336: Chapter 336 So she was just trying to coax me.

Over the years since she entered the Sect, her registered background was as a daughter of the Su Family in Qingyang Town, Qinghe Prefecture, with both parents still alive and a younger brother, Su Cheng, who was at the Qi Refinement Stage.

She had not expected that this younger brother was cultivating in the Danding Sect, and to her surprise, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.

This matter would likely spread throughout the entire Tiangang Sect in less than an hour.

Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang walked up and said to Su Yunling with a smile, "Yun Ling, Fellow Daoist Su is truly an extraordinary figure; you two have hidden this well!"

Su Yunling bowed slightly, "My younger brother has been focusing on his cultivation within his Sect and it was inconvenient to draw attention to himself, so I was not in a position to speak for him."

"Understandable, quite understandable." Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang waved his hand and turned to Su Cheng, "Since Fellow Daoist Su has arrived, why not take a moment to rest? There is no rush for today's lecture; we can make it up another day."

Su Yunling nodded, then said to the Disciples, "That is all for today; we will continue next time. Return and practice on your own; if you have questions, ask me next time."

The Disciples bowed in a flurry, each saying "Yes, Junior Martial Uncle," but their eyes kept darting toward Su Cheng, wishing they could stand there a while longer to get another look.

Su Yunling watched from the side as her younger brother calmly exchanged pleasantries with the Sect Master and Elders, handling himself with perfect poise.

When they last met, he was just a youth at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Now, standing here with the Danding Sect Disciple token hanging at his waist, his spiritual energy was deep and restrained, his cultivation level even higher than her own, and surrounded by a crowd of Foundation Establishment Elders and the Sect Master, he showed not a hint of nervousness.

The welcome banquet held by the Tiangang Sect was extremely lively, with the fragrance of spirit fruits and wine wafting through the great hall of affairs.

Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang frequently raised his glass during the banquet, his words aimed at drawing them closer. Several powerful Elders of the Tiangang Sect took turns offering toasts, their words revealing a desire to befriend him.

Su Cheng did not put on airs, and amidst the clinking of cups, he managed to gauge the temperaments of the Sect's upper echelons.

The atmosphere here was quite upright, without so much petty scheming, so he was truly at ease with his sister staying here.

After three rounds of drinks, Su Cheng picked up his wine cup and took the initiative to walk toward a female Cultivator sitting in the lower seat.

Elder Jing Xuan was not a top-tier figure in the Tiangang Sect, but her seniority was high, and Su Yunling had studied under her since entering the Sect.

"Elder Jing Xuan." Su Cheng bowed slightly, performing the etiquette of a Junior, "My sister has benefited much from your guidance over the years. She often mentions you in her letters, saying that while you are strict, you have never held back your teachings. I, Su Cheng, offer you a toast."

Elder Jing Xuan raised her wine cup, the corners of her mouth twitching in a rare smile, "Yun Ling's talent is indeed outstanding; her Heart-Nature is steady, and she is willing to endure hardship. She is the most exceptional Disciple I have brought up in these years. I merely guided her along the way; everyone in the Sect thinks highly of her."

The two finished their wine, and Su Cheng took a jade bottle from his Storage Pouch and handed it over with both hands, "This is a biling pill I refined myself. It is a small token of my appreciation; please accept it."

Elder Jing Xuan took the jade bottle, pulled out the stopper, and sniffed it, her eyebrows lifting.

It was a second-tier supreme grade pill. Apart from a few sold at the Zhenpin Pavilion in the Prefecture City some time ago, she had rarely even seen one, let alone possessed one.

Naturally, she would not refuse such a rare item. After putting it away, she said, "You are thoughtful. It is Yun Ling's good fortune to have a younger brother like you."

"Elder, you flatter me." Su Cheng said, "My sister's achievements today are inseparable from your guidance."

Elder Jing Xuan nodded and said nothing more.

Su Cheng offered a salute and withdrew, returning to his seat.

After the banquet dispersed, evening had fallen.

Su Cheng politely declined the guest quarters arranged by Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang and followed his sister to her Immortal Cave.

The siblings sat opposite each other with a pot of spirit tea emitting curling wisps of steam; they chatted the entire night.

Su Yunling spoke of her daily cultivation routine in the Tiangang Sect, the dangers she faced while training in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, and the complexities of human relationships within the Sect.

Su Cheng, in turn, selected some interesting anecdotes from the Danding Sect, omitting the life-or-death crises, speaking only of how his Revered Master protected his own and how he stood out during the Alchemy Hall Competition.

When they reached the peak of their conversation, Su Cheng picked up the 'true' story he hadn't finished telling when they were young.

"Sister, actually... Jia Baoyu eventually saw through the Mortal World and became a monk following a mad monk, and his sister Jia Yuanchun passed away in the palace due to illness. In the end, the Jia Family was left with nothing but a vast, clean expanse of white."

Su Yunling listened, enthralled, and only after a long while did she sigh softly, "When we were young, you said Jia Baoyu became a high official; so you were just coaxing me."

"I was afraid you would feel upset back then." Su Cheng smiled, "Now that you are a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, you can naturally understand the rise and fall described in the book."

The siblings smiled at each other, and the sense of estrangement from years of separation vanished in the idle chatter of that night.

It wasn't until the next morning that the Restriction outside the Immortal Cave was triggered.

Su Yunling got up to open the Formation, and standing outside the door was a tall, upright young man.

"Senior Brother Wenren?" Su Yunling looked slightly surprised.

Wenren Zimo nodded slightly, his gaze passing over Su Yunling to land on Su Cheng, who had walked out. He took the initiative to salute, "Wenren Zimo. I apologize for the abrupt intrusion, Fellow Daoist Su."

Su Cheng examined the man before him, and scenes from many years ago surfaced in his mind.

Back then, it was this very Tiangang Sect Disciple who had been ordered to descend the mountain and take his sister away from Qingyang Town.

"Senior Brother Wenren." Su Cheng returned the salute, his expression softening slightly, "When my sister joined the Sect, it was thanks to your escort along the way, as well as your care over these years. I, Su Cheng, will keep this in my heart."

"Fellow Daoist Su is too polite; it was all part of my duty." Wenren Zimo's tone was calm, "I heard that Fellow Daoist Su had arrived, and I shouldn't have bothered you so abruptly, but having met you once before in Qingyang Town, I came specifically to greet an old acquaintance now that we have met again."

"Senior Brother, please come in." Su Cheng stepped aside to let him in.

Su Cheng had a good impression of him, and after the three chatted briefly, Wenren Zimo tactfully rose to take his leave.

On the way to see Wenren Zimo off, Su Cheng spoke with him for a bit before returning to the Immortal Cave to stay with Su Yunling until evening.

Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang hosted another banquet, with the same Elders accompanying them.

There was plenty of polite talk at the table, but Su Cheng could tell that these people were probing his attitude, wondering if he had any intentions toward the Tiangang Sect, or if he would be willing to hold the title of Guest Elder in the Sect.

Su Cheng responded to each one, neither offending anyone nor giving any definite commitment.

Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang was a sensible man; seeing this, he did not press further and instead shifted the conversation to the situation in Qinghe Prefecture.

It was only then that Su Cheng remembered that after revealing his identity, the people in Qinghe Prefecture were likely in an uproar.

At the hour of chen the next day, Su Cheng and Su Yunling left the Tiangang Sect, preparing to return to their Family.

Sect Leader Chu Xuanyang led the Elders to see them off at the mountain gate. Su Cheng offered his thanks with a salute and flew away on his sword side-by-side with his sister.

After they had flown a hundred miles, Su Yunling finally spoke, "What did you say to Senior Brother Wenren yesterday? He was restless the entire day."

"I didn't say anything." Su Cheng smiled, "We just chatted for a bit."

Su Yunling glanced at him and did not press further.

Four days later, the siblings returned to Qingyang Town.