C12 The Rumors Were Untrue

"Fatty?" Ye Chen blurted out, his voice tinged with subconscious surprise.

As soon as the words escaped his lips, he realized his mistake and fell silent. It wasn't exactly polite to call someone fat upon a first meeting, especially since it could easily offend.

And this was no ordinary person; this was the eldest senior brother from the Polaris Holy Land.

Curiosity filled Ye Chen as he approached the man, his eyes reflecting his uncertainty. This was his first encounter with the esteemed eldest senior brother of the Polaris. From what he'd heard from other disciples, the eldest senior brother was supposed to be a paragon of virtue and beauty, a mature and dignified figure akin to a legendary hero. So how could it be that the man before him resembled a ball, his stature quite rotund?

Ye Chen observed the eldest senior brother thoughtfully.

A fatty he might be, but Ye Chen wouldn't underestimate Lee Zhenfeng simply because of his size.

This was, after all, the top prodigy among the younger generation of the Polaris, the eldest senior brother of the disciples, and the most gifted and powerful among them.

His remarkable talent and strength were sufficient to overshadow the fact that he was overweight.

"Alright, he's quite overweight. Even his talent can't hide that," Ye Chen mused with a sense of resignation.

Eventually, Ye Chen rationalized the eldest senior brother's appearance, concluding that extraordinary individuals often have their unique traits.

"Greetings, Master Zi Yuan," Lee Zhenfeng said as he arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and gave a respectful bow.

"Greetings, Junior Brother," Lee Zhenfeng replied, nodding courteously to Ye Chen.

Despite being the strongest among his peers, he carried himself with humility and observed proper etiquette.

Even in his interaction with Ye Chen, there was no hint of arrogance, only a polite acknowledgment.

"Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother," Ye Chen responded, careful not to display any arrogance himself. He bowed slightly to Lee Zhenfeng, extending his respect.

"Disciple Zhenfeng, I assume the Sect Master has briefed you on your mission here," Zi Yuan said with a nod.

"Thank you for your kind words. I will entrust this place to your care," Zi Yuan said earnestly.

"It is my duty as a disciple. According to what has been said, the reason this place was targeted by the devil's followers could very well be linked to my actions. In a way, I am atoning for my past mistakes." Lee Zhenfeng felt a pang of embarrassment when he remembered how he had slain the young master of the Sky Fiends.

"You shouldn't dwell on it too much. After all, it's not certain who the demon was actually after," Zi Yuan reassured him, choosing not to fixate on the issue.

"This is your generation's eldest senior brother, Lee Zhenfeng. He's been with the sect for ten years and has just turned twenty. His cultivation is the highest among your peers, currently in the late period of the Soul Nurturing Stage, and he has mastered dozens of martial skills, each to a high degree of proficiency. Judging by his aura, he's likely on the cusp of achieving perfection in the Soul Nurturing Stage. What do you think? Are you envious of such talent?" Zi Yuan asked, noticing Ye Chen's gaze fixed on Zhenfeng while he sipped his wine, a smile playing on his lips.

Jealous of him?

Ye Chen found himself momentarily at a loss for words, but eventually murmured in response, "He is indeed impressive."

Is reaching the late period of the Soul Nurturing Stage in ten years truly remarkable?

Given a few more months, I might achieve the same.

"You shouldn't sell yourself short. Cultivation is a matter of talent and destiny. Even though you're not destined for a life of cultivation, living in the Holy Land means you can spend the latter half of your life without worries, enjoying peace and longevity," Zi Yuan said, sensing that his words might have been discouraging. He chuckled awkwardly, wondering if he should offer some consolation.

After all, Ye Chen's prospects seemed limited to tending to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, a task that promised a life of monotony. But what could Zi Yuan offer by way of consolation? If it related to cultivation, it would likely be of little comfort to Ye Chen.

"Forget it, I'll just give him some life-saving talismans."

Zi Yuan mulled over this and then looked at Luo Tian. Two charms materialized in his hands, and he said, "Ye Chen, your cultivation is still somewhat lacking. If a devil invades and you encounter them, you'll be in grave danger. These two charms I've crafted with the power of the God-Man. Keep them on you, and should you face peril, they can unleash a God-Man level defense."

"Thank you, Elder," Ye Chen replied with a smile. He wasn't bothered by the earlier comment and was naturally happy to accept the gifts.

Lee Zhenfeng watched Zi Yuan's interaction with Ye Chen, who was clad in the simple garb of an acolyte, with a sense of amusement. It surprised him that Zi Yuan held Ye Chen, a mere Body Tempering acolyte, in such high regard.

"Alright, now that you're here, I'm entrusting this place to you and Ye Chen. The responsibility of guarding the Imperial Ancestral Temple is yours," Zi Yuan said to Lee Zhenfeng, addressing him without a hint of superiority despite his status as the young generation's eldest senior brother.

Zi Yuan's demeanor was exceptionally cordial, a courtesy he extended to very few, Lee Zhenfeng and Ye Chen being the exceptions. With others, his interactions were serious and without a trace of humor.

"Ye Chen is the only disciple of our Imperial Ancestral Temple lineage. I expect you not to mistreat him in my absence," Zi Yuan cautioned deliberately.

"Your instructions are clear, Master Zi Yuan. Rest assured, during my watch over the Imperial Ancestral Temple, I will dutifully protect Junior Brother Ye Chen," Lee Zhenfeng responded, bowing with deep respect.

Zi Yuan gave a slight nod and departed.

Once Zi Yuan had left, Lee Zhenfeng, noticing Ye Chen's persistent gaze, asked with a hint of confusion, "Junior Brother, is there something on my face that has caught your attention?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I've just heard so much about Senior Brother's renown and have been looking forward to meeting the eldest senior brother," Ye Chen explained, unable to admit that the man before him differed from the dashing and mature figure of the rumors, more like a legendary hero than he had imagined.

"Oh," Lee Zhenfeng said to Ye Chen, "those are just rumors. You can't trust rumors; they're always embellished. I'm just a regular guy, not the enigma they make me out to be. If there's anything that sets me apart, it's probably my dedication and the extra time I spend on my cultivation practices."

Ye Chen nodded in agreement.

As he observed Lee Zhenfeng, Ye Chen could see how unreliable rumors could be.

If being graceful and poised like the eldest senior brother meant being an exceptional hero, then perhaps he himself was akin to a celestial being gracing the earth with his presence.

"You do stand out, but it's more because you're slightly heavier than most," Ye Chen mused to himself.

He also couldn't help but wonder if the presence of his portly eldest senior brother at the Imperial Ancestral Temple would add a touch of intrigue to their daily routine.