Within the Golden Hall.
At that moment.
A faint trace of regret showed in Shen Yuanzhi's eyes.
She came from a minor aristocratic clan with a thousand-year pedigree. Though far less illustrious than the Twelve Great Clans, she was by no means someone without roots.
Years ago, before an elder had taken notice of Shen Yuanzhi and brought her into the Lower Court to cultivate.
A clan elder of the Ji Clan of Baizhu had coveted the Azure Jade Elixir Book left by her clan's forebears and seized it by force, bringing ruin and devastation upon Shen Yuanzhi's clan in the process.
Though no one in Changying Court dared discuss this openly, it was hardly a secret.
Those with good sources of information knew it perfectly well.
For that reason.
Of the court's three Masters, she was the only one who harbored undisguised ill will toward the Twelve Great Clans.
Yet before Chen Heng challenged the aristocratic clans on White Stone Peak, rather than nurturing his mind and spirit or cultivating behind closed doors, he had deliberately gone to Luzhao Peak to borrow earthfire and an alchemical furnace, refining a Red Lead Great Ring Pill.
His intention was plain to see.
Shen Yuanzhi understood it perfectly well.
As for senior instructors of the Lower Court taking disciples and establishing their master-disciple relationship ahead of time, that violated no sect regulations. Such cases were common.
Indeed, because the pavilion nearest the water caught the moonlight first, these Masters could often select truly gifted talents, leaving their fellow disciples in Xiaoming Great Marsh green with envy.
And by challenging the aristocratic clans single-handedly, Chen Heng had risen to prominence and made his name throughout the four courts.
That had already proven beyond doubt.
In both temperament and ability, he was a first-rate