Lip Service

The high-grade Qi Guiding Pill obtained from the Pill Hall of Kongyuan Mountain, combined with these five stalks of Ice Soul Grass, has allowed Chen Yan, whose current actual realm has reached the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, to feel more confident about breaking through to the Martial Spring Realm.

However, given Chen Yan's talent, the early stage of the Martial Spring Realm might very well be his limit.

Ever since that day, Sun Lu had been finding excuses to approach Chen Yan from time to time.

He didn't reveal any other intentions, merely inquiring about his well-being and occasionally gifting Chen Yan some rare items.

Sun Lu was twenty years old this year, and his current cultivation realm was the mid-stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.

Yet, he didn't hesitate to call Chen Yan "Senior Brother," despite Chen Yan being younger and having a lower cultivation realm.

In fact, Chen Yan had been somewhat unaccustomed to it at first.

Sun Lu was also very good at maintaining boundaries. He kept an appropriate distance from Chen Yan, not interfering with Chen Yan's life or cultivation.

He merely made sure Chen Yan occasionally remembered that such a person existed.

Oh, right, and his Master, the Steward of the Spirit Herb Workshop, Zheng Fuyue.

The investigation on Qingchan Peak also yielded no results. There was no news of the murderer of Song Mingde or Song Mingde's list.

Chen Yan knew that the Empty Mountain Sect, which appeared calm on the surface, was actually turbulent beneath.

Time passed quickly, and the date of the Outer Court Grand Competition drew nearer.

Outer Court Disciples who had joined in recent years were particularly excited, as this was an excellent opportunity to advance to the Inner Court.

However, most of the older Outer Court Disciples felt indifferent, as they knew their own limitations.

As the saying goes, a newborn calf fears no tiger.

There were still three days left until the official start of the Outer Court Grand Competition.

Inside Wenyuan Hall, Chen Yan stood behind Lin Qifeng, his gaze fixed in the direction of the hall's entrance.

Then, the grand doors slowly swung open.

A group of about thirty people majestically strode into Wenyuan Hall.

They were the elders from the Inner Court who had come to observe the Outer Court Grand Competition, as well as the "gatekeepers" from the Three Mountains and Four Peaks.

Every year, in addition to the sparring and matches among Outer Court Disciples, the Outer Court Grand Competition had a special segment.

This segment involved disciples from the various peaks of the Inner Court defending their positions. If an Outer Court Disciple could defeat a "gatekeeper," they would immediately gain the qualification to enter the corresponding peak in the Inner Court.

Of course, defeating a gatekeeper was no easy feat.

At the very least, in Chen Yan's longest lived previous life, over ninety years, not a single Outer Court Disciple had successfully challenged a gatekeeper.

Lin Qifeng stood in the center of the great hall, welcoming the arrival of the elders from the various peaks of the Inner Court.

The tall and slender cultivator standing at the very front had a gilded cloud-crane pattern embroidered on the cuffs of his Daoist Robe.

He was an elder from Kongyuan Mountain.

"Still alive and well, Lin Direct Disciple."

The tall and slender elder with the gilded cloud-crane pattern on his cuffs spoke.

From this single sentence, Chen Yan judged that the elder from Kongyuan Mountain did not seem to have a very good relationship with Lin Qifeng.

It was because of the way he was addressed.

Although Lin Qifeng being the Sect Master's direct disciple was a fact, his current identity was that of an Outer Court Elder.

In a situation where an Outer Court Elder was meeting Inner Court elders and disciples, calling him "Lin Direct Disciple" in such a seemingly casual manner was actually a form of contempt.

"You're still alive too, Elder Song!"

Lin Qifeng said enthusiastically.

Elder Song's face twitched slightly:

"What else?"

"I thought you had already passed away."

Lin Qifeng continued enthusiastically.

"Heh, Lin Direct Disciple, you're already so old, yet you still have such a childlike nature. I truly admire that."

Saying this, Elder Song shifted his gaze to Chen Yan:

"I suppose your beloved disciple, Lin Direct Disciple, has had to endure quite a bit of hardship, hasn't he?"

Chen Yan's mouth twitched twice. What does your argument have to do with me?

So, Chen Yan merely cupped his fists and bowed, saying nothing.

This was not the time for him to stand up for his Master.

"If you have time, come back to Kongyuan Mountain to visit. Everyone misses you."

Elder Song said.

Only this sentence seemed to prick the usually uninhibited Lin Qifeng, causing him to fall silent for a moment.

"Heh."

Lin Qifeng merely spoke thus.

Elders and disciples from other peaks might be unaware, but the disciples and elders of Kongyuan Mountain knew that Lin Qifeng had been expelled from Kongyuan Mountain by Sect Master Yun.

Elder Song also seemed triumphant, holding his head high and saying nothing more.

Lin Qifeng exchanged pleasantries with the elders from each inner peak lineage in turn, going through the motions.

These elders, who led their disciples to observe the Outer Court Grand Competition, were not the highest-ranking individuals within their respective peak lineages.

They held positions such as elders of the Martial Arts Hall or Shang Gong Hall.

Within the Sect, elder titles ranked from highest to lowest were Sword-wielding Elder, Elder Zhengfa, Martial Suppression Elder, and Majestic Elder, followed by elders of various functional departments.

A Sword-wielding Elder was the foremost figure of a mountain gate.

This meant that Fu Qian of Qingchan Peak was effectively the third-ranked person on Qingchan Peak.

The four titles – Sword-wielding Elder, Elder Zhengfa, Martial Suppression Elder, and Majestic Elder – were collectively known as Peak Lineage Elders.

"Elder Lin."

An elder from Qingchan Peak cupped his hands towards Lin Qifeng and smiled.

Chen Yan followed the direction of the Qingchan Peak elder's gaze. When he noticed the cold, white-robed girl among the Qingchan Peak disciples behind the elder, he couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Chu Xiyao?

Chen Yan wasn't the only one who recognized her.

"Elder Lan, Qingchan Peak truly values the Outer Court Grand Competition, even sending its Chief Disciple."

Lin Qifeng said with a smile, teasingly.

The Chief Disciple was the highest-ranking disciple within a peak lineage, possessing the greatest talent and combat prowess among their peers.

They were also the undisputed leader of the younger generation.

It could even be said that a Chief Disciple could represent their peak lineage more effectively than any elder below the Grand Elder level.

"Junior Chu Xiyao greets Elder Lin."

The white-robed girl bowed to Lin Qifeng.

Afterward, her gaze shifted towards Chen Yan, who stood behind Lin Qifeng.

Chen Yan couldn't discern any particular emotion from her gaze, but it seemed to carry a hint of confusion.

Why are you Lin Qifeng's disciple?

There was likely such a question mixed within it.

"Chief Chu is here voluntarily to observe the Outer Court Grand Competition. She will not participate, nor will she fight as a gatekeeper."

The person Lin Qifeng addressed as Elder Lan said.

"If Chief Chu were to act as a gatekeeper, it would mean your Qingchan Peak truly looks down on our Outer Court disciples!"

Lin Qifeng chuckled.

"Not at all. We are all disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect. How could we look down on them? We welcome them with open arms!"

Elder Lan replied.

"Since Elder Lan puts it that way, you see, we have a few promising talents in our Outer Court recently..."

"Alas, as long as these promising talents can pass the test of the gatekeeper sent by our Qingchan Peak this year, I, Lan Wei, will accept as many as you bring!"

He spoke with great bravado, but Chen Yan inwardly grumbled that if it actually happened, he wouldn't be so agreeable.