"Ah, no. I’ve only arrived here a few days ago, and since I was fortunate enough in the past to meet Elder Lei during a chance encounter, he had allowed me to stay with him for a while," Yi Chen explained.
"So that’s how it is. Brother Chen must be talented to be able to catch the Ninth Elder’s attention," Feng Ning said in a probing manner.
"Haha, Miss Ning thinks too highly of me. Since I started cultivation late, I’m only at the First Level of Meridian Refinement," Yi Chen stated while feigning embarrassment.
’Only at the First Level?’ Feng Ning couldn’t help but frown when she heard this.
’No, I shouldn’t judge immediately. There must be more to him if the Ninth Elder took interest in him...’
She was well aware of the Ninth Elder’s reputation.
"That’s a pity," Feng Ning responded the next moment after a pursed smile and said, "If Brother Chen were at least at the Third Level of Meridian Refinement, then he would be of great help to the clan in the coming tournament."
"Is Miss Ning also participating in it?" Yi Chen asked.
"Yes, if not for my sister continuously pestering me to take her out for shopping for the last few weeks, I would still be training in my residence’s courtyard," Feng Ning answered with an exhausted sigh.
"Is the situation of the clan this time really bad? I heard people talking on my way to the clan a few days back that the Feng Clan might just lose their spot as one of the twenty major clans," Yi Chen asked.
What he had heard were only subtle remarks, but that didn’t stop Yi Chen from stating them in an exaggerated manner to get a more detailed response from her.
He succeeded as the very next moment, Feng Ning clenched her jaws and stated, "Nonsense! Even the top 10 of the Minor clans don’t have more than Three Fifth Meridian Refinement Stage Cultivators within the age bracket of thirty years.
So how could they even dream of competing with us, the Feng Clan? Yes, the clan has declined over the years, but despite that, we still have Five Young Fifth Meridian Refinement Stage cultivators.
As long as we stand firm in the tournament, which we will, they have no chance of defeating us," Feng Ning stated with outright confidence in her words.
’Moreover, I’ll most likely break through to the Sixth Level in a month or two, so even that tiny probability of failure is no more,’ Feng Ning thought to herself when she finished.
"So that’s how it is. Thank you for explaining everything to me, Miss Ning, and sorry if my question had offended you earlier," Yi Chen stated while bowing his head.
"It’s alright, Brother Chen, People outside the clan have a habit of talking crap and influencing people’s perceptions. I don’t blame you for that," Feng Ning answered with a smile.
"I’m glad. Then..." Gesturing towards clothes around them, he said, "I’ll go and choose a few sets of robes for myself. What about Miss Ning?"
"Hmm, I don’t want to disturb the two of them, so I’ll just accompany Brother Chen while he’s shopping. You won’t mind, right?" She asked with a teasing smile.
"No, I would be grateful to have a company," Yi Chen replied and then asked the staff for directions towards the men’s clothing section before making his way there together with Feng Ning.
Meanwhile, at the Red Velvet Pavilion.
Sixth Floor.
Gao Zhen was sitting on a chair and was going through a bundle of sheets that were resting on her table.
In total, the sheets numbered thirty and were an account of a Qi Absorption Stage expert who had successfully escaped from the Sky Devouring Tomb. It was through the use of the Pavilion’s wide-reaching information network that she was able to get her hands on it.
’No matter one’s cultivation stage, the moment they enter the tomb, they’ll be restricted to the Ninth Level of Meridian Refinement Stage...,’
’Demonic Beasts never seen before...a soul-shuddering presence...trials based on levels...I failed...I escaped....everyone else died.’
Gao Zhen’s eyes went through the important points in the account and analysed them.
In the last line of the account, a sentence was written: Clearing the Sky Devouring Tomb is Impossible!
Gao Zhen snorted and commented with a scowl on her face, "Maybe for you, old man."
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind her and, after a respectful bow said, "It seems we have a problem, Miss Gao."
"What is it?" Gao Zhen asked without turning her head back.
"The shadow guard whom I had assigned to keep an eye on Yi Chen has not reported back for more than twenty-four hours. I suspect she’s most likely dead. Her last report stated that Yi Chen had connections with the Ninth Elder of the Feng Clan and was staying with him," Guard Xue stated the next moment.
"Is that so? Who do you think killed her?" Gao Zhen asked without much of a reaction on her face.
"I have my suspicion towards the Ninth Elder," Guard Xue replied honestly. She was a little angry since she was one of the few shadow guards in her command who were in the Ninth Level of Qi Absorption Stage.
"That can’t be. He’s only in the Seventh Level. If we just go with suspicion, then everyone in the city would appear to be the killer." Gao Zhen dismissed her words the next moment.
"Then, who could it be, Miss Gao?" Guard Xue asked, thinking that Gao Zhen might have figured things out.
"It’s either the Zhou Clan who has sent an expert to keep an eye on him, or it’s a third party whom we don’t know about," Gao Zhen said with a mysterious glint in her eyes and ordered.
"Either way, don’t take any retaliatory action for now. Assign a disposable shadow guard to Yi Chen’s tail and observe him from a distance. It’s a pity, but because of this unknown factor, we have to tone it down a little."
"Yes, Miss Gao," Guard Xue bowed the next moment and disappeared into nothingness.
"Looks like you managed to catch quite some attention, Young Master Chen. Thanks to this, now I’m even more certain about my decision."
Gao Zhen said to herself as a wide smile formed on her face.