Translator: CinderTL
Qin Manyang pursed her lips and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Holy Son."
Xu Sanyan waved his hand casually. "Come now, we're old friends. No need for formalities."
Qin Manyang had a thousand questions she wanted to ask. She wanted to know how Xu Sanyan had left Great Solitary Mountain and how he had become the Holy Son. But what truly piqued her curiosity was Xu Sanyan's cultivation level.
She realized she couldn't see through it!
Qin Manyang's lips parted slightly, but the words caught in her throat. The Xu Sanyan before her was no longer the same person she had once toyed with.
Hearing their conversation, Liu Tang grew curious. Stroking his beard, he turned to Qin Manyang. "Elder Qin, do you know the Holy Son?"
Before Qin Manyang could answer, Xu Sanyan spoke first. "When I first arrived in the Central Region, Elder Qin gave me directions. I wouldn't be where I am today without her help."
"I dare not take credit, Holy Son. You are a person of great fortune, turning misfortune into good fortune and disaster into blessings. I dare not claim any merit." Qin Manyang quickly declined.
Xu Sanyan shook his head, unwilling to continue the conversation. "We'll talk again later, Zhu'er. Arrange a seat for Elder Qin."
"Yes, Master."
Qin Manyang sat at the end of the row of elders, her heart still racing.
Back on the main stage, the final four had been decided. After an hour's rest, the next round would begin.
The victors were flushed with excitement, unable to contain their joy. Even if they lost the next match, they would still be accepted as disciples of the Holy Son and receive his protection—a privilege more precious than anything else in the demonic sect.
In contrast, the defeated contestants hung their heads in dejection. They still had one last chance to compete for fifth place, which would also grant them the opportunity to become disciples of the Holy Son. They were currently battling it out on another stage.
Becoming a disciple of Xu Sanyan wasn't the same as being his master. It was more like being an employee, merely granting them the right to follow his orders.
In other words, they were desperately vying for the chance to serve Xu Sanyan like cattle or horses.
Yet even this humble position was a golden opportunity that many others could only dream of.
In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. This time, Lin Fan faced a woman with her long hair pulled high in a topknot. She was tall and slender, clad in a pale green robe, and wielded a large spear with a martial grace that was both fierce and elegant.
Xu Sanyan took a second look, thoroughly enjoying the woman's style. He turned to Xiang Tan and said, "That woman is quite good."
Xiang Tan understood immediately. "Yes."
With just a single sentence, the woman's fate was forever altered.
As expected, Lin Fan won his match easily. The other match was much closer, with the two competitors evenly matched. After a hundred moves, one finally managed to secure a narrow victory.
Another hour later, the two remaining competitors stood on the stage. This was the final battle, and the victor would become the champion of the first outer sect grand competition!
The fight began, but after only a dozen moves, Lin Fan crushed his opponent with overwhelming force, kicking him off the stage with a single blow.
And so, the first outer sect grand competition came to a complete end!
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin!"
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin..."
Lin Fan's acquaintances stepped forward to offer their congratulations. Whether sincere or not, the result was undeniable. Everyone knew that he had now become like a dragon entering the sea, destined for greatness.
Lin Fan wore a look of exhilaration, suppressing his excitement as he exchanged pleasantries with the crowd.
After the crowd had quieted down slightly, Xu Sanyan rose to his feet. "It doesn't matter that we failed this time. There will be another Holy Son Competition in three years. During this time, all disciples should cultivate diligently. Strive to seize the top spot in the next competition. The top five finishers may seek me out later."
"Thank you, Holy Son!"
Inspired by his words, the crowd made a firm resolution to make a name for themselves in three years.
Xu Sanyan smiled faintly and spoke slowly. "Five days from now, we will hold the inner sect disciple grand competition. All disciples in the Foundation Establishment Realm are eligible to participate. The top five finishers will be accepted as disciples under my tutelage."
"The inner sect disciple grand competition?" An old man was taken aback.
"We have a chance to become the Holy Son's disciples?"
"Five days... we must redouble our cultivation efforts. I feel like I'm on the verge of breaking through to the foundation establishment mid stage. I'll strive to achieve it before the competition."
The crowd buzzed with discussion as Xu Sanyan turned and left.
"Farewell, Holy Son!"
This time, the shouts were even more fervent and awe-inspiring than before. Qin Manyang stood dumbfounded, completely bewildered by what had just happened.
How had Xu Sanyan's prestige grown so rapidly in such a short time?
Having spent a century on Crimson Dragon Mountain, she had never witnessed such a scene.
Liu Tang shook his head slightly at her expression. You are only a hundred years old. Even if I'd lived for over four hundred years, I'd never have seen anything like this.
With Xu Sanyan's departure, the crowd gradually dispersed.
In truth, he didn't place much importance on the inner sect disciple grand competition. Most of the remaining inner sect disciples on Crimson Dragon Mountain were either old, weak, or infirm. The most promising disciples, like Luo Yu, Zhou Longsheng, and Chi Yu, had already perished in the depths of Ten Thousand Demons Mountain.
The remaining disciples were ineligible to participate in the Holy Son Competition. They were either over seventy years old, possessed limited potential, or had been deeply corrupted by the demonic sect's influence, their hearts already demonized. There was no guarantee they would remember his kindness.
The Outer Sect Disciples, however, were different. Having only recently joined the sect, most still possessed relatively pure hearts. Moreover, they had just endured a period of harsh training and abuse, leaving them filled with resentment.
At this moment, Xu Sanyan had offered them hope, like a ray of sunlight piercing through the darkness and shining upon their hearts, filling them with gratitude.
But it wouldn't take much effort to organize it. We might as well do it on the side—it'll add some liveliness and break up the oppressive atmosphere on the mountain.
Xu Sanyan had just returned to his cultivation cave when Qin Manyang followed close behind, bowing deeply. "Greetings, Holy Son."
Xu Sanyan waved Xiang Tan and the others away, then rose slowly and approached Qin Manyang. Without speaking, he circled her twice before stopping behind her.
"Sigh... inhale..."
He wrapped an arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer. He leaned in, pressing his nose against her cheek and inhaling deeply. A wave of fragrance filled his nostrils, and a dazed expression spread across Xu Sanyan's face.
Qin Manyang's body visibly trembled, but she dared not move.
"Elder Qin, how long has it been since we last met?"
Xu Sanyan leaned close to Qin Manyang's ear, his words sending a gentle stream of air into her ear canal, making her squirm with discomfort.
"A... a little over a year," Qin Manyang replied, her body tense, her clasped hands still raised.
"It's been over a year..."
Xu Sanyan tightened his arm, pulling her closer. "Do you know how I've spent this past year?"
Qin Manyang bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
Xu Sanyan continued without waiting for her answer. "If you hadn't killed someone in Yue Clan City and dragged me into being hunted, I wouldn't have been forced into Great Solitary Mountain."
That journey to Great Solitary Mountain had been the closest Xu Sanyan had ever come to death. If not for his cheat protecting his mind, he would have perished without a doubt. And the one responsible for all of this... was the woman in his arms.
Qin Manyang whispered, "I never intended..."
"No!"
Xu Sanyan cut her off sharply. With one arm around her waist, he used his other hand to grip her neck from behind. He pressed his red tongue lightly against her slender, fair neck, his eyes half-closed as he murmured,
"You didn't not intend it. You simply didn't care. Even if I died, what impact would it have on you? Wouldn't you agree?"
(End of the Chapter)
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