Chapter 39: Stun Zhang Mei with your beauty and talent? Pfft, easy!
Before the start of the chapter, I would like to sincerely congratulate all women on March 8th. This is an important day for all of us. I'm not sure if any girls read me, but at least I congratulate you. And my characters too.
You can congratulate the characters on March 8th below this paragraph if you want. It's all up to you.
Enjoy reading.
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Xie Qing looked out the window attentively. He was a bit worried that their meeting with Zhang Mei might not go as well as he would like.
"After all, the master stole her technique, for which this woman did not even hesitate to challenge the Dynasty..." thought Xie Qing, sipping wine. Then he shrugged, deciding to just forget about it: "Even if I worry about it, I won't get anything."
***
Xu Mei walked with Zhang Mei with a smile. They walked along the busy street, while disciples and elders stared at them. It was clear that the arrival of the leader of the Starry Stream Sect made many people wary.
There has always been competition between the four sects. Each of them was like a hungry lion ready to devour each other if they gave a weakness. Such competition was natural for cultivators who were used to using each other as a stepping stone.
"See what a good sect I have created?" Xu Mei asked with a smirk, proudly puffing out her chest. Of course, no one could hear their conversation because of a special sound-hiding technique.
"Not particularly impressive. The results of your sect in recent years have been poor because you have not updated the old cultivation techniques," said Zhang Mei, casually yawning. There was still the same static expression on her face that could not be read. She said, "Moreover, you still allow disciples to be given such a low cultivation technique as the basic technique?
That's too disdainful an attitude."
"What can I do? Few techniques are suitable for the Sword Path, and those that are too valuable for ordinary cultivators," replied Xu Mei with an indifferent expression.
"From that point of view, it makes sense," nodded Zhang Mei.
The cultivation world was strict in terms of compliance with the rules, so those who did not have outstanding talent were forced to rest at the bottom. This was an absolute law.
This was the case in most sects. Only small sects cared about the level of their disciples because the number was limited and instead of increasing the disciples, they preferred to increase the quality.
Zhang Mei carefully observed the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect and could say that their level was relatively good. From the point of view of the outside world, most of them could become important people.
"Xu Mei has achieved this in such a short time... damn, the hated genius of all time," thought Zhang Mei with a sour face.
Although she was also considered a genius, in her time Xu Mei occupied all the popularity of their group. This woman was not from a rich family, but from ordinary people and did not even join sects. Her luck was so suffocating that she found a first-class cultivation technique that was only one stage behind what Xie Qing had.
Moreover, she independently founded a sect in connection with which she was recognized as a great personality. Since a lot of time has passed, the world does not remember her achievements, but Zhang Mei and the other sect leaders were witnesses to her history and power.
In the past... Xu Mei was not so lively and cheerful. She exuded a cold atmosphere as if the whole world was contemptible to her. Zhang Mei sighed, remembering the old times.
Since then, many years have passed. Now they have changed. Zhang Mei became colder and more serious, and Xu Mei, on the contrary, became more cheerful and open.
"However, you really can boast of creating a good sect," said Zhang Mei, and there was a barely noticeable smile on her face that disappeared very quickly: "However, you won't continue to distract me from the meeting with your famous disciple, right? You at least have to show me the one who has enough talent to learn that mysterious cultivation technique."
"Oh, you got me," Xu Mei said gloomily and waved her hand: "All right, follow me. But I warn you - don't fall in love with him, okay?!"
"Hmph, have you finally become stupid with age? It seems that people do become stupid with age," Zhang Mei said coldly.
"Well, well, let's see how you behave at a personal meeting."
Xu Mei waved her hand and, not wanting to continue the conversation, asked her to follow her.
Although Zhang Mei pretended to be indifferent, she was very interested in seeing that talent who was able to learn the cultivation technique that even she and Xu Mei could not understand.
***
"Oh, so you live here? Quite modestly, considering that you once built a fifty-story pavilion right on the border between righteous cultivators and devilish cultivators to provoke the latter. It still exists, by the way," said Zhang Mei, shaking her head.
"Bah. Bah. I'm not interested in all this crap because I'm no longer interested in such uptight places. It's better to live in a hut with your loved one than alone in a huge pavilion."
"..."
Zhang Mei fell silent. She could not understand her feelings, because she had never experienced love. In her youth, she was too naive and trusting, so she was protected from men as carefully as from the plague.
By the way, she was from the ancient Zhang family, which no longer exists. Unfortunately, the genealogy stopped at her.
Entering the territory of the pavilion, they headed to the back, from where Xie Qing's Qi was felt.
When they turned the corner, they saw a young man sitting with his back to them. He was in the lotus position and Qi was emanating from him, indicating that he was meditating.
"There he is," Xu Mei said with a smile, looking at Xie Qing with admiring eyes.
"Th-this..."
Zhang Mei lost her voice when she saw how much Qi he inhaled in one breath and the minimal amount of effort he spent on cleansing the Qi.
He absorbed Qi so quickly that a small vortex of spiritual energy appeared around him. Within two kilometers, there was a strong drop in Qi concentration. The reason was sitting in front of them.
Even with her rich experience, Zhang Mei could not help but be surprised by such talent. One thing was the cultivation technique, it was powerful and even an idiot could become the strongest cultivator with its help.
She saw that this young man had a special bloodline.
"Strange. I checked his past and he is from the Xie family, which, although famous for its wealth, has not so much talent among them. The most talented of them is only the first son Xie Hui, but in my eyes he is mediocrity," thought Zhang Mei and muttered his name under her nose: "Xie Qing..."
Boom!
And suddenly, as if hearing her voice, the vortex suddenly intensified and Xie Qing's body disappeared in the vortex of spiritual energy. After a few seconds, the sound of an explosion and a crack in the earth could be heard. Xie Qing's aura had strengthened!
"H-he..."
Zhang Mei stared in astonishment at the place where Xie Qing was sitting. She felt how he was able to take a step in his development and reached the sixth stage of Qi Condensation!
"How many years has he been at this cultivation stage?" asked Zhang Mei with a slightly trembling voice.
"Hm? How many years?" Xu Mei repeated the question with a smile and, seeing Zhang Mei's expectant look, she proudly puffed out her chest and said: "It took less than a month! He rose from the level of Enlightenment to Qi Condensation in less than a month!"
"Th-th-this..."
Zhang Mei lost her voice again. She could not imagine such talent. Compared to him, even Xu Mei had to politely give up the title of the greatest genius.
To reach such a level at the age of 18 was already considered a very rare case and there were only two people in history who achieved this - Xu Mei and Xie Qing!
One of them got stuck at this level for a year and reached the sixth stage only at the age of 21, while Xie Qing not only reached this level at the age of eighteen but also in less than a month!
"..."
Zhang Mei's face became serious. She could no longer underestimate him. Most likely, her disciple would have to face a serious obstacle on her path in the form of Xie Qing, who was such a big boulder in the garden that no one could move.
She could already imagine the future. With his appearance in the cultivation world, every genius would be considered garbage, while only he would shine, taking the spotlight from his competitors.
"Oh... it seems that my heir is not so lucky with talent. After all, she was considered a genius, reaching the Core Formation level at the age of 27, which is already considered a good result."
As in the case of Xu Mei, when such geniuses as him appear, the entire cultivation world simultaneously experiences difficult times and good times at the same time.
"You need to be careful. There will be many people who will want to cut off his head. Don't forget about the Empress of the Huanglun Dynasty, she will be on guard and will not tolerate his existence just like that," warned Zhang Mei, watching as Xie Qing finishes his breakthrough.
"Yes, I've thought about that too. But don't worry, he's not that easy to kill. As long as I'm alive, no one will dare touch him with a finger."
Xu Mei snorted coldly. How could she not know about the Empress of the Huanglun Dynasty? In her time, she had many conflicts of interest with this woman, as this woman could not tolerate too much power from the sects.
Although Xu Mei was not closely acquainted with this woman, she could not help but be dissatisfied with her. After all, the Empress in the past prevented her from creating a sect.
"She will pay attention to him. We are equal in strength, so I don't think I need to worry about it."
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*Do I need to make extra chapters about the past of these guys? For example, Zhang Mei and Xu Mei. Write in the comments.