Spiritual energy lingered in the air over Juling Terrace.
Ye Chen sat on a meditation cushion, with Lin Yueqi positioned between him and Xiaoxiao.
It was a perfect distance, neither too distant nor overly intimate.
Xiaoxiao didn’t seem to mind.
With a slight smile, she took out a set of exquisite items from her storage bracelet.
A small purple jade square table landed steadily on the grass between the three of them.
This was followed by warm white porcelain tea sets, a small red clay stove, and a jar of clear spring water sealed with spiritual energy.
Her movements were gentle and focused.
She lit the stove, warmed the tea cups, and poured the spring water into the pot, creating a pleasant sound.
When the boiling water hit the pot containing the tender green tea leaves, a fragrance of tea mixed with the inherent spiritual energy of the leaves immediately filled the air.
Ye Chen watched quietly.
Lin Yueqi was somewhat surprised.
This tea was the “Cloud Top Snowy Tip,” unique to Heavenly Sword Peak.
It had to be picked during the first ray of purple light at dawn and was extremely precious.
As for the water, it was the “Rootless Water” drawn from the source of the spiritual vein behind the mountain, tasting crisp and sweet.
‘The Master really favors Xiaoxiao…’
Xiaoxiao poured a cup for him, then for Lin Yueqi, and finally for herself.
Holding the teacup with both hands, she offered it to Ye Chen, her eyes shining even brighter than the tea in the cup.
“Young Master, please try some.”
Ye Chen took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm porcelain wall.
He took a shallow sip.
The tea was slightly bitter at first but quickly turned into a sweet aftertaste, sending a surge of pure spiritual energy down his throat and into his limbs.
He nodded. “Not bad.”
Receiving this simple compliment, the corners of Xiaoxiao’s mouth rose uncontrollably.
Her genuine joy was pure and without any pretense.
Watching from the side, Lin Yueqi nodded inwardly.
This scene was warm and natural, perfectly showcasing Xiaoxiao’s careful and considerate side without appearing overly clingy.
This was the “Life-sense Penetration Strategy” she had planned.
Ye Chen’s reaction remained calm.
He was simply tasting the tea as if it were an ordinary morning.
He noticed the rare calm and focus Xiaoxiao showed while brewing the tea, and he approved of it.
Being able to calm one’s mind to do one thing, no matter what it was, was a form of progress in one’s mental state.
However, this brief moment of tranquility appeared quite differently in the eyes of others.
***
On a cushion not far away, Wei Zhao from Zixia Peak sat upright, his jade fan swaying slightly from time to time.
His gaze, however, intentionally or unintentionally fell on Lin Yueqi.
When he saw Lin Yueqi chatting happily with Ye Chen, an unusual feeling crossed his heart.
Wei Zhao was somewhat famous within the sect and considered himself a gentleman.
His admiration for Lin Yueqi had never involved any inappropriate methods; he simply observed her silently, waiting for the right opportunity.
He knew that while Lin Yueqi had a lively personality, she didn’t have many friends, especially male ones.
‘That man named Ye Chen… he seems to be a sword dao genius in the inner sect.’
Wei Zhao was somewhat puzzled.
Junior Sister Lin had always admired those with real talent.
Why would a disciple who had just been promoted to Heavenly Sword Peak have a connection with her?
However, looking at the behavior of the three, Ye Chen and Xiaoxiao were quite close, while he seemed somewhat distant from Lin Yueqi.
Thus, he didn’t feel jealous. Instead, he felt this was an opportunity to make a connection.
If he could become friends with this person, perhaps he could learn more about Lin Yueqi’s daily preferences.
He closed his jade fan and was about to find a suitable moment to approach them when he saw another figure stand up even faster.
***
Gu Chen felt as if his internal organs were being corroded by the acid of jealousy.
He stared fixedly at the scene nearby.
Xiaoxiao… the girl who had once been as cold as frost in front of him, refusing to give him even a single extra glance, was currently smiling at another man.
It wasn’t a polite or distant smile, but one from the bottom of her heart, radiant and sweet.
She was even brewing tea for him personally.
The focused expression on her face was a tenderness Gu Chen had never seen.
One year ago, on this very Juling Terrace and in front of dozens of fellow disciples, he had held the rare “One Heart Grass” he had searched months for and confessed his feelings to her.
He still clearly remembered her gaze at that time.
It was a look mixed with annoyance, confusion, and extreme coldness, as if she were looking at a bothersome ant that had suddenly appeared.
“Don’t bother me.”
She had only said those four words before turning to leave, leaving him alone to freeze in place like a clown amidst the laughter and sympathetic gazes of the crowd.
Since then, he had been devastated, neglecting his cultivation and drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day.
If his Senior Brother hadn’t dragged him out of the wine jars and scolded him severely, the Disciplinary Hall would have likely stripped him of his cultivation by now.
Today, his Senior Brother had brought him here, saying he wanted him to see how true geniuses discussed the Dao so he would put away his unrealistic romantic feelings.
But what did he see?
He saw the girl of his dreams giving all the tenderness he craved to another man.
‘On what grounds?’
A fire mixed with resentment, anger, and heartbreak burned fiercely in his chest.
‘I accept that Junior Sister Xiaoxiao looks down on me. But this man, this Ye Chen… why does he deserve her favor? Is he worthy?’
‘I have to see for myself!’
Gu Chen took a deep breath, suppressed the bitterness in his heart, and stood up.
He walked toward the three of them step by step.
With every step, the fire in his heart grew stronger, but he forced a smile onto his face that he thought looked cheerful enough.
His approach immediately broke the peace of that small world.
“This must be Junior Brother Ye Chen, right?”
Gu Chen stopped at the table, his eyes sharply scrutinizing Ye Chen.
“I am Gu Chen of Heavenly Sword Peak. I have heard much of your great name.”
Ye Chen looked up at the young man with a complex expression and nodded calmly.
“Is there something?”
“Haha, Junior Brother is a man of few words.”
Gu Chen gave a dry laugh, his gaze sweeping over the tea set on the table before landing back on Ye Chen.
“A few years ago, Junior Brother left a legend by the Inquiry Lake. I, despite my lack of talent, am also quite obsessed with it. Meeting you today makes my heart itch with anticipation. I wonder… if I might have the honor of asking for some guidance?”
His words were sounding grand and dignified, lowering his status by using the term “asking for guidance.”
But anyone present could hear that this was a blatant challenge.
“What are you doing here again?”
A cold voice rang out.
It was Xiaoxiao.
She didn’t even stand up.
She simply raised her eyes, and those orbs that had been full of smiles were now filled with frost.
That coldness that kept people a thousand miles away was identical to the version in Gu Chen’s memory from one year ago.
“Is this any of your business? Get lost.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone of command.
Gu Chen’s face turned pale instantly.
It felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer, making it almost impossible to breathe.
However, just as Xiaoxiao was about to take things further and release her aura to drive this nuisance away, a divine sense transmission echoed in her mind.
‘Xiaoxiao, don’t move. Let him do it.’
It was Lin Yueqi’s voice, calm and flat.
‘Why should I?’ Xiaoxiao immediately retorted through her divine sense.
‘Let him do it. Let the Young Master deal with him personally,’ Lin Yueqi’s voice sounded again. ‘The effect will be ten thousand times better than you driving him away. Trust me.’
Xiaoxiao’s chest rose and fell sharply.
She glanced at the calm Ye Chen and then at Lin Yueqi, who was signaling her with her eyes.
Finally, she suppressed the anger caused by the person she despised.
She simply snorted, turned her head away, and didn’t look at Gu Chen again.
Ye Chen took everything in.
He could naturally sense the undisguised hostility from Gu Chen and the fact that the man kept glancing at Xiaoxiao.
This person was likely one of Xiaoxiao’s many pursuers.
Unable to succeed in his pursuit, he had transferred his resentment to Ye Chen.
And his excuse for the challenge was Ye Chen’s reputation at “Inquiry Lake.”
This was normal.
Young cultivators were full of vigor; fighting over jealousy was common.
As for Xiaoxiao’s reaction, although it was a bit extreme, she at least hadn’t moved to drive him away.
This was a good opportunity to observe how she handled interpersonal relationships.
As for this challenge…
Ye Chen’s thoughts stirred slightly.
He had just entered the Golden Core Realm and needed an opponent to test his control over spiritual energy.
A personal disciple from one of the seventy-two main peaks of the Zixiao Sword Sect would be a qualified touchstone.
Thus, he set down his teacup, stood up, and looked at Gu Chen calmly.
“Fine.”
As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere on the entire Juling Terrace instantly froze.
Everyone’s divine senses were frantically communicating.
“They’re going to fight! They’re really going to fight!”
“What is Senior Brother Gu Chen doing? Wasn’t he brought here by his Senior Brother to reflect?”
“You still don’t get it? He’s trapped by love! That Ye Chen is the one Junior Sister Xiaoxiao brought with her.”
“A good show is coming! One is a long-established personal disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak, and the other is a rising dark horse from the inner sect. This is much more interesting than some Dao discussion!”
The crowd instinctively backed away, consciously clearing a large space in the center of the terrace for the two who were about to clash.
Seeing Ye Chen accept the challenge, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in Gu Chen’s eyes.
He wanted Junior Sister Xiaoxiao to see clearly that this pretty boy was nothing more than a hollow shell!
He drew the long sword from his back.
The blade reflected a chilling light under the sun.
He released his Level 1 Golden Core Realm aura without reservation, his sword intent pointing directly at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen remained empty-handed, standing there quietly like a towering mountain.
The tension was at a breaking point.
Just then, a voice as gentle as a spring breeze drifted from the nearby entrance, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.
“Using a Golden Core Realm cultivation to challenge a fellow Daoist who has just broken through seems a bit inappropriate.”
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Instantly, the entire Juling Terrace fell into a dead silence.
At the entrance of the mountain path shrouded in mist, a beautiful figure was walking slowly toward them.
She wore a red and white long dress with special cloud patterns embroidered on the hem.
As she moved, it looked as if moonlight were flowing across the fabric.
Her long black hair flowed like a waterfall, tied back with only a simple jade hairpin.
Her features were so beautiful they didn’t seem to belong to the mortal world—pure, elegant, and detached.
Her appearance seemed to steal all the light in the world.
Every disciple present, regardless of gender or which peak they belonged to, instinctively held their breath the moment they saw her.
Their faces showed expressions mixed with awe, worship, and infatuation.
The newcomer was the Saintess of the Zixiao Sword Sect—An Yao.
She didn’t look at anyone else.
From the moment she appeared, her clear eyes remained fixed on only one person.
They were fixed on the green-robed man standing calmly in the center of the field.
Under everyone’s gaze, the corners of An Yao’s mouth curled into a smile.
She spoke softly to Ye Chen.
“How about I spar with him instead?”