Chapter 488 - 213: Five Elements
Chen Qing saw the two of them to the courtyard gate, cupped his hands, and said solemnly, "Thank you. I will remember this."
Once they were gone, silence fell around him.
The waters of Xu Wang Mountain were deeper and murkier than he had imagined.
’In the end, strength is everything.’
Chen Qing muttered to himself, ’I must condense the Geng Metal True Gang as soon as possible, complete the Five Elements cycle, and break through to the Mid-stage Astral Force—and then, the Late Stage.’
With this thought, he turned and headed for the Quiet Chamber.
....
「Wutai Sect, Council Hall」
The hall was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was unlike any other day, filled with a mix of excitement and poignant reflection.
Sang Yanping and Chu Jinyun had returned and were in the middle of a detailed report on everything they had seen and heard in Celestial Treasure City and at Xu Wang Mountain, focusing particularly on the news about Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong.
Although they had already received the news, the moment they heard that Chen Qing had ultimately placed twenty-ninth in the Xu Wang Mountain selection, a murmur of discussion swept through the hall.
"Twenty-ninth?!"
Tan Yang, the Dean of the Geng Metal Institute, wore a complicated expression as he asked, "He surpassed Zhu Yu, the ’Red Flame Hand’ from Pingyang Prefecture’s Fiery Sun Sect?"
He remembered it clearly. Zhu Yu was a prodigy that the Fiery Sun Sect had poured all its resources into cultivating. He had made a name for himself at a young age with his domineering and ferocious Red Flame Astral Force. Tan Yang had seen him fight once during his travels years ago; his strength was extraordinary, and he was by no means an easy opponent.
’And Chen Qing actually managed to outperform him?’
"That’s right."
Chu Jinyun nodded slowly. "Zhu Yu ranked forty-seventh. Chen Qing... he truly did it."
Peng Zhen was overcome with emotion. "Twenty-ninth... Amidst the assembled prodigies of the Hundred Sects from the Three Paths and Fifty-One Mansions, he actually broke into the top thirty! I recall how green he was when he first joined the Sect. How many years has it been? The younger generation is truly something to be reckoned with!"
His tone was filled with astonishment, and an almost imperceptible trace of envy. ’If only such a rare gem of a talent had come from my Kun Earth Institute,’ he thought.
Sect Leader He Yuzhou sat at the head of the hall, his expression tranquil, but the slight flicker in his eyes betrayed his inner agitation.
He began to speak, his voice steady yet filled with gratification. "This means that, including Xiuyong, our Wutai Sect has had two disciples selected for Xu Wang Mountain. According to the Upper Sect’s decree, our Sect will be exempt from ten years of tribute. This is a joyous occasion. For the Wutai Sect, this represents an unimaginable wealth of resources, enough to elevate our Sect’s foundation to a new level."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Now, we can only hope that the two of them can secure a firm foothold in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect and focus on their cultivation."
Elder Sang Yanping sighed softly and added, "The Sect Leader is absolutely right. With prodigies from a hundred sects gathered, it’s a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers—and that’s not even counting the monstrous talents the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect cultivates itself. For Chen Qing to have achieved what he has is already far beyond our expectations. It was a remarkable feat."
"To distinguish himself among them will be as difficult as ascending to the heavens."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in silent agreement.
The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect was a true dragon’s lair and tiger’s den. Simply securing a place there was a stroke of great fortune. To reach the top required not just talent, but also opportunities, fortitude, and even luck.
Sang Yanping then relayed the parting words of Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong.
Li Baichuan sat alone in a corner, his eyes closed as if in meditation.
When he heard Chen Qing’s message, his eyelids twitched once before he returned to his state of perfect stillness.
He Yuzhou’s gaze swept over the assembly as he declared in a solemn voice, "While they are away, Chen Qing and Xiuyong represent the Wutai Sect. The better they fare, the more our Sect benefits. Should they have any needs or encounter any difficulties, as long as they send word back, the Sect will do everything in its power to support them."
"Yes!"
The deans and elders responded in unison, fully aware that the Sect’s fortune for the next several decades hinged on this.
He Yuzhou mulled it over for a moment, then turned his gaze to Li Baichuan, who appeared to be asleep. "Junior Martial Uncle Li."
Li Baichuan opened his eyes slightly and looked over.
He Yuzhou continued, "The Sect has recently discovered a new disciple with an outstanding Root Bone. Junior Brother Peng has confirmed it to be the rare ’Nine Forms Root Bone.’ His innate talent is extraordinary—a true gem. I was wondering... if you might make an exception and allow him to join the Cyan Wood Institute directly, so that you may personally guide him?"
As soon as he said this, the expressions of Peng Zhen, Tan Yang, and the other deans shifted. They exchanged glances, a restless energy filling the air between them.
The Nine Forms Root Bone!
’A peerless aptitude, one in ten thousand! Who wouldn’t want a disciple like that?’
’If nurtured properly, his future accomplishments would be immeasurable. He would surely become a pillar supporting not just an institute, but the entire Sect.’
But since Sect Leader He Yuzhou had made the proposal directly to Li Baichuan, they couldn’t immediately start vying for the disciple, despite their eagerness. They could only fix their gazes intently on Li Baichuan.
He Yuzhou himself was inwardly fervent.
He had witnessed with his own eyes how Li Baichuan’s hands-off approach had produced a monster like Chen Qing.
’If Junior Martial Uncle Li agrees to take on this genius with the Nine Forms Root Bone and offer him a little guidance, doesn’t that mean that in a few years, the Wutai Sect could produce another pillar on par with Chen Qing?’
’This would be an incredible blessing!’
However, Li Baichuan’s reaction was like a bucket of cold water being poured over them.
"Follow the Sect’s established rules. Conduct the joint review, and let the institutes choose in sequence."
As his words fell, not only He Yuzhou but also Peng Zhen and the others were momentarily stunned. A flicker of joy then flashed uncontrollably in Peng Zhen’s eyes.
A wave of disappointment washed over He Yuzhou, but he nodded. "Then we shall proceed according to the established rules."
After discussing a few more trivial matters, the meeting was adjourned.
Everyone departed with varying expressions. Hong Yuandong of the Li Fire Institute was the most excited of all, already scheming how to recruit the disciple with the Nine Forms Root Bone.
He Yuzhou asked only Sang Yanping to stay behind.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the hall.
He Yuzhou looked at Sang Yanping and said slowly, "Junior Brother Sang, I am preparing to enter seclusion for a while."