CHAPTER 66

Hints Revealed

Since the great Dao-Demon War a thousand years ago, the three demonic sects had once again turned to infighting and internal strife. The already turbulent factions crumbled, plunging once more into chaos.

Without Leng Nie's suppression, ambitious disciples freely displayed their strength, scrambling for resources and influence, ultimately stabilizing into a three-way standoff, a chaotic dance of demons.

Among these three factions, Wu Xin of the Xiaoyao Sect, He Qing of the Heavenly Demon Sect, and Jia Shengqi of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sect were the most prominent.

The renowned Xunxiang [Fragrant] Pavilion in Yanzhou was a standout among pleasure houses, yet few knew it was actually a branch of the Xiaoyao Sect.

Today, as usual, after noon, carriages and horses gradually gathered at the entrance of Xunxiang Pavilion, unlike ordinary brothels that only opened at night, this place bustled with activity even during the day.

The attendant Xiao Li, waiting at the door, wore an ingratiating smile as he welcomed the pot-bellied Squire Master Liu from Wenchang Street into the pavilion, showering him with flattery and smiles, making him feel so comfortable that even his pores seemed smoothed out.

Once Master Liu entered, the chrysanthemum-like wrinkles of Xiao Li's smile suddenly faded. He weighed the ordinary silver ingot in his hand, curling his lips disdainfully, if it weren't for this fat pig's abundant yang energy, how could he afford to act so arrogantly?

Hmph, once his vitality was drained dry, his days would be numbered...

A flash of malice flickered in Xiao Li's eyes, but it vanished when he caught sight of a woman gracefully approaching from afar. Not just him, likely every guest and servant passing by, regardless of age or gender, stared dumbfounded at the woman who seemed to have strayed into the mortal realm, as if their souls had been stolen.

Her hair was a cascade of silver that reached her ankles, like the finest snow-white silk, shimmering with a cool, ethereal glow. Her eyes, clear as glass, rippled with gentle waves, within which flickered a faint, bewitching purple shadow. The black dress she wore accentuated her fair, jade-like skin and innate beauty, yet her gaze was clear and indifferent, as if nothing in this world could stir even the slightest ripple in her heart. It was precisely this detached, snow-like countenance that held the most captivating allure.

Expressionlessly, she glanced at Xiao Li, whose eyes burned with fervor. Hidden within her sleeve, her slender fingers pinched a colorful silk cord, at the end of which hung a crystal-clear jade pendant. The pendant shimmered with a five-colored radiance, as if conveying some message.

She nodded to herself and murmured, "Yes, this is the place." Then, she stepped forward toward the Xunxiang Pavilion.

Only then did Xiao Li snap back to reality. He hurriedly stepped forward and cautiously blocked her path, forcing an awkward smile as he asked, "Miss, may I ask what business brings you here?"

Women who came to the Xunxiang Pavilion were either tiger-like wives hunting down their husbands or delicate flowers selling themselves. This young lady before him was breathtakingly beautiful and carried an extraordinary aura, nothing like someone who would sell herself... If she truly came to cause trouble, he couldn't possibly let her enter.

"I'm here to find my daughter. Step aside." Her tone was calm, her expression unchanged, yet Xiao Li, with years of experience in greeting guests, sensed a trace of impatience from her, like walking through snow in thin clothing, an overwhelming chill.

"Y-your daughter? Miss, you must be mistaken..." Xiao Li said in astonishment. The reason was truly peculiar and hard to believe, this young lady looked no more than seventeen or eighteen. If she had a child, the child would at most be a toddler. How could such a child end up in the Xunxiang Pavilion?

This excuse was utterly absurd!

Hearing this, the woman showed no anger. Instead, she earnestly examined the jade pendant in her hand, which continued to flicker, as if confirming something.

After a moment, she spoke to Xiao Li with utmost seriousness, "There's no mistake. My daughter is inside. Step aside... or I'll k!ll you."

Her tone was perfectly ordinary, as if she were merely commenting on the weather, yet it startled Xiao Li so much that he stumbled back two steps, unable to utter another word of protest. Her eyes held not a trace of emotion, so cold that he couldn't help but believe that if he insisted on blocking her, he would truly meet his end, even though she appeared to be nothing more than a delicate, frail beauty with no strength to speak of.

Just as he hesitated, a lazy male voice suddenly echoed in his mind, "Let her in."

Startled, Xiao Li hurriedly bowed and complied, respectfully ushering the woman into the inner courtyard of the Xunxiang Pavilion. Who was this woman, to have their master personally intervene?

The frozen pedestrians and carriages on the street began to flow again, as if a paused scene had suddenly sprung back to life. They unanimously ignored the Xunxiang Pavilion, which had closed its doors to guests, and the stunningly beautiful woman in white, as if an unknown barrier had been cast over this area, dividing it into two separate worlds.

......

"Next match: Su Yan of Chonghua Sect versus Shangguan Yi of Bingyan Island." Taking a sip of clear tea, the long-bearded arbiter announced leisurely.

As things stood, Chonghua Sect and Bingyan Island were the two top contenders for the championship.

In the match against Tianyin Temple, Jia Siwen severely injured Daxi, securing a point for the Bingyan Island. Meanwhile, in the competition against the Qianyu Sect, Tong Tong ultimately turned the tide, unexpectedly winning a round, leaving the two factions tied.

On the surface, this competition was meant to select an elite team to confront the Demon Sect. However, among the higher-ups of each faction, it was an unspoken understanding, the victor would become the new leader of the Five Great Sects!

Through this contest, the winner among the younger generation would represent the emerging strength of each major sect and signify the future power dynamics of the factions in the next hundred or even thousand years.

Thus, this was not merely a competition but also a performance, the sect that displayed the strongest combat prowess would become the foremost sect in the future.

It was precisely because of this understanding that the elders of the Chonghua Sect whispered among themselves: With Tong Tong's abysmal, bottom-tier strength, sending her into the arena would be like offering a lamb to the wolves, a wasted opportunity.

Unfortunately, the sect leader insisted on this decision, and they could not interfere.

Fortunately, Tong Tong emerged victorious in her match. Whether through skill or sheer luck, it finally silenced those stubborn old-timers.

As for Ye Zhiqiu, her eyes sparkled with even greater interest, deep and inscrutable, making it impossible to guess her thoughts.

"Although Shangguan Yi is a disciple under the Bingyan Island Master, his strength is inferior to Jia Siwen. Against Su Yan, he stands little chance of victory," Master Yuangui of Tianyin Temple gently explained to the young disciple beside him.

Though monks are supposed to practice compassion, how could they easily let go of the fact that their disciple was severely injured? The Bingyan Island's arrogance must not go unchecked. Tianyin Temple was no pushover!

Let's see how Chonghua avenges this humiliation for them!

Master Yuangui stroked his smooth, round bald head and smiled slyly.

"Go, Senior Brother! Don't let anyone take advantage of you!" Tong Tong clenched her small fists, waving them fiercely as she cheered for Su Yan at the top of her lungs, her passionate display masking the faint unease in her eyes.

The one she cheered for executed a swift flip, gracefully leaping onto the stage. She casually adjusted her robes, a simple movement, yet it exuded an indescribable elegance and charm, eliciting intense reactions from the audience below. The men wore nearly identical expressions of hostility, while the women shared looks of admiration.

Yet, among all the sights before her, only one clear-eyed, lively young woman could truly capture her gaze and her heart, a girl who was utterly ordinary, even somewhat foolish. Why was it so hard to let her go?

Su Yan smiled faintly, a subtle curve of his lips enough to captivate the crowd.

"Shangguan Yi of Bingyan Island. Greetings, Brother Su." The man waiting on the other side of the stage cupped his hands in greeting. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were bright and spirited, vast as the sea and unfathomably deep.

He smiled as warmly as a spring breeze, seemingly unbothered by his opponent's overwhelming popularity and flair, yet Su Yan sensed something unusual: this man's smile was too sincere, too perfect, to the point of discomfort.

'Hypocrisy.'

"Su Yan of Chonghua. I await your guidance." Su Yan regarded him emotionlessly, summoning Changhong as she waited for his opponent to make the first move, not out of arrogance, but according to convention: in a duel, the weaker party strikes first.

Among the disciples participating in this competition, the ones with the highest cultivation levels were only Su Yan and Jia Siwen, the latter had barely reached the Nascent Soul realm half a month ago, just managing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Su Yan and maintain their shared reputation as fierce and formidable stars. This slight difference in time, when compared to the long years of a cultivator's life, was utterly insignificant.

A sharp glint flashed in Shangguan Yi's eyes as he swiftly summoned his weapons, a pair of Silver Moon Scimitars.

With a slight raise of his brow, a trace of mockery flickered at the corner of Su Yan's lips: those who wielded Scimitars were not uncommon, but such slender, translucent blades, at first glance, seemed more like weapons favored by women, they were simply too delicate and effeminate.

Just as she had thought, the moment the audience below saw his pair of elegant scimitars, they all sneered. Some even openly mocked him: "Oh ho, you dare bring out a woman's weapon? Do you look down on your opponent or what?"

Whether overtly or covertly, they were all sowing discord, their intentions were clear as day.

Su Yan, however, remained unaffected by them. She simply stared coldly into Shangguan Yi's sharp eyes, twirled her sword with a flourish, and said softly, "Make your move."

Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit. She had never underestimated any opponent.

"Forgive my offense!" Shangguan Yi shouted clearly, gripping his twin blades as he lunged forward. His first move was mercilessly aimed at her neck, a clear attempt to k!ll. Only then did the discerning realize: this seemingly gentle Shangguan Yi was no kind soul, attacking with lethal intent from the start!

Su Yan's lips curved slightly. Without any visible movement, a flash of crimson light followed as she unleashed over a dozen sword gleams in succession. Not only did she effortlessly deflect Shangguan Yi's attack, but her fierce counterattacks left him scrambling to keep up.

This was the contrast in strength, the gap in cultivation. It could not be bridged overnight, nor overturned with a single move.

Unless Shangguan Yi had some hidden trump card, the outcome of this lopsided battle was already set in stone!

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Though it's unkind to witness a one-sided beating, when Senior Brother does it, it's truly a sight to behold!" Tong Tong shook her head and "softly" sighed, yet her words were clearly heard by everyone around, eliciting strange expressions from the crowd.

On the stage, Shangguan Yi's expression shifted abruptly.

How dare they look down on him!

His eyes suddenly turned sinister, and a cold, almost imperceptible smile crept onto his lips.

Su Yan's hand, gripping Changhong, paused. Her gaze grew heavy with sudden gravity.

'Was it him?'

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