Chapter 699 - 279: Dubhe

He didn’t enter the bustling main hall like an ordinary disciple. Instead, he went around to a relatively quiet side hall at the back.

This place was exclusively for True Disciples and those of higher status, with dedicated stewards to assist them, making it more private.

Before long, a sharp-looking disciple with a capable air strode in and bowed respectfully. "Brother Chen, do you need to exchange for anything? You can give me the list, and we’ll retrieve the items for you. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself."

The privileges of a True Disciple were reflected in these small details.

Chen Qing took out the list he had prepared and handed it over. It contained part of Li Lao Deng’s list, about forty percent of the items.

The Steward Disciple accepted the list with both hands. As he glanced over it, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

The materials on the list were varied and eclectic. Some were quite obscure and rare; there were even a few he had only heard of but never seen with his own eyes.

However, he quickly composed himself and said respectfully, "Brother Chen, some of the items you require are quite rare. Please wait a moment while I go to the warehouse to retrieve and verify them."

"Thank you for your trouble," Chen Qing said calmly.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Steward Disciple returned. Following him were two Outer Disciples carrying a large, sealed, dark-wood chest.

"Brother Chen, of the materials on your list, this is what the hall’s treasury could provide."

The Steward Disciple handed back the list. "The total cost is twenty-one thousand, three hundred Contribution Points. Please review and confirm. If you’d like, we can deliver it to your residence."

"Then I’ll trouble you to do so!"

Chen Qing took the invoice, examined it carefully, and after confirming there were no errors, he handed over his Identity Jade Token.

The Steward Disciple skillfully performed a transaction, deducting the corresponding Contribution Points. The number on the Jade Token instantly dropped to just over seventeen thousand.

He had intentionally exchanged for only a portion of the items to avoid attracting too much attention.

If he had gathered all the items on Li Lao Deng’s list at once, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t arouse the suspicion of certain interested parties.

Besides, the seventeen thousand-plus Contribution Points he had left were more than enough to cover his daily cultivation expenses and any unforeseen situations.

Chen Qing walked along the mountain path back to True Martial Peak, flanked by ancient, towering trees shrouded in mist.

Just as his mind was racing, suddenly—

DONG~~~~

A deep, resonant toll, seeming to echo from ancient times, suddenly rang out, shaking the heavens and the earth!

The mighty sound of the bell spread like invisible ripples, instantly reaching across the Outer Twenty-Seven Peaks and even deep into the Inner Nine Peaks and the core area.

The toll carried a sense of vastness and solemnity.

"Hm?"

Chen Qing stopped in his tracks and snapped his head up.

The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s great warning bell was no small matter; it would never be rung lightly, only for the most major of events.

The last time he had heard this long toll was when he himself had become a True Disciple.

’Could it be that something major has happened again?’

Before the echoes of the bell had faded, the once-peaceful peaks were thrown into a commotion.

On mountain paths and in courtyards, countless disciples emerged, their faces filled with shock and doubt, questioning one another and breaking into discussion.

"What’s going on? Why did the Sect’s warning bell ring?"

"Or did something else major happen?"

"Look! It looks like a streak of light is flying toward the main peak!"

.....

Chen Qing quickened his pace and returned to his small courtyard.

As soon as he entered the gate, Qing Dai, who had been waiting for him, immediately came forward to greet him.

"Brother Chen, you’ve returned." Qing Dai curtsied in greeting.

Chen Qing gave a slight nod and asked, "Do you know why the bell rang just now?"

Qing Dai quickly replied, "Reporting to Brother Chen, shortly after the bell rang, news came from the Steward Hall. They said... the Cloud Water Upper Sect has sent an envoy to visit. The delegation is quite large, and it’s rumored they are all true masters. They’ve already been welcomed into the main hall on the primary peak."

"The Cloud Water Upper Sect? True masters?"

Hearing this, Chen Qing’s heart jolted.

Although the Cloud Water Upper Sect and the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect were both among the Six Great Upper Sects of Yan Country, they occupied different territories. Their relationship was not particularly close; they even had occasional friction over borders and resources.

For them to suddenly send a team of masters for a formal visit at such a delicate time...

Chen Qing’s eyes glinted. His thoughts instantly connected this visit to the recent trip to the Thousand Reefs Sea Region, the conflict with Yanzi Dock, his master Luo Zhixian’s mention of the Celestial Star Alliance, and Sect Leader Jiang Lishan’s recent order to open the Dubhe Pavilion.

’It seems the turmoil surrounding the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands is making everyone more nervous than I expected.’

Lost in thought, Chen Qing muttered to himself, "The Cloud Water Upper Sect controls the territory of four daos and has the most friction with the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands. Their visit must be related to recent developments. Could it be... the Sect’s upper echelons intend to form a temporary alliance with Cloud Water?"

.......