Chapter 214 - 130: Authority
Chen Qing’s final move hadn’t used much True Qi to clash head-on at all; it was purely reliant on the utterly terrifying Power of his Flesh Body.
And from his relaxed expression, it was obvious he hadn’t shown his full strength... It was simply astounding!
’My own strength isn’t much different from Luo Xinyi’s. If I were to fight Chen Qing, I definitely wouldn’t be his match either.’
At this thought, Xu Qi couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
’Thank goodness I wasn’t as impulsive as Luo Xinyi.’
Not far away, Yu Bao’Er’s big eyes were wide, her small face an open display of pure shock and disbelief.
Chen Qing said calmly, "Do you understand now?"
Panting heavily, Luo Xinyi replied in a low voice, "Yes, Chief Disciple. I understand."
Her attitude was a complete reversal from before.
Chen Qing knew. This was the power of true strength.
’As long as you display sufficient strength, you can crush all dissent.’
Chen Qing clapped his hands and said to the surrounding disciples, "Alright, that’s all. Go back to your Cultivation."
At this, the disciples of the Cyan Wood Institute dispersed.
After leaving the Cyan Wood Institute, Chen Qing made his way to the Tingchao Armory on Lake Heart Island.
One of the privileges of his inauguration as Chief Disciple was gaining access to the Fourth Layer of the Armory.
The Fourth Layer of the Tingchao Armory housed the secret teachings of the Wutai Sect. He had long wanted to see it for himself.
Chen Qing entered the first floor and headed straight for the Steward’s Platform in the corner.
A middle-aged Steward was on duty, his head bowed as he sorted through some files.
Chen Qing presented the Chief Token.
The Steward’s gaze fell upon the Token, and his calm expression immediately shifted to one of reverence.
He set aside his work, took the Token with both hands to inspect it carefully, and said, "So it is Chief Chen. What can I do for you?"
Chen Qing stated his purpose simply, "I want to go to the Fourth Layer."
The Steward replied, "Chief Chen, the Fourth Layer is a core restricted area of the Sect. The restrictive seals can only be opened by Elder Ma, who must personally escort you inside. Right now, Elder Ma should be..."
After a moment of thought, he pointed to a corner deep on the third floor, near a wall of restrictive seals. "He’s over there, verifying a newly acquired batch of ancient texts. I’ll take you to him right away."
"Thank you," Chen Qing nodded.
The Steward led the way, and Chen Qing followed.
The two of them passed rows of bookshelves and ascended the stairs to the third floor.
The deeper they went, the fewer disciples there were.
Rounding a massive bookshelf, they saw a group of people clustered together.
An elderly man was lecturing several disciples who were in charge of organizing the booklets.
Zheng Xiuhong was among them. Her head was bowed slightly, and she was holding an ancient text.
"...This batch of rare editions is from a fallen dynasty. The pages are fragile and show clear signs of insect damage, so you must be doubly careful when handling them! If you are uncertain about anything, report to me at once. Do not take matters into your own hands. Every single page is a treasure to the Sect. If any are damaged, it will be more than you can answer for!"
"Yes, Elder," the disciples replied in unison, their attitudes deferential.
Just then, the Steward who had led them there stepped forward and said respectfully in a low voice, "Elder Ma, Chief Chen of the Cyan Wood Institute is here. He wishes to enter the Fourth Layer."
Hearing this, Elder Ma turned, glanced at Chen Qing, and smiled. "Ah, Chief Chen. One moment, please."
He turned back to the disciples and instructed them gravely, "Alright, did you get all that? Follow the procedures to the letter. No mistakes. Now, be off."
The disciples, looking as if they’d been granted a royal pardon, bowed and quickly scattered, each carrying a booklet.
"Who’s that? He looks so young, but Elder Ma is being so courteous to him?"
One disciple whispered, his voice filled with surprise and confusion.
"You don’t even know him?"
A nearby disciple whipped his head around and whispered, "That’s the Chief Disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute!"
Hearing this, the few disciples nearby all nodded in agreement.
Though the Cyan Wood Institute was considered one of the weaker branches Within the Sect, in the eyes of these ordinary disciples, the position of Chief Disciple was still far beyond their reach.
Zheng Xiuhong found her gaze drawn to Chen Qing.
’Chen Qing... Chief Disciple of the Cyan Wood Institute?’
Although she had already heard the news through everyday gossip, seeing him in person sent a shockwave through her.
’The Cyan Wood Institute disciple who rented the room next door, the one who did nothing but train relentlessly... he’s actually reached such a high position now?’
’Even the perpetually stern and demanding Elder Ma was treating him with such uncharacteristic warmth?’
The stark contrast felt so unreal that she stood frozen in place, only snapping out of it when a companion beside her gave her a gentle tug.
Elder Ma paid no mind to the departing disciples. Facing Chen Qing, he said, "Chief Chen, if you wish to enter the Fourth Layer, please follow me."
He made a gesture of invitation and led the way up the stairs toward the Fourth Layer.
The Fourth Layer of the Tingchao Armory was laid out completely differently from the three floors below it.
The space wasn’t particularly large, yet it felt unusually vast and open.
The ceiling was not brick or stone but was instead fashioned from a type of polished, transparent Crystal Stone. Looking up, one could faintly see the rippling surface of Dingbo Lake above.
Instead of bookshelves, the walls were carved from a deep, cyan-colored Cold Jade and inlaid with countless Luminous Pearls the size of pigeon eggs, glittering like a sky full of stars.
The precious texts were not kept on shelves but were instead displayed upon individual Jade Platforms.
It was eerily silent, the only sound the faint echo of their footsteps.
Each Jade Platform represented a true, core legacy of the Wutai Sect—the very foundation of its seven-hundred-year history.
"Chief Chen."
Elder Ma’s voice called out from the entrance; he hadn’t followed Chen Qing inside. "According to the rules," he reminded from the doorway, "as a new Chief Disciple, you have one chance to enter the core area of the Fourth Layer to seek enlightenment. Your time limit is the burning of a single stick of incense."
"Make good use of your time. Once you have chosen the item you wish to Imprint, I will be waiting outside."
Chen Qing nodded, his gaze sweeping swiftly across the Jade Platforms, which were arranged like constellations.