Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Chapter 167 The Mysterious Peak Master? The Old Tales of the Chen Family

A sharp, sword-like glint flashed in Song Jing's eyes, as if he could already see through to the choice tomorrow that might determine a long part of his future.

Perhaps, in that seemingly weakest and least visited corner, lies the glimmer of opportunity I need.

Just as Song Jing and Zhou Ming were facing off at the crossroads in the bamboo forest, during that brief, tense exchange, several onlookers had already quietly gathered behind a few ancient trees not far away, and further away on the corridor of an exquisite pavilion.

These were mostly senior disciples who had joined the sect early and were well-informed, or peripheral figures who had some connection with the Zhou and Chen families.

They watched this sudden conflict openly or covertly, their whispers like the chirping of insects in the dark.

"See that? Zhou Ming couldn't hold back any longer and came to cause trouble for this newcomer." A disciple in blue robes leaned against the corridor railing, playing with a jade bead in his hand, a playful smile on his lips.

"Tsk tsk, a mid-stage Refining Realm cultivator bullying a newly entered early-stage Bone Forging Realm cultivator, the Zhou family is still so magnanimous." A slightly chubby disciple chimed in, his tone laced with sarcasm, but he kept his voice extremely low, clearly not daring to let Zhou Ming, who was not far away, hear him.

"The key is not in his realm, but in his foundation." A gray-robed disciple with a calm face and experienced eyes shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "Didn't you hear? Zhou Ming just pointed out that this kid was introduced by Chen Yanzhou."

"Chen Yanzhou? Which Chen Yanzhou?" A newly recruited disciple, who wasn't well-informed, asked in confusion.

"Who else could it be? It's the one who was famous in the sect more than ten years ago, but later he offended someone for some reason and was demoted to Tianshui City as a captain!" The blue-robed disciple glanced at the questioner, his tone filled with reminiscence and emotion, "Back then he was our Water Vein's... Ah, never mind, it's all ancient history."

In short, this Commandant Chen had offended several elders of the Zhou family within the sect back then, creating quite a grudge.

The Zhou family has grown in power over the years and has long wanted to get revenge, but unfortunately Chen Yanzhou is too far away to reach them.

Now, the person he sent is simply a ready-made punching bag.

"I see!" the slightly chubby disciple exclaimed in realization. "No wonder Zhou Ming has such a keen sense of smell. This newcomer had only shown his face in the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion for a few days, and then he blocked his way. So it's Commandant Chen's 'legacy'!"

"It's not just about inheritance." The gray-robed disciple looked into the distance as Song Jing calmly walked away. "Although Chen Yanzhou is in another prefecture, he still has some connection with the sect, especially in the water veins."

Furthermore, didn't you notice Chen Mo's attitude towards this kid? He was incredibly attentive. Although Chen Mo's cultivation level isn't top-tier, he still has some remaining connections from the Chen family behind him.

Zhou Ming was making a show of force, both to suppress newcomers and to send a message to Chen Mo and those in the Water Vein who still held onto feelings for Chen Yanzhou.

"This is going to be interesting." A hint of excitement flashed in the blue-robed disciple's eyes. "This Song Jing doesn't seem like a pushover either. I don't think Zhou Ming's attempt to intimidate him has worked. Instead, it might have just provoked him."

I heard this kid in the Tianshui branch is known for both causing trouble and calming things down; his feat of taking on six opponents at once is no exaggeration.

"Hmph, what does it mean to take on six people at a branch office? This is the outer gate of the prefectural city! Zhou Ming is backed by the entire Zhou family faction, with people in both the gold and fire branches, their influence is deeply entrenched."

"Song Jing is all alone, a beginner with low cultivation, what makes him think he can fight Zhou Ming?" Another person, who had been silent all along...

The stern-faced disciple in black suddenly spoke, his tone clearly showing his disapproval.

He then added, "Chen Mo can barely protect himself, how much protection can he provide? I think in less than three months, this kid will either bow his head and submit, or he'll be ostracized and have to leave on his own."

"We can't be too absolute," the gray-robed disciple pondered. "This boy is calm and composed. He doesn't panic when facing the pressure of the Refining Realm. Either he has something to rely on, or he has an extremely strong will."

Moreover, tomorrow is the selection of the five major clans. Which clan do you think he will choose?

Upon hearing this, the group fell silent, their eyes flickering.

"The gold mine is powerful, but the Zhou family has the deepest influence. If he goes, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den."

"The Wood element is neutral, but it has always been exclusive and not friendly to newcomers without a background."

"The Fire Vein has a close relationship with the Zhou family, so it's even more impossible."

"The Earth Clan—they are honest, but they value seniority and connections the most. He's a newcomer, and a relative at that," so he probably won't be of high regard. However, the Earth Clan values ​​rest and physical training techniques, and I've heard this kid has perfected one, so there might be some hope."

"Then what's left—is only the water veins," the blue-robed disciple said slowly.

"Water vein—" The slightly chubby disciple clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Now it's just an empty shell, all name and no substance. It has the fewest resources, the lineage is about to be cut off, and there isn't even a vein master who can keep things in check. It's all being held up by a senior disciple."

What's the difference between going there and self-exile?

Moreover, most of those remaining in the Water Vein are either still attached to Chen Yanzhou or disillusioned individuals at odds with the Zhou family. If he were to leave, wouldn't he be escalating his conflict with Zhou Ming into a confrontation between the Water Vein and the Zhou family faction? That would be a certain death sentence.

"It may not be a dead end." The gray-robed disciple's gaze was deep. "No matter how weak the water vein is, it is still one of the five outer veins of the Pingtian Sect, and has a legitimate status and righteousness."

Moreover, precisely because it is weak, if someone can save the building from collapse, the reward they can obtain will certainly far exceed that of the other four factions.

"Risk and opportunity go hand in hand—it all depends on whether this kid has the guts and the ability."

"You mean—" The disciple in blue raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't say anything." The gray-robed disciple interrupted him, turning and walking into the pavilion. "We'll see tomorrow. However, this stagnant pool of the outer sect, which has been calm for so long, is about to be stirred up by this pebble. Zhou Ming—hmph, he might not get his way."

The others exchanged glances, and looking at the direction where Song Jing had already disappeared, and Zhou Ming's gloomy back as he walked away, a premonition rose in their hearts.

The selection of the five factions tomorrow will likely not be peaceful.

The choice made by Song Jing, a new disciple who seems to be alone and helpless, may become the first variable that stirs up the situation in the outer sect.

Undercurrents are already stirring in the twilight. When the sun rises tomorrow, the storm will begin to brew.

Then we can open the brocade pouch given by the captain; who knows what secrets it holds!

The next morning, before dawn, Song Jing got up to wash and prepare for his morning routine.

Instead of rushing to the selected square, he first went to Chen Mo's residence.

Chen Mo seemed to have anticipated that he would come to ask, and had already prepared tea in the courtyard to wait for him.

Upon seeing Song Jing, he still wore that warm smile, but there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes.

"Junior Brother Song, you've arrived. Please sit down." Chen Mo pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"Senior Brother Chen, thank you for your guidance yesterday, and I apologize for the trouble you caused." Song Jing cupped his hands and got straight to the point. He knew that Chen Mo must know about Zhou Ming's matter, and might be under even more pressure because of it.

Chen Mo waved his hand, his smile fading slightly: "It's not trouble at all. Zhou Ming and I have never gotten along. It's you who got involved as soon as you arrived. This is my fault. If it weren't for my uncle and me, you probably wouldn't have been targeted so quickly."

"Senior brother, you flatter me. The Commandant and you have been kind to Song Jing, so this little trouble is nothing to worry about." Song Jing said earnestly, "I have come today to ask you about the details of the selection process for the Five Families, and—the strengths and weaknesses of each family."

Chen Mo nodded, his expression becoming solemn. He poured Song Jing a cup of tea and slowly said, "The selection of the Five Peaks is a top priority for the outer sect, determining the disciples' future paths. Although it is called a selection, it is actually a two-way selection. Disciples can choose the peak masters of each peak, and the peak masters or those in charge of each peak will also decide whether to accept the disciple and what resources to provide based on the disciple's aptitude, performance, and character."

"The Five Lineages are divided according to the ancient theory of the Five Elements, each occupying a peak and with a distinct lineage." Chen Mo began to explain in detail:

The Gengjin lineage resides at Ruijin Peak. They primarily cultivate the lower-grade treasure "Gengjin Breaking Evil True Technique," a technique that is extremely refined in its attack. The Gengjin True Qi cultivated is incomparably sharp, specifically designed to break through various protective qi and external martial arts techniques, making its killing power unparalleled among the five lineages.

The peak master, "Golden Radiance Venerable," is a powerful expert at the mid-stage of the Blood Exchange Realm. He is straightforward and fierce, valuing combat prowess above all else. The Golden Clan is powerful and rich in resources, but the competition is also the most brutal, and it has a close relationship with the Zhou family. Those who enter this clan are mostly warlike and ambitious individuals.

The Qingmu lineage resides on Changchun Peak. They primarily cultivate the lower-level treasure of the "Qingmu Longevity Technique," a technique that emphasizes health preservation, recovery, and endurance. Its true qi is balanced and harmonious, constantly regenerating, and possesses extremely strong healing, detoxification, and sustained combat abilities.

The peak master, "Grandma Wood Spirit," is also at the mid-stage of the Blood Exchange Realm. She is gentle but unfathomable. The Wood Vein is relatively neutral and focuses on accumulating foundational knowledge, but it is quite strict in examining the character and background of its disciples. It dislikes fighting and is somewhat xenophobic.

The Li Huo lineage resides on Crimson Flame Peak. They specialize in the lower-grade "Li Huo Burning Heaven Technique," a rare and powerful technique. This technique is explosive and swift, with intense and fierce true energy. It excels in area-of-effect attacks and bursts of power, making it incredibly potent.

The peak master, "Venerable Flame Sun," is at the peak of the early stage of the Blood Exchange Realm. He has a fiery temper and is fiercely protective of his own. Similar to the Metal Meridian, the Fire Meridian reveres power and maintains close ties with the Zhou family. Many of his disciples are impetuous and hot-tempered.

The Hou Tu lineage resides on Zhenyue Peak. They primarily cultivate the lower level of the "Hou De Zai Wu Jue" (Great Virtue Carries All Things Technique), a rare and powerful technique known for its defense, composure, and strength. Their true qi is as thick and heavy as a mountain, making them adept at both defense and offense, with the most solid foundation.

The peak master, "Mr. Dikun," is at the early stage of the Blood Exchange Realm. He is calm and kind, and values ​​foundation and character above all else. Earth-type disciples are mostly down-to-earth and hardworking, valuing seniority and contributions. He is strict with newcomers, requiring them to start from the bottom.

At this point, Chen Mo paused, took a sip of his tea, and looked at Song Jing with a complex expression before slowly uttering the last line: "The Xuan Shui lineage resides on Bibo Peak." His voice deepened. "It specializes in the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water True Technique, a lower-grade treasure. This technique emphasizes the principle of 'softness containing strength,' with countless variations. Its true energy possesses multiple characteristics, including penetration, continuity, and heaviness, integrating offense and defense. It has the most variations and is also the most difficult to master. However—"

He sighed: "The water vein has been in decline ever since the old peak master, Master Xuanming, went on a pilgrimage and disappeared more than ten years ago."

Currently, there is no Blood Exchange Realm Peak Master in charge, so Senior Brother Lu Jiutian is temporarily in charge.

Senior Brother Lu is exceptionally talented, but unfortunately, I've heard that due to limited resources, his cultivation is currently stuck at the peak of the Marrow Refining Realm, and he hasn't been able to break through yet.

The water vein resources are squeezed the most, and the inheritance is somewhat sluggish due to the lack of some key elements. There are few disciples, and it has been at the bottom of the Five Veins Competition for many years, and its prestige is declining day by day.

There were even rumors within the sect that if the water veins didn't improve in the next competition, they might face reduced resource allocation, being merged into another vein, or even being completely shut down.

Chen Mo looked at Song Jing and said earnestly, "Junior Brother Song, the Five Meridians Techniques are the foundation for cultivating more profound techniques and even touching the true core inheritance of the sect."

The more proficient and solid the foundation of your primary cultivation technique, the easier it will be to switch to or cultivate other attribute-based techniques in the future, resulting in greater efficiency and enhanced power. Choice is of paramount importance.

With your abilities, the Geng Metal and Li Fire branches might boost your combat power in the short term, but you'll need to face the pressure from the Zhou family directly; Qing Wood,

The two earth veins might offer temporary stability, but advancement will be difficult; as for the water veins—”

He shook his head, his unspoken meaning clear—it was a seemingly hopeless situation.

Song Jing listened silently, and a clear outline of the Five Families structure came to mind.

Metal represents killing and destruction, wood represents life and vitality, fire represents explosiveness, earth represents solidity and weight, and water represents change.

And the water veins, just as rumored, were indeed in grave danger.

"Senior brother, how exactly will this selection process be conducted? And how will the disciples be ranked?" Song Jing asked.

"Later at the Five Veins Plaza," the leaders of each summit will set up simple tests, such as testing one's true qi attribute, testing one's willpower and perseverance, or observing one's reaction in the face of battle.

The disciple may try them one by one, or choose one or two.

After trying it, you need to imprint your mark on a specially made "Pulse Selection Jade Talisman" and sort them according to the intensity of your desire.

At the same time, the peak masters or those in charge of each peak can also perceive the disciples' performance and the information on the jade talismans through the formation.

Ultimately, each peak decides which disciples to recruit and provides a preliminary resource assessment.

If multiple disciples are chosen by the same peak, priority will be given to the disciples' wishes; if a disciple's wishes do not match the choices of any peak, they may be left out of the selection process. Generally, they will be assigned to the water veins, because the number of people choosing the water veins is usually the smallest, and they will be reassigned to the water veins.” Chen Mo explained in detail.

Song Jing understood that this was indeed a two-way matching process, requiring both self-presentation and the making of choices.

"Thank you for your explanation, Senior Brother." Song Jing stood up and bowed respectfully. Chen Mo's explanation undoubtedly made him more fully prepared for today's decision.

"Junior brother, please be careful." Chen Mo also stood up, patted Song Jing on the shoulder, his eyes showing concern and a hint of expectation that was not easily detected. "Whatever choice you make, remember, protect yourself and focus on cultivation. That is the right path."

Regarding Zhou Ming—I will try my best to mediate, but if he insists on provoking you, you don't need to be too tolerant. Pingtianmen ultimately has its own rules.

"I understand, senior brother." Song Jing nodded.

After leaving Chen Mo's courtyard, Song Jing did not immediately head to the Five Veins Square.

He found a secluded corner and took out the brocade pouch that Commandant Chen Yanzhou had given him before his departure.