With a clang, the sword light by the river suddenly disappeared, and a flying sword returned to its sheath.
Chen Changsheng and Zhexiu looked over and saw that the one who had attacked was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in hemp garments. His eyes were deep and spirited, and there was a young Daoist at his side, most likely his companion.
The several hundred cultivators that had entered the Garden of Zhou had all entered Ethereal Opening. Most of them were the core strength of the various academies and sects. There weren't many people who could tell their age at a glance. In Chen Changsheng's opinion, if they weren't loose cultivators, then they should have come from some small sect.
His thoughts were correct. This middle-aged cultivator was called Fu Qiansong, and he was a cultivator from a place in the south called the Clear Void Monastery. He was even the monastery master of the Clear Void Monastery, and his cultivation was already at the middle level of Ethereal Opening. In places like the Li Palace or the Longevity Sect, he might not be special, but in ordinary sects, he was already an incredible expert. The young man was his eldest disciple, and he had just entered Ethereal Opening.
Seeing Chen Changsheng and Zhexiu suddenly appear, the young Daoist from the Clear Void Monastery immediately became nervous. His right hand slightly trembled, as if he was ready to summon his flying sword at any time.
The middle-aged cultivator immediately recognized Chen Chang Sheng's identity and raised his hand to stop the disciple. He then bowed to Chen Chang Sheng and said, "Greetings, Principal Chen."
The Clear Void Monastery was a small and unknown sect that belonged to the Orthodoxy. According to the rules of the Garden of Zhou, this middle-aged cultivator had no qualms about attacking a disciple of Holy Maiden Peak. However, when facing Chen Changsheng, he became respectful. After all, he still had to live outside the Garden of Zhou, so how could he dare to be rude to Chen Changsheng?
After hearing the middle-aged cultivator's self-introduction, Chen Chang Sheng finally understood what had happened. Looking at the damaged magical artifact in the cultivator's hand, he thought to himself, it's said that all the treasures and legacies in the Garden of Zhou have already been discovered, so why were these two girls from Holy Maiden Peak able to find them so easily?
"That was a magical artifact that the seniors of my Gentle Stream Monastery found in the Garden of Zhou eighty years ago. However, they left in a hurry and did not have the time to take it with them, so they hid it under a tree by the river."
Ye Xiaolian angrily looked at the middle-aged cultivator and said, "This is something that belongs to my family, yet you actually dare to sneak attack and steal it. Do you have any shame?"
The middle-aged cultivator's expression was slightly awkward. He was more than fifty years old this year, and had been in the Ethereal Opening Realm for many years. If he had to use a sneak attack on two young girls who had just entered the Ethereal Opening Realm not too long ago, it would not be good for his reputation.
As a branch of the Orthodoxy, the Clear Void Monastery was not afraid of the retaliation of the South, even if it was the legendary Holy Maiden Peak. This was because the rules of the Garden of Zhou were set down by the Saints. Since they had already shed all pretense of cordiality, it was only natural that the other side should withdraw from the Garden of Zhou as soon as possible. However, with the appearance of Chen Changsheng and Zhexiu, he could only withdraw his sword.
Eighty years ago, the senior Daoist nun of Gentle Stream Monastery entered the Garden of Zhou to explore its mysteries. She found a damaged magical artifact, but for some reason, she did not take it with her, and instead hid it under a tree. After she left the garden, she told this secret to her disciples, so that they could enter the Garden of Zhou and retrieve it. It was easy to imagine that behind this ancient story, there were definitely many secrets that were hidden, and it even made people sigh with sorrow.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at the injured girl from the Holy Maiden Peak and asked, "Senior Tong, are you alright?"
Similar to the Longevity Sect, the Holy Maiden Peak also governed many sects and monasteries. For example, Ye Xiaolian was from Gentle Stream Monastery. The girl's talent for cultivation was rather good, and perhaps next year, she would be able to enter the South Stream Temple. The South Stream Temple did not have the rumored distinction between the inner and outer sects. It was only because Xu You Rong was appointed as the next Holy Maiden of the south that she was a little special. According to the order of entry, Xu You Rong should have called this girl surnamed Tong "Senior". For some reason, Chen Chang Sheng very naturally called her "Senior" from the Mausoleum of Books all the way here.
That Senior Tong stood up with Ye Xiaolian's support. The fingers that held her left shoulder were dripping with blood, and her face was somewhat pale. She shook her head and said, "It should be fine."
Within the Mausoleum of Books, she was able to view the monoliths and comprehend and break through to Ethereal Opening in a month's time. Her talent for cultivation could be said to be very outstanding. For Ye Xiaolian to also break through to Ethereal Opening was due to her good luck. However, the most important reason was the Starlight that Chen Chang Sheng had attracted that night.
The examinees of this year's Grand Examination were all very clear on this point. Therefore, disciples from Star Seizer Academy, Li Palace College and Temple Seminary were jealous of Chen Chang Sheng and were also somewhat grateful. As for these two female disciples from the Holy Maiden Peak and the disciples from the other sects of the south, their feelings towards Chen Chang Sheng were much more complex.
No one from the south liked Chen Chang Sheng, but they had to accept his favour.
Ye Xiaolian was only a little girl. Her way of thinking was much more childish and direct. Initially, when she had humiliated Chen Chang Sheng on the divine avenue, her attitude had gradually changed. After that night in the Mausoleum of Books, there was only reverence and gratitude. Now, looking at Chen Chang Sheng's back, she felt much more at ease, as if she had found someone to rely on.
She supported her senior and stood behind Chen Chang Sheng, staring at the master and disciple from Clear Void Monastery.
The middle-aged cultivator naturally didn't care about the anger in her eyes, he only cared about Chen Chang Sheng's attitude. He believed that with his cultivation at the middle stage of Ethereal Opening, no matter how talented Chen Chang Sheng was, even if the youth with the cold aura beside him was the legendary wolf cub, he still couldn't defeat him. However, as a member of a branch family of the Orthodoxy, how could he not fear Chen Chang Sheng's Li Palace background?
Taking advantage of the fact that Chen Chang Sheng hadn't had the time to say anything, he promptly said: "The Garden of Zhou is very large. Us two master and disciple still have to search for it. Principal Chen, we will take our leave."
Senior Tong looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said apologetically: "Finding treasures in the Garden of Zhou depends on one's own ability. I originally didn't have the face to ask for Senior Chen's help, but that magical artifact is the beloved possession of a senior from the temple. Before this journey, she had someone bring a message for us to help her take it back, so please …"
Her words stopped here, because she also felt that this request was somewhat unreasonable.
Chen Chang Sheng really didn't know what to do. The master and disciple from the Clear Void Monastery had launched a sneak attack to steal the object, naturally it couldn't be considered honorable, but the rules of the Garden of Zhou were as such. Moreover, they were a member of the Orthodoxy and didn't lack the slightest bit of etiquette towards him. On the contrary, although he had an engagement with Xu You Rong, he had no relationship with Holy Maiden Peak. North and South had always been different paths, how could he help the southerners move against the northerners?
This was the first time he had encountered such a troublesome multiple choice question.
He only felt that the Saints who had laid down these rules for the Garden of Zhou were truly loathsome.
At this moment, an extremely austere sword intent came from the distant mountain forest.
The expression of the middle-aged cultivator changed slightly. He clasped his hands towards Chen Chang Sheng and prepared to leave with his disciple.
Senior Tong sighed lightly, but didn't say anything. Ye Xiao Lian, on the other hand, stared at Chen Chang Sheng with wide eyes, as if she didn't understand why he would let them leave just like that. She thought to herself, you're the son-in-law of Holy Maiden Peak, but she completely didn't realize that by thinking this way, Chen Chang Sheng had already replaced Qiu Shan Jun's previously seemingly irreplaceable position in her heart.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at the master and disciple who were wading across the river, and finally made a decision.
Yet, at this moment, the leaves lightly swayed and Zhuang Huan Yu appeared on the riverbank.
He looked at Chen Chang Sheng, his expression cold and indifferent. He didn't say anything, but his meaning was very clear.
He would see what Chen Chang Sheng would do.
… …
… …
(Thank you, everyone. I'm going to drink. I'll drink less. My body really isn't as good as it was in the past, but life still needs to find joy.)
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