Translator: CinderTL
The next day, Luo Yu sent over the secret method for nurturing the Blood Demon, as promised.
The method required a vast array of materials, all of which were readily available at the Blood Refinement Hall. In fact, the hall seemed to have been established specifically to cater to the Blood Refinement Branch.
Xu Sanyan first visited the Hall of Affairs to sell off his unused items, including twelve magic artifacts (mostly obtained from Great Solitary Mountain), Old Nun Ci Sheng's red robe, and numerous storage pouches, keeping only two for himself. The entire lot fetched four hundred Spirit Stones.
Surprisingly, the most valuable item turned out to be the red robe, selling for eighty Spirit Stones.
Afterward, he headed to the Blood Refinement Hall to purchase the necessary materials, spending another five hundred Spirit Stones. This left him with a net loss of one hundred Spirit Stones.
But there was no other choice. If he wanted to keep the Blood Demon, he had to strengthen it; its current abilities couldn't keep pace with Xu Sanyan's own progress.
Xu Sanyan had briefly considered abandoning it entirely, but after careful deliberation, he decided to keep it for now, viewing it as an additional tool in his arsenal. A few hundred Spirit Stones were a manageable expense.
The Blood Demon's current strength was slightly weaker than an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, but Xu Sanyan wondered how much stronger he could make it through nurturing.
Returning to his cultivation cave, he retrieved a blood pack from his storage pouch and poured it into a large vat he had prepared in advance. He added fresh water and submerged the Blood Demon in the mixture.
This was the material needed to nurture the Blood Demon, priced at fifty Spirit Stones per pack. Xu Sanyan had purchased ten packs, using one every seven days. If used continuously, they would last for seventy days.
According to the elder from the Blood Refinement Hall, these ten packs should increase the Blood Demon's strength by about thirty percent, bringing it close to the level of an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Five hundred Spirit Stones for a thirty percent increase in the Blood Demon's strength didn't seem like a bad deal.
Meng Zhuer spent her days tidying the cultivation cave and, aside from accompanying Xu Sanyan to bed, focused on her cultivation. Her life had become much more relaxed than before.
Xu Sanyan was generous, covering all her cultivation expenses. As she was only at the Inner Qi Realm, her needs were minimal. Her daily cultivation required only a few elixirs, which she could easily obtain from the sect's Pill Refinement Hall. For Inner Qi Realm cultivators, a single Spirit Stone could buy quite a few elixirs.
Half a month later, Chi Yu arrived.
"Is Junior Brother Xu at home?"
Xu Sanyan opened the Formation guarding his cultivation cave. "Senior Brother Chi, you're here! Please, come in and have a seat."
As he spoke, a thought flickered through his mind. A phantom rune materialized from the void and slowly imprinted itself on Chi Yu's forehead.
This was the Demonic Seed, the third layer of the Purple Mountain Heart-Planting Art. Invisible to the naked eye, it could only be sensed by the caster, ensuring Chi Yu wouldn't detect it.
Chi Yu's step faltered momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure. His smile broadened, and an unconscious warmth crept into his tone. "Senior Brother Luo has summoned us. The Holy Son Competition begins tomorrow—let's get acquainted beforehand."
"Alright," Xu Sanyan nodded, following Chi Yu out of the cave.
The Demonic Seed carried a single thought: Affection.
Given Chi Yu's mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level, Xu Sanyan could have successfully implanted a Master thought. However, after careful consideration, he decided against it.
If a Demonic Seed carrying the Master thought took root, Chi Yu would unconsciously display deference toward Xu Sanyan. Should Luo Yu notice such a noticable shift, it could unravel their deception.
Now was not the time to reveal his hand.
Xu Sanyan arrived at Luo Yu's courtyard and surveyed the scene. There were about twenty people present, mostly men, and he didn't recognize a single one of them.
Luo Yu greeted him with a smile. "Junior Brother Xu has arrived."
"Greetings, Senior Brother Luo," Xu Sanyan replied, clasping his hands in a respectful salute.
The assembled disciples scrutinized him. Some smiled warmly, others wore stern expressions, and one woman even tossed him a flirtatious wink.
"Let me introduce Junior Brother Xu Sanyan," Luo Yu announced. "He's at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment and possesses remarkable physical strength. He can withstand the Stone General without faltering."
Xu Sanyan offered a friendly bow to the group, but only a few acknowledged his gesture.
Though they were all under Luo Yu's command, a fierce rivalry simmered beneath the surface. They knew that even if Luo Yu succeeded in becoming the Holy Son, only five of them would secure positions as his loyal retainers. The rest would inevitably face death.
A woman's eyes darted about, sensing Luo Yu's high regard for the newcomer. With a radiant smile, she sidled up to Xu Sanyan and slipped her hand inside his collar, her small fingers slowly massaging his neck.
"Junior Brother, you're so strong and virile," the woman purred, her fingernails lightly tracing his skin. "I envy you."
"Senior Sister isn't lacking in charms either," Xu Sanyan replied, lowering his gaze to the half-exposed curve of her breast.
"Hehe... Would Junior Brother like a closer look?" she teased, licking her red lips.
"I'm afraid Senior Sister might not be able to handle it..."
The two flirted shamelessly, oblivious to the crowd around them. Some onlookers wore sour expressions, while others turned away with cold snorts. One woman muttered under her breath, "Slut."
Luo Yu, however, remained unconcerned. He knew these twenty Holy Son candidates were rivals, not allies. Similar dynamics likely played out among the other candidates' entourages as well.
"Come, take a seat," Luo Yu said, gesturing to an empty space beside him.
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Xu Sanyan replied, settling into the chair.
The woman followed suit, sliding into the seat beside him. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "My name is Xiang Tan. I hope Junior Brother will take good care of me in the future." As she spoke, a wave of fragrant perfume wafted around him, and her hand began to wander with deliberate intent.
Xu Sanyan nodded noncommittally. "We'll see about that later."
"Heh heh... 'Later'? How about tonight then?" Xiang Tan's beautiful eyes flickered mischievously, clearly understanding the teasing undertones in Xu Sanyan's words.
Luo Yu, seated at the head of the table, surveyed the assembled group with satisfaction. Among the twenty disciples present, six had reached the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment, while the remaining fourteen were at the Initial Stage. This contingent represented a significant force among the Ten Prodigies of the Holy Sect, giving them a strong chance to secure a coveted position.
"The Holy Son Competition begins tomorrow," Luo Yu announced in a clear voice, silencing the murmurs. All eyes turned to him. "I will explain the rules now so you can prepare thoroughly."
"It has been five hundred and twenty-one years since the last Holy Son Competition!" Luo Yu dropped this bombshell.
Xu Sanyan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. That's... an incredibly long time!
The others looked equally astonished, their eyes widening at the revelation.
"Since the merger of the Four Factions, there has only been one previous Holy Son Competition. This marks the second such event."
"The previous competition took the form of a Great Sect Competition. Records show that six Holy Sons emerged, but after more than four centuries, only one from that generation remains alive."
Xu Sanyan recalled Chi Yu mentioning that the sole surviving Holy Son from the previous generation was the Sect Leader's son.
"The last competition focused solely on cultivation level, neglecting other factors. Some disciples' specialized techniques were ill-suited for the arena, putting them at a disadvantage and leading to their unfortunate defeat."
"Therefore, after extensive deliberation among the Sect Leader, the three Hall Masters, and numerous elders, we have adopted a new format. This competition will be held deep within the Ten Thousand Demons Mountain Range."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c180. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.