Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

’Three Stances Fusion? A Strong Physique? The True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear?’

Lu Chenming repeated these keywords under his breath, his expression gradually turning solemn.

He had originally thought that among the group from Xu Wang Mountain, only a select few like Wu Anren and He Shuang warranted any attention. He never expected a dark horse like Chen Qing was hiding among them.

For someone at the Mid-stage Astral Force to defeat an expert at the Perfection stage, and to display such astonishing talent and depth... In Lu Chenming’s mind, Chen Qing’s threat level soared in an instant.

After a moment of silence, a look of resolve flashed in Lu Chenming’s eyes. "The people I sent to watch Han Xiong can be recalled. From this day forward, focus on this Chen Qing. I want to know his every move—his Cultivation progress, the resources he exchanges for, who he meets with. Report every single detail to me."

"Yes, Senior Brother!" a disciple outside the door replied respectfully before his footsteps quickly faded into the distance.

Silence returned to the Quiet Chamber, but Lu Chenming’s heart could no longer find peace.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil churning within him.

"Triple Momentum... Body Refining Martial Arts... the True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear... This man truly cannot be underestimated," he muttered to himself.

’Wu Anren and He Shuang were already a threat, and now a Chen Qing has appeared...’

He had held the tenth True Disciple position for six years. It seemed stable, but in reality, he was walking on thin ice.

’Countless eyes were staring at his position as the "Gatekeeper."’

Although he had easily repelled Meng Qianxue’s challenge before, it had still served as a wake-up call.

’If I can’t break through to the True Essence Realm soon and completely widen the gap with those at the Astral Force level, there’s no guarantee a second or third Meng Qianxue won’t appear—or even... someone far more threatening than her!’

’If he were to fail a challenge... He couldn’t even begin to imagine the consequences.’

Losing his position as a True Disciple was something he could never accept.

’I must break through! I must reach the True Essence Realm as soon as possible!’

A determined glint flashed in Lu Chenming’s eyes. Only by reaching the True Essence Realm could he completely secure his position, ignore the challenges from these newcomers, and truly gain a firm foothold within the core circle of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.

He closed his eyes once more, frantically circulating the Nine Heavens True Astral within his Dantian.

...

Inside the banquet hall, wine cups clinked and laughter echoed.

Shen Wanqing, the Second Elder of the Shen Family, was all smiles, his face flushed as he raised his cup to chat merrily with several friendly local faction leaders, chamber of commerce presidents, and heads of Escort Agencies.

"Congratulations, Second Elder! The Shen Family is at the zenith of its power, maintaining close ties with the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. From now on, the Shen Family’s position in Celestial Treasure City will be as stable as a Pan Stone!" a chamber of commerce president said with flattery.

"Indeed! The Shen Family has deep roots and produces a constant stream of talent. Your future is bound to be even more prosperous! We’ll have to rely on the Second Elder’s guidance in the days to come!" another head of an Escort Agency chimed in loudly.

Everyone raised their cups, their words earnest, and the sounds of compliments were endless.

Just as the voices faded, Shen Wanqing was about to take another drink with the crowd when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a core expert of the Shen Family hurry into the banquet hall through a side door, a hint of panic and anxiety on his face.

The expert stood at a distance and used the Secret Transmission technique to say, "Second Elder, urgent news just came from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect... The duel on the Seven-Star Platform... Han Xiong... Han Xiong lost! He lost to Chen Qing!"

"Oh!?"

In an instant, the composed smile on Shen Wanqing’s face stiffened slightly.

’Han Xiong lost?’

’And in a public duel on the Seven-Star Platform, no less? To that Chen Qing from the Wutai Sect?’

He was rather astonished.

’Han Xiong had been at Astral Force Perfection for three years. I was well aware of his strength and foundations. How could he lose to someone at the Mid-stage Astral Force?’

’What did this mean?’

’It meant that in the competition among his peers, Han Xiong was not the optimal choice. If a True Disciple position were to open up, he would no longer be the priority candidate.’

’The Shen Family’s all-out support now seemed like a massive investment with a worrying return—it might even become a laughingstock in the eyes of others.’

"Second Elder, is something the matter?" someone at the table asked with concern, noticing his strange expression.

Shen Wanqing immediately picked up his wine cup, forcing a smile back onto his face. "It’s nothing, just some trivial family matters. A servant was being indiscreet and disturbed everyone’s good mood. I’ll drink a cup as a penalty."

He downed the cup in one go and enthusiastically called for a few more rounds of drinks, chatting and laughing with everyone as if nothing was wrong.

Only when he felt the atmosphere had become lively again did he make an excuse to temporarily leave his seat.

The moment he stepped out of the banquet hall, the smile on Shen Wanqing’s face vanished. He walked quickly toward an adjacent side hall, the trusted expert following close behind.

"Tell me everything."

Shen Wanqing said in a low voice, his tone betraying little emotion.

The trusted expert didn’t dare to delay. He gave a detailed account of the events on the Seven-Star Platform: how Chen Qing had used the momentum of his Three Stances Fusion, how he had relied on his Strong Physique to clash head-on with Han Xiong’s Double Hammers, and finally, how he had used a single move of the True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear to severely injure Han Xiong.

Shen Wanqing listened quietly. After a long moment, he nodded slightly and sighed. "Three Stances Fusion, a Profound Body Refining art, an Unparalleled Spear Skill... This young man is truly extraordinary. It seems Old Third’s judgment was indeed perceptive."

Although he had previously rejected Shen Qianshan’s proposal of a marriage alliance with Chen Qing, he now had to admit that the potential Chen Qing had displayed far exceeded his expectations.

"Second Elder, what... should we do now?" the trusted expert asked quietly for instructions.

Shen Wanqing’s eyes flickered. After pondering for only a few moments, he gave a decisive order: "Withdraw all resources supporting Han Xiong. Also, find a way to approach that Chen Qing. Be humble. Old Third had a bit of a connection with him before. See if we can use that to smooth things over."

’To be filled with regret over a single mistake and refuse to move forward—that would be true foolishness.’

"What if... Chen Qing still holds a grudge about the previous marriage proposal?" the trusted expert asked, worried.

After all, the Shen Family had initially favored Chen Qing, only to turn to Han Xiong later. It was inevitable that Chen Qing would feel slighted.

"It’s of no concern."

Shen Wanqing waved his hand. "No matter how astonishingly talented he is now, he has yet to become a True Disciple. Potential does not equal strength. Besides, the great chasm of the True Essence Realm is not something one can cross so easily with talent alone."

Within the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, geniuses as brilliant as him were as common as carp crossing a river, but how many could truly break through the chasm of the True Essence Realm and become pillars of the Sect?

No matter how much glory Chen Qing enjoyed now, he was still just a True Successor Candidate at the Mid-stage Astral Force.

The internal strife within the Sect, the schemes of the Noble Families, the bottlenecks on the path of Cultivation—any one of these could be his undoing.

...

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