Chapter 528 - 226: Reality 3
Hearing his calm question, Youlan didn’t relax in the slightest. Instead, a chill crept into her heart.
She knew well that her Young Master was exceptionally talented, but he was also suspicious by nature and possessed an extremely strong desire for control. This was especially true regarding his wife, Ruan Lingxiu. He seemed to give her respect and freedom, but in reality, her every move was under his silent watch.
Youlan quickly and respectfully replied, "I received word that at 3:00 PM today, the Madam went to the Gathering Immortals Tower in the city. It seems... she was having a small gathering with two old acquaintances."
"Old acquaintances?" Zhong Yu’s lips curved into a smile that wasn’t a smile. "Which two old acquaintances?"
"They are... they are newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples, Shen Xiuyong from the Wutai Sect and Qiao Hongyun from the Haisa Sect."
Youlan’s voice grew even more cautious. "According to my investigation, they were acquainted with the Madam many years ago."
A brief silence fell over the Warm Pavilion, broken only by the soft crackle of incense burning in the censer.
After a long moment, Zhong Yu finally spoke, his tone still betraying no emotion. "Understood. You may leave."
"Yes, Young Master."
As if granted amnesty, Youlan quickly bowed and retreated. By the time she left the Warm Pavilion, her back was soaked with cold sweat.
....
In the courtyard, snowflakes drifted down sporadically.
Chen Qing held the Diancang Spear, his body moving like the wind, his spear strikes like rain.
His Thousand Rain Flowing Shadow Spear had already reached the Realm of Perfection, and he wielded it with complete mastery.
The tip of the spear transformed into points of cold light, as dense as a sudden downpour. But just as they were about to fall, they abruptly converged, forming a single, highly condensed flowing shadow that pierced the air with a sharp whistle.
The Spear Momentum was sometimes dense and continuous, other times explosive, merging the swiftness of "Thousand Rain" with the unpredictability of "Flowing Shadow."
When the Thousand Rain Flowing Shadow Spear was cultivated to the Extreme Realm, the Momentum one comprehended was the ’Rain’ Momentum.
’Once the ’Mountain,’ ’Thunder,’ and ’Rain’ Momentums are combined into one, I can then cultivate the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Spear.’
Just as he was immersed in his Spear Technique, a clear knock came from outside the courtyard gate.
Chen Qing retracted his spear and stood still, his breathing steady, his face expressionless.
He walked to the courtyard gate and pulled it open. To his surprise, Liu Wu from the Chaoyang Sect was standing outside.
Liu Wu had a wide smile on his face. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother Chen, please forgive my sudden visit."
Chen Qing looked at him calmly, not moving aside immediately. He simply said coolly, "What can I do for you?"
Liu Wu seemed to have his speech prepared. He sighed and said, "Brother Chen, I have come today specifically to resolve our past grievances. Everything that happened before, in Fengye County and on the road, was mostly due to the old feuds between our Sect elders. We juniors were caught in the middle, truly helpless."
As he spoke, he took out a Jade Token from his robes and offered it to Chen Qing. "Here are five hundred Contribution Points. It’s just a small token, nothing grand, but I hope Brother Chen will accept it as my apology for my previous offenses."
"We have both entered the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. Past grievances are like smoke in the wind; why let them become a stumbling block on our path of Cultivation? To be honest, I don’t want to get involved in the entanglements of the previous generation. I only wish to focus on Martial Arts and pursue a higher Realm."
Liu Wu had racked his brains for a long time, and this was the best solution he could come up with.
Chen Qing looked at the Jade Token, then at Liu Wu’s seemingly sincere face, but in his heart, he knew the truth.
’This Liu Wu is really adaptable. Seeing that I’ve shown the potential of a True Successor Candidate and that my status is no longer what it once was, he immediately swallows his pride to reconcile, even willing to spend five hundred Contribution Points.’
’The world is just this pragmatic. If you are strong, even your former rivals will greet you with smiles and resources. If you are weak, you can only be at the mercy of others.’
On the surface, he remained completely unfazed. He reached out, took the Jade Token, and smiled. "Brother Liu, you’re being too serious. Since it’s all in the past, let’s let it go. As fellow disciples cultivating in the same Sect, we should value harmony."
Seeing Chen Qing accept the Contribution Points, the smile on Liu Wu’s face became even warmer. He quickly said, "Brother Chen is magnanimous! If you need any help in the Sect in the future, just say the word. As long as it’s within my power, I will not refuse."
Chen Qing nodded but didn’t say much more.
This reconciliation was merely the result of a cost-benefit analysis, with little genuine sincerity to speak of. It was a truth they both understood without needing to say it.
"Then I won’t disturb Brother Chen’s peaceful Cultivation any longer. Farewell."
Having achieved his goal, Liu Wu didn’t linger. He cupped his hands and left.
After closing the courtyard gate, Chen Qing returned to his Quiet Chamber and began to tally his current Contribution Points.
He had spent eight hundred Contribution Points to redeem the Thousand Rain Flowing Shadow Spear, but he received a monthly stipend of three hundred. Adding the reward for his first climb to the twenty-ninth floor of the tower, his earnings from previous missions and selling materials, and the five hundred points Liu Wu had just given him, he had a grand total of four thousand Contribution Points.
’Four thousand Contribution Points... I’m still two thousand short of the six thousand needed to redeem the Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill.’
Chen Qing calculated silently. ’It seems I’ll have to find a way to make up the rest of the Contribution Points.’
Contribution Points were resources, an accelerator for his Cultivation. He had to act quickly.
Besides the Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill, he also needed Contribution Points for himself to redeem Martial Arts like the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing Spear, as well as Elixirs.
In the following days, Chen Qing focused even more on his Cultivation. He worked on stabilizing his Mid-stage Astral Force Cultivation and polishing his Five Elements True Astral, while also continuing to deepen his mastery of the Thousand Rain Flowing Shadow Spear and the True Martial Seal. At the same time, he kept an eye on mission postings at Wanxiang Hall.
However, just as he was engrossed in his secluded cultivation, a sudden piece of news spread.
On this day, Chen Qing had just returned from Wanxiang Hall when he overheard several disciples gathered together, discussing something with excited expressions.
"Did you hear? Senior Sister Meng Qianxue is going to formally challenge Senior Brother Lu Chenming in three days!"
"What? She’s challenging for the tenth True Inheritance seat? She’s finally making her move!"
"This is going to be a great show! I wonder what Senior Sister Meng’s chances are this time?"
....
Chen Qing’s steps faltered for a moment.
’Meng Qianxue, one of the True Successor Candidates... Someone is finally making a move to challenge Lu Chenming?’