Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 451: Chapter 201: Undercurrent 3

Soon, Cheng Yingsong led the group to the guest room area on Guest Welcoming Peak.

The pavilions were built into the mountainside in a picturesque, staggered arrangement. Though only guest rooms, they were exquisitely constructed with upturned eaves and interlocking brackets, surrounded by towering ancient trees in a tranquil and secluded environment.

Cheng Yingsong briefly pointed out the location of the dining hall, informed them that meals would be served at the appointed times, and then took his leave.

"We’ve been exhausted by the long journey. Tonight, we can finally get a proper rest."

Sang Yanping said to the group, "Everyone, return to your rooms and don’t wander off. Tomorrow, we will inquire about the specifics of the selection registration."

"We can finally get a good rest!"

Li Wang let out a long sigh, a weary smile of relief spreading across his face.

Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, and the others nodded in agreement. The journey had lasted nearly half a month, and they had braved the elements along the way. Especially after their conflict with the Chaoyang Sect, everyone had been on edge. Now that they were in a safe place, a wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over them.

Everyone found their assigned rooms.

Chen Qing pushed open the door to his room. The furnishings inside were simple but clean and tidy. The window looked out onto a lush mountainscape where clouds and mist drifted between the peaks, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

’I’ll hold off on delivering the Sect Leader’s letter for now.’

He then took out a High-quality Quenching Gang Pill and began his Cultivation.

He wasn’t far from reaching the Fifth Layer of the Profound Nether True Water Technique. Soon, he would be able to refine his Gui Water True Qi into Gui Water True Gang.

About an hour later, Li Wang’s voice sounded from outside. "Junior Brother Chen, Elder Sang wants us to have a meal together."

"Okay, I got it."

Hearing the voice, Chen Qing ended his cultivation session and followed Li Wang out.

Elder Sang, Chu Jinyun, Shen Xiuyong, Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, and the others had all gathered.

Chu Jinyun and Nie Shanshan had both changed into casual attire, shedding the dust of their journey. Nie Shanshan, in particular, wore a pale blue dress that made her look even more graceful and lovely.

The group then made their way to the dining hall, where a Celestial Treasure Upper Sect disciple showed them to an elegant private room.

Before long, delectable dishes were served. Many of the ingredients were things the group had never seen or even heard of, clearly far from ordinary.

Back in the Wutai Sect, dishes of this quality were reserved for honored guests, but at the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, they seemed to be mere common fare.

Those present were either Core Disciples or Elders of the Wutai Sect, so of course, they weren’t so provincial as to gawk. Still, they couldn’t help but gain a more direct sense of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s immense wealth and deep heritage.

"Let’s eat first," said Elder Sang. "After the meal, I have something to tell you."

The group then began to eat.

Elder Sang also ordered a bottle of fine wine. The liquid was amber-colored, and its fragrant aroma filled the air as it was poured.

Chu Jinyun said, "This is top-quality Crimson Mist Brew. It’s brewed from various Spirit Fruits and Treasure Medicines, and it gently nourishes one’s qi and blood. It’s slightly beneficial for Cultivation and is quite a rare find."

"It is indeed good."

After drinking a small cup, Elder Sang immediately felt the qi and blood in his body surge gently. He nodded in praise, "This is unique to the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. You should all have some, but in moderation. Don’t overindulge and let it affect your duties."

Li Wang, Chen Qing, Yan Yaoyang, Li Lei, Shi Ziyi, and Fang Rui each poured themselves a small cup.

"Senior Sister Nie, would you like some?" Li Wang asked.

"I’ll pass." Nie Shanshan shook her head; she had never liked the taste of alcohol.

Chen Qing followed the advice and drank a cup. He immediately felt a gentle yet powerful warmth rise from his abdomen and spread through his limbs. His whole body felt pleasantly warm and relaxed, and even the circulation of his True Qi seemed to become a little smoother.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group gathered in Elder Sang’s room.

Elder Sang, Chu Jinyun, Shen Xiuyong, and Chen Qing sat down. The others who could find seats sat as well, while the rest stood to the side.

"We made good time on our journey. There’s still about half a month before the selection officially begins."

Sang Yanping’s expression grew solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "During this half-month, you are free to explore Celestial Treasure City and the designated areas around Guest Welcoming Peak to broaden your horizons. You may also try to befriend disciples from other Sects and exchange information. However, you must remember one thing: absolutely do not cause any trouble!"

His gaze swept across each disciple as his tone grew stern. "With the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s selection imminent, the city is swarming with all sorts of people, and various powers have gathered. The slightest friction can be blown completely out of proportion. Causing trouble at such a critical juncture is strictly forbidden. It will not only bring disaster upon you but also displease the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect and may even tarnish our Sect’s reputation. If you encounter any problems, endure what you must and avoid what you can. Your number one priority is to participate in the selection safely!"

"Yes! We understand!"

Everyone present answered in unison, naturally understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Good."

Sang Yanping nodded slightly and continued, "Based on what I just inquired from Steward Cheng, combined with some previously known information, there are a few confirmed matters I must inform you about."

"First, regarding the selection, the scale of this Xu Wang Mountain project is considerable. The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect will comprehensively evaluate disciples from numerous Sects and select a batch to enter Xu Wang Mountain. There, they will receive training on par with the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s own Inner Sect Disciples. It is said that disciples under the age of thirty will receive some preferential treatment during the evaluation. So, even those of you who have not yet reached the Astral Force realm, like Shanshan, Yao Yang, Ziyi, and Fang Rui, shouldn’t sell yourselves short. It doesn’t mean you have no chance at all!"

Hearing this, the eyes of Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, Shi Ziyi, and Fang Rui immediately brightened. Their spirits, which had been dampened by their rankings on the Heroes’ Record and the things they had seen on their journey, were instantly lifted, and their hope was rekindled.

Watching from the side, Chu Jinyun felt a sense of relief. Naturally, she hoped as many of their disciples as possible could enter the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.

Sang Yanping paused to let everyone digest the information before continuing. "Second, let’s discuss the power structure within the Celestial Treasure Giant City. This city is immense, and its waters run unfathomably deep. Aside from the supreme Celestial Treasure Upper Sect itself, there are five millennia-old Noble Families with deep, entangled roots and immense power."

"These Noble Families not only have countless ties to the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, including generations of marital alliances, but they also possess a deep heritage of their own. Their enterprises are spread throughout the Three Paths, they command countless masters, and their influence is immense."

"Not only do these Noble Families possess a deep heritage, but their descendants also often cultivate within the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, holding high status. When you are out in the city or interacting with others, if you happen to meet someone from these Five Great Noble Families, you must be extremely cautious and discerning. It is best to be on good terms with them, but if that’s not possible, you must under no circumstances offend them. Understand?"

Everyone was shaken by this information. They nodded, committing the names of these families to memory.

Celestial Treasure City was far more complex than they had ever imagined.

’These millennia-old Noble Families have weathered countless storms without falling,’ Chen Qing mused. ’The depth of their heritage is far beyond what any ordinary Sect could hope to match.’

’They don’t just control vast resource networks and monopolize key industries; they’ve also used marriage alliances, Tributes, and their own disciples to forge a tangled web of connections with the upper echelon of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.’

’Many of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Elders, and even some of its most powerful core figures, are tied to these major Noble Families by birth to some degree.’

’In that case, the influence of these Noble Families is likely behind many of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s decisions.’

’It seems the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect is not as simple as it appears on the surface. Its internal politics are just as unfathomably deep.’

"Alright."

Having finished his briefing, Sang Yanping’s expression relaxed slightly. "That’s all for today. Go back and get a good night’s rest. Starting tomorrow, you are free to manage your own time, but do not forget what I’ve said."

The disciples answered in unison, then left Elder Sang’s room, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.

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