"Not difficult?"
Xu Sanshi fell silent. Over the past few days, he had exhausted himself trying to gain favor in the Holy Spirit Sect. However, the competition within the sect was far fiercer than he had anticipated.
Unlike other places, the Holy Spirit Sect didn't make it easy for newcomers to stand out.
Even with his considerable talent, Xu Sanshi hadn't been able to establish himself as a core disciple.
Climbing the ranks in the Holy Spirit Sect was like scaling a cliff.
In the Xuanyin Sect, he had been the young sect master. His mother was a princess of the empire, granting him endless resources. Whatever he needed, he got, which allowed him to thrive.
The same was true for most geniuses across the continent, including the women around Qian Ran. Except for rare cases like Juzi, weren't they all core disciples of their respective families?
Shrek Academy's inner court was almost entirely composed of the offspring of powerful clans.
Dark soul masters, on the other hand, had no family backing. From another perspective, the elders of the Holy Spirit Sect had all risen through their own efforts. Ahem...
But that was just the twisted nature of the Douluo Continent. The powerful martial souls were always passed down through millennia-old families. This made the Holy Spirit Sect, a relatively new force, even more determined to prove themselves.
Xu Sanshi's heart churned with frustration.
Here was his former enemy standing before him, and all he could do was shrink back in deference.
He was just a disciple of the Holy Spirit Sect, while the other was an elder. Any show of disrespect—let alone an attempt to attack—would spell his doom.
The Holy Spirit Sect was strictly hierarchical. Forget laying a hand on Qian Ran; even a hint of irreverence was unthinkable. Xu Sanshi's bigger concern now was whether Qian Ran would act against him. After all, their history was far from friendly.
One word from Qian Ran could ruin his standing in the sect. And for a dark soul master, leaving the Holy Spirit Sect was tantamount to a death sentence.
"Xu Sanshi, let bygones be bygones. I won't pursue past grievances," Qian Ran said casually.
Seeing Xu Sanshi's submissive demeanor, Qian Ran lost interest in tormenting him further.
If Xu Sanshi had remained as arrogant as before, Qian Ran wouldn't have hesitated to teach him a lesson. But the man before him was no longer a worthy rival.
Moreover, Xue Lingxun was watching nearby. If he acted aggressively in front of her, how could he win her over?
"Qian Ran, you…" Xu Sanshi's nose stung with emotion.
Suddenly, Qian Ran didn't seem so hateful after all.
Wasn't he... actually a decent person?
"From now on, I'll look out for you in the Holy Spirit Sect," Qian Ran said, patting Xu Sanshi on the shoulder.
"I… Elder Qian Ran… thank you." Xu Sanshi stammered, at a loss for words.
Why was Qian Ran being so kind to him?
At that moment, Xu Sanshi completely abandoned any thoughts of revenge. Qian Ran was an elder of the Holy Spirit Sect—how could he even think of avenging himself?
Even if Xu Sanshi someday rose to the rank of worship within the sect, he wouldn't have the authority to harm a sect elder. And at his current level, becoming a worshiper was a dream that wouldn't materialize even in two centuries.
Without sufficient resources, he would never reach the level of a Super Douluo.
Besides, Qian Ran's kindness was genuine. Having an elder's backing was an incredible boon for any disciple. It was something countless others could only dream of.
"Thank me for what? From now on, you're under my wing. In the Holy Spirit Sect, your resources will be far better." Qian Ran said, handing Xu Sanshi a token. This was a mark of the Holy Spirit Sect's core disciples, entitling the bearer to top-tier training and resources.
"Thank you, Elder Qian Ran. I'll work hard and never let you down," Xu Sanshi said, carefully accepting the token. His gratitude was overflowing.
As Qian Ran left, Xu Sanshi remained where he stood, watching him go with heartfelt admiration and respect.
Once again, it was a reminder: the peace you enjoy comes at the cost of someone else bearing the burden.
There's no such thing as a free gift.
Every offering comes with a hidden price tag. It's just that sometimes, someone else pays the bill.
Xu Sanshi had lost… but in return, he had gained a new father figure.
Meanwhile, in the Adjacent Room
Xue Lingxun's eyes were brimming with tears.
Once, Xu Sanshi had been the arrogant young master of the Xuanyin Sect, always domineering. But now, he was utterly subservient. It was clear that life in the Holy Spirit Sect had not been as smooth as he'd hoped.
Without the protection of his family, a noble like Xu Sanshi was just like anyone else.
"Miss Xue, I didn't lie to you. Xu Sanshi is doing well in the Holy Spirit Sect, and he'll only do better in the future," Qian Ran said, walking over to her.
"However, life on the dark soul master's turf is dangerous. Without someone to rely on, no one will protect him in the future."
As Qian Ran spoke, he wrapped his arms around Xue Lingxun from behind.
"So comfortable." Of course, much of this was psychological. In terms of physical sensation, it wasn't fundamentally different from other women. But isn't happiness the fusion of physical and mental feelings?
Xue Lingxun's body trembled slightly, but this time, she didn't resist.
Seeing Xu Sanshi's predicament had stirred her compassion.
As a dark soul master, Xu Sanshi could only survive in the Holy Spirit Sect. Without a backer, he might someday be treated as expendable.
Even the strongest sects occasionally had to send their members on dangerous missions. Disciples with powerful patrons would have titled Douluo secretly protecting them, while those without were left to fend for themselves.
In the original timeline, even the twin-soul martial artists in Huo Yuhao's group had Elder Xuan, a Level 98 Titled Douluo, personally guarding them during their hunt for soul beasts in the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. Before joining Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao had risked his life just to acquire a ten-year soul ring.
This was the disparity in reality.
The Douluo Continent was a harsh world, even harsher than Earth had been.
Only those blessed with cheats or born into noble families could thrive.
Without a backer, life was a gamble with death at every turn.
Now, Qian Ran could be Xu Sanshi's backer. And all it required was a little…
If Xue Lingxun had previously clung to a mindset of stubborn defiance, she had now surrendered completely.
"Qian Ran, can you promise he'll be safe in the Holy Spirit Sect?" Xue Lingxun wrapped her arms around Qian Ran's neck, her beautiful eyes locking onto his.
"I never lie to women. I can give you and Xu Sanshi far more than you imagine. The choice, however, is yours."
"I don't bully or force women. If you wish to leave, I'll let you go. I'll even ensure I won't use my influence to pressure Xu Sanshi."
"Now, it's time for you to make your choice, my lady!"
It had to be said: Qian Ran's psychological tactics were masterful. He genuinely disliked coercion—but if someone was willing?
At this point, he was confident Xue Lingxun wouldn't choose any other path.
Though it seemed like a choice, it was, in truth, a foregone conclusion.
(Chapter ends)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X