Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 467: Chapter 206: Purple Light

’It was true that he’d angered the Upper Sect, but was that enough to get a True Essence Realm master erased?’

’The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect seemed to maintain order through balance and restraint. Directly intervening to eliminate a regional powerhouse would create too much of a stir and could easily cause panic among its other vassal sects.’

A bolder, more plausible theory surfaced in his mind. ’Could Master Li have been the one behind this?’

’Li Baichuan was unfathomable. He acted lazy, but in reality, he never came out on the losing end.’

’Hunted by a True Essence Realm master... given his temperament, would he really just flee and let it go?’

’Considering everything that had happened, and the possibility that his strength far exceeded what he’d shown...’

The more Chen Qing thought about it, the more certain he became.

The sudden death of the Chaoyang Sect’s Sect Leader was very likely the work of Li Baichuan!

’That Old Deng’s reserves and power are probably far more terrifying than I ever imagined.’

Just then, Sang Yanping took a few Jade Bottles from his robes and placed them gently on the table, interrupting Chen Qing’s thoughts.

"These are all Quenching Gang Pills."

Sang Yanping’s voice pulled Chen Qing’s attention back to the present. "This is the Sect’s entire stock. There are forty pills in total. The two of you can split them."

Upon hearing this, both Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong were stunned. A wave of warmth washed over them, but they also felt the immense weight of the gesture.

Forty Quenching Gang Pills! That was by no means a small number!

Even with Chen Qing’s current status in the Wutai Sect, his monthly allowance was only three pills. These forty pills were equivalent to more than a year’s worth of his allotment!

The Sect was truly doing everything in its power to support them.

Shen Xiuyong took a deep breath, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for the Sect’s generous gift! I will not let you down!"

Chen Qing was also deeply moved. He said solemnly, "Elder Sang, Elder Chu, please tell the Sect Leader that even though I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect for my cultivation, I will always be a disciple of the Wutai Sect’s Cyan Wood Institute. That will never change."

Hearing this, a gratified look appeared on Sang Yanping’s face. But he immediately waved his hand, his expression turning extremely serious. "It is enough for us to know you feel this way. But keep these words in your heart. Within the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, you must never, ever say this to anyone. Remember that! You must remember!"

Chu Jinyun nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with concern. "Indeed. The Upper Sect’s rules are strict, and they detest disciples who remain loyal to other sects. The best way you can repay our Sect is to focus on your cultivation here. As you grow stronger, our Sect will naturally reap the intangible benefits and advantages."

They chatted for a while longer, discussing things they had seen on their journey and important points about cultivation. As the night deepened, Chen Qing, Shen Xiuyong, and Chu Jinyun finally rose to take their leave from Elder Sang’s room.

.....

Chu Jinyun returned to her room, where the candlelight swayed.

She had just poured herself a cup of tea and had yet to take a sip when she heard a soft, rhythmic knock at the door.

"Master, it’s me."

Nie Shanshan’s voice came through the door, a few shades deeper than usual.

Chu Jinyun set down her teacup. "Come in."

The door opened gently, and Nie Shanshan walked in. Her pale blue dress looked somewhat flimsy in the lamplight.

Her eyes were downcast and her hands were clasped loosely in front of her. She lacked her usual cool self-possession, instead betraying a rare hint of hesitation and struggle.

"Shanshan, what is it? It’s so late," Chu Jinyun asked in a warm voice, gesturing for her to sit in a nearby chair.

Nie Shanshan did not sit. She simply walked over to Chu Jinyun and took a deep breath, as if she had made a monumental decision. "Master, your disciple... I’ve thought it through. I want to stay and join the Outer Sect of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect."

The room fell silent in an instant, leaving only the soft crackle of the candle flame.

Chu Jinyun gazed at the disciple she had raised with her own hands, her heart a whirlwind of emotions, a complex mix of feelings all jumbled together.

She didn’t answer right away, her gaze carefully tracing the lines of Nie Shanshan’s youthful face.

This disciple of hers had excellent innate talent and comprehension. Moreover, she was tenacious and strong-willed, never one to admit defeat easily.

Among her peers in Yunlin Prefecture, Nie Shanshan was undoubtedly at the very top. Even compared to many of her older contemporaries, like Shen Xiuyong and Kong Yian, she was by no means inferior. In fact, her potential might even have surpassed theirs.

The competition this time was filled with masters as numerous as clouds, gathering the elites from all Three Paths and Fifty-One Mansions. The brutality of the contest far exceeded anything within the prefecture.

Many of those who made it into the top one hundred were already Astral Force masters in their thirties, or even approaching forty. They had nearly a decade more of accumulated Power, combat experience, and mental conditioning.

This wasn’t merely a gap in Cultivation, but a chasm forged by time and experience.

Shanshan and her peers were, after all, still too young.

Embracing Pill Force cultivators under the age of thirty were at a natural disadvantage when facing those seasoned, cunning "veteran" geniuses with their condensed True Astral.

Someone like Chen Qing, who could break through to the Astral Force realm before the age of thirty and forcefully fight his way into the top thirty at such a grand event, was as rare as a phoenix’s feather.

Given the same amount of time to temper herself, Chu Jinyun firmly believed that her disciple would be in no way inferior to those people.

However, understanding was one thing; the heartache was another, and it was very real.

She knew the pride that was etched into Nie Shanshan’s very bones. Failing the selection this time was a blow far greater than her calm exterior suggested.

’For her to choose to stay now, starting from the very bottom as an Outer Disciple... how much pride must she have swallowed? And how much courage must she have summoned?’

’The Outer Sect of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect is a motley crew. The competition is fierce, and the resources are a far cry from what the Inner Sect receives.’

’It’s truly starting from scratch, where you have to fight for everything yourself.’

’That path is destined to be filled with thorns and immense hardship.’

A powerful feeling of reluctance and worry welled up in Chu Jinyun’s heart. But she knew Nie Shanshan better than anyone. Her disciple would never have said this unless she had thought it through long and hard.