Chapter 361
Qian Zhenren knew that this person was a messenger from the Taishang Dao, and upon hearing this, he became even more respectful, humbly stating, “I can’t claim to be proficient; it’s all thanks to the guidance of the sect leader.”
Hearing this, Cheng Kong Shangren seemed to recall Qian Zhenren’s foundation-building cultivation, and for a moment, his interest waned, leading him to refrain from further inquiries.
...
Zheng Fa led the group on a tour of Tiangong Island before sending them off to Wanxian Island. Though the island was not large, it was more than sufficient to accommodate the members of the Bai Xian Alliance, with only Zheng Fa and a few Yuanying cultivators residing there.
He didn’t linger, simply allowing the Bai Xian Alliance disciples to settle in on their own.
After he left, about ten Yuanying cultivators from the Bai Xian Alliance gathered together to discuss their experiences in the Jiushan Realm.
The most noteworthy topic, of course, was the Shanggong system and the group of Xian Ci.
They didn’t know much about the Shanggong system, but they had a clear understanding of the Xian Ci, which left them somewhat puzzled.
“Zheng Zongmen really holds Qian Qi in high regard,” one remarked.
Qian Qi had left a deep impression on them before, and seeing his statue in the Xian Ci only deepened that impression.
At that moment, Yu Men Zhu suddenly sighed and said, “I can’t even recognize Qian Qi now.”
Upon hearing this, even Cheng Kong Shangren looked at him with curiosity.
“What do you mean you can’t recognize him?” Tong Ming Shangren asked.
“Do you know who Qian Qi is?” Yu Men Zhu explained, “He was originally a market steward from the Qian He Sect, quite slick. I’ve met him before and thought he was just a flatterer.”
Tong Ming Shangren paused for a moment.
Yu Men Zhu was the leader of the Bai Cao Sect, which was known for its expertise in cultivating spiritual plants within the Bai Xian Alliance, and the Qian He Sect naturally relied on them.
It was not surprising that Yu Men Zhu had encountered Qian Qi.
He didn’t doubt Yu Men Zhu’s memory—after all, a Yuanying cultivator wouldn’t mistake someone’s identity.
So, what about Qian Qi...
He thought about Qian Qi’s appearance. Although his cultivation was low, he didn’t seem slick; when dealing with them, he even displayed a subtle confidence.
No wonder Yu Men Zhu couldn’t recognize him.
Cheng Kong Shangren found this interesting as well. “Once he entered the Jiushan Sect, it’s like he became a different person? How was Qian Qi’s understanding of the Ling Nong path before?”
Yu Men Zhu chuckled, not holding back, “With all due respect, it’s not that I look down on him.”
“Let’s not forget he was just a market steward in the Qian He Sect.”
“Even the so-called secret techniques of the Qian He Sect are nothing special.”
As he said this, the others nodded in agreement.
After all, he was an authority in this area, being from the Bai Cao Sect.
It was also true that the Qian He Sect had not made a name for itself in the Bai Xian Alliance.
“Then why does Zheng Fa value him so highly?” someone asked.
“Perhaps there’s no one else available,” Yu Men Zhu replied.
Upon hearing this, everyone laughed, deciding not to say more, as it implied a bit of disdain for the Jiushan Sect, and they were guests.
As they were talking, footsteps were heard at the courtyard entrance.
Sun Daoyu arrived with a group of Jiushan disciples, carrying food boxes to serve them.
The Yuanying cultivators had no appetite, but the Jiushan Sect had to provide hospitality; otherwise, it would be a breach of etiquette.
When the food boxes were opened, they immediately noticed something was off—inside were various dishes they had never seen before.
“What is this?” Tong Ming Shangren asked curiously.
Sun Daoyu respectfully replied, “The sect leader said there’s nothing special to treat you esteemed guests with, so this is some spiritual plants cultivated by our Jiushan Sect…”
Everyone looked at the food boxes.
Indeed, it wasn’t very lavish—no meat, just rice, two plates of leafy vegetables, and a dish of spiritual fruit.
But… if it was all cultivated by the Jiushan Sect, that made it different.
Regardless of its rarity, at least it was something new, right?
Everyone turned to Yu Men Zhu, who stared at the food for a while before confirming, “I’ve never seen this before.”
Sun Daoyu smiled and said, “This is indeed unique to our sect; in fact, it didn’t even exist in the Jiushan Realm before. It was Qian Zhenren who brought his disciples to cultivate it slowly.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Men Zhu’s expression turned a bit dazed. He glanced at Tong Ming Shangren and murmured, “Did I really misjudge him?”
“Zhenren?”
Sun Daoyu didn’t quite catch what he said and asked for clarification.
“Is it true that Qian Zhenren came from the Qian He Sect?” Yu Men Zhu’s tone was filled with skepticism.
Sun Daoyu, being a clever person, quickly understood what Yu Men Zhu was asking.
He chuckled and said, “If we’re talking about Qian Zhenren, he truly is like a different person now, deserving of our respect… but that’s only natural.”
“Natural?” Yu Men Zhu was even more confused. Shouldn’t they be questioning whether this person had been possessed?
“Once you meet our sect leader, anyone would change,” Sun Daoyu seemed to recall something and sighed, as if it were nothing unusual.
At this point, Tong Ming Shangren felt even more unsettled...
---
**Chapter 319: A Jug of Wine with a Close Friend, Awaiting a Century of Spring**
Tong Ming Shangren was genuinely puzzled.
As for Madam Xuanhua, that was understandable; after all, the Xuanwei Realm was tumultuous, and it was normal for her to seek refuge in the Jiushan Sect.
But Qian Qi...
He was someone he had never heard of and wouldn’t have regarded highly, a foundation-building cultivator.
How did he gain such capabilities upon entering the Jiushan Realm?
Even if he wasn’t adept in the Ling Nong path, he understood the value of cultivating new spiritual plants... Many sects in the Bai Xian Alliance excelled in the Ling Nong path, yet in the past twenty thousand years, few new varieties had emerged.
In other words, each successful new spiritual plant could support a small sect.
His mind was filled with doubts—was someone playing him?
He looked at the bowls and dishes in front of him, then raised his head to glance around at the others.
Yu Men Zhu seemed to still be skeptical, eagerly picking up his chopsticks to sample the dishes.
Even Cheng Kong Shangren was eating with interest, nodding as he chewed, lost in thought.
Tong Ming Shangren took a few bites as well.
Yu Men Zhu spoke first, “The spiritual energy is weak, but there’s some novelty to it; many disciples should enjoy it.”
Cheng Kong Shangren pointed to one plate, which contained stir-fried greens, but he was indicating the green peppers within. He laughed and said, “I find this one the most interesting; it’s spicy, but also a bit numbing.”
Tong Ming Shangren nodded in agreement.
The others were less impressed; they could eat it, but it wasn’t particularly delicious, at least not for them as Yuanying cultivators.
However, those green peppers were quite intriguing—spicy and numbing, providing a unique sensation.
Sun Daoyu smiled and said, “This one was just recently cultivated; we call it Lei Jiao. It’s spicy, but it also contains the power of lightning, making the mouths of those who eat it tingle. The disciples aren’t used to it, but many of my fellow brothers can’t get enough of it now.”
Tong Ming Shangren knew that the strength of the lightning power was just right, giving it a distinct flavor.
Many would likely enjoy this, especially as a side dish, making it quite marketable.
Yu Men Zhu shook his head gently, sighing, “Just these Qian He grains and Lei Jiao show that Jiushan’s skills in the Ling Nong path are truly remarkable.”
His face was filled with admiration.
Sun Daoyu chuckled lightly, wearing a proud smile.
“Is this also cultivated by Qian Qi?” Yu Men Zhu asked curiously.
“It should be due to the sect leader’s excellent guidance,” Sun Daoyu pondered for a moment before replying, “But Qian Zhenren works very hard.”
Yu Men Zhu nodded slightly, then sighed, “Zheng Fa should join my Bai Cao Sect.”
Sun Daoyu’s smile froze; wasn’t Zheng Fa already the sect leader? Why would he come to steal someone?
Then Yu Men Zhu continued, “The Jiushan Sect must not have had much accumulation in the Ling Nong path in the past, and the Qian He Sect is no better... But how long have you been in the Jiushan Realm?”
“Seeing a small part reveals the whole picture,” Yu Men Zhu sighed. “Zheng Zongmen must possess astonishing skills in the Ling Nong path.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Kong Shangren slowly set down his chopsticks, his expression deep in thought.
...
The next day, however, Zheng Fa did not come to host them; instead, it was Uncle Pang who arrived.
Cheng Kong Shangren, not having seen Zheng Fa, directly asked, “Where’s Zheng Fa?”
Uncle Pang replied straightforwardly, “Forgive me, Shangren, but Zheng Fa has been quite busy these past two days.”
“Busy?”
“Indeed, he’s busy with the entrance examinations.”
The group was even more puzzled.
“You may not know, but the students on Le Tu Island in our Jiushan Realm are currently taking their entrance exams, and Zheng Fa’s sister is among them.”
These two days were precisely when Zheng Shan was anxiously preparing for her entrance exam.
The timing was set for three reasons:
First, Zheng Shan and the others had been studying for nearly a year. While a year might seem short, many on Le Tu Island had previously studied in the Xuanwei Realm, and within that year, some of them had nearly met the Jiushan Sect’s entrance requirements.
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