Martial Saint with Passives

"Senior Brother Jiang, you’re amazing!"

"You’ve brought honor to our Yunhai Courtyard!"

Everyone crowded around to toast and congratulate Jiang Che, and the atmosphere was electric.

Chen Shi, who was at the same table, watched the high-spirited Jiang Che being surrounded by the crowd, and a sense of daze washed over him.

He remembered how, at the end of the last Inquiry Conference, he and Jiang Che had sat together, sighing as they discussed their respective "backup plans."

But now, the other man was already standing at the pinnacle of the Sect’s younger generation, having become one of the new "Four Great Celestial Pride"!

Just then, he saw Jiang Che raise his cup, stand up, and sweep his gaze across every one of his fellow disciples present.

"Senior Brothers, I have only just become Chief, and my experience is still lacking. In the future, I will need all of your support. This toast is to everyone!"

A warmth spread through Chen Shi’s heart. He immediately stood up with the others, raised his cup, and drained it in one gulp.

In that moment, any lingering, complex emotions vanished like smoke.

In their place was a joyous sense of shared glory.

’Jealousy? Envy?’

’Perhaps.’

’But more than that, it was relief!’

’Jiang Che was one of their own, from Yunhai Courtyard!’

’He was a super-backer with limitless potential! If they didn’t latch onto him now, what were they waiting for?!’

At this thought, he refilled his own cup and took the initiative to approach Jiang Che. "Chief Jiang, I, Chen Shi, toast you!"

Jiang Che looked at him, smiled, filled his own cup as well, and drained it.

Just as the atmosphere in the Yunhai Courtyard area was reaching a fever pitch, a dashing figure in red, carrying a wine pot, suddenly walked over.

Jiang Che looked up and saw that it was none other than the top celestial pride from the Profound Sound Sect, Xiao Qingge!

"Junior Brother Jiang!" Xiao Qingge had a bold and forthright personality. Without any ceremony, she poured wine for both herself and Jiang Che. "You’re pretty good. I have high hopes for you! I toast you with this cup!"

She spoke crisply and directly, without mincing any words.

"Senior Sister Xiao, you’re too kind." Jiang Che quickly stood up to return the gesture.

The two clinked their cups and drained them.

After drinking, Xiao Qingge wiped her mouth and added, "Come visit us at the Profound Sound Sect when you have time! It’s not like here, full of a bunch of burly men. We have plenty of pretty junior sisters at the Profound Sound Sect! I’ll introduce you to a few!"

Jiang Che was taken aback by her bold words and could only manage a dry laugh in response. "Definitely next time, definitely next time..."

He muttered to himself, ’This Senior Sister Xiao Qingge is beautiful, and her name is so elegant. How can her personality be like a tomboy, and a drunkard at that...’

’Still, she’s much easier to get along with than Gu Qingxuan and her perpetual ice-queen face.’

Xiao Qingge glugged down another pot of wine, then, satisfied, staggered away.

Not long after she left, another person slowly approached.

The newcomer was dressed in a scholar’s robe, with a face as handsome as jade. In his hand, he held a White Jade Folding Fan. It was none other than the eldest young master of the Chen Family, Chen Jiayu.

Unlike the boisterous Xiao Qingge, Chen Jiayu appeared much more refined and scholarly.

"Brother Jiang," he said with a smile, clasping his hands in a salute. "I am Chen Jiayu. On another day, I intend to host a Martial Dao exchange conference at my residence. Most of the young talents from Cangzhou Prefecture will be in attendance. I wonder if Brother Jiang would be interested in gracing us with your presence?"

Jiang Che initially wanted to refuse, but on second thought, he realized this might be a good opportunity to expand his network and strengthen his own position.

The Chen Family, as the head of the three great Noble Families of Cangzhou Prefecture, was deeply entrenched in Cangzhou’s official circles and wielded immense power.

His current mortal enemy was the Vice Sect Leader, Xie Songnian.

Relying solely on the protection within the Sect was ultimately a passive strategy.

If he could build connections with powerful external forces, it would undoubtedly give him an extra layer of security.

Thinking of this, Jiang Che nodded. "Alright. I will definitely be there!"

"Then I shall await your good news, Brother Jiang!" Having received his answer, Chen Jiayu smiled in satisfaction and turned to leave.

...

After the banquet, Chen Jiayu and his father, Chen Boyan, boarded a luxuriously decorated carriage.

Inside the carriage, Chen Boyan looked at his son, his brow furrowed slightly.

"You’re associating with those Jianghu people again! How many times have I told you? Your focus should be on the political arena! Practicing Martial Arts is merely for strengthening the body. Your goal is to become the future Governor of Cangzhou! What’s the use of Jianghu folk fighting and killing, showing off their brutish courage? Can they defeat the Court’s grand army? Yet, if you just become the Governor, you can mobilize armies! Don’t you understand which is more important?"

Chen Jiayu fanned himself with his White Jade Folding Fan, his gentle smile never leaving his face. "Father, Jianghu people have their uses. Having more friends always means having more paths to walk."

Chen Boyan looked at his son’s nonchalant expression and shook his head, knowing his words hadn’t sunk in.

’So be it.’

’My son is still young,’ he thought. ’Once he truly comes into contact with the core of power, he will naturally understand.’

...

And so, this session of the Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference came to a perfect conclusion.

After the Inquiry Conference, Jiang Che began to move.

This was a perk only available to the Chief Disciple.

The chief of each courtyard could move to a specially constructed, more upscale area.

Here, it was no longer several people sharing one large courtyard.

Each residence was a private, single-family compound.

Not only were they spacious, but their privacy was also excellent.

When Jiang Che stepped into his new home, he couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. "How extravagant."

The courtyard not only had pavilions and verandas, but everything one could possibly need.

There was even a specially built meditation chamber!

The floor and walls of the meditation chamber were shockingly paved with lustrous white Snow Crystal Jade!

Although the concentration of Spiritual Qi wasn’t as high as an A-level Cultivation Room, it was comparable to a B-level one!

"A B-level Cultivation Room... built right in my own home..."