Chapter 164 : Ye Jingchen’s Morning
Chapter 164 Ye Jingchen’s Morning
The next day, which was also the fifth day of the Grand Competition.
Ye Jingchen rose early from his bed, his eyes filled with excitement.
Today was the day he had planned to make his move, and also the greatest purpose behind his painstaking infiltration into the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect.
However, to be honest, a faint and nearly imperceptible hesitation and inner conflict had arisen in his heart. Life here had been far too comfortable and at ease.
As a top-tier great sect, the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect possessed profound foundations and abundant resources. More importantly, its atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious. Compared to those rigid hierarchies and rule-bound factions, this place was practically a gentle paradise.
In just a dozen or so days since entering the sect, he had even entertained the thought of “why not simply stay here.” But he knew this was absolutely impossible. The secret he carried was far too shocking.
Before he possessed enough strength to protect himself—or even to look down upon all living beings—he could not remain in any single place for too long.
Moreover, the sudden visit of the stunning Saintess Yaxi of the Hehuan Sect had set alarm bells ringing in his mind.
Although her stated reason was that she had been traveling, happened to pass by, and coincidentally encountered the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect’s grand competition, stopping in for a visit along the way, he felt things could not be so simple.
Not only had he stolen a portion of her Destiny Luck, he had also used it to obtain a flawless Charm Technique that could not be detected.
Through that heaven-defying magical artifact, he had even transferred most of the karmic backlash incurred from casting the Charm Technique onto her.
Thinking back now, he might have been too greedy at the time—especially in transferring the karma.
That move had been somewhat excessive. After all, she was the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect, with deep foundations.
There was no guarantee she did not possess some unknown secret method capable of tracing him in reverse.
However… judging from the calm and uneventful days that had followed, perhaps he had merely been overthinking. Ye Jingchen could only console himself that way.
“Senior Brother Ye! Are you awake?”
A clear and melodious girl’s voice came from outside the door, instantly pulling him back from his tangled thoughts. A trace of genuine softness unconsciously appeared on Ye Jingchen’s face.
“Just a moment, Junior Sister Su. I’ll be right out.”
He quickly straightened his robes and pulled open the door. What greeted him was a bright and charming smiling face.
Su Ningxue.
A girl who had entered the sect at the same Disciple Recruitment Ceremony as he had.
Unlike him, this girl had an extraordinary background.
She was a family junior of Su Muzhi , the Senior Eldest Sister of Moon-Washing Peak. Through that connection, after only a symbolic test, she had directly become a Registered Disciple of Moon-Washing Peak.
Rarely, despite her privileged origins, she bore not the slightest trace of arrogance.
She was lively and innocent, sweet and adorable, always greeting everyone with a sugary smile. On Moon-Washing Peak, she was loved by all.
Even better, because Su Ningxue had been carefully protected by her family since childhood and seldom left home, her experience was limited.
So upon their first meeting, she had been filled with curiosity and admiration for him, a seasoned wanderer of the Jianghu, and had proactively addressed herself as his junior.
Ye Jingchen had not even needed to use his Charm Technique. With only a few Jianghu anecdotes and several timely expressions of concern, he had effortlessly turned this naïve little girl into his devoted little follower. Whenever she had free time, she would flutter around him like a cheerful little bird.
“Senior Brother Ye, today’s matches will surely be even more exciting. Let’s hurry!” Su Ningxue tilted her face upward, her eyes brimming with pure anticipation.
Looking at that spotless, pure smile, the faint guilt in Ye Jingchen’s heart born from exploiting her was instantly replaced by a stronger goal and naked ambition.
“Alright. Let’s go find Senior Sister Liu, then head over together.” With that, he followed behind the little girl and left the side-room courtyard.
It could be said he had been fortunate. With his Dual Spiritual Roots aptitude, his achievement of eight hundred steps on the Heavenly Ladder, and the “excellent” temperament and comprehension he had displayed, he had been able to skip the menial phase and directly become an Outer Sect Disciple.
To approach his target, Nan Yuchen, entering Moon-Washing Peak as a Registered Disciple had naturally been his first choice.
Originally, Moon-Washing Peak had a tradition of favoring female disciples.
The assessment for male disciples was far stricter, and it had been almost impossible for them to accept a newcomer of unclear character like him.
Yet by coincidence, the Peak Master, True Person Mingzhu , had seemed to regard him favorably at the time and directly approved his application to join the peak.
Even more coincidentally, he had been assigned to live in a newly built disciple side-room courtyard.
At present, he was the only occupant. The environment was quiet and secluded, and movement was convenient. For him, it was simply a heaven-sent perfect opening.
Just as the two of them, one before the other, were about to head to Senior Sister Liu’s residence, a figure of incomparable grace drifted down from above. It was True Person Mingzhu . She noticed the two below and descended lightly before them.
“Greetings, True Person.” Both immediately bowed respectfully.
In Ye Jingchen’s lowered gaze, however, an uncontrollable burning possessiveness churned. No matter how many times he saw True Person Mingzhu , her beauty was enough to stir the soul.
Especially that uniquely gentle temperament of hers—far beyond that of ordinary female cultivators. Nan Yuchen truly possessed heaven-defying Destiny Luck; even the Heavenly Dao had directly bestowed upon him such a perfect master!
Hmph. Just wait… When his cultivation reached the heavens, he would surely take this peerless beauty into his own hands.
“Oh? It’s you two.” True Person Mingzhu’s gaze lightly swept over them, her tone gentle. “You two seem to have grown quite close recently. Off together to watch the Grand Competition again?”
“Yes, True Person!” Su Ningxue answered eagerly, her voice crisp. “Senior Brother Ye and I were just going to find Senior Sister Liu and then head to the Martial Arena together.”
“Mm. You’ve only just entered the sect. It is good to interact more with your senior sisters and seek their guidance.” True Person Mingzhu smiled in approval. Then, as if recalling something, she sighed softly, revealing a perfectly measured trace of concern.
“True Person, you… what’s wrong? Is something troubling you?” Su Ningxue immediately asked with concern.
True Person Mingzhu’s gaze passed over Ye Jingchen, carrying a hint of helplessness and disappointment.
“It’s Yuchen… Perhaps because of his recent consecutive victories in the Grand Competition and his commendable results, his temperament has grown somewhat inflated. In his dealings with others, there is now a trace of arrogance. Sigh… I must blame myself for having spoiled him too much in the past and neglected proper discipline, allowing his temperament to bend slightly astray.”
She paused, then let her gaze settle on Ye Jingchen, her tone turning encouraging.
“Jingchen, I observe that your aptitude does not fall much short of Yuchen’s. You must cultivate diligently and maintain upright character. As for the position of Personally Transmitted Disciple… it is not without possibility in the future. Do not disappoint me.”
“Yes! This disciple will certainly cultivate diligently, temper his temperament, and never betray True Person’s expectations!”
On his lowered face, the corners of his lips could not help but curve into a smug arc. As expected, even True Person Mingzhu had acknowledged his talent! Nan Yuchen, your greatest backer has already begun to waver.
After True Person Mingzhu’s figure disappeared into the clouds, Ye Jingchen casually turned to Su Ningxue beside him and asked gently,
“Junior Sister Su, what do you think of Senior Brother Nan Yuchen… as a person?”
Su Ningxue almost immediately pursed her lips, answering with the frankness unique to a young girl. “Mm… I don’t really like him. I always feel that although he’s polite to everyone on the surface, deep down he looks down on those of us with ordinary talent. And I don’t like his baby face either. I prefer someone with a temperament like yours, Senior Brother Ye!”
This undisguised evaluation brought a trace of genuine pleasure to Ye Jingchen’s heart. He had never used the Charm Technique on this girl; her innocence meant her words came straight from her heart. It seemed… his own charm might be even greater than he had anticipated.
As they chatted while walking, they soon arrived at a secluded standalone courtyard within the peak.
The courtyard gate stood open.
A tall woman with a capable bearing was practicing swordplay in the open space before the gate, sword light flashing as her figure moved agilely. It was Senior Sister Liu, Liu Ruyan.
Seeing the two of them, she flicked her wrist lightly, sheathing her sword neatly, and gave them a bright smile. “You two are late today. Did you secretly sleep in?”
“Of course not, Senior Sister Liu!” Su Ningxue immediately chirped. “We ran into the Peak Master on the way! She even told Senior Brother Ye that she might consider accepting him as a Personally Transmitted Disciple in the future!”
Liu Ruyan covered her lips and laughed softly, her gaze turning to Ye Jingchen.
There was both encouragement and caution in her tone. “Junior Brother Ye is exceptionally talented and steady in temperament. He indeed has great prospects. However…” She slightly withdrew her smile, her eyes becoming more serious. “Such words are fine to say before me, but outside you must speak cautiously, lest you invite trouble.”
Looking at this senior sister—beautiful and wise—the intense possessiveness in Ye Jingchen’s heart surged once more. Since he had entered the peak, due to their neighboring residences, this Senior Sister Liu had often looked after him.
Most of the time she was gentle and warm, like a spring breeze. Yet occasionally she revealed the authority of an elder sister, offering him timely guidance and restraint—truly a flawless senior and guide.
He had long heard that this Senior Sister Liu herself was an outstanding disciple, currently being evaluated by Su Muzhi , the Senior Eldest Sister of Moon-Washing Peak, and was highly likely to be accepted as a Personally Transmitted Disciple in the near future.
One was a well-connected, innocent little junior sister. One was a senior sister who combined gentleness and sternness, with boundless potential. And then there was the lofty and peerlessly graceful Peak Master…
Ye Jingchen’s thoughts churned, his ambition spreading like wildfire. This Moon-Washing Peak was practically a treasure trove prepared for him! Once he seized Nan Yuchen’s overwhelming Destiny Luck, all of this… would sooner or later belong to him!