That day.
Chen Shuangbai resided in the palace, handling important matters submitted by the four departments.
Unless there's a situation like in East Mountain Commandery, Chen Shuangbai, the deputy head of the Evil Hunting Hall, generally doesn't need to go out to handle matters.
With his orders, the four officials in the hall will naturally have someone to handle things perfectly.
As for the matter of East Mountain Commandery...
He thought Jade Guarding Hall, but he still couldn't resist the pleas from acquaintances.
Outside the palace, in the flower garden.
Chen Shuangbai looked at the female cultivator in front of him. She was slender and gentle, wearing the robes of inner disciple the Jade Spring Sect. A jade hairpin adorned her black hair, shining brightly.
It was none other than Ji Ruohua.
When Chen Shuangbai heard the report from the guard boy, he was taken aback at first, but then he understood why the woman had come.
Ji Ruohua was promoted from the [ Accumulated Verdure Monastery ] lineage to the upper sect. Her talent was not weak, even better than Chen Shuangbai's. Her temperament was also not weak. If it weren't for Chen Shuangbai and Fu Qianlan blocking her way, it is estimated that the top three in that Martial Edge Trial would have included those two.
Many years have passed, and looking at this person now... Chen Shuangbai was somewhat surprised.
Based on his cultivation speed back then, he should either be traveling or in seclusion trying to break through to the Foundation Establishment... Why is he still running around outside?
Ji Ruohua was also quite uneasy, but thinking of the expectations in the temple, she knew that she could not hide it from her former senior brother in front of her—who was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator and her uncle. So she cupped her hands in greeting.
He waved away the servant boy and personally poured Ji Ruohua a cup of spiritual tea.
The steaming tea, carrying a delicate aroma, slightly eased the somewhat tense atmosphere in the courtyard.
"No need for formalities, please sit."
Ji Ruohua looked at the calm expression on the person in front of her, unable to discern any joy or anger, and thought to herself that this was the kind of self-cultivation skill Foundation Establishment cultivator should have.
After she sat down, she took a sip of tea, then looked up and met Chen Shuangbai and profound gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, but she steeled herself and said, "I'm sure you can guess why I'm here, Uncle."
Chen Shuangbai hadn't expected her to be so direct, and instead of answering, she simply looked at her quietly, signaling for her to continue.
Ji Ruohua continued, "The news that the sect intends to establish a new spiritual land in East Mountain Commandery and relocate some of its lineage Lineage has spread throughout the lineages and affiliated cultivation Lineage... Although Accumulated Verdure Monastery is a small lineage, it has been passed down for hundreds of years and is skilled in cultivating Spirit Plant and harmonizing the earth's energy. It has considerable experience in managing spiritual lands, so it came to Martial Uncle Chen to ask you to put in a good word for Accumulated Verdure Monastery and request a quota for relocation to East Mountain Commandery."
After speaking, she took out a jade box about a foot long from her personal belongings, presented it with both hands, and lowered her voice even further. "This is from the temple..."
Chen Shuangbai interrupted her directly after she finished speaking.
"Wait!"
Ji Ruohua raised her head and looked at Chen Shuangbai, who calmly said, "The affairs of East Mountain Commandery are a public matter of the Foundation Establishment, and will be personally managed by Master True Person Bo of the Jade Guarding Hall, with Senior Brother Ding handling the specifics."
"Although I hold the position of Deputy Head of the Evil Hunting Hall, I have no direct authority over this matter."
"Junior Sister's actions have truly broken the rules. If I accept them, I fear I will be punished in the sect's Three Yin Cave the very next day."
Three Yin Cave.
The place where disciples of the Jade Spring Sect are imprisoned and punished for committing grave offenses.
Upon Ji Ruohua's face paled even further, and her hands holding the jade box trembled slightly.
She wanted to say something more, but Chen Shuangbai didn't want her reputation to be affected by this matter, so she still added, "If Accumulated Verdure Monastery is truly interested, then go and find Senior Brother Ding yourself. The sect will make its own decision."
Before long, the boy on duty saw the man off.
After the boy returned, Chen Shuangbai instructed, "If anything like this happens again, shield him for me."
This boy is an orphan adopted by the Jade Spring Sect and is being raised by the Scripture Transmission Hall.
Those with high aptitude and good character will generally be granted the status of outer disciples. Whether they become dragons or worms in the future depends on their own destiny.
As for those with lower qualifications... they only have one way out: to be sent to various halls in the mountains to serve as guards or watchmen. In any case, they won't go hungry, which is considered the best arrangement.
The boy had only been assigned here recently and was just wondering how to figure out the preferences of this superior cultivator. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly agreed and then respectfully went downstairs.
Chen Shuangbai looked in the direction Ji Ruohua had left, a slight thought stirring in her heart.
This is just the tip of the iceberg... I'm afraid things will be much more complicated for Senior Brother Ding.
Chen Shuangbai shook her head slightly and returned to the hall to handle official documents.
This day.
He was enjoying a rare day off, sipping tea by his thatched hut in Verdant Hills Stream, pondering a certain key to cultivation, when his attendant Yunxiu respectfully approached and said, "Master, a person has arrived outside the cave abode. He is dressed as an inner disciple and claims to be from your clan."
Same race?
Chen Shuangbai frowned slightly, and immediately knew who it was.
That makes sense. Since this person has top-tier aptitude, they started as inner disciple, unlike me who honestly climbed up step by step from the outer sect.
The White Water Chen Clan did not receive much favor from the Huangji Chen Clan. Even if they did, it was only some resources they brought from the main family when they divided the family property. The three generations that followed did not receive any more favors from the family, and those resources had already been repaid through annual offerings.
Back in White Water County, Chen Shuangbai felt she had made her point very clearly.
However, the Huangji Chen Clan... were unwilling to let East Mountain Commandery miss out on a share of the pie, so no matter how angry Chen Shuangbai was, they still chose to curry favor with them.
This is extremely annoying.
Chen Shuangbai said, "Ignore him. I have no clansmen in the sect now."
Yunxiu's eyes flickered slightly, as if she understood something, and she accepted the order and left.
Not long after.
Outside the cave abode.
Yunxiu gave the other party a graceful bow, a distant smile on her face, and said gently, "My lord said that he has no relatives cultivating within the sect, so please do not bother me, honored guest."
Chen Zonglin's face paled slightly. He pursed his lips a few times, understood the meaning behind the words, and left disappointed.
"I knew they didn't like me, but they still forced me to come..."
He seemed to be muttering something, bowed with his hands clasped, and then left.
Disciples with top-tier aptitude within the sect often receive significantly better treatment than outer disciples and ordinary inner disciple.
This allowed Chen Zonglin to have his own cave abode as soon as he embarked on the path of cultivation. The environment was quiet and secluded, making it a treasure land for cultivation.
When he returned to his cave abode, he saw an elderly cultivator with white hair rushing up to him anxiously, asking, "Lin'er... how is she?"
Upon seeing Chen Zonglin's dejected appearance, the other party immediately understood and said in a gloomy tone, "Did Chen Shuangbai... give you the cold shoulder?"
Chen Zonglin nodded, looking aggrieved, and said, "Seventh Uncle, I think it's better not to bother with this."
"That Martial Uncle Chen... doesn't acknowledge this marriage at all, he wouldn't even see me, and sent someone back saying there are no relatives in the sect. I didn't even get to see him!"