Elder Shen Zhou saw this and asked curiously.
"It’s just... I was unfortunately defeated by him..."
Facing a close elder, Ye Jeming didn’t want to lie. He gritted his teeth and succinctly stated his relationship with Xu Xing: he had once been defeated by him.
"Defeated by Junior Xu..."
Elder Shen Zhou frowned.
In front of him was the Jade Certificate from Tianlu Hall containing information about Xu Xing. At twenty-eight, he entered the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, and in the same year, two and a half months later, he built a Flawless Immortal Foundation.
This aptitude was indeed impressive, considering both his age and his achievements.
However, as far as Shen Zhou knew, the only mission Ye Jeming had undertaken outside the Sect in the past thirty years was the one to Fengxi Country nine years ago. That mission had failed four years ago. Consequently, Ye Jeming had no choice but to return to the Sect, where he received some punishment.
In other words, four years ago, Ye Jeming, then in the Late Innate Stage and relying on the advantage of his Flying Sword, was defeated by the twenty-four-year-old Xu Xing. Shen Zhou was unclear about Xu Xing’s cultivation Realm at that time...
No, if Jeming lost in the Mortal World...
It must be that Human King physique!
Elder Shen Zhou suddenly realized.
On Xu Xing’s Jade Certificate, it was stated that he was a candidate for the True Biography.
But it did not specify what kind of physique Xu Xing possessed.
The reason the Jade Certificate concealed such important information was a protective measure by the Master and Disciple Lineage for their disciples. It was a rather self-deceiving tactic, but still better than doing nothing at all. At least, this measure could keep the truth from some lower-status members within the Family Line.
For example, it had deceived Elder Shen Zhou at this time.
Besides those with Human King physiques, who else would be so sanctimonious...
Elder Shen Zhou inwardly cursed himself for forgetting this.
While the Sect certainly had many kind-hearted disciples who cared for their fellows, the Sect’s Classics often recorded that disciples with outstanding aptitude who habitually acted this way were mostly Human Kings...
Of course, this was hindsight.
With a time span of several hundred years and the reward being merely a seventh-grade Golden Cicada Sword Pill, even if he had been more vigilant, it would have been difficult for him to realize this was the work of a Human King.
Moreover, he was quite arrogant by nature. Tianlu Hall served Cultivators at the Returning Core Realm and above, so he had encountered many True Monarchs and Dao Lords, and had even met a few Sage Monarchs.
As for Cultivators in the Immortal Foundation Realm, he naturally looked down on them.
Elder Shen Zhou prepared to choose his words carefully and reacquaint himself with Xu Xing.
Ordinary Geniuses of the Sect didn’t matter much to him.
But a Human King was different. Their Dragon Luck transformed into Immortal Luck, and they were blessed with Great Fortune. Such individuals were not only extremely difficult to kill but also possessed shrewd methods that ordinary people could hardly match. Take Song Knife, for example. He was not yet three hundred years old but had already reached the Dao Pill Realm.
"Elder Shen, greetings."
Xu Xing also smiled and nodded, his face showing no displeasure whatsoever.
Why would he care about such a trivial matter?
It was nothing more than adapting his words to the person he was speaking to.
Besides, Elder Shen Zhou hadn’t actually been rude earlier. If failing to "flatter" him was considered rude, then he would have enemies everywhere under the heavens.
The two began to exchange feigned pleasantries, and the cold, distant atmosphere from moments before vanished instantly, as if any previous ill will had ceased to exist.
Arrogant before, deferential now...
Seeing this, Ye Jeming sneered inwardly, secretly despising Shen Zhou.
About half a moment later, Xu Xing took his leave, and only Shen Zhou and Ye Jeming remained in the Side Hall of Tianlu Hall.
"Jeming, you seem quite dissatisfied with me?"
"Is it because I grew friendly with your enemy?"
Shen Zhou, seemingly having guessed Ye Jeming’s thoughts, smiled and stroked his beard.
Without waiting for Ye Jeming’s reply, Shen Zhou shook his head. "Our Family Line and the Master and Disciple Lineage are not truly as distinct as black and white," he said. "It’s not a matter of complete avoidance. The real obstacles for Commoner Disciples like Xu Xing don’t necessarily come from my Shen family or your Ye family. They come from the Aristocratic Families ranked above us—the Thirty-six Prominent Clans, the Nine Mountain Great Halls, and those of the Five Temple Surnames..."
"Offering some trivial benefits and a few flattering words while chatting and laughing with him—these things don’t matter."
"Losing a little face is hardly a significant loss."
He was imparting his own experience to Ye Jeming.
The Ye Family of Penghu and their Seeking Jasper Shen Family had been connected by marriage for generations; the two families were practically one.