Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes - Chapter 441 - 437: The Path to 4th Rank
Chapter 441: Chapter 437: The Path to 4th Rank
After receiving this information, Zheng Changnian sat in his courtyard.
In fact, he didn’t care much about Shen Han.
No matter how outstanding or excellent he was, could he be better than Zheng Changnian?
Zheng Changnian still had this bit of confidence.
He believed that among the Seven Great Sects now, there were only a few who could match him in a duel.
But Shen Han was definitely not among them.
What truly made him uncomfortable was the Valley Master’s attitude towards him.
To think that the Valley Master would criticize and reprimand him for Shen Han’s sake.
To Zheng Changnian, this was the more difficult part to accept.
He had been in Cangxuan Valley for quite some years and had contributed greatly to the valley.
Yet, the Valley Master, because of Shen Han, said he needed to learn a lesson.
Zheng Changnian sat in his small courtyard for over a two-hour period.
A plainly dressed middle-aged man arrived with a magical artifact.
Seeing the visitor, although Zheng Changnian was not pleased, he pressed his lips and still rose to greet him respectfully.
“What, not happy in your heart?”
The middle-aged visitor carried a faint smile on his face as he asked softly.
Hearing this, Zheng Changnian shook his head.
Some things didn’t need to be spoken out loud.
With that, the middle-aged man’s smile grew wider.
“The Valley Master truly understands you, even guessing how you would respond.”
Hearing this, Zheng Changnian became more earnest.
“Did the Valley Master send you, Uncle Chen?”
“Who else?
I, surnamed Chen, have no other skills—certainly not here to guide your cultivation.”
This Uncle Chen spoke calmly with a trace of a smile.
“About the matters of the Seven Sects Martial Arts Competition, you should know by now?”
Zheng Changnian nodded. If he wasn’t aware, he wouldn’t have looked like this.
“The Valley Master guessed you’d be displeased when you heard the news after coming out of seclusion.
Especially because the Valley Master said you needed to be taught a lesson, it must have hurt your feelings, right?”
Zheng Changnian remained silent and did not answer.
Silence already represented many things.
Seeing this, Uncle Chen frowned slightly and looked into the distance.
“You weren’t present that day and didn’t know the situation, unable to comprehend the Valley Master’s feelings.”
Speaking of which, Uncle Chen couldn’t help but sigh.
“In front of so many people, Shen Han openly embarrassed Cangxuan Valley.
We thought he would bring honor to us, yet he turned around and joined the Star Tower.
Changnian, do you know the expressions on the faces of other sect leaders when they looked at the Valley Master?
Ask yourself, if you sat in the Valley Master’s position, how would you feel?”
With this said, Zheng Changnian indeed understood more.
Everyone experiences emotions, even a Valley Master, even someone in that position—they still get angry and upset.
And reaching such heights makes them care more about saving face.
It’s not just about the Valley Master’s reputation but the entire Cangxuan Valley’s honor.
“Apart from the initial anger the Valley Master felt, there was another significant reason.
Shen Han’s actions had upset many Outer Sect disciples, and could have incited unrest.
Seeing Shen Han’s strength and yet unable to join the Inner Sect, many Outer Sect disciples had grievances towards the valley.
The Valley Master’s scolding of several Mansion Masters at that time was, in fact, to comfort those Outer Sect disciples.”
Upon hearing about comforting the Outer Sect disciples, Zheng Changnian disagreed.
“There are so many Outer Sect disciples, coming in like a flood every year. Why bother comforting them? If they want to leave, they can leave.”
Uncle Chen shook his head, “Outer Sect disciples indeed are not worth cherishing, and the valley’s attitude towards them won’t change—they can leave.
But what the Valley Master worries about is if they all leave together.
If Outer Sect disciples leave en masse, who will handle the many chores in the valley?
Additionally, their departure and talk outside might make it difficult for us to recruit new Outer Sect disciples for Cangxuan Valley.
At that time, the treatment of Outer Sect disciples might need to be improved to attract them.”
These words indeed enlightened Zheng Changnian.
Regarding the operation of a sect, Zheng Changnian gained a bit more understanding.
“Uncle Chen, what is the Valley Master’s attitude towards that Shen Han?”
Zheng Changnian was quite concerned about this.
He had a great dislike for Shen Han and didn’t want to hear that the Valley Master favored Shen Han.
Hearing this, Uncle Chen looked at Zheng Changnian with a smile.
“Our Cangxuan Valley is, after all, the largest sect in the Northern Domain; a mere ordinary disciple—do you really think the Valley Master would regret, or be annoyed about his departure?”
Saying this, Uncle Chen lightly patted Zheng Changnian on the shoulder.
“Don’t overthink it.
In the Valley Master’s heart, he surely values you elite disciples more.
As for Shen Han, even if he hadn’t left, he wouldn’t be nurtured by the valley.
This time, publicly, Shen Han has brought considerable disgrace to Cangxuan Valley.
The Valley Master had me stress to you such elite disciples.
If you have a chance to confront Shen Han in the future, don’t hold back—destroy him directly.
Whatever trouble the Star Tower stirs up, the Valley Master knows how to handle it.”
Upon hearing this, a smile instantly surged on Zheng Changnian’s face.
To be honest, Shen Han joining the Star Tower.
He did have some misgivings about fighting Shen Han afterwards.
But with the Valley Master’s words, what is there to worry about?
He just hopes for the competition to come sooner.
…
The Star Tower’s sect grounds.
Shen Han had been cultivating in his small courtyard these past two days.
Recently, he vaguely felt the approach of advancing to the Fourth Grade.
Transitioning from Fifth Grade to Fourth Grade means tempering the body’s strength, once strong enough, one can step into the Fourth Grade.
Advancing to Fourth Grade doesn’t involve many twists and turns.
To cultivators of Great Wei, the leap from Fifth to Fourth Grade isn’t a major obstruction—it lacks the difficulty of comprehension.
But after reaching Fifth Grade, many people due to their physical condition, or past injuries.
Find themselves stuck in the Fifth Grade Realm.
Shen Han, possessing the “Unceasing Skill,” didn’t worry about hidden ailments in his body.
Over these months, Shen Han had been nurturing his Divine Soul with vital energy, enhancing his Soul Power.
Under this discipline, his Divine Soul improved noticeably, and his Body Refining Technique became more advanced.
Late at night, Shen Han continued to meditate quietly in his courtyard.
After summoning another round of vital energy, Shen Han felt a heavy sensation in his body.
He had heard from Shi Yuezhu and Dean Tianyi about the hallmark of progressing to the Fourth Grade.
The appearance of this sensation meant that he was about to advance to the Fourth Grade.
Calmly and attentively, Shen Han quietly perceived the changes in his body.
He wasn’t worried about reaching the Fourth Grade himself.
Everything would fall into place naturally.
What he really needed to worry about was the leap from Fourth Grade to Immortal Realm.
That step is different for everyone; for some, it’s an epiphany, others progress steadily…
