Chu Xingchen reached out and took the jade token, probing it with his divine sense. After a moment, he sighed softly and handed the token to Xu Jin, whose brows were tightly furrowed.
Seeing Chu Xingchen hand over the jade token without hesitation, Xu Jin exhaled lightly and reached out to take it.
Daoist Yuyang stood to the side, not speaking, quietly waiting.
Xu Jin quickly finished reading the contents of the jade token, then looked up at Chu Xingchen and said:
"You want to do this?"
He had finished reading the letter. At first, he had thought Cui Hao had encountered some great difficulty and had bypassed him to go directly to his master.
But that wasn't the case. It wasn't that Cui Hao had encountered a great difficulty—it was that he wanted to solve one.
If he really had to handle this matter himself, it would indeed be rather tricky.
Chu Xingchen gestured for Xu Jin to also hand the jade token to Daoist Yuyang to read, then spoke:
"Everyone knows I'm the most protective of my own. When one of my disciples makes a request, if I can handle it, naturally I should. Cui Hao may not look serious most of the time, but when it comes to important matters, he has never disappointed me."
"Besides, this is for a righteous cause. If I have even a fraction of strength to contribute, I'll give it."
Daoist Yuyang didn't stand on ceremony. He took the jade token, read through the message, and after a moment of contemplation, said:
"Pressuring Yunmeng Pavilion won't be easy, and it may not even be effective. If the Three Sects apply pressure together, it might trigger vigilance from other immortal sects."
Chu Xingchen nodded lightly in agreement, then shifted his tone and asked:
"Who is Yunmeng Pavilion's current core disciple?"
Xu Jin thought for a moment and said: "Yunmeng Pavilion only recently appointed their current core disciple. Her name is Zheng Zhaoling, at the Spirit Transformation realm."
"It's inconvenient for me to leave Tianyan Sect right now." Chu Xingchen lowered his gaze. "Invite her here in my name. If my name isn't enough, use Senior Bai's name to invite her to Tianyan Sect."
Daoist Yuyang roughly understood what Chu Xingchen was planning and asked:
"What reason?"
"If we're inviting someone, naturally we need to give them enough face." Chu Xingchen smiled lightly. "How about a Prodigy Gathering?"
Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled helplessly and said:
"So you're only inviting her? She may not want to take on such a hot potato."
Although some of the eighteen immortal sects hadn't yet confirmed their current core disciples, quite a few had. To invite only Zheng Zhaoling for a Prodigy Gathering out of so many—
Even though few people dared to question Chu Xingchen these days, Zheng Zhaoling would inevitably face scrutiny. On what grounds could she alone pressure everyone else to attend this Prodigy Gathering?
Chu Xingchen's eyes flickered slightly. "That's precisely why there's a gathering. Besides, if she doesn't have that kind of drive—if she doesn't dare to compete with the current generation of prodigies and has a weak disposition—then inviting her would be pointless anyway, and it would save us the trouble of making other plans."
Daoist Yuyang and Xu Jin both nodded in agreement.
That was indeed true. If she lacked that kind of spirit, even if invited, she probably wouldn't influence Yunmeng Pavilion much.
Xu Jin spoke: "Cui Hao is currently training under me, so I also bear responsibility. I can deliver the invitation personally."
"You're also a prodigy. If you deliver it personally, that wouldn't be enough face." Chu Xingchen took out a message token and began inscribing it as he spoke. "Besides, I don't want the brother I'm proud of running errands. I'll have a Tianyan Sect disciple handle it later. Simply inviting her is already giving her face."
Hearing this, Xu Jin felt warmth in his heart and nodded gently.
Chu Xingchen finished writing the message in the jade token, tapped it lightly with his finger, and the jade spirit darted away. Then he looked at the two of them, raised his head slightly, and his expression turned cold as he said:
"Brothers, it's time for us to properly show off our demeanor as prodigies."
Daoist Yuyang's lips curved into a smile, his noble aura fully on display.
Xu Jin's expression grew serious, his eyes turned emotionless, and his temperament gradually cooled, as if he had returned to the aloof immortal he once was.
Xie Lingyu stood to the side, her heart stirring very little.
Not long ago, these three had been caught red-handed trying to steal wine. Two of them sold out the third with a sob story, and at the door, the two smooth-talkers had even managed to coax the dumbfounded one into a good mood.
There was really no filter left. Trying to look cool wasn't going to work anymore.
Especially Chu Xingchen, who was shameless more often than not. Xie Lingyu usually had to coax him a couple of times.
Xie Lingyu watched the three of them already practicing their cool poses and shook her head helplessly.
Indeed, it was easy to learn bad habits and hard to learn good ones.
——————————
Three days later.
At the mountain array gate of Tianyan Sect.
A girl of about sixteen or seventeen, wearing a light blue armored dress with two short blades hanging at her waist, looked up at Tianyan Sect through the great array. Her expression was cold, her gaze sharp.
Behind her stood two Yunmeng Pavilion cultivators—one at the Integration realm and one at the Mahayana realm.
Without a doubt, this was the Yunmeng Pavilion current core disciple Xu Jin had spoken of—Zheng Zhaoling.
Zheng Zhaoling looked around, cupped her fists toward the two Yunmeng Pavilion cultivators, and said:
"Since I've arrived at Tianyan Sect, I won't trouble you both to accompany me to the meeting. Please rest for a while."
The Integration cultivator hesitated slightly before speaking: "Chu—"
Before he could finish, the Mahayana cultivator beside him raised a hand to stop him and continued:
"We've reached Tianyan Sect, so safety is naturally not a concern. The journey ahead is long. Experiencing things independently and seeing others' presence is also a good thing."
Hearing this, the Integration cultivator could only nod lightly in agreement.
Yunmeng Pavilion's presence among the eighteen immortal sects was on the weaker side.
Although they controlled a spirit vein and their strength was certainly not to be underestimated, they rarely displayed any power in Central Province. Besides directly governing Yunmeng Marsh in Northern Julu Continent, they controlled nothing else.
They also didn't usually participate in any lively events.
But then Chu Xingchen suddenly sent a jade token, displaying it right at the gates of Yunmeng Pavilion. The message was written quite passionately, and could be summarized as follows:
Throughout the world, there are many talented individuals. But looking across the realm, true prodigies are few. Besides Chu Xingchen, Xu Jin, and Daoist Yuyang, Chu Xingchen felt that only Zheng Zhaoling qualified. Therefore, for this Prodigy Gathering, only Zheng Zhaoling was invited.
The writing was passionate, but also extremely strange.
Zheng Zhaoling also followed Yunmeng Pavilion's introverted ways. She hadn't made many moves publicly, and there were core disciples with far greater reputations than hers.
Why had she been singled out for no apparent reason?
And it was done by posting a big notice right at the main gate, as if making sure everyone knew.
If she didn't respond, it would be equivalent to throwing away her reputation.
Zheng Zhaoling had been selected as Yunmeng Pavilion's current core disciple after countless rounds of selection and comparison. How could she not have a competitive spirit?
She also wanted to see for herself the presence of Chu Xingchen, who had already become a legend—capable of Enforcing Heaven's Law and known as the Heavenly Dao Man!
Whatever the matter was, she would know once she saw it!
Right or wrong, she would make her own judgment!
The Tianyan Sect disciple beside Zheng Zhaoling cupped his fists and said:
"Sect Granduncle Chu has already instructed us. Please follow me."
Zheng Zhaoling nodded gently.
The Tianyan Sect disciple led the way toward the Peak of One Big Happy Family.
They passed through a separate barrier.
The Tianyan Sect disciple brought Zheng Zhaoling to the front of a mountain gate and stopped, saying:
"This is the place."
Zheng Zhaoling nodded lightly and walked forward alone. Her gaze naturally lifted, and she naturally saw the plaque hanging above.
One Big Happy Family.
Zheng Zhaoling was slightly stunned at the sight.
This name… hung right at the main gate?
Wouldn't that be a bit awkward?
[
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