Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 453: Chapter 202: Three Gangs

He wasn’t a lone wolf and knew the importance of connections, so he naturally wouldn’t object.

Everyone sat down again.

Qiao Hongyun poured fragrant tea for Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong.

Afterward, the group began to chat idly. Their conversation naturally revolved around the recent happenings in Celestial Treasure City.

Shang Lujing took a sip of tea and said, "I heard that yesterday at the West Garden of Guest Welcoming Peak, people from the Chixiao Sword Sect and Black Water Pool nearly came to blows over some old grudges. In the end, a Steward from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect had to step in and put a stop to it. He punished both sides equally, warning them that any more trouble would result in their disqualification from the selection."

Wang Bo sneered. "Those guys from the Chixiao Sword Sect have always been arrogant, and the people from Black Water Pool are notoriously sinister and ruthless. It’d be strange if they *didn’t* cause trouble when they met."

Zhuo Xiaoyun then offered another piece of news. "I heard the Chaoyang Sect from Celestial Balance Prefecture and you all from Yunlin Prefecture... seem to have some old grievances? Their people arrived a couple of days ago. There haven’t been any conflicts, have there?"

Her gaze fell on Shen Xiuyong and Chen Qing, tinged with inquiry.

Shen Xiuyong glanced at Chen Qing and said vaguely, "We ran into them on the road. There was a little friction, but nothing major."

He clearly didn’t want to dwell on the unpleasant incident.

Qiao Hongyun changed the subject. "I’ve also heard that some of the great Noble Families are paying attention to this selection. They might send people to observe, or even... to recruit talent."

His words made everyone’s expression shift.

If they could catch the eye of a great Noble Family, it would be an excellent path forward, even if they failed to enter Xu Wang Mountain.

The group exchanged more rumors, some true and some false, and the atmosphere grew lively.

After chatting for a while, Wang Bo suddenly lowered his voice, getting to the heart of the matter. "By the way, regarding the selection itself, does anyone have any concrete information? It’s only a few days away."

At the mention of this, everyone’s expression turned serious.

Shang Lujing set down his teacup and lowered his voice. "I actually heard a rumor from an acquaintance, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. They say the first round of the selection will likely involve the Celestial Treasure Tower."

"The Celestial Treasure Tower!?"

Wang Bo and Zhuo Xiaoyun exclaimed in near unison. Even Qiao Hongyun and Shen Xiuyong looked stunned.

Chen Qing had also heard of this tower. It was said to be a Sect’s Treasure of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, incomparably profound. It served as both a trial ground and a cornerstone of the Sect’s defenses, making it extremely mysterious to outsiders.

Legend had it that the Treasure Mountain was originally a piece of Meteorite Iron. It took a hundred master craftsmen eighty-one years to forge it into a tower.

The tower was rumored to have seventy-two levels, each one a world of its own, filled with unfathomable mysteries.

Shang Lujing continued, "Furthermore, I heard that the first round will only select one hundred people to advance."

"One hundred people!?"

This time, even Shen Xiuyong frowned. "With the Fifty-One Mansions and over a hundred Sects, there must be at least several hundred, perhaps nearly a thousand, qualified prodigies. The first round is going to eliminate ninety percent of them?"

"That’s what the rumor says."

Shang Lujing nodded. "The Celestial Treasure Tower is a miraculous wonder. It can supposedly accommodate many people for the assessment at once, making it highly efficient. The exact format of the assessment is unknown, but the screening is guaranteed to be extremely rigorous."

Wang Bo stroked his chin and chuckled slyly. "Only a hundred people in the first round? Heh, that shouldn’t be too hard for us, right?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the others. His meaning was clear: if they couldn’t even pass the first round, they had no business sitting here talking.

Among those present, Shang Lujing was ranked tenth, Wang Bo thirty-first, and Zhuo Xiaoyun forty-sixth. Qiao Hongyun’s strength was a given—he had reached the Astral Force realm five years ago. Shen Xiuyong was also rich in combat experience, and Chen Qing, ranked sixty-fifth, possessed immense potential.

In theory, all of them were highly competitive.

Hearing this, they all nodded slightly. Though their expressions were grave, they still had confidence in themselves.

"Let’s hope so."

Shang Lujing smiled. "As for the specifics, we’ll have to wait for the official announcement from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect."

Next, the group exchanged what they knew about the Celestial Treasure Tower. Most of it was hearsay, but the atmosphere remained congenial.

After a bit more small talk, Shen Xiuyong smiled and said, "Same as always. If anyone has something they don’t need, or is looking to acquire something, why not show it? We might be able to help each other out."

Chen Qing looked slightly confused.

Qiao Hongyun explained from the side, "We often trade items. After all, we’ve all traveled different paths and had different fortuitous encounters. For example, Brother Shang’s sect excels in Thunder Techniques and sometimes needs special Treasure Medicines. Brother Wang’s Four Extremes Sect uses forceful techniques and has a high demand for Body Tempering Treasure Medicine. Miss Zhuo’s Water Mirror Square Secret Technique requires treasures that calm the mind and focus the spirit..."

’It’s a small, private trading session,’ Chen Qing realized.

Soon, everyone began taking out items and placing them on the tea table before them.

Shang Lujing took out a faintly glowing beast-skin booklet—a rare Superior Body Technique—and several strange ores that crackled with electric arcs.

Wang Bo took out two bottles of elixirs labeled "Tiger Soul Bone Tempering Pill" and a rather ancient-looking Fist Technique Secret Manual that appeared to be incomplete.

In front of Zhuo Xiaoyun lay a Ganoderma-shaped Spiritual Grass, entirely azure and emitting a faint, cold aura. Beside it was a fist-sized, deep-blue Crystal Stone that emanated pure and gentle fluctuations of Water Attribute Spiritual Energy.

Chen Qing’s heart leaped. ’A Water Attribute Exotic Treasure! If I could obtain this, I could try to refine the Gui Water True Qi from my Profound Nether True Water Technique into a True Astral. Then I would possess the Three True Astrals—Cyan Wood, Kun Earth, and Gui Water. By fusing them, my strength would skyrocket!’

After a moment of thought, Chen Qing also took out a few items he had no use for.

They were mainly spoils he had taken from Zuo Feng and Feng Shuhao: a bottle of Poison Pills labeled "Bone Marrow Poison," a ten-year-old Seven Extremes Miasma Mushroom, and the manual for the Inner Strength Secret Skill of Hooking Toad Force he had obtained long ago.