Chapter 514 - 222: Annoyance
Outside the Celestial Treasure Tower, Shen Xiuyong and Qiao Hongyun hurried forward.
Shen Xiuyong even took out a Jade Bottle, poured out a Healing Pill, and without another word, pressed it into Chen Qing’s hand. "Junior Nephew, take this quickly. Stabilizing your internal injuries is the most important thing!"
Chen Qing accepted it readily. He took the Elixir and swallowed it, and a gentle warmth instantly spread through him.
"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle Shen, Junior Martial Uncle Qiao."
"Brother Chen, congratulations! The twenty-ninth floor... truly... astonishing!"
Shang Lujing came forward, a complicated look on his face, but he still offered his congratulations.
He had originally thought he was firmly in the top ten, a class above everyone else in their small circle. He never expected that Chen Qing would quietly catch up and surpass him, also reaching the twenty-ninth floor.
Zhuo Xiaoyun also congratulated him softly, "Brother Chen, you really hide your strength well. With this kind of potential, you’re more than qualified to be a True Successor Candidate."
At this moment, many geniuses from the Hundred Sects came forward, wanting to chat with Chen Qing and make his acquaintance.
Chen Qing’s face was still a little pale and his aura was slightly weak. He cupped his fists and said with a wry smile, "Everyone, you flatter me. It was just a stroke of luck. My injuries are not light, so I must take my leave. We can talk another day."
Seeing that he was indeed in poor condition, the crowd understandingly made way for him.
They figured he must have used up all his trump cards and exhausted everything he had to break through to the twenty-ninth floor.
Chen Qing nodded to the few of them, then, with countless eyes upon him, dragged his "weary" body away from the noisy square step by step, heading toward his own small courtyard.
The moment he returned to his quiet little courtyard and closed the gate, the look of weakness on Chen Qing’s face vanished.
He carefully sensed the condition of his body. The superficial wound on his chest had already scabbed over thanks to the powerful self-healing ability of his Eight Extremes Vajra Body. As for the slight vibrations in his internal organs, they had already settled down for the most part on his way back.
’This Eight Extremes Vajra Body Mixed Yuan Realm is truly incredible.’
Chen Qing was secretly pleased.
His earlier weakness was seventy percent due to the massive consumption of his True Power, and thirty percent an intentional act.
「That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.」
After feeding the squawking, ever-growing Golden Feathered Eagle fledgling, Chen Qing was just about to sit down and begin his Cultivation when a knock came from his courtyard gate again.
Chen Qing’s heart stirred. ’Who could it be at this hour?’
He straightened his clothes and went to open the gate.
Standing outside was an old man with a kind face and gentle eyes. It was none other than Elder Deng Ziheng.
Chen Qing hurriedly bowed. "Disciple Chen Qing greets Elder Deng. I was unaware of your arrival and failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive my offense, Elder."
Deng Ziheng waved his hand and stepped into the small courtyard with a chuckle. "No need for such formalities. I came uninvited, so I’m the one disturbing your quiet Cultivation."
"Elder, you’re too kind. Your presence brings light to my humble home." Chen Qing respectfully led Deng Ziheng to the stone table and gestured for him to sit.
Deng Ziheng stroked his beard and sized Chen Qing up. "Not bad, not bad at all. To break through both the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth floors with a Mid-stage Astral Force Cultivation, fighting two seamlessly coordinated Late-stage Astral Force Puppets... a feat like that is something even the veteran disciples of the Inner Sect would be proud of."
Chen Qing said humbly, "You praise me too much, Elder. This disciple merely exhausted all his strength and won by a fluke. I truly don’t deserve such high praise."
He knew that Elder Deng’s late-night visit wasn’t just to sing his praises.
Deng Ziheng smiled as if he had seen through Chen Qing’s thoughts. He stopped beating around the bush and his expression grew a little more serious. "It is good that you have such a disposition—neither arrogant nor rash. I came here tonight for two reasons. First, to check on your condition. Second, there are a few things I must remind you of."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "By breaking into the top ten today, you have demonstrated the potential of a True Successor Candidate. News of this has likely already spread throughout the Inner Sect. You must be prepared for what comes next. The many Noble Families, factions within the Sect, and even our Four Veins will probably be turning their attention to you. Many of them will intend to recruit you."
Chen Qing’s heart tensed. He knew the main event was starting, so he focused his attention and listened intently.
Deng Ziheng spoke earnestly, "Within our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, the powers at play are deep-rooted and intertwined. There are thousand-year-old Noble Families and veteran elders of the Sect. The relationships are intricate and complex. You must carefully weigh the pros and cons and choose with caution. Do not make a rash decision for the sake of a temporary benefit."
These words were truly from the heart, filled with a senior’s concern for a junior.
Chen Qing nodded heavily and said in a solemn voice, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder. This disciple will take it to heart and will certainly act with caution."
Coming from a humble background, he knew all too well that nothing in this world comes for free. He naturally understood such principles.
Seeing this, a flicker of satisfaction flashed in Deng Ziheng’s eyes. He added, "Furthermore, now that you’ve revealed your potential, you’ve naturally caught the eye of the upper echelons of the Four Veins. Many of the Sect’s subsequent advanced Martial Arts and opportunities in Secret Realms are tied to the Four Veins. If you wish to climb to greater heights in the future, choosing a vein to focus your cultivation on is almost an unavoidable path."
Chen Qing’s heart stirred. He seized the opportunity, cupped his fists, and asked, "If I may ask, Elder Deng... which of the Four Veins do you belong to?"
Although he had his suspicions, he still wanted to confirm them.
Deng Ziheng smiled faintly. "I hail from the True Martial Lineage. Although I currently hold a position on the main peak, my roots are still in True Martial. In fact, the current Sect Leader also comes from our True Martial Lineage."
"The Sect Leader is also from the True Martial Lineage?" Chen Qing was genuinely surprised to hear this.
’The Sect Leader’s lineage should, by all rights, be the strongest faction in the Sect.’
Deng Ziheng seemed to guess his thoughts. His smile faded slightly, and he let out a soft sigh. "Although the Sect Leader is from True Martial... the True Martial Lineage has actually run into some problems in recent years. We’re facing a gap in talent between the old and new generations. Compared to the currently ascendant Nine Heavens Lineage, our prestige is indeed not what it used to be."
’Run into some problems?’
’A gap in talent?’