Of course, Lin Qifeng didn't see it that way.

The moment Lin Qifeng learned that Realman Du Cang had personally selected him to go cultivate on Du Cang Mountain, his first reaction was to sprint out of the Alchemy Hall on Kongyuan Mountain and rush straight to the True Dharma Hall, where he began showing off in front of Kongyuan Mountain's True Dharma Elder, his senior brother Yue Chi.

He went on and on with things like, "Realman Du Cang is truly a loyal friend, now that he's taken charge of Chenping Continent, he hasn't forgotten about little old me."

Or spouting nonsense like, "Looks like that pill I refined with two hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones wasn't a waste after all. Effort always pays off in the end."

And more garbage like, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, don't bully Qi Feng for being poor. When I return to the sect in the future, I'll be an Upper Three Realm great, standing shoulder to shoulder with Master!"

Upon hearing all this, the white-haired old man clad in a Bagua Daoist robe merely let out a somewhat contemptuous chuckle.

In Yue Chi's view, however, the only reason Realman Du Cang had personally selected Lin Qifeng was that the Realman was thinking of their past friendship.

He had no idea why those venerable senior figures and great powers always treated Qi Feng so kindly, despite his mediocre cultivation talent and his knack for constantly causing trouble.

His master was like that, his sectal ancestor was the same, and Realman Du Cang was no different.

Of the twenty people comprising the top ten of the Qi Circulation Realm and the top ten of the Martial Spring Realm, sixteen came from the four great sects.

As a result, many people said that if Mirage Palace hadn't been destroyed, the top ten of both the Qi Circulation Realm and the Martial Spring Realm would likely have been completely swept by the Five Great Sects.

That was indeed a very plausible outcome.

As for the Qi Sea Realm and Spirit Connection Realm, because the age restrictions were relatively stricter, the non-Five Great Sect disciples who managed to participate in the Dao Inquiry could hardly be called pushovers either.

In the end, of the twenty people comprising the top ten of the Qi Sea Realm and the top ten of the Spirit Connection Realm, thirteen came from the four great sects.

The other seven all hailed from various top-tier cultivation sects across Chenping Continent.

He Qingling of Xuan Sheng Sect, her name appeared prominently among those seven.

...

One year later, Du Cang Mountain.

A young woman dressed in the daoist robes of Xuan Sheng Sect stood in the Training Grounds, a verdant long sword in her hand.

This young woman was none other than the daughter of Xuan Sheng Sect's Sect Leader, He Chengjie, and the greatest genius Xuan Sheng Sect had produced in nearly a millennium, He Qingling.

Ever since the Du Cang Mountain Dao Discussion concluded a year ago, she had remained on Du Cang Mountain to cultivate, and from the very first day she began cultivating there, she had stopped wearing the white dress that had once been her favorite.

The reason was simple: Chu Xiyao was also on Du Cang Mountain.

In the Western Region of Chenping Continent, imitating Chu Xiyao's style of dress and mannerisms didn't draw any particular attention. After all, anyone could wear a white dress.

But standing next to Chu Xiyao herself? That would be more than a little embarrassing.

For as long as she could remember, Chu Xiyao had been the cultivator He Qingling admired and respected the most. Especially during the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry twenty-six years ago, had the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm not occurred, the final bout of that Dao Inquiry should have been Chu Xiyao versus Qin Qingyu.

But because of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm, the position of champion for that Dao Inquiry was left vacant.

Yet almost every cultivator on Chenping Continent believed that Qin Qingyu was the rightful champion of that Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.

Whenever tea patrons in the teahouses discussed that particular Dao Inquiry, whenever they talked about the final bout that never happened as scheduled, those tea patrons would first sing the praises of Qin Qingyu's "aptitude for Ascending to Immortality."

Then they would add:

"Chu Xiyao? What's she compared to that?"

Every time He Qingling heard such words, she would clench her fists in indignation, silently standing up for Chu Xiyao.

But she could never refute them, no matter how reluctant she was to admit it.

Qin Qingyu was indeed a super-genius capable of representing an entire era.

At this very moment, He Qingling stood on the Training Grounds, and opposite her stood a young man holding a long sword, dressed in the daoist robes of Wind Ravine Valley.

Lu Chenzhou, a disciple of Qingjin Ravine in Wind Ravine Valley, was a swordsman.

"Junior Sister He, this is already our fourth bout."

Lu Chenzhou's tone was somewhat frivolous, his gaze roving up and down He Qingling's face and figure:

"I wonder if you've made any progress since last time?"

He Qingling felt quite uncomfortable being sized up by Lu Chenzhou like this.

She had always detested this womanizer. He never put his full focus into cultivation, yet still found the leisure to concern himself with matters of romance.

Most importantly, his attitude was utterly repulsive.

But today, it just so happened that she was paired against him in sparring, and in their three previous matches, He Qingling had always come out on the losing end.

"You'll find out soon enough, Fellow Daoist."

He Qingling replied coldly.

Lu Chenzhou was momentarily taken aback, then a subtle smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Junior Sister, calling your senior brother 'Fellow Daoist'? Isn't that a bit too distant? Could it be that you're upset with me?"

As he spoke, the smile on Lu Chenzhou's face grew wider:

"Here's the deal. After today's training session ends, let's the two of us head up to Cang Luan Cliff, and I'll personally give you some pointers on swordsmanship. How about that? You know, back in the day, when Falling Star Realman participated in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, he achieved enlightenment and cultivated right on that very cliff. You could say Cang Luan Cliff is practically a pilgrimage site for swordsmen."

He Qingling's expression turned even colder:

"I'd ask you to conduct yourself with some dignity, Fellow Daoist."

Lu Chenzhou clearly wanted to say something more, but He Qingling had no intention of continuing this entanglement. She quickly activated her footwork and, raising the verdant long sword in her hand, slashed toward Lu Chenzhou.

Whoosh—

A sharp sound of air being rent apart rang out.

...

On the high corridor beside the Training Grounds.

Two cultivators stood by the railing, their gazes fixed on the duel taking place below in the Training Grounds.

The one on the left wore the daoist robes of Lingxiao Temple and appeared to be only around twenty-something years old.

The male cultivator on the right, however, already had the look of a middle-aged man. His temples were streaked with white, and beneath his firm gaze lurked a trace of sorrow in the depths.

"Elder Li is skilled with the sword. Who do you think will win?"

The Lingxiao Temple cultivator asked in a calm tone.

Li Haowen's gaze first swept over Lu Chenzhou, barely sparing him a single glance, before settling on He Qingling:

"Unsteady footwork, sluggish true qi circulation, indecisive strikes, and a restless mindset... she's still far off."

The Lingxiao Temple cultivator also turned his gaze to He Qingling, then nodded:

"But her overflowing talent is still hard to miss. This young disciple of Xuan Sheng Sect is indeed impressive. It's no wonder Elder Li keeps such a close eye on her."

Upon hearing this, Li Haowen simply shook his head and said slowly:

"It's just that Patriarch Kong asked me to look after her a bit."

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