Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Eldest Princess
"Young... Young Sect Leader, save me!"
Seeing the brocade-clothed man appear, Lu Ren, who was pinned to the ground and unable to move, immediately showed joy on his face.
Young Sect Leader?
Upon hearing this title, Ji Chen couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
So it seems, this young man in brocade should be the Young Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect.
Nie Yuan.
Twenty-three years old, now having reached the Eighth Layer of the Vein Condensation Realm in cultivation.
As the Young Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect, with such strength, he is well known throughout the entire Chu Kingdom, being one of the rare figures among the younger generation.
Although Ji Chen had never interacted with him, the Lingyun Sect and the Celestial Profound Sect have always been at odds, with frequent frictions and conflicts over the years.
Now, with the two Young Sect Leaders meeting here, naturally, they are particularly jealous.
"Why haven’t you released him yet?" Nie Yuan strode forward, arriving in front of Ji Chen.
"Just because you say release, I should release?"
Ji Chen disdainfully looked directly at him. As he spoke, he exerted force with his foot, causing Lu Ren on the ground to let out a miserable scream.
"What audacity!"
Nie Yuan’s face completely darkened, "Who exactly are you? You dare to act in the Celestial Saint Garden, right in front of the Eldest Princess, do you not want to live?"
"Then you are wronging me, it was he who attacked first, I am only defending myself." Ji Chen said calmly.
"What exactly is going on here?"
At this moment, a woman emerged from the crowd.
She wore a white dress, elegant and unparalleled, her brows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes sweeping across the scene.
The woman was none other than the Eldest Princess, Qu Luoning.
"Eldest Princess, this person unjustifiably injured my Celestial Profound Sect’s disciple, and even did so in this Celestial Saint Garden, a blatant provocation against the Royal Family, please allow me to apprehend him." Nie Yuan said.
Qu Luoning, however, did not respond immediately. After glancing at Ji Chen, she eventually looked towards the two guards stationed at the bamboo grove’s entrance.
One of the guards respectfully came to her side, whispering something in her ear.
A moment later, Qu Luoning nodded slightly, "So it turns out, it was indeed the Celestial Profound Sect’s people who attacked first; there is no reason to blame him."
After speaking, she looked towards Ji Chen and calmly inquired, "May I know who you are?"
"I am Ji Chen, greetings to the Eldest Princess." Ji Chen slightly cupped his fists, showing no humility or arrogance.
The shining jewel of the Chu Kingdom, the future Empress, if it were an ordinary person who saw her, they would’ve likely already knelt.
But who is Ji Chen?
Having been reborn as the Pill Saint, even the Eldest Princess of the Chu Kingdom, and even if Emperor Chu and all the rulers of the Ten Countries of the Profound Domain were here, they might not be able to move him.
"Ji Chen?"
Nie Yuan frowned, feeling that the name was somewhat familiar. It took him a moment to react, his gaze once again focused sharply, "You are Ji Chen? The Young Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect?"
"I didn’t expect that our Young Sect Leader Nie Yuan had heard of my name." Ji Chen spoke.
Nie Yuan coldly smiled, "The first scoundrel of the Chu Kingdom, it’d be hard not to have heard of you."
"He’s Ji Chen?"
The people present were somewhat surprised, whispering among themselves.
Evidently, they had all heard of Ji Chen’s name to some extent. After all, such a scoundrel was infamous, many sects and families even used Ji Chen as a cautionary example to educate their disciples.
"So, this esteemed person is Ji Chen, Young Master Ji, I’ve long heard of your noble name."
The Eldest Princess also smiled. After speaking, she glanced at Lu Ren at Ji Chen’s feet, continuing, "Kindly give me some face, and first release him."
"Bang!"
Ji Chen nonchalantly shrugged, kicking Lu Ren away, "Since the Eldest Princess has spoken, if I dare not give face, it might be difficult to leave the Celestial Saint Garden safely tonight."
"You are not at fault, how could I blame you?" Qu Luoning said.
"I didn’t expect you, Young Master, to come to Celestial Essence City, I apologize for not welcoming you sooner. If you don’t mind, would you grace me with your presence to drink a few cups in the grove?" She invited.
Anyway, the Lingyun Sect is still one of the three major sects within the Chu Kingdom, and as the Young Sect Leader, even if he is a scoundrel, since he appeared here, as the Eldest Princess and the host of this gathering, it would be unreasonable to neglect him.
Furthermore, Qu Luoning was somewhat curious.
It is said that this scoundrel Young Sect Leader is merely a waste, at eighteen or nineteen years old, he was only at the Eighth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm.
But why could he so easily trample Lu Ren underfoot?
After all, this Lu Ren had the Second Layer of Vein Condensation Realm strength.
"Since it is an invitation from the Eldest Princess, how could I dare not comply?" Ji Chen smiled.
Soon, the group returned to the bamboo grove.
Lu Ren was carried away by several disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect, while Nie Yuan stayed behind. At this moment, he sat across from Ji Chen, his sullen gaze occasionally sweeping over.
Evidently, as the Young Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect, having someone dare to injure his sect’s disciple in front of him tonight, particularly when this Lu Ren was a close associate of his, if this matter were not dealt with, it would be a disgrace to Nie Yuan.
But for now, in the Celestial Saint Garden with the Eldest Princess present, it was clear he couldn’t act against Ji Chen.
He could only wait until the gathering ended to settle accounts with Ji Chen separately.
Soon, the people began to chat casually, discussing some past topics.
They didn’t pay much attention to Ji Chen, after all, in their eyes, Ji Chen was just a scoundrel, the Eldest Princess invited him only because he held the title of Young Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect.
Everyone knew that such a scoundrel, in two or three years, his cultivation would fall far behind those of his age, he was from a world different from theirs, and they would most likely not have any future interactions.
"I observe that your aura is calm, with spiritual qi faintly seeping out, could it be that you have already attained Vein Condensation Realm cultivation?" Qu Luoning suddenly spoke.
I must say, her observation was indeed sharp, Ji Chen thought he had hidden it well, yet she still saw through it.
He didn’t hide it, only nodded casually and said, "Not long ago, I had a lucky breakthrough, my cultivation is insignificant to all of you."
He wasn’t being overly modest, it was just that everyone present were Young Master level figures from various sects and families, it’s no exaggeration to say that the renowned geniuses of the Chu Kingdom were nearly all here tonight.
Their cultivations had all reached above the Sixth Layer of the Vein Condensation Realm.
"I didn’t expect you, such a scoundrel, to achieve Vein Condensation one day." Nie Yuan wasn’t too surprised, after all, people of this age reaching the Vein Condensation Realm were common in the Chu Kingdom.
In fact, his words carried a mocking tone, for the Young Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect, Ji Chen was only just reaching the Vein Condensation Realm, which however you looked at it made him a complete waste.