Chapter 170: Chapter 115: Chamber of Commerce

After a simple meal, Chen Qing returned to the Sect.

He hadn’t been back in months. Having just broken through to the first level of the *Profound Nether True Water Technique*, it was the perfect time to return to the Wutai Sect, and also to Imprint the *Crimson Sun Heart-Burning Technique* and the *Eight Desolates Mountain-Suppressing Technique*.

A knife-like wind, carrying frost, lashed against the cold stone steps of the Wutai Sect’s entrance.

Dingbo Lake was long since frozen over, a pane of silent, still glass.

Contrary to its usual cold quiet, the Cyan Wood Institute was bustling. Figures dotted the Martial Arts Arena; disciples were either stretching their muscles or gathered in small groups, talking in low voices. It was much livelier than usual.

Chen Qing’s gaze swept over the plaza in front of the main hall, passing over many unfamiliar faces.

These newly-accepted junior brothers were dressed in expensive clothes and carried themselves with an air of distinction. They were clearly the children of wealthy families who had used a hefty “gift” to open the Sect’s gates for them in the past six months.

The disciples all around were murmuring amongst themselves, their conversations invariably centered on the grand Sect ceremony in four months.

“Did you hear? The Sect Leader himself is going to preside over the grand celebration in four months!”

“That’s not all! The elites of the Five Major Branches will all be there, and I heard even the Elders who are usually in seclusion will make an appearance!”

“A seven-hundred-year anniversary… This is the biggest event for our Wutai Sect in decades. The spectacle is going to be unprecedented!”

…

Chen Qing had already heard about this.

This grand Sect celebration, set for four months from now, would see the Five Institutes gather and their elites assemble. It was to be the most solemn and magnificent ceremony in recent years.

The air was filled with a restless energy, a mix of excitement and anticipation. The Wutai Sect had been quiet for a long time; it truly hadn’t been this lively in ages.

“Junior Brother Chen?”

A voice called out.

Chen Qing looked toward the sound and saw it was Zhao Stone.

It had been months, and Zhao Stone’s aura was clearly much more solid. A faint flow of True Qi could be felt around him.

As Chen Qing himself was about to enter the Mid-stage Embracing Pill Power, his senses were sharp. He could tell with a single glance that the other man had successfully broken through and stepped into the Early-stage Embrace Pill Power.

“Senior Brother Zhao, congratulations.” Chen Qing cupped his fist, his tone level but sincere.

“Just a bit of luck, that’s all.” Zhao Stone forced a smile and walked over quickly.

He had entered the institute five months before Chen Qing, so when Chen Qing had broken through to the Embracing Pill Force first, he had felt a pang of bitterness.

Now that he had caught up in Realm, that bit of resentment had dissipated. In its place, however, a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of comparison had quietly taken root in his heart.

His eyes swept over Chen Qing as he asked, feigning casualness, “Are you back to report on your duties, Junior Brother?”

“Just here to take care of a few miscellaneous things,” Chen Qing answered vaguely.

“Junior Brother Zhao!” A somewhat urgent voice called out. It was a Core Disciple from Xu Qi’s faction, waving to Zhao Stone from a distance as if for an important matter.

“Junior Brother Chen, I have to go over there for a moment.”

Zhao Stone straightened his back, a flicker of pride at being needed flashing in the depths of his eyes, and walked quickly toward the man.

Chen Qing watched his back disappear into the crowd and shook his head slightly.

The struggle for the position of Chief Disciple had long since turned the Cyan Wood Institute into a pool of turbulent undercurrents.

The open and secret struggles between Luo Xinyi’s and Xu Qi’s factions were growing increasingly intense.

The disciples in the institute, whether they joined willingly or were forced to take a side, had almost all chosen a faction.

Although Zhao Stone had only just entered the Embracing Pill Force, he had become a significant bargaining chip.

Luo Xinyi and Xu Qi had noticed Chen Qing’s ambiguous attitude and had subsequently grown much colder toward him, making no further special efforts to recruit him.

Chen Qing went to the back courtyard. He quietly slipped silver notes worth two thousand taels under the door, paid his respects, then turned and walked toward the Tingchao Armory.

Upon arriving at the Tingchao Armory, Chen Qing ascended the stairs, heading straight for the section that housed the Core Heart Methods of the Li Fire Institute and the Kun Earth Institute.

He had now condensed True Qi from three different Heart Methods and was growing increasingly curious about and expectant of the creation and destruction cycles of the Five Elements True Qi.

Imprinting the first three levels of the *Crimson Sun Heart-Burning Technique* and the *Eight Desolates Mountain-Suppressing Technique* was the key to the next step of his plan.

Just as he stepped onto the second floor, a familiar figure appeared not far away.

Zheng Xiuhong.

He hadn’t seen her in months, but his neighbor, this senior sister, was still as buxom and alluring as ever, her features revealing a gentle and graceful temperament.

Standing opposite her was a disciple dressed in the uniform of the Inner Courtyard. He had an anxious look on his face and was trying to hand her a bulging cloth pouch.

“…Junior Sister Zheng, why must you work so hard? Take this silver for now, use it for emergencies and to pay back the debts to our fellow disciples. Everyone deeply regrets what happened to Brother Bai, but life must go on.”

The male disciple’s tone was earnest, tinged with concern.

Zheng Xiuhong turned slightly to the side, avoiding the proffered pouch. “Brother Zhang, I appreciate the kind thought, but I cannot accept a reward I haven’t earned. Besides… all I want now is to cultivate in peace, pay back the loans from my fellow disciples as soon as possible, and I truly have neither the heart nor the energy for anything else.”

She paused, her voice growing softer but firmer. “After Bai Ming passed, I don’t want to go through that kind of fear and worry ever again.”

The eagerness on that Brother Zhang’s face instantly froze, replaced by awkwardness and a hint of disappointment. He finally sighed. “In that case… I have been too forward. Take care, Junior Sister.”

He turned and left, looking somewhat dejected.

Zheng Xiuhong stood where she was and let out a soft sigh of relief.

Chen Qing took in the entire scene. He remembered Zhang Ting telling him that Zheng Xiuhong had exhausted her savings and gone into debt trying to save Bai Ming.

He strode over, meeting her gaze just as she turned.

“Senior Sister Zheng.” Chen Qing cupped his fist.

When Zheng Xiuhong saw Chen Qing, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. “Junior Brother Chen? You’ve come to the Armory to consult the texts as well?”

Her gaze swept over Chen Qing, and she could sense that her junior brother’s aura had become more steady and substantial.

“Mmm, I’m here to Imprint a few things,” Chen Qing answered briefly, his eyes glancing at her slightly pale face. “Have you been well lately, Senior Sister?”

Zheng Xiuhong lowered her eyelids for a moment, then raised them again, trying to make her smile look more natural. “I’m all right. Just have some trivial matters to deal with. Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother.”

She clearly didn’t want to discuss her predicament, so she quickly changed the subject. “You’re in charge of a Fishery now, Junior Brother. I imagine you must be quite busy with its affairs, aren’t you?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep