In the following days,
Shu Shi Residence remained calm and peaceful, and Su Yi also enjoyed a rare tranquility. While practicing, he occasionally felt a slight sense of annoyance when he thought of Wen Lingxue. However, it was nothing that would truly trouble him.
Cha Jin continued her duties as before, taking care of laundry, folding blankets, serving tea, and other trivial tasks. The only difference was that she now had great anticipation for her future life.
After cultivating the Mixed Abyss Nine Profound Scripture, she realized how shallow and ignorant she had been in the past and finally understood the wonders of cultivation. This secret technique opened up a whole new world for her, transforming her perspective, outlook, and understanding of cultivation.
Naturally, she also realized why Su Yi, at such a young age, possessed terrifying power comparable to that of a divine being. It wasn't that he was a true divine being, but the cultivation method he mastered was far beyond anything in this world.
However, every time night fell, Cha Jin felt a bit uneasy. She understood Su Yi's intentions—he was using the pretext of guiding her cultivation to take advantage of the situation. Yet, Cha Jin didn't expose him because listening to Su Yi's explanations of the profound aspects of cultivation at night truly benefited her. In fact, she even savored it and looked forward to going to Su Yi's place every night...
On this evening,
Zhou Zhili arrived with Chang Guoke and Zheng Tianhe to pay a visit.
When Zhou Zhili saw Cha Jin, he couldn't help but be surprised, almost not daring to recognize her. Compared to before, Cha Jin now exuded a pure and elegant aura, with a graceful charm in her every move. Her beauty was like a lotus blooming in the warm spring breeze—clear, elegant, and exceptionally beautiful.
As someone who had been infatuated with her, Zhou Zhili naturally understood what had happened, and a touch of melancholy welled up in his heart.
Speaking of which, he had been infatuated with Cha Jin back then.
But fate played its hand, and the current Cha Jin was someone he could only admire from a distance, not daring to profane.
"Brother Su, the tea gathering is scheduled for tomorrow morning at the peak of the Western Mountain, ten miles outside the city," Zhou Zhili quickly stated his purpose.
Su Yi nodded and asked, "Are you fully prepared?"
Zhou Zhili pondered for a moment and shook his head. "Although I've prepared some cards, I still haven't figured out how many tricks Xiang Tianqiu has up his sleeve."
Sighing lightly, he continued, "When I was a prince, everyone treated me with great respect. But as soon as it involved a struggle for power, I realized that all that respect was fake. Even in the Gunzhou City, even the top aristocratic families dare to confront me directly."
Su Yi wasn't interested in listening to his sighs. He asked directly, "Is there anything else?"
Zhou Zhili hurriedly said, "Brother Su, I just received news that my second brother has likely brought some formidable grandmasters to assist him."
Now Su Yi showed a hint of interest and asked, "How formidable are they?"
Zhou Zhili quickly replied, "It is said that one of them is formidable enough to be ranked in the top thirty of the 'Grandmaster List of the Great Zhou Dynasty.' However, I cannot confirm who it is."
"The Grandmaster List of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
Su Yi was taken aback. It was the first time he had heard of such a list.
Zhou Zhili patiently explained it to him.
Every six months, a mysterious organization called the "Ten Directions Pavilion" would revise and publish the "Grandmaster List of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Those ranked on the list were the top figures in the Grandmaster realm of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
And those who made it into the top thirty were almost all powerful figures in the Grandmaster realm!
Each of them possessed either extremely powerful cultivation or extraordinary talent.
According to popular belief, almost half of the top thirty came from the Yujing City, and each of them had a cultivation level of at least the fourth stage of the Grandmaster realm!
Of course, there were also a few outstanding young geniuses who managed to enter the top thirty, but their number was relatively small.
One example was Fan Huaying, a closed-door disciple of the Great Zhou Imperial Tutor Hong Canshang. He was a genius who ranked nineteenth on the Grandmaster List of the Great Zhou Dynasty and was renowned throughout the country.
After listening, Su Yi couldn't help but shake his head and say, "It's just a list. It's impossible for it to include all the extremely powerful Grandmasters in this world."
Zhou Zhili chuckled and said, "That's true. However, anyone who can make it onto the list is definitely not someone who gained undeserved fame."
Su Yi nodded and said, "That's indeed the case. By the way, what kind of force is this Ten Directions Pavilion?"
Zhou Zhili shook his head and said, "The Ten Directions Pavilion is extremely mysterious. Its influence is hidden in the shadows, and its members are spread across the three kingdoms of the Great Zhou, Great Wei, and Great Qin."
"They generally don't involve themselves in mundane matters. I've only heard occasional mentions from my father, and it is rumored that the leader of the Ten Directions Pavilion is an extremely powerful land immortal."
After a pause, Zhou Zhili continued, "The Ten Directions Pavilion is renowned for its knowledge of information and focuses on collecting and disseminating various news related to martial practitioners. They also periodically release some of this information to the public."
Su Yi said with interest, "Interesting. That means we can completely start with the Ten Directions Pavilion if we want to find out some information in the future."
Zhou Zhili shook his head and said, "Brother Su, as everyone knows, unless members of the Ten Directions Pavilion appear in person, it is almost impossible to find them."
Su Yi murmured in agreement, neither confirming nor denying.
After chatting for a while, Zhou Zhili hurriedly left with Chang Guoke and Zheng Tianhe.
Tomorrow morning, the tea gathering would take place at the peak of the Western Mountain, and the Sixth Prince had many other things to attend to.
"Young Master, do you think the Sixth Prince has a chance of winning?" Cha Jin curiously asked.
"No," Su Yi replied without hesitation, "He may appear somewhat clever, but in reality, he is still too naive. He is no match for those old fellows who have been playing tricks for years."
After a pause, he said, "Of course, with me here, it's difficult for him to lose."
Cha Jin looked at him strangely. How could he praise himself like that? Young Master, can't you be a bit more modest?
However, upon careful consideration, it seemed that Su Yi didn't need to be modest in this matter...
Cha Jin whispered, "But it seems like the Sixth Prince doesn't have full confidence in you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such a troubled look."
"It's just the confusion of those in power. Everyone wants to figure out each other's cards, to know oneself and the enemy. But when it comes to actual confrontation, how many people can truly achieve that?" Su Yi said calmly, "Ultimately, it's because he is too weak. If he were strong enough, it wouldn't matter what kind of tricks or conspiracies were in his way; he could crush through them all."
Cha Jin smiled and looked at him with affectionate eyes.
Su Yi stood up and walked into the building, saying, "Go and prepare dinner."
Cha Jin looked at the sky and realized that night had fallen. For some reason, her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly turned and went to buy food.
...
The next morning, Cha Jin was awakened from her sleep by a distant knocking on the door. She mumbled something incoherent with her rosy lips and reached out to remove a demonic claw resting on her chest before sitting up.
As she dressed, Cha Jin whispered, "Young Master, it's likely that the Sixth Prince has arrived. I'll go and open the door."
Speaking, she got up and walked out of the room.
Half an hour later, when Su Yi finished washing up and confidently walked out of the building, he saw a group of people standing in the courtyard.
Zhou Zhili, Chang Guoke, Qing Qin, Zheng Tianhe, Mu Zhongting, and an elegant middle-aged man exuding an air of scholarly refinement.
"Who is this?" Su Yi's gaze turned towards the elegant middle-aged man, vaguely feeling a sense of familiarity.
The middle-aged man smiled slightly and took the initiative to greet, "I am Xue Ningyuan. I have had the pleasure of meeting Young Master Su before. It seems that you may not remember."
Su Yi nodded without saying anything, and said, "Let's go."
"Young Master, I also want to go with you," Cha Jin quickly interjected.
"Fine," Su Yi casually agreed, "By the way, prepare some food and bring my vine chair as well."
Everyone: ...
If they didn't know, they would probably think this guy was going on a picnic, right?
But Cha Jin had long been accustomed to Su Yi's style and hurriedly made the preparations.
Taking this opportunity, Zhou Zhili whispered, "Brother Su, about today's matter..."
Su Yi glanced at him and said, "In critical moments, one must not lose composure. It's a serious mistake. After winning at this tea gathering, I advise you to temper your temperament. Otherwise, you may not achieve much in this lifetime."
Zhou Zhili felt embarrassed and clasped his fists, saying, "Thank you, Brother Su, for your guidance. I will remember it."
"It seems that Young Master Su is very confident about this tea gathering," Xue Ningyuan remarked with a smile.
Su Yi looked at the influential figure of the Xue family and said, "If I had no confidence, why would I accompany you on this trip?"
Xue Ningyuan's smile faltered.
Su Yi was too lazy to say more and walked straight towards the courtyard.
Zhou Zhili quickly followed.
"This guy is becoming more and more arrogant," Qing Qin sneered.
She was as sharp and stunning as ever, her beautiful eyes exuding a lazy aura.
However, when facing Su Yi, she couldn't help but notice subtle differences in her state of mind.
This was actually her first time meeting Su Yi in Gunzhou City, but she had come to know a lot about him.
Like a few days ago, when Su Yi effortlessly killed Liu Hongqi, an elder of the Moon Wheel Sect with a cultivation at the Martial Ancestor Triple realm.
She was well aware that the Sixth Prince had already placed his hopes of winning this tea gathering on the seventeen-year-old Su Yi!
And seeing the gorgeous woman, Cha Jin, happily accompanying Su Yi, Qing Qin's heart couldn't help but feel a hint of complexity.
She no longer saw Cha Jin as just a geisha.
But she couldn't fathom how a true disciple of the Moon Wheel Sect would willingly serve as a maid by Su Yi's side.
And judging by Cha Jin's expression, it was clear that she was willing...
"What if I had agreed to be his maid back on the ship? How would things be now?" Qing Qin shook her head, dismissing such thoughts.
Everyone has their own pursuits.
She couldn't do such things anymore.
Soon, the group set off, riding carriages and leaving Gunzhou City, heading towards the Western Mountain located ten miles outside the city.