Old and Vigorous

On the bluestone steps in front of the mountain gate.

Fang Da'ao clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, staring intently at a person on the mountain path.

Across from him, Han Sha, clad in the Sea Abyss Temple's moon-white robe, stood with his head bowed, not daring to meet Fang Da'ao's gaze.

"Han Sha!" Fang Da'ao's voice rumbled like muffled thunder. "The sect was in trouble, and you switched allegiances. How dare you show your face here again?"

Han Sha's body trembled. Before he could speak, the five Sea Abyss Temple disciples behind him burst into laughter.

"A wise bird chooses its perch. Junior Brother Han has exceptional talent; how could it be buried in a small, fringe sect like yours?" A hawk-nosed youth stepped forward, his words laced with mockery.

"Nonsense!" Fang Da'ao's hair stood on end with anger. "If our Senior Uncle-Master hadn't saved him from the sea bandits back then, he would have—"

"Senior Brother Fang!" Han Sha suddenly looked up, a flicker of struggle in his eyes. "I chose this path precisely to carry on my master's dying wish! The Sea Yue Skill is incomplete; I can't achieve anything with it!"

"You've been deceived!" Fang Da'ao said, his voice filled with anguish. He couldn't help but take two steps forward, out of the mountain gate. "Sect Master Uncle-Master has already told me. We—"

Before he could finish, the hawk-nosed youth, seeing Fang Da'ao step outside the mountain gate's formation, suddenly pointed his fingers like a sword, and a water arrow shot out from his sleeve!

Fang Da'ao hastily dodged!

Whoosh--

At the critical moment, a white piece shot through the air, hitting the water arrow with a "ding" and deflecting it. It carved a three-inch deep hole in the rock wall behind Fang Da'ao!

"A sneak attack?" Fang Da'ao couldn't understand what was happening, but he knew he had been ambushed. His muscles tensed like a drawn bowstring, and he adopted a bear-like stance, exuding an aura of mountains. "You want to fight? Then let's fight!"

Just then.

"Da'ao, stop."

A voice rang out. Chen Qing walked slowly out from within the mountain gate, Qu Xiaoyao following closely behind, her small hand tightly gripping his robe.

Chen Qing's gaze first swept over Han Sha, then finally landed at the end of the mountain path—

Four people stood there.

The elder leading them had a white beard that reached his chest, a refined face, and piercing eyes. He wore a blue and white robe and leaned on a jade staff carved with an ancient chess piece, a faint spiritual light flowing from its head.

Behind him stood two men and one woman, all with extraordinary bearing: the youth on the left carried a sword box on his back, with a cinnabar mark like blood between his brows; the man on the right had a jade flute hanging from his waist and a face like polished jade; the only maiden, about sixteen years old, had golden bells on her wrists that tinkled in the mountain breeze.

"Thank you for your assistance just now, Senior. Otherwise, my junior nephew would have been seriously injured by a sneak attack," Chen Qing said, cupping his hands. "May I ask the esteemed members of the Mystic Chess Academy what brings you here today?"

"Are you the Sect Master of the Hidden Star Gate? You were already here, and even if we hadn't intervened, I believe the Sect Master could have protected him." The elder nodded slightly, stroking his beard with a light smile. "I am Mo Huaiyong. I heard your sect is a descendant lineage of the Central Spirit Continent, and I've come to pay a visit."

A descendant lineage of the Central Spirit Continent?

Their reputation had reached the Mystic Chess Academy?

Chen Qing's eyelids twitched. He glanced at Han Sha out of the corner of his eye, then shook his head at Mo Huaiyong. "My humble abode is simple and may not be worthy of entertaining distinguished guests. Perhaps it's best not to..."

Mo Huaiyong's white beard moved slightly, his smile undiminished. He interrupted, "I have another opportunity to present on this journey. The Southern Coast region has always had deep ties with our Mystic Chess Academy. It is our sect's custom to regularly seek out talented individuals, and the Hidden Star Gate is located on the Southern Coast. We should indeed pay a visit."

Chen Qing's heart grew tense.

These words were veiled and sharp, implying that the Southern Coast region had always been the Mystic Chess Academy's sphere of influence!

However, based on Chen Qing's understanding of the current situation, forces from the South Sea were also involved. The Mystic Chess Academy, on the other hand, had been absent for a long time.

"So that's how it is," he said calmly, cupping his hands again to decline. "Your kindness is appreciated, Senior, but my disciples are unfortunately dull-witted and likely won't catch the academy's eye."

Mo Huaiyong's gaze was sharp, lingering on Fang Da'ao. He said meaningfully, "His vital energy is robust, his bones are like iron, and he already possesses the nascent form of the Yellow Court. With proper guidance, he might yet achieve something."

Upon hearing this, Fang Da'ao said without hesitation, "I am a disciple of the Hidden Star Gate. In this life, I recognize only my sect!"

Zing--

The sword cultivator behind Mo Huaiyong's sword hummed slightly, but he raised a hand to suppress it.

"A few days ago, I was at the Sea Abyss Temple and gave pointers to some young disciples," he said, looking gently at Han Sha. "I heard one of them mention that he had two fellow disciples whose talent surpassed his, and they were at the Hidden Star Gate on Misty Gorge Mountain. I value talent, which is why I've come specifically, with no other intentions."

Chen Qing frowned.

Why would the prestigious Mystic Chess Academy make a special trip for a casual remark? Furthermore, despite his repeated refusals, they persisted. Their cultivation was unfathomably deep, and their sect was powerful. Why would they be so fixated on his small sect?

Something unusual must be afoot!

"The path of cultivation values opportunity the most. Since we are here today, how about this—" Seeing Chen Qing remain silent, Mo Huaiyong flipped his sleeve, and a green jade chess piece appeared in the air, emitting a clear light. "This is an 'Inquiry Chess.' It can test one's roots and comprehension. Why not let the two young friends try? It's a way to probe their potential, far more accurate than the bone-measuring methods of ordinary sects."

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes slightly.

This old Daoist, while appearing amiable, was pressing him step by step, using his influence to intimidate him. However, if he refused again, he might offend a behemoth like the Mystic Chess Academy! If it was just testing their roots...

"Your offer is too kind to refuse, Senior," he took a deep breath and then said, "However, our mountain gate is simple. Perhaps we could conduct the test here on the stone platform in front of the gate?"

A sharp glint flashed in Mo Huaiyong's eyes, and he nodded. "Good."

Soon, everyone moved to the open area in front of the mountain gate.

After receiving permission from his uncle-master, Fang Da'ao took a deep breath and straightened his back. Qu Xiaoyao nervously clutched his robe, her small face taut.

Mo Huaiyong flicked his finger, and the green jade chess piece spun in the air, its clear light raining down upon Fang Da'ao and Qu Xiaoyao.

"Relax your mind and sense carefully," Mo Huaiyong's voice was ethereal, containing some kind of profound rhythm.

Fang Da'ao gradually relaxed. A faint earth-yellow light surged around him, vaguely forming the shape of a bear. Water mist swirled around Qu Xiaoyao, appearing illusory and dreamlike.

"Their foundations are acceptable..."

Mo Huaiyong's eyes flashed with disappointment before quickly disappearing.

These two weren't...

At the same time, whether it was because Chen Qing was close or because the clear light was sentient, the chess piece in mid-air suddenly trembled!

Several strands of clear light unexpectedly scattered towards Chen Qing!

"Oh no! Mr. Mo, weren't you testing my sect's disciples? Why are you aiming at this old general of my sect?"

Chen Qing's heart tightened, and he instinctively circulated his Supreme Harmony Qi to protect himself.

But the next instant—

Boom!

The clear light met his Qi like boiling water, converging on the crown of Chen Qing's head, and suddenly erupted into a brilliant pillar of light, like a long river, then it turned in the air!

In an instant, rolling illusory phenomena bloomed from the light—

Majestic mountains rose from the ground!

Vast azure seas surged with waves!

As the mountains and seas merged, a wondrous phenomenon actually evolved in mid-air!

"This... this is..."

Mo Huaiyong's pupils constricted, and the composure on his face vanished completely!

"Qi nearing Supreme Harmony, mountains and seas resonating?!" the young man carrying a sword box on his back exclaimed in a low voice, "His realm isn't high, yet he can evoke such a phenomenon. Could the person with profound destiny we are looking for be him?"

The entire scene fell silent, only the whistling mountain wind could be heard.

The man with a face like jade behind Mo Huaiyong broke the silence, whispering, "Uncle-Master Mo, this person is in the Initial Opening Realm, but this level of phenomenon cannot be manifested without a profound foundation. Yet, he is also a sect leader..."

Mo Huaiyong raised his hand slightly, stopping his subsequent words, and then looked at Chen Qing with burning eyes.

Please collect if you pass by, a beginner thanks you