Chapter 133: Senior Brother Asks a Shameless Question

Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Senior Brother Asks a Shameless Question

"Brother Xie, Qingxu Hall will humbly accept this pillar of light."

Nangong Ye staggered to his feet. Looking at Xie Xichen, who was still on the ground, he spoke with difficulty. He had won, but he had also lost.

"You’re a madman."

After Xie Xichen climbed to his feet, he glanced at Nangong Ye, then turned and left without hesitation. Nangong Ye likely wouldn’t be seen participating in the arenas again.

Nangong Ye didn’t answer. After using the last of his strength to throw his Token into the pillar of light, he passed out. But Nangong Ye didn’t fall; he was caught and held steady by a disciple from Qingxu Hall.

Although some had once complained that Nangong Ye hindered Qingxu Hall’s acquisition of the light pillars, his use of five nearly suicidal Celestial Thunder Techniques had earned him everyone’s respect.

He could have chosen not to fight so desperately, but he didn’t.

This was especially true for the Meridian Passage Realm cultivators from Qingxu Hall who hadn’t even dared to show their faces. They were completely convinced by Nangong Ye’s performance.

Unlike Nangong Ye, who was helped away, Xie Xichen walked slowly and alone toward the gathering area. The Inner Sect Disciples from Purple Cloud Valley who had come to investigate didn’t help him up. Instead, they just watched the scene quietly.

Sensing this, Xie Xichen shook his head helplessly. ’I should have expected this,’ he thought. ’Purple Cloud Valley has so many disciples, and many of them are eager to stand out. If I had won, I’d naturally be a hero. But since I lost, I’m just a failure.’

The fact that no one was openly mocking him was already a sign of their mercy.

"Senior Brother Xie, this is the Spiritual Cuisine you earned."

Yang Haichen was standing under some eaves. When he saw Xie Xichen, he quickly walked over and handed him a portion of Spiritual Cuisine. In that instant, several streams of Spiritual Sense shot over, locking onto the Spiritual Cuisine in Yang Haichen’s hand.

"Junior Brother, I lost."

Xie Xichen stared at Yang Haichen, stunned. He couldn’t believe Yang Haichen didn’t know he had lost. But it was precisely because he knew that Xie Xichen felt so astonished.

"Junior Brother Liu never said you only get it if you win."

Yang Haichen glanced at him, shoved the Spiritual Cuisine into his hands, then turned and yawned. It was late, and he was very tired.

Xie Xichen dazedly accepted the Spiritual Cuisine. He could feel several lines of Spiritual Sense locked onto him. He knew he himself wasn’t that captivating; what they wanted was the Spiritual Cuisine in his hands.

"Junior Brother Yang, if I remember correctly, your courtyard has a spare room. Might I stay there?"

Xie Xichen hurried to catch up to Yang Haichen. If he returned to his previous residence, those people would likely follow him. It was better to find a new place. Only in the presence of Liu Chen, the Second Grade Spirit Chef, would these people pretend to be dutiful senior brothers and sisters.

"It should be fine, but I’ll have to see what the other two think."

Yang Haichen thought for a moment and agreed. It seemed that this Senior Brother Xie, who had been basking in glory just a short while ago, would now be ridiculed wherever he went. At the very least, they could let him stay for a night and discuss a long-term arrangement tomorrow.

"Thank you, Junior Brother..."

Xie Xichen nodded and followed quietly behind Yang Haichen. Once he stepped into the courtyard, the Spiritual Senses that had been following him vanished.

"This room is empty for now. Whether Senior Brother Xie can stay long-term will depend on the opinions of the other two tomorrow."

Yang Haichen led Xie Xichen to the only empty room, gave a brief introduction, and then returned to his own room to cultivate.

Xie Xichen’s gaze fell upon another room—Liu Chen’s room. Although Yang Haichen had said the decision rested with the other two, the only one who could truly decide if he stayed or left was the Second Grade Spirit Chef.

Just as Xie Xichen’s gaze landed on his room, Liu Chen had just finished comprehending the Great Success stage of his Soul Control Technique. He was currently re-refining his Soul Slave, Nangong Mu.

A Soul Slave refined by the Soul Control Technique at the Great Success stage was indistinguishable from a living person. It wasn’t the type of Soul Slave that could only float around; it looked no different from a cultivator. At the Perfection stage, he might even be able to make the Soul Slave switch between corporeal and ethereal forms without using Spiritual Power.

After finishing the refinement of Nangong Mu, Liu Chen stored him in his Soul Ring. He swept his Spiritual Sense over Xie Xichen, who was enjoying the Spiritual Cuisine in his room. He didn’t even need to look to know that this senior brother had likely suffered a defeat tonight.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here in such a sorry state. However, Liu Chen wasn’t concerned about this. After confirming that the other party had no intention of directly probing the area, Liu Chen continued to practice his Soul Control Technique.

Besides the Soul Control Technique, the other Magic he had mastered was the Spirit Arrow Technique. There was simply no room to practice it inside the house. Liu Chen planned to save this Magic from the Black Feather Dynasty for last.

The time from midnight until breakfast preparation was two and a half hours. During this period, Liu Chen circulated his Cultivation Technique once, attempting to break through the final Yin Wei and Yangwei Meridians. The rest of the time, he practiced the Soul Control Technique.

[Soul Control Technique Proficiency +1500]

After the proficiency notification appeared, Liu Chen straightened himself up and walked out of his room.

Mornings in Fire Dragon Valley were not pleasant. The morning breeze, which should have been cool and refreshing, was tinged with scorching heat and carried the smell of a volcano.

Liu Chen sighed helplessly. Immediately after, the sound of doors opening was heard as three figures emerged from their rooms at the same time.

Seeing this, Liu Chen felt a sense of relief. ’Looks like I wasn’t the only one who didn’t sleep last night.’

"This is our first time meeting. Please forgive my intrusion, Junior Brother Liu."

Xie Xichen walked straight out. It was his first time seeing Liu Chen—or more accurately, the first time he could connect the name "Liu Chen" to the junior brother standing before him. Everyone in Purple Cloud Valley knew of Liu Chen and that he was a Second Grade Spirit Chef, but very few had actually seen him in person.

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences. You needn’t worry about it, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen glanced at the pillar of light belonging to Qingxu Hall on the second volcano before speaking slowly. He had his suspicions last night, but he hadn’t expected the victor to be a member of Qingxu Hall. Speaking of Qingxu Hall disciples, the only one he knew was Nangong Ye, and he had met him under a false identity. If they were to meet now, he’d have to pretend it was for the first time.

"That may be true, but how can I not care?"

Xie Xichen hadn’t slept at all. He didn’t even dare to step outside the courtyard, knowing without a doubt that rumors must be spreading like wildfire.

"By the way, Junior Brothers," Xie Xichen began, forcing himself to ask shamelessly, "may I live here?"

In the end, Xie Xichen didn’t let himself get bogged down by his defeat. Instead, he looked toward Liu Chen and Ren Xunchun, who was standing to the side.

Ren Xunchun looked at Xie Xichen, an Inner Sect Disciple whose fame and strength in Purple Cloud Valley far surpassed his own. ’This senior brother stood so high, and last night, he fell so hard,’ he thought. ’It really pays to keep a low profile.’

However, Ren Xunchun didn’t answer. He turned his gaze to Liu Chen. The true master of this courtyard was Liu Chen, the Second Grade Spirit Chef.

If that weren’t the case, this courtyard wouldn’t be so peaceful and undisturbed.

"Senior Brother, you jest. I was brought here by Senior Brother Yang myself. You should be asking him."

Liu Chen looked directly at Yang Haichen. He wasn’t a fool; he naturally knew that Yang Haichen and Ren Xunchun were waiting for his decision. But since he didn’t particularly care about the matter, there was no need to overstep his bounds.

Senior Brother Yang was the one who found and lived in this courtyard first.