Advance the future and become a martial saint on earth!

"Hey!"

Why did you pull me like that?

Stepping through the vermilion gates of the Marquis's residence, Marquis Xiao Pingnan of Beicang looked utterly disappointed.

He watched as his daughter, pushing her wheelchair across the stone bridge over the cold pond, prepared to enter the pavilion to rest, and he was utterly perplexed:
"You saw what happened just now!"

"That young Ji Xiu has received tremendous good fortune and is now extremely popular. In the future, he will rise to prominence and will be no less than the eldest and chief of the Nine Clans and Ten Pillars!"

Even if you don't have much affection for him.

“But ever since he stepped into Jiangyin Prefecture from Anning County, I have heard about all the things that happened before when I had dealings with his two grandmasters from you, Granny Shi.”

"You've helped him so much, and I can see that the boy isn't entirely without ulterior motives towards you either. He's repeatedly promised that if given the chance, he'll find a rare treasure to help you overcome your illness and be reborn."

"Why didn't you seize the opportunity when it was right in front of you?"

Xiao Pingnan was genuinely getting anxious.

He looked at Xiao Mingli, who was being pushed by Li Xuanyi, a true disciple of Tianchi. She had long, combed hair, beautiful skin, and a noble demeanor, like a fairy from the Jade Pool, but unfortunately, her legs were flawed and her foundation was damaged.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache:

"Your mother passed away early, and I promised her that I would take good care of you."

"Later, you lived up to expectations, becoming a disciple of Tianchi and a true disciple. At a young age, you broke through the four limits, forged a precious body, and underwent several transformations of your physical form, becoming flawless throughout your body."

"If it weren't for the unexpected events that occurred during the 'Gate of Transformation,' and you were killed by Zhimingshan, one of the 'Five Directions Daoist Officials' who were hidden by the Heavenly Master of the Righteous Dharma and controlled the orthodox lineage of the Daoist Register, you would definitely have a place among the top ten on the Young Dragon Stele today."

"Who knows, my good daughter might also achieve great things at a young age, becoming a Martial Saint at twenty!"

"That 'Heavenly Pool' is truly a scoundrel. Back then, the great and small merits you made in order to compete for the title of 'Current Chief, Heavenly Pool Walker' were all remarkable!"

"Just because your rival for the top spot, a disciple of the same lineage, didn't want you to recover, he secretly pulled strings to make things difficult for you, causing you to search for rare talents at Tianchi to no avail, wasting six years of your life."

"We've finally found an opportunity, but that kid Ji Xiu hasn't even had a chance to enjoy the rare treasures he got in the 'Impermanent Realm of All Laws' yet!"

"Although we do not know its origin or efficacy, its radiance, as bright as the moon and its auspicious aura, tell us that it is of exceptional quality and beyond doubt!"

"How could he refuse if you just asked? Besides, rare and precious materials are hard to come by, and people's hearts are easily changed."

"It's hard to guarantee that they won't disregard past friendships and simply devour them, turning them into inexhaustible resources!"

"If you don't ask for it, it might be gone by tomorrow!"

Behind Xiao Mingli, Li Xuanyi couldn't help but speak up, his face full of concern:
"Yes, Senior Sister! You've waited six years for this day. You finally have some hope, how can you let it slip through your fingers so easily?"

"Moreover, Gu Qingzhi, who once competed with you for the chief disciple position at Tianchi, is said to have already reached the Dragon-Tiger Perfection stage and is working towards breaking through to the Martial Saint level."

Her face showed a look of unspoken words:

"Have you forgotten? Six years ago, the two of you broke through the fourth major limit one after the other and entered the realm of no leakage. You even surpassed her!"

"Right now, let alone Gu Qingzhi, even those few true disciples who admire her have far surpassed you, like a thousand sails passing by a sunken ship."

"Back then, they both openly and secretly sabotaged things, using their connections to prevent your master's proposal to open the treasure vault for you and search for rare materials from being approved. These old grievances have piled up to this day."

"Don't you have even the slightest bit of hatred, or the thought of wanting to take it back?"

"Uncle Xiao has worked so hard for you all these years, and so has your master. Everyone has tried so hard to bring you back. The opportunity is right in front of you, Senior Sister."

A cool breeze blew from the cold pool.

At this moment, the sun was shining brightly, and at midday, it illuminated Xiao Mingli's jade-like face, making her appear even more ethereal.

The woman raised her bright eyes, her curled eyelashes slightly lowered, gazing at the shimmering, clear water of the cold pool:
"I know."

"Father, Master, and Xuan Yi, everyone has done so much for me."

She gently patted Li Xuanyi, who six years ago, filled with righteous indignation, resolutely gave up his future to follow her back to the Beicang Marquis's mansion, causing his cultivation to stagnate, and who is now still a master of Qi Sea.

She smiled, a hint of apology in her eyes:

"But I have also said that others are others, and I, Xiao Mingli, am Xiao Mingli."

"My initial connection with Ji Xiu was because Granny Shi knew that he had obtained the Daoist 'Searching Mountains and Catching Seas' manual and knew that he was a talented person, so she promoted him to collect spirit fish for me and cleanse my body."

“Since Ji Xiu entered Jiangyin Prefecture, he has never been delayed in all this time. I have no debt to him.”

"Even if it's owed, does it really mean that just because you 'need it yourself,' you can treat that 'heavenly material' as your own, hindering others' opportunities to advance their cultivation and achieve instant success?"

"There is no such logic in the world. If there is, it is not my logic, Xiao Mingli's logic."

"I, Xiao Mingli, owe no favors in this life."

"I also do not want others to hand over a rare and precious plant to me out of personal favors or against their own will."

Xiao Mingli repeated the words she had spoken when Ji Xiu was "the successor to the Dao Child" at the Heavenly Blade Ceremony.

What happened today was unprecedented in the history of Jiangyin Prefecture, and she had already witnessed it from afar.

Nine-Aperture Golden Elixir King's Blade, Corpse Puppet Cult, Mysterious Talisman Cult.
These things involve a great deal of issues.

Even with the protection of the carriage and regalia of the Lord of Qishan Jiang Clan, Ji Xiu was still only a 'Master of Qi Refining'.

Faced with these things, even someone as fierce as a dragon or tiger wouldn't dare say they could protect themselves. Only by striving for excellence and becoming a martial arts saint, earning a title and leaving a name behind, could they perhaps gain some stability.

In this situation, those who have climbed their way up from the bottom probably feel nothing but the joy of inheriting the legacy, and a sense of walking on thin ice, being extremely cautious.

So it's not that she doesn't want to, but rather that she's unwilling to mention it.

Ripples spread across the surface of the cold lake, and leaves drifted down.

Li Xuanyi was speechless for a moment.

My senior sister is such a wonderful person. She can put herself in others' shoes and care about their gains and losses, thus losing her selfish desires.

Although they are introverted, it's never wrong to follow someone like that.

It's much better than the factions within Tianchi, constantly fighting and vying for power, with all the other true disciples sacrificing everything for that one great position.

This is also why she never left.

Can.
Is this how my whole life is going to be?

She didn't care, but her senior sister was so dazzling back then!
Li Xuanyi bit her lip lightly, secretly wondering if she should go to the Heavenly Blade True Sect later tonight to visit Ji Xiu.

There are some things that even if her senior sister doesn't ask for them, she can ask for them on her behalf.

Xiao Pingnan harbored the same thoughts in his heart.

Just as the two were each lost in their own thoughts...
Granny Shi, leaning on her cane, stepped forward, her brow furrowed with seriousness, and arrived before Marquis Beicang and his daughter:
"My lord, the young lady."

“The Xie family of Yuhuan has sent someone.”

Upon hearing this, Marquis Xiao Pingnan of Beicang, who was already feeling annoyed, became even angrier. He frowned and waved his hand impatiently.
"The Xie family, one of the nine powerful clans, is far beyond the reach of my Beicang Marquis family. What brings them here?"

"Just send them away."

Xiao Pingnan harbored a deep resentment over the fact that his deceased wife, Xiao Mingli's mother, came from a branch of the Xie family, but the Xie family had refused to acknowledge him in his early years because of his poverty.

Furthermore, ever since his daughter received the Xie family's ancestral blood, displayed remarkable talent, and was listed among the true disciples of Tianchi,
The Xie family had always wanted to arrange a marriage between their eldest son, Xie Wen, who was known as having "dragon-like appearance and phoenix-like beauty."

However, after Xiao Mingli was deposed, his attitude changed. He wanted to use the "heavenly talent" as leverage to force her to change her surname to Xie and marry into the eldest son's family. But because Xiao Mingli disdained to do so, there was no progress.

A while ago, Xie Zhinan, a member of a branch of the Xie family, traveled a long distance to visit with a letter from 'Xie Wen,' all of which Xiao Pingnan was aware of. Therefore, out of protectiveness, he naturally disliked the Xie family members.

until
“This time is different, my lord.”

"this time."

“A senior member of the main branch of the Xie family of Yuhuan has come and personally brought over a portion of rare herbs.”

what?
Xiao Pingnan's expression froze, his hands clenched into fists, and his eyes turned cold and hard.

At this moment, he even had a fleeting thought of disguising himself and committing 'murder and robbery' later.

However, upon hearing that it was personally delivered by a titled elder, he abandoned his thoughts and immediately asked:

"What about the conditions?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch; even a three-year-old knows that.

Xiao Pingnan didn't think that a behemoth like the 'Jade Universe Xie Clan' would be without the necessary conditions.

He probably wishes he could make his daughter take the surname Xie, so he could mold her however he wanted, make her serve the powerful Xie family for life, and never have any freedom.

"No conditions."

Granny Shi's eyes were strange, but she still spoke.

No conditions!

Xiao Pingnan paused for a moment, and even Xiao Mingli's bright eyes showed a strange look as she looked over.

"But the elder with the title said that this rare herb was personally given to the young lady by Xie Wenli, the eldest son of the main branch, who overcame all objections and persuaded the clan to give it to her."

He said, "No conditions."

"I just hope"

"I hope the young lady will appreciate this kindness and remember it in her heart."

"Also coming along is Xie Jixuan, the younger brother of Xie Wen, the eldest son of the main branch, who intends to participate in the 'Dragon Lord Banquet' on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month and wants to form a marriage alliance with the East Sea Dragon Lord's Palace."

"It seems I'll have to stay in Beicang for a while."

The Marquis's residence features a magnificent and spacious main hall.

Wearing a golden crown and a black robe, he was a young nobleman with an extraordinary demeanor and upright posture.

At this moment, feeling utterly bored, he stood idly in the Xie family's hall, chatting with the composed, elegant, and refined old man beside him:
"Elder Xun, what do you think the clan and my brother are really thinking?"

"That's a rare and precious herb, not some common cabbage. It's extremely valuable to the Jushi and Tianzhu families. How can we just give it away so easily?"

Xie Jixuan was bored and seemed uninterested in this kind of 'countryside' place, but when the matter was brought up, he looked puzzled.

The old man, whom he called 'Patroller,' who looked thin but whose blood flowed like a furnace, opened his eyes, his gaze gleaming:
"If you want to take it, you must first give permission."

"Xiao Mingli had been quiet for six years, and was introverted. She had repeatedly refused the Xie family's kindness. Not long ago, she even sent the people sent by Young Master Wen back, which shows her arrogance."

"But as the sunken ship is surrounded by a thousand sails passing by, all of Tianchi's contemporaries have now surpassed her. Even if she is proud and aloof at heart, she can't help but feel a sense of urgency."

"No one can be content with mediocrity, and Young Master Wen seized upon this opportunity to first bestow favors, using a rare medicinal herb as a horse bone."

"If Xiao Mingli is unable to repay the thousand gold pieces in the future, or is unwilling to do so... the world will only criticize her behind her back, and bring shame to her father as well. Everyone knows this."

"So as long as she accepts Xie's kindness today and falls into his trap in the future, I'm not afraid that she will escape my grasp."

Xie Xun spoke calmly, explaining to the young master of the main branch in detail the methods used by these aristocratic families to subdue their members.

Given Xiao Mingli's status, she wouldn't have wasted so much time.

But the problem was that Tianchi was full of factions. She had been too popular before, and when she suddenly died, her rivals took over and naturally tried every means to prevent her from recovering.

Tianchi is a pillar of heaven, not a place where one person can have absolute power. Her master is powerless to help her, and he cannot use the best resources to fill the gaps in her foundation. Therefore, he can only waste his time.

But the Xie family of Yuhuan is different. As a bloodline heir, and for the sake of the family, Xiao Pingnan had previously pleaded with them, but the reason why the Xie family's conditions were so harsh was largely due to...
It is a process of grinding down and polishing the Beicang Marquis's mansion, smoothing out its rough edges and blunting its sharpness.

Otherwise, how can it be used smoothly?
Now that six years have passed and the time is almost right, he instructed Xie Wen to send a letter in advance to express his intentions, saying that it didn't matter whether Xie Wen agreed or not.

It would be best to agree, as it would save a lot of trouble.

Even if they don't agree.
At this moment, the Yu Huan Xie family has come to our door with rare treasures and has even given us a way out by not discussing all the matters openly. They have shown us a great deal of face. They never thought that the Beicang Marquis's Mansion would refuse to accept this series of moves.

After all, with a clan history spanning over a thousand years, few could resist such a tactic of winning them over.

Especially since Xiao Mingli is a rare talent, this is her Achilles' heel.

Upon hearing this, Xie Jixuan grinned:
“My elder brother is as handsome as a dragon and as elegant as a phoenix, at the pinnacle of his field, and of the highest rank and noble status. Throughout the entire Great Xuan world, apart from Zhenwuzi, the ‘Young Dragon Who Holds the Crown, the Young Martial Saint,’ he is indeed no match for him. Who else can truly surpass him?”

"What's wrong with marrying a woman from a distant branch of the family? She's practically crippled, and she still hasn't responded after six years."

"If we delay any longer, she won't even be worth the price of this 'heavenly herb'!"

Xie Jixuan pursed his lips slightly, his eyes showing disdain. However, with his sharp ears and eyes, he saw footsteps and heard voices approaching, so he immediately fell silent.

When Xiao Pingnan and his daughter entered the hall.
Xie Xun, a titled elder from the Yu Huan Xie clan, immediately opened the jade crystal box he was carrying, and in an instant, a precious light shone forth:

"This is a rare treasure, the Golden Branch of the Coiled Dragon. It is the essence of the body of a living, auspicious dragon that fell into the earth and was nurtured by the spiritual soil for a hundred years before it grew into its current form."

"When it was born, a coiled dragon and an elephant were born, and a dragon surged from the earth. This cleansed its chronic illnesses and made it a unique spiritual being."

"Ever since that fleeting glimpse of you, Young Master Wen has been unable to forget you. Now, six years have passed, and he cannot bear to see you wasted like this."

Therefore, exchanging one's talent for a promise can be considered a way to preserve a good reputation.

"how?"

When I saw this [Golden Dragon Branch]
Xiao Pingnan's eyes lit up, and he wanted to step forward and take it, but he remained silent. Xiao Mingli, who was sitting in a wheelchair, simply raised her hand and pulled him back.

Upon seeing this, Xie Jixuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of displeasure in his expression:
“Miss Xiao, my brother is busy with countless affairs of state, yet he has still thought of you for six years. Now he asks for nothing, using his talent to ask for only a promise. If you are still not satisfied, then you either look down on my brother or you are just making fun of yourself and willingly wallowing in self-pity for the rest of your life.”

Xiao Mingli's bright eyes were as calm as a clear spring. Upon hearing this, she did not lose her composure and spoke softly:
"I"

However, he didn't finish his sentence!
Then you will see the outer corridor.

Granny Shi, with a look of satisfaction and joy on her face, led an old woman and a young girl through the corridor!

The old man's muscles and bones were like those of a dragon and an elephant, and his vigorous energy seemed capable of uprooting mountains and overturning peaks; the young man wore a precious sword at his waist, with a heroic and spirited demeanor, walking with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, and his black robe fluttering in the wind!
Just as Ji Xiu stepped across the threshold, he suddenly heard these words. The scene in the hall came into view, and his eyes immediately lit up. He took out a black box and opened it—

In an instant, the [Sumeru Immortal Fruit] overflowed with celestial fragrance, surpassing even the [Coiled Dragon Golden Branch] by several degrees!
"promise?"

"What promises are needed!"

The young man's tone was high-spirited, as if he had made a firm decision. His gaze was fixed on Xiao Mingli, whose long hair was combed and who was dressed elegantly in bright clothes. He held up the rare treasure in the box:

"Ji Xiufeng is a rare talent; I ask for no promises whatsoever!"

"I only wish."

"May the young lady be well from now on, regain her former glory, and reach new heights in martial arts. If only that could be achieved."

"What is there to regret about a single rare and precious plant?" (End of Chapter)