Lying Low in the Mar Chapter 231 - 134: Exposed

Chapter 231: Chapter 134: Exposed

’My priority now is to get stronger as fast as I can,’ Chen Qing thought, taking a deep breath. ’I have to use every resource at my disposal.’

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared up ahead.

"Chief Chen, a moment."

Huang Dong wore his usual slick smile as he clasped his hands in a salute. "Congratulations, Chief Chen, on your magnificent display of power today. Your spear’s might was felt throughout the entire arena! I witnessed the whole thing, and I am thoroughly impressed!"

Chen Qing stopped, his gaze calm as he looked at this master from Mist Rain Tower.

There was always an air of intense purpose about Huang Dong’s appearances.

"Brother Huang, your information travels fast. The banquet just ended, and here you are." Chen Qing’s tone was flat, betraying no emotion.

"Duty calls. I dare not be remiss."

Huang Dong’s smile didn’t waver. He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "Chief Chen, your battle today was nothing short of earth-shattering! The Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear at the Realm of Perfection, overpowering Li Lei of the Kun Earth Institute! A feat like that has already sent shockwaves through Yunlin! Surely, Chief Chen, you understand what this means?"

"Oh?"

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow slightly. "Senior Brother Huang, why don’t you speak plainly?"

"Heh heh,"

A glint flashed in Huang Dong’s eyes. "After the Sect’s grand celebration, the selection for Yunlin Prefecture’s new ’Five Heroes and Seven Talents’ will soon begin. This is the highest honor for the younger generation in the Prefecture City—and the entire prefecture. Based on the strength you showed today, Chief Chen, you are more than qualified to be ranked among them!"

He paused, then said eagerly, "Chief Chen, this title of ’Five Heroes and Seven Talents’ isn’t just for show! Once you’re on the list, the benefits are innumerable!"

"First, your name will be known throughout Yunlin! All the great Noble Families and merchant guilds in the Prefecture City will consider it an honor to associate with a prodigy on the list! At that point, Tributors, resources, and connections will be yours for the taking! It’s far beyond what an ordinary Chief Disciple could ever hope for!"

"Second, a favorable distribution of resources! Whether it’s support from the Prefecture City’s Government Office or top-tier resources from certain secret channels, they will all be preferentially offered to those on the list! I’ve heard there are things deep in the government treasury that not even the Wutai Sect’s Langya Pavilion possesses! For breaking through to a higher Realm, the benefits are endless!"

Huang Dong painted a fantastical picture, as if Chen Qing could reach the pinnacle of his life with a simple nod.

However, Chen Qing remained completely unmoved and even felt a faint sense of aversion.

’Five Heroes and Seven Talents?’

’Fame throughout Yunlin?’

’Becoming the center of attention for the entire Yunlin Prefecture?’

This went completely against his nature!

He had never sought the spotlight; his only goal was to steadily and discreetly improve his strength.

Fame was a double-edged sword.

It would bring attention and resources, but it would also attract countless tests, challenges, and even covert covetousness and schemes.

’Yan Yaoyang, Nie Shanshan, the other Five Heroes and Seven Talents... Which one of them doesn’t have a profound background and an expert Protector?’

’As the Chief of the Cyan Wood Institute with such shallow roots, I’d just be caught in the middle and become a common target.’

’The Infinite Demon Sect is watching like a tiger, and the various powers in the Prefecture City are a tangled mess. Becoming the center of attention would only bring endless trouble.’

"Brother Huang, I appreciate the kind thought."

Chen Qing’s voice remained flat and calm as he directly refused, "The selection of the Five Heroes and Seven Talents is a grand event in Yunlin Prefecture, and public opinion will decide it. My qualifications are still shallow and my foundation is not yet stable. I have no interest in it."

Huang Dong shook his head, his tone laced with regret. "Chief Chen, do you know how many people dream of such an opportunity? One step ahead means every step ahead! For you to hide your light like this... it’s truly a pity."

"Brother Huang, I will remember your kindness."

Chen Qing gave a slight nod. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"As you wish, Chief Chen."

Huang Dong clasped his hands helplessly, only able to shake his head and sigh.

’Looks like Mist Rain Tower won’t be earning this master’s silver.’

...

Meanwhile, the party from Cold Jade Valley, led by Granny Ling Shuang, was the first to take their leave.

「On the way back to Cold Jade Valley after leaving Lake Heart Island.」

The moonlight was cool and clear, reflecting off the shimmering ripples of Qianchuan Marsh.

Granny Ling Shuang sat inside the steadily moving carriage, her eyes closed in rest, when she suddenly spoke. "Qingyi, I saw you talking with Chen Qing and Li Wang from the Wutai Sect just now. What was it about?"

Ye Qingyi sat across from the granny. She opened her eyes at the question, her gaze clear. "Reporting to the Grand Elder, it was just a casual introduction. The Demon Sect’s movements are unclear, so this disciple thought that communicating more with the young prodigies of the Wutai Sect might be beneficial in the future. As for that Chen Qing... this disciple is a little curious."

"Curious?"

Granny Ling Shuang’s eyelids lifted slightly. "Curious how a Fisherman with a Four Forms Root Bone could, in just two short years, not only break through to the Mid-stage Embracing Pill Realm and take the position of Chief Disciple in a place like the Cyan Wood Institute, but also master a Superior Spear Skill from the Kun Earth Institute to the point of Perfection?"

"Precisely."

Ye Qingyi admitted frankly, "The strength he displayed today could not have been achieved through hard work and piled-up resources alone. This disciple wanted to see if there was some other mystery to it, something that could be learned from. However, his responses were watertight, revealing no flaws whatsoever."

"Hmph." Granny Ling Shuang snorted lightly. "This boy is indeed an anomaly. To be able to thrive under that old fellow Li Baichuan... With the Perfect Spear Realm he displayed today, he’s strong enough to dominate a region within the Embrace Pill Realm. Given time, he will certainly achieve something great."

Her tone shifted. "However, Root Bone is the foundation of Martial Arts! His Four Forms Root Bone is a congenital limitation, an undeniable flaw. Accumulating True Qi is easy, but Breaking Through realms is hard! To advance from the Embracing Pill to the Astral Force Realm, one must draw upon the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to refine the Flesh Body and open the Heaven and Earth Bridge. This has extremely high requirements for one’s Root Bone aptitude."

"The worse the Root Bone, the more terrifying the required accumulation, and the difficulty of breaking through the shackles multiplies! Throughout history, those who have managed to step into the Astral Force Realm with a Four Forms Root Bone are as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin’s horn. Every single one either obtained a world-altering, fate-defying opportunity or paid a price unimaginable to ordinary people."

Granny Ling Shuang looked at Ye Qingyi. "That Chen Qing has potential, but his future is destined to be difficult. The future of the Wutai Sect lies with Nie Shanshan and Yan Yaoyang. Their Root Bone, talent, resources, and tutelage are all top-tier. They are the key figures truly worthy of our Cold Jade Valley’s attention. That He the Second from Qixia Manor has a sharp eye; he spotted the uncarved jade that is Yan Yaoyang early on."