Chapter 678: Senior Brother Qin, Dare to Make Another Bet?

He closed his eyes to meditate on his progress. He could clearly feel that his proficiency in the Indestructible True Skill had advanced significantly. His meridians were more resilient, and his physical body was stronger. The efficiency of using a higher-realm skill to drive his cultivation was, as expected, astonishingly fast.

He calculated silently. ‘At this rate, it won’t be long before the Indestructible True Skill breaks through to the Qi Absorption Realm.’

‘When that time comes, I’ll use two Qi Absorption Realm martial arts as my foundation and go back to cultivating Crossing the River Horizontally. The efficiency will be even more terrifying than it is now.’

Yang Jing was drenched in sweat. His form-fitting training clothes were soaked through and clung tightly to his back.

He turned and walked to a corner of the Training Room. Just as he sat down on a meditation cushion, intending to close his eyes and regulate his breathing for a moment to recover his strength…

…the faint sound of extremely light footsteps came from outside the stone door. The footsteps stopped right in front of Training Room B-3, then paced back and forth a couple of times.

Yang Jing raised an eyebrow. He immediately judged, ‘This person outside must be looking for me.’

After breaking through to the Qi Absorption Realm, his five senses had become several times sharper than before.

The stone door of the Training Room was designed to be soundproof, but for the current him, as long as he focused and listened carefully, he could still catch the faint movements outside.

The footsteps stopped firmly at the door and moved no more. The person outside clearly knew he was inside cultivating and did not dare to disturb him rashly.

Yang Jing nodded slightly. ‘This person knows the rules, at least,’ he thought.

When a sect disciple was in closed-door cultivation in a Training Room, the greatest taboo was to be suddenly interrupted. A moment of carelessness could lead to one’s qi becoming disordered, resulting in cultivation deviation.

He still remembered clearly how, back when he was in the outer sect, Su Qingyue from the same courtyard had recklessly interrupted his cultivation. Although it hadn’t caused any serious harm, it had disrupted his state of mind.

Yang Jing immediately stood up, walked to the stone door, and slowly pushed it open from the inside.

Outside, a square-faced young man was indeed standing there. He wore the white robes of a Main Peak Disciple and had a proper-looking face, but Yang Jing didn’t recognize him.

The moment the square-faced youth saw Yang Jing, he immediately bowed and said respectfully, “I am Main Peak Disciple Xu Kun. Greetings, Senior Brother Yang.”

Yang Jing nodded slightly, his tone calm. “What is it?”

Xu Kun quickly replied, “By order of the Chief Elder, I have come to invite you, Senior Brother Yang, to the Main Peak’s grand hall for a discussion.”

Yang Jing was slightly taken aback, but then understanding dawned on him.

‘No need to think too hard about it. It’s probably about the matter of the Vajra Sect’s three prodigies challenging the sect.’

His master, Bai Bing, had reminded him a few days ago that the Sect Leader and the Elders would be summoning him for a discussion soon.

Yang Jing gave a slight nod. “Alright. I will tidy up and head over immediately.”

“Then I will take my leave first.” Xu Kun bowed again, then turned and left with quick steps.

Yang Jing watched him leave, casually closed the stone door, and turned back into the Training Room.

He picked up the outer robe draped over the stone table and put it on. Without lingering, he went straight out of the Training Room and first returned to Qing No. 4 Courtyard.

Back in his courtyard, he quickly washed off the sweat and changed into a clean, new set of training clothes. He instantly felt refreshed, sharp, and full of vigor.

After tidying himself up a bit, he set off immediately, hurrying along the mountain path toward the Xuanzhen Sect’s Main Peak.

…

「At the same time.」

On the summit of the Main Peak, inside the grand hall.

The Seven Vein Peak Masters had all arrived and were seated in their respective places. The atmosphere in the hall was quiet and solemn. Only the seat of the Sect Leader at the very head of the hall, and the last chair on the left below it—the seat of the Chief Elder—were still empty.

Just then, a tall figure walked out slowly from the passage connecting the rear hall to the front. His expression was steady, his features slightly tense, carrying a hint of barely perceptible gravity. It was none other than the Sect Leader of the Xuanzhen Sect, Cao Zhen.

Seeing him, the Seven Vein Peak Masters in the hall all rose in unison, bowed, and said in a unified voice, “We greet the Sect Leader!”

Cao Zhen nodded slightly, his expression grave. He spoke in a deep voice, “Everyone, please be seated.”

The Seven Vein Peak Masters all sat down, their gazes fixed on Cao Zhen’s solemn face. A sense of foreboding sank into their hearts simultaneously.

‘For the Sect Leader to have such an expression, this must be no small matter.’

The first thing everyone thought of was the Demon Sect, which had resurfaced in Jintai Prefecture some time ago.

‘Could it be that the Demon Sect is making another big move and staging a comeback?’

Cao Zhen looked at their expressions and said in a deep voice, “I have summoned you all here today to discuss the matter of the Vajra Sect’s three prodigies challenging the sect.”

“The Vajra Sect’s three prodigies?”

Everyone was stunned, their faces showing surprise.

‘This matter was already settled. Chu Yunhai was to take the lead, with Yang Jing assisting. The plan was already decided, so why reconsider it now?’

‘Besides, the Sect Leader’s grave expression doesn’t seem like it’s just about a simple sect challenge.’

Just as Cao Zhen was about to continue speaking, a rush of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the grand hall.

Everyone followed the sound and saw Chief Elder Ouyang Jingxuan striding quickly into the hall. His face was even more grim than Cao Zhen’s, and a repressive aura emanated from him.

Seeing Ouyang Jingxuan’s demeanor, the last shred of speculation in everyone’s minds vanished. ‘Something has definitely gone wrong.’

After entering the hall, Ouyang Jingxuan first gave a solemn nod to Cao Zhen, who was at the head of the hall.

Seeing this, Cao Zhen’s expression darkened further, knowing the news was confirmed.

He scanned the crowd and announced in a heavy tone, “Everyone, this morning we received confirmed news. Li Yu, one of the Vajra Sect’s three prodigies, has broken through to the Qi Absorption Realm.”

As these words fell, the vast grand hall of the Main Peak fell instantly silent.

“Li Yu broke through to the Qi Absorption Realm?”

“How old is he? He’s even a few years younger than Chu Yunhai!”

After a brief silence, a heated discussion erupted in the hall. Everyone was shocked.

The challenge from the Vajra Sect’s three prodigies was imminent, and the strategy they had originally decided upon was now completely useless.

Once Li Yu stepped into the Qi Absorption Realm, his power would undergo a qualitative leap. Even if Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing were to fight together, they would be no match for him.