Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: The Secret Realm

The finals were proceeding at a breakneck pace. This was the last battle, full of countless uncertainties.

Would Jiang Hanzheng’s dazzling brilliance continue, or was it merely a fleeting moment of glory? Would Kong Huai fall into despair or make a triumphant comeback? With the open and covert rivalry between these two senior brothers, the other contestants were overshadowed significantly.

Just one step away from the finish line, the prizes of the competition were highly coveted. Although Mount Tian had not yet announced them specifically, everyone knew they would be extraordinary, undoubtedly treasures or elixirs that could greatly benefit a cultivator’s development. The victor would not only gain these prizes that made everyone green with envy but also the title of the foremost among their peers.

Speculation about the finals gave rise to gambling. Disciples privately set up bets on the ultimate winner, and the elders of Mount Tian turned a blind eye, regarding it as a harmless amusement for the disciples. Over time, this had become a tradition.

Before the finals even began, the four finalists had already become the hottest topic of discussion throughout the sect. The betting activities surrounding these four names were in full swing.

Usually, the disciples led lives of abstinence and rigorous cultivation. Centuries of such monotony made this activity an exciting diversion, which was understandable. However, even He Lang, a True Master and an elder figure, joined in the fun.

Upon learning of this tradition, he went straight to a booth at the entrance of the arena. After rummaging through his spatial pouch, he emptied it of all its spiritual stones and unhesitatingly placed them all on Jiang Hanzheng.

Most disciples wagered just a few stones, with the wealthier ones betting at most a few dozen. But He Lang, with one bold move, staked nearly ten thousand spiritual stones, among which over a thousand were of the highest quality.

Such extravagance made the disciples, who had been hunched over examining the betting board, look up in shock. When they saw it was the True Master himself, their already astonished faces turned a shade of fear. Mouths agape, they exchanged startled and stammering glances.

One of the older disciples in charge pinched his thigh to steady himself before nervously stepping forward. “True Master? Is this… permissible? Your disciple feels uneasy.”

“Hm? Is there a rule saying I can’t participate?” He Lang smiled warmly, his friendly tone easing the disciples’ tension. They quickly shook their heads and welcomed him to place his bet.

The table displayed four names, each with chips beneath it representing the value of spiritual stones wagered. The amounts placed on Kong Huai and Jiang Hanzheng were closely matched, though Kong Huai had a slight edge. His stable and long-standing reputation for strength made him a favorite in people’s minds.

However, He Lang’s decision to bet solely on Jiang Hanzheng, ignoring his other disciple, piqued the curiosity of a younger disciple nearby. Feeling emboldened by the True Master’s approachable demeanor, he blurted out, “True Master, what about Senior Brother Kong? Why didn’t you—”

Before he could finish, the older disciple’s face changed, and he quickly clamped a hand over the younger one’s mouth. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he anxiously glanced at He Lang.

He Lang merely smiled as if he hadn’t noticed and left with a wave.

In less than half an hour, the news that the True Master had staked nearly ten thousand spiritual stones on Jiang Hanzheng spread like wildfire. It drew shock and envy, with everyone exclaiming at the blatant favoritism for his disciple.

Jiang Hanzheng, busy preparing for the competition, was equally stunned when he heard the news.

Every time he thought his master had treated him as well as anyone possibly could, his master always found a way to surprise him further. How could he bear to let his master go to his senior brother?

However, this open and unreserved support from his master—what did it mean for his senior brother? How would others speculate about him? Jiang Hanzheng didn’t believe his master hadn’t considered this, yet his master still acted as he did. The implications were clear.

His master had proven through actions that he cared only for him.

Clutching the Kunwu Sword in his hand, Jiang Hanzheng felt a surge of enlightenment, which in turn caused his spiritual energy to grow. It overflowed from his body without effort, his imposing aura making all his competitors seem insignificant in his eyes.

Although the competition was an hour away, Jiang Hanzheng couldn’t help but want to see his master again. They had only parted that morning, but he couldn’t suppress his longing, more attached than a child. Disgusted with himself, he still couldn’t stop his feet from heading toward the cave.

…

When Jiang Hanzheng arrived at the cave, he unexpectedly saw Kong Huai’s figure and was slightly stunned.

“Why haven’t you gone to the competition yet?”

Kong Huai’s body stiffened slightly as he replied in a soft voice, “I wanted to see Master one more time before leaving.”

“Well, now you’ve seen him,” He Lang said indifferently, glancing at him with a hint of unease.

Unexpectedly, Kong Huai suddenly rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. Out of nowhere, he said, “Master, Huai’er regrets it.”

Lowering his gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line. A dark cloud seemed to hang over his brows, yet his eyes were full of turbulent emotions. He carefully savored the sensation of holding the person in his arms, imprinting it deeply in his memory.

He Lang, unperturbed, pushed him gently, only to be held tighter. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What is there to regret?”

Kong Huai frowned, seemingly trapped in a demonic obsession, unwilling to accept that his master no longer held feelings for him. He attributed everything to his own decision to let go in the past.

“If I had never descended the mountain, would you have only loved me? Would that person never have appeared…?”

He Lang frowned as well, unwilling to let him dwell on such thoughts. His tone grew colder. “The world may have Bodhi Seeds and Nine-Fragrance Dew, but it does not have medicine for regret.”

Kong Huai refused to listen, convinced that his current predicament was due to his own mistake of letting go. What about now? If he let go again, would he be left with even more regret?

Gripping He Lang’s wrist, his gaze was resolute. “But I don’t want to let go. What should I do, Master?”

With that, Kong Huai threw caution to the wind. Fixing his gaze on his master’s lips, he mustered his courage and leaned in to kiss him.

He Lang turned his head sharply, but Kong Huai held the back of his head firmly, forcing the clumsy kiss.

Slightly angered, He Lang raised his right hand to use spiritual energy to push him away, but another force acted first, blasting Kong Huai far back.

Caught off guard, Kong Huai staggered and fell, clutching his chest and coughing lightly.

Jiang Hanzheng’s voice rang out coldly from behind, tinged with anger. “Senior Brother, mind your manners.”

Kong Huai turned sharply and met his gaze. What he saw was a fierce glare with a faint flicker of red flames in the depths of Jiang Hanzheng’s eyes, as if to burn him to ashes. The person before him seemed unfamiliar, causing him to shudder uncontrollably.

Jiang Hanzheng held his gaze for a moment, sparks flying between them in that brief instant. Then, he quickly suppressed his emotions and smiled faintly. “The Nine Crows Secret Realm is about to open. Senior Brother, don’t miss this opportunity.”

Kong Huai blinked hard and scrutinized Jiang Hanzheng carefully but found no flaws, as if everything he had seen earlier was an illusion. Faced with his seemingly gentle and harmless smile, Kong Huai swallowed his unspoken words and didn’t pursue the matter of being injured. After all, he had been in the wrong, harboring improper intentions toward their master.

Jiang Hanzheng turned to face He Lang, taking a deep breath and forcing down the tumult of emotions surging within him.

He Lang understood what was on his mind but didn’t wish to let the matter affect him before the competition. “Whatever it is, save it for later. Go to the competition first.”

Jiang Hanzheng stared at his master’s lips, his expression dark and unreadable. He obediently agreed, but he reached out to gently wipe away the remnants of someone else’s presence from his master’s lips, as if to erase what had just happened.

“I’ll be back soon, Master. Wait for me…”

…

The finals were vastly different from the previous rounds. Previously, contestants were teleported to various locations for their matches. This time, the four finalists had to venture alone into the Nine Crows Secret Realm.

The secret realm, which opened once every hundred years, was said to be where the nine golden crows fell after Houyi shot down the suns in ancient legends. With an abundance of yang energy, it had nurtured countless treasures over millennia, including immortal legacies. The first to obtain such a legacy would be declared the winner of the competition.

What set this apart from previous rounds was the level of danger. Within the secret realm, the sect’s teleportation talismans were ineffective, and the only way out was to locate the formation that allowed entry and exit. Furthermore, the masters could no longer monitor the competition or provide guidance.

The realm was full of unknown dangers, from spiritual beasts and poisonous plants to other unforeseen perils. Survival, breakthroughs, or descent into madness would depend on the individual’s fate.

Once inside, the four contestants split up to begin their respective journeys.

However, not long after separating, Jiang Hanzheng stopped, seated himself cross-legged, and closed his eyes, chanting under his breath.

Amidst the perilous surroundings, he worried his current strength might not be enough to dominate the others. Resolving to take a risk, he decided to draw more power from the inner core in his dantian.

As the seal on his core’s talisman was lifted, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy burst forth. Energized, he eagerly absorbed it, ignoring the strain in his meridians and pushing through to achieve a small breakthrough in cultivation. Even Kong Huai couldn’t compare to his current strength. Convinced of his imminent victory, Jiang Hanzheng stopped.

The problem was that while he could release the energy, reclaiming it proved difficult. Acting quickly, he reapplied the sealing talisman to barely suppress it.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he exhaled deeply. Just as he began to relax, a new challenge emerged.

The massive surge of spiritual energy had attracted a pack of spirit beasts highly sensitive to such fluctuations. Their fur was pure white, resembling snow wolves. Agile and fierce, they surrounded him in moments.

Unfazed, Jiang Hanzheng observed them carefully. He remembered his master mentioning these beasts, called White-Mane Beasts, which were aggressive but incredibly valuable. Every part of them could be used for alchemy, and his master’s favorite calming incense was made from their inner cores.

Despite their ferocity, the recently enhanced Jiang Hanzheng saw them as insignificant.

Knowing they feared fire, Jiang Hanzheng used his left hand to unleash fire spiritual energy, sending flames scattering among the pack. Panicked, the beasts scattered, howling as they fled.

Jiang Hanzheng pursued them relentlessly. Even in Mount Tian, incense made from White-Mane Beast cores was rare. These beasts had delivered themselves to him, and he had no intention of letting them go.

The chase led him more than a mile from the entrance, with the surroundings growing dimmer. Unintentionally, he followed the beasts into a cavern.

Author’s note: Xiao Zheng’er is about to turn dark. Remember his angelic side.