Chapter 522 - 224: Qian Yu (Part 3)
The moment these words were spoken, the private room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
No one replied, but a glint appeared in everyone’s eyes.
Everyone present knew in their hearts, clear as day. Though they sat together at this moment, they were all fundamentally coveting the limited positions of True Disciples. Their relationship was defined more by intense competition than anything else.
Each person impassively observed the others’ reactions as an unspoken tension filled the air.
Liu Yun set down her wine cup. "Brother Wan, what you mean is...?"
"I don’t mean anything else by it,"
Wan Shangyi’s smile remained warm. "I just think that even though we’re all competitors, exchanging certain ’information’ would benefit everyone, don’t you agree? After all, know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated."
He deliberately emphasized the word "information."
Upon hearing this, everyone’s interest was piqued.
’Share information?’
At an event like this, any information worth sharing among these True Successor Candidates could only point to one person: their common target, the tenth True Disciple, Lu Chenming!
"As it happens, I have a piece of news. Perhaps it will get the ball rolling."
Han Xiong’s voice was low as he took over the conversation. "I heard from... a senior brother I know that Brother Lu has already polished his Perfect Astral Force Realm to flawlessness. He has held the tenth True Disciple seat for a solid six years, his foundation far deeper than we can imagine. And... there are rumors that he has recently touched the threshold of the True Essence Realm and will likely attempt a breakthrough in seclusion very soon."
True Essence Realm!
Those three words struck the private room like a clap of thunder.
’If Lu Chenming successfully breaks through to the True Essence Realm, what would that mean?’
’It would mean he would completely pull away from the Astral Force level, and the chasm between a True Disciple and an Inner Sect Disciple would become insurmountable.’
’At that point, for any of them—a True Successor Candidate—to challenge him would be utterly futile. The chances of success would be so small as to be nonexistent.’
’Challenge someone in the True Essence Realm?’
’That’s no different from suicide.’
A brief, deathly silence descended upon the private room, broken only by the faint sound of breathing.
"Hmph. Do you really think the True Essence Realm is so easy to break into?"
Meng Qianxue broke the silence with a cold snort. "Even if Brother Lu is a heaven-sent prodigy and a True Disciple, countless geniuses at Astral Force Perfection have failed at condensing True Essence. Failures are everywhere."
At Meng Qianxue’s words, several people nodded subconsciously, the tension in their hearts easing slightly.
Indeed, it wasn’t rare for a breakthrough to fail, or even for one’s Cultivation to be severely damaged as a result.
’No matter how talented Lu Chenming is, there’s no guarantee he’ll succeed on his first try.’
"What if..."
Han Xiong’s gaze swept across the group. "What if Brother Lu’s breakthrough attempt... fails? Or what if he’s injured?"
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication rippled through everyone’s minds like a stone dropped into a calm lake.
’If Lu Chenming fails his breakthrough, his Primordial Qi would be severely damaged. He might even be left with latent injuries, his strength greatly diminished.’
’Wouldn’t that be... a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?’
Instantly, the atmosphere in the private room became even more charged.
Eyes flickered as minds raced, each person rapidly weighing the possibilities.
A flicker of eagerness showed in some eyes, while others grew more cautious, studying their rivals’ expressions.
’Among everyone here, who is my greatest rival!?’
Everyone automatically discounted Chen Qing. After all, he was only at Mid-stage Astral Force. The idea of him challenging Lu was virtually impossible.
He was probably only invited to round out the numbers.
Wan Shangyi took in everyone’s reactions, the corners of his lips curling into a barely perceptible smile.
He knew he had achieved his goal.
He had lit the fuse. Now, it was just a matter of seeing who would be the first to lose their nerve and serve as the probing pawn, and what alliances might form in the aftermath.
He laughed heartily and raised his cup again. "Come, come, enough of this serious talk! It’s a rare occasion for us to gather. Everyone, please try this ’Bi Yunxia,’ the Four Seas Pavilion’s special brew. It’s said to be quite beneficial for nurturing one’s True Astral."
The topic was abruptly changed, and the atmosphere became cordial once more. They toasted and chatted amiably, as if the conversation with its turbulent undercurrents had never happened.
But deep down, everyone knew that something had changed.
Behind the seemingly relaxed chatter lay a more intense psychological game and a reassessment of the future situation.
Chen Qing remained silent from start to finish, only occasionally raising his cup to go along with a toast. Most of the time, he was simply listening and observing.
He could clearly sense the cautious and probing mentality of everyone present, each eager to gain intelligence.
None of them wanted to be the first to stick their neck out and directly face Lu Chenming’s might, yet none were willing to pass up any potential opportunity.
Chen Qing, however, felt no pressing need for the position of True Disciple. His goal was to steadily advance to Late-stage Astral Force and, eventually, the True Essence Realm.
As a result, at this gathering fraught with hidden barbs, he was paradoxically the most composed person in the room.
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