How Could He Possibly Be a Nine-Star Dou Saint?

At Danta in the Central Plains, atop Disciple Square.

Quite a few junior and senior sisters had gathered together, clustering in groups and whispering among themselves, their faces full of gossip.

"Have you heard? The information revealed on that Sky Screen said that Senior Brother Lu Chuan is actually a Nine-Star Dou Saint!"

"Of course I have. The whole Danta has been talking about it these past few days. I used to think it was pitiful that his dantian was damaged, but it turns out he was hiding his strength."

"Exactly! Who would have thought that someone called a cripple every day was actually at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint level? It's simply ridiculous. And I heard that Senior Sister Cao Ying even pointed at his nose and scolded him during the wedding, saying he wasn't worthy of Dan Chen. Now that I think about it..."

The female disciple did not finish her sentence, but everyone around her understood what she meant and exchanged knowing smiles.

"We truly underestimated Senior Brother Lu Chuan before. Who would have thought he was a powerhouse of that level?"

While the girls were still discussing it, Cao Ying happened to pass by. Hearing the disciples' conversation, she slowed slightly, and her expression became somewhat complicated.

For some reason, she suddenly found herself envying Dan Chen.

After all, Dan Chen had never looked down on Lu Chuan from beginning to end. Even when he had been regarded as a cripple, she had remained by his side and had even taken the initiative to propose marriage. So what did Dan Chen have now?

A Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique given away as casually as anything, a Nine-Star Dou Saint husband who doted on and protected her, and the entire Danta treating her with courtesy. And what did Cao Ying have?

At that thought, Cao Ying gave a bitter smile and shook her head. She had been the one to point at his nose and curse him during the wedding. What right did she have to envy someone else now? Taking a deep breath, she prepared to quicken her pace and leave.

Just then, a figure approached from the other side. It was Elder Song Qing.

Song Qing wore an elder's robe and held an exquisite jade box in his hand. When he saw Cao Ying, a smile appeared on his face, and he hurried over.

"Cao Ying, there you are. I was looking for you."

Cao Ying stopped and looked at Song Qing. "Elder Song, what is it?"

Song Qing then handed over the jade box, his face wearing an eager smile. "This is a Seventh-Grade Pill. It can help speed up your cultivation and raise your level. I prepared it especially for you. Please accept it."

Cao Ying glanced at the jade box, fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. "Elder Song, this pill is too precious. I can't accept it."

"Besides, men and women should keep their distance. If the other disciples see you giving me such things, they will gossip. You should take the pill back."

Song Qing's smile stiffened at her words. His outstretched hand paused in midair before he awkwardly withdrew it.

He had gone to great lengths to refine a Seventh-Grade Pill in hopes of pleasing Cao Ying, only for her to reject it outright without even properly looking at it.

Naturally, Song Qing was displeased, but he could not say much in front of Cao Ying. He could only awkwardly put the jade box away.

"Then... fine. If you don't want it, forget it," Song Qing said, his tone noticeably colder than before.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he noticed the junior and senior sisters beside them still whispering among themselves. He frowned slightly and asked, "What are you talking about? Why are you all being so secretive?"

One of the female disciples looked at Song Qing, hesitated, then said, "Elder Song, you've been in seclusion these past few days, so you may not know. A Sky Screen recently appeared in Danta and revealed information about Senior Brother Lu Chuan."

"Senior Brother Lu Chuan... he is actually a Nine-Star Dou Saint."

Song Qing froze when he heard that. He stood motionless, shock spreading across his face. If Qing'er had not heard it herself, she would not have believed it even if someone beat her to death. How could that be possible?

"What?! A Nine-Star Dou Saint? You're saying that Lu Chuan, whose dantian is damaged, is a Nine-Star Dou Saint?!"

The female disciple was startled by his intense reaction, but she still nodded. "Yes. That was what the Sky Screen said, and it revealed it more than once. Many people saw it."

Song Qing's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. "What kind of joke is this? How could that brat Lu Chuan be a Nine-Star Dou Saint? That's absurd!"

"His dantian was clearly damaged. Five years ago, he was still a Nine-Star Dou Zong, but over the past few years, he fell all the way to a Nine-Star Dou Zhe. Everyone in Danta knows that!"

"Have you all been tricked? What Sky Screen? It must be fake!"

The female disciples beside him exchanged awkward glances upon seeing how agitated Song Qing was.

One of them said quietly, "Elder Song, the Sky Screen is real. Many of us saw it with our own eyes. Not only is Senior Brother Lu Chuan a Nine-Star Dou Saint, but he also created a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique and refined a Ninth-grade Pill..."

As Song Qing listened to what the junior sisters were saying, it sounded more and more outrageous to him, and his expression darkened further. "A Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique? A Ninth-grade Pill? Have all of you gone mad?"

"I've seen Lu Chuan in that condition. He could barely condense any Dou Qi at all. How could he possibly be a Nine-Star Dou Saint?"

"If he really were a Nine-Star Dou Saint, why would he spend five years pretending to be pathetic in Danta? Why would he let people call him a cripple without talking back?"

Song Qing felt as though he had just heard the biggest joke in the world. A cripple with a damaged dantian suddenly becoming a Nine-Star Dou Saint—who would believe such a thing?

But when he saw the serious expressions on the female disciples around him, as well as Cao Ying standing there in silence, unease suddenly welled up within him.

Song Qing turned to Cao Ying and asked, "Cao Ying, did you see that Sky Screen too?"

Since he had asked her directly, Cao Ying fell silent for a moment before nodding. "I saw it."

Song Qing was stunned. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he could not say a word.

He had initially thought the junior sisters were joking, but now that even Cao Ying had admitted it, it meant the matter was indeed true.

Song Qing stood there, his expression shifting again and again as turbulent waves rose in his heart.

Who would have thought that Lu Chuan—the cripple he had never regarded as worthy of notice—was actually a Nine-Star Dou Saint?

And the words he had said in the secret chamber, mocking Lu Chuan to his face, calling him a cripple and saying he was unworthy of Cao Ying—now that he thought about them...

At that moment, a cold sweat suddenly broke out across Song Qing's back. Clearly, he did not dare think any further.