Chapter 81: Is It a Coincidence?

The next morning, Chen Yan woke early, packed everything he needed for the trip in the training room, and prepared a suitcase and a backpack.

Gu Xiao niang sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

After days of Qi accumulation and nourishment, the patch of grass that had turned yellow in this courtyard now, even in the dead of winter, showed faint green shoots again.

At nine o’clock, the doorbell rang.

Chen Yan dragged out his suitcase and saw Chu Keqing standing respectfully beside the door; as he opened it, she bowed slightly: “Senior!”

“Mm.”

Chen Yan handed the suitcase to the female assistant who stepped forward; Chu Keqing pointed to a business car parked at the gate: “Senior, please get in.”

Chen Yan grunted, bent to enter the car, then glanced back—and saw Gu Xiao niang standing at the courtyard gate, somehow already there.

Gu Xiao niang said in a sweet, high-pitched voice: “Go early, come back early.”

“Understood,” Chen Yan nodded. “It won’t take long.”

With that, Chen Yan waved and stepped into the car.

Chu Keqing politely nodded to Gu Xiao niang in return, then bent to enter the car, and the vehicle slowly drove off.

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He Jianbo’s hometown was in a small county under Huizhou, next to Jin Ling Prefecture—no plane or high-speed train needed.

By car, taking the highway, it would take about three or four hours.

The driver was Chu Keqing’s female assistant—the woman looked about Chu Keqing’s age, likely her trusted confidante, serving as assistant, driver, and possibly even occasional bodyguard—Chen Yan observed her: her eyes were sharp, her movements swift, her steps steady; she clearly had some martial skill.

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“Senior, here’s some water.”

Inside the business car, Chu Keqing sat beside Chen Yan, holding out a bottle of mineral water with both hands.

Chen Yan glanced at the label—he didn’t recognize it, not the usual “Nature Transporter” he drank. But given this woman’s status, it was probably expensive.

She was overly eager, twisting open the cap herself before handing it to him.

“Having the chance to learn at your side is my honor. Please, Senior, don’t withhold your teachings.”

The woman lowered her posture drastically, leaning slightly forward as she spoke—this posture made Chen Yan sigh inwardly; he forced his gaze toward the window.

Hmm… this body of mine is overflowing with blood and Qi—I simply can’t bear such scenes.

“Senior, could you tell me about the incident with the Mountain Golems?”

Seeing Chu Keqing adopt a genuinely earnest, inquiring posture, Chen Yan paused, then spoke slowly: “There’s little to say. That night, I observed the heavens and sensed turbulent mountain miasma rising from Zijin Mountain—clearly, some spirit had awakened. I went to investigate.”

I encountered two Mountain Golems and subdued them on the spot. Spirits corrupted by miasma lose their minds; they only know bloodshed and slaughter, treating all living beings as prey. If they escaped the mountains, they’d cause great disaster.”

Chu Keqing nodded sincerely, wearing an appropriately admiring expression: “Senior, you truly have a compassionate heart!” After a pause, she asked cautiously: “How did you subdue those mountain spirits?”

Chen Yan finally looked at Chu Keqing—this was what she truly cared about.

“Merely some methods of destruction. We cultivators must follow Heaven’s will, harmonize with nature. The path of destruction violates Heaven’s harmony—no need to speak of it.”

Don’t avoid it—I’m asking precisely about that! Chu Keqing clenched her breath, involuntarily took a deep breath, her ample chest rising twice, then whispered: “Senior, your methods are divine—I’ve never seen anything like them. But if you refuse to teach me, is it because you still blame Yun Zong for Luo Qing’s actions?”

Hmm? Chen Yan glanced at the woman.

Old Zi, you’ve just spoken with a touch of tea.

Chen Yan’s mind stirred: “Your conduct shows clear boundaries—you handle affairs with meticulous care.”

“Luo Qing is your fellow sect member; he’s done many wicked things. Given your status and character as Old Zi, how could you have neglected to discipline him?”

Chu Keqing sighed softly: “So you still blame me.”

She thought a moment, then said: “Senior, you don’t know—I have my own difficulties.”

“My sect is called Yun Zong. The previous sect master was my master.”

“I was the youngest among his disciples, the little sister to them all. Luo Qing was my senior brother, with greater seniority and rank than me.”

“Though I inherited the master’s position, it’s unrealistic for me to control every action of my senior brothers.”

“My master has passed away. Though I hold the title of master, I’ve merely taken over some assets. My senior brothers respect me only in words. When core interests are involved, they rarely heed me.”

“Besides, we’re all sect siblings—I can’t push things too far.”

Chen Yan sneered: “Can’t push things too far? You mean poisoning someone? If you don’t act decisively now, will you wait until he does something worse?”

Chu Keqing looked helpless: “The other senior brothers have learned some of Master’s skills—they can make a living with what they have.”

“But Luo Qing? He truly has no talent—he’s achieved no cultivation at all. To earn money, he often ignores me.”

“Besides, his status is special—I couldn’t treat him too harshly before.”

“So every time he caused trouble, I had to cover for him, and afterward, I could only give him mild punishment. He grew bold, and gradually stopped fearing me.”

“What’s so special about Luo Qing’s status?”

Chu Keqing whispered: “He is the only son left by my late master.”

Chen Yan froze.

Chu Keqing continued: “My late master was the former Yun Zong master. Logically, Luo Qing, as his only son, should have inherited the position—if he’d shown even a fraction of his father’s talent.”

“But he was utterly useless, achieving no cultivation at all—so the position passed to me.”

“To them, I seem like an outsider who stole the Luo family’s inheritance.”

“Before he died, my master gripped my hand on his deathbed and begged me to care for Luo Qing.”

“Master’s grace is as heavy as a mountain—so… many things are hard for me to do.”

Chen Yan nodded—he could now understand.

Why this woman, Chu Keqing, so meticulous, so reasonable, so intelligent, had allowed Luo Qing to be indulged for so long.

The situation was indeed unusual.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan asked: “Luo Qing learned nothing, achieved no cultivation… did none of your other senior brothers learn either? Then why did the position pass to you, the youngest?”

Chu Keqing spoke calmly, neither humble nor arrogant: “Perhaps my talent isn’t entirely lacking—I received my master’s full transmission. He assessed my cultivation and that of the other senior brothers before making his decision.”

Chen Yan’s mind stirred—he understood her implication.

She meant: Luo Qing, the rightful heir, was unfit, and the other senior brothers were all weaker than her!

Chen Yan looked at the woman. Indeed, in this world unsuited for cultivation, reaching the Guiyuan Realm at her age was exceptional talent.

Then Chu Keqing seized the opportunity to ask Chen Yan about talisman arts.

Since Chen Yan had taken on the persona of “Senior,” he naturally wouldn’t lose face. He maintained his demeanor and answered a couple of her questions casually.

After several questions and answers, Chen Yan keenly noticed that Yun Zong’s main practice was talisman arts—but the talisman scripts she described clearly had flaws, as if corrupted by improper transmission, missing limbs, their power greatly diminished.

Moreover, through conversation, Chen Yan realized that in this world’s occult realm, cultivation methods generally lacked offensive techniques.

Even at Chu Keqing’s level—already a top figure in the occult world—she knew only talisman arts and feng shui; she had no offensive methods whatsoever.

Not just offensive techniques—even spells had been lost. The spells still circulating in this world’s occult realm were, in Chen Yan’s view, extremely crude: low quality, scarce in number.

Even the most basic spell he’d learned early on—[Jie Yun Shu]—was a low-tier entry-level technique in his book; if revealed here, it would cause uproar in this world’s occult circles.

(Skill tree is severely incomplete.)

Chen Yan confirmed his earlier judgment.

People in this world’s occult realm, like Chu Keqing, may retain some Qi cultivation traditions—but nearly ninety percent of their skills have been lost.

They possess inner energy but lack martial techniques.

Some with exceptional talent have created a few spells based on their Qi, but due to the world’s heavenly laws suppressing cultivation, these spells are half-baked and feeble.

Chu Keqing’s main tools in the world are feng shui, destiny, and divination.

She’s essentially become a slightly more sophisticated wandering sorcerer. Her skill in talisman arts alone makes her a revered master.

“Our Yun Zong’s tradition excels in observing Qi and fate,” Chu Keqing said. “But our teachings constantly warn us: Qi and fate are ordained by Heaven—never defy them lightly.”

“I walk the world cautiously, using small techniques to help the wealthy adjust their destiny and fortune. But when major upheavals arise, I dare not intervene—fear of attracting karmic retribution.”

She paused, then whispered: “The first line of our sect’s [Shu Shu] warns all disciples with eight characters:”

“Destiny cycles, karmic retribution!”

Hearing these eight words, Chen Yan’s eyelid twitched!

He pretended to gaze out the window, but a cloud of suspicion formed in his mind.

Destiny cycles, karmic retribution?

The book left to him by the Old Grandma.

In the chapter [Qi Yun Zhou Shu], that line was identical: Destiny cycles, karmic retribution!

Not a single character different.

He glanced at Chu Keqing unconsciously.

Why does the opening line of Yun Zong’s transmitted [Shu Shu] match exactly the first line of the Old Grandma’s [Qi Yun Zhou Shu] chapter?

Is it coincidence?

Chen Yan thought a moment, then spoke slowly: “I can guess your intent—you came to visit, begged me to act—your goal is to learn.”

“Very well. I’m not heartless. Since you’re sincere, I’ll offer you some guidance.”

“If you’re willing, recite your sect’s cultivation method for me.”

Chu Keqing’s face lit up with joy!

She’d invested so much: bowing low to Da Hai Fang’s boss, flattering the internet cafe owner, then pleading with Chen Yan to emerge from seclusion—all with such humility.

What else could she possibly want?

Though her sect’s method was a secret passed down through generations—yet this Senior’s techniques were divine; his cultivation must be ten times superior to Yun Zong’s. He’d never covet their humble system.

Presenting it to a master might earn his correction—if he could even slightly fix the flaws in their method, Yun Zong’s legacy would leap forward.

“Senior, our Yun Zong’s tradition has two parts. One is the cultivation method, called [Ju Yun Guan Qi Fa], which allows one to draw in Heaven’s Qi and enter the Dao.”

“The other is the [Shu Shu], recording our sect’s talisman arts and the efforts of past masters who filled in missing knowledge.”

Chen Yan nodded: “If you don’t mind, recite it for me.”

Chu Keqing’s expression sharpened, but she first looked at the female assistant driving ahead: “Xiao Cai!”

The female assistant was quite astute; she quietly put on a pair of earplugs, then pressed a button, and the partition window between the cockpit and the rear seats slowly rose.

Chu Keqing nodded, then turned to Chen Yan, took a deep breath, and began reciting: “I’ll recite the [Gathering Clouds and Observing Qi Method] for you: The qi and fortune of heaven and earth must be observed in oneself and others. Qi rises and falls; clouds rise and sink—this is the method of observing qi… Use yourself as a mirror, let qi be your command; swallow qi into the body; when the body is light, qi sinks; when qi is light, its flow flourishes…”

Chu Keqing spent over ten minutes reciting her sect’s cultivation method, while Chen Yan listened in silence.

This method was far inferior to the [Grand Qi Transport Art] he had learned.

In Chen Yan’s view, every aspect—qi extraction, manipulation, circulation, and bodily nourishment—was crude and inferior.

Some parts were even misleading, with outright errors in how qi flowed.

After listening, Chen Yan couldn’t help sighing and glancing at Chu Keqing: “How old are you?”

Chu Keqing froze, surprised that this elder, after hearing the method, would ask such a question.

Her face flushed slightly as she replied slowly: “Your humble disciple… has reached the age of thirty-three.”

“How long have you trained?”

“I began cultivation with my late master at thirteen; this year marks exactly twenty years.”

Chen Yan: “...”

With such a flawed, low-quality qi circulation method, she had somehow reached the same Return-to-Origin realm at thirty-three—already the second stage of mortal cultivation.

Clearly, this woman’s talent was truly exceptional!

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[Happy New Year’s Day! Wishing all esteemed readers a prosperous year!]

[May you grow rich!]

[A small tip as a red envelope would mean a lot—no need for much, just a token gesture~]

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