Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

With that in mind, he changed direction and first went to the Steward Hall to register his upcoming trip. Only then did he make his way to Wanxiang Hall.

Looking at the dazzling array of items on the exchange list, Chen Qing deliberated for a moment before steeling himself and spending six thousand Contribution Points on three twenty-year-old Treasure Medicines, each brimming with Spiritual Qi.

Although spending so many Contribution Points pained him, he hadn’t "paid his respects" to Li Lao Deng in a long time. It wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed when he returned to seek guidance on the main principles, so this gesture had to be a substantial one.

After properly storing away the Treasure Medicine, he returned to his small courtyard on Xu Wang Mountain. He packed a few things and then summoned the Golden Feathered Eagle.

A sharp cry tore through the sky as the Golden Feathered Eagle spread its massive wings, carrying Chen Qing high into the air and speeding toward Yunlin Prefecture in Fenghua Path.

...

Meanwhile, in a side hall of Lijian Hall on True Martial Peak.

This was where the disciples of the True Martial Lineage handled miscellaneous affairs and exchanged information. The hall was not crowded at the moment and was rather quiet.

Two people were sitting opposite each other at a stone table near a corner.

In the seat of honor sat an old man, a lingering gloom in his eyes every time they opened and closed.

His aura was heavy and condensed, revealing him to be at the Astral Force Perfection realm. However, this aura seemed to be stuck at a bottleneck. He was one of the Stewards of the True Martial Lineage, Zhao Ganjun.

Across from him sat a woman who appeared to be in her forties. Her name was Sun Yinglan, her Cultivation was at the Late-stage Astral Force, and she had a sharp, competent air about her. At this moment, her brow was slightly furrowed.

Zhao Ganjun lowered his voice, his tone filled with unconcealable dissatisfaction. "Junior Sister Sun, you’ve heard, haven’t you? The Vein Master and Brother Qu... they think very highly of that newcomer, Chen Qing."

Sun Yinglan sighed softly and whispered, "Senior Brother Zhao, be careful what you say. Junior Brother Chen’s talent is outstanding. His battle at the Seven-Star Platform brought glory to our lineage. It’s only natural that the Vein Master and Brother Qu would want to cultivate him."

She had also seen the preferential treatment Chen Qing received and was quite envious.

However, she could understand why the Vein Master and Qu He valued him. After all, Chen Qing was the True Martial Lineage’s only True Successor Candidate.

"Only natural?"

Zhao Ganjun snorted coldly. "Yes, Chen Qing is a genius, a True Successor Candidate! But I, Zhao Ganjun, have been stuck at Astral Force Perfection for twelve years! Twelve years! I’m just one final step away."

"Last time, Brother Qu directly approved a Pure Yang Yuan Astral Pill for that Chen Qing! He’s only at the Mid-stage Astral Force. Does he really need such a precious Elixir to solidify his foundation? It’s an utter waste of a priceless treasure! If that Pill had been given to me, perhaps... Hmph!"

He was already over forty and had long since lost any chance at the title of "True Successor Candidate," let alone the lofty position of a True Disciple.

This was a fact he had resigned himself to long ago.

However, a fire of frustration had always burned within him. ’Even if I can’t become a True Disciple, if I can just break through the shackles of the True Essence Realm, I can still join the ranks of the Sect’s experts and bring glory to the True Martial Lineage!’

But now, the Vein Master, Brother Qu, and all those Elders were funneling critical resources to a junior who was still only at the Mid-stage Astral Force!

’In their eyes, are my decades of bitter cultivation and perseverance, my faint chance of breaking through to the True Essence Realm, not even worth mentioning?’

How could he possibly remain calm!

"Senior Brother!"

Sun Yinglan quickly tried to stop him, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Seeing that no one was paying them any special attention, she said, "Brother Qu has his reasons for doing things. Chen Qing has immense potential; investing in him early is a long-term strategy. If word of this gets out, won’t you be putting the Vein Master and Brother Qu in a difficult position?"

Zhao Ganjun’s chest heaved a few times, but he managed not to raise his voice again.

He picked up the cold tea on the table and drained it in one gulp, as if trying to extinguish the fire in his heart. After a long moment, he sighed heavily. "It’s not that I don’t understand. Our True Martial Lineage’s influence among the Outer Twenty-Seven Peaks is weak, and we’re ostracized among the Four Veins. Our channels for obtaining Contribution Points are not as good as the other lineages, and our resources are scarce... Every resource must be used where it counts the most. I’m not an unreasonable person. If Chen Qing were already a True Disciple and enjoyed this kind of treatment, I, Zhao Ganjun, would not have a single word of complaint! But he’s not there yet!"

"The Vein Master values him, Brother Qu supports him... Fine. Just fine. I’ll be keeping my eyes wide open to see just when this highly-anticipated Junior Brother Chen will finally ascend to the position of a True Disciple!"

Hearing this, Sun Yinglan also fell silent.

She understood Zhao Ganjun’s frustration. In the True Martial Lineage, there were quite a few older disciples like them—advanced in age, their potential nearly exhausted, and stuck at a critical bottleneck.

’Chen Qing may be talented, but he’s still only at the Mid-stage Astral Force.’

’Betting everything on him, expecting him to become a True Disciple?’

’That was just a pie in the sky!’

’Distant water can’t quench a present thirst, and it certainly won’t bolster the True Martial Lineage’s current prestige!’

But the Vein Master and Brother Qu had already made their decision, and there was nothing they could do to change it.

The uneven distribution of resources was always accompanied by the disappointment of some.

News of Chen Qing being highly valued spread within a small circle of older disciples in the True Martial Lineage. Some were envious, others were jealous, and cases like Zhao Ganjun, who grew resentful because his own interests were being harmed, were not isolated.

...

「Two days later. Fenghua Path, Yunlin Prefecture.」

Luo Xinyi stood tall and straight on the Transmission Square, her gaze sweeping over the disciples training diligently in the field.

Her Cultivation had now reached the Late-stage Embracing Pill, and she held considerable prestige among the disciples. Coupled with her steady personality, she often gave guidance in Master Li’s stead when he was away.

"The key to circulating True Qi in the Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique is to be continuous and unending, like a tree budding in spring. You’re not supposed to just blindly pursue speed!"

Her voice was clear and bright as she pointed out a flaw in one disciple’s movements.

The disciple hastily corrected his form, sweat already beading on his forehead.

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