Translator: CinderTL
"What is it?" Elder Wu asked, turning his head.
Xu Sanyan paused briefly before replying, "From today onward, each hall will have a newly appointed deputy hall master. This will help alleviate some of the elders' administrative burdens. I trust none of you will object?"
This declaration effectively placed all the hall masters in opposition, but Xu Sanyan didn't care; they were his rivals anyway.
Elder Wu snorted coldly. "Hmph, since the Holy Son has already made his decision, does our opinion even matter?"
Xu Sanyan had the Hall Master and the Sect Rules backing him. The elders couldn't refuse outright, but they could ensure the so-called deputy hall masters had nothing to do.
"Farewell," the elders said, their faces grim as they swept out of the hall.
Xu Sanyan called out loudly, "In three days, I will break through to the Dao Seeking Realm. I invite all of you to witness this momentous occasion."
Elder Wu retorted without turning back, "The Holy Son certainly has great confidence. Very well, we will be there to offer our congratulations."
He had never heard of a cultivator predicting the exact day of their breakthrough. If Xu Sanyan failed, he would become a laughingstock.
Behind him, Xiang Tan pressed her lips together and whispered, "Holy Son, have you truly reached the Dao Seeking Realm?"
Xu Sanyan rose, pinched her cheek, and gave her a quick kiss. "Just call me Senior Brother. Spread the word about today's discussion—say I intend to replace all the hall masters."
Crimson Dragon Mountain was teeming with cultivators, far more than the fourteen Soul Refinement and Dao Seeking Realm experts present today. Once the news spread, many would undoubtedly flock to join his cause.
After all, who could resist such a tempting piece of the pie?
The Crimson Heart Faction also controlled numerous industries at the foot of the mountain. Elder Wu and his colleagues deserved credit for their contributions.
Xu Sanyan knew of Three Mountains City in the southern Central Region, governed by the Wei Clan, a cultivation clan. The city was a melting pot of cultivators, a no-man's-land in the World of Immortal Cultivation. The Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect had extensive holdings there, with several elders stationed to oversee operations.
The sect also maintained numerous properties in other towns. As one of the Central Region's five Great Sects, the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect possessed countless means of accumulating wealth.
Xiang Tan nodded. "Yes."
Xu Sanyan produced a pouch of spirit stones and handed it to her. "Use these two thousand spirit stones for now."
Xiang Tan's eyes widened. "This..."
Xu Sanyan chuckled. "I promised you a reward for your efforts. Go now."
Two thousand spirit stones was no small sum. Given Xiang Tan's cultivation level, it would last her a long time.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Xiang Tan lunged forward, hugging Xu Sanyan tightly, her excitement overflowing.
"Work hard, and I won't let you down," Xu Sanyan said, giving her butt a playful squeeze.
"Mmm~" Xiang Tan purred, her voice tinged with coquettishness.
Early the next morning, a messenger arrived from Harmonious Heart Mountain.
A young man bowed respectfully. "I am Sun Ning, here to pay my respects to the Holy Son."
Xu Sanyan asked, "What brings you here?"
"By order of the Sect Leader, I have come to deliver the sect's rewards."
He produced a storage pouch from his robes and offered it. "Please accept this, Holy Son."
Xu Sanyan took the pouch and reached for it, but before he could open it, he realized it was different from the one he carried.
Sun Ning smiled and explained, "This storage pouch is condensed using spatial formations, unlike the ones crafted from demon beast stomachs. It has a larger capacity and requires Spiritual Power to access."
Xu Sanyan nodded, channeled Spiritual Power into the pouch, and the opening expanded. Inside were three items: a crude iron weapon resembling a great halberd, a palm-sized token, and a book.
Three items?
Curious, Xu Sanyan opened the book. Five large characters caught his eye:
Nurturing Spirit and Treasure Method
Flipping through the pages, he found instructions on nurturing magic artifacts. The great halberd was merely an embryonic form, meant to be stored within his body and slowly cultivated. He could gradually refine it according to his preferences.
"This treasure was personally selected by the Sect Leader for the Holy Son. It was forged from seven rare minerals, including ten-thousand-year refined iron and Xuan Jade Paste. It can change size at will and can even be used when manifesting your Dao Body."
Xu Sanyan's eyes lit up with surprise. He hadn't expected the Sect Leader to be so generous, bestowing such a high-grade treasure.
"If the Holy Son finds everything in order, I'll take my leave," Sun Ning said.
"Mm, Zhu'er, see Junior Brother Sun off for me."
"Farewell."
Xu Sanyan sat back in his chair, examining the magic artifact in his hand. The great halberd was slender and about seven feet long, cool to the touch. Its tip split into two sides: one edged with a blade, the other spiked. A cold light flashed from its surface, radiating a sharp, piercing aura.
"A fine piece!"
Xu Sanyan channeled his Spiritual Power into the halberd, slowly refining it according to the cultivation methods. As his Spiritual Power enveloped the artifact, its slightly rough surface smoothed out, revealing intricate dark patterns that seemed to shed a layer of crude skin.
Whoosh—
The great halberd vanished. Xu Sanyan closed his eyes and focused inward, sensing it stored within his Qi Sea, constantly being cleansed by streams of Spiritual Power.
The longer he nurtured the great halberd, the more inseparable it became from him, and the more effortlessly he could wield it.
He then retrieved a token inscribed with the bold characters "Heaven-Class Number One."
The Heaven-Class cultivation cave on Crimson Dragon Mountain had been originally built for the Holy Son of the Crimson Heart Faction. However, with the Holy Son's position vacant for so long, the cave had remained empty, only now welcoming its true master once more.
Meng Zhuer quickly gathered her belongings and followed him toward the mountain peak.
The Heaven-Class cave was located behind Dragonheart Hall, in a spot rich with spiritual energy and exceptionally well-situated.
A transparent barrier sealed the cave's entrance. Xu Sanyan produced the token, and the barrier dissolved, revealing a spacious courtyard.
The courtyard was even larger than Luo Yu's previous residence. Stepping inside, one's spirit immediately lifted as abundant spiritual energy surged through every pore like a free-flowing spring.
The courtyard featured pavilions, terraces, and halls, all meticulously arranged. In the main reception hall hung a massive plaque inscribed with the four characters "Tranquil Mind, Clear Intent," though the calligrapher's identity remained unknown.
"What a vast place! And the spiritual energy is so dense..." Meng Zhuer had never experienced such luxury before. The thought of living here from now on filled her heart with boundless excitement.
"Tomorrow, choose a few maids. You can't possibly clean such a large courtyard by yourself," Xu Sanyan said as he led the way inside.
"Yes, Master," Meng Zhuer replied with a bow.
Xu Sanyan settled into the head seat in the main hall and let out a long sigh. This is the life I've always wanted.
Now that he had both power and authority, why shouldn't he make his life more comfortable? There was no virtue in enduring unnecessary hardship.
He vaguely recalled reading novels in his previous life where the protagonists, despite having the means to live well, stubbornly chose to suffer, as if they had a masochistic streak.
I'll never understand that. Never.
"Summon Xiang Tan and Chu Yuan," Xu Sanyan ordered.
"Yes, Master."
Chu Yuan was Junior Sister Chu's full name.
At that moment, an aged voice called from outside the gate, "This old man, Liu Tang, seeks an audience with the Holy Son."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c212. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.