52: Chapter 52 The Mysterious Young Master

"It's just too much of a pity. The Sect Head invited them twice, yet that person refuses to appear. Who on earth could it be?"

"Who knows! Perhaps it's some Genius Disciple who has hidden their cultivation and doesn't want to be too ostentatious!"

"I think it must be an Inner Sect Disciple. How could an Outer Sect Disciple or us Utility Disciples possibly have such Heaven-Defying Comprehension Ability?"

"That's not necessarily true! Isn't Jiang Lijuan also an Outer Sect Disciple? She even triggered the purple light, didn't she? Perhaps the one who triggered the golden light is one of us Outer Sect Disciples!"

"It's a pity that we Utility Disciples aren't allowed to watch the technique stele!"

"Otherwise, one or two of us might have been able to trigger the golden light as well!"

The discussions rose and fell, with the Disciples speculating about the identity of the person who triggered the golden light. Some guessed it was a Genius from the Inner Sect, while others guessed it was an Elder's Personal Disciple.

Others held a glimmer of hope, guessing it was a hidden expert among the Outer Sect Disciples. They spoke vividly, their eyes filled with envy and curiosity.

However, they never imagined that the owner of the golden light, whom they revered as a legend and speculated about so eagerly, was right beside them at this moment, quietly tending to the spirit rice seedlings with a calm expression, as if completely unrelated to this heated discussion.

Qin Changsheng's movements did not pause in the slightest as he continued to carefully loosen the soil for the spirit rice. The discussions ringing in his ears were clearly audible, yet he acted as if he hadn't heard them at all. His expression remained calm and unruffled, without even the slightest hint of strangeness in his eyes.

His heart, however, was crystal clear. Only he knew that the golden light that shocked the entire Heavenly Sword Sect was not the manifestation of any Ancient Divine Ability, but an anomaly triggered when his trait panel activated a draw opportunity and resonated with the technique stele while he was drawing the golden Breath Concealment trait.

At the same time, Qin Changsheng was very clear that once people knew that the one who triggered the golden light was an inconspicuous Utility Disciple like him, it would not only bring endless trouble.

It would also expose his trait secret, cause many unnecessary troubles, and might even lead to people killing him to seize his treasures.

Therefore, he chose to remain silent and continue to hide among the Utility Disciples, pretending that he was just an ordinary Utility Disciple, just like everyone else.

To him, the speculations and discussions in his ears were nothing more than insignificant noise.

What he cared about most at this moment was the secret treasure of Qingyun Lake.

He guessed that if he could obtain the secret treasure of Qingyun Lake, perhaps he might be able to obtain another trait draw opportunity.

Qin Changsheng's gaze slowly swept across the spirit field beside him, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Ever since the day the observation of the technique stele ended, when he saw Chen Erniu leaving the plaza in a hurry wearing Outer Sect attire, he had not seen Chen Erniu's figure again.

Over these past three days, Utility Disciples had come to the spirit field on time every day to tend to the spirit rice, but Chen Erniu alone had never appeared.

One must know that Chen Erniu was honest and simple-minded, usually the most diligent and never lazy. He would appear at the spirit field on time every day to tend to the plot of spirit rice he was responsible for. Even if he were sick, he would briefly explain, and he had never been like this before, vanishing for three days without a word.

However, what puzzled Qin Changsheng the most was how Chen Erniu had acquired Outer Sect attire and managed to mix into the Sect plaza.

Just then, a series of slightly hurried footsteps came from the entrance of the spirit field, accompanied by a harsh scolding that instantly interrupted the discussions in the spirit field.

All the Utility Disciples subconsciously stopped their work and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

"Trash! What are you dawdling for?!"

"I told you to properly tend to the spirit rice, hurry up!"

Manager Ma Yingjie's voice came from afar.

Everyone looked up and saw Manager Ma Yingjie, dressed in gray manager attire, his face gloomy, hands behind his back, walking quickly toward the depths of the spirit field.

Not far in front of him, Chen Erniu was walking with his head down toward the plot of spirit rice he was responsible for, never looking up or speaking the entire time.

Along the way, Manager Ma Yingjie's scolding never ceased, his tone harsh and full of disdain: "I'm telling you, Chen Erniu, confining you for three days this time was lenient. If you make another mistake next time, just see how I deal with you!"

"Hurry up! Be quick! If you don't finish tending to this plot of spirit rice today, you aren't allowed to eat!"

The surrounding Utility Disciples were all terrified into silence, each lowering their heads, not daring to take another look.

Everyone knew that Manager Ma Yingjie was mean-spirited and ruthless, and usually extremely strict with the Utility Disciples. If any Disciple dared to slack off or not come to the spirit field, he would definitely take out his whip and lash them mercilessly.

Seeing him scolding Chen Erniu like this now, although everyone felt some sympathy for Chen Erniu, they dared not say much, only assuming that Chen Erniu had offended Manager Ma Yingjie and was being given a hard time because of it.

Only Qin Changsheng maintained his soil-loosening movements, while the corner of his eye remained tightly locked onto Manager Ma Yingjie and Chen Erniu, taking in every move they made.

He keenly discovered that Manager Ma Yingjie's scolding, while seemingly harsh and mean, actually hid something abnormal and was filled with strangeness everywhere.

Although Manager Ma Yingjie had been scolding Chen Erniu all along, his tone full of disdain, the look in his eyes when he looked at Chen Erniu was not genuine disgust or contempt, but rather held a trace of imperceptible respect. That look flashed and vanished, too fast for others to catch, but it was precisely captured by Qin Changsheng.

Especially when walking, Manager Ma Yingjie seemed to be walking in a hurry, but in fact, he subconsciously lagged half a step behind Chen Erniu, his posture subtly accommodating, which was definitely not his usual attitude toward Utility Disciples, or even Outer Sect Disciples.

Even more abnormal was that although Manager Ma Yingjie scolded him severely, he never laid a finger on Chen Erniu from beginning to end.

Qin Changsheng knew clearly that if it were any other Utility Disciple who made a mistake, Manager Ma Yingjie would have already been burning with rage, taken out the whip at his waist, and lashed them severely; it would never have been as simple as just verbal scolding.

But facing Chen Erniu, no matter how harshly he scolded, he only moved his lips, without even the action of raising his hand. Even the anger in his tone carried a hint of deliberate disguise.

A sharp glint flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes, and the confusion in his heart grew even stronger.

Why was Manager Ma Yingjie so abnormal toward Chen Erniu? He was clearly scolding him harshly, yet he respected Chen Erniu, didn't dare to lay a hand on him, and even deliberately lagged half a step behind when walking?

Chen Erniu was just a Utility Disciple, a Disciple with mediocre Aptitude; why could he make the usually mean and ruthless Manager Ma Yingjie so accommodating and respectful?

A blurry figure and a fragmented voice transmission suddenly flashed through Qin Changsheng's mind.

"Young Lord... the secret treasure is at Qingyun Lake..."

At that time, he only thought the "Young Lord" in Jin Fu's mouth was an important figure from the Blood Demon Sect or some other force, and had never associated this identity with anyone around him.

But at this moment, seeing Manager Ma Yingjie's abnormal respect for Chen Erniu, and Chen Erniu appearing on the Sect plaza wearing Outer Sect attire.

And how Jin Fu, while alive, had always taken special care of Chen Erniu.

Before, Qin Changsheng had also wondered why Jin Fu would come to Servant Peak.

But thinking about it now, everything seemed strange.

A bold and shocking guess suddenly emerged in Qin Changsheng's mind.

Could Chen Erniu be the Young Lord of the Blood Demon Sect?

And the one who comprehended the High-level Secret Technique on the technique stele that day was Chen Erniu.

Only this guess could explain all the abnormalities.

The reason Jin Fu came from the Outer Sect to Servant Peak was because Chen Erniu was his Young Lord, and he needed to protect him in secret;

The reason Manager Ma Yingjie scolded Chen Erniu but dared not lay a hand on him, and was deliberately respectful, was also because he was the Young Lord.

The reason Chen Erniu was able to wear Outer Sect attire was also because he was the Young Lord.

At the same time, Qin Changsheng also understood that the reason Chen Erniu was hiding on Servant Peak must be for the secret treasure within Qingyun Lake.