Chapter 7

Words spoken without thought, but heard with intent.

Yan Zhaoge spoke casually, but it made Ye Jing, who had returned to his hometown in glory, feel less wonderful.

The others, however, were in high spirits. Although they were overshadowed by Yan Zhaoge's brilliance, once they left Guangcheng Mountain and were in the Eastern Tang State, they suddenly remembered that they were also the pride of heaven.

As disciples of Guangcheng Mountain, one of the holy places of the world, they were all the most outstanding talents selected and evaluated from various major forces like the Eastern Tang State. How could any of them be inferior?

However, the group did not let their heads get carried away. Whenever such thoughts began to sprout in their hearts, the seemingly relaxed figure in blue and white robes at the front would immediately calm their restless minds.

Touching their own treasures, they instead felt a stronger resolve to strive for excellence.

In the Eastern Tang State, the imperial guards, only the most elite among those of equal cultivation could have a war weapon each...

Of course, they naturally could not compare with Yan Zhaoge.

The people they interacted with were not on the same level.

The person Yan Zhaoge was about to meet, the ruler of the Eastern Tang State, was naturally the strongest in the state, the master of one of the three major forces in the Eastern Tang Continent, a renowned hero.

The chief elder of the Eastern Tang State was the representative of Guangcheng Mountain in the Eastern Tang State, the first tribute, with a status even higher than Elder Cui, who had made Yan Zhaoge lose face at the mountain gate.

Although there were differences in internal and external roles, cultivation levels, and power, according to the sect's regulations, an elder like Elder Cui, when outside the mountain gate in the Eastern Tang Continent, was responsible for overseeing a relatively important city or treasure land, managing the extraction and utilization of certain resources to ensure the sect's interests.

The chief elder, on the other hand, oversaw a royal dynasty or a major sect, a great family, becoming their tribute to ensure Guangcheng Mountain's influence and daily income, and to handle emergencies.

After entering the city, they agreed on a meeting place. Yan Zhaoge went to the palace, while Ye Jing and the others dispersed to move around in the capital of the Eastern Tang State.

Ye Jing no longer had the mood to revisit his old haunts. He walked along the riverbank that ran through the city, climbed a bridge, and stood alone, looking down at the swift river below, silent and calm.

Sikong Qing appeared silently behind him. Ye Jing sensed her arrival and was not surprised: "Senior Sister."

"Thinking about what happened just now?" Sikong Qing tilted her head slightly.

Ye Jing shook his head: "At the time, I felt he was showing off, but later, it didn't seem so."

Sikong Qing said: "Then are you thinking about the treasure weapons Master Yan gave everyone?"

Back at the mountain gate, among the sixteen people, only Ye Jing did not choose a treasure weapon left by Yan Zhaoge. The other fifteen, including Sikong Qing, each picked one.

"Master Yan might be showing off, but he has the right to do so." Sikong Qing stood beside Ye Jing: "A low-grade treasure weapon has no thoughts or stance. Our future achievements will not be determined by a low-grade treasure weapon. Master Yan treats everyone equally, so why should I refuse? I can repay him with something better in the future."

Ye Jing nodded. Although Sikong Qing, like everyone else, chose a treasure weapon, she was actually the one who didn't take it too seriously.

"If you don't accept it, it might make you seem unique, but it's understandable." Sikong Qing said: "Some people might think it was Master Yan's kindness, and you refusing it was ungrateful, but I feel that Master Yan wasn't trying to be nice. He sees you no differently than he sees us."

Hearing this, Ye Jing clenched his fists. The figure of his childhood sweetheart and lover, who had left him completely ignored, seemed to appear before him again.

"I don't know what he thinks, but I won't accept his things." Ye Jing's tone gradually became calm, and his eyes showed confidence: "For me now, a low-grade treasure weapon is good, but more important is my own cultivation."

Sikong Qing said: "That's a good point. Clear thoughts lead to a broad mind. Holding grudges can affect your cultivation. It's better to let go and act purely according to your own will."

Ye Jing clenched his fists and said: "Yan Zhaoge is indeed stronger than me now, not only in terms of strength and realm, but also in reviving the method of inner crystal furnace. But I won't always be behind him. I will definitely surpass him."

"Being a young grandmaster is nothing. I'll see who can become a grandmaster first, and who can transcend and become a martial saint!"

In this world, martial practitioners start with body cultivation, passing through the three realms of physical body, meridians, and qi guidance, each divided into early, middle, and late stages.

These nine stages, plus the final tenth stage of body cultivation, known as the subtle realm, are collectively called the ten stages of body cultivation.

Above the subtle realm is a major threshold. Crossing it, martial practitioners enter the realm of grandmasters.

In a martial holy place like Guangcheng Mountain, it might not be obvious, but in fact, becoming a grandmaster already qualifies one to establish a sect or school on the continent.

Many leaders of small forces are grandmasters.

Grandmasters are divided into three major realms: inner qi, outer qi, and innate, each also divided into early, middle, and late stages, plus the final realm of reaching the heavens, making up the ten realms of grandmasters.

Above the realm of reaching the heavens is another huge gap. Crossing it, one becomes a grandmaster.

At this stage, one can be a powerful hero in a region, a well-known figure on the entire continent.

The ten stages of grandmasters are called the transcendent. Truly transcending and becoming a saint, one has the hope of advancing to the martial saint realm and achieving the position of a martial saint.

In the current world, looking at the entire world, the number of martial saints can be counted on one hand.

"His method of inner crystal furnace can refine treasure weapons and spirit weapons, but we'll see if he can refine saint weapons. To the sect, no matter how many spirit weapons, how can they be more important than a martial saint?"

Ye Jing's pupils shone with light. Although he had just opened his dantian and qi sea, he was only at the eighth stage of body cultivation, the middle stage of qi guidance, while Yan Zhaoge had already entered the realm of grandmasters and was at the late stage of inner qi.

But Ye Jing was full of confidence. He believed he could definitely surpass that young man who seemed to be his fated rival.

He had enough determination and a firm belief, and he also had his own support...

Ye Jing gently exhaled a breath, his fingers rubbing a dark red ring on his right hand.

A low starting point is not a problem as long as the progress is fast. There will always be a moment of catching up and surpassing!

Sikong Qing looked at Ye Jing: "Junior Brother Ye, you have great potential. Remember to aim high and be down-to-earth, and the transcendent and the martial saint will be within reach."

Ye Jing smiled: "I'm just boasting, Senior Sister, don't tease me. You have already reached the subtle realm, and you are only one step away from becoming a grandmaster. Now, you are the one most likely to surpass Yan Zhaoge and become another young grandmaster of Guangcheng Mountain."

Sikong Qing said: "However, I don't think Master Yan had any ill intentions this time. Instead, Elder Cui's words in the executive hall were indeed meant to sow discord. Junior Brother Ye, you need to be careful of these hidden arrows."

"Many interpersonal relationships in the sect are hard to see through, and it's easy to get caught in the whirlpool without realizing it."

Ye Jing nodded: "I understand."

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