Jintai Prefectural City, the Hong Family estate.
The midday sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, scattering across the hall's polished golden-brick floor in dappled patches of light and shadow.
Hong Shixian, head of the Hong Family, sat upright in the pear wood Grand Preceptor's Chair at the head of the hall, dressed in a dark purple brocade robe, his expression composed.
The Hong Family Grand Elder sat in a large chair below him. His hair and beard were white, but his spirits remained vigorous. The two were discussing the hottest topic in the prefectural city of late-the Profound Truth Sect's Fu Mountain Grand Competition.
Hong Shixian lifted the Celadon Teacup from the table and took a small sip of warm, pre-rain Longjing tea. There was a touch of admiration in his voice. "The Profound Truth Sect certainly deserves its place among the Five Great Schools. Its foundations run deep, and its strength is formidable. Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing's performances in this Fu Mountain Grand Competition were truly astounding. They were far more outstanding than our Hong Family's core disciples."
The Hong Family Grand Elder nodded slightly, wholeheartedly agreeing. "The Profound Truth Sect has stood for nearly a thousand years. The wealth of resources it has accumulated is beyond anything the lineages of our prefectural city can match. Even the Three Great Families—the Hong, Lin, and Su Families—would not readily offer treasures like Aperture-Nurturing Jade Marrow as rewards for their young disciples."
"With such precious resources supporting them, the Profound Truth Sect's disciples start more than a step ahead of our own young people."
He picked up his teacup and took a sip, then changed tack, unable to suppress his admiration. "That said, Chu Yunhai and Yang Jing truly are heaven-gifted prodigies. Even among all the young disciples of