The Happy Farmer Wanderer-Chapter 702: Opportunity by Seniority_1

"Master, how strong are you?" Li Qing asked seriously.

With a proud look on his face, Xuan Chen Zhenren crossed his legs and spread open a hand to Li Qing, "In the whole world, there are less than ten fingers’ worth of people who can surpass me. Tell me, is your master impressive or what?"

"Impressive, truly impressive!" Li Qing nodded earnestly in agreement.

Although this master was not at all reliable and needed him to save the day at critical moments, being strong was good enough.

"However, I feel that woman might truly be stronger than you, Master," Li Qing paused, speaking softly.

Xuan Chen Zhenren’s face darkened instantly, "Brat, do you have no respect for your master and the Way?"

"I’m just... sharing a feeling, a feeling," Li Qing said with a smile.

"Once the matter with Long Eyebrow is settled, I must go down the mountain and meet this woman to see how strong she really is," Xuan Chen Zhenren said seriously, his brows furrowed and eyes fierce.

"Master, that woman is actually quite nice. She also said proactively that she will not be enemies with the outside world, and we can live in peace. Can you help plead on behalf of the Ninth Bureau and ask them not to forcibly develop King Qi’s Underground Palace? Whether the Ninth Bureau suffers widespread casualties or something happens to that woman, I don’t think it would be good," Li Qing earnestly said.

Xuan Chen Zhenren looked at Li Qing with a suspicious expression, "You’re not... are you?"

"Master, there’s nothing of the sort," Li Qing immediately said sternly.

"You should go find an ordinary girl. A person of her stature is out of your league. No matter how beautiful she is, she’s not for you. Stop thinking about it," Xuan Chen Zhenren said earnestly.

"However, since you obtained the elixir from her, as your teacher, I am indeed indebted to her favor. I should not stand by and do nothing. Let me consider this and take a trip down the mountain." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Li Qing had thought his bargain of a master had seen through the affair between him and Jing Yan.

Turns out, he was only worried that Li Qing might harbor improper thoughts, which, in fact... had already happened.

Jing Yan didn’t even give him a chance for improper thoughts; she took things straight to the final step.

Just then, Xuan Chen Zhenren furrowed his brow and suddenly disappeared on the spot.

Li Qing stared blankly at the empty space opposite him, his gaze drifting pensively towards the bamboo hut, from which Xuan Chen Zhenren’s voice was now coming, "Brat, get in here!"

Li Qing hurriedly lifted his foot and trotted into the bamboo hut.

On that narrow bed, Long Eyebrow had already awakened.

Not only that, his complexion had improved, and a healthy rosy glow had returned to his face, although he still seemed a bit weak.

"Thank you, Uncle Master Li, for saving my life," Long Eyebrow said to Li Qing with a feeble gesture of thanks.

"It was just chance. Nephew... Master, did you mix up our seniority?" Li Qing turned his head to look at Xuan Chen Zhenren.

He had already felt that something was off when he was listening.

Last time he definitely heard Long Eyebrow mention that his bargain of a master was his elder uncle.

"Have I got it mixed up?" Xuan Chen Zhenren was stunned for a moment, then immediately put on a stern face and said seriously, "How could I possibly get such a simple thing mixed up? It’s true that Long Eyebrow was originally your senior brother, but isn’t it proper for him to show his gratitude for saving his life by calling himself ’shishu’ and lowering himself a generation?"

"This is a life-saving grace, which is the greatest fortune. Lowering oneself is merely an attitude!"

Li Qing and Long Eyebrow were both stunned.

They both saw that Xuan Chen Zhenren had indeed confused the situation.

But even though he had mixed it up, he was still speaking so confidently, completely unrepentant.

"Shishu, it’s certainly fine for me to lower myself, but now you seem to be of the same generation as my grandmaster, and that seems to do some harm to our lineage..." Long Eyebrow said softly.

"What harm? Are you the one with an issue, or is it your grandmaster, my shibo, that has an issue? Even if your grandmaster had an issue, could he come out and hit me?" Xuan Chen Zhenren flicked his sleeve and said, "I have spoken on this matter. It is settled then; you are now his shidi."

"Shishu, I should indeed be grateful towards shidi, but this action of yours that stirs everything up is somewhat..." Long Eyebrow tried to reason with a mournful expression, wondering how he could persist in his mistake and compound it endlessly.

"Shifu, I think we should just let this matter go," Li Qing also advised.

This stubbornness of his master in refusing to admit wrong was somewhat unsettling.

"Are you sure you want to let it go?" Xuan Chen Zhenren asked.

Li Qing nodded, "It really isn’t necessary."

"Then let it be. You’re actually passing up such a big opportunity to take advantage; are you foolish!" Xuan Chen Zhenren shook his head and said.

Li Qing gave a wry smile. He felt he didn’t need to take that advantage.

"Master, but I’m curious, did you actually get my generation mixed up, or did you mix up Long Eyebrow’s? Is it mine? But if it is mine, how could you possibly think of me as your equal?" Li Qing asked, puzzled.

Xuan Chen Zhenren glared at Li Qing with a dark face and subtly waved his hand.

Li Qing was somewhat perplexed. Could there be a story behind this?

"Shishu, there’s no need for you to signal to shidi secretly. I should rightfully give this opportunity to shidi. I currently have no plans to change my cultivation technique, and I’m not lacking in magic artifacts either. Waiting another two years is fine," Long Eyebrow smiled and then turned to supplement to Li Qing, "Shidi may not know, but our Nine Truth Palace has a Sword Tomb, a treasure left by the founding ancestor."

"After Foundation Establishment, all disciples may enter the Sword Tomb to claim a magic artifact for themselves. But for those who make special contributions to the sect, there’s a chance every three years to ascend to the top of the Sword Tomb and select a legacy."

Li Qing was a little baffled, "This... shouldn’t count as a special contribution, should it?"

"You silly boy, if our sect could have a third Nascent Soul, do you know what that would mean? Freedom from worldly concerns, understand? In these peaceful times, when there are barely any demons or monsters for years, what kind of special contribution are you looking for?" Xuan Chen Zhenren immediately rebuked, unable to contain his frustration.

"Right, this indeed counts as a special contribution for shidi, and the opportunity to ascend has already changed. Now it is based on seniority," Long Eyebrow explained with a smile. "Previously, there was a life or death struggle over what counted as a special contribution and the extents of such contributions, which led the third Sect Leader to change the requirements. Everyone takes turns based on their generation, ensuring that everyone gets an opportunity."

"Actually, I still feel that shishu inadvertently got our generations mixed up and ended up with this mistake. Given shishu’s personality, he probably wouldn’t have thought so far ahead. But still, I would like to give this opportunity to shidi."

After being pointedly corrected several times by Li Qing and Long Eyebrow, Xuan Chen Zhenren finally reached his limit, "Don’t you two have moments when your brain just doesn’t catch up? Shut up, both of you."

"Bring me your Barrier-Breaking Elixir," Xuan Chen Zhenren extended his hand toward Li Qing.