Just one night passed, and the news of Shen Han dining and talking with Elder Sizhi was known by anyone paying even slight attention.
This matter revealed multiple layers of significance.
The first layer is that Elder Sizhi gave Shen Han a treasure of absolute grade, a protective jade.
As an Elder, he even apologized to Shen Han.
These actions somewhat restored some authority to the Five Immortals City’s rules.
The second layer of significance also demonstrates the Elders’ attitude toward Shen Han.
Elder Sizhi is as close to Tang Chenyang as can be.
Yet he actively sought Shen Han to talk and dissolve mutual grievances.
This shows that the higher-ups of Five Immortals City have goodwill toward Shen Han.
This attitude, once shown, acts as a guide for others.
Most people took this news with a spectator’s mindset.
They have no grievances or grudges with Shen Han, only learning some news, as if watching a show.
Of course, there are also those who felt utterly hopeless upon hearing this news.
The first being Xing Yonghai.
Tang Chenyang and Qianmu Fan’s retaliation against Shen Han could be said to be Xing Yonghai’s last straw of hope.
They intended to eliminate Shen Han, suppress him.
Then, Xing Yonghai still has a chance to rise again.
The news of Elder Sizhi dining happily with Shen Han.
Completely crushed Xing Yonghai.
Even the Elder close to Tang Chenyang showed goodwill to Shen Han.
This matter leaves no expectations.
Xing Yonghai now lives each day in apprehension.
With each passing day, it feels like he gets a step closer to the line of death.
Caught in the whirlpool, Tang Chenyang is now being made a joke.
Dean Sixin is busy, many people know.
Actually, most of the time, it’s Elder Sizhi who guides Tang Chenyang.
But today, the Elder Sizhi who was supposed to support Tang Chenyang, instead went to show goodwill to Shen Han.
As this matter spread in Five Immortals City, Tang Chenyang naturally became subject to much ridicule.
Losing to a Servant Disciple is bad enough, but even his backing started to value Shen Han.
After midday.
Having not waited for Elder Sizhi in his own courtyard, Tang Chenyang hesitated, then ran to Elder Sizhi’s courtyard himself.
In the past, Tang Chenyang really hoped Elder Sizhi wouldn’t come looking for him.
Hoping for more time to rest and play, avoiding exhausting cultivation.
But these days Elder Sizhi hasn’t come, causing him quite the panic.
Arriving at Elder Sizhi’s courtyard, he discovered his mentor, Dean Sixin was also there.
Seeing Tang Chenyang come, the two seemed not too surprised.
"Chenyang, come sit down."
Dean Sixin pulled out a chair, indicating for Tang Chenyang to sit.
In Tang Chenyang’s view, his mentor has always indulged and spoiled him.
But today, he felt something was off...
"Mentor, did you anticipate I would come..."
Upon hearing this, Dean Sixin glanced at him.
"Both myself and your Uncle assumed you’d come last night.
Didn’t expect it would take this long."
"Last night, I cultivated late, truly exhausted.
That’s why I only learned of the news today..."
In an instant, Tang Chenyang came up with an excuse.
Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a look, showing a helpless smile.
Perhaps the accumulation of disappointment had grown too much, this time, Elder Sizhi didn’t expose him.
After hesitating a moment, he turned to look at Tang Chenyang.
"What brings you to find me, sit and speak."
Tang Chenyang came today with a quest of reproach, naturally unwilling to weaken his momentum.
"Uncle, did you go looking for that Servant Disciple yesterday?"
"Hmm, just at the teahouse on the east side of the city, the tea-drinking environment is quite nice."
Elder Sizhi’s answer was forthright, having no intention to conceal.
In response, Tang Chenyang’s expression began to darken.
"Uncle, you clearly know that Shen Han and I have grievances, yet you..."
"What grievances?
You’ve only met him a few times, apart from that competition, what other relations are there?
As for that competition, it was your own arrogance, wanting to stand up for Qianmu Fan, that led to this."
Elder Sizhi spoke directly, without any reservation.
Hearing this, Tang Chenyang’s expression grew even more unsightly.
"That Servant Disciple made me lose face in front of others, isn’t that a grievance?
Moreover, my loss of face brings your mentor and uncle’s face shame as well."
"Competitions have wins and losses, victory and defeat are commonplace.
As your Uncle, rushing into the Martial Arts Arena to protect you then was already showing responsibility.
In reality, you shouldn’t hold grievances against him.
Furthermore, the matter of my and your mentor’s face being shamed need not be mentioned.
If you wanted to bring us honor, you wouldn’t be so lazy.
You also wouldn’t meet us now with excuses, saying you cultivated too late last night.
Last night, you certainly weren’t cultivating, you were just playing around."
His words were so direct it was hard for Tang Chenyang to accept.
Hearing this, Tang Chenyang simply opted not to argue further.
He turned away, looking at his mentor.
His mentor has always indulged him, unlike his stern uncle.
"Mentor, can you say something about Uncle..."
"I really hate that Shen Han. Just seeing him makes me feel nauseous..."
In front of Dean Sixin, Tang Chenyang spoke with a hint of coquettishness.
In the past, Dean Sixin would indulge him somewhat, but today...
"Chenyang, the sect has already made its decision on this matter.
Besides, your uncle protected you at the time, violating sect rules.
We were wrong first, strictly speaking, that kid Shen Han has the right to blame us."
"Master, are you also defending him? Are the rumors outside true, do you want to rope him in and make him a direct disciple?"
Tang Chenyang looked at his master and asked directly.
Dean Sixin’s nature doesn’t like to embarrass people and always offers a way out.
But today, Tang Chenyang saw the exit but refused to take it.
"Chenyang, your master really doesn’t want to hide things from you.
Your uncle has a high opinion of that kid, thinks he’s quite good.
So..."
This statement clearly told Tang Chenyang they intended to enlist Shen Han.
And hearing this, Tang Chenyang still had no intention of stepping down, even showing a hint of anger on his face.
"I don’t want to be in the same sect as that person.
Thinking of addressing a servant disciple as senior brother, I cannot accept it.
If you, master, still insist on recruiting him, then please expel me from the sect.
I, Tang Chenyang, will seek another sect’s refuge."
Tang Chenyang seemed to think he was negotiating well.
If that didn’t work, he’d up the ante.
After all, he is a talented disciple who has unlocked seven bindings; he doesn’t believe he can be easily discarded.
Hearing this, Dean Sixin’s face showed even more disappointment.
Dean Sixin actually still had a glimmer of hope for Tang Chenyang.
She hoped that through this opportunity, Tang Chenyang could amend some mistakes.
Because of the comparison with Shen Han, he too could strive and work harder.
Unfortunately, she hoped too much.
"Chenyang, if you speak like this, then our teacher-disciple bond may have to end today.
Actually, as your teacher, I have always felt somewhat guilty.
Under my guidance, your progress is truly unsatisfactory.
In your cultivation, you’ve been too spoiled..."
As Dean Sixin spoke, Tang Chenyang was stunned on the spot.
He hadn’t expected that his usually doting master would treat him this way because of Shen Han.
"Master, I only lost one competition...
What exactly is so outstanding about that Shen Han that makes you and uncle treat me this way?
Do you really understand him?
Are you certain he’s better than me, Tang Chenyang?!"
Inside Tang Chenyang’s heart, there was even a bit of anger.
He couldn’t accept being abandoned because of Shen Han.
Hearing these words, Elder Sizhi’s face showed even more disappointment.
"Chenyang, think carefully.
Your master just mentioned so many issues; did she mention Shen Han?
Which sentence of hers wasn’t about your problems?"
Elder Sizhi was clearly a bit angry.
As he spoke, he stood up and walked toward Tang Chenyang.
"Don’t think that just because you have some talent, you’re destined to reach the peak of the mountains.
This world is vast, and geniuses are countless.
It’s not uncommon for geniuses to become indistinguishable from the masses.
Your master tends to give you face when she speaks.
But I can be more straightforward with you.
Chenyang, I’ve actually wanted to tell you for a long time: you won’t achieve great things.
What touches me most is the chance your master sought for you, letting you venture forth to seize opportunities.
You were actually lazy enough not to want to go, expecting your master to get it, and bring the opportunity to your mouth."
Elder Sizhi spoke with a serious face, word by word.
Tang Chenyang didn’t expect that Elder Sizhi would still remember this from several years ago.
Hearing this, Tang Chenyang felt even more angry inside.
He realized that this uncle had noted his shortcomings all along.
"So it turns out uncle was dissatisfied with me a long time ago.
So many years have passed, and yet still remembers so clearly."
As Tang Chenyang spoke, Elder Sizhi didn’t wish to pay attention.
If he were willing to listen to reason, he wouldn’t have responded like this today.
"Chenyang, what you said today already shows you haven’t learned a lesson from your competition with Shen Han.
Your strength in the 7th Layer Grotto Heaven Realm should have overpowered Shen Han in a confrontation.
Even if Shen Han hid his strength, surprising you.
Yet you lost without even putting up a fight."
Elder Sizhi stood before him, seemingly wanting to persuade him further.
"Slack in cultivation, a scattered heart.
Chenyang, I’ll tell you something you may not like to hear.
Even given ten more years of cultivation, you won’t be a match for Shen Han."
Hearing this, Tang Chenyang’s face was almost overflowing with anger.
But the two before him were the top powerhouses in Five Immortals City, and he dared not vent.
In the courtyard, silence lingered for a long while.
Tang Chenyang looked at them, then at Dean Sixin.
Seeing his master not speaking for him.
Suddenly, Tang Chenyang smiled instead.
"Then let’s see if I can surpass that servant disciple in the future.
I will make you regret it."

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