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Chapter 41:
(Inside the Zongmen Hall)
"I don't know the heights of the sky or the depths of the earth, yet you dare disrespect the Holy Maiden?"
"As a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, I feel deeply ashamed of you!"
At Qiu Ruohan's command, several inner disciples threw Lu Ming out of the hall. The surrounding Azure Cloud Sect disciples looked on with cold, disappointed expressions, and a chorus of jeers filled the air.
No one could believe that, in front of the entire Azure Cloud Sect Territory and the major sects, Lu Ming had dared to behave so recklessly toward Qiu Ruohan. He had brought disgrace upon the entire sect.
"Curse it all!"
"Lin Ang... it's all your fault, Lin Ang!"
Lu Ming sat outside the hall, his face twisted with rage. He thought back to Qiu Ruohan's cold expression, the indifference of the other disciples, and their mocking laughter. He really wanted to destroy Lin Ang completely.
For years, he trained relentlessly, moving from the outer sect to the inner sect, all for the chance to prove himself to Qiu Ruohan and earn the right to stand by her side. But now, after his outburst, he had seen the disgust in her eyes. Their relationship was ruined beyond repair.
Years of effort, all wasted!
And it was all because of one man—Lin Ang!
If he hadn't heard that Lin Ang had been promoted to Holy Son, showered with attention and admiration, would he have lost control?
Yet, despite Lu Ming’s anger, he couldn't shake the feeling that if it weren't for Lin Ang, he would be the one standing in the position of Holy Son.
"Lin Ang... you're nothing but a man blessed with good fortune, good looks, immense talent, and the favor of the sect! You outshine me in every way!"
"But I, Lu Ming, have my own determination! I will climb to the top, step by step, through sheer hard work!"
"Master, when we enter the secret realm, you must help me with all your strength! There will be a reckoning between Lin Ang and me!"
A faint killing intent flashed in Lu Ming's eyes as he thought of his plan.
The beautiful master inside his necklace remained silent. She knew that the young man she had once guided had changed. He was no longer the dedicated cultivator but a man consumed by jealousy, anger, and hatred.
"Sigh... Xiao Ming." She thought sadly.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Zongmen Hall.
The Supreme Elder Ying Xuanzi had returned to the sect in person to oversee the Holy Son ceremony for Lin Ang.
Even the ancestor of the Azure Cloud Sect had personally inscribed the Holy Son token and presented it to Lin Ang, showing how much the sect valued him.
In the grand hall, filled with celebration, representatives from various empires and sects presented their gifts.
"Our Empire presents a fourth-grade top-tier elixir, the Longevity Grass!"
"The Supreme Elder of the Iron Soul Sect offers a bottle of fourth-grade Soul Essence Pills!"
And so it continued.
At this moment, the disciple responsible for announcing the gifts paused briefly, then called out:
"Heavenly Azure Land ... the third quasi-saintess, Ye Cangxue... sends a painting of mountains and rivers, hand-drawn by herself."
The hall fell silent instantly, especially among the elders of the Azure Cloud Sect.
Ye Cangxue?
Once, she had stayed at Azure Cloud Sect, but after her talents were awakened, she was taken in by another holy land and had long since severed ties with Azure Cloud Sect. Now, she was a quasi-saintness of the Holy Land, her talents unmatched, her skills extraordinary. She was renowned as one of the most exceptional figures in the entire Domain.
Her works—whether paintings or poetry—were valued as highly as fifth- or sixth-grade elixirs. No one expected her to send a gift for Lin Ang's Holy Son promotion.
"Ye Cangxue? The number one swordswoman in the Domain?"
"Why would she send a gift?"
"I heard... Lin Ang and Ye Cangxue share a special relationship."
"Tsk tsk, it's said that the two of them..."
"Shh... don't say any more."
Amid the murmurs, Lin Ang remained calm. Everyone knew about Ye Cangxue's decision to cancel their marriage, but now she had sent a gift. Lin Ang understood what this meant. It was a challenge.
"Ye Cangxue, a mere painting? You think Lin Ang will lose his composure over this? " he He thought inwardly.
With his current mindset, a simple painting meant nothing to him. He waved his hand casually. "Store it in the sect's treasury with the other gifts," he said indifferently.
The next gift was announced: "Holy Maiden Qiu Ruohan presents a fifth-grade elixir, the Thousand-Year Phaseless Flower."
The crowd murmured in awe.
"A fifth-grade elixir!"
"Holy Maiden Ruohan is so generous."
"I heard he acquired that elixir half a year ago in a secret realm, but she never used it. Now she's gifting it to Holy Son Lin Ang?"
...
The promotion ceremony was nearing its end.
Lin Ang sat quietly in the side hall, where the tea on the table gently steamed. In both his past and present lives, Lin Ang had never been fond of socializing.
Just then, the door opened, and Yi Yi entered with a respectful bow. "Master, Holy Maiden Ruohan wishes to see you," she announced.
Lin Ang, now the foremost figure in the Azure Cloud Sect, was in a position where even someone like Holy Maiden Ruohan had to request permission for an audience. He took a sip of his tea and replied calmly, "Let her in."
A moment later, the soft, melodious voice of Qiu Ruohan filled the room. "Congratulations, young master Lin Ang. I hope I’m not disturbing your rest?" She said gently.
She stepped into view, dressed in a long, dark blue outfit. Her beauty was serene, quiet—almost ethereal. Her eyes, as clear as still water, carried the calm of a fairy. It was easy to understand why someone like Lu Ming, despite his pride, would lose his composure before her.
Lin Ang smiled lightly. "Not at all."
Qiu Ruohan waved her hand, dismissing her maid, Zi Yan, and took a moment to reflect.
Though it had been only a month since their last meeting, Lin Ang's cultivation had risen to the 4th stage Profound Core Realm. Merely a month ago, he had been at the 10th stage Spirit Condensing Realm.
"The Azure Cloud Sect is fortunate to have a genius like him. It’s been only a few months since he joined the inner sect, and now, as Holy Son, his future will be filled with glory..." Qiu Ruohan thought to herself.
Yet, despite the admiration in her thoughts, a fleeting sadness passed through her eyes, a sorrow hidden behind her graceful composure.
There were things no one else knew.
When Qiu Ruohan was born, she had been cursed with the Evil Spirit physique, a dark constitution that guaranteed she wouldn’t live past the age of eighteen. The Evil Spirit physique, as it was called, was the most ominous physique in all Nine Heavens. Even the greatest cultivators, those who had defied death itself, couldn’t reverse its effects.
Now, her eighteenth birthday loomed near, and she could feel the creeping weakness in her body—her heartbeat slowing day by day. She knew that the upcoming journey to the secret realm might be her last.
In her mind, there was a pull—something deep within the bottomless abyss of the secret realm calling to her. If she could choose only one person to go with her on this journey, to form a life-saving seal, there was only one name in her heart: Lin Ang.
"Holy Son Lin Ang," she began, her voice soft but resolute. "There is another matter I wish to discuss with you."
Lin Ang raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What is it?"
"We are both disciples of the Dao," Qiu Ruohan replied, her usually gentle gaze now filled with a serious intensity. "There’s no need to stand on ceremony."
She looked directly at him, her eyes conveying the weight of her request. "I ask that you form a seal with me—a seal with our auras."
-To be continued!
....
T/N: Thanks for reading!