Chapter 715 - 285: Challenge

’An expert from Black Dragon Island?’

’The Covered Race?’

’The sole descendant?’

He immediately recalled what his master, Luo Zhixian, had mentioned during their conversation after returning from Black Profound Island—Sect Leader Jiang Lishan had long ago reached some kind of agreement with the Black Dragon Island Master, Mo Yuan.

"Sending" them—the ones who had annihilated the Demon Sect’s stronghold on Black Profound Island—to Black Dragon Island was both a form of protection and a gesture to ease relations with Black Dragon Island.

’Could it be... that releasing Wu Sanyuan was part of the Sect Leader’s agreement with Black Dragon Island?’

Chen Qing’s thoughts raced.

The three major powers of the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands seemed united, but internally, they were far from a monolithic bloc.

The Sect Leader’s move to release Wu Sanyuan might have other purposes.

First, it fulfilled her promise to Mo Yuan, deepening the connection with Black Dragon Island.

Second, Wu Sanyuan was the last descendant of the Covered Race and exceptionally powerful. Once he returned to Black Dragon Island, he would inevitably bolster its strength. This could subtly alter the balance between the three major powers of the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands, which would naturally benefit the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, who was not on good terms with Yanzi Dock and the Celestial Star Alliance.

’A Heaven-Supporting Powerhouse... To be imprisoned on the Third Layer of the Black Water Abyss Prison, his strength must be absolutely extraordinary. He’s likely an extremely powerful existence even within the True Essence Realm.’

Chen Qing thought to himself. For the next few days, he continued to assist Master of the Seven Sufferings in guarding the first and second layers of the Black Water Abyss Prison.

Perhaps the recent turmoil had exhausted its accumulated energy, as the Evil Qi in the prison soon returned to its usual level. Although it was still bone-chillingly cold, it no longer posed a significant threat.

After the repeated exertion, Master of the Seven Sufferings also looked somewhat weary.

Seeing this, Chen Qing knew there was no longer a major issue here and took his leave from Master of the Seven Sufferings.

In truth, when the Evil Qi in the Black Water Abyss Prison wasn’t erupting violently, the guard duty here was not particularly arduous.

With a high-ranking monk like Master of the Seven Sufferings presiding, along with the defenses of Prison Peak itself and the strict guards of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, it would be harder than ascending to the heavens for any prisoner to escape the Sect, even if they were lucky enough to break out of their cell.

As Chen Qing walked out from Prison Peak, about to return to True Martial Peak, he saw a tall figure standing with his hands clasped behind his back at a bend in the mountain path ahead. He seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

The man was dressed in the attire of a Mystic Sun Lineage Core Disciple and faintly exuded a scorching, sharp aura. It was none other than Zhang Baicheng, ranked eighth among the True Inheritance disciples.

Chen Qing’s heart stirred, but his expression remained impassive. He took a few steps forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Zhang! What a coincidence."

Zhang Baicheng turned around, a smile appearing on his face as he shook his head. "Not a coincidence. I came looking for you."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, a faint smile also appeared on Chen Qing’s face, but his mind was already racing.

Zhang Baicheng was a True Inheritance disciple of the Mystic Sun Lineage, and the relationship between the Mystic Sun Lineage and the True Martial Lineage had always been delicate, hardly what one would call amicable.

He remembered his Brother Qu River once mentioning that he had many private disagreements with Luo Chengxuan of the Mystic Sun Lineage, and the resentment between them ran deep.

For Zhang Baicheng to be waiting for him here specifically, it was definitely not for a casual chat.

"The rumors Within the Sect have always said that Junior Brother Chen is a genius in Spear Technique. Even Elder Luo made an exception to take you as a Named Disciple. As someone obsessed with the Spear Path, I have always been very curious about this." Zhang Baicheng took a deep breath, his gaze burning as he looked at Chen Qing.

Ever since the news spread that Chen Qing had been accepted as a disciple by Luo Zhixian, his reputation Within the Sect had soared.

What kind of person was Luo Zhixian?

The Master of Ten Thousand Laws Peak, a Spear Path Grandmaster, of an extremely high generation, and his standards were notoriously demanding.

In the eyes of many, the fact that he saw potential in Chen Qing was in itself the highest recognition of Chen Qing’s talent in the Spear Path.

However, an indescribable emotion regarding this lingered in Zhang Baicheng’s heart.

He considered himself a genius of the Spear Path as well. He had cultivated the Mystic Sun Lineage’s Great Sun Heaven-Burning Spear to the Extreme Realm and even dabbled in other Unparalleled Spear Skills. His strength was formidable, and his name was renowned throughout the Sect.

In his younger days, he had also sincerely sought guidance from Luo Zhixian, only to be turned away at the door.

Now, Chen Qing, an up-and-coming talent who had joined the Sect later and was even younger, had won Luo Zhixian’s favor.

Although the strength Chen Qing had displayed when defeating Lu Chenming was impressive, Zhang Baicheng felt that he himself had not necessarily been much inferior at the same age.

"Besides,"

Zhang Baicheng suppressed his thoughts and continued, "Didn’t we say back at the Moon Embracing Pavilion that we could discuss and spar with our Spear Techniques when we had the time?"

He paused, a confident smile on his face, and added, "Junior Brother, you haven’t reached the True Essence Realm yet. For fairness’s sake, I can refrain from using my True Essence Realm Cultivation during our spar. I could even... give you a one-hand advantage."

These words seemed generous, but in reality, they carried the pride and probing nature of an established genius.

He wanted to see just how skilled this genius, who had caught Elder Luo’s eye, truly was when stripped of his Cultivation advantage and judged solely on his Spear Technique Realm.

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing’s expression remained calm as he said coolly, "That won’t be necessary."

He could clearly sense the underlying meaning in Zhang Baicheng’s words.

He had never been interested in such pointless ego-driven contests.

Zhang Baicheng’s brow twitched slightly. He hadn’t expected Chen Qing to refuse so decisively.

’Could he be scared!?’

Chen Qing met his gaze and smiled faintly. "I appreciate your kind intentions, Brother Zhang, but I’ve just come from Prison Peak, and my Heart and Spirit are somewhat drained. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to give it my all if we were to spar right now. Why don’t we do it another day? When we are both fully prepared, we can find a quiet place to properly discuss the Spear Path. How does that sound?"

Zhang Baicheng stared at Chen Qing for a moment. The smile on his face faded somewhat as he regained a measure of his composure. "Since it is inconvenient for you today, Junior Brother, then we shall do as you say. I hope that when the time comes, Junior Brother Chen’s spear will not disappoint me."

With that, he said no more. He gave Chen Qing a slight nod and turned to leave.