Yan Yun's gaze remained fixed on Chu Xingchen as she sent another voice transmission.
"What? Have you been studying the Tianyan Art too? Talking in circles isn't exactly your style."
Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly and continued his voice transmission.
"It's because I can't say. If I could go around telling people, you'd have already been wandering through her Divine Sea."
"My body is quite precious these days — I wouldn't dare take such risks."
Yan Yun's gaze shifted back to the two sparring cultivators. Since Chu Xingchen wasn't willing to say more, pressing further would be pointless.
If Senior Bai was willing to let Chu Xingchen examine her Divine Sea, then at the very least, it meant she trusted him.
That was enough. Anything beyond this was her master's concern, not hers.
After just a few glances, she determined that both fighters possessed the bearing of true geniuses.
Their divine techniques were composed and refined, their spiritual energy solid and flawless, their foundations rock-solid.
Both had clearly been tempered by real-world experience — every move they made against an opponent carried genuine purpose.
Even back when she was at the Nascent Soul realm, she couldn't have confidently said she'd beat either of them in a sparring match.
Truly, those with great fortune were like waves upon the sea — rising together, bound to meet eventually.
"Who do you think will win?" Chu Xingchen asked in a casual tone.
Yan Yun watched for a moment before answering. "Li Yingling."
Wang Lin's expression was solemn. He hardly dared to look directly at Yan Yun, who was chatting casually with Chu Xingchen.
Though he'd been in the inner sect for some time now, his status was only marginally better than that of an outer disciple. Within the peak, he was practically invisible.
Yan Yun, on the other hand, was the Tianyan Sect's current core disciple — almost certain to succeed as the next Sect Master.
By seniority, he'd have to call her Martial Granduncle as well.
Unlike Chu Xingchen, who was only a martial granduncle in name and required only token courtesy, Yan Yun was the genuine article.
Her authority within the Tianyan Sect was immense. Even the various peak masters spoke to her with utmost respect.
In terms of the deference she commanded, Yan Yun might even surpass the current Sect Master.
Yan Yun was a legend within the Tianyan Sect. Her path to becoming a core disciple had been forged through countless battles and eliminations before she was finally selected.
In an era where ability reigned supreme, ability alone could silence all doubt.
Wang Lin sometimes fancied himself extraordinary, but when he truly learned of the trials these powerhouses had overcome, all he could do was marvel.
To outsiders, they were inner sect disciples of the Tianyan Sect — endlessly glorious, the pride of the heavens.
But within the Tianyan Sect itself, they were just a slightly unremarkable part of the whole.
Facing Yan Yun in person made his heart race. By his rough estimate, he was only two or three meters away from her actual person.
It wasn't just him — his teammates behind him were nervous to the point of suffocation.
He didn't even need to turn around. The muffled, rapid breathing behind him was not what a normal Nascent Soul cultivator should produce.
Lost in thought for a moment, Wang Lin sensed movement and shifted his gaze.
He saw Chu Xingchen carrying a freshly brewed pot of tea from Chen Baiqing, walking toward their table.
Wang Lin quickly rose and cupped his hands, but before he could speak, Chu Xingchen gently pressed him back down.
"No need for so much formality. Strictly speaking, you lot are the hosts here."
Chu Xingchen smiled as he set the teapot on the table and took a seat beside Wang Lin.
"Have a taste."
Wang Lin was about to nod politely when he noticed Yan Yun's gaze turning their way. Suddenly, he didn't dare accept.
Chu Xingchen caught Wang Lin's expression and turned to look at Yan Yun.
"You're usually pretty fierce, aren't you?"
Yan Yun gave a light snort. "If I were truly fierce, you'd have been beaten by me more times than you can count back when we first met."
"That's fair." Chu Xingchen chuckled and gestured for Wang Lin and the others to sit.
"Relax, it's fine to be a bit more comfortable here. Yan Yun just looks cold on the outside — she's soft-hearted toward your kind. At the very least, anyone who makes core disciple has a generous spirit."
Wang Lin looked at Chu Xingchen's warm smile and nodded almost unconsciously.
With words like that, no wonder that evil-cultivator-looking Li Xingtian had meekly lowered his head and let Chu Xingchen examine him.
First he put them at ease with banter, then he offered reassurance.
Despite the gap in seniority and cultivation, there was no trace of oppression or intimidation in how he treated people.
Naturally, Wang Lin wasn't about to let Chu Xingchen pour his own tea. He also understood that Chu Xingchen's amiability wasn't something he could use as license to push his luck.
He quickly poured tea for Chu Xingchen first, then distributed cups to the rest of his team.
"I have to say, your Tianyan Sect really knows how to train its disciples." Chu Xingchen said with a smile. "My two disciples, who are sparring right now, also praised your sect's professionalism after they returned."
Yan Yun accepted the tea Chen Baiqing handed her and took a delicate sip.
"That still can't compare to your sect being packed wall-to-wall with geniuses."
As she spoke, her gaze drifted to Yun Li, who sat nearby sipping tea while attentively watching Li Yingling and Li Xingtian's spar.
"Even your snake is out of the ordinary."
Before Yun Li could respond, Cui Hao nodded vigorously in agreement and raised his cup.
"Truly worthy of being called Martial Granduncle Yan Yun — your eye for talent is remarkable!"
Yan Yun glanced at Cui Hao, who was probably the least gifted person in Chu Xingchen's sect, yet wore the expression of someone who had finally met someone who appreciated him.
She didn't say much. She simply raised her own cup and clinked it against his.
His talent might not be top-tier, but he had a real knack for handling affairs.
Few in this world ever cultivated to true immortality, yet everyone pursued it.
Knowing how to deal with people was an advantage — and no small one at that.
After a bit of casual chatter, everyone's attention returned to the two fighters, who were now going at it furiously.
Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators of similar strength typically fought for days on end.
After all, taking a hit in combat meant retreating to regroup. No one was foolish enough to just trade blows. But in a sparring match, there was far less running about — after all, you couldn't drag a friendly bout out for days.
In some ways, it was the cultivation world equivalent of a standing brawl.
Minimal dodging, maximum engagement — that was the essence of sparring.
Neither fighter was willing to show the slightest weakness.
Li Yingling was probably thinking that as the eldest senior sister, she absolutely could not lose to her second junior brother. What would happen to her prestige?
Li Xingtian, on the other hand, likely had one thought driving him — evil cannot triumph over righteousness.
But as the spar continued, Li Xingtian's spiritual energy depth and divine technique proficiency still fell somewhat short of Li Yingling's.
In a direct clash, he was at a disadvantage.
Within the practice ground, Li Yingling naturally noticed the crowd growing larger. With her master and Yan Yun both watching, losing was simply not an option.
But she never expected that her second junior brother could really take a hit.
She slashed through layers of bloody aura, her sword point driving straight toward Li Xingtian, and spoke coldly.
"Second junior brother, you're about out of breath, aren't you?"
"You know I've never gone easy on anyone. I've been holding back for a while now — why don't you just admit defeat? It'll save you a lot of time recovering from your injuries."
Li Xingtian parried with his blade, his blood energy growing fiercer with every exchange. His slightly crimson eyes locked onto Li Yingling, and his voice was firm.
"Eldest senior sister, use whatever you've got! I'd say the outcome is far from certain!"
Li Yingling's sword intent surged, knocking Li Xingtian back. She used the momentum to launch herself high into the air as flowing-water sword intent converged upon the long sword in her hand.
The spirit treasure sword in Li Yingling's grasp nearly transformed into a beam of azure light. Her oppressive aura was staggering as she spoke coldly.
"Then don't blame your eldest senior sister for going all out!"
Li Xingtian raised his blade and pointed.
"Eldest senior sister is the one who should be careful!"
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