Martial Saint with Passives

In an instant, from the Outer Sect’s Martial Arts Arena to the Inner Courtyard’s secluded cultivation grounds, from the disciple mess hall to the Mission Hall.

This name, which had seemingly appeared out of thin air, was being discussed in nearly every corner of the Sect!

"Did you hear? That Jiang Che from Yunhai Courtyard was made Chief Disciple! Didn’t he go through Dissipating Energy before? His foundation was supposed to be damaged! How could he possibly break through to the Refining Organ Realm?"

"You clearly don’t know! I heard it’s a case of being shattered and then reborn stronger! Besides, his affinity for the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique is frighteningly high. He’s practically the chosen one!"

"That’s not all! According to Master Zhang from the Scripture Pavilion, that Jiang Che is a true cultivation fanatic! He’s there borrowing books every few days, always hauling back a huge stack of Secret Manuals to study. I’ve never seen the guy take a break!"

"No wonder he’s so incredible! While we’re standing around gossiping, he’s in seclusion practicing his cultivation. That’s how the gap between us gets so wide!"

"I heard something else about him," a disciple who looked to be in the know lowered his voice. "They say when he was a Steward at the Black Stone Mining Area, he single-handedly took out dozens of Demon Sect members, and there was even a Late-stage Bone Forging Realm expert among them! A fierce warrior tempered by real combat like that is way stronger than the types in our Sect who only know how to bury their heads in cultivation!"

Of course, the buzz wasn’t all praise. There were just as many voices of doubt and jealousy.

"Hmph, the Refining Organ Realm is impressive, but he only just broke through, didn’t he? The leap from Bone Forging to Refining Organ is relatively easy. But from Refining Organ to True Master? Now that’s a true chasm! How many people ever make it past that?"

"Exactly! Listen to all the hype! If he’s so great, let’s see him break through to the True Master Realm!"

"Oh, come on, you’re just jealous! How many people in the entire Inner Courtyard are at the Refining Organ Realm? He managed it before he’s even twenty, and you’re thirty and still stuck in the Bone Forging Realm!"

"If you ask me, he just got incredibly lucky! If that powerful Lin Bihe from Yunhai Courtyard hadn’t died, when would it ever have been his turn to be Chief Disciple?"

In short, the name Jiang Che had thrown the entire Cangyun Sect into a clamor of spirited and conflicting debate.

...

Yanluo Courtyard, within the medicinal garden.

Ye Lianzhen was meticulously watering a newly cultivated stalk of Spirit Grass with Spirit Liquid.

Her movements were gentle, her expression intent.

Suddenly, a disciple hurried in and reported respectfully, "Matron, news just arrived from Yunhai Courtyard."

Without looking up, Ye Lianzhen asked casually, "What is it?"

"Yunhai Courtyard... has selected a new Chief Disciple." The disciple hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "It’s Jiang Che. And... he has broken through to the Refining Organ Realm."

CLUNK.

The small jade flask in Ye Lianzhen’s hand slipped and fell to the dirt floor, its Spirit Liquid spilling everywhere.

She whipped her head around, her face a mask of shock. "What did you say?! Jiang Che broke through to the Refining Organ realm? And he’s the new Chief Disciple?"

After the disciple confirmed it, Ye Lianzhen stood stunned for a moment. Then, the shock slowly melted into sincere relief and joy.

She had initially taken an interest in Jiang Che simply because he was the only disciple Luo Kun had sent over.

At first, she knew his Root Bone was poor and that his future achievements would likely be extremely limited.

But later, she discovered he not only possessed exceptional combat skills but also had some mysterious ace up his sleeve, allowing him to ignore the poison of Withered Soul Grass and go through Dissipating Skill without injury.

Because of this, her estimation of him rose, and she even entrusted him with her daughter’s safety.

But deep down, she still felt, ’He’s held back by his Root Bone. He might be formidable now, but future progress will be far from easy.’

’Even if he managed to luckily break through to the Refining Organ Realm, it would be a long, long time from now.’

She never expected this day to arrive so soon!

She gazed in the direction of Yunhai Courtyard, muttering to herself, "Senior Brother Luo, oh, Senior Brother Luo... you really found yourself one hell of a disciple..."

A moment later, a smile spread across her face. She immediately ordered the disciple, "Quickly! Go to my storeroom, pick out the best Qi Replenishing Elixir, and take it to Jiang Che at once!"

"Yes, Matron!" The disciple accepted the order and departed at once.

Meanwhile, Tang Qiaoqiao, once again confined to her room, was draped listlessly over the windowsill, counting the leaves on a tree.

Liu Qing came in carrying a tray of food.

"Qiaoqiao, it’s time to eat."

Tang Qiaoqiao had no appetite. "Oh," she responded weakly.

Liu Qing set down the food, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Junior Sister Qiaoqiao, something huge happened in the Sect these past few days. Want to hear about it?"

"Something huge?" Tang Qiaoqiao’s interest was finally piqued.

Liu Qing enunciated each word clearly. "Jiang Che. Has broken through. To the Refining Organ Realm. What’s more, he’s become the new Chief Disciple of Yunhai Courtyard!"

"What?!"

CLATTER. The chopsticks in Tang Qiaoqiao’s hand fell onto the table. Her eyes went wide with disbelief.

’That guy who’s always so stone-faced, who says such infuriating things, the one I called a coward...’

’...is now a Refining Organ Realm expert and a Courtyard’s Chief Disciple?’

’How is that possible?’

But then, an image surfaced in her mind unbidden: Jiang Che, fighting fiercely against the Demon Sect in Cloud Mist Ridge.

And again, outside You Manor, his lone figure arriving to rescue them.

And she remembered his flatly spoken words... ’Better a coward than a corpse.’

For some reason, Tang Qiaoqiao suddenly felt that for him to achieve all this... actually seemed perfectly natural.

...

「One day」, Jiang Che was at home, consolidating his Cultivation.

Suddenly, a knock echoed from his door.

He got up and opened it to find his neighbors, Mu Jun and Shu Yaxin, standing outside.

"What is it?" Jiang Che asked, his tone cool as he looked at them.

Mu Jun’s face was a mixture of poorly concealed nervousness and fawning. He held a delicate gift box in both hands and stammered, "Master Jiang... I mean, Chief Jiang! Congratulations! Congratulations on your selection as Chief Disciple! I... I’ve prepared a humble gift, and I’ve also booked a table at the best restaurant in the city. We wanted to celebrate for you... I was wondering if you might grace us with your presence?"