Chapter 332: Part 2
Ye Chen had sensed the Jade Pond Saint Master’s aura at the gates.
Moreover, there was another presence — a power unique to a Great Advancement expert.
So it turned out that the renowned Elder Qingcheng, whom he had never met before, had returned.
Ye Chen turned his gaze toward Wang Changchun.
As expected, upon hearing the news, Wang Changchun’s face immediately turned red with excitement.
His eyes lit up.
“Fairy Qingcheng has returned?
“I spent so long in Mingwang Province searching for news of her, and now she’s finally back.
“I’ve even broken through to the Deity Transformation Realm, the gap between us has narrowed!
“A year ago, I bought an ancient Daoist artifact robe at the Immortal Net Auction House specifically for her. I can finally give it to her now.
“She’ll look absolutely stunning wearing it.
“I wonder if Fairy Qingcheng has thought about me all these years. Will she remember the moments we shared?
“I’ve never forgotten the day I first saw her.
“At the time, she was at the Nascent Soul Realm, while I was only at the Golden Core Realm.
“She was battling a demonic beast in the void, her surroundings illuminated by divine radiance, dazzling beyond belief.
“Her flawless expression remained calm as she casually waved her sleeve, instantly obliterating the demonic beast.
“That moment was so magnificent. Not only did she kill the beast, but she also left an everlasting impression on my life.
“From that moment, I knew I would never forget her!”
Looking at Elder Wang Changchun’s nervous, nostalgic demeanor, Ye Chen’s lips twitched.
No matter how beautiful Elder Qingcheng was, the woman already had a child who became a Saint Master.
And yet here was a dignified Deity Transformation cultivator, ready to take the role of a stepfather.
Ridiculous.
Moreover, she had already reached the Great Advancement Realm.
The gap between them hadn’t narrowed, it had grown even wider.
In the end, Wang Changchun’s efforts would likely be in vain.
A bootlicker was, indeed, destined for nothing.
Having such a shameful elder in his sect made even Ye Chen feel embarrassed as the Saint Master.
“Invite them to the Guest Peak,” Ye Chen said leisurely, roughly guessing their intentions.
Before long, two graceful figures followed the steward to the Guest Peak.
Wang Changchun froze on the spot, his excitement evident.
The other elders’ eyes also carried traces of amazement and nostalgia.
As Ye Chen observed the two women arriving, his eyes brightened slightly, a trace of admiration flickering.
There was no need to say much about the Jade Pond Saint Master.
Her ability to stand out among countless female cultivators and be crowned the most beautiful woman in Great Yan Province spoke volumes about her unparalleled beauty.
Even Ye Chen had to admit this fact.
The woman beside the Jade Pond Saint Master was dressed in a light purple palace robe, which accentuated her flawless figure.
Her legs were immaculate, long, and perfectly straight.
Her figure was stunningly curvaceous, so perfect it was breathtaking.
Her delicate features were beyond exquisite, radiating an extraordinary charm, flawless and astonishingly beautiful.
There was no doubt that this was a mature woman of unparalleled elegance.
She bore a slight resemblance to the Jade Pond Saint Master, but their styles were completely different.
The Jade Pond Saint Master exuded an aura of holiness and grandeur.
In contrast, Fairy Qingcheng possessed a blend of ethereal grace and mature allure, full of unique charm.
Had Ye Chen not known her identity, he might have mistaken her for the Jade Pond Saint Master’s elder sister.
Even with Ye Chen’s discerning gaze, he had to acknowledge her extraordinary beauty.
No wonder she turned Wang Changchun into such a bootlicker, and why countless powerful figures often mentioned her fondly on Immortal Net, unable to forget her.
Indeed, she was exceptional.
However, to Ye Chen, that was all there was to it.
Ye Chen gave her a few glances before politely saying, “Jade Pond Saint Master and Elder Qingcheng, thank you for traveling such a long distance. My apologies for not welcoming you earlier.”
Ye Chen’s politeness wasn’t due to Elder Qingcheng’s Great Advancement-level cultivation or her appearance. It was because of the Jade Pond Saint Master.
Though the Jade Pond Saint Master was absurdly vain, her actions were remarkably magnanimous.
When Elder Jinwu broke through to the Great Advancement Realm, while other factions waited to see a joke, the Jade Pond Saint Master unhesitatingly offered assistance.
Her actions earned Ye Chen’s respect and a different level of regard.
The Jade Pond Saint Master smiled at Ye Chen, her radiance as beautiful as spring blossoms.
Meanwhile, Elder Qingcheng looked at Ye Chen, her almond-shaped eyes widening in surprise, her expression tinged with doubt.
At this moment, the Refining Elder Wang Changchun finally mustered his courage.
“Fairy Qingcheng, it has been twenty years, yet you are as elegant as ever, just as I remembered!”
Wow.
For someone as burly as Wang Changchun to utter such bootlicking wordsmade Ye Chen feel profoundly uncomfortable.
Elder Qingcheng, however, merely glanced at Wang Changchun, smiled politely, and lightly nodded.
“It has indeed been many years. Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Deity Transformation Realm, Fellow Daoist Wang.”
After saying this, she turned her head away and continued gazing at Ye Chen.
This attitude made Ye Chen’s lips twitch.
It was clear as day. Wang Changchun didn’t stand a chance.
In her eyes, he didn’t even exist.
Bootlickers truly end up with nothing.
Elder Qingcheng studied Ye Chen for a long while.
The suspicion on her beautiful face grew stronger until she couldn’t help but ask, “Saint Master Ye, could it be that you’ve already reached the Great Advancement Realm?”
As a Great Advancement cultivator herself, she could faintly sense Ye Chen’s cultivation fluctuations after careful observation.
The Jade Pond Saint Master, standing beside her, looked at Ye Chen in disbelief. “Great Advancement? How is that possible?
“Mother, you must be mistaken.”
It wasn’t that the Jade Pond Saint Master underestimated Ye Chen.
Rather, just a year ago, Ye Chen had assisted the Jade Pond by single-handedly fighting three enemies from the Eastern Sea, slaying the Golden Lion King, all while only at the mid-Deity Transformation Realm.
Half a year later, he reached the late-Deity Transformation Realm and defeated Elder Jinwu.
This cultivation speed was already astonishing.
And now, just six months later, Ye Chen had quietly broken through to the Great Advancement Realm?
How could that be possible?
If true, Ye Chen’s talent wasn’t just remarkable, it was terrifying.
Although Elder Qingcheng didn’t lose composure like the Jade Pond Saint Master, her heart was in turmoil.
Just yesterday, she had returned to the Jade Pond Sacred Land, where the Jade Pond Saint Master had sought her help for Ye Chen.
The Jade Pond Saint Master, impressed by the miraculous Heavenly Origin Little Spirit Communicator, Ye Chen’s astonishing talent, and past favors, had deliberated before deciding to assist.
It was partly to repay a favor and partly to invest in a future alliance.
After all, Ye Chen’s extraordinary talent meant that as long as he remained safe within his Sacred Land, he would undoubtedly reach the Great Advancement Realm in the future.
But she hadn’t expected that upon her arrival, Ye Chen had already become a Great Advancement cultivator.
This was simply absurd.
Could it be that Ye Chen’s unique cultivation technique was playing tricks on her perception?
Feeling the gazes of both women, Ye Chen smiled faintly.
“Fairy Qingcheng, your insight is exceptional. I did indeed recently break through to the Great Advancement Realm.”
There was nothing to hide, so Ye Chen admitted it openly.
Hearing Ye Chen’s words, both the Jade Pond Saint Master and Elder Qingcheng were utterly stunned.
Their strikingly similar faces turned pale in disbelief.
Elder Qingcheng, in particular, couldn’t maintain her composure.
Thinking about the twenty years she had spent tempering herself in Mingwang Province, enduring countless life-and-death battles and competing for countless opportunities, she had only narrowly managed to break through to the Great Advancement Realm.
Compared to most cultivators stuck at the Deity Transformation Realm for life, she had been incredibly fortunate.
Her speed was considered fast, with hope of ascending further on the immortal path.
But looking at Ye Chen now, Elder Qingcheng felt an overwhelming sense of disparity.
The difference between people was simply too vast.