Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan inquired about the location of his cultivation cave and headed toward Back Mountain.
Along the way, he occasionally encountered fellow disciples, but they mostly ignored him, a palpable sense of mutual wariness hanging in the air.
After traversing a narrow path, Xu Sanyan gazed at the mountain cave concealed behind a milky-white light barrier. "So this really is a cultivation cave..." he murmured in awe.
Clutching his identity token, he cautiously approached the barrier. The light rippled as he passed through smoothly, arriving at the cave's stone door.
As the young man had explained, each cultivation cave was equipped with rudimentary protective and alarm formations that could be controlled using the token.
Pushing open the stone door, Xu Sanyan was met with a cloud of dust. He waved it away in disgust and peered inside. The cave's interior was spartan, furnished only with a stone bed, a stone table, a stone chair, and a cage crafted from refined iron.
"What's this...?" Xu Sanyan eyed the cage curiously, noticing dark red bloodstains clinging to its bars, suggesting something had once been imprisoned there.
After a hasty cleanup, Xu Sanyan retrieved the Sect Rules and began reviewing them. The first rule forbade disciples from extracting the divine souls or vital essence of their fellow sect members for cultivation purposes.
The second rule stipulated that the Sect Leader, Hall Masters, Holy Son, Holy Daughter, Elders, and other high-ranking figures were prohibited from arbitrarily executing disciples under their jurisdiction.
Article Three: Each peak maintains a Hall of Affairs, overseeing all matters concerning the sect's disciples, including monthly assignments, task postings, merit point exchanges, treasure recycling, team formation for expeditions, and a myriad of other responsibilities.
Just then, the jade token in Xu Sanyan's hand emitted a soft glow. He looked up and saw a figure standing outside his cultivation cave.
"Is Junior Brother at home?"
Xu Sanyan rose and stepped out of the cave. Through the protective formation, he saw a handsome young man standing with a smile. Dressed in a white robe and holding a folding fan, his hair was meticulously styled, projecting an air of flamboyant elegance.
"Senior Brother...?" Xu Sanyan hesitated to deactivate the formation.
"Hehe... My name is Chi Yu. I live nearby and heard a new junior brother had arrived, so I came to introduce myself," the young man said with a polite bow, his demeanor courteous.
Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes and used the Qi Observation Technique to assess the man, but detected nothing unusual, confirming that Chi Yu also possessed the Breath Concealment Technique.
He deactivated the formation and returned the bow. "I'm Xu Sanyan. Greetings, Senior Brother Chi. Please, come in."
Internal conflict was forbidden within the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect, so Xu Sanyan wasn't worried about any untoward actions. Besides, this was a perfect opportunity to learn more about the sect.
Xu Sanyan gestured with an empty hand in welcome. "Junior Brother has just entered the sect and hasn't had time to fully furnish his cultivation cave. It's quite spartan, Senior Brother, please forgive the humble accommodations."
"No need to worry," Chi Yu replied. "We've all been there."
The two sat down at the stone table. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chi Yu steered the conversation to the main topic. "Junior Brother, are you aware of the Holy Son selection scheduled for the first day of next month?"
Xu Sanyan pursed his lips. "To be honest, Senior Brother, I've already been chosen as a candidate."
"That's precisely why I've come," Chi Yu said, lightly fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan and gazing at Xu Sanyan with a smile.
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Senior Brother?"
"Have you ever heard of the 'Ten Prodigies of the Holy Sect'?" Chi Yu asked.
"I've heard the name mentioned in passing," Xu Sanyan replied. He recalled overhearing someone at the Hall of Affairs say they were the sect's most promising candidates for Holy Son or Holy Daughter.
"Could it be that you..." Xu Sanyan began, his eyes widening in surprise. Are you one of the Ten Prodigies yourself?
Chi Yu's smile faltered momentarily before returning to normal. He shook his head and chuckled. "Don't flatter me. I'm nowhere near their level. However, our Crimson Heart Faction does have two representatives. One is Luo Yu, barely fifty years old, who has already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection and is just one step away from breaking through to the Dao Seeking stage."
"Remarkable!" Xu Sanyan exclaimed in genuine admiration.
Chi Yu nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Senior Brother Luo Yu is exceptionally talented. The other is Zhou Longsheng, over sixty years old and also at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Though older, his methods are treacherous and insidious, and his schemes run deep. He too is one of the Ten Prodigies."
Xu Sanyan inwardly rolled his eyes. So he's here to recruit allies. Judging by Chi Yu's introduction, he was clearly part of Luo Yu's faction.
Sure enough, Chi Yu adopted a "looking out for you" expression. "In this Holy Son competition, we must band together to have any chance of survival. Senior Brother Luo Yu is kind-hearted, upright, and exceptionally friendly to junior brothers. Junior Brother, you might want to consider joining us."
Kind-hearted? Upright? Were these even words one could hear in a demonic sect?
Xu Sanyan barely suppressed a smirk, inwardly perplexed. "Senior Brother, I've heard that only five contestants survive the final stage of the Holy Son competition. So, what's the point of forming alliances if we'll ultimately have to turn on each other?"
No matter what alliances were formed initially, only five would remain in the end. Even if they united now, they would eventually turn on each other. What, then, was the point of these alliances?
Chi Yu shook his head. "Junior Brother, you only know half the story. Each Holy Son can choose five loyal supporters. With five Holy Sons and their supporters, a total of thirty will survive."
Chi Yu's tireless efforts to rally support for Luo Yudong, running back and forth to gather allies, stemmed from his ambition to secure a coveted position as one of the Holy Son's chosen adherents.
The Holy Son competition had begun the moment the announcement was made.
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly. "May I ask, Senior Brother, how many disciples have gathered around Senior Brother Luo now?"
"Seventeen," Chi Yu replied without hesitation.
"So many?" Xu Sanyan exclaimed in surprise. "With only five final slots available, won't you have to compete against each other internally?"
Chi Yu shook his head with a bitter smile. "This is already quite good. It significantly increases our chances of survival. Besides, there's no foolproof strategy in such matters. Everyone is staking their lives—even the so-called Ten Prodigies of the Holy Sect will lose half their number. How much more perilous must it be for ordinary disciples like us?"
Xu Sanyan nodded, conceding the truth in Chi Yu's words.
"Senior Brother," Xu Sanyan asked curiously, "among the Ten Prodigies, where does Senior Brother Luo rank?"
"Sixth," Chi Yu answered, adding hastily, "The rankings of the Ten Prodigies aren't entirely accurate. True strength can only be determined through actual combat."
Xu Sanyan nodded in understanding. "And Senior Brother Zhou? Where does he rank?"
"He's ranked fourth because of his age," Chi Yu said, a hint of disdain in his voice. "If the Holy Son competition were delayed a few more years, he'd have no chance."
The Holy Son competition was restricted to cultivators under seventy years old. To even qualify, all ten prodigies had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection before that age.
These ten were the pride of heaven, born with extraordinary talent. Xu Sanyan had once read the diary of the Liang Kingdom's Imperial Advisor, who hailed from Shangyin Mountain, one of the five great upper sects. The advisor had only reached Foundation Establishment after a century of cultivation, which was already considered remarkable talent.
This comparison highlighted the immense prestige behind the title of "Ten Prodigies of the Holy Sect."
Yet even with such extraordinary talent, the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect remained indifferent. This Holy Son competition would still claim at least five lives.
Chi Yu stood up and said, "Junior Brother, have you considered my proposal? Will you accompany me to meet Senior Brother Luo?"
Xu Sanyan pondered briefly, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He decided it was worth the trip.
The Holy Son position intrigued him greatly. The Mad Daoist had once mentioned that the Holy Sect's Holy Scripture was undoubtedly far superior to the Supreme Truth and Absolute Stillness Sutra.
Moreover, there were numerous other benefits to be gained.
(End of the Chapter)
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