Chapter 311: Chapter 158: Startled Swan (Part 2)

Her tone was tinged with sarcasm. "If they were truly determined to decide a winner, would they have stopped so easily?"

"The process was incredibly intense. Gang Qi overflowed, the lake’s surface churned, and the display of power was staggering," Patriarch Sun added, still shaken by the memory.

"Alright, I understand. If there’s nothing else, you should head back. Staying too long will arouse suspicion," Hu Mei said with a dismissive wave, her tone indifferent.

As if granted amnesty, Patriarch Sun quickly cupped his fists and hurried away.

Once Patriarch Sun’s figure had completely vanished beyond the woods, Zheng Hui couldn’t help but ask urgently, "Protector Hu, what do we do now? The Four Sects Alliance has been formed, which is extremely detrimental to our grand plan!"

Hu Mei glanced at him and said coolly, "What’s the rush? The Altar Master will return in a month. We will report this matter to him in detail then and let him decide. Whether it’s He Yuzhou or Leng Qianqiu, they are not figures you and I can afford to provoke. Don’t forget your place and your strength."

A trace of unwillingness flashed across Zheng Hui’s face. He wanted to say more, but after meeting Hu Mei’s icy gaze, he swallowed his words. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Yes, this subordinate understands."

"Let’s go!"

Hu Mei said no more. With a twist of her body, she melted into the shadows of the forest like a phantom.

Zheng Hui dared not linger. He followed closely, and the two of them quickly disappeared deep into the dense woods.

Chen Qing consumed a drop of Centennial Earth Core Milk, letting it slowly settle in his Dantian Sea of Qi.

After finishing his Cultivation, he slowly exhaled a long, turbid breath.

’Bringing the other four Heart Methods to the Fourth Layer to match my Cyan Wood True Qi will require an immense amount of accumulation. It’s not something that can be achieved overnight; it will take a great deal of time and patient effort.’

Chen Qing muttered to himself, sensing the four streams of True Qi within him. Though they had grown, they were still a long way from Perfection.

He slowly walked to the window lattice. Pushing it open, a sliver of cold, silent moonlight spilled in, illuminating a corner of the room.

Just then, a cockroach RUSTLED as it crawled out from a dark corner, seemingly startled by the sudden light.

Chen Qing took a deep breath.

’In my fight against Xiao Bieli, I used the Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique and the Eight Extremes Vajra Body, revealing about seventy or eighty percent of my strength. Fortunately, I kept my other four streams of True Qi—fire, earth, metal, and water—hidden. This way, I still have some trump cards left.’

’Five Elements Cultivation... it’s just too shocking. The consequences of it being exposed are unimaginable. After all, my current strength is far from enough to act with impunity. If anyone were to find out, it would undoubtedly attract immense trouble and deep suspicion.’

His brow furrowed slightly as a sense of caution rose in his heart.

’Besides, I have no background to speak of. My origins are clean. When I joined the Sect, I was tested to have a mere Four Forms Root Bone—utterly mediocre. If people found out now that I’m cultivating five Heart Methods at once and making good progress, how could they not suspect I possess an Exotic Treasure or have received a heaven-defying inheritance?’

’When that time comes, not only will the Demon Sect see me as an anomaly that must be eliminated, but even my so-called allies from Cold Jade Valley and the Xuanjia Sect will probably see me as a thorn in their side.’

’However,’

His train of thought shifted, his gaze becoming steady. ’...it’s also necessary to properly display a portion of my strength. "The tree that stands tallest in the forest will be the first to be broken by the wind," but hiding my abilities completely means I won’t receive any preferential resources. The rewards for defeating Xiao Bieli this time were extremely generous. The Sect Leader granted me thirty drops of Centennial Earth Core Milk in one go, and I even earned the chance to go to the Fourth Layer of the Tingchao Armory to choose a Cultivation Technique... When the time comes, perhaps I should pick a Superior Body Technique to make up for my weaknesses.’

At the thought of Li Baichuan, an almost imperceptible curve formed on Chen Qing’s lips.

’That Old Deng doesn’t know a damn thing! At most, he thinks my talent is decent, that I’m cultivating more than one Heart Method, and that I’ve had some lucky encounters. He could never imagine that [Heaven Rewards Diligence] is the true foundation of my survival and success.’

’It is my ultimate trump card for reaching the very top in the future!’

Chen Qing was crystal clear in his mind: his strength today was entirely due to the existence of this Fate Plate.

And this was his greatest secret.

PHEW~!

After voicing his inner thoughts, Chen Qing felt his Heart and Spirit lighten considerably, as if an invisible burden had been lifted.

In all his years in this world, he had never spoken these thoughts to anyone.

His gaze fell and happened to land on the cockroach, which was now trying to crawl over the threshold.

Chen Qing raised his foot and gently brought it down.

"Sorry, buddy. You know too much."

...

In the following days, news of the alliance formed by the Four Great Sects at the Wutai Mountain Gate spread like wildfire, circulating with astonishing speed throughout Yunlin Prefecture and even to the surrounding prefectures.

On every street corner, in every teahouse and tavern, people were fervently discussing the thrilling Astral Force duel between Leng Qianqiu and He Yuzhou. The scenes of True Qi Transformation and the churning of the lake were described in near-mythical terms.

Meanwhile, Chen Qing’s name also began to circulate fiercely throughout the Yunlin Prefecture’s Jianghu, with an unprecedented level of buzz.

As soon as the new issue of *Jianghu Anecdotes* was released, it was immediately sold out.

*"The Yunlin Five Heroes Reshuffled, Qingmu Chenqing Ascends in a Single Battle!"*

The article gave a detailed report of the battle at the Wutai Sect’s mountain gate and officially listed Chen Qing as one of the "Yunlin Five Heroes," alongside Xiao Bieli, Nie Shanshan, Shi Ziyi, and Feng Zihao.

It asserted that he had now firmly secured his place among the top ranks of Yunlin Prefecture’s younger generation.

On this day, Chen Qing arrived at the Cyan Wood Institute as usual.

"Greetings, Brother Chen!"

"Greetings, Head Brother!"

Along the way, everyone he met—whether they were disciples of the Cyan Wood Institute, Stewards, or others—greeted him with respectful salutes.

"First Brother, you’re here."

Yu Bao’Er hurried over to him.

After Chen Qing defeated Xiao Bieli, her status within the institute as his "lackey" had naturally risen as well. No one dared to offend her anymore.