"The time for the Dao Inquiry Assembly is drawing closer. The Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry candidates from the other four great sects have also all been announced."
Zhong Yin said.
"There are a few individuals among them that you need to remember well, especially the characteristics of their cultivation arts. Otherwise, you might easily be at a disadvantage if you encounter them."
"We understand, disciple."
Everyone responded in unison.
Immediately, Zhong Yin recited several names one by one, informing Chen Yan, Chu Xiyao, and the others of their respective sects within the various sects, the cultivation arts those factions excelled in, and the fortuitous encounters they had experienced in recent years.
The disciples dispatched by the other four great sects all possessed cultivation levels at the late stage of the Martial Spring Realm, or even the peak of the Martial Spring Realm.
Only the Kongshan Sect had just Chu Xiyao alone at the peak of the Martial Spring Realm.
It was a pity that Li Haowen's age had already exceeded the limit; otherwise, the Kongshan Sect's Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry candidates wouldn't be in such an awkward situation.
Although Qin Yue possessed the Glazed Pure Body, and Chen Yan harbored the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art, which of the prodigies from the five great sects didn't possess unique and profound skills?
Only Chu Xiyao was the reliance for the Kongshan Sect this time, but—
"There is still one last person."
Zhong Yin's expression suddenly turned serious:
"The Star Heaven Sect, Qin Qingyu of the Moon Void Sect."
Chen Yan had heard this name before, and not just once.
On the original world line, the person who ultimately won first place in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, becoming the Heavenly Summit champion, was precisely this heaven-favored daughter of the Star Heaven Sect.
"Our Kongshan Sect's contemporary Dao Sect Wanderer, Liu Yantang, traveled around the Chenping Continent for fifteen years. She visited as a guest at the other four great sects. Before returning to the sect, the last sect she visited was the Star Heaven Sect."
Zhong Yin said.
The Star Heaven Sect was also the closest of the five great sects to the Kongshan Sect.
Although it was the closest, the straight-line distance between the Kongshan Sect and the Star Heaven Sect was still over a million miles.
"Liu Yantang's evaluation of Qin Qingyu was, 'Although still in the Martial Spring Realm, she already shows the bearing of an immortal.'"
Zhong Yin enunciated each word clearly:
"Qin Qingyu's natural talent might even be above Sect Leader Yun's."
More than three hundred years ago, Yun Yichen once ascended to the top of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry with an unstoppable momentum, becoming the Heavenly Summit champion.
That time was also the most predictable Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry in nearly a thousand years.
Chu Xiyao's expression also looked quite grave. This aloof and cold genius girl naturally had her own pride.
Everyone knew the terrifying aspects of Qin Qingyu, but who would truly be willing to become her backdrop, her stepping stone?
Perhaps Chen Yan and Qin Yue didn't care.
But Chu Xiyao absolutely would not.
"The Star Heaven Sect's Man Chen Scripture and the Moon Void Sect's Thousand Transformations Clear Void Method, I have just introduced them to you. As for what trump cards Qin Qingyu herself possesses, I'm afraid no one knows except the higher-ups of the Star Heaven Sect."
Zhong Yin said:
"I've said all I needed to say. Prepare well, but seek only to have a clear conscience."
After Chen Yan and the others bowed in the direction of Zhong Yin, they left the Hall of Prudent Discipline.
Regarding the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, Chen Yan's mindset was actually quite relaxed, because he had no real demands or expectations for himself.
He was just being forced into it by his master and martial uncle, having no choice but to go.
They seemed to place considerable importance on the status and position he could achieve within the sect. He was now the Chief Seat of Kongyuan Mountain. In a few years, if the opportunity was suitable, they would definitely try to push him towards an elder's position.
According to Yue Chi, his and Lin Qifeng's goal was to prevent the Kongshan Sect from becoming the second Orthodox Pivot Sect.
But when Chen Yan wanted to obtain more information from Yue Chi's mouth, Yue Chi simply refused to speak.
"It's still too early now. You'd better not know."
That's what Yue Chi said, and there was a second half to his sentence:
"Follow the path we and your master have laid out for you. We won't harm you, because we're all grasshoppers tied to the same rope."
That was indeed true. Until today, Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng had never tricked him or caused him any trouble.
If Chen Yan were to guess, judging by Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng's attitudes, this must be related to the Cause of Calamity.
Given his ability to conceal his own cultivation level and the strength he had consistently displayed, it wouldn't be excessive at all for someone to label him with the "Cause of Calamity" hat.
But Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng, who knew part of his secret, had not done so.
And Elder Fu Qian of Qingchan Peak seemed to have a very ambiguous attitude towards the Cause of Calamity theory.
So...
"Chief Seat Chen."
Suddenly, Chu Xiyao's calm voice interrupted Chen Yan's train of thought.
"Sister Chu, what is it?"
Chen Yan reacted quickly and then said.
"Do you have time later today?"
Chu Xiyao asked.
"Yes."
"Elder Fu wants to meet with you once. I wonder if it's convenient."
Fu Qian?
Chen Yan was stunned for a moment, then nodded:
"It is."
...
Cangwu Residence.
The last time he came here was a year ago, when he returned Fu Qian's Qingchan Martial Decree and provided the list regarding Song Mingde.
A year had passed, and nothing here had changed.
No, forget a year; even if five or ten years passed, Cangwu Residence might not see any changes either.
Fu Qian had already been here for several hundred years.
Chen Yan stepped into Cangwu Residence and came to a stop before the cold pond in the residence's courtyard.
"Disciple Chen Yan pays his respects to Elder Fu!"
Chen Yan said loudly.
"Chief Seat Chen, you are too courteous."
Inside the residence, that old man with temples tinged with white sat cross-legged beside a chess table, looking at Chen Yan standing before the pond with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"Thinking back to just over a year ago, Chief Seat Chen was still just a marginal disciple of the outer court, carried to my Cangwu Residence by Xiyao like a little chick."
Fu Qian said this:
"Now, barely over a year later, you've already become the direct-lineage Chief Seat of our Kongshan Sect, and there's also that... Purple Mansion Kongshan Art... Truly, after being apart for three days, one must look at a person with new eyes."
"Elder Fu praises me too highly."
Although from Fu Qian's tone, one couldn't hear even the slightest hint of genuine praise.
But Chen Yan still played dumb like this.
"Might I ask why Elder Fu specifically summoned me to Cangwu Residence this time?"
Chen Yan asked.
"Just that as one gets older, one often wishes to reminisce with old acquaintances."
Fu Qian replied:
"Might I ask if Chief Seat Chen knows how to play chess?"
Then, Fu Qian pointed to the chessboard placed before him.
"No."
Chen Yan replied.
"That truly is a pity. I rather wanted to have a game with Chief Seat Chen."
Fu Qian shook his head with a smile, wearing a regretful expression.
"I'm afraid I cannot oblige."
Chen Yan also smiled.
He disliked this feeling of probing and testing each other with a cryptic old fox like Fu Qian.
"Could it be that Chief Seat Chen wishes to remain only a chess piece forever?"
Fu Qian said:
"I can give you, Chief Seat Chen, an opportunity to become a chess player."