Chapter 121: Chapter 96: Misty Rain

’This Mist Rain Tower really has its ways,’ Chen Qing thought to himself.

He quickly scanned the contents, discovering a great deal of valuable information.

“A Treasure Hunter claims to have encountered a mysterious Exotic Beast deep within the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp. Its body was like a mountain, its eyes like blood moons, and its aura was terrifying. Further details are unknown.”

“Nine Waves Island and Fuhai Stockade, the two largest Water Bandit forces in Qianchuan Marsh, have been in frequent contact recently. It is suspected they intend to unite dozens of other Water Bandit groups.”

“Fang Rui, a genius disciple of the Xuanjia Sect’s younger generation, recently married the daughter of the Bai Family’s main lineage in the Prefecture City.”

“Several more bodies have been discovered on Golden Light Peak, on the western edge of the Prefecture City. The condition of the corpses is bizarre.”

But the section that took up the most space was dedicated to the Infinite Demon Sect, whose activities were frequent and movements secretive.

Cold Jade Valley Elder “General-Slaying Saber” Song Chen was suspected to have fallen at their hands, a revelation that shook the Yunlin Martial World.

The Sect Leader of Cold Jade Valley was enraged by the news and has emerged from seclusion, vowing to make them pay in blood!

Chen Qing, however, privately mulled it over. According to the information he’d received, the massacre at Beize No. 3 Fishery was by no means an isolated incident.

The Infinite Demon Sect had been appearing frequently in recent years. The signs of its resurgence were now undeniable.

’I just hope… we can have a little more peace.’

Chen Qing sighed to himself, straightened himself up, and headed for the Cyan Wood Institute.

He found Luo Xinyi, took out three thousand taels in silver notes, and handed them over. “Could I trouble you to give this to Master Li? It’s a small token of my appreciation. Please ask him to look out for me.”

After annihilating the Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons, he still felt a bit uneasy.

The Prefecture City was a treacherous place. The various powers were deeply entangled, and the slightest misstep could get him dragged into a whirlpool.

Luo Xinyi soon returned with a message. “Master Li is always very ’reasonable.’ He said as long as there’s enough silver, he’ll patch up any hole you make, no matter how big. Never mind a few Water Bandits. He said you should just focus on your cultivation.”

Hearing this, Chen Qing thought to himself that although Master Li was greedy, he certainly got things done.

The amount of wealth he must have amassed through graft over so many years was surely astonishing.

“Junior Brother Chen.”

Luo Xinyi looked at Chen Qing. “Later, I’m meeting a few of our junior brothers for drinks at the Drunken Immortal Inn. You should come along. It’ll be a good chance for us all to get closer, so we can look out for each other here in the institute.”

She was referring to the few rather effeminate junior brothers who were with her.

Chen Qing shook his head, his expression impassive. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I just want to focus on my cultivation right now. I’d hate to be a wet blanket.”

His tone was level, the refusal clean and direct.

Luo Xinyi didn’t press the issue. They exchanged a few more pleasantries before she turned and left.

Chen Qing also turned to leave, but he saw Zhao Stone approaching with another, stocky man.

The man was none other than Li Danyan, one of the seven Embracing Pill Force disciples of the Cyan Wood Institute. It was said his full-blooded brother was also highly regarded in the Xuanjia Sect.

Previously, Zhao Stone had always been trailing behind him, looking for all the world like his follower.

“Junior Brother Chen!”

Zhao Stone called out, his face full of excitement. “Dean Peng of the Kun Earth Institute is giving a public lecture today at the Martial Arts Cliff! He’s explaining Spear Momentum—it’s a rare opportunity! I heard even the geniuses from the other institutes are going. You want to come?”

“Spear Momentum?”

Chen Qing’s interest was piqued.

He recalled reading in the notes of a Kun Earth Institute master that one could only comprehend Spear ’Momentum’ after cultivating the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear to the Peak of Perfection.

This state was like a heavenly chasm, a barrier for countless masters stuck at the Perfection realm.

The Martial Arts derived from the Wutai Institute’s Heart Methods were all considered Superior Martial Arts. They were far more profound than Middle or Lower Grade Martial Arts, and naturally, much more difficult to cultivate.

Reaching the Great Success realm was already an incredible feat, marking one as a genius among geniuses. Those who reached Perfection were as rare as a phoenix’s feather, and most were venerable elders of a past generation.

As for those who had mastered Momentum, in the entire Wutai Sect, the only ones publicly known to have done so were the handful of Deans.

Chen Qing cupped his fist. “Dean Peng is teaching in person? How could I possibly miss such an opportunity? Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Brother Li, for letting me know. I’d be happy to go with you.”

Li Danyan gave a steady nod. “Dean Peng is an Astral Force master. His skill in Spear Technique is unparalleled in the Wutai Sect. The old master rarely gives public lectures. Whenever he does, even the Inner Gate Stewards gather to watch.”

Chen Qing followed Zhao Stone and Li Danyan, passing through the winding corridors of the Cyan Wood Institute and heading west.

The Lake Heart Island on Dingbo Lake was not exclusively used by the Tingchao Armory. At its edge, a steep, black cliff rose from the water’s surface. This was the Martial Arts Cliff, a place all Wutai Sect disciples yearned to visit.

The cliff didn’t belong to any particular institute; it was a communal area for the entire Sect.

At this moment, the wide platform before the Martial Arts Cliff was already teeming with people.

Unlike on a normal day, when disciples from various institutes would be scattered about their own cultivation, the disciples gathered here now had auras that were universally more stable and powerful. Experts who had achieved Great Success in the Transmutation Force Realm were everywhere, and there were even a number of Embracing Pill Force masters with True Qi faintly circulating around their bodies.

Everyone waited in silence, their eyes focused on a flat Bluestone Platform before the cliff. That was where the Dean would deliver his lecture.

Chen Qing and the other two found a spot with a decent view.

His gaze swept across the crowd, and he immediately sensed several auras that stood out.

The first to catch his eye was a figure standing near the left side of the Bluestone Platform.

She wore a fitted, moon-white Martial Attire from the Gui Water Institute. Her figure was delicate yet athletic. Her waterfall of dark hair was tied back simply, revealing a clear forehead and a long, slender neck.

She wasn’t engaged in animated conversation like those around her. Instead, she stood quietly, cradling a sword, her posture as straight and proud as a pine tree.

The sheathed Long Sword was plain and unadorned. Held casually in her arms, it exuded an aura that was both tranquil and sharp.

“That’s Senior Sister Nie Shanshan,”

Zhao Stone whispered in awe beside him, his tone filled with undisguised admiration. “The Gui Water Institute Dean’s most prized disciple. Her Thousand Layered Wave Sword Technique is said to have already reached Great Success, and she’s probably not far from the Realm of Perfection. She’s absolutely radiant.”

Chen Qing nodded slightly. Nie Shanshan’s aura was indeed restrained and profound, setting her apart from the average Gui Water Institute disciple.

Just then, a slight commotion rippled through the other side of the crowd.

Chen Qing followed the disturbance with his gaze and saw a young man striding toward them.

He wore the signature Profound Black Martial Attire of the Geng Metal Institute. He was of average height and had an unremarkable face, but his eyes glittered with sharp intensity.

The most striking thing about him was his hands. They were large, with thick joints covered in heavy calluses, as if they contained the Power to shatter stone.

“Senior Brother Yan is here too!”

Li Danyan said gravely, his voice low. “The Geng Metal Institute’s Chief Disciple. His iron fists are undefeated in the Geng Metal Inner Courtyard. His Flesh Body is incredibly tough, and it’s said he’s just a hair’s breadth from reaching the Late-stage of Embracing Pill Force. He specializes in Fist Technique, yet he’s come to a lecture on Spear Momentum. Dean Peng’s draw is truly remarkable.”

The newcomer was none other than the Geng Metal Institute’s genius disciple, Yan Yaoyang!

Chen Qing could clearly sense Yan Yaoyang’s aura. His presence was completely different from Nie Shanshan’s. If Nie Shanshan was a deep, tranquil sea, then Yan Yaoyang was a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Nie Shanshan’s and Yan Yaoyang’s gazes met briefly, and they nodded to each other in acknowledgment.

As two of the most outstanding disciples in the Wutai Sect, they were naturally well-acquainted.

Besides these two dazzling figures, Chen Qing also spotted disciples from the other institutes.

It was safe to say that a large number of the Wutai Sect Inner Courtyard’s elite disciples had come.

’Looks like Dean Peng’s lecture on Spear Momentum has an incredible draw,’ Chen Qing thought.

He focused his mind and turned his gaze to the empty Bluestone Platform, his heart filled with anticipation.

Just as the crowd held its breath in rapt attention, a figure appeared silently upon the Bluestone Platform.

In an instant, all sound before the Martial Arts Cliff vanished.

……

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