Chapter 7: The Three Little Ones Reunite

Su Changqing watched as Lin Jingyu was surrounded like stars around the moon, and he shook his head with a silent smile.

A slight thought was enough to understand these people's intentions; nine times out of ten, they had heard the news about Lin Jingyu and were specifically trying to get on good terms with this future star of the sect. It seemed they had truly grasped the principle that cultivation was not just about fighting and killing, but also about worldly wisdom.

As for the appearance of Su Changqing, few people noticed him; even those who did only glanced at him once before looking away, treating him entirely as if he were transparent.

The treatment the two received was worlds apart; it was truly realistic.

Su Changqing was happy to remain his little transparent self; it was best not to attract attention. He stepped away, preparing to leave the area, when Lin Jingyu, who was surrounded in the middle, caught sight of Su Changqing's figure. With a smile on his face, he walked out of the crowd and quickly approached Su Changqing.

"Changqing, it has been a while!"

Lin Jingyu walked up to Su Changqing and greeted him enthusiastically.

"Jingyu, it has been a while!"

Seeing him come forward to greet him politely, Su Changqing stopped his steps and returned the greeting.

"Who is this person? Why is Junior Brother Lin greeting him so enthusiastically?"

"I heard that when Junior Brother Lin first entered the sect, there were two others who joined with him. One joined Dazhu Peak, and one joined Xiaozhu Peak. This person must be one of those two, though I don't know their names."

"Joined the sect with Junior Brother Lin? Then why are there so many rumors about Junior Brother Lin in the sect, but we've barely heard anything about them?"

"What else could it be? Because their spiritual root aptitude isn't as stunning as Junior Brother Lin's, so they've just faded into the crowd of ordinary people in the sect."

Due to Lin Jingyu's popularity, the scene of the two greeting each other was naturally noticed by many, and the sound of their discussions drifted into Su Changqing's ears.

However, Su Changqing did not care; wherever there are people, there is gossip. Not everyone can attain the Dao and become an Immortal with an ethereal air; most cannot shed their vulgar mortal nature.

Lin Jingyu also acted as if he had not heard these people's discussions and continued to ask Su Changqing enthusiastically: "Changqing, how is your cultivation going now?"

"Me? My spiritual root aptitude is not as good as yours. My cultivation is currently only at the shallow entry level; I can only sense the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, but cannot yet guide the Qi into my body."

Su Changqing shook his head and replied to him.

Others might not know, but Su Changqing knew deeply that while this world appeared peaceful and prosperous, in reality, the righteous and Demonic Cult were in opposition, hiding countless crises. He did not intend to reveal his strength to anyone. When one is weak, showing off one's edge and attracting attention would only bring greater pressure.

The one thing he firmly believed was: only a prodigy who has grown up is a true prodigy; those who die young are merely stepping stones.

Lin Jingyu naturally believed Su Changqing's answer without doubt, so he put away his smile and said to Su Changqing with a serious expression: "Changqing, since we were able to join the Qingyun Sect, we must naturally cherish this opportunity and not be frivolous about cultivation. The first layer of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao is still simple; if you cannot even pass this hurdle, then the second and third layers will be even harder to cultivate."

"Like me, if I cannot comprehend it in a day, I do not rest or sleep. When I encounter a moment of sudden enlightenment, I even forget to eat if I cannot seize the opportunity. Master also said it is the first time he has seen someone as hardworking as me, and that I will achieve great things in the future."

Su Changqing smiled speechlessly after hearing this and nodded to show his approval.

"If you are willing, I will speak with Master and let you stay at my Longshou Peak for two days, and I will personally guide you through the mysteries of the first layer."

Lin Jingyu said again.

"Let's forget about that, Jingyu. Master told me that whether one succeeds or not is fated; forcing it will only lead to greed for progress, and the result will be the opposite."

Su Changqing naturally refused. He was practicing perfectly well in Jingxin Cave; asking him to go to Cangsong's Longshou Peak—wasn't that asking for trouble? Lin Jingyu's expression darkened immediately. He thought Su Changqing refused because he was lazy in his cultivation, and a feeling of frustration that his friend wouldn't live up to expectations rose in his heart. Su Changqing shook his head helplessly; seeing his expression darken, he knew he must have misunderstood, but there was no need to explain.

When words do not agree, half a sentence is too much. Just as the two were about to leave, another voice rang out.

"Jingyu, Changqing!"

With a joyful cheer, Zhang Xiaofan, wearing a small cloth jacket, walked over, accompanied by Senior Brother Song Daren, who had brought the three of them back in the beginning.

"Xiaofan, I won't disturb the three of you catching up."

Song Daren said to Zhang Xiaofan with a kind smile on his face. Before leaving, he glanced sideways at Lin Jingyu, his eyes filled with a sense of amazement, clearly having heard the rumors within the sect.

"Okay, thank you, Senior Brother Song!"

Zhang Xiaofan first bowed with cupped hands to thank Song Daren, then trotted toward the two.

"Xiaofan!"

The relationship between Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan was still quite good. Since his appearance, Lin Jingyu quickly shifted his attention to him.

The topic was still led by Lin Jingyu. After the two talked for a while, they began to drift toward the subject of cultivation and progress. Hearing Zhang Xiaofan say that his cultivation had not advanced, Lin Jingyu repeated the same words he had just said to him.

Zhang Xiaofan looked a bit ashamed and remorseful, but he also refused Lin Jingyu's proposal.

"Jingyu, thank you for your kindness, but Master and all the senior brothers treat me very well and often guide my cultivation. It is just that my comprehension is truly too poor to grow. If I went to your place, I fear I would instead affect your cultivation."

Su Changqing did not interject into their conversation, instead observing Zhang Xiaofan from the sidelines.

If he remembered correctly, this kid was still learning to chop bamboo at Dazhu Peak; he imagined that at this time, he couldn't even cut through the first layer of skin on those spiritual bamboos.

Compared to the fast-progressing Lin Jingyu, Zhang Xiaofan was definitely at a turtle's pace; his progress was maddeningly slow, and the senior brothers of Dazhu Peak as well as Tian Buyi had already lost hope in him.

However, although he looked like a cultivation failure now, only Su Changqing knew that he was the protagonist of this story.

It was precisely because of this first layer of cultivation that a solid foundation was laid for his path of cultivation, forging a steady and hardworking character, and later writing his own legend.

Looking at it now, it was indeed so.

Even Su Changqing secretly praised him; compared to the high-spirited Lin Jingyu, the story of Zhang Xiaofan, who hid his light and waited for his moment, was even more attractive.

After the three talked, they returned to their respective peak's groups.

After Daoxuan Zhenren and the other high-level members of the Qingyun Sect appeared, the assembly officially began. It was originally because a nearby sect had several disciples seduced by the Demonic Cult who betrayed the sect, and before leaving, they killed several fellow disciples; the nature of the incident was very vile.

With the lesson from the past, the Qingyun Sect took precautions for the future; to prevent such things from happening, they specifically summoned all disciples for an ideological education class.

(End of chapter)