Ye Qingyi listened quietly, nodding slightly. "Your teachings are wise, Grand Elder. This disciple understands. My focus should naturally be on Nie and Yan. As for Chen Qing, I was merely curious about the secret behind his rapid progress."

"Curiosity?"

A meaningful smile suddenly appeared on Granny Ling Shuang’s wrinkled face. She said softly, "Qingyi, my dear, did you know that when a woman becomes curious about a man, it is often... the beginning of affection?"

Upon hearing this, a rare, faint blush bloomed on Ye Qingyi’s pretty, jade-like face, like a winter plum blossom opening quietly in the snow.

She immediately shook her head, her tone firm. "Grand Elder jests. This disciple will never develop such feelings."

Granny Ling Shuang looked at the unshakeable resolve in Ye Qingyi’s eyes, and at her fleeting moment of shyness.

She nodded slowly, no longer teasing, her tone now carrying a hint of concern. "Mm, it is good you have such resolve. As for that Chen Qing..."

She paused, a sharp glint in her eyes. "...it’s not entirely out of the question. If he truly possesses the potential and temperament to defy fate and break through the limits of his Root Bone... and if you are not opposed to it, having him marry into our Cold Jade Valley could be a viable path. We would gain an ally and ensure the Sect’s legacy does not fall into outside hands."

"Granny!"

Ye Qingyi’s voice suddenly rose a notch. "That is absolutely impossible! This disciple’s heart is dedicated only to the Martial Arts and the Sect. Please do not mention marrying a man into the valley again, Grand Elder."

"Besides, Chen Qing is the Chief Disciple of the Wutai Sect. The possibility of him marrying into another sect is non-existent."

Granny Ling Shuang nodded, then said in a solemn tone, "There was a disturbance at the Wutai Sect’s Lake Heart Island today. In my opinion, the matter is not so simple. It seems He Yuzhou is hiding something."

Ye Qingyi lowered her voice. "Hiding something!? What do you think he’s hiding, Grand Elder?"

"I don’t know."

Granny Ling Shuang shook her head and took a deep breath. "The ones steering these major sects are all a handful. We must not only guard against the Demon Sect, but also be careful when cooperating with these other sects."

Even as Yunlin’s number one sect, Cold Jade Valley did not have it easy.

...

In the rear courtyard of the Cyan Wood Institute, sandalwood incense curled up into the air, a world away from the clamor of Tingtai Pavilion.

Chen Qing stood outside Li Baichuan’s Quiet Chamber, took a deep breath, and cupped his fist. "Disciple Chen Qing requests an audience with Master Li."

"Enter."

Li Baichuan’s placid voice came from within.

Chen Qing pushed the door open and walked in.

The light inside the room was soft. Li Baichuan was still sitting cross-legged on a rush cushion, but he wasn’t holding the Daoist Scripture Pill Formulas. Instead, in his hands was a slightly old, string-bound booklet.

Chen Qing’s gaze was sharp, and he immediately spotted the two words on the cover: *Longevity Scripture*.

"Disciple greets Master Li." Chen Qing bowed respectfully.

Li Baichuan didn’t even raise his eyelids, continuing to turn the pages as if the yellowed paper was more worthy of his attention than the disciple before him.

He asked casually, "Is it over?"

"Replying to Master Li, the banquet has ended, and most of the guests have left. Elder Sang is overseeing the cleanup, so this disciple took his leave to come and await your instructions." Chen Qing stood with his hands by his sides, his posture deferential.

"Mm."

Li Baichuan responded faintly and finally tore his gaze from the *Longevity Scripture*, letting it fall upon Chen Qing.

His gaze lingered on Chen Qing’s face for a moment before he spoke slowly.

"You little brat, you hide your secrets well."

Chen Qing’s heart clenched, but his face remained impassive. He said humbly, "You jest, Master Li. This disciple’s skills are insignificant. I merely had some progress due to a fortunate coincidence. I am not worthy of such words, and it is nothing to speak of."

"Insignificant skills?"

Li Baichuan said coolly, "Am I talking about the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear you used in the arena? The Realm of Perfection is indeed difficult to achieve, but it’s hardly an earth-shattering secret."

He paused, his voice suddenly dropping a few degrees lower.

"I’m talking about what’s inside your Dantian... Gui Water True Qi, and Geng Metal True Qi."

BOOM!

Chen Qing felt as though a bolt of lightning had exploded in his mind!

The True Qi he cultivated had been exposed by Li Baichuan in a single sentence!

’How could Li Baichuan possibly know?!’

’He had hidden it so well that not even the Sect Leader or Elder Sang had noticed!’

’Had Li Baichuan been spying on him in secret all this time?’

’Was his Origin-Returning Breath-Sealing Art useless before Li Baichuan?’

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but Chen Qing did his utmost to maintain a look of confusion and bewilderment on his face.

Feigning composure, Chen Qing said, "Master Li, why would you say such a thing? This disciple... this disciple is slow-witted and truly does not understand your meaning. Since entering the Cyan Wood Institute, I have focused solely on cultivating our institute’s Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique. I have never come into contact with the Fundamental Heart Methods of the Gui Water or Geng Metal Institutes, let alone cultivated their True Qi."

Li Baichuan watched him quietly, his gaze seeming to say, ’Are you still going to put on an act in front of me?’