CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER 23: CHEN JIAWEI

"You’re here for the apprenticeship ceremony, aren’t you aware it’s being held for Geng Geng?" Yun Ran asked, a bit surprised.

"Geng Geng is the closed-door disciple the Spirit Fox Saint Master wants to take in?" Zhuo Tingqiu was even more shocked, and the Spirit Dew he was drinking almost sprayed out, earning him some disdain from Si Lin and the others.

"Yeah, you’ve been in the Sub-immortal Realm for so long, don’t you know the identity of Brother Si Lin and the others?" Yun Ran was even more astonished, seeing Zhuo Tingqiu’s reaction seemed genuine.

"Since I arrived in the Sub-immortal Realm, I’ve been focused on cultivation and haven’t really paid much attention to the happenings here, let alone know about the identity of Brother Si," Zhuo Tingqiu scratched his head sheepishly, looking a bit foolish.

"Well, you’re certainly something else," Yun Ran gave Zhuo Tingqiu a thumbs up.

Zhuo Tingqiu rolled his eyes at Yun Ran, "You haven’t told me what you’ve been up to all these years."

"Just like you, after ascending, I found the Yun Family in Huazhou City, Yangzhou Prefecture, which was established by our ancestors after their ascension. I was cultivating there all along, until recently when I bumped into Geng Geng, and then came to Lingxi Sacred Land with her," Yun Ran shrugged, feeling there wasn’t much worth mentioning about his experience.

"Little Qiuxiu, where are you staying now? And what’s this Qiuyang Palace?" Gu Qingqing took a sip from the Spirit Dew Yue Zhao handed over and asked Zhuo Tingqiu curiously.

"I’m staying at the guest accommodations in Lingxi Sacred Land. Qiuyang Palace is considered a second-tier sect, a subsidiary sect of Lingxi Sacred Land. Our Zhuo Family happens to be in the territory of Qiuyang Palace. When they were recruiting disciples, I signed up, got selected, and now I’m treated quite well, even accepted as the Sect Leader’s personal disciple," Zhuo Tingqiu said as he grabbed a Spirit Fruit, taking a bite while explaining.

Gu Qingqing wasn’t quite clear on the scope of Lingxi Sacred Land’s influence, so she looked at Yue Zhao beside her, seeking confirmation.

"Indeed, Qiuyang Palace is a subsidiary sect of Lingxi Sacred Land. It’s among the top second-tier sects, and the current Sect Leader’s cultivation is also quite impressive, reaching the ninth-level Peak, and as a person, he’s not too bad," Yue Zhao, truly a walking encyclopedia, pondered for a moment before describing Qiuyang Palace’s situation.

"Little Qiuxiu lives too far down, can you arrange for him to live closer to us?" Gu Qingqing, having finally reunited with Zhuo Tingqiu, naturally wanted to spend quality time with him. Having him live far away wasn’t ideal.

"Relocating just him might not be good for him. When I return, I’ll instruct them to rearrange the accommodations for Qiuyang Palace," Yue Zhao, thinking more thoroughly than Gu Qingqing, suggested.

"Senior Brother, you make the decision," Gu Qingqing, impatient to think it through herself, fully entrusted the matter to Yue Zhao, knowing he would handle it well.

Zhuo Tingqiu watched as the two of them effortlessly decided to change his lodging. He could already imagine what it would be like when facing people from his sect afterward. Fortunately, the disciples in their sect were all decent people, otherwise, there would definitely be jealousy!

Luckily, Zhuo Tingqiu was long used to being the topic of talk and didn’t take it to heart. Instead, he continued chatting with Gu Qingqing and the rest.

The food at this restaurant was indeed good, even better than what Gu Qingqing had eaten at the Star-picking Tower in Huazhou City. After eating, they continued shopping until nightfall when they returned.

After parting with Gu Qingqing and the others, Zhuo Tingqiu returned to his residence, only to find his fellow sect members packing. When they saw him return, they quickly gathered around.

"Tingqiu, hurry and pack your things, we’re moving to a new place," Yu Xiaoshan, who joined the sect with Zhuo Tingqiu, said excitedly.

"Just now, someone from Lingxi Sacred Land came by, saying we’re to move to the center of the island. The Palace Master has already gone to find out what’s going on," another friend of Zhuo Tingqiu, Wei Zhenghao, added, crowding over.

"We don’t know how we got so lucky to move to the island center, which was usually reserved for those from superpowers," Yu Xiaoshan, being quite gossipy and knowledgeable about things others weren’t, said in a dreamy voice.

"Indeed, this time we’re really lucky. I heard the scenery in the Holy Land is exceptional and the Spiritual Energy is incredibly dense. Cultivating there is said to be several times more effective than outside, though I’m not sure if it’s true," Wei Zhenghao said expectantly.

"By the way, Tingqiu, who were those people we met at the restaurant today? They seemed really formidable. How do you know them?" Yu Xiaoshan asked curiously, thinking of those impressive people they saw during the day.

Curious, Wei Zhenghao also looked at Zhuo Tingqiu eagerly, wanting to know their identities.

Zhuo Tingqiu glanced at the two, "Are you sure you want to know?" he asked.

The two nodded furiously, "Of course, we really want to know."

"Alright," Zhuo Tingqiu sat down by the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and after a calm sip under their anxious gazes, he finally spoke slowly, "The people I met today, you must have heard of them. They are disciples of the Spirit Fox Saint Master — Si Lin, Yue Zhao, Nan Hua, Mu Chen, and Rong Ye, along with the main character of this apprenticeship ceremony, Gu Qingqing."

Upon hearing Zhuo Tingqiu’s words, Yu Xiaoshan and Wei Zhenghao exchanged a glance, their first reaction being disbelief, thinking he was lying.

"Tingqiu, I just discovered today that you can actually joke?" Yu Xiaoshan said with an exaggerated smile.

"I never joke," Zhuo Tingqiu said with a cold face, clearly displeased by their doubt, "Otherwise, why do you think we’re moving residence? Because I’m going to live at the island center."

"What the hell? Tingqiu, are you sure you’re not sleep-talking?" Wei Zhenghao tried to reach out and feel Zhuo Tingqiu’s forehead, but Zhuo Tingqiu blocked him.

"What nonsense am I talking?" Zhuo Tingqiu pushed away Wei Zhenghao’s hand, "I knew Si Lin and the others back in the Lower Realm; they’re my friends. We just lost contact after ascending to the Sub-immortal Realm."

Seeing Zhuo Tingqiu’s serious expression, and recalling how impressive Si Lin and the others looked during the day, Yu Xiaoshan and Wei Zhenghao exchanged uncertain glances.

"Are you really telling the truth?" Yu Xiaoshan asked, still not entirely convinced.

"Of course, with something like this, if I lied, it would be exposed quickly, wouldn’t it?" Zhuo Tingqiu raised an eyebrow, speaking with a hint of exasperation.

Now, Yu Xiaoshan and Wei Zhenghao were both unsure.

Just at that moment, there was a knock at the door. Yu Xiaoshan looked at Zhuo Tingqiu before opening it, discovering their master, Dong Yuyou, the Palace Master of Qiuyang Palace, standing at the entrance.

"Master." Yu Xiaoshan hurriedly called out respectfully.

Dong Yuyou nodded and entered their room. When he saw Zhuo Tingqiu, his expression changed slightly.

"Tingqiu, you are actually friends with the disciple of the Saint Master? Why didn’t you mention this before?" He had just gone to ask someone he knew in the Holy Land, and when the other party told him about this, he was utterly surprised, never expecting that the disciple he favored had such a connection.

"Master, I only just found out that my friend is a disciple of the Saint Master." Zhuo Tingqiu felt somewhat innocent in this matter as well; he only learned of Si Lin and the others’ identities today, or else he would have sought them out much earlier.

"Master, is this true, what you say?" Wei Zhenghao and the others had just been skeptical of Zhuo Tingqiu’s words. They didn’t expect their master’s words to confirm it, yet they still found it hard to believe.

"Yes, it’s true. I just communicated with people from the Holy Land, and they were the ones who said it." Dong Yuyou did not blame Wei Zhenghao for his interruption; he himself found it unbelievable.

"Master, since new accommodations have already been arranged for us, we should move there. However, I may not stay with you, so please don’t blame me." He had come back to inform his master of this matter, otherwise, he would have left with Gu Qingqing and the others.

"It’s alright," Dong Yuyou waved his hand, "Having such an opportunity is your ability. Seize the chance well, and don’t worry about us."

"Thank you, Master." A sense of relief washed over Zhuo Tingqiu. He still felt quite close to Dong Yuyou and didn’t want this matter to affect their relationship.

...

A thousand miles away from Lingxi Sacred Land, in West Joy City, disciples from Li Huan Palace were resting in the city’s best inn.

Although Li Huan Palace’s status in the Sub-immortal Realm could not compare to the three great sacred lands, it was still a top-tier power in the realm, with many outstanding disciples. This time, the Palace Master brought three of his disciples to attend the apprenticeship ceremony at Lingxi Sacred Land.

Chen Jiawei, the Palace Master’s daughter and one of his disciples, was exceptionally talented and beautiful, truly a favored child of the heavens.

Her accommodations were second only to those of the Palace Master. It was already nightfall, and Chen Jiawei had just finished bathing. Lying on her bed, she was having a massage while her maid helped maintain her body.

"Miss, I heard that the new disciple of the Spirit Fox Saint Master is a young girl, only fifteen years old. It is said she was discovered by the Spirit Fox Saint Master in the Lower Realm, though we don’t know what method she used to win such favor from him. Even the five disciples of the Saint Master are very fond of her." Cai Xin, Chen Jiawei’s most trusted maid, was sitting by the bedside, recounting the news she had gathered to Chen Jiawei.

"Oh? What’s her name?" Chen Jiawei opened her eyes slightly, somewhat surprised.

"It’s said that her name is Gu Qingqing." Cai Xin cautiously replied.

"Do Si Lin and the others really favor this Gu Qingqing so much?" Chen Jiawei asked incredulously.

Those who knew Si Lin and the others knew how cold they were, making it hard to associate Si Lin with the word "favor."

"It is said that even Young Master Si Lin smiles in her presence, let alone the other young masters." Cai Xin glanced nervously at Chen Jiawei’s face.

"What about Rong Ye? Is Rong Ye also good to her?" Chen Jiawei’s expression remained calm, but her tone carried a hint of chill.

"This..." Cai Xin hesitated, then nodded when Chen Jiawei looked over, "Rumor has it that’s the case, but I’m not sure about the specifics. It’s just what people say!"

Cai Xin was aware of Chen Jiawei’s feelings for Rong Ye, fearing that Chen Jiawei might blame her.

Fortunately, Chen Jiawei’s expression remained quite composed. She slightly curved her lips into a dangerous smile, "Is that so? Then I should definitely meet this closed-door disciple of the Spirit Fox Saint Master!"

Understanding Chen Jiawei’s character and temperament, Cai Xin involuntarily shivered at the smile on Chen Jiawei’s face, also breaking into a smile.

...

Gu Qingqing’s apprenticeship ceremony was set for the eighth day of the month. As the day approached, the number of forces arriving on Floating Island increased, as did the lively atmosphere. With Gu Qingqing busy learning various ceremonies in the Holy Land, she had little time to explore the island, resulting in less time to spend with Jun Wu, much to the delight of Yue Zhao and the others.

Yun Ran and Zhuo Tingqiu had no such concerns. Having finally come to the Floating Island, they naturally wanted to explore more. They strolled around the island daily, sharing interesting stories they encountered with Gu Qingqing.

"Geng Geng, today we saw people from Li Huan Palace arrive. Their entourage was indeed grand, and the disciples of Li Huan Palace are quite attractive, very pleasing to the eye. Among them is someone named Chen Jiawei, said to be the daughter of the Li Huan Palace Master, reputed to be the most beautiful but with a not-so-good temperament." Yun Ran recounted her day’s encounters to Gu Qingqing while watching her write.

"How is her temperament bad?" Gu Qingqing asked without looking up.

"Today, a disciple from a second-rate sect was staring at her because of her beauty and ended up being beaten by her, nearly losing his eyes. She said his gaze disgusted her!" Remembering the poor fellow’s plight, Yun Ran shivered a little, never having seen such an arrogant and vicious girl!

Gu Qingqing finished her final stroke, looked up in surprise, "Is she really that domineering?"

She had recently heard many things from Si Lin and the others about the Sub-immortal Realm, aware that its power dynamics were complex, with the three sacred lands in exalted positions, while the five major first-rate powers were also formidable. Li Huan Palace was one of them, with a cunning current palace master who had led the palace to significant development. He was known to be ambitious, and Nan Hua had also mentioned Chen Jiawei.

However, she hadn’t realized Chen Jiawei was so domineering and ruthless.

"Yes, I heard from people in the Holy Land that Chen Jiawei likes Brother Rong Ye. Geng Geng, you need to be careful." Yun Ran shared the information with some concern, having heard it from others in the Holy Land.

"Careful of what?" Gu Qingqing asked, puzzled as to what Chen Jiawei liking Rong Ye had to do with her.

"Word is that Brother Rong Ye doesn’t pay much attention to Chen Jiawei, and hasn’t paid attention to any other girls before either. Without a comparison, Chen Jiawei wouldn’t have felt anything, but anyone can see the difference in how Brother Rong treats you, which can make any girl jealous. Moreover, since Chen Jiawei likes Brother Rong, she will definitely cause trouble for you." Yun Ran, knowing well the petty thoughts of girls, explained earnestly.