[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-45":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289343,4477,"Chapter 45: I","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-45",45,"\u003Cp>Even immortals have appetites; the Zui Feng Tower has long been renowned among low-rank disciples, and Wei Yuan had only heard of it but never imagined he’d dine here. Upon entering, a servant led Wei Yuan to a quiet little courtyard, where Bao Yun’s victory banquet was being held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three large tables were set inside the room; Wei Yuan was directly taken to the main table. His cultivation progress was the lowest in the class—how could he dare sit at the main table? He turned to sit at a side table, but Bao Yun’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him; she rushed over, grabbed him, and forced him into the seat beside her, even pushing Cui Yu one seat away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten people sat at the main table; all five who had received the Ancestor’s blessing were here, and the other five either possessed extraordinary cultivation talent or came from illustrious families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan now clearly understood that an illustrious family meant the very best cultivation talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When everyone had arrived, Bao Yun rose and said, “Dear senior brothers and sisters, I’m honored you’ve come. I’ll drink first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone immediately stood and drained their cups. With this visualization map she’d unveiled, she was guaranteed a heavenly-grade foundation, with the Immortal Base in sight. The Bao family was one of the foremost great clans, and Bao Yun herself was this gifted. All of them had awakened their insight long ago—now was the time to cling to her leg, not wait. A few years later, even if they wanted to, they’d be too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan also tilted his head and drank it down. Instantly, a line of fire shot into his belly, then a torrent of spiritual energy exploded within him. His spiritual sea showed the visualization map again, and light rain began falling once more—the ground visibly expanded by a noticeable patch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan was stunned. This single cup of wine equaled thirty days of hard cultivation! If he drank a whole bottle, wouldn’t it equal a full year’s effort?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could hardly believe it. He looked at the dishes on the table—almost none were familiar to him, only that they were exquisitely beautiful, with threads of spiritual energy constantly seeping out. Even just smelling them benefited cultivation, let alone eating them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the toast, Bao Yun continued, “This gathering is mainly for the Sect’s minor examination in three years. I’ve received word: this time, we’ll be facing off against disciples from the Zhigu Sect. We all know their numbers are several times ours, and I’ve heard they’ve already taken victory as a given—they’re even discussing how to divide the Sect’s rewards! They’ve also said they’ll post the examination rankings publicly within the Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here was young and fearless; the Zhigu Sect was clearly looking down on them, and many immediately grew angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun watched their expressions and added, “They’ve already sent someone to me, saying that if we surrender, they’ll let us lose gracefully and skip posting the rankings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the table and shouting, “Arrogant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiaoyu, always cold and detached, asked, “Who said that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun sighed and said, “Xu Yin’an.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sliver of killing intent suddenly emerged from Xiang Xiaoyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu grew curious. “What’s his background?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiaoyu remained silent, face cold. Bao Yun said, “He’s from Feng Yuanjun too, but unlike us, he didn’t join the centralized instruction. Also, his family has long wanted to propose marriage to mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu instantly understood. “How presumptuous! No wonder he came to speak to Senior Sister like this—he’s trying to use us to build his reputation! Hmph, if he thinks he can climb over us, he’d better check if he has the strength!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiaoyu said nothing, but nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun sighed again. “Though my father has already refused once, Xu’s talent is real, and his family isn’t insignificant. If they win decisively this time, perhaps Father might look at him differently?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He won’t win,” Xiang Xiaoyu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu added, “Now I remember who he is! The Xu family is one of the Seven Surnames, but always at the bottom—just a token presence. How can they compare to our families? If your Xu brother were some prodigy, fine—but I’ve seen his talent. It’s mediocre, worse than mine. How dare he propose to the Bao family? If he doesn’t get crushed in this examination, I, Cui Yu, won’t show my face again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone nearby whispered, “It seems Zhigu Sect has four Cui family members.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu shrugged. “No problem. Among them, only one is a direct-line first son, and even he’s a bastard. His talent doesn’t match mine. If you face them, crush them. I’ll take responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the group had raged for a while, Bao Yun cleared her throat, waited for silence, then said, “This is really my personal matter. Even if we lose, I’d never accept him—worst case, they’ll gossip behind my back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu said gravely, “We’re classmates. To humiliate you is to humiliate all of us! And they plan to post the rankings—they want to use us as stepping stones! So what if we’re few? We can’t tolerate this. We fight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fight,” Xiang Xiaoyu said, terse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children this age were just beginning to burn with passion; they would rather die standing than live on their knees—how could they surrender without a fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun finally smiled. “Since we’ve decided to fight, let’s make a plan. We must prepare now. Since this is a faction battle and we’re few, every person matters. But some classmates lack sufficient resources and may fall behind in cultivation. So I propose a public fund: those who can afford it contribute some Immortal Silver; others who need resources but lack funds may borrow from the fund.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, the Immortal Silver is a loan, not a gift. Each senior brother or sister may borrow as much as needed—repay within ten years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun’s idea was wildly idealistic, yet nearly all the students—including Wei Yuan—were stirred. Clan heirs were few; most came from ordinary families. Supporting a Taichu Palace disciple’s basic cultivation already strained most small clans. For most, Immortal Silver was always insufficient, inevitably slowing their cultivation progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within ten years, nearly all Taichu Palace disciples would establish their Dao Foundation. Even the lowest Earth-grade Foundation granted the ability to take basic Sect missions—earning power utterly incomparable to the Body Casting stage. Thus, Bao Yun’s ten-year repayment term was extremely generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the eager looks, Bao Yun said, “Since I proposed it, I’ll go first. I contribute thirty thousand taels of Immortal Silver!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty thousand?! Wei Yuan nearly slipped off his chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bao family’s eldest daughter had just offered what equaled two hundred years of his monthly stipend—sixty times more than the pocket money the Fenhai True Person gave him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu didn’t hesitate. “I’ll contribute thirty thousand too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiaoyu said, “Same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a few other clan heirs each contributed ten thousand, totaling one hundred thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan was numb now, feeling as if they weren’t talking about Immortal Silver at all. Even rice grains—ten thousand grains were still a lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun was delighted. “Let’s entrust the fund to Senior Brother Cui. He, I, and Junior Brother Xiang will jointly manage it. Agreed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Xiaoyu waved his hand. “I won’t manage it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu smiled. “Junior Brother Xiang devotes himself entirely to cultivation. Fine—I’ll handle these trivial matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yun continued, “They have twenty-one disciples who received the Ancestor’s blessing. These must be handled by our five who received the blessing. The rest of you will face those without the blessing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu nodded. “They have twenty-one, we have five. Each of us takes four.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple,” Xiang Xiaoyu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wei Yuan had said nothing, Bao Yun asked, “Junior Brother Wei, any concerns?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan hesitated. “My cultivation progress is slow. I’m afraid I’ll hold everyone back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yu, not from Feng Yuanjun and never having taken the martial test, immediately said, “Don’t worry! If you can’t handle your opponent, I’ll take two more!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1355,"2026-06-20T03:38:27.933Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e829c947212fdb5776fa6778630ce25f7c792764f6a4484c280f2114650e90e8","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-46","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-44",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]