Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 447: Chapter 200: Clouds Surging (2)

’What an astonishing quantity and quality!’

Chen Qing mused to himself. ’The Fifty-One Mansions are a vast territory, teeming with sects. It’s not so surprising that so many prodigies have emerged.’

’Besides, the selection isn’t just for the top three. The Xu Wang Mountain training program must be massive. As long as I can make it to the middle ranks, I have a chance to get in.’

’My main focus right now should be improving my Cultivation. With the support of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s resources, I could reach the Mid-stage Astral Force much faster. After that, I need to find the other three Attribute Treasures and fuse my Five True Qi as soon as possible.’

’The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect has abundant resources, so finding three Attribute Treasures shouldn’t be too hard.’

’The *Mountain-Splitting Thunder Shock Spear* and the *True Martial Seal* are also top priorities.’

Shi Ziyi took a deep breath, breaking the silence. He forced a calm tone. "The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s final selection doesn’t rely solely on this informant’s rankings. Pingjiang Pavilion may be well-informed, but they’re bound to have omissions and miscalculations. In the end, what matters is your performance on the day, your potential, your mindset, and even your luck."

Li Lei nodded in agreement. "Brother Shi is right. This list is a reference at best. It’s to let us know that we’re surrounded by powerful opponents and need to be more diligent, but we shouldn’t sell ourselves short and lose our fighting spirit."

Hearing this, the disciples’ spirits lifted slightly, and the color returned to their faces.

A short while later, Chu Jinyun and Sang Yanping came downstairs.

Elder Sang glanced around, but didn’t see Shen Xiuyong. He asked, "Where is Elder Shen?"

Li Wang quickly replied, "Junior Martial Uncle Shen said he went to the backyard to look after his ’Ta Xue.’ He told us not to wait for him and to go ahead and eat."

Sang Yanping shook his head with a resigned smile. "Fine. Let’s eat first, then."

BOOM!

Just as Chen Qing and his group were about to eat, a tremendous explosion erupted from outside the inn. A violent True Astral aura surged forth, and a scorching heatwave blasted through the doors and windows, washing over them!

"Is that Li Fire True Astral?"

"Shen Xiuyong!? Quick, let’s go check!"

Chen Qing, Chu Jinyun, and Sang Yanping’s hearts jumped, and they shot to their feet in an instant.

Forgetting all about their meal, the members of the Wutai Sect rushed toward the source of the explosive aura—the inn’s backyard.

When they burst into the backyard, they found the stables in utter disarray. Wooden fences were shattered, hay was scattered everywhere, and startled Bi Yuncong steeds were bolting in every direction, neighing in terror.

In the middle of the yard, Shen Xiuyong was locked in a fierce battle with a young man in Chaoyang Sect attire. He held a long saber, and a crimson tide of Li Fire True Astral surged around him.

The young man wielded a Long Sword, his techniques vicious and cunning. His True Astral was dense and heavy, and every collision sent a tremor through Shen Xiuyong’s body, putting him at a clear disadvantage.

Chen Qing’s eyes narrowed. He immediately recognized the young man as Liu Wu of the Chaoyang Sect, a Mid-stage Astral Force master he had just read about in the *Heroes’ Record*!

The density of his True Astral was far greater than that of Shen Xiuyong, who had only recently broken through to the Astral Force realm.

The Chaoyang Sect members had also heard the commotion. Ruan Wenju led the charge, storming out of the inn with a large group of disciples. His brow furrowed instantly upon seeing the scene.

"Stop!"

Sang Yanping took a deep breath, his voice booming like a great bell, infused with pure True Astral as he tried to separate the two fighters.

Shen Xiuyong and Liu Wu traded one last blow, leaping back from the roiling shockwave.

Shen Xiuyong was breathing heavily, his saber arm trembling slightly. The web of his hand had split open and was bleeding.

"What exactly is going on?"

Suppressing his fury, Sang Yanping’s gaze swept over the two fighters before finally settling on Shen Xiuyong.

Shen Xiuyong’s face was grim. He pointed to his Snow-Stepping Treasure Steed a short distance away. The horse was whining pitifully, kneeling on its forelegs with a gash on its belly so deep the bone was visible, blood gushing from the wound. "It was that animal from the Chaoyang Sect," he said coldly. "He hurt my Ta Xue! I came out to check on him, and the bastard started spewing insults and attacked first!"

"Bullshit!"

Liu Wu lowered his sword, a mocking sneer on his face. "You were the one who got jealous when you saw how magnificent my ’Thunderbolt Steed’ is. You’re just a narrow-minded punk who deliberately picked a fight! A nobody from the puny Wutai Sect..."

"Enough!"

Ruan Wenju cut Liu Wu off. His indifferent gaze swept over Ta Xue’s wound before turning to Sang Yanping. "It’s just a beast. So what if it’s injured? Sang Yanping, are you telling me the Wutai Sect wants to make an issue with my Chaoyang Sect over such a trivial matter?"

"Ruan Wenju, do you really think the Wutai Sect is a pushover?"

Sang Yanping’s expression darkened completely, his robes fluttering around him in the still air.

He had been patient and restrained, but seeing Shen Xiuyong injured sparked his anger.

Chu Jinyun silently took a step forward, her Gui Water True Gang beginning to circulate, its aura faintly resonating with Sang Yanping’s.

Instantly, the tension in the backyard was thick enough to cut with a knife.

The Chaoyang Sect members began to circulate their True Qi and True Astral, their hostile gazes locking onto the Wutai Sect disciples.

The disciples from the Wutai Sect and Xuanjia Sect immediately went on high alert. Chen Qing silently tightened his grip on his Cloud-Coiling Spear, secretly merging the Cyan Wood and Earth True Astral within him, ready to unleash his power at a moment’s notice.

However, despite the menacing posturing, both sides held back, maintaining a final shred of restraint.

Out of the corner of his eye, Sang Yanping assessed the enemy’s numbers and strength. ’Ruan Wenju’s aura is as deep as the sea; he’s likely at Astral Force Perfection. Liu Wu is at the Mid-stage Astral Force, and they have several other disciples at the Embracing Pill Force realm whose auras are nothing to scoff at.’

’On our side, we have myself, Chu Jinyun, Shen Xiuyong, and Chen Qing—four at the Astral Force realm. But Shen Xiuyong is already lightly injured, and Chen Qing has only just reached Astral Force. Our overall strength is clearly a step below theirs.’

’If a fight breaks out, our disciples will suffer heavy losses, and our mission to Celestial Treasure City will be completely jeopardized.’

He weighed the pros and cons, and his anger gradually gave way to reason.

Ruan Wenju’s mind was racing as well.

’I’m not afraid of the Wutai Sect,’ he thought. ’But getting into a major brawl here isn’t worth it. Even if we win, it will start rumors and interfere with the Sect’s important business. The gain isn’t worth the loss.’