Chapter 102: Qiao Xinyu's Unusual Behavior

At Cangyun Sect, after the representatives from the five great sects concluded their affairs, they all gathered here. As custom dictated, after each Ghost Valley trial ended, the five great sects would hold a grand assembly. It was both a celebration of the trial’s conclusion and a memorial for the disciples who remained forever within Ghost Valley.

This time, the assembly was directly held at Cangyun Sect. After all, Cangyun Sect’s territory was vast, and there was no worry about accommodating all the members from the five sects.

“I heard the Feng family came to demand someone from the sect leader?” Feng Chuxun whispered to Shen Qingyun. His tone was calm, but if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have asked.

“Yes, they came,” Shen Qingyun nodded.

“Why didn’t you hand me over?” Feng Chuxun was always the one who thought through his matters clearly. When he met Feng Xingzi in Ghost Valley, he had already anticipated that after the trial ended, the head of the Feng family would surely come to Cangyun Sect to claim someone.

The conflict between him and the Feng family head could only be settled by one side disappearing completely. So he was confident the Feng family head would not miss this opportunity!

Unless Feng Xingzi did not report it up.

That was unthinkable. Feng Xingzi was deeply involved in that past affair. A divine ability that could command someone to spare no one, not even family.

The Feng family… humph!

“That’s something you have to ask the sect leader,” Shen Qingyun shrugged. This matter had even caught him off guard. Originally, he had planned for the sect leader of Cangyun Sect to agree, and then he would speak to change the leader’s mind, thwarting the Feng family head’s intentions.

But the outcome was completely different. He truly became just a spectator!

“No need,” Feng Chuxun raised both hands and stretched lazily, a trace of relief coloring his otherwise heavy tone. “When I was taken in by my master into Cangyun Sect, I was upfront about it. I didn’t expect the old man to actually discuss it with the sect leader.”

Shen Qingyun: “...Oh, really?”

Young man, suddenly I want to give you a status effect, what do you think?

As Feng Chuxun walked, a sudden chill passed behind him.

…

The five great sects’ entourage returned to Cangyun Sect and were assigned resting quarters by the sect leader, under the pretext that the assembly was not yet prepared. The four sect leaders understood; after all, this trial had ended half the usual time earlier, and preparations were insufficient. Hence, the Cangyun sect leader warmly invited them to rest here for three days.

The assembly would be held three days later.

During these three days, Shen Qingyun unusually enjoyed a period of leisure. Having already felt the barrier between the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages, he did not rush to cultivate and instead aimed at establishing the legendary perfect foundation.

Previously, Shen Qingyun had planned to build the perfect foundation that only existed in legends. As one who had been through it, he was the most qualified to speak on this.

Establishing the foundation meant building the Dao Foundation. The Dao Foundation was divided into low, medium, high, and the legendary perfect foundation.

The level of foundation depended crucially on the base laid during the Qi Refinement stage. Using the Qi Refinement techniques given to outer disciples by Cangyun Sect, it would be difficult even to establish a low-grade foundation. At best, one would build the most inferior kind.

Ordinary disciples paid no attention to this; they only sought rapid advancement to the foundation stage.

Shen Qingyun had once been fortunate enough to obtain a superior Qi Refinement technique, allowing him to build a medium-grade foundation. At first, he paid it no mind until he sparred with a prodigy who had established a high-grade foundation and was easily defeated.

Only then did Shen Qingyun realize the differences in Dao Foundation levels resulted in power gaps, even affecting the breakthrough to Spiritual Form...

The legendary perfect foundation existed only in books. Shen Qingyun had come across it once by chance while researching. It piqued his interest, so he read on.

After reading, he realized his previous knowledge of foundation establishment was incomplete.

Thinking of the place he once stayed, Shen Qingyun’s eyes showed a trace of nostalgia as he murmured, “Langya Pavilion… I wonder if it’s still well…”

Legend had it that the age of Langya Pavilion was unfathomable. With each catastrophe, countless sects and sacred grounds perished, but Langya Pavilion remained. The Langya Tower seemed immortal, eternally standing over Zhongzhou.

Shaking his head to dispel thoughts far from the present, Shen Qingyun, having settled his future path, finally relaxed completely. He spent idle moments strolling up and down the Bamboo Ridge Peak.

Now, not only Cangyun Sect, but disciples from all five sects recognized Shen Qingyun’s strength. He was subtly poised to become the foremost among the five great sects.

The people of Bamboo Ridge Peak had wholly accepted him as their chief disciple. After all, with such a powerful individual, who else could deserve the position of chief senior brother?

However, this was mere recognition. Their enthusiasm for Gu Yang or Xing Wuque remained undiminished.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Shen.”

“Greetings, Chief Shen…”

As Shen Qingyun walked along Bamboo Ridge Peak, disciples he encountered greeted him warmly. Shen Qingyun could tell their greetings were sincere, unlike before when they were perfunctory.

When someone smiled at you, you naturally returned the smile. Shen Qingyun did so with a nod, but after a round of greetings, he felt a slight stiffness in his face.

“Seems being chief disciple isn’t easy,” Shen Qingyun rubbed his somewhat stiff face, clearly not adept at such social matters.

Thinking back to how, even when he was the Great Emperor, he rarely appeared before the public, the smile on Shen Qingyun’s face deepened.

Since he was not good at this, he decided to stay in seclusion, avoiding formalities.

But when he didn’t go out, others came to find him.

Ling Xiao, Su Ye, Wu Xi’er, and others visited, but Feng Chuxun came most often. Upon arrival, he would coax Shen Qingyun into sword practice. The result was always Feng Chuxun becoming the punching bag, but Shen Qingyun never struck hard, deliberately allowing a few strikes Feng Chuxun could endure.

Yet Shen Qingyun was somewhat puzzled that the two sisters had rarely come to see him these past two days. Qiao Xinran had come once, briefly.

On the afternoon of the third day, Qiao Xinran came again.

“Hm? You say Qiao Xinyu has been locked in her mansion for three days?” Shen Qingyun looked at Qiao Xinran in surprise.

“Yes. Since returning from the trial, my sister has locked herself inside. No one can get her out. Even the master can’t.” Qiao Xinran said worriedly.

“I see.” Shen Qingyun stroked his chin, a lively image of Qiao Xinyu flashing through his mind. It was hard to imagine what she had gone through to imprison herself for three days straight.

“Also, I heard strange noises from the entrance of the restrictive formation,” Qiao Xinran continued.

“Tell me more,” Shen Qingyun raised his brow, inviting her to elaborate. This might be the reason she locked herself away.

Qiao Xinran frowned thoughtfully, shaking her head slightly. “I didn’t hear clearly, but I caught phrases like ‘don’t,’ ‘go away,’ and ‘impossible’.”

“There were even sounds of things being thrown yesterday afternoon.”

“There isn’t just her in the mansion?” After hearing Qiao Xinran, Shen Qingyun’s first thought was this. But he quickly dismissed it. How could there be others? The Flower Valley was bustling; if Qiao Xinyu had brought someone in, no one would have missed it.

Besides, Qiao Xinran’s mansion was right next door.

“I’ll go with you to have a look!”

Shen Qingyun, at a loss, said this to Qiao Xinran but was refused.

Qiao Xinran forced a reluctant smile, shaking her head. “No need, Mr. Shen. You’re the star of tomorrow’s assembly.”

“Star?” Shen Qingyun was taken aback. “What star?”

“Don’t you know? When I arrived, I heard the disciples on Bamboo Ridge Peak talking. They said tomorrow’s assembly will focus on rewarding you, though they don’t know exactly how.”

“So, Mr. Shen, you should rest well and be in your best spirit to face tomorrow. If your sister’s matter affects your state, that’s our fault.”

Hearing Qiao Xinran, Shen Qingyun felt a mix of amusement and sympathy. He understood she was trying not to trouble him.

Seeing Shen Qingyun silent, Qiao Xinran thought she hadn’t persuaded him, so she added, “Besides, maybe your sister will come out tomorrow.”

Shen Qingyun tilted his head. “You have a point. Let’s wait until after tomorrow.”

“Mm!” Qiao Xinran nodded, then said goodbye. At the mansion door, she turned back and smiled softly. “Mr. Shen, good luck tomorrow!”

“Thanks!” Shen Qingyun replied.

After Qiao Xinran left, Shen Qingyun shook his head. Even when worn out, she was still thinking of others.

The next day, Cangyun Sect was filled with joy, as if immersed in a sea of happiness. The most enthusiastic were those who had returned alive from Ghost Valley. Outer disciples only knew vaguely about the joint event of the five sects.

But it mattered little to them. The key was receiving spiritual fruits from the sect, which made them more than happy.

“Chief disciple of Bamboo Ridge Peak, by order of the sect leader, you are to proceed immediately to Hongde Hall to participate in the assembly!”

Shen Qingyun was still in his mansion when he heard the loud voice outside.

Stepping out, he saw an elder steward standing on a flying spiritual device, looking at him.

Seeing Shen Qingyun, the elder descended the flying device. “Come aboard and come with me. Your companions have already gone.”

Shen Qingyun nodded and boarded the flying device. As they ascended, the elder reminded him, “First time riding a flying spiritual device might cause slight discomfort. Bear with it; you’ll adapt soon.”

Shen Qingyun nodded, secretly appreciating the elder more, though he didn’t realize he had no adverse reaction to flying at all.