Chapter 176 – Better than Expected

  The morning went far better than Jun De had feared and exceeded anything he could have expected.

  Lin Yue was the first to stir, her eyes blinking open, hazy with sleep, before brightening instantly when she saw him. Instead of reacting with panic or awkwardness at their situation, she simply beamed brightly and stretched like a cat before snuggling closer to him with an utterly unbothered grin.

  Mei Lian woke a little later. Her cheeks turned scarlet the moment she realized what had happened wasn’t a dream, but much to Jun De’s surprise, she didn’t flinch away. Instead, she shyly met his eyes while her fingers lightly brushed against his arm.

  What followed was…more time in bed than Jun De had anticipated. A lot more. Enough that even his newly tempered Foundation Establishment body felt taxed.

  By the time he finally made his way back to his own courtyard in the Inner Sect, the sun was well above the horizon. Jun De’s legs trembled with every step, and he had to sit on his flying sword instead of standing.

  When he finally reached his door, Jun De inhaled deeply and straightened his robes the best he could.

  “I might actually die before reaching Core Formation at this rate.” Jun De muttered, although the smile refused to leave his face.

  Meanwhile, Lu Qingchen, the Sect Master of the Tranquil Mountain Sect, stood in the center of his secluded pavilion while the air hummed with spiritual energy around him. The Heaven-Supressing Bell, the spiritual artifact of the Sect and a relic left behind by its founder thousands of years ago, hung in the air, suspended by an array that assisted with its refinement.

  The Sect Master had already guided all the necessary pieces of BlackIron Quartz into its frame, melting the material with his Qi and merging it with the artifact’s foundations to restore some of its power that it had lost in the battle against the Demonic Cultivators.

  The process demanded focus and a strong will to prevent the bell from being damaged beyond repair. Yet Lu Qingchen’s expression remained absolutely calm, as though reforging the treasure was nothing more than morning meditation.

  Bai Xuelian waited outside the array boundary in perfect silence. She sat with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap, while her expression was cold but respectful. She knew better than to disturb her Master at a time like this, and she was merely thankful for the opportunity to observe his work.

  When Lu Qingchen finally finished moulding the last strand of Black Iron Quartz into the bell, it let out a deep, resonant chime that shook the pavilion before fading into the distance. The Sect Master exhaled softly before turning around.

  His spiritual sense brushed over Bai Xuelian like a cool breeze, and a faint smile appeared on his usually unreadable face.

  “Mm. Your foundation has settled well. Better than anticipated, in fact. Not a single crack or imperfection. It is steady and precise, just as I would expect from a talent such as yours.” Lu Qingchen commented as he left the boundary of the array.

  Bai Xuelian rose and cupped her hands respectfully.

  “Thank you, Master.”

  Lu Qingchen nodded.

  “You have done well, Xuelian. With this foundation, you need not fear the Inner Sect Competition. Very few have shown similar stability after establishing their foundations.”

  Bai Xuelian’s eyes brightened at the praise, although her expression remained composed.

  “I must admit, the process was easier than I had anticipated.” Bai Xuelian paused, then continued speaking.

  “Master, a fellow Disciple has also formed his foundation. In fact, he did so far more swiftly than I did.” Bai Xuelian tentatively commented, and Lu Qingchen nodded once again as though anticipating the question.

  “Jun De is quite talented as well. But you are wondering at the source of his incredible progress?” Lu Qingchen asked, gesturing for her to join him at a nearby table that overlooked the Inner Sect far below, with a view of the Tranquil Mountain just to the side.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “To be honest, I have not discovered the name of Jun De’s special constitution, merely the fact that he has one. Vice Sect Master Mu has been investigating its effects and has reported that it has an effect on those he is connected with.” Lu Qingchen explained, and Bai Xuelian’s eyes widened.

  “Connected?” She asked softly.

  “Intimacy seems to have an effect on his partner.” Lu Qingchen held up his hand to stop her from potentially asking more questions.

  “It would not be appropriate for me to say more. It is not that you cannot be trusted with the information, but it would not be respectful to discuss such details with you.” Lu Qingchen said, and his tone shut down any potential for her asking anything else, dismissing her from the pavilion.

  Stunned by the revelation, Bai Xuelian could only stand and bow before walking away. Her thoughts were filled with Jun De, and the effect of his ‘special constitution.’

  ‘I had thought the Ironvein Quarry Sect had been responsible for the ease of my breakthrough. Is it possible it has something to do with Jun De instead?’ Bai Xuelian thought as she turned toward Jun De’s residence.

  While Bai Xuelian was walking toward Jun De’s home in search of answers, Lu Qingchen spoke to an apparently empty pavilion.

  “You can come out now.” He said mildly, as though calling out to someone.

  Shui Hanruo materialized as if walking out of winter itself. One moment, the air in the pavilion was clear and warm, and the next, a curtain of drifting snow parted to reveal the Snowcloud Pavilion’s Sect Master. Frost clung to her long sleeves, and the faintest chill spiralled around her feet as she stepped forward.

  Her beautiful face had an expression that was caught between a petulant pout and elegant happiness upon seeing Lu Qingchen.

  Shui Hanruo crossed her arms beneath her ample chest, while her red lips drew downwards into a pout that would have been out of place for any other Core Formation expert, but only heightened her beauty.

  “I am still upset with you, Senior Brother Qingchen.” Shui Hanruo announced in a sulking tone.

  “Stealing that girl from me like that, you are truly shameless, taking advantage of my kindness as you did. That girl’s Pure Yin body, and her beauty, are perfectly suited to the Snowcloud Pavilion. She should have been mine.”

  Lu Qingchen only chuckled softly in response to her accusation.

  “She chose the Tranquil Mountain Sect, and I do not recall it required ‘stealing’ anyone. Perhaps your recruitment methods lacked sincerity?”

  Shui Hanruo huffed and turned her head away from him.

  “Hmph, I am unconvinced. If my Master knew that you were still bullying me, she wouldn’t be happy.”

  Lu Qingchen frowned as he thought about he previous Sect Master of the Snowcloud Pavilion. Equally beautiful, she had been far more temperamental and willing to punish anyone she deemed as having bullied her precious Disciple.

  She had also been at the Peak of Nascent Soul, someone that Lu Qingchen had no desire to test himself against.

  “Then I am grateful that she has left for the Central Continent in her pursuit of Immortality.” Lu Qingchen replied dryly, causing Shui Hanruo to smile. Her pout disappeared like ice melting in the strong light of the sun.

  Lu Qingchen raised an eyebrow at her sudden shift in attitude and sighed.

  “Why have you come unannounced, Sect Master Shui?” He asked formally, and Shui Hanruo stepped closer to him while her expression turned aggrieved.

  “Because, Senior Brother Qingchen, a Disciple of the Tranquil Mountain Sect dared to tell my Disciple that she cannot attend the competition being held here, even as an observer.” Shui Hanruo replied, her voice laced with frustration.

  She appeared to be on the edge of tears, with her lip trembling slightly.

  “No one from the Snowcloud Pavilion is allowed to attend. I thought our relationship was stronger than this! How could you think of excluding the Snowcloud Pavilion? Do I mean nothing to you, that you would cast me aside and trample on the honour of my Sect?!”

  Shui Hanruo leaned toward the still seated Lu Qingchen until her face was just in front of his.

  “I thought you cared about me.” She said softly.

  Lu Qingchen exhaled slowly, and while a faint smile tugged at his lips, his tone remained measured and calm.

  “It is an Inner Sect Ranking Competition, nothing more. No other Sects were invited, so do not mistake it as a slight against the Snowcloud Pavilion.”

  Shui Hanruo’s eyebrows furrowed, and her pout returned with vengeance.

  “If that were true, then why is the Everbright Sect invited?” She countered, her voice light but sharp.

  Lu Qingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly at the comment.

  “And how did you come to learn that?” He replied. Shui Hanruo tilted her head, a smirk on her face as she tapped her finger against her lips.

  “I still have people who value me. Unlike you, who are nothing but a bully to me.” She replied, her tone edged with real hurt.

  Lu Qingchen’s gaze softened slightly as he explained.

  “The Everbright Sect’s attendance is for an unrelated matter.”

  Shui Hanruo’s eyes sparkled with defiance as she replied.

  “Unrelated or not, they will still be attending, while the Snowcloud Pavilion has been excluded. And my precious Disciple was still bullied.”

  Lu Qingchen’s composure faltered slightly, and even the Nascent Soul cultivator felt himself caught in a trap against Shui Hanruo.

  “Very well, you may attend along with your Disciple.” He said after a long moment. Shui Hanruo’s expression brightened instantly, and a genuine smile spread across her face.

  “I would be delighted to attend! It will be an opportunity for our Disciples to mingle and interact with each other, and our Sect will benefit greatly from observing the competition.”

  Lu Qingchen chose to ignore the fact that Shui Hanruo had chosen to include her entire Sect in his invitation, and instead, a small smile tugged at his lips.

  “I have no doubt that they will.”