer Sect, had arrived early to claim the best viewing spots.

Streaks of light also shot across the sky—those with profound Cultivation riding their Exotic Beasts, unwilling to jostle with the crowd below.

A True Successor Candidate challenging a reigning True Disciple!

The challenger was especially notable: Chen Qing, who in the last year had shot to fame by defeating a Perfection-stage expert while only at the Mid-stage Astral Force, and had even broken through the thirty-first floor of the Celestial Treasure Tower in a short period!

And the one being challenged was Lu Chenming, who had held the tenth seat securely for nearly eight years, successively defeating top candidates like Meng Qianxue and He Shuang, and was hailed as "invincible within the Astral Force Realm"!

This battle was full of hype and had captured the attention of countless people.

High above, the specially arranged viewing seats were already occupied by many.

A number of the Sect’s upper echelons, including the Steward Hall Elder and the Martial Discussion Peak Elder, were present. Their expressions were calm, their gazes profound as they looked down upon the massive platform below.

Unlike Chen Qing’s duel with Han Xiong, this was an official challenge by a True Successor Candidate against a True Disciple.

Essentially all the factions that were expected to come had arrived.

The disciples of the Nine Heavens Lineage and the True Martial Lineage were the most numerous, occupying two distinctly separate areas.

On the True Martial Lineage’s side, Qu He stood at the very front with a solemn expression and a steady gaze. Not far behind him, several older disciples of the True Martial Lineage, including Zhao Ganjun and Hu Jiuyuan, were also present.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you came too?" Hu Jiuyuan, a woman with a somewhat stern face, looked at Zhao Ganjun beside her and transmitted her voice in a low tone.

Zhao Ganjun crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on the empty arena. "Of course I had to come. The Vein Master and Brother Qu have bet everything on this kid. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of ability he has to be worth such a heavy investment! If he truly has the strength to shake Lu Chenming, I, Zhao Ganjun, will be the first to concede. What do those few resources from the past matter then? But if he’s just an empty name, acting on a moment of reckless bravery..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.

It wasn’t that these older disciples completely disregarded the bigger picture; they simply believed more in seeing for themselves.

Resources could be given to a genius, but not wasted on a mediocrity or a fool.

Quite a few people from the Jade Celestial Lineage had come as well, with Ruan Lingxiu and Meng Qianxue standing side by side.

Meng Qianxue gazed at the arena, a complex emotion flickering in her beautiful eyes. She said softly, "Brother Lu’s strength is unfathomable. That day, I used every technique I had, yet still felt I couldn’t move him in the slightest."

Having experienced it firsthand, she knew the weight of that mountain all too well.

Ruan Lingxiu possessed an intangible aura that set her apart from the younger, more inexperienced disciples around her.

She wore an exquisitely tailored, ink-blue dress, which only served to accentuate her jade-like skin and serene temperament. A few strands of hair fell casually against her smooth cheeks, adding a touch of languid nonchalance.

The main reason she came today, however, was to honor a request from Shen Xiuyong.

Before leaving for a mission, her good friend had solemnly asked her to look after this junior from the Wutai Sect.

"Shen Xiuyong, oh Shen Xiuyong,"

Ruan Lingxiu murmured to herself, shaking her head. ’You really know how to find trouble for me.’