Chapter 41: Two Titans Clash, Mount Hua Reaps the Benefit

A thunderous roar surged down the mountainside, sweeping across the gates of the Golden Flame Sect. The golden shield around Bai Tong suddenly expanded, protecting Bai Lun and Bai Da, his brothers.

The soundwaves, like torrents cascading from great heights, crashed against Bai Tong’s egg-shaped barrier. Where the torrent met the shield, it was as though water struck a dam, sending up a spray of energy.

Jiang Yan fixed his gaze on the distant clash, watching the waves thrown up by the collision. His heart trembled—some strange rhythm seemed to stir the flow of spiritual power within him.

After his long journey, Jiang Yan’s spiritual power had cycled through his veins according to the Golden Light Technique for dozens of rounds. Now, responding to this peculiar cadence, the flow abruptly shifted, and began circulating as dictated by the Greenwood Formula.

One cycle, two cycles...

The spiritual power within Jiang Yan was drawn by the contest of energies between Bai Tong and another Foundation Establishment master of the Golden Flame Sect. The Greenwood Formula whirled ceaselessly within him.

With a sudden pop, Jiang Yan heard the distinctive crack of meridian breakthrough that signaled advancement in the Greenwood Formula.

After several cycles, Jiang Yan finally confirmed he had advanced: his meridian network had grown from five lines to six, marking his steady entry into the sixth level of Qi Refinement.

He opened his eyes and summoned the translucent information panel to examine himself.

Name: Jiang Yan
Sect: Mount Hua
Position: Sect Leader
Cultivation: Qi Refinement, Sixth Level
Weapon: First-grade Greenwood Vine
Techniques: Greenwood Formula, Mid First-grade; Greenwood Archery, Upper First-grade; Golden Light Earth Technique, grade unknown
Merit Points:

Jiang Yan couldn’t help but rejoice inwardly. He hadn’t expected that watching others fight would allow him to advance as well. It seemed his merit points had increased slightly; his gaze swept to Duo’er beside him. Apparently, saving the girl earlier had earned him a merit point.

Jiang Yan knew well the power of merit points: as long as a Qi Refinement cultivator maintained more than one merit point, they need not fear heart demons or tribulations during advancement—they would always succeed.

This power would truly shine when cultivators reached late Foundation Establishment and began forming their core; at that stage, the number of merit points directly determined whether one could advance and become a formidable Core Formation expert.

Next to the ruins of the fallen archway, the soundwave unleashed by another Foundation Establishment master of the Golden Flame Sect finally collided with Bai Tong’s egg-shaped shield.

A thunderous explosion followed, the shield and the surging wave meeting in a visible shockwave, which rolled and tumbled, blasting a deep pit into the ground.

Seeing the crater, Jiang Yan secretly thanked Bai Tong for taking the brunt. Had the shockwave reached them, most of the Purple-Clad disciples and himself would have been decimated.

As the dust settled, a gray-robed, gray-haired middle-aged man appeared before Bai Tong, regarding him coldly in silence.

Bai Tong, unable to contain himself despite his joy at having forced the senior brother out, spoke cautiously, “Senior Brother, why have you left seclusion? Weren’t you to wait a few more days for your wounds to heal?”

The gray-robed man was Xu Mingyuan, father of Xu Shi. Hearing Bai Tong’s slightly smug question, Xu Mingyuan replied calmly, “My wounds healed days ago. I remained in seclusion to advance. Were it not for my son’s peril, I might have broken through already. Are you satisfied now, Bai Tong?”

Bai Tong’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected Xu Mingyuan to recover so quickly, not only stabilizing his realm but with hope of advancing further. Bai Tong secretly congratulated himself for using Xu Shi to draw Xu Mingyuan out—otherwise his days in the Golden Flame Sect would have grown harder.

A smug smile surfaced on Bai Tong’s face. “Congratulations, Senior Brother. The next breakthrough must be close at hand.”

“Father, you must avenge me! Bai Tong, that old villain, beat me like this, and tried to kill me. Father, you must avenge me!” Xu Shi, bloodied, shouted loudly upon seeing his protector.

Xu Mingyuan beckoned, and the red shield around Xu Shi vanished. A command talisman flew from Xu Shi to Xu Mingyuan’s sleeve. With a wave, Xu Mingyuan sent a round, gleaming pill to Xu Shi, who swallowed it without hesitation.

“Qi Gathering Pill!” Duo’er exclaimed with excitement beside Jiang Yan, her expression full of envy for Xu Shi, who had received such a pill.

Jiang Yan glanced curiously at Duo’er. Was the Qi Gathering Pill so precious? He had hundreds in his purse, and any second-grade alchemist could make them. Could they really be that rare? He turned to see the Purple-Clad disciples, all with expressions of longing. Zisu and Ding Ning looked better, but their eyes too showed a hint of envy.

“Bai Tong, today you injured my son. Even if I lower my cultivation to kill you, the sect leader and elders will have no grounds to object.” Xu Mingyuan spoke coldly to Bai Tong. Though the matter concerned life and death, his demeanor was as indifferent as discussing the price of vegetables, with not a trace of concern for life.

Bai Tong’s face changed. Even injured, Xu Mingyuan was at mid Foundation Establishment, far above Bai Tong’s early stage. If Xu Mingyuan sacrificed a realm, he could certainly kill Bai Tong.

At this realization, sweat poured from Bai Tong’s brow as he regretted his reckless actions.

“Ancestor...” Bai Tong thought of the highest Elder. His expression steadied—this was the foot of Golden Flame Mountain. If two Foundation Establishment masters fought, the Ancestor would certainly be alerted, and would not allow the death of a sect master.

“Just now, your grandson claimed my son lacked authority to approve a minor sect’s advancement. Bai Tong, do you think my son has that authority?” Xu Mingyuan saw Bai Tong’s shifting expressions and waited until he was calm before continuing.

“Senior Brother is correct. As the seventh-generation chief disciple, Xu Shi should have some authority. We, as brothers, agree to grant him the power to approve minor sect advancement, and promote him to Elder.” Bai Tong acquiesced, knowing he was no match for Xu Mingyuan. He gave up his earlier competitive spirit.

Bai Lun’s face was ashen—his granduncle had lost to Xu Shi’s father, meaning he would be suppressed in the sect from now on.

Xu Shi, on the other hand, was elated. The authority to approve sect advancement was secondary; the real prize was being made an Elder by his father’s word, forcing Bai Tong to accept. Clearly, strength was what mattered.

After taking his father’s Qi Gathering Pill, Xu Shi’s minor wounds healed rapidly under its potent effects. With the terms settled, it was time for him to show off.

“Brother Wu, you said I have authority to manage minor sect advancement, and someone mocked you. Well, I’ll let that minor sect advance before their eyes. As my first act as Elder, I’ll waive the advancement fee and promote their sect to second-grade. What do you think, Brother Wu?”

Bai Tong silently cursed Xu Shi’s ignorance, squeezing the second-grade spirit beast hidden in his sleeve and muttering inwardly about Xu Mingyuan. “Just wait till I tame this beast—you’ll see.”

The chubby disciple of Golden Flame Sect, who had embarrassed himself under Bai Tong’s pressure, now lavished praise on Xu Shi and slandered the Bai family, flattering Xu Shi to the utmost.

Xu Shi, having flaunted his authority before the Bai brothers, was filled with post-crisis joy. Spotting the Purple-Clad female disciples in the distance, he now had an audience for his boasting.

“Junior Sister Zisu, Junior Sister Ding Ning, I apologize for the disturbance caused by our internal affairs. Now that matters are settled, allow me to escort you up the mountain.” Xu Shi greeted Zisu and her companions with utmost courtesy, displaying gentlemanly demeanor. Were it not for the blood on his face, he would have been a fine young master.

As Zisu and her companions passed Jiang Yan, they each saluted him, thanking him for saving Duo’er. Then, led by Xu Shi, they vanished behind the sect’s mountain barrier.

After several cold snorts, Xu Mingyuan departed first, followed by Bai Tong, his face dark. Bai Lun helped his wounded brother, and both mounted their white-headed swan, disappearing behind the barrier, leaving only the chubby disciple and Jiang Yan behind.