Translator: CinderTL
"He can't... still not be done, can he?" Elder Wu's heart stirred with a flicker of doubt, but he quickly shook his head. It was absurd.
How could anyone possibly break through twice in a row?
He refused to believe it!
Xiang Tan glanced at Chu Yuan, who was also looking at her. In each other's eyes, they saw the answer they sought.
The ambient spiritual energy surged again, this time not an illusion. Senior Brother Xu... truly wasn't finished.
Whoosh!
A sudden gale swept through the courtyard, swaying the treetops. Beneath Heaven-Class Number One cultivation cave, the spirit-gathering array roared to life, drawing countless scattered wisps of spiritual energy from the surrounding area.
A milky-white river of spiritual liquid flowed toward the center of the courtyard, where Xu Sanyan stood with a serene expression.
"Two consecutive breakthroughs?" Liu Tang murmured, his voice filled with disbelief.
How could anyone possibly break through two cultivation levels in a row?
It defied all logic!
Liu Tang had lived for over four hundred years, and in all his long life, he had never heard of such a thing. It wasn't just him; Elder Wu and the other elders on the other side had never witnessed such a phenomenon either.
Cultivation was always a gradual climb, one stage at a time, with countless obstacles along the way. How could anyone simply ignore these obstacles and break through level after level?
At that moment, Liu Shuzhi seemed to understand as well. His fingers stiffly tugged at Liu Tang's sleeve, and he trembled as he asked, "Father, the Holy Son... is he about to break through again?"
Liu Tang wasn't entirely sure either, his voice hesitant. "Probably... maybe... possibly..."
Liu Shuzhi pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
Everyone stared intently at the figure at the center, enveloped in spiritual liquid, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Elder Wu glanced at Elder Song beside him and transmitted a low voice, "If you strike now to interrupt him, you'll get an extra half-percent of the profits later."
Elder Song lowered his gaze, pretending not to hear.
He wasn't a fool. He needed to stay alive to enjoy his earnings. If this matter reached the Hall Master's ears, he'd be torn to shreds.
Moreover, he had a large family depending on him. What if Elder Wu and his group didn't keep their promise if he died?
He'd never do something so foolish.
At that moment, Xu Sanyan's mind was completely serene. All his chaotic thoughts had vanished, and he couldn't hear the slightest sound from the outside world. He was completely immersed in his own Martial World.
Dao Seeking Realm... Seeking the Dao...
He had found his Dao but had yet to put it into practice. The experiences in the illusion were ultimately a dream, not his true experience.
Having broken through to this level, his mindset had reached its limit. To continue advancing his cultivation, he would need to break through his mindset as well.
Xu Sanyan's senses gradually returned, and the spiritual energy around him slowly dissipated. He opened his eyes, his cold gaze sweeping across the scene without joy or sorrow.
At this moment, the breakthrough was complete: Mid Stage Dao Seeking Realm, achieved!
The violent winds had long subsided. Xu Sanyan extended his right hand, and a fallen branch on the ground flew into his grasp. He used it to gather the messy strands of hair behind his head, securing them with a small piece of the wood.
His green robe and cold expression, combined with his slender figure and the wooden branch holding his hair in place, gave him an air of three parts freedom and seven parts aloofness.
Xiang Tan blinked her beautiful eyes, her breathing slightly hurried. In this moment, he seemed like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm, making it impossible to look directly at him.
Elder Wu said nothing, turning and leaving.
There was no point in saying anything now. Xu Sanyan had broken through two stages in a row, his momentum reaching its peak. Avoiding his sharp edge was the best choice.
Xu Sanyan spoke softly, "Elder Wu, wait."
Wu Xin stopped and turned his head slightly.
Xu Sanyan pointed at Liu Tang not far away, saying, "This is the person I've chosen to be the Deputy Head of the Hall of Affairs for Elder Wu. Please take care of him in the future."
Liu Tang stepped forward, a smile on his face as he clasped his hands in greeting.
"Hmph, the Holy Son can handle things as he sees fit. There's no need to consult this old man. Farewell."
As Elder Wu and his group departed, the onlookers emerged from the shadows, raising their hands in congratulations. "The Holy Son's extraordinary talent is truly awe-inspiring!"
"Indeed. I've lived for over three hundred years, and this is the first time I've seen someone like the Holy Son. My life has been truly worthwhile."
Flattery poured in from all sides. Xu Sanyan forced a smile and clasped his hands in return. "I've already prepared a banquet. Please, everyone, join me inside for a drink."
"We humbly accept your invitation, Holy Son. Thank you."
Xu Sanyan glanced at Liu Tang, nodding slightly. Liu Tang understood and stepped forward to attend to the guests.
The courtyard was filled with a festive atmosphere.
In contrast, the atmosphere was unusually heavy among Elder Wu's group as they descended the mountain. Wu Xin glared at Elder Song with a hint of anger in his eyes, but ultimately said nothing.
With a formidable enemy looming, internal strife was ill-advised. They could settle scores later, once this matter was resolved.
However, Wu Xin had forgotten that Elder Song was never his subordinate. Their relationship was at best one of cooperation, and he had no authority to order Elder Song to do anything for him.
Elder Song lowered his head slightly, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Meanwhile, in a remote corner of the Central Region, Three Mountains City, the Wei Clan, a cultivation clan, held nominal control.
Though Three Mountains City was nominally under the Wei Clan's jurisdiction, only the inner city truly belonged to them. The outer city had long been occupied by various factions.
Not only did the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect establish a base here, but even righteous path sects like the Source Worship Sect, Praying Dao Sect, Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple, and the neither entirely righteous nor entirely demonic Shangyin Mountain had also set up their own headquarters.
In addition, numerous other cultivation clans and various mid-sized sects had flocked to the city, creating a chaotic mix of factions that made Three Mountains City the most turbulent place in the Central Region.
Qin Manyang wandered into a merchant guild, where a plaque above the entrance bore four large characters:
"Harmonious Heart Merchant Guild"
This was a business venture of the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect.
At the moment, the shop was nearly empty. A few shop assistants were gathered in small groups, chatting idly. Qin Manyang pulled out an envelope and a token, handing them to the shopkeeper. "Please send this back to the mountain gate and deliver it to the Mad Daoist."
The shopkeeper glanced at the token, then quickly returned it with a respectful bow. "Greetings, Elder."
Qin Manyang nodded slightly. "Yes, make it quick."
"Understood," the shopkeeper replied, taking the envelope and turning to leave.
At that moment, the idle chatter of the nearby attendants caught her attention. One of them said, "The Holy Son Competition is over. The results were quite unexpected. Hua Gu's disciple, Ju Ran, actually died."
Qin Manyang raised an eyebrow. Mengdie was dead?
She remembered the woman. Mengdie was exceptionally talented and Hua Gu's chosen successor. How could she have died?
Another attendant nodded. "I heard the same. They say the first Holy Son to emerge had only joined the sect recently and was previously unknown. This time, he's truly leaped over the dragon gate and soared to the heavens."
"Yes, I think his name was Xu Sanyan..."
"That's right, Xu Sanyan. Remember it well, so you don't accidentally offend him."
The attendants rotated every three years, returning to their sect when their time was up and receiving a reward of merit points—a task assigned by the Hall of Affairs.
Qin Manyang frowned and instantly appeared before the attendant who had spoken, asking, "What did you say the Holy Son's name was?"
The attendant jumped in surprise and hastily bowed, his voice trembling as he replied, "Xu... Xu Sanyan. I believe that's the name."
(End of the Chapter)
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