Chapter 13 – The Elder of the Pill Refining Peak 丹峰长老

The disciples and elders of the three sects gathered at the exchange meeting, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious. The disciples of the Yintian Sword Sect and the Yiyuan Sect stood tall and straight, full of high spirits, and exuded confidence in every gesture. Tang Xiao (late Foundation Establishment stage), an inner sect disciple of the Yiyuan Sect, swept his gaze over the disciples of the Longevity Sect and a mocking smile curled up at the corner of his mouth. "I heard that all the disciples of your Longevity Sect start as servant disciples? With such a background, what can you compare with our Yiyuan Sect?"

Meng Xinghe's expression remained calm, and he replied indifferently, "Background is just the starting point. Talent and hard work are the keys to determining one's achievements. Don't you understand?" Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao's face changed slightly, and he raised his voice, saying, "So what if you have talent? You're still just superficially decent, spoiled by you so-called orthodox sects!"

Before the exchange meeting officially began, the elder of the Pill Refining Peak shuttled through the crowd, distributing pills. Her gaze seemingly casually swept over the disciples of the Longevity Sect one by one. When it fell on Meng Xinghe, she was slightly taken aback. The speed at which this young man had improved his cultivation was beyond imagination. His eyes were filled with determination, and there was also a hint of unspoken stubbornness and loneliness hidden within. The elder of the Pill Refining Peak stepped forward and asked seemingly casually, "You're from the Meng family, aren't you? I heard that you were once expelled from your family, but you've developed quite well in the Longevity Sect. What's your secret?"

A trace of displeasure flashed in Meng Xinghe's eyes, and he said coldly, "Talent is a double-edged sword. How to use it depends entirely on the individual. Why do you need to ask?" The elder of the Pill Refining Peak raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a meaningful smile.

The disciples of each sect were arranged to go to the training ground to get familiar with the environment. As soon as Tang Xiao saw the opportunity, he immediately stepped up to Meng Xinghe and launched a venomous tongue attack. "You're just a poor wretch abandoned by your family. You probably used some unorthodox methods to get into the Longevity Sect. Do you really deserve to be a representative of the exchange meeting among the three sects?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Xinghe's anger flared up instantly. He rolled up his sleeves and was ready to fight. Although the two of them didn't use spiritual energy, the ferocity between their fists and kicks made the people around them break out in cold sweat. At the critical moment, Lin Xuefei made a glorious appearance in the capacity of the senior sister of the outer sect of the Longevity Sect. She let out a fierce roar, "Stop it all! Aren't you ashamed!" Before leaving, Tang Xiao insulted, "Hmph, even if you have some talent, with such a poor mentality, you will failed in the future!"

In the evening, Lin Yuan returned to the residence. Goodness, as soon as he entered the door, he saw Meng Xinghe cultivating frantically like an indefatigable robot. He was sweating profusely, and his face was filled with unwillingness. Lin Yuan couldn't help but tease, "Xinghe, who are you trying to outdo like this? If you keep practicing like this, Tang Xiao will be scared out of his wits!"

Meng Xinghe stopped his movements, tossed his hair stylishly, and said, "If talent is a sin, then I'm willing to commit that sin to the end! There's no other way. I have to rely on this talent to live well and, by the way, slap the faces of those who look down on me!" After hearing this, Lin Yuan was shocked in his heart. He silently sat down and accompanied him in his cultivation training.

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三派弟子和长老齐聚交流会,气氛热烈而融洽.音天剑派和一元宗的弟子们身姿挺拔,意气风发,举手投足间满是自信.一元宗内门弟子唐啸（筑基后期）,目光扫过长生派弟子,嘴角勾起一抹嘲讽的笑:"听说你们长生派弟子都是从杂役干起的?就这出身,拿什么跟我们一元宗比?"

孟星河面色平静,淡淡回应:"出身不过是起点,天赋和努力才是决定成就的关键,你不懂吗?" 唐啸一听,脸色微变,拔高声音道:"有天赋又如何?还不是被你们这些所谓的正派惯得徒有其表!"

交流会尚未正式开始,丹峰长老穿梭在人群中分发丹药,目光看似不经意地在长生派弟子身上一一扫过.当落在孟星河身上时,她微微一怔,这少年修为提升之快超乎想象,眼神中透着坚韧,又藏着几分不为人知的倔强与孤独.丹峰长老走上前,看似随意地问道:"你是孟家子弟吧?听闻你曾被家族驱逐,在长生派却发展得不错,有什么秘诀?"

孟星河眼中闪过一丝不悦,冷声道:"天赋是把双刃剑,如何运用全看个人,何必多问." 丹峰长老嘴角上扬,露出一抹意味深长的笑.

各派弟子被安排到训练场地熟悉环境,唐啸一看机会来了,立马凑到孟星河跟前,开启毒舌攻击:"你不就是个被家族抛弃的可怜虫嘛,指不定用了什么旁门左道才进了长生派,也配当三派交流会代表?"

孟星河一听,火 "噌" 地一下就冒起来了,撸起袖子就准备干架.两人虽然没动用灵力,但拳脚之间那股子狠劲儿,看得周围人直冒冷汗.关键时刻,林雪霏以长生派外门大师姐的身份闪亮登场,一声怒吼:"都给我住手!丢不丢人!" 唐啸临走还不忘补刀:"哼,就算有点天赋,心态这么差,也成不了啥大气候!"

晚上,林远回驻地,好家伙,一进门就看到孟星河跟个不知疲倦的机器人似的疯狂苦修,浑身大汗淋漓,脸上写满了不甘.林远忍不住调侃:"星河,你这是要卷死谁啊?再这么练下去,唐啸都得被你吓破胆!"

孟星河停下动作,耍帅地甩了甩头发,说:"如果天赋是种罪,那我甘愿一罪到底!没办法,我得靠这天赋好好活下去,顺便打那些看不起我的人的脸!" 林远听了,心里一震,默默坐下,陪着他一起练.