Chapter 292: Jingzhi

Chen Qingyang said, “Everyone’s destiny is different, and even on the same path, our methods will vary. She has simply walked farther down her own road. If you had even half of her good fortune, I believe you could reach the threshold of Foundation Establishment within a hundred years!”

As he spoke, he seemed to be lost in thought, his mind drifting far away. It wasn’t just Jian Yu; even Chao Rui couldn’t tell if he was being complimentary or sarcastic.

The man opposite him remained grim-faced, but Jing Shu, seated beside them, began to snicker quietly.

As if he had read her mind, Jian Yu felt a brief flicker of pleasure, but she quickly put her disdainful mask back on. “Hmph. Spare me your compliments. I know my own worth; I don’t need to hear it from you.”

It seemed she had taken Chen Qingyang’s words to heart after all.

After that little hiccup, Chao Rui continued his introduction of the man. “This is Senior Brother Yao. He’s not from Master Miaoyou’s lineage, nor is he from ours. He came along with Jian Yu as they are Dao Companions.”

‘Dao Companions?’ Chen Qingyang thought. They didn’t look like it to him. He stuck to his initial opinion: it was a partnership of convenience at best, just two people living together for mutual benefit.

He had just been observing the man carefully. His Cultivation was formidable; though he was in the Sixth Realm of Dongming, he likely already had one foot in the Seventh Realm.

The man was also brooding and calculating, rarely revealing his thoughts—a stark contrast to Jian Yu. In fact, when Jian Yu had flown into a rage, a flicker of disgust had even crossed his eyes.

‘How could two people like that be Dao Companions? There must be some dirty secret between them.’

“Yao Jingzhi,” he finally said, his tone flat and noncommittal. “A pleasure, Junior Brother Chen.”

Chen Qingyang, in turn, showed him the same enthusiasm he had shown Jian Yu, clasping his hands in a salute. “Senior Brother Yao, you have an extraordinary air about you. Your Cultivation must be truly formidable. May I ask which art you practice?”

Yao Jingzhi replied, “Just a few minor Talismanic arts. They’re hardly worth mentioning compared to the Alchemy Dao.”

Chen Qingyang had seen a thing or two and knew just how powerful the Talismanic Spell Method could be. It could be used to covertly harm people, just as the Seven Immortals of Peach Valley did.

Or it could be used as he had seen in the Yong Kingdom, when a Demon Sect Disciple used his own blood as Cinnabar to draw a Talisman in mid-air, instantly blocking Li Zheng and the others.

“Senior Brother, you’re far too modest. The Talismanic Technique is as vast as the ocean and all-encompassing. I’ve long heard that from the Yang Thunder above to the Nine Netherworld below, its applications are limitless.”

It was the same routine of flattery, but Yao Jingzhi replied, “I’m ashamed to say that while I’ve dabbled in many things, I’m a master of none. You, on the other hand, Junior Brother, are the truly impressive one—to rise from a place like the Four Golden Peaks, enter Cyan Bamboo Peak, and refine a Tier Four of the Sixth Realm Elixir with your Cultivation at the Essence Condensation Realm. That is what’s truly remarkable. How did you manage it?”

Chen Qingyang fell silent for a moment, then echoed the same sentiment back at him. “Just a fortunate coincidence. It’s not worth mentioning.”

“Haha…” Yao Jingzhi suddenly burst out laughing, a stark contrast to his earlier silence. “I don’t believe that. The world’s lucky chances can’t all revolve around a single person, Junior Brother. I’d say Li Qianxue had long planned to leave Master Miaoyou. Fearing you would be implicated, she had you hide your true abilities all along and deliberately get yourself kicked out of Sun-piercing Peak. Am I right?”

If Jian Yu had said such a thing, Chen Qingyang wouldn’t have been surprised in the least; she was Master Miaoyou’s Disciple and seemed rather ignorant of worldly affairs.

But Yao Jingzhi was different. It was hard to understand what position he was speaking from, or for whom he was seeking justice.

“I don’t understand, Senior Brother Yao. How could you possibly have such an idea?”

Yao Jingzhi continued, “After learning about your past, Junior Brother Chen, I couldn’t help but think it. Before the Separation Dragon Pill Institute competition, you were a complete unknown. After the competition, you shot to fame. Then you entered Cyan Bamboo Peak, like a captive dragon returning to the sea.”

“Then, in just a few short years, your Cultivation reached its current level. If you weren’t hiding your true abilities, then your innate talent must surpass even Li Qianxue’s—a truly meteoric rise!”

‘He’s really done his homework,’ Chen Qingyang thought. ‘It doesn’t seem like he came to this gathering casually. He’s the one with an agenda.’

When it came to sharp-witted debate, Chen Qingyang rarely lost. Moreover, his Conscious Fish was observing everything meticulously, catching every subtle change in their expressions.

He immediately retorted, “What I’m asking is where an idea like that came from, Senior Brother Yao. You and I have never had any dealings, yet you seem to have gone to great lengths to learn so much about me. Who influenced you to do so?”

This Yao Jingzhi was quite a character. His expression remained unchanged as he replied, “No one influenced me. It was purely out of curiosity. If you insist on naming an influence, it would have to be Junior Sister Jian Yu, here beside me.”

Hearing this, Jian Yu seemed to feel a warmth spread through her heart. She leaned slightly toward the man beside her, but Chen Qingyang’s next words wiped the happy look from her face.

“I don’t think so. They say people who share a bed can’t be of two different minds, but Senior Brother Yao and Senior Sister Jian Yu are clearly two very different types of people. Your heart, Senior Brother Yao, doesn’t seem to be with Senior Sister Jian Yu at all. It seems more like you have ulterior motives!”

“You…” Before Yao Jingzhi could speak, Jian Yu erupted in fury. “What is that supposed to mean? Are you resorting to personal attacks just because he spoke a few home truths?”

Her expression was so vicious, she looked ready to eat Chen Qingyang alive.

Stuck in the middle, Chao Rui had no choice but to quickly step in. “We’re all fellow disciples of the same sect, let’s not hurt our camaraderie…”

Jian Yu, huffing with anger, had just sat down when she saw that Chen Qingyang had no intention of letting it go. “I’ve heard that Master Miaoyou has dabbled in a wide variety of arts in his life and is an expert in all of them. I’ve also heard he often enjoys teaching disciples from other lineages. Today, it makes me wonder… could Senior Brother Yao’s reason for getting close to Junior Sister Jian Yu actually be to get to Master Miaoyou?”

“Junior Brother Chen, you should stop now, too,” Chao Rui pleaded. He had just managed to calm one down, only for the other to start up again. His frustration was beyond words.

But this time, surprisingly, Jian Yu didn’t argue with Chen Qingyang. Instead, she turned to the man beside her, only to see his expression had become incredibly foul.

“That day you went to pay respects to my master… was it for the reason he says?”

“Heh!” Yao Jingzhi sneered. “You’d believe his words?”

Fortunately, Jian Yu wasn’t a complete idiot. “Then how do you explain it? Why are you so interested in Chen Qingyang’s affairs? More interested than you are in me?”

To be honest, even Chen Qingyang hadn’t expected this. He had just been making a wild guess in their verbal spar, but it turned out there was actually some truth to it.

Yao Jingzhi seemed unwilling, or perhaps too disdainful, to explain. He looked coldly at Chen Qingyang. “So I was right. You truly are no simple character, Junior Brother Chen!”

Seeing that she was being ignored, Jian Yu grew even more furious. “What, you have nothing to say now? Even an outsider can see it! What else are you hiding?”

Yao Jingzhi’s grim expression was replaced by a profound calm, as steady as a mountain. “Junior Sister, don’t speak such nonsense and make us a laughingstock for outsiders. Can it be that you don’t trust me, but you trust him?”

Jian Yu was past caring about any of that. “I knew you were this kind of person… I just didn’t want to believe it… You’re… you’re despicable… shameless…”

As the situation devolved, Chao Rui wanted to say something but was at a complete loss. He could only glance at Jing Shu for help, but she just had her chin propped in her hand, looking like she was ready to enjoy the show. Helpless, he could only shake his head.

In the midst of Jian Yu’s shouting, Yao Jingzhi suddenly shot to his feet, moving so quickly that Chen Qingyang almost reflexively struck him. “My apologies, everyone. I must take my leave from this gathering early… Junior Brother Chen, you are very good!”

After saying his piece, he departed without a moment’s hesitation.

With the target of her tirade gone, Jian Yu instantly deflated, looking completely crestfallen. She dazedly mumbled a farewell to Jing Shu and Chao Rui, then walked away. She spared no words or even a glance for Chen Qingyang.

Jing Shu seemed fine, but Chao Rui was extremely embarrassed. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Junior Brother Chen. Please don’t take offense. I hadn’t originally intended to invite those two, but they insisted on coming after hearing who you were.”

“I thought it over, and since we had all cultivated under Master Miaoyou at one point, I ended up agreeing. I never expected it would turn out like this.”

Chen Qingyang remained unconcerned. “Senior Brother, your intentions were good. How could you have known they each had their own ulterior motives? There’s no need to blame yourself.”

At this point, Jing Shu lowered the hand propping up her chin, turned to the side, and said with keen interest, “I don’t think Yao Jingzhi was wrong. This junior brother of ours is quite the character. To see through their superficial relationship with a single glance… For Jian Yu, this is actually a good thing.”