Chapter 443: Old News
Chapter 443: Chapter 391: Old News
Jingshan County Town.
In late July, the monsoon rains over Jiangnan still drizzled, lingering relentlessly.
The rains were especially heavy this year, leaving the sky perpetually gray and gloomy.
Normally during this season, the incessant rain would bring a lull to the various martial arts halls.
Disciples were unable to practice on the open-air training grounds and had to cram into the limited number of indoor training rooms, which inevitably felt cramped.
More often than not, the disciples would remain in their cramped dormitories to meditate and regulate their breathing, leaving the hall much quieter than usual.
But this year, the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall presented a completely different scene.
Hall Master Li Weikun found no respite whatsoever.
He had adopted a rotational training method, dividing his disciples into several batches.
Fifteen or sixteen young disciples were currently gathered in the martial arts hall’s relatively spacious main hall, training with meticulous focus.
Once one batch finished, someone would lead them away to be replaced by the next. This cycle repeated from morning till night, a ceaseless flow of people.
The reason was simple: in the past two years, far too many people had come to the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall seeking to become disciples.
Even though Li Weikun had always maintained high standards for accepting disciples, the number recruited in the last two years was still more than double the usual.
The hall’s living quarters had long been insufficient to house them all, which was what led to the current situation.
The hall’s booming popularity was inextricably linked to the Chen Family.
News of Chen Shouye’s breakthrough to the Spirit Realm had long since spread among the gentry of Jingshan County and its surrounding areas.
While many disciples from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall had broken through to the Spirit Realm over the years, anyone with a discerning eye knew that most had only succeeded after joining other factions.
But Chen Shouye was different.
He had genuinely broken through to the Spirit Realm without pledging allegiance to any other power.
The same was true for his older brother, Chen Shouheng.
This was proof enough that the Lingxi Chen Family must possess an Inner Qi Heart Method, along with the corresponding high-grade Medicinal Cuisine.
Ever since word got out that the Chen Family was recruiting Guests from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall, a ceaseless stream of people had come seeking to become disciples.
Although many secretly looked down on the idea of becoming a Chen Family Guest, they couldn’t ignore the opportunity. All one had to do was reach the Qi Realm—or perhaps meet an even lower requirement—at the hall for a chance to enter the Chen Family.
Once one became a Guest of the Chen Family, the two greatest hurdles to breaking through to the Spirit Realm would be overcome.
This prospect was enough to make many people’s hearts burn with envy.
Beyond that, there was another, unspoken reason: the Vajra Bone-Forging Ointment.
The Vajra Bone-Forging Ointment Chen Li had obtained through his system was of a quality far superior to the hall’s own Southern Border White Medicine Ointment.
Though the medicinal ingredients cost fifty percent more, its effects were remarkable. A disciple with decent aptitude, aided by this ointment, had a high probability of breaking through to the Qi Realm in about seven years.
In the cultivation of the Martial Dao, one step ahead means every step ahead.
In contrast, at the other two halls in Jingshan County—the Tingtiao Martial Arts Hall and the Paisan Martial Arts Hall—an ordinary disciple would need at least ten years to reach the Qi Realm, even with an ample supply of medicine.
Comparing the two, it was obvious to everyone which was superior.
Early in the morning, Li Weikun had just finished instructing a batch of disciples. He was about to return to his room for some tea and a short rest when his son, Li Jiwei, hurried over and whispered, “Father, Shouye’s father is here. He’s waiting in the side hall.”
A trace of surprise flashed across Li Weikun’s face.
‘Why would he pay a sudden visit now?’
He didn’t have time to dwell on it. He just nodded and said, “You take over here. Get the next batch of disciples in to train, and don’t let them slack off.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the side hall.
Inside the side hall, Chen Li was already seated comfortably in the guest’s chair. On the small table beside him sat a cup of tea, steam still curling from its surface. It had clearly been served just moments before.
When Li Weikun entered, Chen Li rose, and the two men exchanged salutations.
Following custom, Li Weikun asked, “How are Jinru and Zhiyuan doing these days?”
A smile touched Chen Li’s lips. “They’re both well. Zhiyuan is growing up strong, though he’s a bit of a handful.”
“That’s good.”
Li Weikun nodded and said no more.
It was his nature; he was neither skilled at nor fond of pointless pleasantries.
Chen Li, knowing his personality, didn’t press the small talk and cut straight to the point. “I’ve come today mainly to ask your counsel on a certain matter.”
Li Weikun looked at Chen Li. “Please, speak your mind.”
“It’s about the old history of the Kao Mountain Sect.”
“Kao Mountain Sect?”
Li Weikun’s brow furrowed instantly. An extremely complex emotion flickered deep in his eyes as he stared at Chen Li, his voice unconsciously dropping. “Why do you suddenly ask about this?”
Chen Li replied, “I mean no harm. I’ve just heard some news recently—that the Seven Kills Ancestor is dead, and that members of the Celestial Sword Sect and the Su Family have forced their way into the small world behind the Kao Mountain Wall. This is no small matter, so I came to you to confirm some of the old stories.”
“The Seven Kills Ancestor… is dead?!”
Li Weikun shuddered, his hands clenching into tight fists. His breathing became noticeably rough and hurried.
A series of emotions flashed across his face: first, disbelief; then, a surge of irrepressible glee; and finally, an indescribably complex expression.
After a long moment, he finally forced two words through his clenched teeth, thick with years of pent-up hatred: “Good riddance!”
He took a deep breath, calming his turbulent emotions, and fixed Chen Li with a burning gaze. “Do you know who did it?”
Chen Li, who naturally wasn’t about to admit he was the killer, simply shook his head. “I only heard it by chance; I don’t know the details. However, since the Celestial Sword Sect and the Su Family entered the Kao Mountain Wall, they must be involved.”
Li Weikun fell silent. After a long pause, he looked up again. “What is it you want to ask?”
Chen Li asked, “Back when you were in the Kao Mountain Sect, your status must have been rather special, wasn’t it?”