Chapter 2254: Chapter 2258: Tang Lin’s Kindness?
Shenmu Prefecture.
In the second-floor hall of a refined tavern.
"Back here once again!"
Jiang Chen glanced out the window, a hint of reminiscence surfacing in his eyes.
"If not for that incident back then, young master Jiang would probably be a talented disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect now, rather than a talented student of Canglin Academy!"
Qiu Ying laughed lightly, a trace of regret in her eyes.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly, not responding.
Sang Zhenye glanced at Qiu Ying, a mocking smile appeared on his lips as he said flatly, "The Heavenly Sword Sect is not Jiang Chen’s destination, nor is Canglin Academy. His future is not within the Mingqian Realm!"
Qiu Ying was taken aback, surprise flickering in her eyes as she then looked deeply at Jiang Chen and gently nodded.
Indeed, given his talent, the Mingqian Realm is indeed somewhat small!
There was a look of agreement in Qiu Ying’s eyes.
Looking at this young man with a calm expression, Qiu Ying still found it hard to believe that this young cultivator, who was Semi Divine Infant Realm two years ago, has grown to this level in just two years, and even more terrifyingly, he is actually a third-tier Pill Master!
Third-tier Pill Master, even Divine Infant Realm cultivators would treat them with respect, and if he ascends further to fourth-tier, even Virtual Refinement Realm powerhouses would be courteous!
Such an outstanding person, yet...
Thinking of this, a trace of indignation flashed in Qiu Ying’s eyes.
If it weren’t for that Tang...
"Miss Qiu?"
A call rang out, jolting Qiu Ying awake. Seeing Jiang Chen looking at her with a strange expression, she blushed slightly and quickly avoided his gaze.
Jiang Chen was somewhat baffled; Qiu Ying was staring at him, lost in thought and gritting her teeth—what situation was this?
"Sorry, young master Jiang, I lost myself in my thoughts for a moment."
Qiu Ying laughed sheepishly.
Jiang Chen chuckled and shook his head, turning to look out the window.
Since departing from Canglin Academy, they had been traveling via teleportation array, yet even so, it took a week to reach this Shenmu Prefecture.
Of course, this was Jiang Chen and Qiu Ying traveling with their own strength; if Sang Zhenye had taken them with full effort, the time would have been significantly reduced.
"By the way, does young master Jiang know Senior Zhang Ling? I heard from Master that Elder Zhang and Senior Zhang Ling are from the same hometown, isn’t young master Jiang also from the same hometown as Elder Zhang?"
To cover up the earlier awkwardness, Qiu Ying proactively started a conversation.
"Yes, Senior Zhang Ling is also from our hometown; does Miss Qiu know him?"
Jiang Chen nodded, looking at Qiu Ying with curiosity.
"Of course, Senior Zhang Ling has been at our Heavenly Sword Sect for the past half year."
Qiu Ying laughed lightly.
"Senior Zhang is at the Heavenly Sword Sect? Why would he go there?"
Jiang Chen’s eyes showed a trace of surprise. Zhang Daoling is the City Lord of Hui City, and previously Zhang Yubo seemed to value him, wanting to keep him in Mingyuan City, but now why did he end up at the Heavenly Sword Sect?
"Half a year ago, Vice Sect Leader Tang invited Senior Zhang to the sect."
Qiu Ying explained softly, "Half a year ago, a shocking incident occurred in Shenmu Prefecture; Wuyou Island was annihilated overnight, causing widespread panic among the major forces in Shenmu Prefecture. To prevent causing panic throughout the realm, the Prefecture Lord suppressed the matter."
"Wuyou Island was annihilated overnight?"
A trace of shock crossed Jiang Chen’s eyes, and his brows slightly furrowed.
Sang Zhenye, however, appeared completely indifferent, as if he had known about this all along.
Qiu Ying nodded gently, her voice solemn, "After the Mingqian Banquet, you left the Domain Lord’s Mansion; the four major forces of Shenmu Prefecture stayed temporarily, remaining in Mingyuan City for a month and jointly reported the matter to the Domain Lord, seeking to have him dispatch powerful experts for investigation."
Back then, Jiang Chen had offended Zhang Yubo, and after the Mingqian Banquet, he returned directly to Canglin Academy, knowing nothing about the matter of Heavenly Sword Sect and other forces staying in Mingyuan City afterwards.
"Don’t tell me the ones dispatched by the Domain Lord’s Mansion to investigate this were Senior Zhang. Wuyou Island had Integration Path powerhouses, and they were annihilated overnight, Senior Zhang is only Virtual Refinement Realm Peak, what use is he?"
Jiang Chen raised a brow, a look of confusion in his eyes.
"Of course not! After learning about this, the Domain Lord convened several meetings and ultimately decided to send three seniors from the Tong Family to investigate."
Qiu Ying shook her head, "At the time when they stayed in Mingyuan City, Elder Zhang Sanfeng and Senior Zhang Ling hit it off upon first meeting, and upon learning they were from the same hometown, had delightful conversations. Later, they each demonstrated their Great Dao to one another and verified their understandings, unexpectedly gaining insights."
Jiang Chen’s lips curled slightly upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
Both Zhang Sanfeng and Zhang Ling have comprehended both the Bright and Dark Great Daos and have even realized Integration Great Dao attacks. When on Yuan Star, both were Taoists, and the cultivation techniques they practiced had similarities, so it was natural they would gain insights through mutual verification.
Jiang Chen felt glad about the trust between them, as they are the only two from his hometown he has found so far, and they are the ones he feels he can truly trust. Now that the two are so close, Jiang Chen too felt comforted.
"Precisely because Senior Zhang and Elder Zhang’s Great Dao can enhance each other, when sect members left Mingyuan City, Vice Sect Leader Tang invited Senior Zhang to temporarily stay at Heavenly Sword Sect, even offering some rare treasures to help the two enhance, hoping Elder Zhang would soon break through to the Integration Path!"
Qiu Ying continued.
"You’re saying Tang Lin provided rare treasures to help Senior Zhang and Elder Zhang cultivate?"
Jiang Chen’s eyes showed a trace of absurdity.
He had killed Tang Lin’s son, and Zhang Sanfeng and Zhang Ling have some connection to him; would Tang Lin be so kind-hearted to help them?
"Right, I didn’t expect that either. I never imagined Vice Sect Leader Tang would be so considerate of the bigger picture!"
Admiration appeared in Qiu Ying’s eyes, "Elder Zhang is the strongest Virtual Refinement Realm Elder within the sect, and Senior Zhang’s strength is equally formidable. Vice Sect Leader Tang’s actions are aimed firstly at helping Elder Zhang break through soon to enhance our Heavenly Sword Sect’s power, so that if the force that annihilated Wuyou Island targets our Heavenly Sword Sect, we have an additional force to resist, and secondly at impressing Senior Zhang to keep him at our sect!"
"But isn’t Senior Zhang the City Lord of Hui City? How could he join the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Jiang Chen’s eyes showed a trace of skepticism, his brows knitted tightly.
Though Jiang Chen doesn’t know much about Tang Lin’s character, from what little he knows, it’s clear that Tang Lin is not such a selfless person, and Tang Lin has a close relationship with the Domain Lord, Zhang Yubo. Jiang Chen instinctively senses something amiss in this situation.
