Chapter 487 - 213: Five Elements
Shen Xiuyong and Qiao Hongyun exchanged a smile, then pushed the door open and entered.
Shen Xiuyong said jovially, "Nephew Chen, congratulations! The twenty-sixth layer! Your ranking should be secure for now!"
Chen Qing welcomed the two into his courtyard and seated them at the stone table. "Junior Martial Uncle Shen, you flatter me," he said humbly. "It was just a stroke of luck. Compared to those ahead of me, I still have a long way to go."
"Hey now, excessive humility is just another form of pride."
Qiao Hongyun smiled and patted Chen Qing’s shoulder. "You reached the twenty-sixth layer with only Early-stage Astral Force. That ability to fight so far above your level is impressive enough. But we also came to tell you something."
Shen Xiuyong took over, his expression growing serious. "While you were challenging the tower, something significant happened in the Sect. The tenth-ranked True Disciple, Lu Chenming, sent an invitation to Wu Anren for a banquet. And it wasn’t just him. We heard that Luo Qianjue, Qiu Qixing, and a few of the other top-ranked cultivators also received invitations."
Hearing this, Chen Qing paused, his teacup halfway to his lips. "Lu Chenming... hosting a banquet for Wu Anren and the others? How did it go?"
"Apparently, it was very cordial. They say everyone was all smiles and the conversation flowed freely."
Shen Xiuyong added, "Lu Chenming even offered them some pointers, making him seem quite magnanimous."
Chen Qing took a small sip of tea and mused, "It’s probably not that simple, is it?"
’He knew that the calmer things appeared on the surface, the more turbulent the undercurrents were likely to be.’
’This Lu Zhenchuan wasn’t the type to idly help up-and-comers out of the goodness of his heart.’
’He was ranked tenth among the True Disciples, a precarious position to hold.’
Qiao Hongyun nodded, his tone growing grave. "The position of a True Disciple isn’t set in stone. According to Sect rules, if an Inner Sect Disciple believes they are strong enough, they can publicly challenge any of the ten True Disciples on the main peak’s Seven-Star Platform, witnessed by at least three Elders. The victor takes the loser’s place."
"This Lu Chenming is what you might call the ’Gatekeeper’ of the True Disciple seats. We’ve heard that in the past two years, two of the eight recognized ’True Successor Candidates’ from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Inner Sect have challenged him."
"What happened?" Chen Qing asked.
"Both were defeated and severely injured."
Qiao Hongyun lowered his voice. "And we heard their injuries were critical—the kind that damages one’s very cultivation foundation. One of them was left with such lasting damage that his strength dropped to less than a tenth of what it had been. He was eventually challenged and defeated by an Outer Disciple who had just reached the Astral Force Realm, and couldn’t even hold on to his status as an Inner Sect Disciple..."
When he finished, the three of them exchanged grave looks.
The competition within the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect was far more brutal than one could imagine.
Without enough strength, forget the position of a True Disciple—even one’s status as an Inner Sect Disciple could be lost overnight.
The cultivators from Xu Wang Mountain were now caught in the very same vortex.
They currently enjoyed the privileges afforded to Inner Sect Disciples, but if their strength ever failed them, they would likely lose even that status.
Shen Xiuyong said gravely, "His objective couldn’t be more obvious. He’s using ruthless tactics to intimidate all the up-and-comers, especially rising geniuses from Xu Wang Mountain like you who’ve been labeled ’True Successor Candidates.’ He’s making it a fact known to all that the position of a True Disciple is not easily won. Challenging him comes at a price few can afford to pay."
Chen Qing nodded slightly. ’The Sect wouldn’t punish Lu for this.’
’After all, Lu Chenming was a proper True Disciple, while those two were merely True Successor Candidates.’
’The Sect’s rules were strict and the hierarchy was clear. Why would they ever make trouble for a True Disciple on behalf of two mere candidates?’
’Besides, in a formal duel, one was expected to give it their all.’
’If Lu Chenming were ever questioned, he’d only need to say, ’I was fighting with all my might and couldn’t pull back in time.’ That would be enough to smooth the whole thing over. It was a perfectly reasonable excuse that no one could find fault with.’
"Exactly."
Qiao Hongyun said slowly, "After those two incidents, the other True Successor Candidates from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect have gone quiet. It seems they’re now silently watching to see what we from Xu Wang Mountain will do."
Chen Qing spoke up, "I imagine Lu Chenming put a great deal of pressure on those ’True Successor Candidates’."
’This True Disciple ’Gatekeeper’ called it a friendly banquet, but it was really an indirect warning—a way to personally come down and test the mettle of these new threats.’
’Chen Qing knew one thing for certain: when someone starts to wonder if you have what it takes to challenge them, you’d better actually possess the power to make them wary.’
Shen Xiuyong smacked his lips. "But then again," he said, "once you’re recognized as a ’True Successor Candidate,’ your status changes completely. It means you have the potential to contend for a True Disciple position, and you’ll instantly become a target of attention and investment for many of the Sect’s major powers."
"Even if you ultimately fail to become a True Disciple, the resources and connections you gain are far beyond what an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple could ever hope for."
Chen Qing nodded. ’But he knew that gaining such a lofty status and all that attention naturally meant being thrust into the eye of the storm.’
’Not only would it attract the jealousy and rivalry of his peers, but it would also directly infringe upon the interests of the current True Disciples, making him a thorn in their side.’
’Wu Anren and the others were the perfect example of this.’
’There was a fine line to walk, and he would have to tread carefully.’
Shen Xiuyong and Qiao Hongyun chatted for a while longer about recent Sect gossip and trivial affairs before getting up to leave.
"Nephew, the path of cultivation is long. Don’t be too tense. A balance of work and rest is the proper way."
Before leaving, Shen Xiuyong patted Chen Qing’s shoulder and advised earnestly, "If you run into any trouble, or if you hear anything, come find me anytime."
Qiao Hongyun nodded as well. "That’s right. We’re from the same region, so we should look out for each other."