"If you can also measure a Blue Qi Spiritual Root... or even better, a Purple Qi Spiritual Root Talent, then you can leave your name on this Spirit Measuring Pillar," Li Manlou said with a nod, pointing toward the pillar. Upon hearing this, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, was stunned. Leave my name on it?
Following Li Manlou's gaze, Chen Fei looked over. He hadn't noticed it before, but there seemed to be faintly glowing, tiny characters on the pillar, forming rows of inscriptions.
The most eye-catching was, without a doubt, the area at the very top. Four large characters shimmered there with a purplish-gold hue: Purple Qi Spiritual Root! Under the dazzling sunlight of Snow Peak Immortal Valley, the words exuded a heart-palpitating, solemn majesty.
And behind those four grand characters for "Purple Qi Spiritual Root," a single name stood like a king, serene and majestic at the very peak of the Spirit Measuring Pillar.
Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng!
"Wu-Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng!?" Upon seeing the name, Chen Fei's eyes immediately narrowed as his expression filled with astonishment. Could it be that this founder of the Wudang Sect, whom I've often seen on TV, actually exists? That he isn't fictional? And not only that, but this Zhang Sanfeng is so powerful, possessing the world-class talent of a Purple Qi Spiritual Root?!
"Zhang Sanfeng? I've met him..." At that moment, Zhen Jingkong suddenly interjected from within his sea of consciousness.
"Senior, you've met Master Zhang? What realm had he reached at that time?" Chen Fei asked.
This time, however, Zhen Jingkong did not answer, instead saying dismissively, "You'll find out when you go to the Inner Region. It's too early for you to know these things now."
Hearing this, Chen Fei pursed his lips and continued to examine the names on the Spirit Measuring Pillar. Just below the characters for "Purple Qi Spiritual Root" was "Blue Qi Spiritual Root!" The list of names after it was clearly much longer.
Liu Difeng!
Li Zicheng!
...
Sun Tianzheng!
A dozen or so names were densely packed after "Blue Qi Spiritual Root," etched upon the pillar's surface.
Some of the names seemed vaguely familiar. When the last name came into view, Chen Fei's eyes narrowed slightly. That name was none other than Sun! Tian! Zheng...
"Alright, go give it a try. If you can leave your name on this Spirit Measuring Pillar, your future path of cultivation will be much smoother," Li Manlou said again.
"Mhm." Chen Fei nodded slightly and added humbly, "However, it doesn't look easy to leave one's name on this pillar."
"Heh, it seems you do have some self-awareness." Just as Chen Fei's humble words fell, a faintly sinister, mocking voice suddenly interjected.
Li Manlou, Chen Fei, and Taoist Qingyue all frowned. Their gazes flickered as they looked in the direction of the voice. They saw Sun Tianzheng, who had nearly wet his pants in fear earlier. He had somehow followed them over and was now staring at Chen Fei with a mocking expression.
Standing in front of Sun Tianzheng was the wolf-headed Qi Refining Eighth Layer powerhouse from the Purple Flame Palace—Langye. Perhaps this was the source of Sun Tianzheng's confidence, the reason he dared to be so brazen and arrogant.
"Brother Langye, shouldn't you keep your people in line? You should know that I, Li Manlou, despise it when people gossip, especially right in front of my face!" Li Manlou's expression turned cold. Even if Sun Tianzheng possessed the talent of a Blue Qi Spiritual Root and was destined for extraordinary achievements, Li Manlou was still his senior. For him to be so presumptuous and mocking in his presence… did he think so little of him?!
At these words, Sun Tianzheng's face immediately filled with panic. Langye's expression darkened, but he quickly let out a sneer. He turned his head, his cold eyes sizing up Chen Fei before he scoffed at Li Manlou, "Heh, we of the Purple Flame Palace are merely curious about the boy's talent! What, are you, Li Manlou, planning to drive us away?"
"Drive you away? How would I dare?" Li Manlou snorted coldly again, his tone flat.
"Heh, Li Manlou, while this junior's combat power is indeed surprising, leaving one's name on the Spirit Measuring Pillar is no simple feat! Do you really think just anyone can possess a Blue Qi Spiritual Root? That's laughable."
Langye made no effort to conceal his voice, letting it spread through the area. At his words, the originally excited onlookers, like Taoist Qingyue, seemed to cool down a bit.
That was true. A Blue Qi Spiritual Root wasn't some common cabbage. How could one just appear out of nowhere? Wouldn't that make it cheap? Thinking about it that way, it did seem truly unlikely.
"That Master from the Purple Flame Palace has a point. Look at the Spirit Measuring Pillar. They say it's been standing for several hundred years, and only a dozen or so people have measured a Blue Qi Spiritual Root."
"That's right. Now that you mention it, a cultivation talent like a Blue Qi Spiritual Root isn't a common cabbage! How could someone just possess it so casually?"
"But… but… he's so young and was able to defeat two Innate Late Stage Peak powerhouses! How could an ordinary person do that!?"
"Heh, so what? I think you're missing the point. Strength and talent are two different things! Even if he's incredibly strong right now, who's to say his talent must also be monstrous?"
"But..."
Various whispers spread quietly, but following Langye's words, the tone of the crowd shifted to one of skepticism toward Chen Fei.
There were two reasons for this. First, a Blue Qi Spiritual Root was truly rare. The Spirit Measuring Pillar had stood in Immortal Ascension Valley for several hundred years, yet how many with such a talent had it found? Only a dozen or so! Wasn't that enough to prove its rarity? Only now were they calming down and thinking rationally. Second, most people are inherently envious and jealous. They simply couldn't stand seeing someone stronger or more talented than themselves.
So, with Langye leading the charge, all those ugly thoughts in their hearts burst forth. They all became armchair experts, passionately passing judgment. In short, none of them were optimistic about Chen Fei. A Blue Qi Spiritual Root was an incredibly powerful and rare talent. This young man didn't have an extra head or another pair of arms, so on what basis did he deserve it?!
And so, amid the growing whispers, Sun Tianzheng—who had initially been flustered but was now emboldened by a signal from Langye—became arrogant once more. He lifted his chin high, his eyes sweeping over Chen Fei with contempt as he snorted disdainfully. "Hmph, seeing as you're so confident, why don't we make a bet? What do you say?"
"What's the bet?" Chen Fei stared at him coldly, a strange stirring coming from the drop of mysterious Golden Blood in his sea of consciousness.
"Let's bet on this: if you can leave your name on the Spirit Measuring Pillar today, then I, Sun Tianzheng, will kneel and kowtow three times to you in front of everyone and call you 'Daddy.' If you can't, it's simple. You'll do the same for me, only you'll call me 'Grandpa.' How about it? Got the spine for it? Do you dare?" Sun Tianzheng challenged, his face full of contempt. His words, however, made the expressions of everyone present change dramatically.
The loser would have to kneel, kowtow three times, and call the winner 'Daddy' or 'Grandpa'… They were playing for such high stakes!
Hearing this, Li Manlou's face instantly darkened. With a WHOOSH, the Silver Short Sword appeared above his head, buzzing as it circled. He fixed his gaze on the sneering Langye and said coldly, "Langye, it seems you're truly determined to cross me, Li Manlou, and my Exquisite Sect today."
As he spoke, he shot a cold glance at Sun Tianzheng, who was brimming with smug arrogance. The murderous glare instantly made Sun Tianzheng's face blanch, and he felt as if he'd been plunged into an icy abyss.
At this, Langye's sneer froze. He hesitated for a moment before stepping in front of Sun Tianzheng. His eyes first glared fiercely at Li Manlou, then, as if it were beneath him, he suddenly laughed with disdain. "We're just playing around. If you don't dare, then forget about it. Since that's the case, there's nothing interesting to see here. Let's go."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Langye turned and started to walk away without the slightest hesitation. Seeing this, the other members of the Purple Flame Palace were clearly stunned but quickly prepared to leave as well.
"Wait."
Just then, however, a cool, detached young voice suddenly echoed in everyone's ears.
When the voice rang out, everyone stared in astonishment before their gazes snapped toward Chen Fei.
The words that stopped the Purple Flame Palace from leaving had come from his mouth! Is he really going to take the bet? Or is he just being impulsive, letting their taunts get to his head? This is too rash!
Seeing this, Li Manlou also frowned slightly and was about to speak, but Langye's scornful sneer cut in first.
Langye stared at Chen Fei with a sinister smile, baring his fangs. "Kid, why did you stop us? Don't tell me you actually want to take our bet?"
"Heh, as if he has the courage! He's probably just bluffing to save face. Sir, let's not bother with him, let's go," Sun Tianzheng taunted from behind Langye, sneering contemptuously. He didn't take Chen Fei seriously in the slightest, certain that he would never dare to accept his bet.
Heh, leave a name on the Spirit Measuring Pillar? Who does he think he is? Does he really think he has the qualifications?