As soon as she left, a sturdy figure slowly walked over from the other side; it was Chi Huaping.
His cultivation at the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme had long been completely concealed, yet his every move still carried the composure and gravitas accumulated over the years. As he approached Qin Yu, he uttered no empty pleasantries, merely glancing at Qin Yu with a slow, gentle smile spreading across his eyes.
"How is your injury recovery?" Qin Yu replied truthfully, "The injury has stabilized, but the essence of my Fate Soul was severely depleted and will require time to slowly recover." Chi Huaping nodded slightly, her expression somewhat relieved. "It's good that you're alright."
He raised his wine cup, paused for a moment, his gaze growing increasingly solemn, all casualness vanishing. "Fellow Daoist Qin, I am not good at empty talk. But your strength is something I truly admire."
Several young members of the Chi Lineage nearby looked surprised upon hearing this. Chi Huaping was proud and rarely spoke so frankly to someone, but his actions today showed his approval of Qin Yu.
Ignoring the stares of those around her, Chi Huaping continued in a deep voice, "We are well aware of the depth of the Hua Lineage's foundation and the ruthlessness of Hua Jingmeng's methods, as we have been confronting the Hua Lineage for many years. I had only glimpsed a few of the many trump cards he has played today."
Your ability to withstand all the deadly attacks, and even to comprehend the true meaning of the fifth sword technique amidst the desperate situation of the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner, far surpasses the power of a single word like 'victory'.
A slight smile played on his lips as he raised his glass. "This cup is half to celebrate your victory and triumph." "The other half is to thank you for restoring immense honor to the Chi Lineage." "This first place carries immense weight." "The Chi Lineage will remember it forever."
Qin Yu met his gaze frankly, raised their glasses to clink, and the crisp sound echoed across the table. "I dare not accept such praise..." The two drank together. Chi Huaping put down her wine cup but did not leave immediately. She raised her hand and gently patted Qin Yu's shoulder, her eyes filled with genuine joy.
"Once your Fate Soul injury has healed, I'd like to discuss and spar with you, stopping short of a life-or-death struggle. The profound meaning of the Great Dao contained in your sword strikes today truly tantalizes my heart."
A faint smile appeared on Qin Yu's brow. "Okay, okay, no problem." Chi Huaping left happily. As soon as Qin Yu sat down again, the noise around them quietly subsided, and a spontaneous tranquility arose.
Qin Yu sensed something and looked up. A solitary figure was slowly approaching from the dimly lit area— Chi Tongyue.
She wasn't wearing the grand ceremonial attire or adorned with elaborate ornaments today; instead, she wore a simple robe, completely concealing the Eternal Silence Realm · Supreme within her body. Yet, with each step she took, the surrounding clamor naturally receded and subsided, exuding an aura of cool detachment.
Chi Tongyue had already walked to the front of the table, quietly holding a cup of sake in her hand. Their eyes met briefly, clear and bright. Chi Tongyue spoke first, her voice soft and gentle. "Congratulations." With just two words, the corners of her lips curved slightly, and a gentle warmth spread across her usually calm eyes.
"First place." Qin Yu raised his eyes, lifted his glass, and calmly replied, "Thank you."
Chi Tongyue didn't drink immediately. She glanced at the jubilant clansmen around her, then looked at the replaying battle screen in the sky. After a moment of silence, she turned her gaze back to Qin Yu. "Do you know what this first place means to the Chi Lineage today?"
Qin Yu did not answer rashly, but listened quietly to what she had to say.
Chi Tongyue said softly, "For hundreds of years, no outside cultivator has ever been able to stand on the final stage for my Chi Lineage. When the clan invited you to participate, most people only hoped that you could hold your ground, defend for a few more rounds, and preserve the honor of the Chi Lineage."
A faint, relieved smile appeared in her eyes. "It was your winning streak against all odds that repeatedly shattered and elevated everyone's expectations." "Even today."
Her gaze swept across the brightly lit and bustling Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace, her words sincere. "The entire Chi Lineage rejoices because of your glory." She then looked at Qin Yu, her smile not enthusiastic, but utterly genuine. "So this toast is more than just congratulations."
Chi Tongyue slowly raised her glass, her posture upright and her heart sincere. "I thank you, Qin Yu. Thank you for agreeing to fight and standing up for the Chi Lineage; thank you for not abandoning us in dire straits and for protecting this hard-won first place."
Qin Yu's fingers, holding the cup, paused slightly. Nalan Yanqing's murmur resurfaced in his mind, and a faint doubt quietly arose, but he suppressed it all, keeping it hidden from his expression.
He slightly raised his cup, offering a toast to her from afar, his tone calm and composed. "Having made the promise to the Chi Lineage, I will naturally do my utmost to live up to their expectations." Chi Tongyue's smile softened further, and she nodded gently. "I believe you have always been this way." The two of them tilted their heads back at the same time and drank the clear wine in their cups.
The lights were blazing brightly, casting a dazzling glow throughout the room.
Above the sky, the ancient emblem of the Chi Lineage flowed slowly with the river of spiritual light, and the entire Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace was immersed in a grand celebration that was once only seen once in a century. In the distance, the disciples were excitedly discussing the amazing final sword strike, and the elders were debating the profound game between the two Ultimate paths. Chi Boqian, sitting in the main seat, smiled as he watched the magnificent scene unfold, chatting with the elders beside him, his smile lingering.
Qin Yu sat quietly amidst the bustling lights of the hall, watching Chi Ninghua, Chi Huaping, and Chi Tongyue leave one after another. The warmth and turmoil in his eyes slowly subsided, Return to One state of calm and indifference.
Before Shen Qingchen's words had even completely faded, he had already strode across the banquet hall from the other side of the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace. "Hahahaha! Brother Yu! Brother Yu--!"
Even from several meters away, his barely suppressed excitement carried over, drawing the attention of the young members of the Chi Lineage at nearby tables. Shen Qingchen was clearly genuinely happy today, striding quickly and confidently, holding a freshly filled wine cup in his hand. His smile was clearly visible from afar. When he reached Qin Yu,
Even disregarding the presence of many Chi Lineage, he raised his free hand and slapped Qin Yu's shoulder hard. However, just as his hand was about to land, he suddenly remembered the injury to Qin Yu's Fate Soul essence, so he reduced the force of his movement and simply placed his hand lightly on Qin Yu's shoulder.
"Hahaha, Brother Yu, you're amazing!" Shen Qingchen pulled out the seat next to him and sat down, his face full of excitement, his eyebrows almost raised.
"We watched your battle against Hua Jingmeng in the clan's Shadow Soul Mirror, and it was truly an absolutely spectacular sight! Especially the last part; I didn't even drink any wine then, and I didn't dare blink. Hua Jingmeng even took out that banner, and I was wondering just how much this guy was hiding, but then your final sword strike—"
Shen Qingchen, caught up in his excitement, raised his hand and slashed fiercely in front of him. "The entire Shadow Soul Mirror was so brightly illuminated by the sword light that you couldn't see anything! All those Chi Lineage disciples next to me stood up one by one. Let me tell you, the scene..."
Before he could finish speaking, he burst into laughter, and Su Qingyuan followed slowly behind.
Compared to Shen Qingchen's undisguised excitement, she appeared much quieter, but the joy in her bright eyes was equally undisguised. She approached Qin Yu and first carefully examined his expression.
Once she confirmed that his breathing had stabilized considerably, the lingering worry between her brows completely vanished. She sat down on the other side, a faint smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling, her expression sincere and solemn.
"Young Master Qin," I said, "After witnessing this battle today, I truly realize that your strength has already surpassed the two of us by such a great distance."
She spoke frankly, without any jealousy arising from the increasingly obvious gap in their cultivation levels; the admiration in her eyes was pure and genuine.
"When I traveled with you before, I knew you had many tricks up your sleeve and that you could never be judged by appearances. But seeing you fight Hua Jingmeng head-on today, I realize that I underestimated you before."
Shen Qingchen immediately chimed in, "It's not just low, it's ridiculously low!" Su Qingyuan turned and glanced at him. "Can you let me finish what I'm saying?" "Okay, okay, go ahead."
Shen Qingchen immediately raised his glass and shut up, but his wide grin showed no sign of quieting down. Su Qingyuan shook her head helplessly and looked at Qin Yu again.
"You won first place for the Chi Lineage this time, and you went through such a dangerous battle. The most important thing is that you came back safely." She raised her cup.
"Young Master Qin, congratulations." Qin Yu looked at the two people in front of him. The slight politeness and restraint he had shown when facing the elders of the Chi Lineage completely disappeared, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his lips. "Alright, when did you two learn this kind of thing?"
He reached for the wine jug and poured himself a full glass. "Come, come, come!" "Drink, drink!" Shen Qingchen's eyes lit up. "That's more like it!" The three wine cups clinked together on the table. "Cheers!"
As the wine went down his throat, Shen Qingchen let out a long, satisfying breath, and then refilled the cups of the three of them. Su Qingyuan initially advised him to slow down, but after a few drinks, she simply stopped being so reserved. The three of them sat around a table, drinking and talking about the various events that had taken place in the day's martial arts competition.
When Shen Qingchen recounted how he nearly crushed his cup when he saw Hua Jingmeng take out the Vast Sea Dao-Burying Sword through the Shadow Soul Mirror, Su Qingyuan mentioned that the entire viewing area Life Silence Return to the Ruins silent when Qin Yu was truly and severely injured for the first time by Mingji Guixu. Qin Yu listened to the two of them recounting the off-screen events he hadn't witnessed, occasionally responding with a smile and sometimes taking a hearty drink.
There was no murderous intent like in a martial arts contest, no urgency like in a battle for supremacy, only old friends gathered together, the room brightly lit, and the three of them drank to their hearts' content. Time passed slowly amidst the lively atmosphere.
As the night deepened beyond the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace, the magnificent celebratory light that had initially enveloped the entire Chi Family Lineage territory gradually subsided. People were still raising their glasses and conversing among the millions of banquet tables, but it was no longer as boisterous as it had been at the beginning. Some of the younger clansmen took their leave first, and the elders of the various branches also left their seats one after another.
The enormous light screen high in the sky, which recorded today's battle, slowly dimmed, finally settling on the image of Qin Yu standing in the center of the arena after his victory, before dissipating into countless tiny sparks of light.
The banquet was drawing to a close. Qin Yu had just put down his cup when he saw Chi Boqian step down from the main seat. This time, he was not accompanied by any elders.