Su Changqing watched Lin Jingyu being surrounded like the moon among stars and silently smiled as he shook his head.
With a little thought, he could guess what these people were thinking. Most of them had heard about Lin Jingyu and had deliberately come to build a good relationship with this future star of the sect. They had clearly grasped the principle that cultivation was not all about fighting and killing, but also about social connections.
As for Su Changqing's appearance, few noticed him. Even those who did merely glanced at him before looking away, treating him as though he were invisible.
The difference in how the two were treated was truly a reflection of reality.
Su Changqing was perfectly happy remaining an unnoticed nobody. The less attention he drew, the better. Just as he was about to leave, Lin Jingyu, who had been surrounded by the crowd, spotted him at a glance. Smiling, he stepped out of the crowd and quickly approached Su Changqing.
"Chang Qing, long time no see!"
Lin Jingyu came before Su Changqing and greeted him warmly.
"Jing Yu, long time no see!"
Seeing him approach with a polite greeting, Su Changqing stopped and returned the courtesy.
"Who is that? Why is Junior Brother Lin greeting him so warmly?"
"I heard that two others entered the sect alongside Junior Brother Lin. One joined Great Bamboo Peak, while the other joined Little Bamboo Peak. He should be one of them, though I do not know their names."
"They entered the sect together with Junior Brother Lin? Then why are there so many rumors about Junior Brother Lin within the sect, yet we have barely heard anything about them?"
"What else could it be? Their spiritual root aptitude simply cannot compare with Junior Brother Lin's brilliance. They have faded into the masses of the sect."
Because of Lin Jingyu's popularity, the scene of the two greeting each other naturally drew plenty of attention, and the murmurs all reached Su Changqing's ears.
Su Changqing did not care. Wherever there were people, there would be gossip. Not everyone could attain the Dao and become an immortal with transcendent bearing; more often than not, people could not shed their petty mortal habits.
Lin Jingyu acted as if he had not heard their discussions and continued asking Su Changqing enthusiastically, "Chang Qing, how is your cultivation going now?"
"Me? My spiritual root aptitude is inferior to yours. I have only just begun cultivating. I can merely sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, but I cannot yet draw it into my body."
Su Changqing shook his head as he answered.
Others did not know it, but Su Changqing knew well that this world, though seemingly peaceful and prosperous, was in truth divided between the righteous and demonic paths, with countless dangers lurking beneath the surface. He had no intention of revealing his strength to anyone. While still weak, displaying one's edge and attracting attention would only bring greater pressure.
There was one saying he firmly believed in: only a genius who lived to grow stronger was truly a genius; one who died young was merely a stepping stone.
Lin Jingyu naturally believed Su Changqing's answer without question. His smile faded as he took on a serious expression and said, "Chang Qing, since we were fortunate enough to enter Qingyun Sect, we must cherish this opportunity. We cannot be careless in cultivation. The first level of Taiji Xuanqing Dao is still simple. If we cannot even pass this stage, the second and third levels ahead will be even harder."
"Take me, for example. If I cannot comprehend it in a day, then I will not rest or sleep that day. Whenever I encounter a chance for sudden enlightenment, if I fail to seize it, I may even forget to eat. Master even said that he had never seen anyone as diligent as me and that I would surely achieve great things in the future."
Su Changqing was momentarily speechless. Then he smiled, nodded, and showed his agreement.
"If you are willing, I can speak with Master and have you stay at Dragon Head Peak for two days. I will personally teach you the intricacies and methods of the first level."
Lin Jingyu continued.
"I think I will pass, Jing Yu. Master told me that whether one succeeds or fails is destined. Forcing things will only make one rush for success and achieve the opposite result."
Su Changqing naturally refused. He was cultivating perfectly well in Quiet Heart Cave. Going to Cang Song's Dragon Head Peak would just be asking for trouble, would it not?
Lin Jingyu's expression immediately darkened. He thought Su Changqing had refused because Chang Qing had always been lazy in cultivation, and a sense of frustration at his failure to live up to expectations rose within him.
Su Changqing helplessly shook his head. Seeing Lin Jingyu's face darken, he knew he had misunderstood him, but there was no need to explain.
When words did not align, even half a sentence was too much. Just as the two were about to leave separately, another voice rang out.
"Jing Yu, Chang Qing!"
Amid an excited cry, Zhang Xiaofan walked over in a small cloth jacket. Beside him stood Song Daren, the Senior Brother who had brought the three of them back then.
"Xiao Fan, I will not disturb the three of you as you catch up."
Song Daren smiled kindly at Zhang Xiaofan. Before leaving, he cast a sidelong glance at Lin Jingyu, his eyes carrying a hint of amazement. Clearly, he too had heard the rumors spreading through the sect.
"Alright, thank you, Senior Brother Song!"
Zhang Xiaofan first cupped his hands and bowed to thank Song Daren, then jogged toward the two of them.
"Xiao Fan!"
Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan had always gotten along well. Once Zhang Xiaofan appeared, Lin Jingyu quickly shifted his attention to him.
Lin Jingyu still led the conversation. After the two talked for only a short while, the topic once again turned to cultivation and Cultivation Level. When he heard Zhang Xiaofan say that he had made no progress in cultivation, Lin Jingyu repeated the same words he had just said.
Zhang Xiaofan looked somewhat ashamed and self-reproachful, but he also refused Lin Jingyu's suggestion.
"Jing Yu, thank you for your kindness, but Master and all my Senior Brothers treat me very well, and they often guide me in cultivation. It is only because my comprehension is truly too poor that I have made no progress. If I went with you, I fear I would instead affect your cultivation."
Su Changqing did not join their conversation. Instead, he quietly observed Zhang Xiaofan.
If he remembered correctly, this kid was still learning to chop bamboo at Great Bamboo Peak. At this point in time, he probably could not even cut through a single layer of those spirit bamboos.
Compared with the rapidly advancing Lin Jingyu, Zhang Xiaofan moved at a downright turtle's pace. His progress was infuriatingly slow, and the several Senior Brothers of Great Bamboo Peak, along with Tian Buyi, had already lost hope in him.
Yet though he now seemed to be useless at cultivation, only Su Changqing knew that he was the protagonist of this story.
It was precisely this first level of cultivation that laid a solid foundation for his path of cultivation, forging his steady and diligent temperament and allowing him to later write a legend of his own.
Looking at him now, that was indeed the case.
Even Su Changqing secretly admired him. Compared to the high-spirited Lin Jingyu, Zhang Xiaofan's story of concealing himself before rising later was far more compelling.
After the three had spoken for a while, they returned to the groups from their respective peaks.
Once Dao Xuan Zhenren and the other upper echelons of Qingyun Sect appeared, this gathering officially began. It turned out that several disciples from a nearby sect had been beguiled by the Demonic Cult and betrayed their sect. Before leaving, they had even killed several fellow disciples, making the matter particularly vile.
With that cautionary example before them, Qingyun Sect sought to learn from it. To prevent such an incident from occurring, they had specially summoned all disciples for an ideological education lecture.
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