93: Chapter 93 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Forty-One)

Chu Shi listened and responded from the side, and soon they arrived at the entrance of the Outer Sect Disciple Canglan Courtyard.

This was a large, open courtyard complex. Looking out, one could see a long bluestone street winding along the mountain's contours, with rows of houses lining both sides.

The eaves were all cast with the Golden Crow pattern of the Great Sun Holy Land, shimmering with a faint gilded light in the deepening twilight.

There were many disciples coming and going, mostly dressed in the emerald-green robes of Outer Sect Disciples, with the occasional white-robed Utility Disciple hurrying past, creating a lively atmosphere.

Chu Shi walked side by side with Chu Ming; his purple martial attire accentuated the young man's tall, upright figure and calm gait.

He had just broken through to the Iron Skin Realm, completing a leap in his life essence.

Although he tried his best to restrain his aura, the sense of oppression stemming from his essential life force could still be perceived by the disciples passing by.

Those they encountered on the road stopped to pay their respects, calling out, "Greetings, Senior Brother Chu."

Chu Shi nodded to each of them in acknowledgment.

As the two went deeper inside, Chu Shi soon encountered a few "acquaintances."

They were the disciples from the Canglan Princes Mansion who had been following Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and Princess Xiao Xiao that day.

These few were also wearing the emerald-green robes of Outer Sect Disciples and were in a hurry, seemingly with urgent business.

Upon seeing Chu Shi, however, they hurriedly came over to pay their respects, their tones carrying an undisguised warmth.

Chu Shi paused slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he nodded in return and asked:

"Junior Brothers, it has been a long time. How have the Seventh Prince and the Princess been lately?"

"The Prince and the Princess are both well. The Prince was just mentioning Senior Brother Chu the day before yesterday; since the entrance trial, you have been in seclusion, and we haven't had a chance to meet," the leading disciple from the mansion replied hurriedly.

"Haha, the Prince still has the same temperament. It is I who have been neglectful," Chu Shi said with a smile, self-deprecatingly.

Afterward, he spoke gently to the leading disciple:

"Please, I must trouble you all to pass on a message for me. I have finished my seclusion and have officially broken through to the Iron Skin Realm. When I have time tomorrow, I will personally go to pay my respects to the Prince and the Princess."

"We wouldn't dare! We will certainly report this properly!"

The few bowed hurriedly to acknowledge this, and only dared to straighten up after the figures of Chu Shi and Chu Ming had walked far away.

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with incredulous shock.

They didn't even care about the tasks they had just accepted, and hurriedly ran toward the peaks where Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and Princess Xiao Xiao were located.

On the other side, Chu Ming glanced sideways at his cousin beside him, his eyes filled with a sense of pride.

He was three years older than Chu Shi and had been in the sect for over three years, so he knew deeply how arrogant these disciples from the various regional mansions were within the Great Sun Holy Land.

Together with the descendants of the various elders or ancestors in the Holy Land, they formed the Aristocratic Faction.

Even if it were just a Utility Disciple, they would be neither humble nor arrogant when facing Inner Sect Disciples of commoner origin like them.

The disciples of their Chu family worked deeply in the External Affairs Hall and frequently encountered difficulties caused by these people.

Yet, he rarely saw them treat anyone with such respect.

For a moment, even though it wasn't him being bowed to, it made him feel secretly pleased and indescribably gratified.

The myriad thoughts in his mind flashed by in an instant. After regaining his focus, Chu Ming raised his hand and pointed to a magnificent and imposing hall ahead.

He whispered, "Ahead is the External Affairs Hall of Canglan Courtyard. I have already sent a message to my father in advance; he specifically set aside all his duties today to wait for us in the hall."

Chu Shi acknowledged this and walked forward.

As soon as the two stepped in front of the hall door, they saw a middle-aged man dressed in a silver-white deacon's brocade robe coming out to greet them.

His figure was tall and upright, his face handsome, and although he had reached middle age, there was still a hint of youthful heroism between his brows.

Although his cultivation at the peak of the Copper Bone Realm was deliberately restrained, the aura of majesty—forged from years of struggling in the Holy Land, his capable and sharp demeanor, and long-term position of authority—still unconsciously radiated from him.

Only when looking at Chu Shi did his sharp eyes instantly crinkle, his face filled with a gentle smile.

This was Deacon Chu Feng, Chu Shi's cousin-uncle and the leader of the Chu family in the Holy Land.

"Is this the Qilin child of our Chu family?" Deacon Chu Feng quickly walked down the steps and caught Chu Shi, who was about to bow in greeting.

He reached out and patted his shoulder with a moderate force, full of the warmth of an elder, "Truly a talent, living up to his reputation!"

"Uncle, you flatter me."

Chu Shi straightened up accordingly and bowed with full etiquette.

"I have been in the sect for many days, but I have been busy with seclusion and breaking through, so I failed to come and pay my respects to you earlier. It was my discourtesy."

"Hey, that's being too formal!" Deacon Chu Feng waved his hand and laughed heartily.

"You are a rare prodigy that our Chu family has not seen in a millennium; you should prioritize your martial path. What do these empty formalities matter? As long as your martial path goes smoothly, we elders are happier than anything."

As the two were exchanging pleasantries, Chu Ming spoke up at the right moment: "Father, there are people coming and going at the main entrance, and it is inconvenient for disciples to conduct business. Why don't we go to the backyard to talk in detail?"

"Oh, look at my head!" Deacon Chu Feng slapped his forehead as if he had just realized it, and hurriedly stepped aside to lead the way.

"I was just too happy to see my nephew, and I became muddled instead. Quick, please, come inside and follow me to the backyard to talk."

The External Affairs Hall usually had many disciples coming and going, making it noisy, but after passing through the main hall to the back, it was an elegant small courtyard that offered quiet amidst the bustle.

As soon as the courtyard gate was pushed open, a rich surge of Heaven and Earth Origin Energy rushed toward them, and Chu Shi's eyes flickered imperceptibly.

This courtyard was actually laid out with a Profound-grade Origin Gathering Array, and several unknown crystals were embedded at the array's core.

The concentration of Heaven and Earth Origin Energy within the courtyard was not only not inferior to the Inner Sect Disciple area, but even a bit denser than his own Tingyang Courtyard, which was one of the best on the mountainside of Lieyang Peak.

It was no wonder; the position of deacon in the External Affairs Hall was a lucrative post, and combined with his cousin-uncle's cultivation at the peak of the Copper Bone Realm, he must be one of the top figures with real power under the Hall Master.

It was reasonable to have such a setup. Chu Shi understood this in his heart, but his expression remained calm as he followed Deacon Chu Feng into the courtyard.

"A distinguished guest has arrived, why didn't you say so in advance?" A gentle female voice came from the main room, and a middle-aged woman dressed in a plain-colored brocade skirt hurriedly came out to greet them.

She had a beautiful appearance, a gentle temperament, and a touch of the dignity of a woman from an aristocratic family between her brows.

Upon seeing Chu Shi, she was slightly taken aback at first, then genuine surprise flooded her eyes as she hurriedly stepped forward to bow:

"This must be nephew Shi, right? I often hear your uncle mention you, and today I finally get to see you. You are truly a young hero, a man of great talent."

This was Deacon Chu Feng's wife, Chu Shi's aunt.

"Aunt, you are too kind. It is my fault for making you wait, Aunt." Chu Shi hurriedly bowed in return, his etiquette impeccable.

"Don't just stand at the door, come inside and sit." Aunt smiled and stepped aside to lead the way, glancing at Deacon Chu Feng with feigned reproach as she walked. "You too, with our nephew coming, you didn't even send a message in advance so I could prepare some tea and snacks."

"I just wanted to give you a surprise." Deacon Chu Feng laughed and led Chu Shi to sit on the pear wood chairs in the main hall.

Not long after they sat down, Aunt led two young girls into the room.