Chapter 275: Ascenders

Chapter 275: Ascenders

Throwing needles, paper cards, darts—those were just minor tricks.

Yet even these bits of leftover junk, casually leaked by the hidden sects, had already caused people to cry out in disbelief back then. In truth, those sects had long been secretly recruiting disciples during that era.

These minor tricks were merely bait to lure the fated ones to come knocking.

If someone showed decent talent, they’d be accepted into the sect to cultivate.

Now, with spiritual energy revived, these sects were finally surfacing.

And those lucky few who had joined them years ago were now ready to showcase their abilities in this era of fierce competition.

The Monster Hunting Tournament was their grand debut.

After Zhao Ying's detailed explanation, Chen Huaian got it.

But he wasn’t envious.

Sure, hidden sects were powerful.

And sure, those lucky ones who’d been cultivating for ten years had the edge.

But if he were to pull out his Yin-Yang Sword Bone, Divine Lightning Spiritual Root, Sword Spiritual Root, and Dragon Soul...

So what?

Not to mention, he also had the Sword Pavilion backing him.

He wasn’t originally interested in the Monster Hunting Tournament. Even the hidden sects didn’t stir him. His only real interest was figuring out that inheritance transmission and the dragon soul’s guidance. If the key to completing the dragon soul really lay within Taishan, then there was no avoiding it.

…

9 PM — they got off the plane.

Chen Huaian and Lin Lingling arrived at the resting area designated by Qingfeng Sect.

He thought it would be some immortal-style mountain villa.

Instead, it turned out they had booked an entire nightclub complex.

Downstairs was a food street, upstairs was a full suite of foot massages, body rubs, and more.

The upper floors were packed with girls singing karaoke in the arms of wealthy patrons, and the rooftop doubled as a hotel.

Across the street? A bar district.

One word: debauchery.

In the crowd around the venue, Chen Huaian spotted quite a few familiar faces, mostly from aristocratic families.

For example, Lin Chen and Lin Hao, the brother-sister pair.

Last time Lin Hao tried to stir up trouble at the Exorcist Division and even tried to poach Wang Shouyi into the Lin family. After Wang Shouyi rejected him, Chen Huaian thought for sure this young master wouldn’t let it go.

But surprisingly, he hadn’t caused any more trouble since.

Maybe Lin Chen had talked him out of it?

At the moment, Lin Hao was drunkenly clinging to a heavily made-up nightclub girl, chatting animatedly with a man wearing short, fitted clothes with a distinctly old-school, traditional style.

Judging from his expression and stance, Lin Hao was clearly fawning all over the man.

Lin Chen stood behind him, tall and beautiful, her face cold and brows furrowed, obviously disgusted by her brother's groveling, but couldn’t say anything. When she spotted Chen Huaian and Lin Lingling, her eyes immediately lit up.

“Governor Chen!” She jogged over, showing a bit of nervous respect toward someone stronger. “Governor Chen, do you still remember me?”

Compared to their first meeting, this girl’s attitude had completely changed.

Seeing how pretty Lin Chen was, Lin Lingling immediately stepped forward to block Chen Huaian.

This time, she was definitely right to come along.

Look at this place, full of temptation...

What if the Governor got corrupted by some scheming woman and wasted precious resources and energy on nightclub girls? Then how would he have the strength to face those old monster ladies of the sects during the inheritance battles?

Without energy, there would be no resources.

The bright future of the C Province Exorcist Division would be ruined!

She couldn’t let that happen.

She would protect the Governor’s sword with her own life!

“I remember you,” Chen Huaian gave a kind smile, “and I still owe you a slap. Want me to return it now?”

Lin Chen’s smile froze.

She thought a friendly face would melt the ice.

Turns out this guy actually held a grudge?

Who the hell holds onto grudges like that?!

“Immortal Master! That’s him!”

A voice piped up from behind Lin Chen.

Chen Huaian tilted his head slightly.

Lin Hao and that old-style dressed man were both looking this way.

Originally, he wasn’t interested in Lin Hao or the traditional-looking guy.

But now that he focused.

He could faintly see the aura around them.

A new ability that had appeared with his recent cultivation progress.

He wasn’t sure if it came from the Dragon Platform Dantian or the Yin-Yang Sword Bone.

It was similar to fortune-telling masters’ ability to see qi.

But this wasn’t fake.

For example, those three eggs earlier had glowing red faces.

Especially after practicing the two techniques he provided, they had a swirl of purple qi above their heads. Red and purple—a sure sign of good fortune.

As for Lin Hao...

He was shrouded in black qi, his glabella dark and shiny.

Looked like death wasn’t far off.

Then Chen Huaian turned to the traditional-looking man.

There was also a faint red and purple glow, but far weaker than the three eggs.

Moreover, this red and purple glow was veiled by a layer of gray qi.

Like a fresh, juicy fruit coated in dust.

Chen Huaian didn’t know what the gray qi was.

But his sixth sense told him it definitely wasn’t good.

“So you’re that arrogant fool?”

The old-style man walked up to Chen Huaian.

His gaze was cold, carrying the loneliness of a cultivation genius who had trained ten years ahead of others and looked down on the world.

Only problem was—he was barely 1.7 meters tall.

No matter how cold his eyes were, he still had to look up at Chen Huaian.

“Me? Arrogant?”

Chen Huaian pointed to himself.

Arrogant about what?

Back then, it was Wang Shouyi who rejected Lin Hao, not him.

“Oh, I see. Interesting, interesting.” The traditional man’s lips curled into a devilish smirk. “So you’re also an Ascender. I am Li Zaitian, Qingfeng Sect’s core disciple. Also an Ascender.”

“Ascender?”

Chen Huaian’s mouth twitched.

What the hell?

He carefully sensed the guy’s cultivation.

Yup, training ten years earlier really made a difference.

Already at Foundation Establishment. Not bad.

But still light-years from actually ascending to immortality.

“No need to deny it. The ten-year mark has passed. There’s no longer any need to hide our identities.” Li Zaitian clasped his hands behind his back and turned to gaze up at the bright moon, his voice cold and detached.

“But even as Ascenders, one must not be arrogant. Otherwise, heaven will punish you. As they say, ‘three feet above your head, there are gods.’ You’d better behave yourself.”

After that, he turned and walked away, full of that “cultivation expert” vibe.

“Immortal Li, is that it?”

“Shouldn’t you at least...”

Lin Hao wasn’t happy with how Li Zaitian only threw out two sentences and left.

In his mind, with Li Zaitian’s power, shouldn’t he have just slapped Chen straight into the ground?

“What else? A mere mortal like you thinks you can tell me what to do?” Li Zaitian squinted, then casually slapped Lin Hao, sending him flying. “Get lost—!”

Laughter erupted around them.

Chen Huaian glanced around and noticed many people dressed like Li Zaitian.

Their auras were completely different from aristocratic disciples or exorcists.

Not exactly condescending, but definitely distinct from ordinary people.

At the same time, he noticed something else.

All of them had that same layer of gray qi, covering what would have been flourishing red and purple qi.

“Are all these people Ascenders? Something feels off...” He really missed his game abilities—being able to read basic information at a glance.

Too bad that didn’t work in the real world.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so clueless now.

Looking at the variety of cultivators around him.

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes, “Ascenders?

How interesting...”

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