Chapter 308: Chapter 157: Upper Sect (Part 2)

"Your teachings are wise, Sect Leader. I understand the implications."

Chen Qing cupped his fist, accepting the guidance with a solemn expression.

Of course, he wouldn’t reveal his secret of possessing Five True Qi.

Seeing that Chen Qing had heeded his advice, He Yuzhou’s expression softened. His tone grew gentler as he explained, "The difficulty of cultivating two Heart Methods doesn’t just lie in mastering them, but in fusing them. It’s a feat impossible for anyone without great fortune, great perseverance, and great talent. Leng Qianqiu’s success was certainly due in part to her extraordinary gifts, but more importantly, it’s because her Cold Jade Valley possesses an Exotic Treasure—the Ice Soul Pearl!"

"The Ice Soul Pearl?" A thought struck Chen Qing. ’So she really did have external aid.’

"That’s right."

He Yuzhou nodded. "That Ice Soul Pearl was placed in the depths of their Sect’s Cold Pool for over a hundred years, absorbing and accumulating a massive amount of the Cold Pool’s Essence. Leng Qianqiu relied on this pearl, using its Essence as a catalyst to slowly grind, polish, and harmonize the Langyue and Cold Ice True Astrals. It took her countless years of painstaking effort to finally fuse the two. It wasn’t something she could have achieved through bitter cultivation alone."p>He paused and glanced at Chen Qing. "Even her disciple, Xiao Bieli, has likely reached his limit just by cultivating two types of True Qi at once. As for fusing them?"

"It would be nigh on impossible! After Leng Qianqiu used the Ice Soul Pearl, it was returned to the Cold Pool to be nurtured and to accumulate Essence again. It has only been a little over twenty years since then. The Essence it has gathered is nowhere near enough to support a second fusion. So, give up on this path. Don’t become obsessed with it."

Chen Qing’s understanding dawned upon hearing this, but he frowned inwardly.

’So that’s how it was. Leng Qianqiu’s success in fusing the two True Astrals was because she had the help of an Exotic Treasure like the Ice Soul Pearl.’

’If I want to fuse the Five True Qi inside my body, the difficulty will probably increase exponentially.’ 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

’First, I’d need to find a treasure that can harmonize all Five Elements and has compatible attributes. Second, such a treasure would surely be exceedingly rare—something you can only stumble upon by chance, not seek out deliberately.’

’It seems the path to fusing the Five Elements True Qi is far more difficult and complex than I ever imagined.’

’But on the bright side, I have a new approach.’

’All in all, it’s good news.’

"Thank you for clearing my confusion, Sect Leader. I am grateful for your guidance."

Chen Qing pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind and bowed respectfully once more.

"Good. As long as you understand. Staying grounded is the correct path."

He Yuzhou nodded in satisfaction. As if suddenly remembering something, he said, "Alright, if there’s nothing else, you may go. Take a message to Junior Martial Uncle Li for me..."

He Yuzhou paused slightly as he spoke. "Just say... the matter of the Earth Core Milk Cave concerns the very foundation of our Sect and is of great importance. He can go if he wishes, but I must personally accompany him. Tell him to come find me whenever he has the time."

Chen Qing’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

Recalling the supposed reward from the Sect Leader, he began to understand.

’Perhaps that drop of Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk that Master Li gave me wasn’t a reward from the Sect Leader at all!’

’Instead, Li Baichuan must have made some kind of private deal or wager with He Yuzhou. And for his part of the bet, Li Baichuan wanted the right to enter the Earth Core Milk Cave.’

’That old fox...’ Chen Qing mused.

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but his expression remained impassive. He simply replied respectfully, "Yes, I will be sure to deliver the message."

"Good, you may go. Focus on your cultivation."

He Yuzhou waved a hand dismissively, turning back to the window, apparently unwilling to speak further.

Chen Qing didn’t linger. He bowed and said, "I will take my leave."

With that, he slowly withdrew from Lake Heart Hall.

Not long after Chen Qing left, Sang Yanping entered Lake Heart Hall again.

He Yuzhou still stood at the window, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the ever-changing scenery of Dingbo Lake, lost in thought.

Sang Yanping came up behind him. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Sect Leader, I had thought... you would grant Chen Qing the last drop of Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk in our treasury to reward him for his great service today."

He Yuzhou didn’t turn. He just gave an enigmatic chuckle. "Yanping, after that incident in the Council Hall where he and Nie Shanshan competed for the Earth Core Milk, have you still not seen what kind of person he is?"

He slowly turned, his gaze deep. "This young man is meticulous and calculates every advantage and disadvantage with perfect clarity. He appears calm and respectful, but he’s actually extremely strong-willed. You could even say he’s the type who won’t release the hawk until he sees the rabbit. Trying to bind him with mere appeals to the Sect’s cause and expecting him to fight his heart out willingly? Difficult!"

"What do you mean, Sect Leader?" Sang Yanping asked with a slight frown.

"His willingness to act today—and to do so in such an earth-shattering manner—was by no means just for the honor of the Wutai Sect."

"Junior Martial Uncle Li must have secretly promised him some irresistible benefit," He Yuzhou said with conviction. "I’d wager that drop of Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk he had was consumed by this young man long ago! The reason he was able to break through to Late-stage Embracing Pill just now, and for his strength to have surged so dramatically, is thanks in no small part to that drop of Earth Core Milk. Otherwise, why do you think he was so willing to yield to Nie Shanshan in the Council Hall? Because he had already gotten a much sweeter deal!"

A look of sudden realization dawned on Sang Yanping’s face.

’Now that I think about it, that’s exactly right!’

The strength Chen Qing showed today—that vigorous True Qi and formidable physique—was more than enough to compete with Nie Shanshan. Yet, on that day, he simply gave up.

He nodded slowly, speaking with admiration. "Your perception is sharp, Sect Leader. You are absolutely right! I was too shortsighted. Does this mean it was all a scheme plotted between Junior Martial Uncle Li and him from the start?"

"Nine times out of ten."

He Yuzhou nodded, a complex look in his eyes. "This young man’s temperament and comprehension are both Upper Grade. What’s even rarer is that he’s reserved, doesn’t show off, and knows how to calculate his moves. These are strengths, but they also warrant caution. We must guide him properly and pay close attention to him. While we carefully nurture his talent, we must also ensure he truly becomes one with the Sect. We cannot let him fully adopt Junior Martial Uncle Li’s philosophy... only looking out for himself and scattering once there’s nothing left to gain."