Chapter 515 - 222: Annoyance
Chen Qing’s mind latched onto those words, and he instantly understood. ’This situation is far from as simple as it sounds.’
For the Sect Leader’s own lineage to be in decline... ’The politics here must run deep.’
Naturally, he wouldn’t be so rash as to press for details. He simply buried the doubt deep in his heart.
"Now that you have the potential to become a True Successor Candidate, your future is boundless. You must be all the more diligent and unremitting in your efforts."
Deng Ziheng brought the topic back to Chen Qing, his tone growing serious. "You must understand, those who covet a True Disciple position are countless, but very few actually succeed. Take Lu Chenming, for example. He serves as a gatekeeper of sorts. Hailing from the Nine Heavens Lineage, he has held the rank of tenth True Disciple for six years now. Several powerful True Successor Candidates from within the Sect have challenged him, and all have failed. One of them met a particularly miserable end. His foundation is profound, he reached Astral Force Perfection long ago, and he has numerous trump cards. He is by no means an easy opponent."
"Thank you for the information, Elder. I understand," Chen Qing said, cupping his fists solemnly.
He was, of course, well aware of the brutal competition for a True Disciple seat. He had already heard about Lu Chenming’s banquet and his reputation as a ’defender.’
For him, the most important thing right now was to build his strength steadily. He needed to raise his Cultivation to the Late-stage Astral Force, or even to Perfection, before making any other plans. It was not the time to overreach and vie for a True Inheritance seat.
"Mm, it’s good that you understand."
Deng Ziheng nodded and stood up. "The Four Veins each have their own unique legacies. You can learn more about them on your own in the future. Ponder them carefully and choose the path that suits you best. I didn’t come here today to act as a lobbyist for the True Martial Lineage or to forcibly recruit you."
"I simply see you as a rare talent, and I would hate to see you waste your potential or make a misstep due to inexperience. That’s why I’m being a bit long-winded. As for the invitations from the Noble Families, I’ll say it again: be fully aware of what you’re getting into and choose with caution."
Deng Ziheng’s words were sincere, and Chen Qing could feel the concern behind them. He bowed deeply once more. "Elder, your words today have been truly enlightening. I am eternally grateful!"
"All right, focus on your recovery." Deng Ziheng waved his hand, saying no more as he turned and walked out of the courtyard.
After seeing Elder Deng off, Chen Qing stood in the courtyard, lost in thought for a long while.
"The True Martial Lineage, the Nine Heavens Lineage..." he muttered to himself.
’The Nine Heavens Lineage has Lu Chenming, as well as that Luo Ziming who came to probe me before. I should definitely keep my distance from them.’
’Now that I’ve demonstrated some of my strength, they probably won’t try to probe me so casually again.’
’As for the True Martial Lineage, even though they have the Sect Leader as their figurehead, there seem to be some internal complications. Elder Deng was vague on the details.’
’And as for the Mystic Sun and Jade Celestial Lineages, I’ve had no contact with them at all, so I know even less about their situations.’
.....
「Deep within the flower gardens of the Shen Family estate.」
The fragrance of tea wafted from an octagonal pavilion.
Shen Xinyue, the Ninth Miss of the Shen Family, sat across from her close friend, Zhao Man of the Zhao Family, idly chatting. Both were young ladies from the Noble Families of Celestial Treasure City.
"If you ask me, even though Brother Lu Chenming is ranked tenth, his foundation is profound. I heard he’s already at Astral Force Perfection. It’s not impossible for him to advance even further in the future."
Zhao Man fanned herself gently with a round silk fan, her eyes filled with yearning and admiration for the True Disciples. "The Ten Great True Disciples are all the cream of the crop. If one could only..."
Her voice trailed off as she shot Shen Xinyue a teasing glance. "...like your third sister, Xinyue. Finding a True Disciple for a husband—now that’s what I call a perfect match."
Shen Xinyue raised her teacup and took an elegant sip. Her expression held the inherent poise and faint arrogance of a young noblewoman. "A True Inheritance position is not so easily won. Brother Lu is skilled at defending what he has, but he lacks the drive to advance. It’s the few ranked higher, like Brother Yanchi, who are the ones truly capable of contending for dominance."
She spoke as if she were intimately familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of every True Disciple, revealing her exceptionally high standards.
Just as she was speaking, a personal maidservant hurried down the flower path to the edge of the pavilion. Her face was a mask of suppressed shock and urgency as she curtsied. "Miss."
Shen Xinyue’s delicate brows furrowed, clearly displeased by the interruption. "What has you in such a panic?"
The maidservant quickly stepped forward and whispered a few urgent words.
After hearing only a few words, the hand Shen Xinyue was using to hold her teacup froze. Her beautiful eyes flew wide open, and she exclaimed in a choked voice, "Is this true? Chen Qing? He passed the twenty-ninth floor of the Celestial Treasure Tower?! And he’s ranked eighth on Xu Wang Mountain?"
Her voice rose uncontrollably, laced with utter disbelief.
"It’s absolutely true, Miss!"
The maidservant’s tone was firm as she described the scene at the Celestial Treasure Tower and explained how the news was now the talk of Xu Wang Mountain and the entire Inner Sect. "The news is everywhere. They’re all saying that even though Young Hero Chen is ranked eighth, he already possesses the qualifications of a ’True Successor Candidate’—the third one, right after Wu Anren and He Shuang!"
As Shen Xinyue listened, her heart felt like a calm lake into which a giant boulder had been cast, sending endless ripples across its surface.
A True Successor Candidate!
She knew better than anyone the weight those three words carried.
It meant Chen Qing had, in a single leap, become one of the Sect’s most promising new stars. He now had the qualifications to one day vie for that supreme position!
His status would be completely different from what it once was!
’Her mind flashed back to their first meeting—that young man from Yunlin Prefecture who had seemed composed but otherwise unremarkable. Then she recalled the words of her third uncle, Shen Qianshan...’
’Could Third Uncle have actually been right?’
’Was Eighth Sister right, too?’
Beside her, Zhao Man was completely lost. Seeing Shen Xinyue so flustered, she couldn’t help but ask, "Xinyue, who are you talking about? Which Chen Qing? A True Successor Candidate? But aren’t Wu Anren and He Shuang the only new ones?"
Shen Xinyue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart as she struggled to regain her composure.