Outside Qianqing Palace.
Chu Ning was sunning himself when he suddenly shivered.
What happened?
It felt like someone was muttering about me behind my back. Let me guess...
Oh, it's my wife. Never mind, then.
Chu Ning didn't give it another thought and went back to relaxing.
He wasn't hiding his cultivation just to avoid scaring people.
If you asked him, he'd tell the truth. Whoever came along, he was an Immortal Emperor; whoever came along, he was a worldly expert. He wasn't hiding anything, anyway.
But just as Chu Ning was settling back in, he sensed someone approaching.
A method of travel that shattered space meant a Void-Breaking cultivator. Was it Ye Qinglian?
Chu Ning eagerly raised his head, thinking Ye Qinglian couldn't wait to seek his guidance. But when he opened his eyes...
An old man stood not far away, glaring at him with a sour expression.
Chu Ning's mouth twitched.
"Sir, I'm just sunning myself here. I haven't broken any sect rules, have I?"
Fang Houren got angry just looking at the boy's careless, flippant manner.
"His Majesty gave you the Ye family's core cultivation technique. Why aren't you cultivating?"
"Why would a worldly expert need to cultivate? Besides, His Majesty even praised how quickly I cultivate."
Chu Ning casually flicked out a strand of sword intent.
"See? How's my progress?"
Then he went right back to sunning himself.
"Hah! That's nothing more than the most basic sword intent. You've accomplished a little and already think highly of yourself. Don't you feel you're letting His Majesty down?"
"What's there to feel bad about? At least His Majesty thinks I'm cultivating quickly. What's that got to do with you?"
The old man couldn't find an answer. He wanted to take a swing at him, but was afraid he'd