Chapter 180: Chapter 176: Determined to Win the Grand Tournament
Feng Xiaoyi’s letter took Du Youqian by surprise.
’His first instinct was to refuse.’
But on second thought, the reason he hadn’t wanted to get involved in the fight for the True Inheritor position was his fear of others tripping him up or stabbing him in the back.
’When it came to dirty tricks, he was no match for those old foxes.’
But if it was a real, head-on fight in the Life and Death Arena, he wasn’t afraid of any of the True Inheritor candidates of this generation.
There were a few formidable opponents he wasn’t confident he could beat, but they couldn’t kill him either.
’Worst case, if things look bad, I can just concede. Or I could use "Quick Passage" to burn through my lifespan and reincarnate.’
’The position of True Inheritor... it was still worth fighting for.’
He was still quite tempted by the *Crimson Scripture of Profound Mystery and Spiritual Mechanism*.
There were also the inheritances of Tier Three Cultivation Techniques that only True Inheritors could redeem, and several Secret Techniques that, while not on par with the *Red Blood Seven Transitions Technique*, were still impressive in their own right.
Not to mention rare treasures like Core Formation Spiritual Objects, which were nearly impossible to come by.
If he could secure the status of a True Inheritor, it would greatly deepen his foundation.
’Still, I should go back and discuss it with Master first.’
His current Cultivation was still a bit too low.
Even if he participated in the grand competition, he would just be an accessory to the main event.
He needed to reach the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer—the Foundation Establishment Late Stage—within a year to even have a chance of competing with those powerful rivals.
This wasn’t impossible. The Demon Sects had plenty of Secret Techniques that could accelerate one’s Cultivation at the cost of future potential or lifespan.
If necessary, Du Youqian was willing to consider it.
In the letter, Feng Xiaoyi also mentioned that if he did decide to participate in the grand competition, she, as the "best Master in the world," would naturally provide some assistance.
Furthermore, after the competition, he could remain in the Sect and focus on his Cultivation.
Depending on his performance, he could become a high-ranking member of the External Affairs Hall or join the upper echelons of another influential department.
He would no longer have to wander outside as a Guardian Envoy.
The other letter, which arrived at the same time, was an official communique from the Holy Blood Sect itself.
It stated that a set of Relics, suspected to contain a High-Tier Inheritance, had been discovered within the Han Kingdom’s territory on Yu Kun Mountain.
After discussions among the various sects, all First and Second-class Sects were preparing to send their Qi Cultivation Realm disciples to explore and trial the Relics, with each sect sending cultivators with Foundation Establishment Combat Power to act as Guardians.
As the Guardian of the Han Kingdom for the Holy Blood Sect, Du Youqian would represent his sect alongside the Guardian from the Taihe Sect. Their duty would be to maintain order, and they would have the authority to make critical decisions and handle any crises that arose.
The Relics were set to open in three months.
Before then, Du Youqian needed to return to the Sect, where he would be granted temporary use of two Treasures to help him maintain order.
After reading the letters, Du Youqian summoned Shen Miao and Wu Siyuan separately.
He gave Shen Miao a few words of instruction, telling him to focus on his Cultivation.
To Wu Siyuan, however, Du Youqian commanded, "Pack your things and prepare to leave with me. I’m afraid you won’t be able to return to the Zhongxuan Sect for a very long time."
Wu Siyuan immediately dropped to his knees.
As a fellow Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he wasn’t required to perform such a grand gesture.
Nevertheless, he bowed deeply. "Your Excellency, although I have not formally become your disciple, in my heart, I have long regarded you as my master. You have shown me the grace of your teachings, but my debt to the Zhongxuan Sect is one I can never repay. Please forgive me, but I cannot betray my Sect."
Du Youqian laughed heartily. "It’s good that you have such conviction. As for betraying your Sect... there’s no need to speak of it. The Holy Blood Sect isn’t lacking Tier Three Artifact Refining Masters. I’m training you only to settle the karma related to Fellow Daoist Qiu. Stay by my side, and when you’re confident you can become a Tier Three Artifact Refining Master, you can return to the Zhongxuan Sect and help it ascend in rank."
Wu Siyuan bowed deeply once more. "Thank you, Your Excellency! I will obey your command."
Before setting off for the Holy Blood Sect, Du Youqian made a quiet, solo trip to Five Wishes Mountain.
In the valley from before, he was disappointed to find no sign of the monkey.
After carefully examining the tracks, Du Youqian followed a set of enormous boar prints to another, larger valley.
Before he even got close, he heard the roars of wild beasts and the familiar CHITTERING of the monkey.
Du Youqian flew closer for a look. The monkey was wearing the Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown, which was missing a plume, and the soles of its Lotus Silk Cloud-Stepping Shoes were worn through. He had no idea how the monkey had managed to wear out such durable Magical Artifacts.
Its Golden Cudgel was nowhere to be seen, but the monkey still looked as majestic as ever.
It just seemed a little older now.
Monkeys, by nature, don’t live as long as humans.
Moreover, this monkey had only ever practiced a very simple Cultivation Technique under Elder Tao’s guidance, with no path for further progression.
’Its time is probably running out. A few more decades at most.’
Du Youqian didn’t know how to help it. After all, though the monkey was clever, its Spiritual Wisdom was limited.
It couldn’t comprehend more complex Cultivation Techniques.
Watching the monkey play happily, Du Youqian smiled faintly and released the aura of his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation.
The animals in the valley immediately froze, staring warily at the intruder.
The monkey also widened its eyes and bared its teeth in a threatening display.
"Don’t you recognize me?" Du Youqian chuckled. "Back on Soul-shaking Mountain, I bullied you for many years, you know."
The monkey’s expression softened, but then it bared its teeth again and let out a few SQUEAKS, as if to say, "I was clearly the one bullying you."
"Haha!"
The monkey sized Du Youqian up for a moment, then started SQUEAKING and gesturing quizzically.
Du Youqian nodded. "I did die, but I was reincarnated."
The monkey didn’t understand the so-called Mystery of the Womb, but it readily accepted Du Youqian’s claim of reincarnation.
When Du Youqian tossed it a gourd of fine wine and handed over a recently forged set of equipment at the Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact Level, it was more than satisfied and stopped asking questions.
Du Youqian also felt a wave of relief.
Being able to reincarnate without being confused by the Mystery of the Womb was his greatest secret.
He couldn’t tell anyone.
He didn’t even dare tell... Lin Sha.
Human nature was often unable to withstand temptation.
But telling the monkey didn’t matter.
Besides himself, there was no other living person in this world who could communicate with this monkey.
The secret was safe with the monkey.
「That night.」
Under the moonlight, Du Youqian and the monkey sat on a treetop, drinking together and talking all night long.
The monkey’s vocabulary was very limited, and its ability to express itself was mediocre.
Much of the time, the man and the monkey were like a chicken talking to a duck.
But as old friends who had known each other for a hundred years, they could sometimes understand each other without words.
They reminisced about Elder Tao, recalled their life in the mountains, and thought back to the days they punished the soldiers of Cyan Bamboo Castle and played pranks on the mountain hunters...
Their laughter echoed through the valley, startling several flocks of roosting birds into flight.
~~~~~~~~~~
When the Flying Boat landed at the Holy Blood Sect, Wu Siyuan and Fang Simin were astounded by the sect’s magnificent and imposing atmosphere.
Fang Hua, Luo Jinyu, and Gu Xiaofang settled into Du Youqian’s residence with the ease of familiarity. Although Du Youqian hadn’t been back in years, servants had kept the place spotless and orderly.
The first thing Du Youqian did was pay a visit to his Master.
He massaged her shoulders and kneaded her legs—a flurry of expert moves.
Feng Xiaoyi’s eyes were silky with charm as she smiled. "My dear disciple, your shoulder-massaging technique is getting more and more skilled. How thoughtful of you!"
’Of course it is,’ Du Youqian thought. ’I "invited" the best masseurs from the Han Kingdom’s Imperial Hospital to teach me.’
’If you’re still not satisfied with these skills, then there’s nothing more I can do.’
He said respectfully, "Master, you’ve gone to so much trouble for my sake. It is only right that I serve you."
"Not bad. Your filial piety is commendable," Feng Xiaoyi said with a wave of her hand, gesturing for Du Youqian to sit down. "Regarding the grand competition, what are your thoughts?"
Du Youqian didn’t hide his intentions. "I wish to give it my all. However, if I want to take first place, I’ll need to at least have the strength of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. But breaking through to the Late Stage within a year will be quite difficult."
Feng Xiaoyi bit her lip, looking at him with a smile.
Her flirtatious charm was so overwhelming that if Du Youqian’s Cultivation hadn’t deepened and his self-control hadn’t improved, he probably wouldn’t have been able to resist.
Du Youqian was stunned for a moment, then broke into a cheeky grin. "Master, I knew you must have prepared something good for me. What is it? My good Master, hurry up and show me!"
Feng Xiaoyi gave a smile that was both helpless and doting. "You little monkey, I have no idea where you learned these scoundrel’s tricks. I must have owed you in a past life!"
As she spoke, she took out a Jade Scroll and a Small Blue and White Porcelain Bottle from her Storage Treasure Pouch.
Du Youqian took them and opened the porcelain bottle. Inside were three round, fragrant Elixirs.
He sniffed them, lowered his head to analyze them for a moment, then looked up at his Master in astonishment. "Nine Treasures Heart-Calming Pills? These are precious Tier Three Elixirs."
Feng Xiaoyi was also a little surprised. "Little monkey, not hiding your skills anymore?"
Du Youqian smiled. "What is there for me to hide in front of you, Master?"
Feng Xiaoyi smiled in satisfaction. "Then guess what’s in the Jade Scroll."
Du Youqian chuckled. "The Nine Treasures Heart-Calming Pill’s effects are similar to the Nine-Flower Rejuvenation Pill. It’s an extremely precious Elixir used to replenish one’s reserves and eliminate hidden dangers after using a Secret Technique that involves Burning Essence Blood and lifespan, or one that boosts Cultivation at great risk."
"Therefore," he said with complete confidence, tossing the Jade Scroll in his hand, "this Jade Scroll must contain the *Seven Elements Purple Mansion Qi Eating Skill*, a Secret Technique that allows someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm to rapidly absorb Spiritual Qi and advance their Cultivation at the cost of their Essence Blood, damage to their Dantian, and future potential."
Feng Xiaoyi said with a smile, "You’re a clever little monkey. That’s right. If you use this Secret Technique, you will certainly be able to break through the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer and advance to the Seventh Layer within a year. As for the aftereffects, while these three Nine Treasures Heart-Calming Pills can’t eliminate them completely, they can get rid of most of them. In the future, your success rate for Core Formation might be reduced by five percent. Whether you use it or not is up to you to decide."
Without hesitation, Du Youqian prostrated himself. "Thank you for your gift, Master! For this grand competition, I am determined to win."
Precious Core Formation Spiritual Objects, elixirs that could save one’s life upon failing Core Formation, and a number of advanced Core Formation Secret Techniques not only required a huge amount of contribution points, but also the status of a True Inheritor to redeem.
Previously, Du Youqian had felt the risks of competing for the True Inheritor position were too great. Since he could reincarnate indefinitely, there was no need to rush in a single lifetime, which was why he had resisted the temptation.
But now that he had a chance to openly and honorably fight for a True Inheritor seat in the sect’s grand competition, he wasn’t a fool. How could he possibly pass up such an opportunity!
Compared to the benefits of becoming a True Inheritor, what was a five percent drop in his Core Formation success rate!
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