On Cang Province, mountain peaks rose one after another, presenting a scene of natural beauty, where an ancient Sect had stood for thousands of years.
Two figures walked along a path, heading towards the mountain peak before them.
One was a handsome youth with a tall and straight physique, exuding an otherworldly aura.
Beside him was a middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties, dressed in splendid robes. He looked at the young man beside him with a calm expression and a smile playing on his lips.
"Tianyi, it's been many years, and I didn't expect you to have already reached the Ning Yuan Realm Sixth Level. Junior Martial Uncle is truly amazed!" the middle-aged man said.
The youth's name was Ye Tianyi, and the place he was in was Cangyun Sect.
This Sect had seven main mountain peaks, with a Peak Master presiding over each.
The two of them were ascending Qingyun Peak, one of the seven mountain peaks.
Ye Tianyi was a Personal Disciple of Qingyun Peak.
At this moment, Ye Tianyi listened to the praise and shook his head, saying, "Junior Martial Uncle Lin Po, you flatter me. My Realm is nothing!"
"No need to be modest. Compared to you, my Personal Disciples are simply unbearable to look at. I truly envy your master for taking in Disciples like you. Qingyun Peak will be worry-free for a thousand years!"
Lin Po spoke, his tone filled with envy, without any flattery.
Upon hearing this, Ye Tianyi couldn't help but ask, "By the way, Junior Martial Uncle, when Master returned to the Sect ten years ago, he took in a Disciple. He said that this Junior Brother of mine is extraordinarily intelligent, incomparable to ordinary Geniuses, and that the entire Cang Province wouldn't produce someone like him in a hundred years. Is he truly as astonishing as Master said?"
"Who? Lu Changsheng?"
"Yes!"
Upon mentioning this name, Lin Po instinctively frowned, momentarily unsure how to respond.
He pondered for a long while before slowly speaking.
"I can't really comment on this. You should go interact with him yourself. However, one saying is very true!"
"What saying?"
"Let alone a hundred years in Cang Province, even five hundred years wouldn't produce such a person!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Tianyi showed curiosity and said, "It seems my Junior Brother is not simple!"
"He's truly not simple…"
"Is he currently in the Sect?" Ye Tianyi inquired.
"He's right there!"
Lin Po was startled, pointing to a spot not far away, beneath an old pine tree.
On a reclining chair, a youth in white robes lay leisurely, gently fanning himself with a folding fan, and slowly savoring a cup of clear tea.
His demeanor was exceptionally relaxed.
In front of him, several figures stood, each with a sack placed before them, gleaming in the sunlight—all white Spirit Stones.
"Senior Brother Changsheng, Cangyun City's monthly quota of Spirit Stones has been delivered. Would you like to check them?"
Someone spoke, a fawning smile on his Face.
Lu Changsheng took a sip of tea and unhurriedly said, "No need to check. I trust you all to handle things!"
Upon hearing this, the several people smiled.
Lu Changsheng continued, "However, there's something you all need to pay attention to!"
"What?"
"A few shops seem to have found new backing and haven't handed over their Spirit Stones for two months. This matter is entrusted to you all!"
"They truly have a death wish, daring to owe Senior Brother's Spirit Stones!"
"Bastards, I'll go burn down their shops tomorrow!"
One by one, they were filled with righteous indignation, denouncing on behalf of Lu Changsheng, clearly showing respect and protection for their Senior Brother.
Lu Changsheng waved his hand and said, "There's no need for that. I am soft-hearted and can't bear to see bloodshed. Just have them hand over the Spirit Stones within Three Heavens!"
"What if they don't hand them over?"
"If they don't hand them over, can't you take them yourselves? Don't you know what's valuable? Do I still need to teach you?" Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.
Everyone suddenly understood. Right, if others don't give, can't they just seize them? If they can't even do that, is their cultivation just for show?
However, these words fell into the ears of Ye Tianyi and Lin Po.
Lin Po was accustomed to it and showed no surprise, but black lines appeared on Ye Tianyi's forehead.
"Junior Martial Uncle, is he really that Junior Brother of mine?"
"Don't worry, he definitely is!"
"Don't worry…" Ye Tianyi's mouth twitched. What had he just heard?
They said he was exceptionally talented, rarely seen in a hundred years?
Others cultivated day and night, forgetting food and sleep, even the Senior Brother, who was a benchmark of Cangyun Sect, was like that.
Yet, this Junior Brother seemed to be living a life of retirement, sleeping, strolling, drinking tea, not reading scriptures or techniques, not thinking about important cultivation matters, and only cultivating occasionally when he had time…
And if that wasn't enough, he even incited this group of Inner Sect Disciples to act as accomplices, going to Cangyun City to collect Spirit Stones for him?
Lin Po saw this and comforted him, saying, "Nephew, you'll get used to it slowly!"
"Does he only do these kinds of things on a daily basis?" Ye Tianyi still held a glimmer of hope as he inquired.
Lin Po pondered for a moment and seriously replied, "Of course, he occasionally does other things!"
"What things?"
"For example, every month when Outer Sect Disciples receive Spirit Rice, he is always punctual, then carries two sacks. When Inner Sect Disciples receive Medicinal Pills, he also arrives very early, carrying a basket and leaving. When Personal Disciples receive Spirit Stones, he also collects them on behalf of your Senior Brother. And every half a month, he will definitely go to the Elders and say that Senior Brother needs Spirit Stones because he's at a critical point in his cultivation…"
Lin Po recounted Lu Changsheng's experiences, which had been the same for ten years, never missing a single time.
Listening to all this, Ye Tianyi's entire Face turned from black to red, and he couldn't help but say, "Didn't anyone stop him? Didn't Senior Brother care?"
"Indeed, I haven't seen anyone manage him. However, as a Personal Disciple, carrying two sacks of Spirit Rice is nothing. The Outer Sect Elders dare not refuse your Master's Face, and as for Medicinal Pills and such, the Sect can afford what he takes. As for Spirit Stones, perhaps your Senior Brother truly needs them, you never know!"
Lin Po comforted him.
Ye Tianyi's eyelids twitched wildly. He was an upright person, with a noble heart, and prided himself on the strict discipline of his Sect, yet such a talent emerged from his own mountain peak…
"Tianyi, don't take it to heart. Your Master isn't here, and they are busy Cultivating, so they neglected their guidance, which is why this happened. Now that you're back, you can slowly guide him from now on!" Lin Po advised.
Ye Tianyi nodded, determined to properly guide this Junior Brother.
Lin Po saw this and immediately said, "Changsheng!"
Hearing the call, the few people under the pine tree all turned their heads.
The others, upon seeing Lin Po, trembled and, scared, picked up their sacks and ran up the mountain.
Lu Changsheng, however, remained calm, slowly stood up, a smile on his Face.
"Junior Martial Uncle Lin, why are you on Qingyun Peak today? Are you looking for my Senior Brother?"
Lu Changsheng slowly walked towards them upon hearing this.
Ye Tianyi carefully scrutinized Lu Changsheng, but with surprise.
He saw a youth of seventeen or eighteen, with handsome features, dressed in white robes, eyebrows like sword blades, and eyes like stars—an indescribable ethereal and otherworldly presence.
But he truly couldn't imagine that such an astonishing person would be such a… talent.
Lin Po looked at him and couldn't help but say, "I just met your Second Senior Brother on my way back to the Sect and chatted with him along the way!"
"Second Senior Brother?" Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, looking at the youth beside him.
He had to admit, he had never met this Senior Brother before.
"Hurry up and greet your Second Senior Brother!"
Lin Po spoke. Ye Tianyi stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of arrogance in his posture, truly quite angered. He didn't look at him, wanting to establish his authority for easier guidance in the future.
However, Lu Changsheng grinned and slowly said, "Second Senior Brother, have you eaten?"
In an instant, Ye Tianyi froze, opening his mouth, but unable to utter a single word for a long time.
…