He paused, his voice dropping lower, tinged with a knowing look that passes between men. "Someone with Ye Qingyi’s status and talent holds a transcendent position in the Cold Jade Valley. She’s destined to become a core expert there. Heavenly-blessed maidens like her rarely marry into other sects. More often, to continue the Sect’s bloodline and legacy, they choose... to take a live-in husband."

Chen Qing raised his cup, took a sip, and replied with a calm expression, "Brother Li, you’re overthinking it. Senior Sister Ye’s words are best not taken too seriously. The Cold Jade Valley is the leader of Yunlin; their foundation is deep, and they are brimming with geniuses. It’s unlikely she’s taken a genuine interest in me. More likely, she saw that I won a match today and, curious about my humble origins, she was just casually sounding me out. It’s nothing to get worked up about."

He deliberately mentioned his humble origins, placing himself in a lower position to downplay the significance of Ye Qingyi’s invitation.

Li Wang thought for a moment and agreed. The Cold Jade Valley was the number one sect in Yunlin. Although Chen Qing’s performance was stunning, his Root Bone was a critical weakness. Which of Cold Jade Valley’s disciples with core True Inheritance wasn’t exceptionally gifted?

He nodded. "True. It’s hard to fathom the thoughts of someone like Ye Qingyi. But after today, Junior Brother, your fame will soar. I’m afraid you’ll be facing a lot more attempts to test or recruit you in the future."

Chen Qing, however, frowned.

’The strength I’ve displayed is bound to make many people suspicious.’

’I need to find a time to have a Sect Elder ’test’ my Root Bone again. When they discover I don’t have a Four Forms Root Bone at all—that it was all just a mistake—it might dispel a lot of the suspicion.’

As the two were talking, representatives from smaller families affiliated with the Wutai Sect, along with several senior brothers who had once cultivated at the Cyan Wood Institute and had since established themselves elsewhere, all came forward with cups in hand. They eagerly toasted and struck up conversations with Chen Qing, the new Chief Disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute.

Chen Qing handled them all appropriately. He appeared neither arrogant nor overly familiar, maintaining the demeanor of a Chief Disciple. For a while, the area around him was quite lively.

Just as Chen Qing was about to take a short rest, a figure walked straight up to his table.

It was none other than the Elder from the Xuanjia Sect, Du Lingchuan!

His arrival before the seat of the Cyan Wood Institute’s Chief Disciple drew numerous gazes from nearby, and even the conversations in the core area of the inner hall quieted down.

Du Lingchuan sized Chen Qing up and down without any attempt to hide it, then broke into a wide grin.

"Kid! What a spear technique! To think you’ve mastered Old Ghost Peng’s ultimate move, the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear, to such a degree!"

He commented on Peng Zhen without reservation, drawing a few helpless glances from the direction of the Kun Earth Institute. Peng Zhen’s own mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

Chen Qing didn’t dare to be disrespectful. He immediately stood up, clasped his fists, and bowed respectfully. "Elder Du, you praise me too highly. This junior is undeserving. It is my honor that my meager skills were worthy of your notice."

"Undeserving my ass!"

Du Lingchuan waved his hand dismissively. "I speak my mind. Good is good! Your spear technique is fluid and seamless, your Power flows freely, and you’ve already glimpsed the threshold of ’Momentum.’ That’s no meager skill! Old Ghost Peng taught Li Lei for so many years, but I never saw him train his spear to your level!"

His words made Li Lei flush and lower his head.

Du Lingchuan’s tone then shifted, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration. "Kid, I can see you’re prime material for spear practice! The Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear focuses on being heavy and steady, defending like a mountain. But how can the Spear Path be only about defense and not attack? My Xuanjia Sect’s Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear is fierce, swift, and carries the momentum of a thunderclap."

"Come visit my Xuanjia Sect when you have time! I’ll personally give you a few pointers! Let me show you what it means to wield a true Array-Breaking and Spear-Crushing Spear! The Spear Technique Stone Carvings in my Xuanjia Sect’s Martial Arts Arena are more impressive than the first three floors of your Tingchao Armory combined! I guarantee it will open your eyes and broaden your understanding!"

These words were tantamount to a master of the Spear Path extending an olive branch to a promising new talent!

Everyone in the inner hall who had been eavesdropping on the conversation was utterly shocked.

A personal invitation from Du Lingchuan of the Xuanjia Sect, who even hinted at teaching him core spear techniques—such treatment... was simply unheard of!

Chen Qing’s heart leaped.

He had already reached the Perfection stage with the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear; the next step was to comprehend Momentum.

But training in isolation has its limits. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The Xuanjia Sect had a deep foundation, and its Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear was incredibly famous. Its core inheritance was sure to contain a completely different type of Spear Momentum!

Chen Qing clasped his fists and said, "Elder Du, this junior is endlessly grateful for your favor! You are a titan of the Spear Path. To receive your guidance is an opportunity this junior could only dream of. Once I have handled my sect’s internal affairs and stabilized my cultivation, I will certainly find an opportunity to visit the Xuanjia Sect and receive your teachings!"

He neither immediately accepted nor refused.

This both gave face to Du Lingchuan and left himself some room to maneuver.

"Good! Straightforward!"

Du Lingchuan was clearly very satisfied with Chen Qing’s attitude and let out a hearty laugh.

With that, he walked back to the Xuanjia Sect’s table with the gait of a dragon and the stride of a tiger, leaving behind a sea of complicated gazes and hushed discussions.

The banquet gradually drew to a close amidst the clamor.

The honored guests from the various sects exchanged pleasantries and began to leave, while the Wutai Sect disciples also dispersed in small groups.

He Yueting stayed behind, as he needed to further discuss the specific arrangements for Yan Yaoyang and He Lanxin with Tan Yang.

Du Lingchuan was also pulled aside by his old friend Peng Zhen, who seemed to want to comfort the Dean of the Kun Earth Institute over a few drinks for his prized disciple’s defeat.

Chen Qing politely declined several follow-up invitations from the representatives of the smaller families and headed toward the Cyan Wood Institute.

’The violent tremors on Lake Heart Island today definitely can’t be explained away by the Sect Leader’s casual comment about a ’disturbance in the water veins.’’

’Could there be some conspiracy behind this!?’

’The Demon Sect has been lying dormant, but they haven’t made a move yet.’

’No one knows if they will suddenly strike.’

’According to the information I’ve gathered, each of the Demon Sect’s Eight Great Guardians is incredibly powerful. They also have numerous hidden agents under their command, and the Altar Master, ’Heart Devourer,’ is a figure feared even by the top experts of the Four Great Sects.’