Chapter 291: Jingzhi

Chao Rui, as the host, sat at the head of the table. Next to him was Chen Qingyang, with Senior Sister Jing Shu seated on his other side. Across from them were a man and a woman.

He didn’t glance in their direction, but he had already summoned his Conscious Fish to weave through the crowd.

The woman was clearly still holding a grudge about what had just happened, her expression a constant scowl. Her otherwise lovely features were marred, no longer appearing so charming.

The man, on the other hand, appeared much calmer, seeming utterly unconcerned. It was precisely because Chen Qingyang couldn’t discern his thoughts that he studied him for a few extra moments.

“Everyone, Junior Brother Chen is now with Fulu Workshop on Cyan Bamboo Peak. The Tier Four Elixirs he gifted us were refined by his own hand. He also cultivates an exceptionally profound Five Elements Sword. He is more than deserving of the title ‘young prodigy.’ In fact, this gathering today is thanks to Junior Brother Chen…” Chao Rui said, raising his wine cup to the others.

“Thank you for hosting this banquet, Senior Brother Chao!”

Chen Qingyang raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. A faint scent of peach blossoms wafted from it, and a warm current spread from his abdomen, feeling like a potent medicine coursing through his body. ‘These are truly the methods of an Immortal Family!’

One had to give face to the host, after all. The man and woman opposite him also downed the first cup.

Once the first round of drinks had warmed the atmosphere, Chen Qingyang turned to Chao Rui. “Senior Brother Chao, these senior brothers and sisters all know my story, but I’m still completely in the dark about them. Might I trouble you for an introduction?”

“Of course. Everyone has been seated for some time, yet I’ve yet to make introductions. That is truly my oversight!”

Chao Rui began with Jing Shu. “Junior Sister Jing Shu and I share the same master. She does not cultivate the Sword Dao, but follows the path of Beast Taming. With the Cyan Bird as her soul, the Cyan Bird Immortal Talisman she practices is truly wondrous. She can be called the foremost practitioner of Beast Taming among our master’s disciples.”

Jing Shu showed little reaction to this praise, offering only a slight nod.

Chen Qingyang had already noticed that her Cultivation was the highest among them. He hadn’t been able to discern it at first glance, but by using the power of the Great Soul Scripture to sense her Qi Mechanism, he finally determined that her Cultivation had to be in the Seventh Realm, or possibly even the Eighth Realm or above.

Not every Foundation Establishment Master on Sun-piercing Peak was an expert in Beast Taming, so the praise of being the best in their lineage was likely no exaggeration.

Next, Chao Rui gestured toward the woman. “This is Junior Sister Jian Yu. Actually, she has a bit of a connection to you, Senior Brother Chen. Her master is Master Miaoyou. You’ve heard of him, I presume, Senior Brother Chen?”

Miaoyou!

‘That name was all too familiar.’

‘Back on Sun-piercing Peak, he had been Li Qianxue’s master. Chen Qingyang had never met the man, but he’d heard that he was a schemer—petty and small-minded. Many disciples under him were said to both resent and fear him.’

‘When Li Qianxue left for the Tai Hao Sword Institute, things had gotten quite unpleasant. Master Miaoyou was part of the reason Chen Qingyang had suffered so much humiliation back then. He was a Foundation Establishment Master, after all. All he had to do was show a sliver of hatred for Li Qianxun, and others would naturally step up to do his dirty work.’

‘Looking back on Chen Qingyang’s life, one could say his Immortal Path was forged by a genius, and nearly destroyed by one.’

‘As for the Jian Yu before him… in his decades on Sun-piercing Peak, he’d met nearly all of Miaoyou’s ninety-six disciples. He couldn’t recall a single face like hers.’

‘Looking at her Cultivation, he saw she was at the Essence Condensation Four Realms. It was very likely, then, that she had cultivated to this level in the decades since he had left. On Sun-piercing Peak, where everyone was a prodigy, this was considered high-tier talent.’

“Master Miaoyou was once Li Qianxue’s teacher. I performed Miscellaneous Tasks there for several decades, so of course I’m aware.”

Hearing his answer, Chao Rui continued the introduction. “Junior Sister Jian Yu joined Master Miaoyou only fifty years ago and has already gone from Qi Refining to her current level of Essence Condensation Four Realms. She truly deserves to be called a prodigy. She cultivates the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual, so the two of you should have much to discuss today.”

“Heh!” Chao Rui had intended to use this to ease the tension between them, but his words only drew a cold sneer from her, leaving Chao Rui feeling rather awkward.

Chen Qingyang glanced over. Jian Yu was giving him a sidelong look, her face a mask of pure arrogance. If ever there was a picture of contempt, this was it.

‘What a petty person,’ he thought. ‘She was the one who was rude to me first, and now she’s holding a grudge this long over a single Elixir? How could someone like that ever achieve the Great Dao?’

But then, on second thought, he found he wasn’t angry at all. He simply smiled at her. “Forgive my ignorance. I had no idea Senior Sister Jian was so formidable. Give it time, and won’t Master Miaoyou have another Li Qianxue on his hands?”

“Heh!” Another cold sneer.

Jian Yu, it seemed, was immune to his compliments. “Why must you people always compare me to Li Qianxue?” she scoffed. “She has her path, and I have mine. Her fate is unknown now; she can’t be compared to me at all. Or did you not know that?”

‘So that’s the heart of it!’

She considered herself superior to Li Qianxue, yet was constantly being compared to her. Over time, this had bred a deep-seated jealousy, so it was only natural she wouldn’t be pleasant to Chen Qingyang.

“Everyone, let’s not spoil the mood,” Chao Rui interjected, trying to smooth things over. He was the host, after all, and he had orchestrated this whole gathering. “Junior Brother Chen is a disciple of Cyan Bamboo Peak now. He’s not the Miscellaneous Task disciple, Chen Qingyang, anymore!”

“It’s alright, Senior Brother,” Chen Qingyang said with another faint smile. He turned to Jian Yu. “Senior Sister, if you were the one saying you’re stronger than Li Qianxue, people might not believe it. But I was with her for decades. I know her extremely well. And I agree, you are stronger than her. Stronger by more than just a little.”

He said it plainly, without a hint of mockery. Jian Yu looked confused at first, then asked tentatively, “I can’t tell if you’re praising me or insulting me. Do you really think that?”