Chapter 449 - 159: Breakthrough to the Qi Eating Realm
He quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, but a trickle of blood still seeped between his fingers. The intense emotional swing had clearly aggravated his unhealed internal injuries.
"Cough, cough..."
Yuwen Mingjue coughed violently. With each cough, a piercing pain shot through his ribs.
He clenched his fists tightly, swallowed the bloody foam in his mouth, and his gaze toward the window grew increasingly venomous.
’This is all Yang Jing’s fault!’
’If it weren’t for him, how could I have ended up in this state?’
’This score won’t be settled so easily!’
...
「At the same time.」
Mist swirled around the summit of Lingxi Peak. A mountain breeze, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, swept past the white jade railings in front of Lingxi Hall.
Si Jiawen, dressed in a simple white robe, approached at a slow pace. Her figure was slender and graceful, and her expression held a certain calm composure.
Arriving before Lingxi Hall, Si Jiawen gave a slight nod to the disciple on duty at the entrance and said, "Go announce my arrival."
Seeing it was the Senior Sister, the disciple on duty quickly bowed and replied respectfully, "Please wait a moment, Senior Sister."
With that, he hurried into the hall to make the announcement.
Only a moment later, the disciple hurried back out. He cupped his fist to Si Jiawen and said respectfully, "Senior Sister, the Peak Master will see you now."
Si Jiawen nodded slightly, straightened her robes, and stepped into Lingxi Hall.
Inside the hall, candlelight burned brightly, and the scent of sandalwood smoke curled through the air.
Peak Master Lingxi, Bai Bing, sat cross-legged on a cattail cushion at the head of the great hall. She wore a pale cyan Daoist robe, her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her face was exquisitely beautiful. Her expression carried an otherworldly serenity, as if she were untouched by the mortal world.
Her eyes were slightly closed, and her aura was tranquil, making her resemble a divine statue carved from jade.
Si Jiawen walked to the center of the hall, bowed deeply to Bai Bing, and said respectfully, "Disciple greets Master."
Bai Bing slowly opened her eyes. They were as clear as autumn waters, yet held a depth that seemed to see through the ways of the world.
Her gaze fell upon Si Jiawen, and she spoke calmly. Her voice was like a clear mountain spring, pleasant to the ear. "Go and bring Yang Jing here. He represented Lingxi Peak and took first place in the Cyan Qilin Battle, bringing glory to our peak. It is time I met him."
Hearing Bai Bing’s words, Si Jiawen couldn’t help but shake her head inwardly.
’Master speaks of it so casually, but how could I not see it? She hasn’t mentioned him lately, but she’s been keeping a close eye on Yang Jing’s every move.’
’She clearly values Yang Jing a great deal, yet she insists on acting so detached. She’s so "insincere".’
Although she was silently poking fun at her master, Si Jiawen’s movements were not the least bit slow. She bowed again and replied respectfully, "Yes, Master."
As soon as she spoke, she suddenly remembered an important matter. She looked up and asked, "Master, when will the Main Peak release the list of disciples selected for special cultivation?"
As the Senior Sister of Lingxi Peak, she assisted the Peak Master in managing all matters, large and small, within the peak.
From allocating Cultivation Resources for disciples to accepting and reporting sect missions, she had a hand in every single affair. Even if she didn’t handle them personally, she had to be aware of them and keep them all in order.
This list of specially cultivated disciples was related to how many of the sect’s preferential resources the peak’s disciples would receive. It was naturally a matter of utmost importance, one she had the right and the obligation to ask about.
Hearing this, Bai Bing’s slender fingers gently stroked the edge of the cattail cushion on her lap. She slowly shook her head. "There is no definite news yet, but it will be soon. It should be within the next few days."
Si Jiawen nodded. Now that she had a clearer picture, she asked no more questions and said respectfully, "Then this disciple will take her leave."
Bai Bing gave a soft "Mmm" of acknowledgment, closed her eyes again, and her entire being returned to that serene, otherworldly state.
Si Jiawen bowed one last time, then turned and walked slowly out of Lingxi Hall.
When the two disciples guarding the entrance saw her emerge, they quickly bowed. Their movements were perfectly formal, not daring to show the slightest hint of negligence.
Outside Lingxi Hall was Lingxi Plaza, at the summit of Lingxi Peak.
At this time, many Inner Sect Disciples were on the plaza, either sparring with one another or sitting cross-legged in meditative cultivation.
When the crowd saw Si Jiawen approaching, everyone—from the elite disciples who had broken through to the Qi Eating Realm to the ordinary Inner Sect Disciples still polishing their skills in the Inner Strength Realm—stopped what they were doing, bowed to her, and called out in unison, "Greetings, Senior Sister!"
Their voices were perfectly synchronized, echoing across Lingxi Plaza and filled with genuine respect.
Such was the presence of a peak’s Senior Sister, who had established immense prestige within her peak.
Si Jiawen’s expression remained calm as she gave a slight nod in acknowledgment to the crowd.
She didn’t linger, but continued on without pause, heading straight for the Training Room area on the mountainside.
As far as she knew, Yang Jing had gained access to a Grade B Training Room and had been holed up inside, training hard for the past few days.
Si Jiawen descended the stone steps from the summit at a leisurely pace. The mountain wind swept by, causing the sleeves of her robe to flutter gently.
As she walked, she pondered carefully.
’Anyone with eyes can see how much Master values Yang Jing.’
’From adding him to the list of disciples for special cultivation, to her attention on him during the Cyan Qilin Battle, and now specifically sending me to summon him...’
’This level of care isn’t something she shows an ordinary disciple.’
Si Jiawen had a faint premonition: if Yang Jing successfully broke through to the Qi Eating Realm, she would likely gain a new junior brother as a Direct Disciple.
According to the rules of the Xuanzhen Sect, when an Inner Sect Disciple broke through to the Qi Eating Realm, they would be granted a crucial opportunity to formally take a master.
This was different from the general apprenticeship upon entering the sect. This was entering a true master-disciple lineage, becoming a Direct Disciple, and receiving the master’s full, unreserved instruction.
Everyone from the Sect Leader and Peak Masters down to the Main Peak Elders and the Elders of various branches had the right to select such disciples to take under their personal tutelage.