Free Web NovelChapter 113: Chapter 109: Inevitable Doom
The Flying Boat sailed unimpeded into the Holy Blood Sect’s Blessed Land. It swiftly passed over several Mortal Cities before landing in front of the sect’s grand and imposing main gate.
Du Youqian put away the Flying Boat and looked up.
A massive archway that seemed to be formed from white clouds occupied nearly half the sky.
It was just like a celestial gate—solemn, majestic, and towering high above, reaching straight into the Nine Heavens.
The sight alone was enough to make one feel ashamed of their own insignificance.
Some Low Tier Cultivators from other sects didn’t even dare to look up when they arrived here. ƒrēewebnovel.com
Because one glance up might make their legs go weak, robbing them of the courage to move forward.
Du Youqian squinted, observed it for a long while, then smiled and strode forward.
’This time, I’ll slay a powerful foe and cross swords with the best of them. Then, once I’ve made a name for myself, I’ll lie low and stay hidden until I reach Core Formation.’
’The status of an Inner Disciple is as good as mine.’
As for becoming a True Successor Candidate, he had no intention of competing for it.
Even if the title were offered to him, he would voluntarily give it up.
It couldn’t be helped. Being a True Successor Candidate in the Holy Blood Sect was a completely different matter from being one in the Zhongxuan Sect.
Being selected as a True Successor Candidate was like having your name written in a death note.
Most would die midway through the brutal competition.
Only a select few could endure and become a True Inheritor.
And once one became a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect, it was almost a guaranteed ticket to the Core Formation realm.
Therefore, even knowing that less than one in ten would survive, countless geniuses still flocked to it, actively fighting to become a True Successor Candidate and compete for the position of True Inheritor.
But Du Youqian would rather pass.
’For him, reaching Core Formation in this life would be great, but if he couldn’t, living out his natural lifespan wasn’t a bad alternative either.’
Returning to the Sect, Du Youqian appeared openly and, as expected, faced no obstruction.
’Xi Mengran probably hasn’t started making her arrangements yet. Even if she has some preparations in mind, they won’t be set in motion for another month or so.’
Du Youqian proceeded unhurriedly straight to the Bright Law Hall and announced in a loud voice, "I am Yu Fei, the Furnace Cauldron designated five years ago by Inner Disciple Xi Mengran. I have now reached Foundation Establishment, and in accordance with the Sect’s rules, I wish to challenge her in the Life and Death Arena! The time will be in three days!"
The Steward at the Bright Law Hall who received him was not surprised.
In the Holy Blood Sect, this sort of thing happened almost every day.
Of course, challenges between Foundation Establishment Cultivators weren’t quite so frequent.
More common were battles between Outer Disciples.
It couldn’t be helped. The population was simply too large. Although the Holy Blood Sect was a behemoth with no lack of resources, it still couldn’t support so many people.
It was necessary to weed out a good number of them at the entry-level disciple stage to concentrate resources on cultivating the elite.
Cases like Du Youqian’s—someone raised as a Furnace Cauldron who found an opportunity to challenge their "master"—were not uncommon.
There were even occasional instances of a successful counter-kill.
The Bright Law Hall Steward simply recorded Du Youqian’s cultivation and other information according to the rules, then let him leave.
He then wrote up a challenge notice, sending one copy to Xi Mengran and another to be announced to the entire Sect.
A Life and Death Arena match between Foundation Establishment Disciples was important enough to warrant an all-sect announcement.
Then, in private, the Steward drafted another message and sent it through a different channel to a certain True Disciple.
A life-and-death battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators was worthy of a True Disciple personally opening a betting pool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After leaving the Bright Law Hall, Du Youqian went straight to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
He looked around the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall for a long time before finding a Qi Cultivation Steward who looked bored out of his mind. "Brother, do you know Gu Xiaofang? He works under Brother Hao."
The Steward immediately became deferential, a fake smile plastered on his face. "Greetings, Senior Brother. Xiaofang hasn’t been around lately. Are you and Xiaofang..."
Du Youqian said lightly, "We joined at the same time. We’re on good terms."
As he spoke, he handed over a piece of Spiritual Jade. "Tell me in detail, what happened to him?"
With the Spiritual Jade in hand, the Qi Cultivation Steward’s smile became much more sincere, but he still hesitated to speak.
Du Youqian smiled and casually activated a portable Sound-Insulation Array.
The Steward glanced at the Array Plate with envy before reluctantly looking away. "Senior Brother, Xiaofang probably isn’t coming back. The rumor is, a few months ago, he did something to offend an Inner Disciple. That Inner Disciple demanded that our Brother Hao hand Xiaofang over. Of course, Brother Hao refused—they’re both Inner Disciples, on what grounds could he demand that? But after the trouble blew over, Brother Hao was still a bit unhappy with Xiaofang, so he found excuses to scold him a few times and sent him home for some closed-door reflection. From the way Brother Hao talks, I don’t think he wants Xiaofang to work at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall anymore. After all, people with four legs are hard to find, but two-legged Qi Cultivation Disciples are all over the place, aren’t they?"
He said this with a sarcastic tone.
He had conveniently forgotten that he himself was also one of those two-legged Qi Cultivation Disciples.
Du Youqian didn’t bother arguing with the man.
After getting Gu Xiaofang’s address, he went to update his mission information—having the Handsome Bearded Cultivator take over his garrison duty for the next two months.
Then he went to the Handsome Bearded Cultivator’s immortal cave, used the Jade Token the cultivator had lent him to enter the guest area, and began to meditate and regulate his breathing in preparation for the decisive battle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
「In Meng Xiao’s immortal cave.」
Meng Xiao was reclining amidst a bed of flowers, lying on a cool mat woven from Golden Willow Leaves.
He held a scroll in his right hand and a cup of Spirit Tea in his left, seemingly engrossed in his reading.
But anyone who knew him would know that his eyes were unfocused; his mind was not on the book. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
After a long while, he sighed and set the book down. Just then, Xi Mengran’s voice came from outside the cave: "Master, your disciple requests an audience."
"Come in."
Xi Mengran entered with small, hurried steps.
Today, she wore no swaying hairpins or palace gowns, but rather the Dharma Robe of an Inner Disciple, which she rarely took out.
Arriving three feet before Meng Xiao, Xi Mengran bowed gracefully, touching her forehead to the ground. "Master."
Meng Xiao sighed softly. "Speak."
"The Furnace Cauldron your disciple chose, Yu Fei, has returned. He has advanced to Foundation Establishment and has issued a challenge to me."
Meng Xiao said, "I am already aware."
Hearing her master’s cold tone, Xi Mengran did not raise her head. She remained prostrated on the ground, her voice firm and resonant. "Upon hearing of Yu Fei’s challenge, my heart suddenly pounded with fear, as if a great calamity was upon me. Such a powerful premonition is not without reason. Although I do not know what methods Yu Fei possesses, and I do not consider myself to be a helpless weakling, with such a feeling, I fear I will not escape this calamity."
"I have been under your tutelage for over twenty years, Master, and have received your meticulous guidance. This is a blessing of the highest order, and I should not ask for anything more. But when I think of my fleeting life and my iron-willed heart for the Dao that has yet to achieve its desire, I cannot accept it."
"I beg you, Master, for the sake of my more than twenty years of devoted filial piety, please promise me one thing."
Meng Xiao was silent for a long moment.
Xi Mengran also remained kneeling, not daring to press him.
"Sigh... Even now, you do not act like a spoiled girl, nor do you weep and wail. Such a brave and heroic bearing truly has the makings of a True Inheritor. It’s a pity... you truly should not have treated that child as a Furnace Cauldron."
Xi Mengran said resolutely, "Your disciple has no regrets."
"Sigh, why must you be this way... Speak. What do you wish for me to promise? As long as it does not violate the rules, I will do my utmost."
Xi Mengran raised her head and quickly spoke her request.
