Chapter 399: Chapter 185: Heavy Reward
In the Snow Listening Pavilion of Cold Jade Valley.
Leng Qianqiu, dressed in a plain white palace gown, sat upright on a Cold Jade Meditation Mat.
Across from her was her favored disciple, Xiao Bieli.
A hint of anxiety creased Xiao Bieli’s brow. He had just failed in his attempt to break through to the Astral Force Realm and was now listening to his master’s guidance.
"...Therefore, during Energy Introduction, your will must be as firm as a rock, without the slightest wavering. Your failure wasn’t due to a lack of ability, but because your Heart and Spirit were not focused. At the final moment, your fear of the violent torrent of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi caused your True Qi to stagnate, leading to your downfall."
Leng Qianqiu’s voice was calm, each word striking at the core of Xiao Bieli’s failure.
Xiao Bieli took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I understand," he said respectfully. "My mental cultivation is insufficient. I have disappointed you, Master."
Leng Qianqiu shook her head slightly. "Disappointed is too strong a word. Breaking through to the Astral Force Realm has never been easy. A single failure is commonplace. If you can learn from this, temper your mind, and solidify your foundation, your chances next time will be even greater. It’s just a pity..."
Her voice paused, a trace of regret flashing in her eyes. "If you had an Astral Condensing Pill right now to help you stabilize your Heart and Spirit and harmonize your Primordial Qi, your chance of success on the next attempt would increase by at least fifty percent."
"The Astral Condensing Pill?"
Xiao Bieli looked up, desire and confusion in his eyes. "A pill with such miraculous effects... Why doesn’t the Sect..."
"Why don’t we find a way to refine it?"
Leng Qianqiu finished his sentence, her tone tinged with a faint helplessness. "The Astral Condensing Pill is one of the core Pill Formulas of the Upper Sect. Its refining method and key ingredients are strictly monopolized by them and never shared. If a subordinate Sect wishes to obtain one, the only ways are through a reward from the Upper Sect or by exchanging for it at an astonishing price."
Xiao Bieli’s heart trembled upon hearing this.
Seeing his shocked expression, Leng Qianqiu continued slowly, "The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect rules the Three Paths and governs the Fifty-One Mansions. Its territory is vast and boundless, filled with experts as numerous as the clouds. The Sect is divided into Four Veins, each overseen by a Grandmaster, making their power unfathomable. There are even rumors that the Upper Sect controls a secret Grotto Heaven. It is one of the supreme powers in our Great Yan Country, and for a Prefecture-level Sect like ours, simply receiving their protection and paying tribute on time is a blessing."
Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Xiao Bieli’s heart and leaving him with an unprecedented shock.
He knew about the Xu Wang Mountain plan... ’Perhaps this isn’t just a restriction, but an opportunity—a huge opportunity to gain access to the Upper Sect’s resources and leap through the Dragon Sect!’
Xiao Bieli’s eyes sharpened once more.
Just then, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the Quiet Chamber. A Steward from Cold Jade Valley stood respectfully outside the door and said in a low voice, "Valley Master, there is urgent news."
Leng Qianqiu’s brow furrowed slightly. "Speak."
The Steward’s voice was tinged with disbelief as he quickly reported, "We’ve just received confirmed news. Feng Shuhao of Qixia Manor... has successfully broken through to the Astral Force Realm!"
"What?!"
Xiao Bieli’s pupils contracted. He snapped his head up, the color draining from his face, leaving only horror and disbelief.
’Feng Shuhao broke through?’
’That loser I once defeated actually beat me to the Astral Force Realm?!’
’How is that possible?!’
A powerful sense of loss instantly shattered the composure he had just regained.
Being surpassed by Chen Qing had already left him resentful, making him determined to be the first to break through and save face. But now, even Feng Shuhao had gotten ahead of him!
Leng Qianqiu was also taken aback for a moment, her elegant brows knitting tighter. "Is the information accurate? When did this happen?"
"Reporting to the Valley Master, the source is reliable—it came from within Qixia Manor," the Steward answered with certainty. "Our investigation indicates he broke through about half a month ago. It was only recently confirmed because he made a move and was unable to completely conceal his aura, which was then detected."
Surprise and gravity flashed in Leng Qianqiu’s eyes. She said slowly, "Qixia Manor... has produced a fine seedling, it seems."
She, too, felt a tremor of shock in her heart.
Breaking through to the Astral Force Realm meant his potential was beginning to be realized. He now possessed the true capability to support the future of his Sect and the qualifications to ascend to even higher Realms.
For the future of Cold Jade Valley’s position in Yunlin Prefecture, this was not good news.
’Could it be that Qixia Manor, the weakest of the four sects, is beginning to rise?’
Xiao Bieli lowered his head, his hands clenched into tight fists.
His master’s comforting words were still ringing in his ears, yet the blow from reality was swift and brutal.
The rival he had once defeated had entered a whole new Realm before him. The contrast left him with a bitter and complicated mix of feelings.
Leng Qianqiu glanced at her disciple, naturally understanding his current state of mind.
She turned to the Steward, pondered for a moment, and said:
"Send someone immediately to investigate thoroughly. Find out if Feng Shuhao had any external help with his breakthrough. Specifically... whether he consumed an Astral Condensing Pill."
’If Feng Shuhao really did obtain an Astral Condensing Pill, then its origin is worth investigating deeply.’
’Since when did Qixia Manor have such connections?’
’Are other powers involved in this?’
’This suddenly risen young Astral Force expert must be taken with the utmost seriousness by Cold Jade Valley.’
Leng Qianqiu was determined to uncover the secrets behind this matter.
"Yes!" The Steward accepted the order and quietly withdrew.
The Quiet Chamber returned to silence.
Leng Qianqiu’s gaze fell back upon her disciple. "Do not let your Heart and Spirit fall into chaos," she said lightly. "Solidifying your own foundation is the correct path."
Xiao Bieli took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his roiling emotions. He nodded heavily. "I... understand!"
.....
Seven days later, at first light, sandalwood incense curled through the air in the assembly hall.
He Yuzhou’s brow was tightly furrowed as he stared at a secret letter in his hand.
The handwriting on the letter was scrawled, consisting of only a few words, yet they were enough to leave him deeply unsettled.
’He’ rarely sent messages in such a secretive manner. He must be in an inconvenient situation, surrounded by watching eyes and listening ears.
