Chapter 428: A Toad Chasing After A Swan
In the Bright Moon Sect, the narrow mountain path was imbued with magical patterns along the stairs. It seemed to transform into something extraordinary by the influence of immortal energy.
Every step gave off a sense of stability and peace. It made the mind and the heart calm.
The surrounding flower bushes were extraordinary as well. Their auras harmonized, and the spiritual energy flowed.
Frequently, cranes flew by in the sky.
Jiang Hao and Hong Yuye were side by side as they walked up the stairs.
âWas that poem you just recited taught to you by your father?â Hong Yuye asked.
âYes, I heard it from my father when I was a child.â Jiang Hao nodded.
It was indeed true, but it was not his father.
âIs it good?â Hong Yuye asked.
âNot necessarily. It might evoke some feelings in scholars, but other cultivators might see it as pretentious or meaningless,â Jiang Hao said.
âAnd you donât mind it?â she asked.
Jiang Hao nodded.
A thousand people would come and go. Jiang Hao only needed to stay true to himself.
As time passed. his cultivation would continue to grow. and his lifespan would increase. He would encounter many people along the way.
Some would just pass by, while others would barely cross paths with him. These people often held grudges or spoke ill of him because of a single word he said. Should he really care about them?
They were just passing travelers and were fleeting like clouds in the sky. Such people would be plentiful in the world. Why should he bother with them?
The sound of footsteps resounded, and Hong Yuye continued toward the mountain peak.
On the way, she looked at him and smiled. âWhat if someone still wants you to compose poetry for them?â
âI really donât know how to.â Jiang Hao smiled wryly. Hong Yuye fell silent and continued to climb the stone steps.
Jiang Hao followed her.
After a while, they reached the top of the mountain, which seemed to be a place for practicing techniques.
Many people were engaged in discussions. This kind of cultivation environment was beneficial to many.
Jiang Haoâs gaze stopped at a corner. Chu Chuan was also practicing there.
Although he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had not stopped cultivating. It seemed he was eager to become stronger. At this moment, a few people approached Chu Chuan. Jiang Hao was curious.
He watched to see what would happen.
Chu Chuan also noticed that some people were approaching him. Three men and two women.
He stopped cultivating and looked at the five people.
âAre you Chu Chuan?â the leader of the group asked with contempt.
âWho are you?â Chu Chuan asked politely.
âI heard youâre from the same hometown as Chu Jie.â Yu Sha sneered. âWith your shabby appearance, youâre not here to swindle Chu Jieâs spirit stones, are you? Sheâs still young and inexperienced. What vile things are you planning?
Do you think we donât know what people like you might be up to?â Chu Chuan frowned. âWhat could I possibly be planning?â he asked coldly.
âDonât you know yourself?â Yu Sha stepped closer to Chu Chuan, and his aura spread out.
In an instant, a powerful aura pressed down on Chu Chuan.
âDo you really think itâs so remarkable to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm at a young age?â Yu Sha sneered. âIt looks like youâre solely focused on improving your cultivation while being utterly clueless about everything else. Do you honestly think we would believe you when you say you came all this way just to meet the person from the same hometown? Youâre probably a toad chasing after the swan.â
Chu Chuan was infuriated as he stared at the person in front of him. He seemed ready to fight.
But at this moment, Yu Shaâs hand rested on Chu Chuanâs shoulder, and his strength was suppressed.
âAm I right? Are you angry because youâre embarrassed you got caught?â Yu
Sha asked. âLook into the mirror once in a while. Donât you know who Junior Sister Chu Jie is? She is the most precious treasure of the Bright Moon Sect. One of the most powerful sects in the world.â
âAnd what are you worth?â Chu Chuan retorted.
âYou country bumpkin, donât provoke me. During the Dao Conference, Iâll request a suppression of cultivation to fight you. Then youâll understand what despair is, and youâll realize youâre nothing,â Yu Sha said.
Yu Sha withdrew his aura and turned to leave.
At this point, a young woman looked at Chu Chuan. âHow many spirit stones does your sect provide per month?â she asked kindly.
Chu Chuan was puzzled by her question. But he couldnât bring himself to answer and remained silent.
The young girl sighed in helplessness and turned to leave.
The five people from the Bright Moon Sect left, and the people around them began to gossip and point fingers.
It seemed like they were mocking Chu Chuan. They enjoyed the drama.
In the end, Chu Chuan returned to his original spot and resumed his cultivation. His eyes were filled with anger, and his fist techniques were even fiercer than before.
The humiliation and pressure did not make him buckle. Instead, it ignited his inner desire to become even stronger.
Jiang Hao watched him and breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there hadnât been a fight. If they had clashed, Chu Chuan would have had to endure even greater humiliation.
In the eyes of others, it would be like treating him as an outcast. Such an experience might make him grow stronger faster, but his peace of mind would be eroded. In the end, he wouldnât be himself anymore.
âHeâs not bad,â Hong Yuye said.
âYes, but Iâm afraid he might not be able to control himself. He might end up causing trouble,â said Jiang Hao.
The Bright Moon Sect was a suitable place for Chu Chuan. Due to Chu Jieâs presence, there would inevitably be people targeting him, but those people wouldnât dare to take real action.
They wouldnât clash with him because of Chu Jie, and also because this was an immortal sect. An immortal sect had strict laws against harassment and indiscriminate killing of disciples.
The person who had just confronted Chu Chuan had no intention of attacking him at all, and he needed a valid reason to do so. The Dao Conference would be such an opportunity.
âWhat did you teach him?â Hong Yuye asked.
âI told him to conceal his abilities, and only act at the right moment,â Jiang Hao said.
âLike how you faced me?â Hong Yuye asked with a half-smile.
Jiang Haoâs heart skipped a beat. â1 wouldnât dare.â
Hong Yuye chuckled but didnât press him further. She walked towards an empty area.
The young girl who had left with Yu Sha and the others didnât follow them. Instead, she went her own way and arrived at a loft.
The moon was shining brightly here, and the spiritual energy was several times denser than outside. Magical formations surrounded the area. There were stars everywhere. It was like something out of a fairy tale.
This was Chu Jieâs residence.
âJunior Sister Chu Jie,â the young woman, Tao Yun, called out.
The door opened, and a young girl in a white gown appeared. Starlight surrounded her as she walked out.
âSenior Sister Tao Yun, youâre looking for me?â Chu Jie smiled. âYes.â Tao Yun nodded.
At this moment, she noticed the hairpin on Chu Jieâs head.
âIs that a gift from the person whoâs from the same hometown as you?â Tao Yun asked.
âYes.â Chu Jie nodded. âI was worried that he might not have enough spirit stones, so I didnât suggest buying a magical treasure. This is very ordinary and not so expensive.â
âNot expensive?â Tao Yun had wanted to talk with her about something else, but she couldnât bring herself to say it.
In truth, six hundred spirit stones were indeed not expensive here.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, âChu Jie, do you think six hundred might actually be a lot of spirit stones for your fellow townsman?â âIt canât beâŚâ Chu Jie thought about it for a moment. âMy seniors spend several thousand or even more spirit stones when they buy something. Five or six hundred spirit stones wouldnât be enough for them to purchase anything..â