Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 450: Chapter 201: Undercurrent (2)

Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, Li Wang, and the others followed Steward Cheng Yingsong’s gesture, their gazes drawn to several magnificent peaks looming in the distance, partially veiled by a churning sea of clouds.

Those were the Inner Nine Peaks of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, the Martial Arts Holy Land that countless people dreamed of.

Cheng Yingsong noted the expressions on the young disciples’ faces and said slowly, "Here in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, every brick and tile, every blade of grass and tree, is anything but ordinary. It is the culmination of generations of painstaking effort. I have toiled for half my life—a full thirty years of diligent service—just to get this far."

A shiver went through everyone present. The younger disciples, in particular, were filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Hearing this, Sang Yanping’s expression grew more solemn. He cupped his hands and said, "Steward Cheng, you are too modest. To establish a foothold in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect is an achievement beyond the reach of ordinary people. We of this generation are full of admiration."

These words came from the heart. The Wutai Sect was a dominant force in Yunlin Prefecture, but within the grand system of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, it seemed insignificant.

"Let’s not dwell on that."

Cheng Yingsong waved his hand dismissively. "You are now heading to Guest Welcoming Peak, which is dedicated to receiving outside visitors. The peak has a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine suites and guest rooms. Just lighting the lamps at night and sweeping the courtyards requires several hundred Servant Disciples. Most of the sect members who have traveled here from various regions are currently staying there."

Nine hundred and ninety-nine guest rooms!

And so many people needed just for daily maintenance!

Upon hearing this, the members of the Wutai Sect and the Xuanjia Sect felt the immense scale and profound heritage of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect even more keenly.

Chen Qing sighed inwardly. ’Governing the Three Paths and Fifty-One Mansions, gathering countless silver coins and resources... the scale of this Celestial Treasure Upper Sect is truly unimaginable.’

As they spoke, they encountered several other stewards from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect along the path, also leading groups of people up the mountain.

Judging by the disciples’ attire and auras, they were clearly from sects in different prefectures.

"Those are disciples from the Liuyun Sword Sect of Yunlan Prefecture. Their sect specializes in Swordsmanship and is unmatched in their region."

"And over there, those should be disciples from the Hundred Yuan Sect. Their Cultivation Techniques are unusual, and their Flesh Bodies are formidable."

Shen Xiuyong explained in a low voice to Chen Qing beside him.

Just then, a voice came from behind and to the side.

Everyone turned to look and saw another procession of people approaching from a different fork in the road.

At the head of the group were two old men. One wore a crimson robe, his beard and hair bristling. His face was ruddy, and a faint, scorching aura seemed to swirl around him.

Chen Qing had seen this man before at the auction in Lin’an Prefecture.

It was none other than Fu Shoushan, the Instructor Elder of the Fiery Sun Sect from Pingyang Prefecture, also known as the "Huoyun Elder."

The other, dressed in a water-blue Daoist robe, had a calm aura like still water. This was Shi Ziyu, an Elder of the Bitaomen Sect from Fengle Prefecture.

Among the several young disciples following behind the two Elders, two in particular stood out.

The one from the Fiery Sun Sect had an upright posture, and his hands had large knuckles that faintly glowed with a crimson light. It was the Fiery Sun Sect’s most famous genius in recent years, ’Red Flame Hand’ Zhu Yu!

He was ranked forty-seventh on the Heroes’ Record, a testament to his great fame.

The one from the Bitaomen Sect was a young man with a Long Sword on his back and a somewhat cold demeanor. His steps were light and his aura was nimble. He was a core disciple of the Kong Family from Fengle Prefecture and also a genius whom the Bitaomen Sect was pouring all its resources into training: ’Wind-Chasing Sword’ Kong Yian.

Both were experts on par with Qiao Hongyun and had rarely been seen in public in recent years. This time, they too had been drawn by the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Xu Wang Mountain training program.

"Hahaha! I was wondering who it could be. So it’s Brother Fu and Younger Brother Ziyu!" A genuine smile spread across Elder Sang Yanping’s face as he took the lead in cupping his hands in greeting.

Elder Chu Jinyun also smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

The four prefectures surrounding the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp—Yunlin, Pingyang, Fengle, and Linchuan—interacted more frequently than other prefectures due to their geographical proximity.

Furthermore, when the Demon Sect had run rampant before, the sects of the four prefectures had joined forces to fight them and support each other. Because of this, their relationships were naturally much closer and more familiar than those between sects from other prefectures.

"Younger Brother Sang! Junior Sister Chu! I trust you’ve been well!"

The Huoyun Elder laughed as he returned the greeting and strode closer.

Shi Ziyu of the Bitaomen Sect also smiled and cupped his hands. "Brother Sang, Senior Sister Chu. I didn’t expect to run into you here. What a coincidence."

The Elders were clearly old acquaintances, and meeting here in Celestial Treasure City, so far from their homes, they felt a deep sense of warmth.

They exchanged a few simple pleasantries and introduced the unfamiliar disciples behind them to one another.

Meanwhile, the gazes of Chen Qing and the other young disciples met with those of Zhu Yu, Kong Yian, and their peers.

Zhu Yu’s eyes burned with curiosity. His gaze paused for a moment when it fell upon Chen Qing—sixty-fifth on the Heroes’ Record. A rank like that wasn’t high enough to warrant his attention, but if this person was under thirty, he was worth a second look.

Kong Yian, on the other hand, appeared much calmer. He merely gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, his eyes sweeping over the members of the Wutai Sect before lingering for a moment on Nie Shanshan.

"Was your journey here smooth?" the Huoyun Elder asked with concern.

"It was alright. We had a few minor bumps, but we arrived safely in the end," Sang Yanping replied, not going into detail about their friction with the Chaoyang Sect.

Shi Ziyu stroked his beard and said, "It’s good that you arrived smoothly. Celestial Treasure City is a motley mix of characters these days. Just arriving safely is a blessing. We should all look out for one another here."

"Younger Brother Ziyu is absolutely right," Sang Yanping said, nodding in deep agreement.

After a few more brief words, the Elders continued on their way toward Guest Welcoming Peak.

Although it was only a brief encounter and conversation, meeting friendly acquaintances from neighboring prefectures in the unfamiliar territory of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect undoubtedly gave the people from the Wutai and Xuanjia Sects a sense of warmth and security.