Chapter 269: Ambition, Despair

After the Lunar New Year ended, the Qingxiao Sect began full-scale preparations for the Dharma Battle Assembly. From Qingxiao Mountain to Xunxian Town, and across the various peaks of the Taikun Mountain Range, any conversation inevitably revolved around the Dharma Battle Assembly.

This session of the convention would start its matches in February and continue until June to determine the top sixty-four. The entire process consisted of one-on-one battles.

Disciples could register up until mid-June, which provided time for those out on experiential training, ensuring the Dharma Battle Assembly did not feel rushed.

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A large number of aristocratic families, merchants, and officials arrived at the Qingxiao Sect. The current Qingxiao Sect stood above the Dynasty; any Disciple with talent was worth currying favor with.

Because the Qingxiao Sect allowed Pilgrims onto the mountain, many people used the identity of a Pilgrim to observe the strength of the Qingxiao Sect Discipless. This included other Cultivation Schools from the current Martial Forest.

When the winter snow between heaven and earth completely melted, it was as if life was being restored.

Inside a courtyard on Ziyang Peak.

Qiu Dahu, the Sect Leader of the Qingxia Sect, looked at his Master, Zhou Ya, with a complex expression.

He hadn’t expected it to be so easy to see his Master, and his Master was living much better than he had imagined.

Zhou Ya had already made amends for his past mistakes and regained his status as a True Disciple. His current cultivation was already at the Nourishing Origin Realm Fourth Layer.

Such cultivation was considered nothing within the Qingxiao Sect, but to Qiu Dahu, it was unfathomably profound.

The twenty-four-year-old Qiu Dahu had long been unable to reach the Nourishing Origin Realm, Third Layer. Within the Qingxia Sect, he could maintain the bearing of a cultivator, but after coming to the Qingxiao Sect, he felt inferior.

Far too many Qingxiao Sect Discipless filled him with awe and dread.

It wasn’t just their strength; the speech, temperament, and appearance of the Qingxiao Sect Discipless made him feel ashamed of his own inferiority.

Zhou Ya looked at the grown-up Qiu Dahu with a heart full of emotion. Upon hearing that a Pilgrim surnamed Qiu was looking for him, he immediately thought of Qiu Dahu.

“Dahu, have you been well all these years?” Zhou Ya asked.

After returning to the Qingxiao Sect, he had kept an eye on the Qingxia Sect. As long as he could find news of them, it meant the Qingxia Sect still existed.

The Sect Leader truly hadn’t lied to him; he really allowed the Qingxia Sect to continue existing.

So when Qiu Dahu came looking for him, he was very happy and wasn’t at all afraid that it would cause trouble.

He couldn’t take the initiative to seek out the Qingxia Sect, but if the Qingxia Sect came to visit him, it showed he had taught them well.

Qiu Dahu snapped out of his daze and said, “I’m doing quite well. I haven’t encountered any trouble.”

He was telling the truth. Thinking carefully, his life was much better than before he met Zhou Ya. It was just that his ambition was too great, yet he saw no hope, leading to mental torment.

“Our sect’s Dharma Battle Assembly is about to begin. You should stay for a while longer; Master will provide for your food and lodging,” Zhou Ya said with a smile.

In the Qingxiao Sect, he didn’t have much of a presence and only had two or three friends, so he hoped Qiu Dahu could keep him company for a bit.

Our sect… Hearing these two words, Qiu Dahu felt they were grating on the ears, and the distance between him and Zhou Ya suddenly felt much greater.

Zhou Ya, however, didn’t notice this and began to talk incessantly about the Dharma Battle Assembly.

The names of various geniuses spilled from his mouth, making Qiu Dahu feel very uncomfortable.

He suddenly realized that his Master wasn’t that magnificent. Master was also an ordinary person who looked up to others, which gave him a sense of internal collapse.

Perhaps this was his Master’s true appearance. In the past, he hadn’t cultivated and couldn’t see the world through his Master’s eyes.

After a long time.

Qiu Dahu asked with feigned emotion, “Master, tell me, why did you found the Qingxia Sect back then? Wouldn’t it have been better to just bring us directly into the Qingxiao Sect?”

Zhou Ya shook his head and said, “The journey was long and arduous. Bringing you back to the Qingxiao Sect would likely have invited a lot of trouble. Besides, I had my own missions to carry out. I can’t just bring everyone I save into the sect, can I? What would that make me? Furthermore, I didn’t have that kind of authority.”

“Back then, weren’t you clamoring to be a Sect Leader and to shake the Martial Forest? What, have you given up on that goal?”

Hearing this, Qiu Dahu said seriously, “How could that be? I was just asking casually. I won’t abandon the Qingxia Sect.”

The word ‘abandon’ also felt grating to Zhou Ya.

He suddenly realized that Qiu Dahu held a grudge against him!

In response, Zhou Ya wasn’t angry; he had a clear conscience. He maintained his smile and changed the subject to prevent the boy from staying in that mood.

Qiu Dahu’s arrival was just a microcosm.

The current Cultivation Schools all had thousands of ties to the Qingxiao Sect. When they sent people to scout the Qingxiao Sect’s strength, they were all won over by the Qingxiao Sect’s magnanimity.

Some were won over and wanted to get closer to the Qingxiao Sect, while others were in despair, not knowing how they could ever surpass the Qingxiao Sect… It was now noon.

In Hu Yan’s courtyard, Duan Xiaojuan was gesticulating wildly as she told him about a dharma battle she had seen that morning.

When she finished, she still hadn’t had her fill.

“A battle between those at the Nourishing Origin Realm, Fifth Layer is just like a battle between immortals. I wonder when I’ll reach the Fifth Layer. By the way, Hu Yan, what about you? What is your current cultivation? Surely you’ve already reached the Fifth Layer?” Duan Xiaojuan sat down, propping her cheek with one hand, staring at Hu Yan with bright eyes.

Hu Yan smiled and nodded, saying, “I have reached the Fifth Layer.”

Duan Xiaojuan wasn’t surprised. She had already accepted Hu Yan’s status as a Genius. Many people said Hu Yan would become the strongest Disciple of the future, and she was proud of that.

“Then are you participating in the Dharma Battle Assembly?”

“I’m not participating. Master told me to observe this time and participate in ten years. He even gave me a task.”

“What task?”

“He requires me to take first place in the next Dharma Battle Assembly.”

“First place?”

Duan Xiaojuan’s eyes widened. She looked Hu Yan up and down, her heart filled with emotion.

If the Sect Leader dared to set such a goal, it meant Hu Yan was qualified.

What kind of elegance would he possess in ten years?

Duan Xiaojuan had heard that by making a name for oneself at the Dharma Battle Assembly, many aristocratic families would try to win one over, even through marriage alliances.

Her heart skipped a beat. Would she be unable to keep hold of Hu Yan in the future?

“Hu Yan, you’ve been in the sect for so long, do you have a sweetheart?” Duan Xiaojuan asked. She still remembered Zhu Qingling of the Zhu Clan.

Zhu Qingling was also said to be a Genius and had even become a Law Enforcement Hall Disciple ahead of time.

Hu Yan smiled helplessly. “How could that be? My heart is set on cultivation. You, don’t always overthink things. Look at my Master; he’s so powerful, yet he hasn’t married or had children. What are you worried about? I will certainly keep my promise and pursue Immortal Ascension together with you.”

These words made Duan Xiaojuan feel very conflicted.

She had only said that back then to prevent Hu Yan from being snatched away. Now it seemed the one bound by this agreement was her.

Hu Yan thought of something and continued, “Next year, I plan to go down the mountain for experiential training. Do you want to come with me?”

Hearing this, Duan Xiaojuan immediately perked up and asked curiously, “Shouldn’t a Genius like you be in closed-door cultivation, pushing toward Undergoing Tribulation? How did your Master agree to let you go down the mountain?”

Hu Yan replied, “Martial Uncle Jiang will be accompanying us at that time, so there won’t be much danger.”

Thanks to ‘Only Seeking Peach Blossom Spring’ for the tip of 1500 Qidian coins~

I went for a check-up again today. It turns out it’s not the flu, but reflux gastritis. Stomach acid is irritating my throat, causing me to cough constantly. It’s so uncomfortable. I hope the targeted medication works. Praying for improvement tomorrow, I’ll keep updating QAQ.

I haven’t slept much these past few days. As soon as I sit or lie down, I cough and feel like vomiting. Taking care of the stomach is key!