Tiandang Peak.
The dormitory for lower-ranked disciples.
A black-robed youth sat cross-legged on his bed, palms and soles facing upward, seemingly deeply immersed in meditation.
WHOOSH.
A pure white streak was exhaled from his mouth.
He slowly opened his eyes, a faint divine light swirling within them, and an air of mystery enveloped him!
His aura was twice as strong as before!
"I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage!"
"This feels so good! Old Shi, you're amazing!"
"With your "Daoist Immortal Sutra" guiding my Spiritual Energy circulation, whether it's a Spiritual Energy-rich area like the Qinglan Sect or ordinary deep mountains and swamps, this Princely Heir has the confidence to reach Foundation Establishment in three months and Golden Core within a year!"
The young man lifted the ring on his hand and said excitedly.
"HAHAHAHA, so now you know what kind of existence has been supporting you from behind, right?"
"You won't call me a braggart anymore, will you?" The voice inside the ring chuckled.
"I won't! Old Shi! I was blind and offended you before. I apologize once again! Rest assured, I will listen to you from now on!" Ye Chen said quickly.
"Enough, enough. Today, against my advice, you forcefully joined the Qinglan Sect and even took... that old Daoist Yuanyi as your master! HMPH!" The elder inside the ring seemed somewhat dissatisfied and, after a moment, continued, "Well, from now on, you must take my advice. We need to be cautious and methodical. This is how we can seize the opportunities on this mountain."
"Cautious and methodical? What do you mean?" Ye Chen asked.
Just as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside, "Junior Brother Ye Chen! Elder Sister Chu from Divine Phoenix Peak is here. She says she wants to apologize to you. Do you want to see her?"
"Elder Sister Chu? The... Chu Youwei?"
Ye Chen was stunned for a moment, an image of a graceful fairy in white, carrying an ancient zither, springing to his mind...
"Young friend, don't go!"
"That Divine Phoenix Peak harbors ill will towards you; we must be extremely care—"
Before the word "careful" was finished, the black-robed youth had already walked out with a cold smile.
"Chu Youwei, this Princely Heir would like to see what tricks you're up to!"
「At the edge of a cliff on Tiandang Peak, under the moonlight.」
A graceful and beautiful figure stood against the wind.
Ye Chen stood at a distance, completely stunned.
Graceful and pretty, with fair skin, even a moon-white dress couldn't hide her charming figure...
Not bad, not bad, she is one of the types I, Ye Chen, like the most.
Ye Chen swallowed and took the initiative to approach.
"Fairy Chu, oh no, I should address you as Elder Sister Chu now."
"Why did you summon me in the middle of the night? What's the matter?" Ye Chen gently waved his folding fan, trying to appear as casual and debonair as possible.
"Junior Brother Ye, I'm sorry..." Chu Youwei sighed lightly and said, "My Eldest Senior Brother lost control of his strength today, hurting you... sigh."
"Actually, after understanding the whole situation, I realized it was all my Eldest Senior Brother's fault!"
"He saw Junior Sister Yingying fall for you at first sight and became jealous!"
"Junior Brother Ye, you... were so innocent!"
Chu Youwei tried her utmost to make her expression look sincere.
She had never told a lie in her entire life! But this time, to gain her Eldest Senior Brother's approval and become the most capable junior sister in his heart, she had steeled her resolve!
"Exactly! It's rare for Elder Sister Chu to be so discerning!"
"This Princely Heir is deeply moved!" Ye Chen's face was full of excitement, his eyes welling with tears!
He had a feeling! Starting from this night... the halo of the Son of Destiny, who had always been loved by everyone and adored by all beauties, was returning!
"Yes, it's really unfair to Junior Brother Ye... sigh..." Chu Youwei sighed lightly, but at the same time, her cheeks turned slightly red.
She couldn't help it; every time she lied, she would blush!
When Ye Chen noticed this, his heart leaped with joy!
As an experienced man, he naturally knew that this woman had feelings for him!
"It's fine, Elder Sister." Ye Chen smiled freely, walked over, and said, "Let's not talk about those unimportant people. Right now, it's just the two of us, and the night is beautiful. Why not…"
Chu Youwei felt a wave of nausea and stepped back. "Junior Brother Ye, as you said, the night is beautiful. Why not... Um! Let me take you to a good place!"
"A good place?" Ye Chen was taken aback.
"Yes, as a newcomer to Qinglan, you probably aren't aware of the seventy-two unparalleled sceneries and the eighty-one Blessed Abodes on Qinglan Mountain. There are Spiritual Springs and Rainbow Bridges everywhere, a true spectacle. Elder Sister can take you on a tour; consider it a small way to atone for our Eldest Senior Brother's actions," Chu Youwei said hurriedly, choosing her words carefully.
"HMPH, you said you wouldn't mention that Immortal Stick, so why are you bringing him up again?" Ye Chen was quite disgruntled.
If it weren't for the beauty before him, his temper would have flared up long ago!
In this life, he, Ye Wudi, was destined to have a feud to the death with that man named Lin Xiao!
"Immortal... Stick?" Chu Youwei paused, then realized he was referring to her Eldest Senior Brother. An icy, murderous intent flashed in her eyes.
No, I must endure! I must endure!
I must complete the task Eldest Senior Brother gave me! Chu Youwei forcibly suppressed her anger and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go."
"Junior Brother... do you know Sword Control?" she asked.
"HAHAHAHAHA, Elder Sister Chu, watch this!" Ye Chen roared with laughter, and the black sword in its sheath suddenly sprang out, shooting up into the sky in a flash. He was intentionally showing off, putting almost all of his True Power into this move.
This man is merely a martial arts practitioner who just joined the sect; how can he perform such an Immortal-Level movement technique?
Could he have a powerful master guiding him from behind the scenes? Chu Youwei's heart tightened.
Although her mind held the script of the Heavenly Dao's future, the further the plot advanced, the fuzzier many details in the script became!
However, one thing was certain.
Ye Chen definitely had some kind of trump card!
"Junior Brother Ye, that little display of yours is hardly impressive!" Chu Youwei said with a cold snort. "Keep up!"
With a flick of her hand-seals, the Thousand Feathered Zither in her embrace instantly transformed into a streak of rainbow-colored light. She rode her zither into the sky, soaring dozens of feet above Ye Chen in an instant.
She was usually serene and non-competitive. This was the first time in her life she had ever been so contentious!
But this man's arrogance was simply too sickening and infuriating!
At this moment, she once again solidified her future cultivation goal...
Eldest Senior Brother, she, Chu Youwei, wants him!
As for Ye Chen... He must be killed!
Ye Chen, you villain, do you really think you're just like what the script said: destined to be unmatched, with unparalleled Charm, and that every woman would develop feelings for you?
All of this... is simply a task given by Eldest Senior Brother!
「Two hours passed.」
The night deepened.
"Strange, this woman has been gone for so long. Why hasn't she come back yet?" Ye Chen shivered from the cold wind blowing in his face, pacing back and forth, restless.
"Young friend..." The sound from the Soul Ring echoed again. "This place is unusual; I fear there might be a trap."
"Old Shi, why do you say that?" Ye Chen narrowed his eyes.
"I've been sensing the Spiritual Energy here. I've noted that the Spiritual Energy is abundant, and its quality is superior. It doesn't resemble a barren wilderness so much as...
"A very rare Innate spiritual gathering ground!
"You should know, places like these are usually within sects, provided to core disciples, or even stewards and Elders, as cultivation treasure lands.
"Furthermore..." Old Shi paused before continuing, "The Fengshui here is dominated by Yin Energy and lacks Yang Energy. For whatever reason, it's best we leave this place as quickly as possible!"
"HAHAHAHA, Old Shi, you really underestimate my luck!"
"Ever since I fought my way out of the Great Zhou Dynasty, haven't we encountered countless dangers along the way?"
"When has this Princely Heir not turned peril into safety? What is there to fear?" Ye Chen responded with a disdainful sneer.
"Be that as it may, Princely Heir, don't forget that the Eldest Senior Brother of Divine Phoenix Peak, today, in front of everyone..."
"Old Shi! Stop mentioning that Immortal Stick in front of me!"
"Can't you see it at all? Hasn't Chu Youwei already fallen deeply for this Princely Heir?"
"And the reason I played along with her was merely to recruit her, to have her act as my spy by Lin Xiao's side!"
"Do you understand now?" Ye Chen's eyes blazed brightly as if he saw through everything, and his aura returned to the "I am invincible" demeanor he had before arriving at the Qinglan Sect.
I never imagined there could be such a conceited person in this world.
Alas… rotten wood truly cannot be carved.
A sigh echoed in the boundless space of the Soul Ring.